AMBUJACEM

April 10 (Reuters) - Ambuja Cements Ltd ABUJ.NS:

• APPROVED ALLOTMENT OF SHARES TO ELIGIBLE SHAREHOLDERS OF SANGHI INDUSTRIES

Source text: ID:nBSE7VR8yY

Further company coverage: ABUJ.NS

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April 1 (Reuters) - Ambuja Cements Ltd ABUJ.NS:

• AAHL, BLINKIT LAUNCH INDIA’S FIRST IN-TERMINAL QUICK COMMERCE SERVICE AT MUMBAI AIRPORT- STATEMENT

Source text: [ID:]

Further company coverage: ABUJ.NS

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Feb 9 (Reuters) - Ambuja Cements Ltd ABUJ.NS:

• AMBUJA CEMENTS LTD - NCLT SANCTIONS SCHEME BETWEEN SANGHI INDUSTRIES AND AMBUJA CEMENTS

Source text: ID:nBSE1JBB9k

Further company coverage: ABUJ.NS

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Feb 3 (Reuters) - Ambuja Cements Ltd ABUJ.NS:

• AJAY KAPUR SUPERANNUATED AS MANAGING DIRECTOR

Source text: ID:nBSE6trnDX

Further company coverage: ABUJ.NS

(([email protected];;))

** Shares of Adani Group-owned Ambuja Cements ABUJ.NS closed 4.8% lower to 510.15 rupees - its lowest since April 2025

** Co reports 88.4% drop in Q3 profit to 2.04 billion Indian rupees ($22.18 million)

** Co's quarterly revenue rises ~21% to 59.09 billion rupees

** More than 6.12 million shares change hands vs 30-day avg of 2.10 million shares

** Stock rated as "buy" on average by 40 analysts; median PT at 662.50 rupees - data compiled by LSEG

**YTD, stock down 8.3%

($1 = 91.9690 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Brijesh Patel in Bengaluru)

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Dec 22 (Reuters) - Orient Cement Ltd ORCE.NS:

• APPROVES AMALGAMATION WITH AMBUJA CEMENTS

• AMBUJA CEMENTS TO ISSUE 33 SHARES FOR EVERY 100 SHARES HELD IN CO

Source text: ID:nBSE1dm3Zl

Further company coverage: ORCE.NS

(([email protected];;))

Nov 5 (Reuters) - Ambuja Cements Ltd ABUJ.NS:

• AMBUJA CEMENTS LTD - RECEIVES ORDER DISALLOWING CENVAT CREDIT

• AMBUJA CEMENTS LTD - NO MATERIAL IMPACT EXPECTED ON FINANCIAL OR OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES

• AMBUJA CEMENTS LTD - RECEIVED ORDER DISALLOWING CENVAT CREDIT OF 4.5 MILLION RUPEES

Source text: ID:nBSE8KMZBP

Further company coverage: ABUJ.NS

(([email protected];;))

** Shares of Adani Group-owned Ambuja Cements ABUJ.NS rise as much as 3.07% to 582.75 rupees, stock last up 1.6%

** Co reports quarterly PAT of 13.88 billion rupees vs 5 bln rupees last year, on recovery in cement prices and higher than expected volume growth

** Co's quarterly rev from ops rises 26.17% to 51.39 billion rupees

** More than 3.37 million shares change hands vs 30-day avg of 1.73 million shares

** Stock rated as "Buy" on average by 39 analysts; median PT at 660 rupees - data compiled by LSEG

**YTD, stock up 8.20%

(Reporting by Mridula Kumar)

(([email protected]))

Sept 19 (Reuters) - Adani Group stocks gained between 1% and 9.6% on Friday, a day after India's markets regulator dismissed short-seller Hindenburg Research's allegations of stock manipulation against billionaire Gautam Adani and his group.

Adani Power ADAN.NS led gains among the nine entities with its 9.6% climb. Adani Enterprises ADEL.NS, the flagship firm, rose 4.4%.

