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Mumbai:
Tata Steel, which acquired Anglo-Dutch steel maker Corus in January, will raise
over $2.5 billion (Rs10,000 crore) through issue of securities in domestic and
overseas market to part finance the acquisition.
>The
company would come out with a rights issue of ordinary shares and cumulative convertible
preference (CCP) shares, besides issue of securities in the domestic or international
markets, Tata Steel said in a notice to shareholders. >While
Rs3,655 crore is planned to be raised through a rights offer, another Rs4,350
crore would be raised through issue of CCP shares. Existing shareholders would
get one share at a price of Rs300 for every five ordinary shares held. >Tata
Steel would also raise additional funds up to $500 million (Rs2,042 crore) from
the domestic and international markets. >To
facilitate issue of CCP shares, Tata Steel said, the authorised share capital
would have to be raised from Rs2,000 crore to Rs8,000 crore. >Tata
Steel had paid $4.1 billion toward acquisition of Corus that was valued at $12.9
billion. Chairman Ratan Tata has, meanwhile, assured shareholders that
the acquisition of Corus would in no way jeopardise either the long-term shareholder
value or Tata Steel''s dividend paying capacity. In his first formal statement
to the minority shareholders since the takeover, he said the financing of Corus
acquisition had been structured to ring-fence Tata Steel''s balance-sheet and protect
the interests of its shareholders''. Although the competitive bid raised
the acquisition price, the chairman reiterated, "I believe that when one
looks back at this acquisition, even at this price, it will be seen as a bold
visionary move". This proposal would be moved as a resolution at
the annual general meeting of the company
next week. Tata Steel''s 100th annual report also mentioned plans to raise an amount
not exceeding $500 million (Rs2,042 crore at the current exchange rate).
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