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

The new partnership Aegis Vopak Terminals Ltd will operate a network of 8 terminals that are located in five strategic ports along the east and west coast of India. With a total capacity of around 960 thousand cbm, 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.

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 joint venture 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%.

The enterprise value for Vopak’s shareholding in the joint ventures will amount to EUR 185 million plus EUR 15 million, depending on the fulfilment of certain CP’s. The project and Vopak equity IRR are expected to be double digits. Vopak and Aegis have arranged financing of EUR 153 million in the joint ventures. Taking into account this financing and the contribution of CRL, Vopak’s net consideration amounts to EUR 100 million plus EUR 15 million depending on the fulfilment of certain conditions. 

In addition to the net consideration at closing of a total EUR 115 million (EUR 100 million plus EUR 15 million), Vopak and Aegis have agreed the payment of a minimum EUR 18 million and up to a maximum of EUR 40 million payable to Aegis via a financial instrument.

Revenues of the both joint ventures are forecasted to grow with a CAGR of around 6% in the first 5 years. LPG revenues will be about 75% of the total revenues of the joint venture. On the back of the forecasted revenue growth, the joint venture is expected to increase EBITDA in line with revenue growth towards 2026 driven by growth of LPG demand and imports of liquids chemicals in India. In addition, the joint venture has a pipeline of growth projects, both brownfield and greenfield.