(Reporting by Anuran Sadhu and Kashish Tandon in Bengaluru; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair)

(([email protected]; +91 8697274436;))

Adds new quotes

Sept 4 (Reuters) - India late on Wednesday announced tax cuts on hundreds of consumer items ranging from soaps to small cars to spur domestic demand, and simplified its complicated goods and services tax structure to two rate slabs from four, with some exceptions for luxury and "sin" goods.

The benchmark BSE Sensex .BSESN and Nifty 50 .NSEI rose 0.8% each in early sessions.

Here is how the industry has reacted so far:

ANISH SHAH, GROUP CEO & MD, MAHINDRA GROUP

"The next-generation GST reforms... mark a defining moment in India's journey towards building a simpler, fairer, and more inclusive tax system.

At Mahindra, we view these reforms as transformative. They simplify compliance, expand affordability, and energise consumption, while enabling industry to invest with greater confidence."

SAURABH AGARWAL, PARTNER & AUTOMOTIVE TAX LEADER, EY INDIA

"The rationalization of GST rates on automotive vehicles and parts is a truly welcome and significant development. By making vehicles more affordable across all segments, this move will not only boost consumer spending but also simplify complex classification disputes that have long burdened the industry."

SAMIR SHAH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CFO, HDFC ERGO GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY

"The GST Council decision to exempt individual health insurance from GST is a welcome development. This move aligns perfectly with the broader ambition of the regulator of 'Insurance for All by 2047,' providing a tangible step forward in that direction.

While it is anticipated that there will be lowering of the premiums due to lowering of the taxes, we are yet to understand the extent of this reduction as this will also depend upon availability of the input tax credit, which will become clearer over the coming days.”

NILESH SHAH, MANAGING DIRECTOR, KOTAK MAHINDRA ASSET MANAGEMENT CO

"The GST announcement lowers inflation, increases growth, boosts consumer sentiment, doesn't disturb the path of fiscal consolidation, improves ease of doing business and partially offers adverse effects of tariffs."

SHAILESH CHANDRA, PRESIDENT SOCIETY OF INDIAN AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURES

"This timely move is set to bring renewed cheer to consumers and inject fresh momentum into the Indian Automotive sector. Making vehicles more affordable, particularly in the entry-level segment; these announcements will significantly benefit

first-time buyers and middle-income families, enabling broader access to personal mobility."

C S VIGNESHWAR, PRESIDENT, FEDERATION OF AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATIONS

"The 56th GST Council meeting marks a watershed moment for India's automobile retail industry. This is a decisive step that will boost affordability, spur demand, and make India's mobility ecosystem stronger and more inclusive.

One area that may needs earliest clarification is about levy and treatment of cess balances currently lying in dealers' books, so that there is no ambiguity during transition."

SANJEEV ASTHANA, CEO, PATANJALI FOODS LIMITED.

"At Patanjali Foods, we are fully committed to passing on these benefits to our consumers. This initiative will not only enhance FMCG penetration across urban and rural India but also act as a catalyst for broader economic revival by lifting consumption and supporting allied sectors.

Our categories such as ghee, soaps, biscuits, noodles, honey, and chyawanprash will benefit from this reduction."

RADHIKA RAO, SENIOR ECONOMIST AT DBS BANK IN SINGAPORE

Lower GST rates will be positive for growth in the second half of the year and FY27, besides improving operational efficiency and expanding the size of the formal economy.

GARIMA KAPOOR, ECONOMIST, INSTITUTIONAL EQUITIES, ELARA SECURITIES, MUMBAI

"We expect GST related demand boost to add 100 to 120 bps to the GDP growth over next 4-6 quarters, thereby nullifying the negative impact of higher tariffs on exports to US. We remain constructive on the uptick in consumption demand in the economy as multiple policy levers turn favourable for the first time in a decade."

SHRIPAL SHAH, MD & CEO, KOTAK SECURITIES

"The GST rate cuts come at the right time which is just ahead of the festive season and against the backdrop of US tariff tiffs. Lower taxes on essentials, FMCG products, autos and cement will leave consumers with more money in hand.

This should directly boost demand, help traders and businesses see higher volumes, and may even favourably impact next quarter's earnings. It also carries the potential to ease inflation. The key will be how quickly companies pass on the benefits to customers."

