Ratan Tata buys stake in Xiaomi: Top 9 companies the Tata Chairman Emeritus has invested in

Tata Group’s Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata has also invested in online furniture company Urban Ladder, making it his second personal investment in an e-commerce firm after Snapdeal

Updated: April 27, 2015 7:58 PM IST

By India.com News Desk

Ratan Tata buys stake in Xiaomi: Top 9 companies the Tata Chairman Emeritus has invested in

Ratan Tata is once again in news after acquiring stocks in the Chinese smartphone manufacturer company, Xiaomi. Tata yesterday acquired stakes in the Chinese manufacturer company, Xiaomi which is the first ever investment in the company by any Indian. According to an annual study by Brand Finance India, Tata has retained its position as the most valued brand of the country at $21 billion. Last year, Tata unveiled Vistara in a joint venture with SIA. Here are the nine stakes in which the Tata Group acquired stocks in the last two years.

1. Snapdeal.Com

Ratan Tata, Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus, invested in online marketplace Snapdeal.Com last year. “Mr Tata has made a personal investment in the company,” Snapdeal cofounder and CEO Kunal Bahl said. The investment amount, however, was not disclosed. Snapdeal, which has raised about USD 400 million since its inception, has invested about USD 100 million in logistics and operations to expand its presence in the USD 3 billion Indian eCommerce market.Snapdeal has seen 600 per cent growth year-on-year for the last two years, he added.

2. Urban Ladder

Tata Group’s Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata has also invested in online furniture company Urban Ladder, making it his second personal investment in an e-commerce firm after Snapdeal. Urban Ladder said that Tata’s “inputs and guidance will be very valuable” for the company, but did not disclose the amount and other details about this investment. This is Tata’s second investment in Indian e-commerce business, after a previous investment he made in online marketplace major Snapdeal earlier in August this year.

3. Bluestone

After Snapdeal, Ratan Tata’s confidence in Indian ecommerce skyrocketed, as he made another investment soon: Bluestone. Interestingly, Tata Group owns a flagship jewelry brand Tanishq, and his investment into another jewelry startup surprised several industry veterans.

4. CarDekho.Com

Tata Group Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata has invested in online auto classified services provider, CarDekho.Com earlier this year, indicating the strength of India’s rapidly growing digital consumption market. After Snapdeal, Urban Ladder and online jewellery seller BlueStone, CarDekho.Com was Tata’s fourth such investment in an e-commerce firm. “Mr Tata, a deeply revered man in the Indian auto sector, has for the first time ever joined hands with an auto portal by investing in personal capacity. While the investment amount remains undisclosed, Mr Tata has agreed to advise the company as and when required.” CarDekho said in a statement.

5. Xiaomi

Iconic business leader Ratan Tata has acquired a stake in Chinese handset maker Xiaomi, the first investment by any Indian in the smartphone maker. The company declined to disclose the quantum and value of the stake, which Tata Group’s former chief has picked in his personal capacity.” We are truly excited to have Mr Tata on board. We will seek his advice in our journey to becoming an Indian company,” Xiaomi India Head Manu Jain told PTI.  (READ: Ratan Tata picks up stake in Xiaomi)

6. Swasth India

Tata invested Rs 2 crore in this health based startup, founded by ex-IITians in Mumbai. The venture was to serve healthcare services at half the market rates, making healthcare more affordable. The services will be available in Swasth Health Centers (SHCs) and a Community Outreach programme.

7. PayTm

Ratan Tata acquired a stake in PayTm by investing an undisclosed amount in this mobile commerce startup, where Alibaba had recently invested close to $500 billion. This was certainly big, almost equivalent of Snapdeal’s investment.

8. Grameen Capital

Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata bought a minority stake in the non-banking finance company of Grameen Capital India (GCI). Tata along with Dempo group promoter Shrinivas Dempo, former top Credit Suisse executive Vikram Gandhi, Patni group promoters Amit Patni and Arihant Patni invested in the NBFC which focuses on the social impact space.

 9. Altaeros Energies

After stepping down from Tata Group, his first investment was made in this Wind Energy startup from Boston-  Altaeros Energies. They are currently building world’s highest wind turbine at Alaska. (With inputs from PTI)

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