Tata Power buy indicates ‘consolidation happening in sector’

[Editor: According to Money Control, November 18, 2014, the original MoU between JSW Energy Ltd (Rs.102.15) and JP Power Ventures Ltd (Rs.11.74), also included the Bina Thermal Unit. Bina is still on the radar of JSW Energy, according to a company spokesman. It is just that JSW Energy and Jaypee Groups were able to conclude the due diligence for these two projects (300 MW Baspa-II and 1091 MW Karcham Wangtoo hydro electric plant) much quicker than Bina. So, they decided to go ahead with these two projects in the first tranche. Moreover, the situation in the Coal space has become much fluid now, with Government of India taking a number of steps, to boost the supply of coal in India. Zee Business on 18 December 2014, wrote: "Government of India is scheduled to allot, auction 101 coal mines in 1st lot". Therefore, the next in the takeover-list of JSW Energy is Bina Thermal Power Plant. The 1st part of the deal is likely to completed by 30th April, 2014 and probably after that the due deligence for Bina Thermal Power Plant would pick up steam. Hence, there is no reason to sell the shares of Jaiprakash Power Ltd, because Jagannadham Thunuguntla has said so--in fact, he has not done proper research on the company] 

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December 10, 2014: Tata Power has agreed to buy the entire stake in Ideal Energy Projects Ltd (IEPL) for an undisclosed amount. IEPL owns a 540-MW coal-based thermal power project near Bela village in Nagpur, Maharashtra, of which 270 MW was commissioned in May 2013.

Going by the average of the recent acquisitions in the power sector, the deal size could be upwards of ₹2,700 crore. The Adani Group had acquired Lanco Infratech’s 1200-MW Udupi power plant for about ₹6,000 crore in August and Avantha Power’s 600-MW Korba West project in Chhattisgarh for ₹4,200 crore in November.

Ideal Energy is promoted by DP Mhaiskar, who also founded toll road development company IRB Infrastructure Developers. “We are happy to announce our intent to acquire this project in Maharashtra,” said Anil Sardana, MD and CEO of Tata Power.

Rise in generation

With this acquisition, Tata Power’s total generating capacity will increase to 8,885 MW. “Consolidation of business has started and this is probably the fourth instance within a couple of months where large power generators have acquired power plants from fringe players,” said Arun Kejriwal, founder of KRIS Research. “This will help in generating quality power and keeping costs under control.”

The recent spate of acquisitions in the sector indicates that private players are positioning themselves to ride the growth in demand for power as the GDP picks up. The companies’ ability to raise funds has given them an edge over rival players. In November, JSW Energy inked a deal to buy two hydroelectric projects, which have a combined capacity of 1,391 MW, from Jaiprakash Power Ventures for ₹9,700 crore in cash.

Kameswara Rao, Leader-Energy, Utilities and Mining, PwC India, said a strong M&A deal flow is healthy in an economy as it brings in new owners who are better placed to deal with an asset’s specific problems.

Though this is not so easy in the power sector, given the regulations, the current deals reflect financing capabilities of the players with deeper pockets, analysts said.

Courtesy: The Hindu Business Line