DEVARSH VAKIL, HEAD OF PRIME RESEARCH AT HDFC SECURITIES

"The GST reforms represent a paradigm shift toward economic rationality, with rate reductions on essentials like dairy, medicines, and food directly benefiting consumers due to their inelastic nature.

Combined with RBI rate cuts, FY26 income tax rebates, and moderating inflation, these reforms create multiple stimuli for consumption and economic growth."

(Reporting by Chandini Monnappa, Bharath Rajeswaran and Manvi Pant in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Nivedita Bhattacharjee)

(([email protected]; https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandini-monnappa-8a37b013b/;))

The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are her own.

By Shritama Bose

MUMBAI, Aug 25 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A small paradox is gripping India's capital markets. The rise of institutional investors is pushing down overall shareholding levels of powerful private backers of companies, including tycoons. But other indicators point to this cohort's growing influence in the $4 trillion economy.

So-called promoter shareholdings in public firms fell to 40.58%, an eight-year low, per an analysis by PRIME Database of 2,086 companies listed on the main board of the National Stock Exchange. Over the past three years, promoters' share has fallen by 455 basis points, the research shows.

The quirky term is rooted in post-independence India's encouragement of entrepreneurs to promote local enterprise and describes owners that have large sway over the affairs of a company. These days, it assumes a mildly pejorative edge, making private banks and startups flaunt their lack of promoters as shorthand for good governance.

One reason for the rapid fall in their holdings from a peak of 45% in 2022 is an increase in listings of companies backed by financial sponsors like $32 billion food delivery firm Eternal ETEA.NS and its rival Swiggy SWIG.NS.

Older behemoths are warming up to external capital, too, though tycoons are hawking minority stakes in unlisted businesses. Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries RELI.NS sold shares in its retail and telecom units to investors from Meta META.O to KKR KKR.N in 2020 to cut debt, and Tata Motors TAMO.NS had TPG TPG.O jump in as a backer of its electric-vehicle unit in 2021.

Yet the reality on the ground suggests a tightening, not loosening, of their control. As global companies enter India, promoter-backed businesses are emerging as partners of choice. Fast fashion giant Shein has entered an alliance with Reliance Industries, and MG Motor has teamed up with Sajjan Jindal-backed JSW.

It's a result of New Delhi's protectionist policies and entrants' desire to scale up fast, but also a growing perception that it is not possible to win against the top domestic industrialists. M&A by large groups is reducing competition, too; Adani's Ambuja Cements ABUJ.NS and UltraTech ULTC.NS owner Kumar Mangalam Birla are rearranging the country's cement industry into a duopoly.

In fact, India Inc.'s shunning of leverage since the pandemic reduces the necessity of large owners to dilute their equity. Promoter entities own 50.07% of Reliance and up to 75% in each of the 10 listed Adani Group companies. The position of India's most powerful promoters is far from getting demoted.

Follow Shritama Bose on Linkedin and X.

CONTEXT NEWS

Stakes held by powerful private shareholders, known as promoters, in large Indian companies have fallen to an eight-year low in India.

Such shareholdings on the main board of the National Stock Exchange fell to 40.58% in June, per an analysis of 2,086 companies by PRIME Database.

Over the past three years, promoters' share has fallen by 455 basis points from 45.13% on March 31, 2022, the research shows.

(Editing by Una Galani; Production by Ujjaini Dutta)

((For previous columns by the author, Reuters customers can click on BOSE/[email protected]))

** Shares of Ambuja Cements ABUJ.NS rise as much as 2.20% to 609.8 rupees, the highest since October 10, 2024

** National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Ahmedabad approves the merger of Adani Cementation with ABUJ

** Move to help consolidate Adani group's cement business under ABUJ

** Stock exchange BSE also gives its "no adverse objection" to the merger over the weekend; NSE had already issued "no objection" letter on July 17

** ABUJ shares are up 11.4% in 2025 so far, outperforming the 0.6% rise in the Nifty Next 50 index .NN50

(Reporting by Bharath Rajeswaran in Bengaluru)

