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Lanco Infratech
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Lanco Infratech (Lagadapati Amarappa Naidu and Company Infratech) was a large Indian conglomerate that became insolvent in 2017.[1][2] It was involved in construction, power, real estate, and several other segments. One of the first Independent Power Producers (IPP) in India, in 2011 it became the largest private power provider in India.[citation needed]
Key Information
History
[edit]Lanco was founded by Lagadapati Amarappa Naidu and his nephew Lagadapati Rajagopal, who was a member of 15th Lok Sabha representing Vijayawada from Indian National Congress. Lanco Infratech was created in 2006 to consolidate the 1960-founded Lanco Group's diverse operations under one brand.[2] Initial growth was driven by large contracts primarily in construction. Later, other infrastructure areas such as power generation, transportation were also added. In 2017 the company became insolvent.[3]
Former major operational power plants
[edit]- 2 × 300 MW Lanco Amarkantak Power Limited – Two units of 300 MW commissioned. In Korba District, Bilaspur Division, Chhattisgarh, India, South Asia, Asia, Earth
- 2 × 600 MW Lanco Anpara Power Limited – One unit of 600 MW commissioned in December 2011 and second unit of 600 MW was commissioned in January 2012. The power plant is located in Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh.
- 2 × 600 MW Udupi Power Corp. Limited – Commissioned in 2012, the power plant is located in Udupi district, Karnataka. On 14 August 2014, Adani Power acquired the plant.[4]
- 1466 MW Lanco Kondapalli Power Limited – Gas based Combined Cycle Power Plant located at Kondapalli Industrial Development Area near Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.
- 120 MW Lanco Tanjore Power Company Ltd – Gas based Combined Cycle Power Plant located at Karuppur village of Tanjore district, situated around 260 kilometres (160 mi) from Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- 20 MW Hydro Power Plants
Major Power Projects under construction were:
- 2 × 660 MW extension of Lanco Amarkantak Power Limited
- 2 × 660 MW Lanco Vidarbha Thermal Power Limited
- 2 × 660 MW Lanco Babandh Power Limited
- 4 × 125 MW Lanco Teesta Hydro Power Pvt Ltd
- 2 × 76 MW Lanco Mandakini Hydro Energy Pvt Ltd
- Turnkey EPC for 100MW solar thermal project for KVK Energy in Rajasthan.
- Complete EPC for a 75 MW crystalline technology-based PhotoVoltaic solar power project in Dhule, Maharashtra, for Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd Mahagenco.[5]
Real estate
[edit]In 2012, Lanco Infratech obtained around 100-acre (0.40 km2) of land through bidding by the Andhra Pradesh government at ₹ 4.27 crore per acre for its ₹ 5,500 crore township project in Manikonda in Western Hyderabad.[6]
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LANCO Hills High-rise complex
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LANCO Hills captured from Chitrapuri colony road
Debt restructuring
[edit]In December 2006, the company won a large contract citing collaboration with Singapore firm Globeleq.[7][8] In 2007, after winning the bid for the 1000 MW Anpara-C power plant, Lanco requested that the power output be re-negotiated. Some competing firms protested[9] since the re-negotiation made the initial bidding meaningless. However, Lanco managed to retain the Anpara project.[10]
In June 2013, Lanco had won a contract for setting up two 300 MW power plants in Gujarat. However, the contract was cancelled in October 2013, when the company failed to put up the 10% guarantee required in the contract. [11] By July 2013, the company had filed for debt restructuring, citing a business slowdown.[12] In September,[when?] it was revealed that the company had reduced its workforce by nearly half.[13]
Repeatedly tarnished by charges of corrupt practices[7][9][14][15][16][17] the company ran into financial trouble and filed for corporate debt restructuring[18] in July 2013.[19][20] In late 2017 the company faced insolvency proceedings, with the National Company Law Tribunal suspending the board.[21][22]
Liquidation
[edit]In August 2018, Hyderabad bench of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) ordered the liquidation of Lanco Infratech.[23][24][25][26]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Mercer, Daniel (26 November 2022). "Indian owners of failed West Australian coal in $1 billion quest to salvage calamitous bet". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Lanco Infratech and lessons from a failed group resolution of troubled debt".
