Kumar Mangalam Birla

MUMBAI: Close on the heels of Tata Steel's acquisition of Corus in a mega deal the Aditya Birla Group's flagship Hindalco Industries has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Canadian aluminium maker, Novelis, in an all-cash transaction valued at $5.95 billion.

Hindalco is India's largest non-ferrous metals company and Novelis is the world's leading producer of aluminium rolled products and the transaction is the largest by an Indian company in North America.

The transaction includes around $2.4 billion in debt and under the terms of the agreement Novelis shareholders will receive $44.93 for each share of Novelis held. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of both companies with some regulatory approvals awaited.

The transaction will be completed by way of a plan of arrangement under applicable Canadian law and will require the approval of 66.66 per cent of the votes cast by shareholders of Novelis Inc. at a special meeting to be called later. It is expected that the transaction will be completed during the second quarter of calendar 2007. With no job cuts proposed, the existing board of Novelis is expected to continue and post-acquisition, it will become a 100 per cent subsidiary of Hindalco.

Addressing the media here on Sunday, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, said the acquisition was in line with his group's long-term strategies of expanding its global presence across its various businesses and was consistent with the group's vision of taking India to the world.

"The combination of Hindalco and Novelis will establish a global integrated aluminium producer with low-cost alumina and aluminium production facilities combined with high-end aluminium rolled product capabilities. "The $5.95 billion deal includes non-recourse debt of Novelis amounting to $2.4 billion, including a term loan of $1 billion and high yield bonds of $1.4 billion. Of the remaining $3.55 billion, finance with recourse to Hindalco amounts to $2.8 billion, Hindalco treasury operations would contribute $450 million and debt from an unlisted AV Birla Group company, Essel, engaged in Iron ore mining operations would be $300 million.

Novelis operates through 36 manufacturing locations in 11 countries and has around 12,500 employees. It supplies aluminium sheet and foil to the automotive and transportation, beverage and food packaging, construction and industrial and printing markets.

It occupies the top position globally in terms of supply to beverage can industry with a share of 43 per cent and to the foil products industries with a share of 19 per cent.

In terms of supply to construction and industrial products and the transportation markets, it is at second position with a share of 25 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.

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