IndiGrid Completes Acquisition of 9th Transmission Asset from Sterlite Power

IndiGrid has announced the acquisition of another transmission asset, ENICL from Sterlite Power at a value of USD 134 million.

India Grid Trust (IndiGrid), one of India’s leading infrastructure investment trust, has announced the acquisition of another transmission asset, East North Interconnection Company Limited Transmission Company Limited (ENICL), from Sterlite Power at a value of USD 134 million. With this acquisition, IndiGrid’s AUM will increase by 10 percent to ~USD 1.6 billion. IndiGrid’s asset portfolio will increase to nine power transmission projects, with a total network of 20 power transmission lines spanning across more than 5,800 circuit kilometres across 13 Indian states.

ENICL is a part of the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) network developed by Sterlite Power. It consists of two 400 KV transmission lines with a total of ~ 900 circuit kilometers across Assam, Bihar and West Bengal. It is a strategic asset, which is crucial for power exchange across the northeastern and eastern regions of India. IndiGrid had signed an extension of the Right of First Offer Agreement with Sterlite Power for ENICL in May 2019.

Harsh Shah, Chief Executive Officer of IndiGrid, said “this acquisition is in line with our strategy to acquire accretive assets with long term certainty of cash flows. Our focus is to not only ensure stable distribution to unit holders by owning assets with long term contracts but also grow it with accretive acquisitions. I am also happy to state that we have a robust investor base which beliefs in our strategy which is evident from the fact that this acquisition was approved unanimously in Extra-Ordinary General meeting held in February 2020. IndiGrid has another ~USD 855 Million (~ Rs 65 Billion) pipeline of transmission projects under the framework agreement with Sterlite Power providing visibility of ~USD 2.4 Billion (Rs 180 Billion) of AUM over next two years.”

The acquisition has been funded by internal accruals, proceeds from the preference issue done in May 2019 and new debt. For the purpose of refinancing the existing debt in ENICL, IndiGrid has availed funding of Rs 9 Billion from Axis Bank. With this acquisition, IndiGrid’s net debt/AUM will be at ~49 percent.

Pratik Agarwal, Managing Director of Sterlite Power, said, “Sterlite Power is proud to successfully close ENICL sale process in these turbulent times. This marks our eighth asset transfer to India Grid Trust and demonstrates our strong ability to commission and deconsolidate these system-critical assets from our balance-sheet. ENICL is one of the few critical transmission lines which connects the northeast of India to eastern India. We look forward to commissioning more assets in the next financial year and transfer about another one billion dollars worth of assets to IndiGrid.”

Earlier in this financial year, IndiGrid raised USD 330 million (Rs 25.1 billion) of capital by way of a preferential issue which was subscribed by KKR and GIC amongst other marquee investors. It acquired NRSS XXIX and OGPTL projects from Sterlite Power for USD 671 million (~ 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 a majority interest in the Investment Manager of IndiGrid.