Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Holcim to buy additional stake in ACC and Gujarat Ambuja

Swiss cement company Holcim is planning to increase its control in ACC and Gujarat Ambuja Cements for around Rs. 2700 crores. Holcim is in talks to buy Gujarat Ambuja Cements’ 33% stake in Ambuja Cement India Limited (ACIL). ACIL, in turn, holds 35% in ACC and 9.93% in Gujarat Ambuja Cements. At present, Holcim owns 67% in ACIL. The acquisition will make ACIL a wholly-owned Holcim subsidiary.

The proposed move by Gujarat Ambuja is in line with its two-year-old agreement with Holcim under which it had reserved the put (or sell) option and Holcim had the call (buy) option for one-third of ACIL. In 2005, Holcim had bought a 67% stake in ACIL, 40% from the government of Singapore and American International Group and 27% through subscription of preferential shares, for $800 mn (Rs. 3502 crores).

Read the Business Standard article.

No comments: