CK Birla Group
TypePrivate
IndustryConglomerate
Founded1857 (1857)[1]
FounderSeth Shiv Narayan Birla
HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
C. K. Birla (Chairman)
Amita Birla (Co-chairman)
RevenueIncreaseUS$2.4 billion[2] (2021)
OwnerC. K. Birla
Number of employees
25,000+[3]
SubsidiariesOrient Electric
Birlasoft
Orient Paper & Industries
Hyderabad Industries Limited
WebsiteOfficial website

CK Birla Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate headquartered in Birla Tower on Barakhamba Road, New Delhi, India. The group has been historically led by industrialists Braj Mohan Birla and Ganga Prasad Birla.[4] The CK Birla Group has a presence in following sectors - technology, automotive, home and building, healthcare, and education.[2] It incorporates a diverse range of entities, including Orient Electric, Orient Cement, HIL Limited, National Engineering Industries (manufacturer of NBC Bearings), Birlasoft, GMMCO, and Orient Paper & Industries.[2] The company is currently headed by its chairman, C. K. Birla, who is a member of the Birla family.[5]

As of 2021, it includes over 25,000 employees, 41 manufacturing facilities, and operations across five continents. In the fiscal year 2021, the company reported a total revenue of approximately US$2.4 billion.[2]

History

In 1939, Orient Paper was established in Brajarajnagar, Odisha.[1] Later, Orient Paper became India's largest paper company.[6] In 1946, National Engineering Industries (NEI) was founded, followed by the acquisition of Neosym, previously known as Indian Smelting & Refining Company, in 1947.[1]

In 1948, Braj Mohan Birla started the operations of Hindustan Motors, an automotive company that he founded in West Bengal.[7] Known for producing the Ambassador car, widely used as a taxicab and government limousine, Hindustan Motors held the position of India's largest car manufacturer until the rise of Maruti Udyog.[8][9]

Under Ganga Prasad Birla's leadership, the group ventured into project management by acquiring the three-million-tonne Ajaokuta steel project from the Nigerian government, which was facing operational challenges at the time. This move triggered further initiatives, such as the modernization of integrated steel plants owned by the state-operated Steel Authority of India Limited in Durgapur and Rourkela.[10][11]

Industrial diversification continued with acquisitions like Orient Fans (1954) and HIL (1956).[1] In the 1990s, the C K Birla Group had a 50:50 joint venture with General Motors, which ended in 1999 when GM acquired 86%, and Holden took 14% of the Indian production facilities.[12]

Further expansions in cement (Orient Cement, 1982)[13] and information technology (Birlasoft, 1995)[14] ensued. Institutions like Birla Science Centre and BM Birla Heart Research Centre were founded in 1985 and 1989, respectively.[11] AVTEC, an automotive component manufacturer, was formed in 2005.[15] The group's technological footprint expanded with the acquisition of Switzerland-based ASSAG in 2013[16] and EnablePath in 2014 by Birlasoft.[14]

CK Birla Group's subsidiary HIL acquired Germany-based Parador Holdings GmbH, a building material maker, for a cash consideration of $96.5 million in July 2018.[17] In January 2020, CK Birla Group's National Engineering Industries (NEI), through its European subsidiary, acquired Slovakia-based Kinex Bearings. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed by NEI.[18] During the same month, it also sold the thermal insulation business of Hyderabad Industries Limited to the French company Imerys SA for US$11.26 million (80 crore).[19] In July 2022, CK Birla Group, via its flagship HIL, acquired Odisha-based building material-maker Fast Build Blocks for 65 crore.[20]

Companies

HIL Limited

HIL Limited, formerly Hyderabad Industries Limited, is the owner of brands such as Charminar, Birla Aerocon, and Charminar Fortune.[21] The company operates in the construction materials, machinery, industrial supplies, components, and logistics network domains.[22][23] HIL Limited operates in India and Germany. HIL Limited expanded rapidly, diversifying into new areas such as pipes and tiles, including the acquisition of Germany-based Parador in July 2018.[24] This strategic acquisition contributed to the company's growth from ₹1,000-3,000 crore in the fiscal year 2020-2021.[22]