(([email protected]; +91 9769003463;))

** Shares of Ambuja Cements ABUJ.NS rise as much as 3% to 597.60 rupees, settles up 2.4%

** Multiple brokerages, including Morgan Stanley, Jefferies and JP Morgan, reiterate positive view on the cement maker's stock after meeting the management

** Morgan Stanley reiterates "overweight" rating and terms ABUJ as one of its preferred cement stocks, citing capability to gain market share and drive cost improvement

** Says ABUJ is well placed to become an earnings compounder over the next few years

** Jefferies reiterates "buy", while JP Morgan retains "neutral", both anticipating an improvement in earnings from the second quarter of fiscal 2026

** The average rating of 36 analysts tracking ABUJ is "buy"; the median price target is 627.50 rupees - LSEG

** ABUJ shares are up 10.9% in 2025 so far, outperforming the 1.1% rise in Nifty Next 50 index .NN50, exchange data shows

(Reporting by Bharath Rajeswaran in Bengaluru)

(([email protected]; +91 9769003463;))

June 24 (Reuters) - Ambuja Cements Ltd ABUJ.NS:

• COMMISSIONS 2.4 MTPA BROWNFIELD EXPANSION IN WEST BENGAL

• CEMENT CAPACITY INCREASES TO 102.95 MTPA

Source text: ID:nBSE7NjK8m

Further company coverage: ABUJ.NS

(([email protected];;))

Changes date; Adds Adani Green's response in paragraph 6, updates stock moves in paragraph 9

May 5 (Reuters) - Representatives for Indian billionaire Gautam Adani met officials from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to seek dismissal of criminal charges in an overseas bribery probe, with a resolution possible in a month, Bloomberg News reported.

In November, U.S. authorities indicted Adani and his nephew, Sagar Adani, alleging they paid bribes to secure power supply contracts, and misled U.S. investors during fund raises there.

The U.S. financial regulator summoned the duo, alleging they misled investors on compliance during a $750 million Adani Green ADNA.NS bond sale in the United States.

The billionaire's aides are trying to make the case that his prosecution does not align with Trump's priorities and should be reconsidered, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The discussions began earlier this year and have picked up in recent weeks, with a resolution possible within a month if the momentum continues, the report said.

Adani Green, in a statement on Monday, reiterated it was not part of any proceedings, but it did not directly comment on the report about the meetings. It had recently said its review of the indictment found no non-compliance or irregularities.

The Justice Department and White House declined comment to Bloomberg on the report and did not respond to Reuters for comment outside business hours.

Adani Enterprises, the group's flagship firm, also did not respond to a request for comment. The group has previously denied any wrongdoing.

Shares of Adani Group's nine Indian listed companies rose between 1.7% and 10.5% on Monday, amid a 0.6% increase in the broader market.

The indictment has erased about $13 billion in market value from Adani Group's nine listed firms.

(Reporting by Bipasha Dey, Nandan Mandayam and Kashish Tandon in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Mrigank Dhaniwala)

(([email protected];))

April 15 (Reuters) - Kaushalya Logistics Ltd KAUH.NS:

• KAUSHALYA LOGISTICS LTD - COMMENCES OPERATIONS AT KATIHAR DEPOT FOR AMBUJA CEMENTS

Source text: ID:nNSE21xfKq

Further company coverage: KAUH.NS

(([email protected];))

March 28 (Reuters) - India's Ambuja Cements ABUJ.NS has re-designated CEO Ajay Kapur as the managing director and named Vinod Bahety as its new chief, the Adani Group company said on Friday, effective April 1.

Kapur, who has spent three decades working in the cement, construction, power and heavy metals sectors, has been appointed for a two-year term while Bahety will serve as CEO for three years.

Bahety has been the finance chief for Ambuja and ACC ACC.NS, both subsidiaries of billionaire Gautam Adani's conglomerate, since September 2022.

The rejig comes as consolidation in India's cement sector intensifies, with Ambuja Cements charting an acquisition spree to rival the Aditya Birla Group-owned UltraTech Cement ULTC.NS. The two companies have jostled for market share amid expectations the government will continue to spend heavily on infrastructure.

