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ACC-Ambuja: Know about the cement industry?s most anticipated bidding

Cement leaders have been aggressively running to grab the Holcim assets

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As tension mounts and speculations continue being made, the Indian cement industry has been closely watching the progress of Holcim Group?s exit from the country. The Swiss giant set off a whirlwind by putting its two listed cement arms ? ACC and Ambuja ? out in the market to evaluate options for their stake sale.

Holcim holds a 63.19 per cent share in Ambuja and 4.48 per cent in ACC, which is an Ambuja subsidiary. Ambuja additionally holds its own stake of 50.05 per cent in ACC. Holcim Group?s global cement capacity as of the current financial year is 293 mtpa with around 24 per cent of its total capacities housed in India. Ambuja?s current reported grinding capacity is 31.4 mtpa with plans to expand capacity to 39.9 mtpa by 2024, while ACC?s has been calculated at 34.9 mtpa to be increased to 39.7 mtpa by the first half of the next year.

These numbers mean that any player who manages to take over both ACC and Ambuja will be adding a combined pan-India capacity of 66 mtpa, promptly shooting any global player to a second position.

The contenders

The world?s largest cement maker reportedly has been believed to have held early-stage negotiations with JSW Cement and Adani Group to gauge their interests in this acquisition, with news reports indicating UltraTech as another formidable contender in this race. Apart from these, a few regional players such as Shree Cement have been approached as well.


JSW Cement
has a grinding capacity of approximately 15 mtpa. It primarily depends on imported clinkers since its present clinker capacity is 3.2 mtpa only. Shiva Cement, a JSW subsidiary, will increase its clinker capacity by 1.36 mtpa and cement capacity by 1 mtpa.


UltraTech
has a consolidated capacity of 119.95 mtpa while Adani does not have a presence in the cement market as of date, but has been planning its foray into the cement industry under its subsidiary Adani Cement Industries formed in July 2021.


Shree Cement
?s grinding capacity is 46.4 mtpa and has been consistent in its capacity additions, however, it has done only one acquisition in the domestic market and may reportedly face regulatory hurdles if it shows its interest in this deal.

The investment

Ambuja?s market capitalisation is Rs 764.77 billion and that of ACC?s is Rs 433.89 billion, together making the companies? total market cap at Rs 1.20 trillion. If signed, this deal stands to reportedly be one of the largest in the country.

The bids for the two assets are expected to be upwards of $10 billion. As Motilal Oswal?s recent cement sector update report mentions, ?Holcim will prefer a cash deal and not a share swap if it has plans to exit the Indian operations. This acquisition will require a huge investment by the acquirer and will make the complete exit a tall task.? The report adds that the acquirer will have to give an open offer in both the companies. The huge investments may lead to leveraging of the acquirer?s balance sheet, which generally is not favoured for a cyclical business.

Recent developments point out that JSW Cement has a couple of US private equity funds keen on this opportunity backing its funding, while Adani has reportedly tied up with multiple foreign banks such as Deutsche Bank and Barclays and domestic banks such as ICICI Bank and Axis Bank for funding the deal.

Benefits to the sector

This deal, if it goes through, should be positive for the sector in the near-to-medium term as the acquirer might not chase growth CAPEX immediately, the Motilal Oswal report observes. ?Acquisition by the Adani group, if it happens, may also alleviate concerns of an entry of a new aggressive player in the sector as the group?s immediate focus will be on streamlining the operations in the near term. In the long run, however, sector dynamics would depend on the growth plans and aggressiveness of the acquirer.?

ACC has undertaken expansion plans in the Central markets, whereas Ambuja has recently announced its expansion plans in the East. Holcim will obtain 1 per cent of the turnover of ACC and Ambuja as technology and know-how fees.

Everyone involved in the divestment, however, continues to be tightlipped. With a portfolio as impressive as Holcim?s, the industry awaits the results of perhaps the most anticipated and aggressive bidding the Indian cement industry has seen in recent times.

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Dalmia Bharat to Buy Jaypee Cement Assets for Rs 28.5 bn

Purchase under Adani led resolution plan valued at Rs 28.5 bn

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Dalmia Bharat will acquire the cement assets of JAL (Jaypee Associates Limited) for Rs 28.5 bn under an Adani led resolution plan, according to company sources. The transaction involves the purchase of manufacturing facilities and associated assets that form part of JAL’s cement operations, and it is framed as a strategic acquisition within a larger insolvency resolution overseen by an Adani group consortium. The move is presented as a consolidation play in a fragmented domestic cement market.

