JSW Steel To Buy Welspun Maxsteel

MUMBAI: Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Steel has entered into a definitive agreement with Welspun Enterprise (WEL), to acquire the entire equity shares held by the latter in Welspun Maxsteel (WMSL) for an enterprise value of Rs 1,000 crore plus net current assets as of August 31. The move is aimed at achieving the strategic goal to enhance its steel production to 40 MTPA in the next decade from 14.3 MTPA now. The agreement is subject to the relevant regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

WMSL has an installed capacity of 0.9 MTPA gas-based DRI plant, with a captive jetty and a captive railway siding and the steel unit is situated in close proximity to JSW’s Dolvi unit, offering complimentary infrastructure and location to augment the current envisaged expansions at Dolvi. “In line with this objective, JSW wishes to acquire the equity shares of WMSL,” said the company in a statement on Monday evening.

Seshagiri Rao, joint MD & group CFO, JSW Steel, said, “This acquisition is value-accretive to JSW Steel due to synergies in supplying surplus pellets to Welspun MaxSteel and use of DRI from WMSL in company’s steel-making operations at Dolvi plant.”

DRI plant is located in Salav village in Raigad district of Maharashtra. The captive jetty has an existing capacity of 2.5 MTPA, which is located at 1.8 km from the plant, while the captive railway siding is located at Roha junction on national Konkan Railway, 35 km from the DRI plant. WMSL also has vacant land of approx. 480 acres, available for future expansions.

The company has surplus pellets in its subsidiary Amba River Coke which will be supplied to WMSL. The cost of production in WMSL is expected to come down due to replacement of significant portion of its bought-out pellets with captive pellets. The DRI produced by WMSL shall initially be used partly by the company’s Dolvi unit, and would be consumed in the entirety post completion of its ongoing expansion to 5 MTPA.

Ernst & Young and Luthra & Luthra carried out financial and legal due diligence, respectively, for JSW Steel.

WEL identified WMSL as one of its non-core businesses. So it decided to exit the same. Also, the plant was running below its capacity due to irregular supply of natural gas from contracted suppliers, said WEL in a statement, adding that the transaction will strengthen company’s capabilities by synergizing all resources and reduce net debt liabilities considerably.

JSW Steel shares closed up marginally at Rs 1,277 while shares of WEL closed down 5% at Rs 257 in a firm Mumbai market on Monday. The deal was announced after the closure of market hours on Monday.