A subsidiary of Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Group is raising nearly Rs 135 billion ($1.4 billion) in local-currency debt from at least three banks. According to sources familiar with the transaction, as reported by Bloomberg News, this marks the conglomerate’s first large local-currency loan following its corporate demerger into separate operating companies.
Axis Bank Ltd has signed a loan agreement worth Rs 55 billion with Vedanta Aluminium Metal Ltd., said the people who asked not to be identified because the information is private.
The financing facilities carry loan tenors ranging between 6.5 and 7 years, with interest rates offered in the range of 7.9 per cent to 8 per cent, according to the people as reported by Bloomberg News.
Representatives for Vedanta Group, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
The capital raise, however, underscores the group’s push to build standalone, self-funded business units aimed at enhancing balance-sheet flexibility and deleveraging operations.
Following court sanction for the restructuring scheme in December, Vedanta split its businesses into five separate listed companies, with four entities – covering aluminium, energy, oil & gas, and iron ore – commencing trading on stock exchanges in June.
Supported by healthy operational cash flows, Vedanta Aluminium’s net debt is projected to fall below Rs 100 billion by FY28, according to a report published last month by ICICI Securities.
Shares of Vedanta Aluminium were trading at Rs 479.20, up Rs 11.25 or 2.40 per cent from the previous close of Rs 467.95, at around 1.10 pm on the NSE.
Vedanta Aluminium Share Price: Brokerages bullish, check share price target
Analysts believe the company’s combination of capacity expansion, industry-leading cost improvements, backward integration, and strong cash generation due to increasing quantum of value-added products, positions it for a multi-year earnings upcycle.
Brokerage ICICI Direct has set a target price of Rs 600, implying nearly 35 per cent upside. The brokerage believes the company is well positioned to capitalise on India’s structural aluminium demand growth, supported by capacity expansion, higher value-added products and improving profitability.
Kotak Institutional Equities has also given a ‘Buy’ rating on Vedanta Aluminium with a target price of Rs 585. Kotak believes Vedanta Aluminium is well positioned to benefit from favourable aluminium market fundamentals, supported by its backward integration strategy and expansion pipeline. The brokerage expects continued cost reductions, alongside a supportive aluminium pricing environment, to drive stronger margins and free cash flow.
Nuvama Institutional Equities also maintains a ‘Buy’ rating with a target price of Rs 540. Highlighting the company’s earnings profile, it said, “Vedanta Aluminium is focused on expanding aluminium volumes, paring costs via backward integration and increasing its share of value-added products. These initiatives aim to reduce cost, enhance EBITDA, augment cash flows and boost earnings visibility.”
Motilal Oswal Financial Services, which has also initiated coverage with a ‘Buy’ recommendation and a Rs 540 target price, believes Vedanta Aluminium is approaching a significant inflection point.
According to the brokerage, “Vedanta Aluminium delivered a strong 1QFY27, reporting record-high EBITDA of Rs 105 bn, driven by firmer aluminium prices and sustained cost discipline. We believe the medium-term cost reduction story is intact, supported by higher captive alumina integration, commencement of captive bauxite and coal mines, and the BALCO expansion, which should drive margin expansion.”
Global brokerage Citi has reiterated its ‘Buy’ rating with a Rs 525 target price, citing a combination of structural cost improvements and visible growth catalysts. The brokerage expects earnings to be supported by BALCO’s expansion, debottlenecking initiatives, higher captive alumina integration, backward integration while also seeing potential upside from aluminium prices. Citi further expects Vedanta Aluminium to achieve net cash status by FY28, underlining its confidence in the company’s deleveraging trajectory and cash generation.
Emkay Global has reiterated its ‘Buy’ recommendation with a target price of Rs 550, while stating, “We remain constructive on the medium-term aluminium outlook… Vedanta Aluminium’s ongoing backward integration across bauxite, alumina, coal and power should materially lower cash costs, improve operating leverage and strengthen free cash flow generation, positioning it among the world’s lowest-cost integrated aluminium producers.”
(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice. ET NOW DIGITAL suggests its readers/audience to consult their financial advisors before making any money-related decisions.)
