vedanta ...BUY
Last year was particularly torrid for shareholders in Vedanta Resources, the Indian mining giant controlled by billionaire Anil Agarwal. Questor says buy.
By Garry White 7:00AM GMT 12 Jan 2011
Comment
Vedanta
£24.11 +56p
Questor says BUY
Vedanta Resources
Negative headlines were generated over a proposed bauxite mine on holy lands in the Indian state of Orissa and the Indian government rejected the company's proposal.
Then, in August, the group said it planned to buy a controlling stake in Cairn India, majority owned by Cairn Energy, prompting Vedanta's shares to plunge about 20pc. Analysts were concerned abut the amount of debt the group would need to fund the deal and also about the move into oil, a very different business from mining. However, Questor said at the time it looked like a good strategic move.
Reports from India have suggested that the country's oil ministry will decide by early February on whether to allow the deal to progress. It has been reported that Mr Agarwal has written to the Indian prime minister to seek his help in speeding up approval of the deal. However, there has also been speculation that Essar Energy may be interested in the assets as well, although it has made no comment on the issue yet.
Vedanta has also delayed the flotation of its Konkola unit, which is a Zambian-based copper miner, because of market volatility, but an IPO is still in prospect. Vedanta owns almost 80pc of the group.
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The Indian miner invested heavily through the downturn and production is expected to rise significantly over the next few years.
The shares are trading on a current-year earnings multiple of 10.2, falling to just 5.6 next year and 4.9 in 2013. This looks too cheap. They were first recommended on December 4, 2008, at 543p and they are now up 344pc compared with a market up 45pc, although Questor has recommended a buy at levels slightly ahead of the current price. Buy.