Tata Power on Tuesday said its arm Khopoli Investments will divests its entire 50% stake in South African joint venture Cennergi for $106 million (around 761 crore). According to a company statement, Cennergi (Pty) Ltd is a 50:50 joint venture between Exxaro Resources and Khopoli Investments, a 100% subsidiary of Tata Power. Exxaro is a leading South African coal producer.
“Khopoli Investments announced the execution of a share purchase agreement with Exxaro Resources for the divestment of the company’s entire 50% stake in Cennergi…for an amount of ZAR (South African Rand ) 1,550 million ($106 million), subject to normal working capital and other adjustments,” a Tata Power statement said.
The agreement is likely to be completed by December quarter of this fiscal. Post this transaction, Exxaro will have 100% ownership of Cennergi.
“The decision to monetise this South African asset is in alignment with our stated strategy to deleverage the balance sheet by divesting sub-optimal size international assets,” said Praveer Sinha, CEO & Managing Director, Tata Power.
Cennergi in turn owns two wind farms in South Africa – Amakhala Emoyeni (with generation capacity of 134.4 MW and 95 per cent shareholding) and Tsitsikamma Community Wind Farm (with generation capacity of 95.3 MW and 75 per cent shareholding). Each project has a 20-year power purchase agreement with the State power utility Eskom.
ABSA Bank was the sole advisor to Khopoli for the transaction.
The collaboration between Exxaro and Tata Power over the past seven years to develop these projects has been commendable and outstanding success in South Africa’s implementation of its energy strategy, said Mxolisi Mgojo, CEO of Exxaro Resources.
