POWER STOCK: RELIANCE POWER AND AFTER

Many investors walked through the Dalal Street and many an event happened in the background after the mega IPO of Reliance Power. It was an epoch making issue, investors of all hues ignoring all boundaries made it a point to invest in this offer. The power sector is the most happening sector right now and in the days to come, it held out much promise. In one of my earlier blogs (link) I discussed the issue as I was sure the issue will be a block buster and only a few will repeat its performance in future. I am still bullish in power sector in Indian context. (Earlier Popular Blogs link1, link2)

It is still a mystery what followed just prior to and after listing of the issue. We saw the melt down of Indian stock market, pundits tried to find out reasons, and as usual it is always easier to find the exact reason after any mishap. Post mortem report-"weak global cues". But interestingly some HNI and Institutional investors off loaded their holding of the issue just like a hot potato from their hand.

All of a sudden, few pundits suddenly discovered power stocks in India are over valued; so far we along with the same set of pundits were over optimistic in this sector. Now, many small investors panicked and sold off their holdings.

It seemed to me as a well orchested event that followed one after another in a systematic way. Whatever it may be, but it was successful, many small investors who invested in the issue with their hard earned money and some even with borrowed fund sold off their holdings and incurred heavy loss.

Should we pass on the blame to the promoter of the issue? Probably not, ADAG tried their best to allot shares to all small investors, (fifteen, sixteen shares) we are not complaining.

But the recent positive news of bonus shares, to make up the loss of investors, is laudable. The news also boosted the stock link. With this particular small gesture ADAG showed how they care for their investors. It also shows that they are bold enough to admit that may be their pricing of the stock was high.

Will it be very high expectation for the small investors to have such gestures from the houses of repute in future? May be ADAG set a high standard to emulate for all business houses.

BUDGET 2008-09: POWER STOCKS

If you have noticed that before every budget the fertilizer stocks goes up anticipating some kind of package from Government. Generally all agriculture-based industries expect some kind of tax soap from the central budget. In most cases the budget addressed the expectations in the form of subsidies and tax cuts. And these measures helped our agriculture to arrive at where it is today.

As we are ushering our country to “Developed Economy”, it is the time to set our priority in some more areas too. The infrastructure sector needs financing to speed up the developmental activities. The success of Government is measured by good governance. Good governance includes the facilities provided to the citizens. The recent Gujarat election showcased the importance of good governance or development, to the political parties. With the developing economy, the common people expect basic infrastructure/facilities, and probably will shun the divisive politics the parties are now practicing.

Ours is power starved country, even with all out effort it will take some time to fill the gap of demand and supply. The power sector is targeting an increase of 78,500 mw in generating capacity during the 11th Plan (2207-2012) and the overall funding requirement will be Rs. 10,60,000 crore. It will be Herculean task to raise that much amount even with the proposed Tax-free Power Bonds, Power Vikash Patra and disinvestment of public sector power companies. The participation of private sector is of paramount importance to achieve the objective, the VC s and PE funds should be encouraged with additional tax benefits.

With the above in view the most likely gainers will be the power sector stocks. There should be secular growth in the sector and the growth should encompass the capital good companies manufacturing power equipment. The story has relevance and is already established by the eager participation in the recent Reliance Power IPO.

I am as always very bullish in this sector (link, link, link) and believe that this is the sector which will provide some silver linings in the dark cloud of overall gloomy picture of Indian stock market.

It is now the duty of small investor to do some research and pick the power stocks which will provide excellent growth opportunity.

RELIANCE POWER IPO: STOCK FOR SMALL INVESTORS

The plan to list Reliance Power Limited was a welcome step from R-ADA group and is eagerly anticipated by small investors. The red herring prospectus for the issue was submitted to SEBI on October 3. The company is supposed to sell 11.5% of post paid up capital of the company, which media reports have said may raise $2.8 billion. Probably it will be India’s biggest IPO. Reliance Power also has in interests in infrastructure, telecoms and financial sector. ADAG holds the company through various group companies including Reliance Energy which holds around 50% of the stake.

According to media report around 30% of the shares will be for retail clients, 10% will be for HNIs and rest 60% will be for Institutional Investors. There are reports that the face value of the stock may be of RS 10/- instead of Rs 2/- as initially proposed. link. The issue will definitely require the support from FIIs and DIIs. Some sources informs that the issue may be delayed by some more time. Link.

No doubt it will be a bonanza for retail investors as power sector is the dominant sector for immediate future.

There is some good news for the investors before the issue. Reliance Power has bagged the Krishnapatnam Ultra Mega Power Project. It has already bagged the Sasan and Mundra mega power projects. All the development is likely to make the issue more attractive.

www.bsensedaily.com has furnished a list of projects currently handled by Reliance Power Limited as follows:

• Rosa Phase I, a 600 MW coal-fired project in Uttar Pradesh scheduled to be commissioned in March 2010.
• Rosa Phase II, a 600 MW expansion of Rosa Phase I which is scheduled to be commissioned in September 2010.
• Butibori, a 300 MW coal-fired project scheduled to be commissioned in June 2010.
• Sasan 3,960MW UMPPs promoted and awarded by the Government of India is expected to be the largest pithead coal-fired power project at a single location in India,scheduled to be commissioned by April 2016.
• Shahapur, a 4,000 MW coal-fired(1,200 MW) and combined cycle gas-fired (2,800 MW) project in Shahapur, scheduled to be commissioned in March 2011.
• Urthing Sobla (400 MW), a run-of-the-river hydroelectric project, located on the Daulinganga River in Uttarakhand scheduled to be commissioned in March 2014.
Five other projects—the gas-fired Dadri project (7,480 MW), the coal-fired MP Power project (3,960 MW) and three run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects, Siyom (1,000 MW), Tato II (700 MW) and Kalai II (1,200 MW).

There are some controversies too. ADAG has alleged some market forces working against the mega issue and trying to thwart it. Link. REL investors are unhappy to find that no approval was sought from them for listing the issue as it has direct bearing on the income of REL. and so on. There is already premium on this issue in the grey market and some of the market operators are making losses, as the issue is delayed for various reasons but the grey market premium on the issue is increasing steadily. Link: Reliance Power IPO clouds grey market.

There is already a blog on this mega issue. But the buzz in the overall Indian finance Blogosphere about the mega issue of Reliance Power IPO is mixed and evoking different emotions. Most of the Indian Stock Market Blogs are maintaining a very neutral stand and just passing on the information on the issue only.

Yours truly is very bullish in the growing story of Power stocks and believes that this issue is genuinely going to lift our stock market to a few notches higher.