Petronas, Masdar, Sembcorp eye Hero stake

Malaysia's Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), Abu Dhabi-based energy company Masdar Clean Energy and Singaporean alternate energy firm Sembcorp are in talks to acquire up to 30 per cent of Hero Future Energies, the renewable energy arm of the Hero Group. Hero is looking to raise as much as $300 million, valuing the renewable energy firm at around $1 billion. JP Morgan is advising Hero Future on the stake-sale process. International Finance Corp. (IFC), the private sector investment arm of World Bank, holds a minority stake in Hero Future with an investment of $125 million made in 2017. Petronas and Masdar have submitted bids in the range of $300-325 million. Launched in 2012, Hero Future Energies is led by Rahul Munjal and is one of the top five renewable companies in the country. It currently has installed solar and wind power capacity of 1.2 GW while another 500 MW is being built and 300 MW more is in the pipeline. It has a presence in 10 states with an operating asset base across wind, solar photovoltaic (grid connected) and rooftop plants. In rooftop solar, the company has plans to implement 100 MW by FY19 and aims to build a portfolio of 3.5 GW by 2022.