ACCOLADES
Conferred with Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award by the government, in 2008
Is frequently voted the best business leader at various domestic and international forums
During Ratan Tata's tenure, the group's revenues have grown nearly 12-fold from $5.8 billion in FY92 to $83.3 billion in FY11
International revenues grew from $3.2 bn in FY04 to nearly $48 bn in FY11. In FY04, international revenues comprised 24% of group revenue-this has grown to 58% in FY11
The pace of acquisitions has grown dramatically, and so has their scale. Between 1991 and 2003, the group made five purchases; in 2004, it was seven; in 2005 it was 17; and between 2006 and 2010, there were 36 acquisitions
CLEAN-UP ACT AND CONTROVERSIES
1991 to 1997
Fights a bitter battle to get rid of certain personalities who ran Tata companies as their fiefdoms-Russi Mody at Tata Steel, Ajit Kerkar at Indian Hotels Company and Darbari Seth at Tata Chemicals; introduces retirement age for executive directors at 65 years and for non-executive directors at 70
Launches Tata Brand Equity Business Promotion Scheme where companies make a royalty payment to use the Tata brand
Forays into telecom in 1996
Attempts to enter civil aviation sector in 1995 and again in 1997
1998 to 2003
Enters passenger cars with Indica in '98
Two-dimensional blue Tata logo in '99
Hikes stakes in group cos to over 26%
Acquires Tetley, first major global acquisition by an Indian group, in 2000
Re-enters insurance through a JV with AIG (New India Assurance, set up by the Tatas in 1919 was nationalised in 1956)
2004 to 2011
TCS goes public, raises $1.2bn-the largest IPO in '04
Snaps up South Korea's Daewoo CV, Pierre Hotel in US
Launches the world's cheapest car, Nano, in 2009
Shifts Nano plant from Bengal to Gujarat
Lands in 2G telecom scam in 2010 after the group's publicist Niira Radia's leaked taped conversations suggests Tata Teleservices may have benefitted from 2G allocation during A Raja's tenure
House Of Tatas In Numbers
THE GROUP
Founded in 1868, India's largest business group with revenues of $83bn in FY11 Largest private sector employer with 4.25 lakh employees Operations in over 80 COUNTRIES
The group has 4.3 MILLION shareholders
BOLD BUYS
1. Tata Steel acquires Corus, Europe's second-largest steelmaker, for $13 bn in 2007
2. Tata Motors acquires Jagaur and Land Rover for $2.3 bn in 2008
3. Tata Chemicals buys US's General Chemicals for $1 bn in 2008
4. Tata Consultancy Services buys Citigroup Global Services for $512 m in 2008
5. Tata Global Beverages purchases Tetley for $440 m in 2000
6. Tata Steel snaps up Natsteel Asia for $375 m in 2005
7. Tata Sons acquires VSNL (now Tata Comm) for $319 m in 2002
8. Tata Global Beverages acquires US's Eight O'Clock Company for $220 m in 2006
9. Tata Chemicals buys Brunner Mond for $176 m in 2005
10. Indian Hotels buys Ritz Carlton for $170 m in 2006
PROFIT PUNCH
Most Tata Group companies have delivered significant returns to shareholders ever since Ratan Tata took over as the group chairman in 1991.
Conferred with Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award by the government, in 2008
Is frequently voted the best business leader at various domestic and international forums
During Ratan Tata's tenure, the group's revenues have grown nearly 12-fold from $5.8 billion in FY92 to $83.3 billion in FY11
International revenues grew from $3.2 bn in FY04 to nearly $48 bn in FY11. In FY04, international revenues comprised 24% of group revenue-this has grown to 58% in FY11
The pace of acquisitions has grown dramatically, and so has their scale. Between 1991 and 2003, the group made five purchases; in 2004, it was seven; in 2005 it was 17; and between 2006 and 2010, there were 36 acquisitions
CLEAN-UP ACT AND CONTROVERSIES
1991 to 1997
Fights a bitter battle to get rid of certain personalities who ran Tata companies as their fiefdoms-Russi Mody at Tata Steel, Ajit Kerkar at Indian Hotels Company and Darbari Seth at Tata Chemicals; introduces retirement age for executive directors at 65 years and for non-executive directors at 70
Launches Tata Brand Equity Business Promotion Scheme where companies make a royalty payment to use the Tata brand
Forays into telecom in 1996
Attempts to enter civil aviation sector in 1995 and again in 1997
1998 to 2003
Enters passenger cars with Indica in '98
Two-dimensional blue Tata logo in '99
Hikes stakes in group cos to over 26%
Acquires Tetley, first major global acquisition by an Indian group, in 2000
Re-enters insurance through a JV with AIG (New India Assurance, set up by the Tatas in 1919 was nationalised in 1956)
2004 to 2011
TCS goes public, raises $1.2bn-the largest IPO in '04
Snaps up South Korea's Daewoo CV, Pierre Hotel in US
Launches the world's cheapest car, Nano, in 2009
Shifts Nano plant from Bengal to Gujarat
Lands in 2G telecom scam in 2010 after the group's publicist Niira Radia's leaked taped conversations suggests Tata Teleservices may have benefitted from 2G allocation during A Raja's tenure
House Of Tatas In Numbers
THE GROUP
Founded in 1868, India's largest business group with revenues of $83bn in FY11 Largest private sector employer with 4.25 lakh employees Operations in over 80 COUNTRIES
The group has 4.3 MILLION shareholders
BOLD BUYS
1. Tata Steel acquires Corus, Europe's second-largest steelmaker, for $13 bn in 2007
2. Tata Motors acquires Jagaur and Land Rover for $2.3 bn in 2008
3. Tata Chemicals buys US's General Chemicals for $1 bn in 2008
4. Tata Consultancy Services buys Citigroup Global Services for $512 m in 2008
5. Tata Global Beverages purchases Tetley for $440 m in 2000
6. Tata Steel snaps up Natsteel Asia for $375 m in 2005
7. Tata Sons acquires VSNL (now Tata Comm) for $319 m in 2002
8. Tata Global Beverages acquires US's Eight O'Clock Company for $220 m in 2006
9. Tata Chemicals buys Brunner Mond for $176 m in 2005
10. Indian Hotels buys Ritz Carlton for $170 m in 2006
PROFIT PUNCH
Most Tata Group companies have delivered significant returns to shareholders ever since Ratan Tata took over as the group chairman in 1991.