Dalmia Bharat nears deal for JAL cement assets after Adani insolvency takeover: sources

Dalmia Bharat Ltd will acquire the cement assets of Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL) for more than Rs 2,500 crore, sources said, as the Adani Group moves to carve up and integrate key businesses of the infrastructure conglomerate following its acquisition under the insolvency process.

The proposed transaction would give Dalmia Bharat control of JAL's 5.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) cement capacity and 3.3 MTPA clinker capacity, the sources said.

Dalmia Bharat did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

Adani Group had acquired JAL under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), marking it one of India's largest multi-asset infrastructure resolutions across power, EPC, logistics-linked land, real estate, hospitality and ancillary businesses.

Dalmia had previously entered into an agreement with JAL for the cement assets before the company entered insolvency proceedings, but the transaction had run into legal disputes and shareholder challenges.

Dalmia has now signed an agreement with JAL and the Adani Group to settle all disputes, pending legal proceedings, arbitral awards and prior framework arrangements related to the cement business, the sources said, adding that a formal announcement is expected soon.

Dalmia Bharat's earlier attempt to acquire the cement assets for Rs 5,666 crore had faced legal hurdles linked to a shareholder dispute.

JAL was admitted into the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) by the National Company Law Tribunal's Allahabad bench on June 3, 2024, following a petition by ICICI Bank.

The Adani Group recently completed the acquisition of Jaiprakash Associates under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), marking one of India's largest multi-asset infrastructure resolutions spanning power, EPC, logistics-linked land, real estate, hospitality and ancillary businesses.

Separately, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) on Thursday said it had acquired a 100 per cent stake in JFIL, the holding company of Kanpur Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd (KFCL), according to a stock exchange filing.

KFCL owns around 243 acres of land in Kanpur, which APSEZ said is strategically suited for developing a logistics park and warehousing facilities to strengthen its inland logistics operations in North India.

The fertiliser business has remained dormant for several years.

APSEZ said the acquisition aligns with its target of expanding its multi-modal logistics park network from 12 to 16 and increasing warehousing capacity fourfold by 2031.

Adani Power Ltd (APL) has also acquired JAL's power assets, further expanding its generation portfolio of 18,150 MW.

APL, in an exchange filing, said it had entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire JAL's 24 per cent stake in Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd (JPVL) for Rs 2,994 crore.

JPVL owns and operates three power plants with a combined capacity of 2,220 MW, a 2 MTPA cement grinding unit and a 3.92 MTPA coal mine.

APL has also signed a business transfer agreement for the acquisition of JAL's 180 MW thermal power plant at Churk, along with related assets, including an 11.49 per cent stake in Prayagraj Power Generation Company Ltd.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)