Tata Group's DEBT Threat
Business Today|March 08, 2020
MOST LEADING TATA COMPANIES, INCLUDING TATA POWER, TATA STEEL AND TATA MOTORS, ARE BURDENED BY DEBT, MAKING THE GROUP OVERDEPENDENT ON TCS, ITS SOLE MONEY SPINNER
NEVIN JOHN
Tata Group's DEBT Threat

Tata Power, set up in 1915, held its 100th annual general meeting on June 18, 2019. While it should have been an occasion to celebrate, with net debt of ₹47,552 crore in FY19 and a net debt-to-EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation) ratio of seven, there was not much to celebrate. When shareholders asked Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran what he was doing to reduce the company’s liabilities, he looked visibly irritated. “We’re working on a solution; it’s not that we are not trying hard,” he said.

In the first nine months of FY2020, Tata Power repaid ₹2,257 crore debt. But for Chandrasekaran, who completes three years as the head of the Tata group on February 21, that is little relief. The gross debt of 11 major indebted listed companies in the group – excluding financing companies and holding company Tata Sons — stood at ₹2.46 lakh crore in FY19 compared to ₹2.22 lakh crore in FY18 and ₹2.1 lakh crore in FY17.

Debt pressure is mounting on marquee Tata companies such as Tata Steel and Tata Motors. In the first nine months of FY2020, Tata Steel’s net debt increased 10.2 per cent to ₹1,04,628 crore, while that of Tata Motors’ automotive business (excluding lending subsidiary Tata Motors Finance) surged 59.8 per cent to ₹45,376 crore. While the steel business has been dogged by troubles in Europe, the auto business faces headwinds in India and China and slowdown in demand for diesel cars, which account for a vast chunk of its UK and European business.

BT sent a questionnaire to the Tata group, which provided details of its debt handling plan. Besides, Tata Sons executives briefed Business Today.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 08, 2020 من Business Today.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 08, 2020 من Business Today.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من BUSINESS TODAY مشاهدة الكل
"Hire for attitude, not ability"
Business Today India

"Hire for attitude, not ability"

Thryve Digital is a player in the healthcare technology sector delivering next-generation solutions

time-read
1 min  |
May 12, 2024
Road Warrior
Business Today India

Road Warrior

For Khalid Wani, Senior Director of Sales at Western Digital India, life is much more than just the corner office. Biking across the world is one way he derives meaning for his life

time-read
3 mins  |
May 12, 2024
WIDENING THE POOL
Business Today India

WIDENING THE POOL

THERE HAS BEEN A JUMP IN INDIVIDUALS INVESTING DIRECTLY IN THE STOCK MARKETS, BUT MUMBAI AND AHMEDABAD STILL ACCOUNT FOR THE LION'S SHARE. THERE DEFINITELY IS SCOPE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF PENETRATION LEVELS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

time-read
7 mins  |
May 12, 2024
CRISIS IN THE CLOUDS
Business Today India

CRISIS IN THE CLOUDS

INDIAN AVIATION IS IN CRISIS. AIRLINES ARE GRAPPLING WITH FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS, CREW SHORTAGES, AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT POOR SERVICE, ARE BLEEDING DUE TO RISING COSTS WILL THE FASTEST-GROWING AVIATION MARKET RECOVER?

time-read
9 mins  |
May 12, 2024
"India should start privatising public sector banks"
Business Today India

"India should start privatising public sector banks"

Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, on growth, inequality, jobs, the banking sector, and more

time-read
8 mins  |
May 12, 2024
THE DARK SIDE OF GOLD LOANS
Business Today India

THE DARK SIDE OF GOLD LOANS

THERE HAS BEEN A SHARP RISE IN GOLD LOANS IN RECENT YEARS. BUT THERE IS A SEEDIER SIDE TO THIS, AS IS EVIDENT FROM THE RED FLAG THE RBI RAISED RECENTLY. WILL THE REGULATOR'S MOVE PROTECT CUSTOMERS?

time-read
10+ mins  |
May 12, 2024
"I LET MY WORK DO THE TALKING"
Business Today India

"I LET MY WORK DO THE TALKING"

Megha Engineering & Infrastructures MD P.V. Krishna Reddy on being low profile, the infra opportunity and much more

time-read
4 mins  |
May 12, 2024
"Core of insurance lies in long-term security"
Business Today India

"Core of insurance lies in long-term security"

Vibha Padalkar, MD & CEO of HDFC Life, on the insurance provider's performance, surrender charges, and future innovations

time-read
3 mins  |
May 12, 2024
Distress in the Books
Business Today India

Distress in the Books

Bandhan Bank, the brainchild of Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, has made the journey from an MFI to a bank, but with many hurdles. Now with his resignation as MD & CEO, is the lender staring at more uncertainty?

time-read
2 mins  |
May 12, 2024
A Stellar Debut
Business Today India

A Stellar Debut

The TAC Infosec IPO saw bids worth ₹8,417.33 crore pouring in, thanks to intense bidding from all categories of investors

time-read
1 min  |
May 12, 2024