Displaying items by tag: India
Dalmia Bharat to pursue northern market after Binani disappointment
26 November 2018India: Dalmia Bharat is reported to be planning a 4Mt/yr greenfield cement plant in Rajasthan to cover the north Indian market. It was earlier reported to have secured limestone mining rights in the area surrounding Chittogarh and it has recently missed out on the purchase of northern cement maker Binani Cement to its rival Ultratech Cement.
Speaking to Business Standard, a Dalmia Bharat spokesperson said, “If we aren’t able to foray into North India via acquisition, we’ll do it via a greenfield project.” He added that the plant will start with a single 2Mt/yr line, with a second to be added later.
This new proposal gives Dalmia Bharat exposure to Rajasthan and neighbouring Gujarat, opening the wider nothern region up to the company. “The region is expected to register good growth in the next 10 years, which makes this market lucrative for us. It has always been our endeavour to be present across the country,” concluded the spokesperson.
Union criticises management at Meghalaya Cherra Cement
23 November 2018India: The employees union of state-owned Meghalaya Cherra Cement has given the government two weeks to pay back salary from 2015 to 2016 and overtime payments since 2013. Union president S Diengdoh criticised the state-owned plant for poor management and low production, according to the Sentinel newspaper. The union alleges that the plant has an utilisation rate of only 30% and poor levels of safety.
UltraTech Cement declares Binani Cement is its subsidiary
22 November 2018India: UltraTech Cement says that Binani Cement has become a wholly-owned subsidiary. The announcement to its shareholders follows a protracted legal battle with Dalmia Bharat group over the outcome of an auction for the insolvent producer. The acquisition includes production capacity in Rajasthan as well as subsidiaries in China and the UAE.
Supreme Court backs National Company Law Appellate Tribunal on UltraTech’s bid for Binani Cement
20 November 2018India: The Supreme Court has upheld a decision by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) to approve a revised US$1.11bn bid for Binani Cement. The court rejected a challenge by Rajputana Properties, a subsidiary of rival bidder Dalmia Bharat group, according to the Hindu newspaper. UltraTech Cement made a direct bid for the bankrupt Binani Cement following an auction in March 2018 that was originally won by Dalmia Bharat. Dalmia Bharat disputed UltraTech Cement’s offer and the two companies have conducted legal campaigns to reinforce their respective claims.
JK Lakshmi Cement’s earnings hit by fuel prices in first half
15 November 2018India: JK Lakshmi Cement’s income fell slightly to US$250m in the first half of its financial year to 30 September 2018, from US$251m in the same period in 2017. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) decreased by 13% to US$29.4m from US433.7m It has blamed the fall in its profitability on rising petcoke and diesel prices.
In its half-year report it added that work on a 20MW power plant at its Durg cement plant is expected to be completed by the end of March 2019. A cement grinding plant in Orissa is also expected to be finished from the start of 2019.
National Company Law Appellate Tribunal approves UltraTech Cement’s bid for Binani Cement
14 November 2018India: The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has approved a revised bid by UltraTech Cement for Binani Cement. The tribunal approved UltraTech’s resolution plan and said that the plan submitted by Rajputana Properties, a subsidiary of rival bidder Dalmia Bharat group, was ‘discriminatory’ against some financial creditors, according to the Press Trust of India. In July 2018 the Supreme Court transferred all matters related to corporate insolvency resolution process of Binani Cement to the NCLAT Kolkata.
True North to buy 75% stake in Shree Digvijay Cement Company Limited
13 November 2018India: Private equity company True North has signed a deal to buy Votorantim Cimentos’ direct and indirect 75% stake in Shree Digvijay Cement for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition will require completion of a mandatory open offer to the minority shareholders of Shree Digvijay Cement. JM Financial Limited is acting as the manager to the open offer.
“Votorantim Cimentos has contributed significantly to the strategic initiatives taken at Shree Digvijay Cement over the last few years. This has strengthened its competitive positioning and has greatly improved its operating and financial performance. True North firmly believes in Shree Digvijay Cement’s competitive positioning and is looking forward to partnering with the existing management and employees of the company. We are very excited about this opportunity, with fresh investment and new thinking we can create a lot of value for all,” said Said Srikrishna Dwaram, a partner with True North.
True North holds experience with investments in the Indian construction and building materials space. It has owned and managed two businesses in the sector: RDC Concrete, a manufacturer of ready-mix concrete and Robo Silicon, a manufacturer of construction aggregates.
State minister blames poor roads for keeping investors away from Chamba cement plant project
13 November 2018India: Industries minister of Himachal Pradesh Vikram Sing has blamed poor road networks for the state government’s failure to find investors for a proposed cement plant project at Sikridhar in the Chamba district. The ministry is now proposing that the state build a road to the project site as an incentive, according to the Times of India newspaper. The local government received no bids for the project in the latest round of bidding.
India Cements’ sales revenue stable in first half
09 November 2018India: India Cements’ revenue has remained stable at US$379 in the first half of its financial year to 30 September 2018. Its profit more than halved to US$3.01m from US$6.91m. The cement producer is currently appealing against allegations of cartel-like behaviour by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). In late October 2018 it said it was buying Springway Mining for the aim of eventually building a new cement plant in Madhya Pradesh.
India: The Industries Department of Himachal Pradesh is planning to re-advertise the tender for a white cement plant project at Sikridhar in the Chamba district. The state government received no bids for the project in the last round of bidding, according to the Tribune newspaper. Only ACC expressed any interest in the process by buying the big papers.
The local government wants the project to be awarded by May 2019 and it is expected to cost around US$138m. The project is a long running scheme that was first suggested in 2002.