Aegis Logistics and Royal Vopak of the Netherlands to form a major joint venture for LPG and chemical terminals in India

Today, Aegis and Vopak announced that the companies have decided to join forces in India with the aim to grow together in the LPG, chemicals storage and handling business.

The new partnership, Aegis Vopak Terminals Ltd (AVTL), will operate a network of terminals that are currently located in five strategic ports along the east and west coast of India. With a total capacity of around 960,000 m3, the partnership will become one of the largest independent tank storage companies for LPG and chemicals in India. LPG is earmarked by the Indian government to provide cleaner and safe cooking fuels for households.

The partnership is well positioned for further growth, which targets mainly LPG and also chemicals and industrial terminal opportunities. This investment is another step for Vopak towards its strategy to allocate capital to grow in gas markets.

"This joint venture with Vopak will accelerate the growth of Aegis in the terminals business and has the potential to allow Aegis to diversify into new areas of gas storage such as LNG and other energy projects including renewables, in partnership with the world's leading independent tank storage company. We expect the deal to be significantly earnings enhancing for Aegis shareholders due to the deployment into growth opportunities of the combined financial firepower of the two groups and management in the terminals business." said Raj Chandaria, Chairman of Aegis Logistics Ltd.

"This is an investment in a growth market and by joining forces with Aegis we aim to deliver growth over the next ten years in line with the new joint ventures and India's ambition for LPG." said Eelco Hoekstra, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Royal Vopak. "We are very excited for this new partnership. Aegis is a reputed local partner with a ready organization and proven track record of conceiving and executing tank farm assets in strategic locations along the Indian coastline,"

The transaction is expected to close early 2022, subject to customary closing conditions.

Joint venture structure

This transaction entails two separate legal entities that Vopak will simultaneously buy into on the basis of joint control:

- The Aegis Vopak Terminals Ltd entity, in which Vopak will acquire a 49% shareholding. Vopak's existing CRL terminal entity in Kandla will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Aegis Vopak Terminals Ltd. Aegis' network of terminal assets at 5 different locations in Kandla, Pipavav, Mangalore, Kochi and Haldia covering the West and East coast of India will be added to the JV asset base.

- The Hindustan Aegis LPG Ltd entity, in which Vopak will acquire a 24% shareholding. This is currently a joint venture between Aegis and Itochu. After the transaction Aegis will own 51% and Itochu will continue to hold 25%.

- Aegis will continue to retain 100% ownership of its Mumbai Liquid and LPG terminals and its LPG retailing business.

Financial details

The enterprise value for Vopak's shareholding in the joint ventures will amount to €200 million. In addition to a net consideration at closing of € 115 million, Vopak and Aegis have agreed the following: a payment of a minimum € 18m and up to a maximum of € 40m payable to Aegis via a call and/or put option in 2025.

Aegis will receive a total gross pre-tax cash proceeds from the sale of up to Rs 2,766 crores.

Shares of AEGIS LOGISTICS LTD. was last trading in BSE at Rs.363.05 as compared to the previous close of Rs. 374.8. The total number of shares traded during the day was 75941 in over 2581 trades.

The stock hit an intraday high of Rs. 379.4 and intraday low of 355.05. The net turnover during the day was Rs. 27844955.

Source : Equity Bulls

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