National Engineering Industries

National Engineering Industries (NEI) was founded in 1946[25] and is engaged in the manufacturing of bearings for the automotive, railway, industrial, and aerospace industries.[18] It sells bearings under the brand name NBC Bearings and exports them to at least 20 countries, including the United States, Germany, Brazil, Japan, and Australia.[26]

The company has a rubber division called NEI Rubber, which operates under the National Engineering Industries.[27]

In May 2023, CK Birla Group was listed among the International Sponsors of War by the Ukrainian National Agency on Corruption Prevention due to its business with Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[28] The group's entity, National Engineering Industries, affirmed that all its exports comply with the guidelines established by the Government of India, reportedly by ThePrint.[29]

Orient Electric

Orient Electric, previously known as Calcutta Electrical Manufacturing Company was acquired by Orient Paper in 1954.[1] The company operates in two segments, Electrical Consumer Durables (ECD) and Lighting and Switchgear.[30] It is one of the largest manufacturers of fans in India.[31][32] The company operates manufacturing facilities in Faridabad, Haryana, Noida, Hyderabad and Kolkata. It has a strong presence in the North and Western markets in India. The company holds approximately a 20 percent market share in India as of 2016.[33] It holds a 60% overall market share, and in the premium segment, it has a 40% market share as of 2018.[34]

Orient Paper & Industries

Orient Paper & Industries is one of India's top paper manufacturers, offering a broad selection of writing, printing, industrial, and specialty papers.[35] The company was incorporated in 1939. It started as a paper maker and later grew into a multi-product company, expanding its presence into three segments — paper, cement, and fans.[36][37] In 2011, Orient Paper strategically spun off its cement business, resulting in the establishment of Orient Cement.[38] Subsequently, in 2016, the company decided to demerge its electrical appliances division, resulting in the establishment of Orient Electricals.[39]

Birlasoft

In 1995, the CK Birla Group diversified its operations into the information technology sector with the establishment of Birlasoft, which provides enterprise application services, custom application services, and specialized services like testing, analytics, and mobility. The company serves clients in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and the APAC region.[14]

GMMCO Limited

GMMCO was established in 1967 through the acquisition of Blackwood Hodge Equipment by the CK Birla Group. It is into the sale and support of construction, mining equipment, and engine power systems.[40][41] In 1986, it became the Indian dealer for heavy-duty machinery manufacturer Caterpillar Inc.[40] In January 2014, it acquired Bucyrus India, a division of Caterpillar Inc., for an undisclosed sum. It had had business volume is $400 million in 2018.[42]

Avtec

Founded in 2005[15], Avtec is a manufacturer of powertrain and precision-engineered products, supplying high-precision components to automotive, off-highway, agriculture, and railway industries. Its clientele includes companies such as Alison, BEML, Caterpillar, Daimler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Renault-Nissan, and Tata-Jaguar. Its manufacturing units are situated in Hosur, Chennai, and Pithampur in India.[43]

CK Birla Hospitals

The company operates in the healthcare sector, with two CK Birla Hospitals in Delhi NCR, one in Punjabi Bagh[44] and the other in Gurgaon.[45] The company also oversees three other hospitals - B.M. Birla Heart Research Centre and Calcutta Medical Research Institute in Kolkata, West Bengal, and Rukmani Birla Hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan.[46][47]

The company operates a network of fertility clinics under the name Birla Fertility & IVF, specializing in in-vitro fertilization (IVF), egg freezing, and fertility testing.[48]

Philanthropy

The CK Birla Group engaged in various philanthropic activities across science, technology, art, culture, and heritage preservation. It is also working for the betterment of rural and underprivileged communities in India.[5]

