IDFC buys 48.4% in SMS Shivnath Infrastructure Ltd

October 22, 2007

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SMS Infrastructure Ltd. and IDFC announced today that IDFC has purchased 48.4% equity in one of its SPV viz. SMS Shivnath Infrastructure Limited (SSIL). SSIL owns, operates and maintains an 18.4 kms 2-lane road on National Highway 6 which serves as a bypass to the city of Durg in Chattisgarh. The concession was awarded in 1997 by NHAI under a BOT format, and extends until 2031. The project is amongst the first concessions awarded by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Anand Sancheti, Managing Director of SSIL, said that “participation by IDFC, a leading financial institution in the infrastructure sector, in the equity of a Group company, reconfirms our business philosophy of creating enduring value in our businesses. This investment also marks the starting of a partnership approach, which would foster aggressive growth in the years to come in the chosen fields of road, waste management and power which the Group has embarked upon.

Dr. Rajiv Lall, MD & CEO of IDFC remarked “Our investment in SSIL is part of an important initiative to set up a new infrastructure fund to invest in the equity of operating and greenfield assets. SSIL will be one of the seed assets for this fund. IDFC will work with companies like SMS Infrastructure Ltd. to help in the creation and operation of infrastructure assets.”

Mr. M. K.Sinha, President & CEO of IDFC Project Equity Company Limited, remarked “The investment in SSIL is part of our build up of seed assets for the India Infrastructure Fund. We look forward to working with the SMS Group in building quality infrastructure assets in India.”

Source: moneycontrol.com