Reliance, Tata Sons, Adani, Vedanta on buying spree in economic rebound

Indian conglomerates are getting the confidence back for back-to-back acquisitions, indicating a fast economic revival. Tata group, Reliance Industries (RIL), Adani Group, JSW and Vedanta are among others in race for lucrative assets, including start-ups.

Reliance Retail Ventures (RRVL), a subsidiary of RIL, recently acquired 96 per cent stake in online furniture portal Urban Ladder for Rs 182 crore. Before this, RIL brought majority stake in digital pharmacy start-up Netmeds and acquired 15 per cent stake in online lingerie retailer Zivame. RRVL also announced acquisition of the retail, wholesale, logistics and warehousing businesses of Future Group for Rs 24,713 crore.

Reports say that Tata group is in advanced talks to buy about 80 per cent of BigBasket in a deal that is likely to value the local online grocer backed by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd at about $1.6 billion. The group is reportedly in talks to acquire e-pharmacy firm 1mg for $100 million.

Tata Sons is negotiating with its Vistara joint-venture partner Singapore Airlines about bidding together for heavily indebted Air India. Besides, it may increase its stake in AirAsia JV. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) announced the acquisition of Postbank Systems AG, the technology services unit of Frankfurt-based Deutsche Bank AG.

Adani group has been a bit aggressive in acquisitions in the infrastructure and public utility space. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), India's largest private port operator, has completed the acquisition of Krishnapatnam Port Co Ltd (KPCL) for an enterprise value of Rs 12,000 crore in October. Adani Transmission (ATL) has recently acquired Alipurduar Transmission Limited from Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd (KPTL) for an enterprise value of Rs 1,300 crore.

Adani group offered Rs 33,000 crore to take over troubled housing lender Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd (DHFL). In August, Adani group announced the acquisition of GVK Group's stake in Mumbai airport.

Anil Agarwal's Vedanta group has put in Expression of Interest (EoI) for acquiring the government stake in Bharat Petroleum Company Limited (BPCL). It will be the largest acquisition by the group, if it materialises.

Sajjan Jindal's JSW Steel is on the way to acquire Bhushan Power and Steel for Rs 19,700 crore in bankruptcy proceedings. The company has already completed acquisitions of two bankrupt firms -- Monnet Ispat and Asian Colour Coated.

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