(Reporting by Ashish Chandra in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)

(([email protected]; +91 7982114624;))

** The rough patch for India's cement sector due to demand slowdown in fiscal year 2025 and rising competition after Adani's entry is coming to an end, says UBS

** Upgrades UltraTech Cement ULTC.NS to "buy" from "neutral" and hikes price target to 13,000 rupees from 9,000 rupees

** UBS also upgrades Ambuja Cements ABUJ.NS and Dalmia Bharat DALB.NS to "buy" from "sell", while reiterating "buy" on ACC ACC.NS

** Forecasts demand to bounce back in fiscal year 2026 due to pick-up in government capex after an election-led slowdown in FY2025, housing upcycle, improving rural outlook and policy support

** Estimates core profit CAGR of 18%-43% over FY2025-27 for the four cement companies

** Expects market leaders ULTC and Adani group-owned ACC and ABUJ to have an upper hand as sectoral consolidation continues

** ULTC, ACC, Ambuja Cements shares are down 3.28%, 5.8% and 3.1%, respectively in 2025 so far; benchmark Nifty 50 .NSEI is little changed over the same period

(Reporting by Bharath Rajeswaran in Bengaluru)

(([email protected]; +91 9769003463;))

In March 4 story, corrects paragraph 1 to clarify Ambuja Cements is buying Orient Cement, not India Cements

March 4 (Reuters) - India's antitrust watchdog, approved Ambuja Cements' ABUJ.NS acquisition of Orient Cement ORCE.NS on Tuesday, months after the Adani Group company first announced the deal.

Ambuja Cements, India's second-largest cement maker, in October revealed plans to buy stake worth $451 million in Orient Cement, intensifying competition with industry leader UltraTech Cement ULTC.NS.

Competition in the Indian cement sector has heated up recently, with UltraTech and the Adani Group companies striking a slew of deals to acquire smaller firms and expand their market share.

Analysts had doubted Ambuja's deal would win regulatory approval, considering recent acquisitions that have led to industry oversupply. Ambuja's shares fell 2.3% on October 22 when the deal was first announced.

Since October 22, Ambuja Cements' shares have dropped about 15%, while Orient Cements' shares have fallen nearly 5%.

In recent years, Ambuja has acquired smaller rivals Sanghi Industries SNGI.NS and Penna Cement PENC.NS.

(Reporting by Manvi Pant in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

(([email protected]; +918447554364;))

** Shares of Ambuja Cements ABUJ.NS climb 1.9% to 484 rupees, while Orient Cement ORCE.NS rises 2.3% to 334.95 rupees

** India's antitrust watchdog on Tuesday approved Ambuja's acquisition of Orient, months after the Adani Group company first announced the deal

** ORCE set for busiest trading session in over four months, with volumes at 6.8x the 30-day avg; ABUJ's vols relatively muted at about 0.3x its 30-day avg

** ABUJ on track to for biggest one-day gain in a month, ORCE for best day in more than 3 months

** ABUJ stock rated "buy' on avg, ORCE rated "sell" - data compiled by LSEG

** Ambuja and Orient are down about 11% and 4.5% YTD, respectively

(Reporting by Manvi Pant in Bengaluru)

(([email protected]; +918447554364;))

March 4 (Reuters) - Ambuja Cements Ltd ABUJ.NS:

• INDIA COMPETITION REGULATOR: APPROVES PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF UP TO 72.8% STAKE OF ORIENT CEMENT BY AMBUJA CEMENTS

Source text: [ID:]

Further company coverage: ABUJ.NS

(([email protected];;))

March 3 (Reuters) - Kaushalya Logistics Ltd KAUH.NS:

• COMMENCES OPERATIONS AT DARBHANGA DEPOT FOR ACC AND AMBUJA CEMENT

Source text: ID:nNSE9CFgmG

Further company coverage: KAUH.NS

(([email protected];;))

Adds production start date for eDCTs in paragraph 8, union comment in paragraphs 10-11

MILAN, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Stellantis STLAM.MI said on Monday it would make dual-clutch transmissions for hybrid vehicles at its Termoli plant in Southern Italy, which its joint venture ACC has earmarked for the creation of an electric vehicle battery-making hub.