- ^ Mercer, Daniel (19 November 2022). "India's biggest private bank bets $1.1 billion on a failed Aussie coal mine while poverty reigns at home". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- ^ "Adani To Buy Lanco's Udupi Plant". Bloomberg TV India. 14 August 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
- ^ "Lanco Solar bags EPC contract for 75-MW solar unit from MahaGenco". Business Line. 26 May 2011.
- ^ "SC allows Lanco Hills construction".
- ^ a b "Lanco's Sasan bid annulled". Business-standard.com. 25 July 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
- ^ "Lanco blames Globeleq for trouble over Sasan".
- ^ a b "Reliance Power cries foul over Lanco Anpara plans". Financialexpress.com. 6 October 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
- ^ B Dasarath Reddy (30 March 2007). "Newsmaker: G Venkatesh Babu : In the midst of controversy". Business Standard.
- ^ R. Yegya Narayanan (18 October 2013). "Failure to provide guarantee: Lanco Infratech loses Rs 3,300-cr contract". The Hindu.
- ^ Economic Times (27 July 2013). "Lanco Infratech to restructure Rs 7,500 crore debt burden". The Times Of India.
- ^ pti (3 September 2013). "Lanco Group cuts down 4,000 employees due to slowdown". Times of India.
- ^ M. Ramesh (27 March 2012). "Lanco issue with Ministry of Corporate Affairs". The Hindu.
Lanco has misled the Government on the question of ownership of projects and has won several projects using an opaque ownership structure when the rule says that a developer can secure only one project.
- ^ Rohit Parihar (17 March 2012). "Congress Gets Burned by the Sun: Rajasthan govt issue fraud certificates to Cong MP for solar projects". India Today.
- ^ "Rs 13k cr scam in national solar plan, claims CSE". The Times of India. 2 February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013.
In violation of norms laid down by the government, a single company, Lanco Infratech has allegedly cornered 40% of the contracts bid out for the first phase of the National Solar Mission, garnering 235 mw worth projects with assured of Rs 13,000 crore over the next 25 years.
- ^ "Lanco seeks additional coal for Anpara C power project in UP – Livemint".
- ^ "Lanco Infratech to restructure Rs 7,500 crore debt burden". The Times Of India. 27 July 2013.
- ^ Friedman, Thomas L. (6 August 2009). "Lanco Infratech in insurance scam". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 9 August 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
- ^ "Lanco Insurance scam, CM orders probe". Siasat. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
- ^ "Griffin Coal Mine no longer a subsidiary of Lanco". The Hindi Business Line. 24 December 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ "Seven firms ready to bid for Lanco Infratech". India Times. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ "NCLT orders liquidation of Lanco Infratech".
- ^ "NCLT orders liquidation of Lanco Infratech".
- ^ "NCLT orders liquidation of Lanco Infratech".
- ^ "SC dismisses GUVNL's appeal for termination of PPA with Lanco Infratech".
Lanco Infratech
View on GrokipediaFounding and Early History
Establishment and Founders
Lanco Infratech Limited was incorporated on 26 March 1993 as a public limited company under the Companies Act, with its registered office in Hyderabad, Telangana, initially classified under construction activities (U45200TG1993PLC015545).[14] The company was founded by Lagadapati Rajagopal, a mechanical engineer and technocrat from Andhra Pradesh, who established it as part of the broader Lanco Group's diversification from earlier transport and contracting ventures into formal infrastructure development.[15] Rajagopal served as the founder chairman, guiding the entity's early focus on civil construction projects amid India's economic liberalization.[16] Key family members, including Rajagopal's brothers L. Madhusudhan Rao (vice chairman at the time) and G. Bhaskara Rao (director), played foundational roles in operations and strategic direction, leveraging the group's prior experience in trucking and contracting that dated to 1960 under ancestral Naidu family enterprises.[17] In 2002, Rajagopal transitioned to active politics as a Member of Parliament, prompting Madhusudhan Rao to assume executive chairmanship while maintaining the family's controlling stake.[16] This leadership continuity supported initial growth, with the company achieving early milestones in highway and building contracts before broader sector expansions.Initial Construction Projects
