BTL – the business known as Birla Tyres prior to its demerger from Kesoram Industries in 2020 – is insolvent, and two companies are in the running to acquire the tyre maker. One is the Ruia Group, former owner of the Dunlop brand in India.
On 4 December Kesoram Industries Ltd (part of the BK Birla Group of Companies) announced its intention to demerge its Birla Tyres Ltd business. As a result, Birla Tyres will become a listed company with its own shareholders. The demerger is scheduled for 1 January 2019.
The chief financial officer of Kesoram Industries reports that the company will invest Rs 3 billion (£29.3 million) into passenger car radial tyre production. Tridib Kumar Das told Indian financial daily Business Standard that the investment will be made in addition to the Rs 5 billion already spent on the car radial project, and that the company intends to bring its passenger car radials to market in May 2016.
The BSE has requested a clarification from India’s Kesoram Industries Ltd regarding a news article that states the company is reviving a project to manufacture passenger car tyres at its Basalore Birla Tyres plant.
The acquisition of tyre, tube and flap manufacturer Cavendish Industries Ltd. has been approved by the Board of Directors at JK Tyre & Industries. The Indian tyre maker is acquiring 100 per cent equity in Cavendish from Kesoram Industries Ltd. for just under Rs 22 billion (£214.6 million). According to JK Tyre, it and other JK Group companies will fund the acquisition by a combination of debt and internal accruals, and JK Tyre’s financial exposure is expected to be some Rs 4.5 billion (£43.9 million). The deal is expected to close in December 2015.
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