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Gautam ani speaks at the World Congress of Accountants in Mumbai on November 19, 2022.
INDRANIL MUKHERJEE / AFP
Gautam ani has won a vote of confidence from a $400 million investment by International Holding Co. (IHC)—an Abu Dhabi-based conglomerate controlled by a key member of the United Arab Emirates’ royal family—into ani Enterprises.
The investment—which accounts for about 16% of the $2.5 billion ani’s flagship company aims to raise from its follow-on share sale—is a welcome reprieve for the Indian tycoon, who has seen more than $70 billion of his business empire’s market value wiped out this month following a scathing report by Hindenburg Research. The U.S.-based short seller has accused the ani Group of stock manipulation and accounting fraud.
This is IHC’s second investment deal with the group after investing $2 billion in April last year across ani Enterprises and its clean energy companies such as ani Green Energy and ani Transmission.
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“Our interest in ani Group is driven by our confidence and belief in the fundamentals of ani Enterprises,” Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC, said in a statement. “We see a strong potential for growth from a long-term perspective and added value to our shareholders.”
ani Enterprises’ follow-on share sale is scheduled to close today, with other Middle East investors including Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Mubadala Investment expected to participate, according to a recent Bloomberg News report.
The company said last week that it was “evaluating the relevant provisions” under both U.S. and Indian laws for “remedial and punitive action against Hindenburg Research.” The short seller’s report published on January 24 triggered a sell off in ani Group companies and slashed founder Gautam ani’s net worth by 30% to $88 billion, according to Forbes’ estimates. He is now ranked the world’s eighth richest person after holding the No. 3 spot .