The Termoli plant, which currently makes engines, is one of three sites in Europe where Stellantis-led ACC has announced plans to create EV battery-making gigafactories.

While a gigafactory in France has already started operations, plans for two similar facilities in Italy and Germany were officially paused last year, as ACC was switching to lower cost batteries amid slowing demand for EVs.

A spokesperson for ACC - which also has Mercedes MBGn.DE and TotalEnergies TTEF.PA as shareholders - said on Monday the JV was still assessing its investment plans for Italy and Germany with an aim to take a decision within this year, but not before June.

Stellantis' announcement on Termoli does not change the ongoing situation, the spokesperson added.

Earlier this month the CEO of TotalEnergies, which owns a 25% stake in ACC, said the JV should focus its efforts just on the French plant, signaling the plans for the Italian and German gigafactories could be eventually scrapped.

Stellantis said in a statement on Monday it will produce electrified dual clutch transmissions (eDCT), a key component for hybrid vehicles, in Termoli starting from 2026, to help expand its hybrid product line.

It made no reference to ACC's plans for the plant.

"With a target of three hundred thousand units per year, Termoli becomes Stellantis' third production hub for this sophisticated transmission," the company said.

The automaker already makes eDCTs in Mirafiori, Italy, and Metz, France.

Italy's major metalworker unions welcomed the announcement on Monday, saying eDCT production would provide employment for around 300 of the total 1,800 staff at the Termoli plant.

Gianluca Ficco of UILM union said long-term decisions were now needed for the future of the plant, including on the gigafactory plan.

Stellantis also said on Monday it would increase production levels for key components needed to support increased eDCT output at its plants in Sint Truiden, Belgium, and in Metz.

It added it would also install a new assembly line for the components in Metz.

Stellantis, the world's fourth largest carmaker, currently has a separate plan with Chinese battery maker CATL 300750.SZ to build a 4.1 billion euro ($4.3 billion) gigafactory in Spain.

($1 = 0.9537 euros)

(Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari; Editing by Cristina Carlevaro, Valentina Za and Jan Harvey)

(([email protected]))

Feb 12 (Reuters) - Jupiter Wagons Ltd JUWL.NS:

• BAGS 6 BILLION RUPEES ORDER FROM AMBUJA CEMENT AND ACC

Source text: ID:nBSEgv341

Further company coverage: JUWL.NS

(([email protected];;))

By Hritam Mukherjee

Feb 1 (Reuters) - Indian cement companies' shares fell in a special trading session on Saturday after the government announced a 'modest' spending hike for infrastructure projects in the annual budget , which failed to impress investors.

UltraTech Cement's ULTC.NS shares dropped 2.7%, while those of rival Adani Group's cement firms Ambuja ABUJ.NS and ACC ACC.NS slumped 4.5% and 2.3% respectively.

Other big cement firms - Shree SHCM.NS and Dalmia Bharat DALB.NS - declined 3% and 2% respectively.

The Indian government said it will spend a record 11.21 trillion rupees ($129.54 billion) on infrastructure in the upcoming financial year that begins on April 1, but the increase in planned spending disappointed markets.

"The capex outlay for fiscal year 2026.. looks modest compared to raises made in FY25 and FY24 budget, and misses market expectations slightly," said Amit Anwani, research analyst at Prabhudas Lilladher.

Cement, a key construction material, is a direct beneficiary of government's capital spending. India's infrastructure index .NIFTYINFR reversed gains following the budget announcement, and was last down 1.5%.

(Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Varun H K)

(([email protected]; X: @MukherjeeHritam;))

Jan 29 (Reuters) - Ambuja Cements Ltd ABUJ.NS:

• AMBUJA CEMENTS Q3 PAT 17.58 BILLION RUPEES; IBES EST. 5.13 BILLION RUPEES

• AMBUJA CEMENTS Q3 REV FROM OPS 48.50 BLN RUPEES; IBES EST. 45.86 BLN RUPEES

Further company coverage: ABUJ.NS

(([email protected];))

Updates with analyst comments in paragraphs 4,6, background in paragraphs 5,7

By Hritam Mukherjee

Jan 13 (Reuters) - India's markets regulator has approved JSW Cement's JSWC.NS initial public offering, a notification on the regulator's website showed on Monday, four months after it put the IPO on hold for reasons it did not disclose.

