Tata Motors is planning to buy Italian truck maker Iveco in a transaction valued at $4.5 billion (around Rs 39,195), according to a report by The Economic Times. The Indian automaker would reportedly buy Iveco from its primary stakeholder, the Agnelli family.
Shares of Tata Motors fell as much as 3.9% in the morning trade on Wednesday following this update.
The talks come at a time when Tata Motors is demerging its businesses, separating passenger vehicle (PV) and commercial vehicle (CV) businesses into two publicly traded companies – one housing the CV business and the other for the PV, which will include Jaguar Land Rover.
Sources told the Economic Times that Tata Motors would purchase 27.1% of Iveco from Exor, the Agnelli family’s investment company. This acquisition would be followed by a tender offer to buy smaller shareholder groups’ stake. Exor currently holds 43.1% of the truck manufacturer’s voting rights.
The boards of both Tata Motors and Iveco are meeting on Wednesday and could approve the transaction, the report said, citing sources.
Iveco is demerging its defence business, and it could be part of the deal with Tata Motors. Iveco, on Tuesday, said it is in advanced talks with different parties for two separate deals regarding its defence business and the rest of the company.
This deal would mark Tata Motors’ most significant purchase to date, surpassing its 2008 acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover for $2.3 billion. Also, in the history of Tata Group, this could be the second largest after the $12 billion Corus steel deal.
Tata Motors reportedly plans to route this transaction through a Dutch entity that will be fully owned by the company.