In spite of falling commodity prices, Vedanta Ltd, formerly known as Sesa Sterlite, has come out with robust results in a volatile market helped by cost control and higher productivity, the company said today.
“Vedanta has produced robust results in a volatile market with relentless focus on cost discipline and improved productivity, leading to strong earnings and record cash flow,” Chairman Navin Agarwal said while addressing 51st annual general meeting of Vedanta Ltd in Goa.
“This year was challenging for the sector with falling commodity prices. However... the company continued to build upon its core strengths of low cost, scalable operations, development projects and superior growth options.”
During 2015-16, driven by open and capex optimisation, Vedanta generated free cash flow of over Rs 11,000 crore, around three times higher than last year, he said, adding that this helped the company reduce net debt by over Rs 6,000 crore.
“The liquidity for the group remains strong with over Rs 52,000 crore of cash and cash equivalents,” Agarwal said.
Vedanta has consistently been one of the largest contributors to the exchequer, contributing Rs 20,600 crore in 2015-16, he said.
The chairman said the subsidiary, Hindustan Zinc, announced a historic dividend of over Rs 12,000 crore, of which around Rs 6,500 crore flowed to Vedanta Limited and approximately Rs 5,000 crore to the Indian government.
“This is one of the highest dividends ever paid by any private sector company in India,” he said.