Adani Group’s Ambuja Cements on Thursday announced it would acquire Hyderabad based Penna Cement Industries Ltd (PCIL) at an enterprise value of Rs 10,422 crore. This is the group’s third acquisition since it entered the cement business less than two years ago, in September 2022.
The acquisition, Ambuja Cements said, would add 14 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to its capacity, taking the total capacity of Adani group’s cement business (ACC-Ambuja consolidated) to 89 mtpa. The deal is expected to be closed in three to four months.
Ambuja will acquire 100 per cent shares of PCIL from its existing promoter group P Pratap Reddy and family. PCIL has 14 MTPA capacity in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Rajasthan (under-construction). The acquisition will be fully funded through internal accruals.
“By acquiring PCIL, Ambuja is poised to expand its market presence in south India and reinforce its position as a pan-India leader in the cement industry. PCIL’s strategic location and sufficient limestone reserves provide an opportunity to increase cement capacity through debottlenecking and additional investment,'' said Ajay Kapur, CEO & Whole Time Director of Ambuja Cement.
‘Importantly, the bulk cement terminals (BCTs) will prove to be a gamechanger by giving access to the eastern and southern parts of peninsular India, apart from an entry to Sri Lanka, through the sea route. Our aim is to make PCIL highly competitive on cost and productivity and improve its operating performance,'' added Kapur.
Besides, it also has surplus clinker at Jodhpur plant which will support additional 3 MTPA cement grinding capacity. The deal will also strengthen Adani group's sea transportation logistics with five bulk cement terminals at Kolkata, Gopalpur, Karaikal, Kochi and Colombo to serve peninsular India.
On Thursday, shares of Ambuja Cements settled 0.63 per cent lower at ₹664.30 apiece after hitting a new 52-week high mark of ₹680.20 on the BSE.
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