Mon Aug 8, 2011
* In talks for one buy each in U.S., Indonesia, Australia
* Will proceed after green signal from govt-chairman
* To provide about 25 bln rupees for wage rise this fiscal year-official
MUMBAI, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Coal India , the world's largest coal miner, is in talks for one acquisition each in Indonesia, Australia and the United States, its chairman said on Monday, adding it would only proceed after getting the green signal from the government.
The state-owned firm, in which India sold a 10 percent stake last year for $3.4 billion in the country's largest ever IPO, has been in advanced talks with Indonesia's Golden Energy Mines to buy 30 percent stake in its assets, sources had told Reuters in May.
The company has also been in talks with U.S. miners Massey Energy and Peabody Energy for coal assets in the U.S. and Australia, according to recent media reports.
"We have flagged two issues to the government, through the coal ministry. Once these issues are clarified, we can go ahead," Coal India chairman N.C. Jha told reporters after shares in the company were included in India's main stock index .
Coal India, which already has a large degree of financial autonomy, has asked the Indian government for approval for overseas acquisitions even if it doesn't meet the requirement of a minimum 12 percent internal rate of return in these projects and for acquisitions are in unlisted firms.
The likely size of each deal will be below 10 billion rupees ($223.5 million), and the company has set aside 60 billion rupees for acquisitions this fiscal year, Jha said.
India holds 10 percent of the world's coal reserves but local supplies are falling short of demand as the country builds more power plants, and as domestic coal projects run into environmental and land acquisition delays.
The country is likely to import 135 million tonnes of coal in the financial year that began on April 1.
Coal India, which accounts for nearly 80 percent of India's coal output, is currently in wage negotiations with its trade unions, and will effect a price hike only once the impact of higher wages is clear, Jha said.
A senior finance official, however, clarified that the company will make an additional provision of about 25 billion rupees in this fiscal year for the wage increase.
Shares in Coal India, which the market values at $55.7 billion, were trading 0.2 percent higher at 393.50 rupees at 11:50 a.m. (0620 GMT) in a weak Mumbai market . The stock is up about 25 percent so far this year. ($1 = 44.735 Indian Rupees) (sourced Reuters)
* In talks for one buy each in U.S., Indonesia, Australia
* Will proceed after green signal from govt-chairman
* To provide about 25 bln rupees for wage rise this fiscal year-official
MUMBAI, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Coal India , the world's largest coal miner, is in talks for one acquisition each in Indonesia, Australia and the United States, its chairman said on Monday, adding it would only proceed after getting the green signal from the government.
The state-owned firm, in which India sold a 10 percent stake last year for $3.4 billion in the country's largest ever IPO, has been in advanced talks with Indonesia's Golden Energy Mines to buy 30 percent stake in its assets, sources had told Reuters in May.
The company has also been in talks with U.S. miners Massey Energy and Peabody Energy for coal assets in the U.S. and Australia, according to recent media reports.
"We have flagged two issues to the government, through the coal ministry. Once these issues are clarified, we can go ahead," Coal India chairman N.C. Jha told reporters after shares in the company were included in India's main stock index .
Coal India, which already has a large degree of financial autonomy, has asked the Indian government for approval for overseas acquisitions even if it doesn't meet the requirement of a minimum 12 percent internal rate of return in these projects and for acquisitions are in unlisted firms.
The likely size of each deal will be below 10 billion rupees ($223.5 million), and the company has set aside 60 billion rupees for acquisitions this fiscal year, Jha said.
India holds 10 percent of the world's coal reserves but local supplies are falling short of demand as the country builds more power plants, and as domestic coal projects run into environmental and land acquisition delays.
The country is likely to import 135 million tonnes of coal in the financial year that began on April 1.
Coal India, which accounts for nearly 80 percent of India's coal output, is currently in wage negotiations with its trade unions, and will effect a price hike only once the impact of higher wages is clear, Jha said.
A senior finance official, however, clarified that the company will make an additional provision of about 25 billion rupees in this fiscal year for the wage increase.
Shares in Coal India, which the market values at $55.7 billion, were trading 0.2 percent higher at 393.50 rupees at 11:50 a.m. (0620 GMT) in a weak Mumbai market . The stock is up about 25 percent so far this year. ($1 = 44.735 Indian Rupees) (sourced Reuters)
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