Vedanta Ltd Value Stock - Dividend - Research Selection

Business Overview

OUR INDUSTRY

Unless otherwise indicated, all data relating to the zinc and copper industries contained in this Annual Report is primarily derived from Wood Mackenzie and other industry sources. Unless otherwise indicated, all data relating to the aluminium industry contained in this Annual Report is primarily derived from CRU International Ltd (“CRU”) and other industry sources. Unless otherwise indicated, all data relating to the oil and gas industry contained herein is primarily derived from BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2016. Unless otherwise indicated, all data relating to the iron ore industry contained herein is primarily derived from the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics, Australia (“BREE”) and the United States Geological Survey (“USGS”).

Unless otherwise indicated, all financial and statistical data relating to the power industry in India in the following discussion is derived from the Central Electricity Authority of India’s General Review (2004-05 to 2013-14),the Monthly Report on Short-term Transactions of Electricity in India by Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and other industry sources. The data may have been re-classified for the purpose of presentation. Unless otherwise indicated, the data presented excludes captive power generation capacity and captive power generation. The term “units” as used herein refers to kilowatt-hours or kWh.

Unless otherwise stated, the years mentioned in this disclosure contained herein are calendar years.

INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

A. History and Development of our Company

Important Events in the Development of Vedanta Limited

The Company was incorporated in Kolkata, the State of West Bengal, India as Rainbow Investment Limited on September 8, 1975 under the laws of India. Our name was subsequently changed to Sterlite Cables Limited on October 19, 1976 and then to Sterlite Industries (India) Limited on February 28, 1986.

Pursuant to the Re-organization Transactions (as explained below) becoming effective on August 17, 2013, our name changed to Sesa Sterlite Limited. On April 22, 2015, Sesa Sterlite Limited submitted to the SEC regarding the name change to Vedanta Limited following the approval from the Registrar of Companies, Goa on April 21, 2015. Our Company identification number is L13209GA1965PLC000044. Our registered office is presently situated at Sesa Ghor, 20, EDC Complex, Patto, Panaji, Goa 403001, India. The telephone number of our registered office is (91) 832 246 0600. The register of members of the Company is maintained at the registered office. Our website address is www.vedantalimited.com. Our agent for service of process in the United States is CT Corporation System and are located at 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011.

The Board of directors approved the relocation of our registered office from the State of Goa to Mumbai in the State of Maharashtra. Subsequently, the shareholders of the Company vide postal ballot dated July 7, 2015, approved the relocation of the registered office. The Company has made an application to the GoI for its approval. Until the approval, the registered office of the Company shall continue to be located in the State of Goa.

SIIL was acquired by Mr. Anil Agarwal and his family in 1979. In 1988, SIIL completed an initial public offering of shares in India to finance in part its first polythene insulated jelly filled copper telephone cables plant. It discontinued production of polyvinyl chloride power and control cables and enameled copper wires in 1990 and in 1991 commissioned a continuous cast copper rod plant.

In 1997, in order to obtain captive sources of copper for the copper rod plant, it commissioned the first privately developed copper smelter in India at Tuticorin. In 2000, SIIL acquired CMT through Monte Cello, which owns the Mt. Lyell copper mine in Australia. The operation of Mt Lyell mine was suspended in January 2014, following a mud slide incident. Subsequently, the operations at the Mt. Lyell copper mine has been placed under care and maintenance following a rock falling on the ventilation shaft in June 2014.

In July 2000, the telecommunications cables and optical fiber business was spun-off into a new company, Sterlite Technologies Limited. The Agarwal family has substantial interests in Sterlite Technologies Limited. Sterlite Technologies Limited is not a part of our group companies.

SIIL acquired the aluminium business through the acquisition of a 51.0% interest in BALCO from the GoI on March 2, 2001. The exercise of our call option to purchase the remaining 49.0% of the shareholding of GoI in BALCO is still under dispute.

On April 11, 2002, SIIL acquired, through Sterlite Opportunities and Ventures Limited (“SOVL”), a 26.0% interest in HZL from the GoI and a further 20.0% interest through an open market offer. On November 12, 2003, SIIL acquired through SOVL, a further 18.9% interest in HZL following the exercise of a call option granted by the GoI, increasing SIIL’s interest in HZL to 64.9%. In addition, SOVL has a call option which became exercisable on April 11, 2007 to acquire the GoI’s remaining ownership interest in HZL. As per the order of the High Court of Madras dated March 29, 2012, SOVL merged into SIIL. The exercise of this option has been contested by the GoI and is still under dispute.

On October 3, 2006, SIIL acquired 100% of Sterlite Energy from Mr. Anil Agarwal and Mr. Dwarka Prasad Agarwal, one of its directors until March 31, 2009, for a total consideration of Rs. 4.9 million ($ 0.1 million). Sterlite Energy was SIIL’s subsidiary through which it had set up a thermal coal-based 2,400 MW power facility in the State of Odisha.

