Last year Ford decided to put two iconic British brands Jaguar and Land Rover on sale and Tata Motors emerged as the preferred buyer. Tata initially valued the two brands at $2.05bn but the deal got finalized at $2.3bn. The latest acquisition also means that Tata Motors now owns one of the most prestigious brands in the global automobile space and can boast a full range of cars, right from the Rs 1- lakh category to Rs 1 crore. Tata Motors will also finally have access to the global market, despite a ten-year presence in the domestic car market.
Deal dynamics were conducive from TAMO’s perspective
The circumstances could not have been more fortuitous for such a strategic foray for TAMO. The virtual freeze in the credit markets and slowdown in US markets meant that there were no serious private equity players or auto companies to create any price tension. From TAMO shareholders’ perspective, there was minimal risk of over-payment. Additionally, the negotiated nature of the deal provided both parties with enough head-room to negotiate a fair deal. It has also given TAMO the opportunity to assess the asset from a close range and also meet the various stakeholders such as JLR management and union representatives. Media statements from labour union representatives indicate that TAMO has already signed definitive agreements with respect to staffing. We believe this provides a strong foundation for JLR’s smooth transition from Ford to Tata Motors.
Value of acquisition depends on TAMO’s execution which investors are skeptical of
We believe TAMO bought the asset at 4.3xCY07 EV/EBITA and 0.94xCY07 P/B. While we remain positive on the outcome and valuation of the acquisition, the hard part has just begun for TAMO. Usually, automobile companies are av ...