Reliance New Energy Solar, the green energy arm of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has offered ₹375 (~$5)/share to acquire 49.14 million equity shares of Sterling and Wilson Solar for around ₹18.42 billion (~$245.58 million).

Sterling and Wilson Solar is a Mumbai-based solar engineering, procurement, and construction company and has a presence across 24 countries.

The 49.14 million shares account for a 25.9% equity stake or the entire public shareholding of Sterling and Wilson Solar.

According to the draft letter of the open offer, Reliance Industries and Reliance Ventures Limited will be persons acting in concert (PAC) in addition to Reliance New Energy Solar.

The open offer is a part of Reliance New Energy Solar’s agreement with Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Private Limited to acquire a 40% stake in Sterling and Wilson Solar. According to the agreement, Reliance New Energy Solar is expected to acquire the stake through a combination of primary investment, a secondary purchase, and an open offer.

To acquire the 40% stake, 29.3 million equity shares were allotted to Reliance New Energy Solar at ₹375 (~$4.99) per share, equal to 15.46% post preferential share capital. In addition, Reliance New Energy Solar will be acquiring 18.4 million equity shares for ₹375(~$5)/share, accounting for 9.70% of post preferential share capital.

With this open offer, Reliance New Energy Solar will acquire a 40% stake in Sterling and Wilson Solar for ₹36.32 billion (~$483.97 million).

The stake acquisition in Sterling & Wilson Solar came close on the heels of Reliance’s acquisition of REC Solar Holdings from China National Bluestar Group for $771 million.

Reliance New Energy Solar has also invested €25 million (~$29 million) in a Germany-based solar wafer manufacturer, NexWafe GmbH. The company was a strategic lead investor for NexWafe’s €39 million (~$45 million) Series C financing round.

In June 2021, Mukesh Ambani announced that Reliance Industries would invest ₹750 billion (~$10 billion) to build an integrated solar PV factory, advanced energy storage battery manufacturing unit, green hydrogen, and fuel cell facility in Gujarat’s Jamnagar.

Harsh Shukla is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Previously with Indian Express, he has covered general interest stories. He holds a Masters Degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune.

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