Jitendra Kumar Gupta / Mumbai October 12, 2009, 0:32 IST
Although there are some risks attached, Indiabulls Power’s IPO pricing is relatively lower than its peers
Many companies are harping on the growing demand for power in the country. In this light, several companies have announced big plans to set up power generation capacity; many have also raised the capital to fund their plans. Among new entrants is Indiabulls Power, a part of the Indiabulls group and a subsidiary of Indiabulls Real Estate which is coming out with a Rs 1562.80-1,758 crore IPO.
Track record
The Indiabulls group, which started with financial services and later forayed into real estate, took its first steps in the power sector during 2007 through its subsidiary, Indiabulls Power. So far, the group has delivered value for the investors. For instance, during 2004, Indiabulls Financial Services raised funds through an IPO at Rs 19 per share. At a later date, its real estate business was demerged.
Today, the combined value of both the companies works out to about Rs 550 per share. While this reflects that the group has created value, it has also executed major real estate projects indicating its execution capabilities in the business. In case of Indiabulls Power, its ability to sustain its past track record would be under test.
State of affairs
The company is setting up huge power generation capacities, for which it does not have prior experience. Thus, execution is a key concern. On the positive side, considering that three of its five projects have received the major regulatory approvals and have tied-up for required resources such as equipment, mines, land and water, the company seems to be in a reasonable position to execute these projects on time. Additionally, the company has put in place a managerial team with good experience in the power sector, which provides some comfort.
While the company proposes to build power generation capacities totalling 6,615 mw over the next 4-5 years, as of now, it does not have any. So far, it has achieved financial closure for two projects (Amravati Phase-1 and Nashik), while for the third projects (Bhaiyathan) it claims that the financial institutions have under-written a major part. These three projects which are at the advance stage of development, should be among the first ones to come on stream.
Its first project will be commissioned by September 2011 and hence, expect revenues to reflect only in the FY12. Although the company will not be generating any revenues and cash-flow in the medium-term, analysts believe that it might generate some revenues from mining activities as it gradually ramps up its captive mines. For its Bhaiyathan power project in Chhattisgarh which will be operational by December 2012, the company will require about 5 million tonne of coal every year. However, the company has been allotted mines with about 315 million tonne of coal reserves and mining activity is expected to start before the power project is commissioned, thus leading to surplus coal production in the interim.
PROJECT PIPELINE
in Rs crore
Amravati
Nashik
FY09
Bhaiyathan
Q1FY10
Chhattisgarh
FY09
Q1FY10
Capacity (mw)
Phase 1 - 1,320
Phase 2 - 1,320
1,335
1,320
1,320
Equipment status
To EPIL SEPCO
To be finalised
To be finalised
CNTICZJ China
To be finalised
Land
Allotted 1,350 acres
Alloted and
incl in phase 1
Recd 1,000 acres
on lease from IBREL
Alloted 700 acres
To be acquired
Water
Given up to 240 mld
Same as Amravati-1
Alloted by NMC
50 mln Cub mtr
To be tied up
Fuel
Mines alloted
Applied to CEA
Granted by MoC
Captive mines of
349.51 Mln tonne
Under consideration
PPA
With TPTCL for 1000
To be finalised
To be finalised
65% to CSEB
To be finalised
Status
Unit-I in June 2012
and fully on Sept 2012
First by March 2013,
and full in June 2013
Five units by Sep 2011,
commercial by 2012
Unit-I by Dec 2012.
Full by March 2013
Unit-1 June 2013
commercial by Sep 2013
Cost
6,888
5,587
6,048
6,796
5,734
Cost/MW
5.22
4.23
4.53
5.15
4.34
Financial closure
Completed
Yet to be tied up
Completed
Underwritten
Yet to be tied up
Source: Company
Off-take visibility
The company intends to sell about 75-80 per cent of the power generated through the long-term power purchase agreements (PPA), with the balance to be sold as merchant power which currently sells at a higher rate of over Rs 3-4 per unit. It has tied up for 1,000 mw, which will be generated from Amravati phase-1 project, for supply to Tata Power Trading Company.
Additionally, it has tied-up for sale of 65 per cent of its Bhaiyathan power generation capacity with Chhattisgarh Electricity Board. “However, for Bhaiyathan project PPA has been signed at a levelised tariff of Re 0.81 per unit, which is below the cost of generation which the company seeks to cover up through merchant sales,” says Crisil Research in its IPO grading note. For the rest of the projects the off-take agreements are yet to be tied up.
The company's focus to set up its power plants mainly in the western region is considered to be a relatively good strategy as the region has the highest power deficit of about 16 per cent, with peak power deficit at 19 per cent. Despite new capacities, the shortage will still be significant and thus, provide reasonable visibility in terms of demand as well as better merchant power tariffs. Being close to the load centre will help it curb transmission costs.
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