Lanco's entry into construction occurred in 1980 through Uma Maheshwar Rao and Company, which executed turnkey projects primarily in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.[5] These early efforts marked the group's shift from transportation services—where it had grown a fleet of 100 trucks by 1976 serving regional construction firms—to direct involvement in civil engineering works.[5] By the mid-1980s, Lanco had amassed equipment including 150 trucks, eight excavators, ten bulldozers, and 15 drilling machines, enabling it to handle prestigious turnkey assignments in the same states.[5] The company's capabilities expanded further in 1986 with the acquisition of S.V. Contractors, boosting its execution capacity in infrastructure development.[5] Annual turnover reached ₹25 crore by 1990, reflecting steady growth in civil construction prior to diversification into power generation.[5] The formalization of construction operations came with the incorporation of Lanco Constructions Limited on March 26, 1993, in Andhra Pradesh, initially focused on infrastructure and civil works before renaming to Lanco Infratech Limited in 2000.[3] Early projects under this entity built on the group's prior experience, emphasizing turnkey delivery in regional infrastructure, though specific contract details from this period remain limited in public records.[4] This foundation positioned Lanco as a key player in India's emerging private-sector construction landscape during the 1990s economic liberalization.[18]Business Expansion and Operations
Entry into Power Sector
Lanco Infratech, originally established as a construction firm in 1993, began diversifying into power generation in the mid-1990s amid India's liberalization of the energy sector, which encouraged private participation as Independent Power Producers (IPPs).[6][19] The company's first major step was securing allotment for the Kondapalli gas-based power project in Andhra Pradesh in 1996, followed by signing a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the state electricity board in 1997.[6] This 368 MW dual-fuel (natural gas and liquid fuel) plant at Kondapalli, near Vijayawada, represented Lanco's inaugural venture into thermal power production and was commissioned in 2000 after overcoming delays related to fuel supply and financing.[5][19] The project operated under a build-own-operate model, selling power primarily to the Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board, and positioned Lanco among early private entrants in India's power market, which had previously been dominated by state utilities.[6] Entry into the sector aligned with national policies promoting IPPs through incentives like tax holidays and guaranteed returns, though Lanco faced initial challenges including gas allocation uncertainties from the Krishna-Godavari basin.[3] By leveraging its engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) expertise from civil projects, Lanco self-executed much of the Kondapalli development, reducing costs and building operational know-how for future expansions.[19] This move diversified revenue streams beyond construction contracts, with power assets contributing to long-term stability amid fluctuating infrastructure demand.[20]Major Power Plants and Capacity
Lanco Infratech developed and operated several gas- and coal-fired power plants as part of its expansion into the power sector, achieving a total operational capacity of 3,460 MW by the early 2010s, primarily thermal with some gas-based assets.[21] [8] The company's portfolio focused on supercritical and subcritical units, sourcing coal from domestic mines and gas via pipelines, though many projects faced delays due to fuel supply issues and financial strain post-2013.[22] Key operational plants included:| Plant Name | Location | Capacity (MW) | Fuel Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kondapalli Combined Cycle Power Plant | Andhra Pradesh | 1,476 | Natural gas | Developed in phases; fully operational by 2012, supplied via GAIL pipeline.[23] [24] |
| Amarkantak Thermal Power Plant | Chhattisgarh | 600 (2×300) | Coal | Units commissioned 2010–2013; later acquired by Adani Power in 2024 amid Lanco's insolvency.[25] |
| Anpara C Thermal Power Station | Uttar Pradesh | 1,200 (2×600) | Coal | Operational since 2012; subcritical units awarded via competitive bidding.[26] |
| Udupi Thermal Power Station | Karnataka | 1,200 | Coal | Operational; imported coal-dependent, reflecting Lanco's early supercritical technology adoption.[7] |
Infrastructure and Real Estate Developments
