Saturday, 12 September 2015

JK Group to buy Kesoram Tyre Unit

BK Birla Group controlled Kesoram Industries Ltd had concluded a deal to sell its Tyre manufacturing unit near Haridwar in Uttarakhand to JK Tyre and Industries Ltd for Rs. 2195 crore. Based on Kesoram previous disclosures the company is estimated to have spent around Rs. 3000 crore to build the factory. It was commissioned in 2008-09.
This factory, which has the capacity to produce up to 600 tonnes of tyre a day or about 4.4 Million truck tyres annually, was carved out of Kesoram and transferred to a subsidiary Cavendish Industries Ltd earlier this year. Kesoram owns 99% of Cavendish. The factory was at that time valued at Rs. 2800 crore an indication of what the company was looking to raise from its sale. The revised valuation of the unit stands at Rs. 2195 crore.

There were 4-5 interested parties, JK Tyre was the only company that made a firm price bid, and stuck to its price, which was lower than Kesoram expectations. The deal will strengthen Kesoram balance sheet, adding that the cash will be used to repay debts. The BK Birla Group Company will remain invested in the tyre business. It has a less efficient unit near Balasore in Odisha, which is 23 years old now.

Besides tyres, Kesoram has interests in cement and rayon, which continues to report growth. Kesoram produces around 7.5 Million tonnes of cement, and the segment generates about Rs. 750 crore in operating profit annually. It also said it is expanding its rayon business.

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