The company runs various hospital trusts, including the B.M. Birla Heart Research Centre and the Calcutta Medical Research Institute in Kolkata[49], Rukmani Birla Hospital in Jaipur[50], and education institutes like BIT Mesra in Ranchi, Rukmani Birla Modern High School in Jaipur, and Modern High School for Girls and Modern High School International in Kolkata.[51][11][52]

It has set up institutions like the G P Birla Archaeological Astronomical and Scientific Research Institute (GPBAASRI), BM Birla Science Centre, B. M. Birla Science Museum in Hyderabad, Birla Institute of Scientific Research and BM Birla Planetarium in Jaipur. Ganga Prasad Birla constructed temples in Hyderabad, Jaipur, Amlai, and Bhopal, and contributed to the restoration of historically and religiously significant sites. The Birla temples in Brajarajnagar, Odisha were founded by Braj Mohan Birla.[5][11][53]

In April 2020, CK Birla Group and its promoters jointly committed ₹35 crores to support the Government of India's COVID-19 efforts, directing ₹25 crores to the PM CARES Fund and allocating the remaining funds for state government initiatives in equipment procurement.[54]

Awards

In 2006, the Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honor, upon Ganga Prasad Birla, the company's former chairman, in recognition of his contributions to social work.[11][55]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Our Journey CK Birla Group". Ckbirlagroup.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Group Profile". CK Birla Group. Archived from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  3. "Welcome to Orient Cement". Orientcement.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  4. Edgar Thorpe (September 2011). The Pearson General Knowledge Manual 2011. Pearson Education.
  5. 1 2 3 D. K. Taknet (2016). The Marwari Heritage. IntegralDMS. p. 409. ISBN 9781942322061.
  6. Vanita. Icons of Indian Industry. Sura Books. p. 56. ISBN 9788174786852.
  7. Dutt, Ishita Ayan (11 June 2014). "What next for CK Birla after Hindustan Motors?". Business Standard.
  8. Sen, Sunny (15 February 2017). "Can Peugeot bring back life to CK Birla Group's Hindustan Motors?". Hindustan Times.
  9. "Hindustan Motors domestic sales dip 20.8% in Oct". Business Standard. 5 November 2013.
  10. "GP Birla dies at 87". Business Standard. 21 January 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "GP Birla dies at 87". Rediff.com. 8 March 2010.
  12. Louis F. Fourie (2016). "On a Global Mission: The Automobiles of General Motors International Volume 3". Friesen Press. p. 1130.
  13. "Orient Cement looks at acquisitions". Deccan Herald. 17 May 2015.
  14. 1 2 3 Gupta, Bhawan (13 January 2014). "Birlasoft acquires US-based CRM solutions provider EnablePath". VCCircle.
  15. 1 2 "HM hives off auto parts biz into JV". The Times of India. 20 February 2005.
  16. "Avtec ties up with Switzerland's Assag". The Economic Times. 27 June 2012.
  17. Mamgain, Pramugdha (13 July 2018). "CK Birla unit acquires Parador". DealStreetAsia.
  18. 1 2 "CK Birla group firm NEI acquires Slovakia-based Kinex Bearings". The Economic Times. 15 January 2020.
  19. Kapur, Narinder (17 January 2020). "France's Imerys To Buy CK Birla Group Firm's Thermal Insulation Unit". VCCircle.
  20. "CK Birla group arm HIL buys Fast Build Blocks for Rs 65 cr". The Times of India. 29 July 2022.
  21. Das, Vipul (17 June 2022). "This CK Birla Group of stock fixes record date for the purpose of 450% dividend". Livemint.
  22. 1 2 Kumar, V. Rishi (10 August 2021). "HIL eyes $1b revenues as it transforms to an integrated green building materials company". The Hindu Business Line.
  23. "HIL pins hope on Parador acquisition, domestic expansions to increase revenue". CNBC TV18. 25 March 2019.
