AREVA T&D India Limited announces Demerger of its Distribution (Medium Voltage) Business Operations

AREVA T&D India Limited announces Demerger of its Distribution (Medium Voltage) Business Operations

During 2010, AREVA T&D India Limited’s promoters, ALSTOM Sextant 5 SAS, along with certain other entities, made an open offer to the public shareholders of the Company,  according to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Board of India [Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers] Regulations, 1997, as amended up to date.

This open offer provided that the Transmission activities (High Voltage systems, equipment, Power Electronics and Automation) will be separated from the Distribution activities (Medium Voltage systems, equipment and related Automation) of the Company. 

Accordingly, the Board of Directors of the Company, in its meeting held on 28 May 2011, gave its final approval to demerge its Medium Voltage activities, with effect from 1 April 2011, into a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Smartgrid Automation Distribution and Switchgear Limited (a Company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956, in the State of Gujarat), through a judicial process and a Scheme of arrangement (the Scheme). The Board had earlier, on 11 April 2011, accorded its approval in principle and the three Stock Exchanges (BSE, NSE and CSE), where the Company’s shares are listed, were duly notified.

The Scheme contains a detailed formal plan for the separation of operations, which ensures continuity of service and accounts inter alia for identified locations, major assets, rights and interests, liabilities and employees concerned with the Medium Voltage activities. Under the scheme, AREVA T&D India Limited shareholders, will remain shareholders of AREVA T&D India Limited and be issued new shares in the new company, Smartgrid Automation Distribution and Switchgear Limited.

This announcement may be regarded as the initial disclosure event within the meaning of the Accounting Standard (AS 24) – Discontinuing Operations, notified by the Government of India, under the Companies (Accounting Standards) Rules, 2006 and the relevant provisions of the Companies Act, 1956.

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Important Note:

On 7 June 2010, the global activities of AREVA T&D were acquired by a consortium of Alstom and Schneider Electric. Following this acquisition, the High Voltage Transmission and the Power Electronics activities are to be carried on under the control of Alstom and the Medium Voltage activities under control of Schneider Electric.

In India on 3 December 2010, following the conclusion of a mandatory tender offer, Alstom and Schneider Electric announced that they had assumed operational control of AREVA T&D India. The respective businesses will now be segregated in terms of a scheme of arrangement through a court process.

However, AREVA T&D India will continue to trade under the AREVA T&D name until the appropriate procedures, according to Indian regulations, have been completed to facilitate the renaming of the company.

About Alstom

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world. It provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 93,500 people in around 100 countries, and had sales of  € 20.9 billion in 2010/11.

Alstom Grid, the newest sector of the Alstom group alongside Alstom Power and Alstom Transport, has over 100 years of expertise in electrical grids. Whether for utilities or electro-intensive industries or facilitating the trading of energy, Alstom Grid brings power to their customers’ projects. Alstom Grid ranks among the top three in the electrical transmission sector with an annual sales turnover of over €4 billion. It has 20,000 employees and over 90 manufacturing and engineering sites worldwide. Its four main business areas are Products, Systems, Automation and Service. At the heart of the development of Smart Grid, Alstom Grid offers products, services and integrated energy management solutions across the full energy value chain - from power generation, through transmission and distribution grids and to the large end user.

About Schneider Electric

As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in energy and infrastructure, industrial processes, building automation, and data centres/networks, as well as a broad presence in residential applications. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, and efficient, the company's 110,000 plus employees achieved sales of 19.6 billion euros in 2010, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations “Make the most of their energy.”

AREVA T&D India Press Office

Vandana Dhir

+91 9717791521

vandana.dhir@areva-td.com