Major overseas acquisitions by Tata group

2008-03-26 16:11:34
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New Delhi: With the takeover of two British automobile marquees Jaguar and Land
Rover, the $28.8 billion Tata group, with 98 companies in its fold, will add ano
ther prominent entry to its growing roster of global acquisitions.
Barely a year ago, it paid over $12 billion to acquire Anglo-Dutch steel maker C
orus, in what remains the largest buy-out deal overseas by an Indian company til
l date.
And going by what senior executives of Tata Sons - the holding arm of the group
that has 27 listed companies - maintain, the appetite for such mega mergers and
acquisitions is only growing with each deal.
Tata Steel has made three major acquisitions worth some $13 billion in the past
few years.
"A journey that began long ago is gathering pace," said chairman Ratan Tata on t
he overseas foray of the group that has interests in consumer goods, chemicals,
energy, services, engineering, materials and IT systems and communications.
"From IT and tea to automobiles and steel, Tata companies are spreading their wi
ngs to find a place in the global sun," he says.
Here's a look at some notable acquisitions by the Tata group companies overseas
in the past few years:
Tata Steel:
The company, which celebrated its centenary in August last year, wants to boost
its annual output of 8.7 million tonnes to 15 million tonnes by 2010, and take i
t upwards to 30 million tonnes by 2030. More stunning moves on the mergers and a
cquisition front can definitely be expected, it says.
In January 2007, the group pulled off India's biggest ever takeover of an overse
as company to buy Anglo-Dutch steel-maker Corus in a $12 billion deal that made
it the combined entity the world's fifth largest producer of the commodity.
This came just over a year after it acquired Singapore's NatSteel, which also ha
s a presence in Thailand, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Australi
a followed by the acquisition of Thailand's Millennium Steel for a $421 million.
Tata Motors:
South Korea's Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Co was acquired by the company in March
2004 for $102 million and gained, in the process, a market share of 30 percent a
nd access to markets where it had no prior presence.
This was followed by the acquisition of a 21 percent stake in Spanish bus maker
Hispano Carrocera for $18 million with an option to pick up the remaining stake
at a later date. This helped the company get technology to make top-end busses.
Another company in the fold - Tata Technologies, which provides automotive engin
eering and design services - bought Britain's Incat International for $53 millio
n.
Tata Consultancy Services:
This company, which was earlier a division of Tata Sons, has been among the most
aggressive shoppers for companies overseas. It has acquired six companies in re
cent months, though the net value of the deals is not more than $100 million.
In the second half of 2005, following the merger of group company Tata Infotech
into its fold, TCS acquired financial services company FNS of Australia for $26
million and then Chile's outsourcing major Comicrom for $23 million.
TCS, which has 160 offices in 30 countries, also entered into a structured deal
with the British insurance major, the Pearl Group, which essentially called for
the two entities to set up a subsidiary with TCS as the majority partner.
Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd:
The Tata group acquired the former state-run, international telecom carrier a fe
w years ago. The company has made several overseas acquisitions since then with
the aim of becoming a top-end services provider in the industry.
Some of the acquisitions include undersea cable company Tyco of the US for $130
million, Internet service provider Dishnet's India division for $64.28 million a
nd international telecom service provider Teleglobe of US for $239 million.
Tata Chemicals:
Following its acquisition of Hindustan Lever Chemicals, Tata Chemicals was on th
e lookout for a steady supply of phosphoric acid for its newly acquired plant at
Haldia.
It, accordingly, took over two overseas for a total value of $215 million - Indo
Maroc Phosphore of Morocco in March 2005 and Brunner Mond Group of Britain in D
ecember last year. Morocco produces over 50 percent of world's rock phosphate.
Tata Tea:
In 2000, Tata Tea bought British giant Tetley for a $407 million - in what was t
hen the largest such deal by an Indian company - and started scouting for simila
r deals to become a global tea and related drinks brand.
Another acquisition has been a 33 percent stake in South African Joekels Tea Pac
kers for an undisclosed amount that was announced this month. It had earlier acq
uired the US-based Good Earth Corp for $32 million.
The company's other picks include Czech Republic's Jemca and 30 percent stake in
the US-based favoured water manufacturer Glaceau for $677 million.
Indian Hotels:
This company, which runs the Taj Group of hotels, acquired several hotels abroad
for $121 million in the past few years. It has set aside $100 million for futur
e acquisitions in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.
In December 2006, it acquired W, a hotel at the Woolloomooloo Bay in Sydney, the
n it took over the management of The Pierre, a luxurious landmark hotel on New Y
ork's Fifth Avenue. India Hotels has 39 hotels in India and 18 worldwide.
Another acquisition was Campton Place Hotel in San Francisco.
Tata AutoComp Systems:
This company - which makes auto components from 14 plants, three engineering cen
tres and three export-oriented units for clients like General Motors, Ford and T
oyota - acquired W? Weidinger of Germany for $7 million last year.
Tata Interactive Systems:
A pioneer in simulations business in India, this company too made acquired sever
al companies overseas - Notably Tertia Edusoft GmbH of Germany and Tertia Edusof
t AG of Switzerland - and is keen on more buy outs in the future.