Tata's eye on indigenous Chinese, from Norway, Japan to America, Switzerland will get competition

Capital Group has 40 per cent stake in Invus Group, 35 per cent in US-based private equity group General Atlantic and 25 per cent in Capital Foods founder chairman Ajay Gupta.

Never seen such a rush to buy a company. Yes, the company which is competing with companies like Tata Group, Nestle, Hindustan Unilever, ITC, Kraft Heinz, Orkla and Nissin, there must be something in it. This company is none other than Capital Food Private Limited, which manufactures spices under Ching's Secret Smith & Jones brand for making Chinese food at home. This deal can be around 1 to 1.25 billion dollars.

Whose share how much

The three main shareholders of Capital Foods had decided to sell the company at the end of last year. Capital Group has 40 per cent stake in Invus Group, 35 per cent in US-based private equity group General Atlantic and 25 per cent in Capital Foods founder chairman Ajay Gupta. The first news of selling the company came to the fore on 14 November.

Race in these companies

To buy this company, Tata Group competes with the world's largest food group Nestle SA, ITC, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Japanese instant noodle multinational company Nissin Foods, Norway's Orkla and the world's fifth largest food and beverage company Kraft Heinz. doing. At least six people said that the race has picked up speed in the last few weeks.

How will be the deal?

Orkla owns the packaged food business of MTR and Eastern Condiments. Several potential buyers have already held meetings with the management and others are in the works ahead of making non-buying bids in early May. Nestle, HUL, ITC and Tata Consumer declined to comment on market speculation. No statement has come from GA, Gupta, Nissin, Kraft Heinz and Orkla. It is not yet clear whether the transaction will be in cash or in part stock. The people mentioned above said that some potential buyers have suggested taking up to 75 per cent stake in the company and taking it public.

Kishore Biyani was the first investor

Capital Foods was launched by Gupta in 1995 with a 'desi' Chinese and Italian portfolio. The range included Ching's Secret instant Chinese noodles, soups, condiments, curry pastes and frozen entrees, as well as the Smith & Jones range of ginger garlic pastes, sauces and baked beans. Firstly Kishore Biyani had supported this company. Kishore Biyani bought 33 per cent stake in Capital Foods for Rs 13 crore. In the year 2013, he got out of the company. After that, in 2018, General Atlantic entered the board.