Sterlite signs new agreement to purchase operating assets of ASARCO LLC

Mumbai, Mar 7, (ANI/Business Wire India): Sterlite Industries (India) Limited ("Sterlite"), a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources plc, the London-based FTSE 100 metal and mining group, today announced that it has signed a new agreement with ASARCO LLC ("Asarco"), a Tucson based mining, smelting and refining company, for purchase of substantially all the operating assets of Asarco.

The purchase consideration comprises (a) a cash payment of dollar 1.1 billion on closing; and (b) a senior secured non-interest bearing promissory note (the "Note") for dollar 600 million, payable over a period of nine years as follows: (i) dollar 20 million per year from the end of second year for a period of seven years; and (ii) a terminal payment of dollar 460 million at the end of the ninth year, totaling to dollar 600 million.

In the event that the annual average of daily copper prices in a particular year increases beyond dollar6,000 per tonne, the annual payment in that year will be proportionately increased subject to a maximum of dollar 66.67 million and the terminal payment in the ninth year will be correspondingly reduced, keeping the total payment at dollar 600 million.

The principal amount of the Note will be adjusted for any variations in working capital on closing. The obligations under the Note are secured against the assets being acquired and are without any recourse to Sterlite.

The agreement is subject to the approval of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division.

Asarco, formerly known as American Smelting and Refining Company, is a 110 year old company and is currently the third largest copper producer in the United States of America. It sold approximately 237,000 tonnes of refined copper in 2008. Asarco's mines currently have estimated reserves of 5 million tonnes of contained copper. For the year ended 31 December 2008, Asarco had total revenues of nearly US dollar1.9 billion and profit before tax of dollar 393 million.

The integrated assets to be acquired include three open-pit copper mines and associated mills and SX-EW in Arizona, USA, a copper smelter in Arizona, USA and a copper refinery, rod and cake plants and a precious metals plant in Texas, USA. The asset acquisition is on a cash free and debt free basis.

Sterlite will assume operating liabilities but not legacy liabilities for asbestos and environmental claims for ceased operations. The consideration being paid is towards the gross fixed assets and working capital of Asarco.

"We are happy that we have reached agreement with ASARCO on these new terms," said Anil Agarwal, Chairman, Sterlite. "This acquisition is in line with our strategy of leveraging our existing skills to become a diversified global copper producer and creating long term value for shareholders." (ANI)