The cement-making arm of the steel-to-energy JSW group filed for an IPO worth up to 40 billion rupees ($461.52 million) in August, aiming to capitalise on the country's booming stock market and long-term demand growth expectations for the building material.

In 2024, 91 large firms went public and raised a record 1.6 trillion rupees via IPOs, according to analytics firm Prime Database, with the bull run expected to continue in 2025.

"The approval came later than expected but came at the right time for the company as investor focus now shifts towards capital expenditure allocations in the upcoming federal budget, which would bring sectors like cement under the spotlight," said Mahesh Ojha, a research analyst at Hensex Securities.

India's finance minister will present the country's annual budget for 2025/2026 on Feb. 1.

"Plus, the parent group is well-known, so I expect strong investor interest in this IPO, especially from institutions for their long-term investment priorities," Ojha added.

The sector has been witnessing increased dealmaking recently, led by a face-off between Aditya Birla Group's UltraTech ULTC.NS - the market leader - and its challenger, Adani-owned Ambuja Cements ABUJ.NS, while depressed prices and demand cool-down also weigh on the earnings of listed firms.

JSW Cement had said it would issue fresh shares worth 20 billion rupees, with existing shareholders also selling shares worth the same amount.

($1 = 86.6710 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)

(([email protected]; X: @MukherjeeHritam;))

Adds analyst comment in paragraph 5, 9 and share movement in paragraphs 7, 8

By Hritam Mukherjee and Ashna Teresa Britto

Dec 27 (Reuters) - UltraTech ULTC.NS India's top cement maker will buy an 8.69% stake in Star Cement STAT.NS, it said on Friday, in a deal worth up to 8.51 billion rupees ($100 million) for a company that rival Adani Group was reportedly interested in acquiring.

UltraTech said it would pay not more than 235 rupees per Star Cement share, a 2% premium to the stock's closing price on Thursday.

Since billionaire Gautam Adani's ports-to-power conglomerate entered the sector in 2022 to challenge Aditya Birla Group-owned UltraTech's pole position, there has been a wave of deals as the two jostle for market share amid expectations the government will continue to spend heavily on infrastructure.

Local media had previously reported that the Adani Group was considering acquiring Star Cement, the biggest player in India's northeast. Star has said it was not engaged in any such talks.

"Now that UltraTech has made the first move on Star, there is a little chance that Adani will pursue the deal," said Ashutosh Murarka, an analyst with Choice Broking.

Adani Group did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Star Cement's shares initially jumped 7% to 247 rupees, above the maximum offer price, which typically indicates investors expect a higher bid or a rival offer. However, the stock has since eased to trade around the offer price.

UltraTech's shares were off 0.4%. Shares of Adani-group controlled Ambuja Cements ABUJ.NS were flat, while those of ACC ACC.NS were down 1%.

UltraTech could consider acquiring a larger stake in Star Cement to boost its northeast presence and hasten the pace of meeting its capacity goals, said Murarka.

Star Cement, like many small cement firms, has suffered from the competition among the market leaders. Its annual sales growth will likely slow to 6.8% this fiscal year, from 22% in 2023, brokerage Nirmal Bang estimated.

($1 = 85.3450 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Ashna Teresa Britto and Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)

(([email protected]))

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Ambuja Cements Ltd ABUJ.NS:

• ANNOUNCES AMALGAMATION OF SANGHI INDUSTRIES, PENNA CEMENT WITH CO

• TRANSACTION EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN 9-12 MONTHS

• FOR EVERY 100 SHARES OF SANGHI INDUSTRIES, CO WILL ISSUE 12 SHARES

Source text: ID:nBSE6KhpvC

Further company coverage: ABUJ.NS

(([email protected];))