  24. Kumar, N. Ravi (12 July 2018). "HIL to acquire German flooring solutions company Parador".
  25. "NBC breakthrough in fuel efficient bearings". Motown India. 16 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014.
  26. kapur, Narinder (16 January 2020). "CK Birla Group firm National Engineering strikes twin acquisitions". VCCircle.
  27. "Corporate Briefs 11-05-2005". Telegraph India. 5 November 2005.
  28. "Ukraine declares India's firm Birla Group international sponsor of war". The New Voice of Ukraine. 19 May 2023.
  29. Padmanabhan, Keshav (22 May 2023). "'War sponsors': Indian entity among 26 blacklisted by Ukraine for 'abetting Russian aggression'". ThePrint.
  30. "Orient Electric expects good growth from fans, coolers as summer approaches". Business Standard. 1 March 2023.
  31. "Orient Electricals is Orient Electric now; name change aimed at new business consolidation plan". The Economic Times. 16 April 2014.
  32. Kiran Bagade, Hrithik (16 December 2018). "Orient fans eyes 25% market share in South India". Deccan Herald.
  33. Babu, Gireesh (17 October 2016). "Orient Electric plans to set up manufacturing facility in South". Business Standard.
  34. Rakshit, Avishek (23 August 2018). "Orient Electric plans exports to US, Europe and other destinations". Archived from the original on 23 August 2018.
  35. Das, Vipul (18 May 2023). "Birla group stock Orient Paper hit fresh 52-week-high after Q4 revenue up 35%". Livemint.
  36. Jauharri, Ujjval (16 March 2018). "Triple play will fan Orient's growth". DNA India.
  37. "Orient to expand paper capacity, sell cement biz". The Economic Times. 9 December 2003.
  38. Narayanan, R Y (27 July 2011). "Orient Paper to demerge cement biz". The Hindu Business Line.
  39. "Orient Paper to demerge electrical appliances division". Livemint. 22 September 2016.
  40. 1 2 "Partners in Success". Construction World. 1 April 201.
  41. "Gmmco Sells and Supports Cat 320D "One Machine. Endless Possibilities"". NBM&CW.com. July 2013.
  42. Verma, Anuradha (7 January 2014). "CK Birla Group firm acquires a part of Caterpillar's mining product distribution business". VCCircle.
  43. Singh Dhanjal, Swaraj; Balakrishnan, Reghu (19 April 2018). "Warburg set to exit Avtec, sell 30% stake to CK Birla Group". Livemint.
  44. Panda, Sushmita (9 February 2023). "Delhi's CK Birla Hospital introduces fully active robot for minimally invasive knee replacement surgery". The Financial Express.
  45. "सी के बिड़ला हास्पिटल फार वुमेन की 1,000 करोड़ रुपये के निवेश से 14 नये अस्पताल खोलने की योजना" (in Hindi). Navbharat Times. 11 August 2019.
  46. "CK Birla Hospitals opens info centre in Dhaka". Bdnews24.com. 6 May 2017.
  47. Majumder, Sampurna (15 December 2019). "Hospital chain on expansion spree". The Times of India.
  48. Das, Sohini (28 October 2022). "CK Birla Group eyes over 100 fertility clinics in three to four years". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023.
  49. Ukil, Amit (18 December 2005). "Speciality clinics for trade hub". Telegraph India.
  50. "CK Birla group up Rs 270 crore investment in healthcare". The Economic Times. 22 June 2014.
  51. "The CK Birla Group". BIT Mesra. 2023.
  52. Group, CK Birla. "CK Birla Group Trusts".
  53. Marta Kudelska; ‎Dorota Kamińska-Jones; ‎Agnieszka Staszczyk (30 November 2019). The Temple Road Towards a Great India Birla Mandirs as a Strategy for Reconstructing Nation and Tradition. Jagiellonian University Press. p. 75. ISBN 9788323399865.
  54. "CK Birla Group commits Rs 35 crore to PM-CARES Fund". The Economic Times. 4 April 2020.
  55. "Simple man with a sharp mind". Telegraph India. 3 July 2010.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.