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]
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]
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]
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 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]
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 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]
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]
US$2.4 billion[2] (2021)
