June 1, 2025:
Adani Group has emerged stronger and more resilient despite facing a turbulent phase marked by consecutive acquisitions and intense scrutiny. Chairman Gautam Adani said the conglomerate not only withstood the challenges but strategically adapted its approach to become even more formidable in the face of adversity.
In his annual letter to shareholders, published in Adani Enterprises’ annual report, the Adani Group chairman said, “Even in the face of fierce headwinds and relentless scrutiny – we have never retreated. Instead – we have recalibrated. We have reimagined. And we have become more formidable, more unbreakable, more resilient.”
"How does Adani Group keep doing it? How do we rise, time and again?" "My answer remains the same: Our conviction is anchored in clarity. Our objectives are aligned with India's ambitions. And our strength comes from the belief that you - our shareholders - place in us.", Adani said. He also added, "History should remember us not for the size of our balance sheet, but for the strength of our backbone. Not just for the markets we entered, but for the storms we handled and emerged stronger. For it is easy to lead in sunshine, but true leadership forged in the face of crisis,"
In January 2023, US-based short seller Hindenburg Research released a damning report, labeling the Adani Group as "the largest con in corporate history." The impact was immediate, stock prices nosedived, erasing more than USD 150 billion in market value at their lowest, and the group was forced to cancel its largest-ever public offering.
However, the group staged a strong comeback by reducing its debt, lowering the founder’s pledged shares, attracting equity from both promoters and marquee investors, and realigning its focus on core businesses. Yet, it soon faced another setback when US authorities accused Adani and his close associates of allegedly paying bribes to win Indian power supply contracts and misleading American investors during fundraising efforts.
But Gautam Adani underlined that strength encompasses purpose, clarity, and the determination to rise, while resilience is defined not just by endurance but by the ability to reinvent oneself in difficult times. The conglomerate will invest $15-20 billion over the next five years across businesses, he said touting its strong balance sheet and robust business growth.