Adani eyes Equis Energy’s India assets; KKR-backed JBF in stake sale talks

By Keshav Sunkara

  • 18 Oct 2017
Gautam Adani, chairman and founder of Adani Group | Credit: Reuters

​​Billionaire Gautam Adani-controlled Adani Group is in ​the ​fray to acquire the Indian renewable assets of Singapore-based Equis Energy, ​The Economic Times​ reported citing​ ​people aware of the development​.

Adani Group has joined ​forces with Doha-based Nebras Power​, which is looking to buy Equis​' assets in the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and​ ​Australia​.

Equis Energy’s entire renewable energy portfolio​, valued at about $5 billion​, is up for sale​, the report added. The enterprise value of the Indian assets is Rs 5,500-6,000 crore​ ($845-920 million)​, or about Rs 8 crore per megawatt​. ​​

​​Mumbai-based polyester make​r ​JBF Industries Ltd is in talks with Indorama group, Reliance Industries Ltd and The Chatterjee Group for a stake sale, Mint reported citing two people aware of the development.​ The sale could​ ​​​​result in​ a ​change of management control​ at the ​debt-laden​ firm.

As on 30 September 2017, private equity major KKR held ​a ​20% stake in the company.​ ​KKR is actively participating in the talks to find a buyer for the company​, the report​ added.

Established in 1982, JBF Industries​ ​makes partially​-oriented yarn, polyester film​s and chips​, which are used in the fast-moving consumer goods, textile and packaging industries​. The company got listed in 1986.​

In August, Reuters reported that JBF RAK, ​the U​A​E​ subsidiary ​of ​JBF Industries, ​was in talks to sell its plant in Belgium for up to €250 million​ ​($298 million) to ​pare debt. ​

​​Punjab-based Capital Small Finance Bank, formerly Capital Local Area Bank, has​ ​received Rs 24.35 crore ​($3.75 million) ​from ​the ​Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and existing investors in its latest round of fund​-raising, Mint report​ed​​.

SIDBI made an equity investment of Rs 22 crore​ ($3.38 million)​, ​the ​report​ said​.

The 16-year-old ​firm was among the 10 entities ​to receive ​the Reserve Bank of India​'s in-principle approval for running a small finance bank in September 2015.​ ​It​ was the first to start small finance bank operations in April 2016.​