Adani buys controlling stake in Gangavaram Port for ₹3,604 crore
NEW DELHI: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone on Tuesday said it will acquire controlling interest in Gangavaram Port Ltd (GPL) from DVS Raju and family for ₹3,604 crore taking its stake in GPL to 89.6%.
GPL is located in the northern part of Andhra Pradesh next to Vizag Port. “Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), India’s largest private ports and logistics company and the flagship transportation arm of the diversified Adani Group, is acquiring the 58.1% stake held by DVS Raju and family in Gangavaram Port Ltd (GPL),” it said in a statement.
The acquisition is valued at ₹3,604 crore.
APSEZ had announced acquisition of Warburg Pincus’ 31.5% stake in GPL on March 3, 2021, and together with this acquisition, APSEZ would have 89.6% stake in GPL.
“Ports play a major role in shaping the future. Through APSEZ’s 89.6% stake in Gangavaram port, the Adani Group will greatly expand its pan-India cargo presence. As India’s largest private sector port developer and operator, we will accelerate India’s and AP’s industrialisation,” Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani said in a tweet.
It is the second largest nonmajor port in Andhra Pradesh with a 64 MT capacity established under concession from Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) that extends till 2059. It is an all-weather, deep water, multipurpose port capable of handling fully laden super cape size vessels of up to 200,000 DWT, the statement said.
Currently, GPL operates 9 berths and has free hold land of 1,800 acres. With a master plan capacity for 250 MTPA with 31 berths, GPL has sufficient headroom to support future growth.
GPL handles a diverse mix of dry and bulk commodities including coal, iron ore, fertilizer, limestone, bauxite, sugar, alumina and steel. GPL is the gateway port for a hinterland spread over eight states across eastern, southern and central India, the statement said.
Karan Adani, CEO and wholetime director of APSEZ said, “The acquisition of GPL is a further augmentation of our vision of capitalizing on an expanded logistics network effect that generates greater value as it expands.” He added that “the associated hinterland we will now be able to tap into is one of the fastest growing in the eastern region and with the logistic synergies APSEZ brings to the table, GPL has a potential to become a 250 MT port. This will undoubtedly help accelerate the industrialisation of AP.