In June 2007, SIIL completed an initial public offering of its shares in the form of ADSs in the US and its ADSs were listed on the NYSE. After this offering, Vedanta’s ownership interest, held through its subsidiaries, decreased to 59.9%.

In July 2008, Sterlite Energy was successful in an international bidding process and was awarded the construction of a 1980 MW coal-based thermal commercial power plant at Talwandi Sabo in the State of Punjab, India. On September 1, 2008, Sterlite Energy completed the acquisition of TSPL for a purchase price of Rs. 3,868 million ($ 58.4 million).

In July 2009, in connection with SIIL’s follow-on offering of ADS, each representing one equity share of par value Rs. 2, it issued 131,906,011 new equity shares in the form of ADSs, at a price of $ 12.15 per ADS, aggregating approximately $ 1,602.7 million. Out of 131,906,011 equity shares, 41,152,263 equity shares were allotted to its parent company, Twin Star, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vedanta.

In October 2009, SIIL issued $ 500 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes at an interest rate of 4 % per annum. Subject to certain exceptions, these convertible senior notes were convertible, at the option of the holder, into ADSs at a conversion rate of 42.8688 ADSs per $ 1,000 principal amount of convertible senior notes, which was equal to a conversion price of approximately $ 23.33 per ADS. Upon the effectiveness of the Amalgamation and Re-organization Scheme, the conversion rate has been changed to 25.7213 ADSs per $ 1,000 principal amount of the convertible senior notes which is equal to a conversion price of approximately $ 38.88 per ADS. These convertible senior notes matured on October 30, 2014and were repaid on the maturity date.

On May 10, 2010, SIIL agreed to acquire the zinc business of Anglo American Plc for a total consideration of Rs. 69,083 million ($ 1,513.1 million). The zinc business comprises of the following:

(1) 100.0% stake in Skorpion which owns the Skorpion mine and refinery in Namibia;

(2) 74.0% stake in BMM, which includes the Black Mountain mine and the Gamsberg Project, in South Africa; and

(3) 100.0% stake in Lisheen, which owns the Lisheen mine in Ireland.

On December 3, 2010, SIIL announced the completion of the acquisition of 100.0% stake in Skorpion by Sterlite Infra Limited, wholly-owned subsidiary of SIIL for a consideration of Rs. 32,098 million ($ 706.7 million). On February 4, 2011, SIIL announced the completion of the acquisition of the 74.0% stake in BMM for a consideration of Rs. 11,529 million ($ 250.9 million), net of refund of $ 9.3 million. On February 15, 2011, SIIL announced the completion of the acquisition of 100.0% stake in Lisheen for a consideration of Rs. 25,020 million ($ 546.2 million). The purchase price for the zinc business was paid in US dollars and has been converted into Indian Rupees based on the exchange rate as on the date of each such acquisition.

On February 3, 2011, the board of SIIL approved the acquisition of 100% ownership of Malco Power Company Limited for a consideration of Rs. 0.5 million and Malco Industries Limited for a consideration of Rs. 1.3 million. The acquisition of Malco Power Company Limited and Malco Industries Limited was completed on February 19, 2011 and March 4, 2011, respectively. Malco Power Company Limited was renamed as Sterlite Ports Limited and it received its new certificate of incorporation on October 5, 2011. Malco Industries Limited was renamed as Sterlite Infraventures Limited and it received its new certificate of incorporation on January 23, 2012. Subsequent to the change in name of Malco Power Company Limited and Malco Industries Limited, the registered offices of both the companies were shifted from Mettur to Tuticorin in the state of Tamil Nadu.

On November 28, 2011, THL Zinc Holding B.V. acquired the entire outstanding share capital of Lakomasko BV for a consideration of $ 37.7 million from VRHL, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vedanta. Consequently, Lakomasko BV became the subsidiary of SIIL.

On June 14, 2015, the Company announced a proposed merger with Cairn India in a cashless all stock transaction which was approved by the stock exchange. Thereafter on July 22, 2016, the Company and Cairn India Limited announced the revised terms to the merger. As per the revised terms, on completion the non-controlling shareholders of Cairn India will receive for each equity share held one equity share in Vedanta Limited of face value Re. 1 each, and four 7.5% Redeemable Preference Shares in Vedanta Limited with a face value of Rs. 10 each. No shares will be issued to Vedanta Limited or any of its subsidiaries for their shareholding in Cairn India. The transaction is conditional on Vedanta Limited, Cairn India and Vedanta plc shareholder approvals, as well as the Indian High Court, and other customary approvals. Vedanta Limited will continue to be listed on the BSE and NSE, with ADSs listed on the NYSE.