The company indicated that the acquisition will strengthen Dalmia Bharat’s geographic footprint and supply chain, enhancing its ability to serve regional demand and optimise logistics. The assets are expected to complement the purchaser’s existing capacity and provide additional clinker and grinding resources, allowing for potential efficiency gains through integration. Executives have described the deal as aligned with a broader strategy of targeted inorganic growth.

Financially, the headline consideration converts to roughly Rs 28.5 bn, reflecting the resolution price agreed under the plan. The purchase price and related terms are structured as part of the approved resolution framework and are subject to completion formalities. The parties expect customary regulatory clearances and creditor or adjudicatory confirmations to be completed before closing, with standard conditions precedent governing the transfer of assets.

Market observers noted that the deal illustrates ongoing consolidation in the sector, where larger groups are acquiring stressed or non core assets as part of resolution processes. Such transactions are seen as a mechanism to expedite recovery of value while enabling active players to expand capacity without developing greenfield projects. The combination of strategic fit and available asset bases is likely to influence competitive dynamics in specific regional markets.

Upon completion, Dalmia Bharat will integrate the acquired operations into its existing reporting and operational framework, with the intention of preserving operational continuity. Stakeholders will monitor execution on integration, regulatory approvals and the realisation of anticipated synergies as the parties move towards finalising the transfer of assets.

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Dalmia Acquires Five Point Two MnTPA Cement Assets in Central Region

Acquisition adds capacity, power and rail access

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Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited (DCBL) executed a business transfer agreement on 21 May 2026 to acquire a cement undertaking from Jaiprakash Associates Limited (JAL) and Adani Infra (India) Limited. The assets include plants at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh and Churk, Chunar and Sadwa in Uttar Pradesh with five point two million tonnes per annum (mn tpa) cement capacity and three point three mn tpa clinker capacity, plus 99 megawatt (MW) thermal power and railway sidings. The transaction carries an enterprise value of Rs 28.5 billion (bn).

DCBL, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dalmia Bharat Limited (DBL), will see cement capacity rise to 54.7 mn tpa on completion. Ongoing expansions at Belgaum, Pune and Kadapa are expected to raise capacity to 66.7 mn tpa by the second to third quarter of fiscal 2028. The company said the transaction would be consummated within two weeks.

The deal follows a framework signed in December 2022 to settle long running disputes with JAL, including a long term clinker supply arrangement. Completion was delayed when JAL entered insolvency and the earlier sale did not finalise. Following approval of a resolution plan under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, DCBL executed a fresh business transfer agreement to resolve pending legal and arbitral matters.

Company statements described the acquisition as strategic, accelerating access to central markets compared with a greenfield route and offering scope for expansion through debottlenecking and brownfield investment. Proximity to the company’s captive mines and established vendor relationships should support faster ramp up. The assets should augment EBITDA delivery and enhance returns by enabling entry into newer markets with relatively better prices.

Senior executives said the addition aligned with a long term plan to build a pan India presence and would provide a head start in central markets. They noted that familiarity with the plants under earlier tolling arrangements offers operational insight and strengthens channel relationships, supporting quicker market entry. Management expressed confidence that the assets’ expansion potential would generate value for stakeholders.

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Ramco Cements Reports FY26 Revenue Growth And Higher Profit

Net debt reduced as exceptional items boost FY26 earnings

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Ramco Cements reported standalone audited results for FY26 with net revenue of Rs 90,560 million (mn) and profit after tax of Rs 6,940 mn. EBIDTA rose to Rs 14,820 mn and blended EBIDTA per tonne was Rs 788 on a two per cent volume rise to 18.81 million (mn) tonne (t). Cement revenue increased by five per cent and construction chemicals revenue rose by 66 per cent.

Raw material cost per tonne rose to Rs 1,023 from Rs 956 mainly due to a mineral bearing land tax of Rs 160 per t in Tamil Nadu, adding about Rs 86 per t. Power and fuel cost per tonne fell to Rs 1,098 from Rs 1,123 with petcoke mix down to 47 per cent and green power up to 40 per cent.

Profit before tax after exceptional items was Rs 8,790 mn. Net exceptional items were Rs 5,530 mn, including Rs 5,740 mn from sale of surplus land and Rs 200 mn of past service cost. The company monetised Rs 10,980 mn from non core asset sales over the past two years and recorded capex of Rs 9,970 mn, with guidance of Rs 8,000 mn for FY27.

Net debt fell by Rs 8,170 mn to Rs 36,640 mn at 31 March 2026 and cost of debt eased to 7.29 per cent, reducing net debt to EBIDTA to 2.47 times. Management indicated the full impact of higher fuel costs is expected from Q2 FY27, while packing and diesel cost increases will be visible in Q1 FY27. The board has proposed a dividend of Rs two point five zero per equity share and the company flagged risks from elevated fuel and logistics costs, commodity volatility and competitive pricing.

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