Ambuja Cements pledges 50% share in ACC for loans

New Delhi: Ambuja Cements, now controlled by billionaire Gautam Adani-led Adani Group, on Wednesday said it has pledged 50.5 per cent shareholding in its subsidiary ACC Ltd as collateral for loans taken by the company.

The company pledged its total 9.39 crore shares of ACC Ltd on September 26, 2022, said a regulatory filing by Ambuja Cements. Adani has acquired the two firms -- Ambuja and ACC -- through a Mauritius-based SPV Endeavour Trade and Investment Ltd (ETIL), which is owned by Xcent Trade and Investment Ltd (XTIL).

"The shares of Endeavour Trade and Investment Ltd, Xcent Trade and Investment Ltd and Holderind Investments shall also be charged for such loans," it added. Last week, Adani Group had said it had pledged its entire stake worth $13 billion in Ambuja Cements and ACC, days after completing its $6.5-billion acquisition of the two companies.

Adani group has encumbered its 63.15 per cent stake in Ambuja Cements and 56.7 per cent stake in ACC (of which 50 per cent is held by Ambuja) to the Hong Kong Branch of Deutsche Bank AG. Ambuja Cements shares closed at Rs500.20 a piece on BSE on Wednesday and ACC Ltd's stock settled at Rs2,350.90. On September 16, Adani Group announced the completion of the acquisition of Ambuja Cements and ACC for USD 6.5 billion which includes the buyout of Swiss major Holcim's stake in the two firms and subsequent open offers to minority shareholders. While addressing shareholders after the completion of the deal, Gautam Adani had said his group has planned to double its cement manufacturing capacity and become the most profitable manufacturer in the country.

He saw a multi-fold rise in cement demand in India on the back of record-breaking economic growth and the government's infrastructure creation push, which will give significant margin expansion. In a speech made at an event to mark the completion of the acquisition on September 17.