Shares of Orient Cement Limited (NSEI:ORIENTCEM) surged 5.5% to the day?s high of INR 323.85 on BSE as UltraTech Cement Limited (NSEI:ULTRACEMCO) is in advanced negotiations for the acquisition of the company amid intensifying consolidation efforts in the sector. Kumar Mangalam Birla's UltraTech is in advanced negotiations with the promoter of Orient Cement, his uncle CK Birla, after restarting talks in recent weeks, said people familiar with the discussions to ET. UltraTech is said to have offered a price of INR 350 - INR 375 per share, a 22% premium to the current market price of INR 307.

In the past month, the Orient Cement stock has shot up 45%, hitting an all-time high of INR 329 on July 1, largely on speculation that an acquisition deal was near conclusion. Kumar Birla's renewed efforts to buy Orient are seen as an attempt to trump Adani Cement Industries Limited and consolidate UltraTech?s position in the southern and western markets, especially Maharashtra and Telangana, after buying a 23% stake in India Cements at the end of last month. Adani Cement, which controls India's second-largest cement capacity, has been engaged in talks with CK Birla since late last year but is said to have baulked at the valuation sought.

The promoter stake in Orient Cement held by the Birla family and private investment vehicles is 37.9%. The company has a market value of INR 64,175.1 million, having almost doubled from INR 38,780 million in October when ET had first reported on CK Birla?s approach to Adani. Adani?s offer was also contingent on obtaining environmental clearance for the expansion phase in Telangana, which the current Orient management was unable to commit to definitively, according to sources?

citation to ET. A formal announcement is expected before or during Orient Cement's upcoming quarterly earnings scheduled for July 19. However, the final valuation is still being worked upon and the deal may not happen if there?s a mismatch, said the people cited to ET.