Escorts jumps as Japan's Kubota to acquire 10% stake

Escorts spurted 17.73% to close at Rs 675.20 after Japan's Kubota Corporation signed a deal to acquire 10% equity stake, on a post capital reduction basis, at Rs 850 per equity share.

Kubota Corporation, a leading global tractor and machinery manufacturer from Japan, will acquire 10% equity stake, on a post capital reduction basis in Escorts in order to integrate and deepen their relationship towards achieving their mutual ambition of global leadership.

Upon completion of this transaction, Escorts and Kubota will partner to become a leading player in the Indian market and a hub of product development, manufacturing and sourcing for global markets.

As part of the deal, Escorts will issue and allot 1,22,57,688 equity shares through a preferential issue to Kubota at Rs 850 per equity share, subject to shareholders' and necessary regulatory approvals. Kubota's investment will constitute 9.1% of the equity stake on a pre capital reduction or 10% on a post capital reduction basis for a total investment of Rs 1041.90 crore.

The board of directors of Escorts, has given an in principle approval to consider a reduction of 1,22,57,688 equity shares of Escorts held by the Escorts Benefit and Welfare Trust, subject to receipt of necessary approvals and upon completion of the preferential allotment to Kubota. This shall ensure that the total equity share capital of Escorts remains unchanged.

Simultaneously with the preferential issue, Escorts will acquire 40% stake in Kubota Agricultural Machinery India ('KAI'), the marketing and sales company of Kubota in India. The existing 60:40 joint venture between Kubota and Escorts, namely Escorts Kubota India ('EKl'), will continue to operate.

The collaboration will benefit Escorts from product innovation through indigenization of global R&D, production systems excellence, global supply chain, sales and distribution and act as a global sourcing hub for Kubota.

Kubota will benefitted from assured supply of cost-effective products in and for India, joint product development for emerging and global markets, and expansion of product range through respective distribution networks.

Both the companies will benefit from new avenues of growth in construction equipment and agriculture implements, leveraging strengths of both the parties, with focus on products including earth moving equipment & smart agriculture implements.

Nikhil Nanda, chairman and managing director, Escorts, said, "At Escorts, we believe in strategic global partnership with an objective to address global farm mechanization needs. We are pleased to partner with Kubota to offer farmers with innovative solutions and thereby maximize productivity for profitable growth in domestic and export geographies. This collaboration aims at leveraging R&D strengths of Kubota to offer cutting-edge products for domestic and export markets, serving customers in new markets and new product lines. With our manufacturing expertise and strong domestic distribution combined with collaboration with Kubota, we aim to reach our objective of becoming the market leader in farm mechanization, and address the food security challenge."

Yuichi Kitao, president and representative director, Kubota, Japan, said, "We are excited to make strategic investment in Escorts. It is a validation of our mutual commitment to offer best in class technology products for global markets and thereby enhance customer experience. Escorts has a strong technology legacy and diversified portfolio in agriculture equipment solutions market and Kubota has proven global technology capabilities. Through this collaboration, we believe that we will cater to India and other growing economies which require high-end technology and new age tractors to address growing demands of highly mechanized farming. Kubota and Escorts, together, with their leadership in respective geographies will consolidate strengths and technology innovation excellence to emerge as a global leader."

The Escorts Group is an Indian engineering company that operates in the sectors of agri-machinery, construction and material handling equipment, and railway equipment.

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