Lanco Infratech engaged in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for various infrastructure projects, including highways, roads, and urban developments under build-operate-transfer (BOT) and other public-private partnership models.[29][30] The company executed multiple national highway projects, such as the six-laning of the 81 km Bangalore-Hoskote-Mudbagal stretch on NH 4 and the 82 km Neelamangla-Devihalli stretch on NH 48 in Karnataka, achieving financial closure for these BOT toll projects.[31] In Uttar Pradesh, Lanco secured a Rs 1,000 crore contract in 2007 for the two-laning with paved shoulders of the Aligarh-Kanpur section of NH 91 from km 140 to 418.16 on a toll basis, including repair, widening, and reconstruction of 3 major and 29 minor bridges.[32][33] Another Uttar Pradesh road project involved similar two-laning enhancements announced in January 2013.[33] The Lanco Hoskote Highway Limited asset, part of these highway initiatives, underwent corporate insolvency resolution, with the National Company Law Tribunal approving its transfer to Kalyan Toll Infrastructure in May 2021.[34] In real estate, Lanco developed Lanco Hills, a large-scale integrated mixed-use township in Manikonda, Hyderabad, spanning 84 acres with 12 towers rising up to 35 floors and comprising 1,392 luxury apartments and villas starting from 1,195 square feet.[35][36] The project featured residential 3BHK units, high-end amenities, and commercial office spaces designed to accommodate up to 75,000 occupants, positioning it as a premium development in the Gachibowli-Manikonda corridor.[37][38] By September 2017, amid financial pressures, Lanco announced its exit from real estate, designating Lanco Hills as its final major venture in the sector.[37]Financial Growth and Challenges
Revenue Peaks and Expansion Strategy
Lanco Infratech experienced its revenue peak in the fiscal year ending March 2013, with consolidated net sales reaching approximately ₹13,725 crore, driven primarily by the commissioning of thermal power plants and execution of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts in the infrastructure sector.[39] This marked a significant increase from ₹9,457 crore in FY2010, reflecting a compound annual growth rate exceeding 20% in the preceding years, fueled by operational ramp-ups in power generation assets totaling over 2,000 MW by that period.[40] Subsequent years saw a decline, with revenues dropping to ₹10,417 crore in FY2014 amid delays in project completions and rising input costs.[13] The company's expansion strategy centered on aggressive capacity addition in the power sector, targeting a total generation portfolio of 15,000 MW by 2015 through investments estimated at ₹35,000 crore, emphasizing thermal and supercritical coal-based plants.[41] This involved strategic bidding for government projects, such as the 1x660 MW supercritical unit at Ennore Thermal Power Station, and phased expansions like the 750 MW addition at the Kondapalli plant in Andhra Pradesh announced in 2009.[42][43] Lanco financed this growth via a mix of equity infusions, debt from banks, and internal accruals from EPC revenues, while diversifying into solar energy and international opportunities to mitigate domestic regulatory risks.[8] The approach prioritized vertical integration, consolidating construction, power development, and real estate under a single entity post-2006 reorganization to capture synergies across the value chain.[3] This debt-leveraged model enabled rapid scaling from a construction-focused firm in the 1990s to a multi-gigawatt power player by the early 2010s, with EPC order books peaking at over ₹20,000 crore supporting revenue inflows from project milestones.[44] However, execution challenges, including fuel supply constraints and cost overruns, began eroding margins even at revenue highs, as evidenced by EBITDA growth lagging sales in FY2011-13.[39] The strategy's emphasis on thermal power aligned with India's energy demand surge but exposed the firm to sector-specific volatilities like coal import dependencies.[7]Debt Accumulation and Leverage
Lanco Infratech's debt accumulation accelerated during its aggressive expansion in the power and infrastructure sectors from the mid-2000s onward, with borrowings primarily funding capital-intensive projects such as thermal power plants and acquisitions. Long-term debt rose to 22,152 crore INR by the fiscal year ending March 2012 (FY12), supported by incremental borrowings of 13,357 crore INR that year alone to finance capacity additions and working capital needs. This growth was driven by low-interest debt availability and optimistic projections for power demand, though it exposed the company to risks from execution delays, fuel supply shortages, and regulatory hurdles.[45] Leverage intensified as debt outpaced equity growth, with the debt-to-equity ratio climbing to 6.0 in FY12 and further to 8.5 in FY13 amid additional debt of 3,341 crore INR. Projections at the time anticipated even higher ratios of 14.8 for FY14 and 23.0 for FY15, reflecting planned capex for ongoing projects despite stretched cash flows and a lengthening working capital cycle. By August 2013, the group's consolidated debt had swelled to approximately 40,000 crore INR, leading lenders to mandate a group-wide recast to mitigate default risks from interconnected subsidiaries.[45][46]| Fiscal Year | Debt/Equity Ratio |
|---|---|
| FY12 | 6.0 |
| FY13 | 8.5 |
| FY14 (est.) | 14.8 |
| FY15 (est.) | 23.0 |
