The Board of the Investment Manager of IndiGrid, India’s first InvIT in the power sector, has approved the acquisition of Gurgaon Palwal Transmission Ltd (“GPTL”) from Sterlite Power, at a value of up to Rs.10.80 billion (US$ 140 million). This acquisition would increase the AUM of IndiGrid by 10 per cent to US$ 1.75 billion.
GPTL is part of Inter State Transmission Scheme (ISTS) network and consists of three gas insulated substations (GIS) with a total transformation capacity of 3,000 MVA and around 270 ckm of 400kV transmission lines spread across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. This project is built with substantial focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects. It is a strategic asset for ensuring reliable power supply in the region which may reduce the carbon emissions by reducing dependence on DG sets. The land requirement for this project is also substantially reduced with innovatively designed vertical GIS substation and monopole towers with micro-piling.
Post this acquisition, IndiGrid’s portfolio will increase to ten power transmission projects with a total network of 25 power transmission lines and 7 substations that span more than 6,080 ckm and 10,735 MVA across 15 Indian states post this acquisition.
IndiGrid had signed a framework agreement in April 2019 with Sterlite Power for acquisition of GPTL upon commissioning. The acquisition, subject to unitholders’ approval and other customary closing adjustments, will be funded through internal accruals, proceeds from the preference issue done in May 2019 and new debt. The acquisition will be accretive to IndiGrid and will leave sufficient debt headroom, with net debt / AUM of approximately 53 per cent post acquisition.
With a visibility of around Rs.180 billion (US$ 2.5 billion) assets under management over the next 15-18 months, IndiGrid remains suitably placed to diversify into other similar infrastructure asset class and further increase the returns for its unitholders without diluting the risk profile. IndiGrid intends to acquire solar projects with robust power purchase agreements, operational track record and financially strong counterparties / off-takers. In addition to long contract life and low risk cash flows, solar projects complement transmission portfolio with synergies on operations and regulatory establishments. With the operational and financial synergies, such diversification will result in additional accretion for unitholders while maintaining a AAA rated cash flows to unit-holders.
Commenting on the acquisition and the expansion strategy, Harsh Shah, Chief Executive Officer of IndiGrid, said “GPTL acquisition is in line with our strategy for acquiring transmission projects to grow returns for unitholders. Over last 12 months, we have raised around Rs. 25.10 billion of capital via preference issue and acquired around Rs.75 billion worth of transmission assets. It underlines our ability to grow our portfolio consistently and execute our strategy of enhancing investor returns while maintaining a strong balance sheet.”
In Q4 FY 2019-20, IndiGrid successfully acquired another operational ROFO asset ENICL from Sterlite Power.
Preferential issue: Earlier in the year, IndiGrid raised Rs.25.10 billion of capital by way of preferential issue which was subscribed by KKR and GIC amongst other marquee investors. It acquired NRSS XXIX and OGPTL projects from Sterlite Power for Rs.51 billion. In addition to that, it entered into an exclusive framework agreement with Sterlite Power to acquire three more projects worth Rs.65 billion as and when they are commissioned. KKR also acquired majority interest in the Investment Manager of IndiGrid.
(Featured photograph is for illustration only)
