Gainwell Group Acquires Majority Stake in TIL Ltd

Gainwell Group, through its group entity- Indocrest Defence Solutions Private Limited (IDSPL), today acquired a dominant stake in TIL (formerly Tractors India) Limited (NSE: TIL), one of India’s leading infra equipment manufacturer.  Gainwell Group, a Make-in-India conglomerate with significant   presence   in   the   mining, construction,  energy,   defence,   railways,   and   heavy equipment sectors, is expected to accelerate TIL’s growth further and bolster its already robust order  book for  cranes,  reach stackers,  material handling  and  defence equipment.

Gainwell Group promoter Mr. Sunil Kumar Chaturvedi, appointed as a director of TIL today is slated to be appointed, subject to Shareholders’ approval, the Chairman & Managing Director of TIL.  

“This is a milestone moment for Gainwell and TIL both and is in line with the larger aspiration of the Gainwell Group to achieve $1 billion size and stature within the next 5 years. TIL with a history of nearly eight decades embodies   a   rich   legacy, brand   goodwill, manufacturing   prowess   and    wide range   of capabilities. The Company has a strong, strategic fit for Gainwell Group and the combination of our strengths will drive significant value for all stakeholders,” Mr. Chaturvedi said speaking about the acquisition, adding, “The acquisition is a strategic move that will enhance Gainwell Group's leadership in the heavy equipment manufacturing industry. TIL brings with it almost eight decades of deep engineering expertise and manufacturing experience, together with a strong brand recognition in the market.”

IDSPL has infused ₹120 crore into TIL including ₹ 70 crore for subscribing to the preferential issue of shares.  A new six-member Board  of Directors  replacing  the  existing  incumbents  has  been  put  in  place  by  Gainwell  Group  in anticipation  of  shareholders’ approval.  TIL’s new Board has also approved in their maiden meeting replacement of all its Key Management Persons (KMPs) within next 60 days’ time.  A formidable source of high-quality cranes, reach stackers and defence equipment, TIL brand has been a part of India’s infrastructure sector growth since 1944.

The new management of TIL is determined to revitalise the company with a comprehensive 2- year plan that  includes  introducing  a  wide  array  of  new  generational  products  as  well  as engineering and technology refresh of all its existing offerings. In the shorter term, TIL shall focus on quickly ramping up operational  efficiency  and  vastly  enhancing its  capacity  utilization  for accelerated  product  deliveries for  Indian customers as well as for  exports.  Gainwell’s state-of-the-art aftermarket support practices widely recognized within and outside India are slated to  help  TIL  transform  its  customer  support  approach  within  a  period  of  three  to  four quarters.

By integrating TIL into the Gainwell portfolio of solutions, both brands will leverage each other’s strengths and will be able to widen their respective range of products.

The coming together of the two industry leaders will have a deep positive impact on India’s dependence   on   imported   capital   goods   including   in   strategic   sectors   like   defence   and underground soft rock mining. TIL aims to strengthen India's self-sufficiency and hold the “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” banners high in line with the government's vision of promoting domestic manufacturing and reducing imports.   This will enable increased value for the customers within and outside India, ensure continued growth and improved margins for TIL shareholders.

Mr. Chaturvedi brings with him a wealth of experience in leading transformation of Gainwell from a small Caterpillar dealership to  a  thriving  enterprise  spanning  across  infrastructure,  mining,  energy,  railways,  defence, material handling, and heavy equipment manufacturing industries with presence in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Singapore, USA and Australia. 

Mr. Chaturvedi added, “We will continue to deliver TIL’s well-known world-class products and vastly improved after- sales support from the current facilities at Kamarhatty (Kolkata) and Changual (Kharagpur), West Bengal and strengthened sales and  support  presence  in  Delhi,  Mumbai,  Chennai,  Pune  and Hyderabad.  We will bring in new generation products with significant level of digitization across the board as well as a new range of customer support options to further deepen our competitive edge,” 

Sharing his views on the acquisition, TIL’s outgoing Chairman & Managing Director, Mr. Sumit Mazumder said, “This strategic measure will ensure seamless continuation of TIL’s legacy, growth and expansion benefitting our employees and all stakeholders. TIL under Gainwell’s management will be strongly positioned to continue building on top of its eight decades of legacy, ensuring revival in the business performance and expansion that will benefit all stakeholders.  The strategic investment from Gainwell will also make sure that TIL remains a trusted and a preferred partner in the domestic and global infrastructure landscape”.

Notably, despite severe headwinds in last couple of years, TIL continues to remain the preferred choice of customers as reinforced by sustained addition to its order-board that scaled up to ~₹300 Crore in September 2023 dominated by defence  sector  orders.  Multiple niche defence products of TIL continue to exclusively meet the strategic requirement of Indian Army, Air Force and Navy while TIL remains a proud partner with key defence gear manufacturers in Government and private sector for domestic and export requirement.

Under the new leadership, TIL will continue producing its range of Rough Terrain Cranes, Truck Cranes, and Pick n Carry Cranes. TIL will continue as dealer in India for Manitowoc Crawler Cranes and Grove Mobile Telescoping Cranes, in partnership with the U.S. OEM The Manitowoc Company, Inc.  The company will also boost production & distribution of the Hyster Range of products and focus on enhancing the production of Reach Stackers to regain dominance in the market.

Commenting on the acquisition Mr. Rajiv Prasad, President and CEO of Hyster-Yale Group which has been a key partner for TIL since 2008 said, “We look forward to a strong turnround of TIL in days ahead. Hyster remains confident that the long-standing partnership between Hyster and TIL will gain new heights in able stewardship of Mr. Chaturvedi. Hyster-Yale Group remains committed to working with TIL in its speedy ramp-up, which also supports our mission of providing “optimal solutions” to solve customers’ toughest problems.”

Mr. Aaron H. Ravenscroft, President and CEO of the Manitowoc Company, Inc. said, “We see TIL’s transition as a turning point in its history with Manitowoc over the last 60 years and look forward to Mr. Sunil Chaturvedi and his team taking the company to new heights. We will continue selling Manitowoc Crawler Cranes along with Grove Mobile Telescoping Cranes from the Manitowoc Crane Group through TIL and see great potential in the company moving forward”.