The Tata Group, one of India’s largest conglomerates, has reportedly hit a roadblock in its talks to acquire a majority stake in Bisleri International Pvt, a major player in India’s bottled water market. According to sources familiar with the matter, negotiations had advanced to the point where the two companies were working on finalizing the details of a transaction, but discussions stalled over a disagreement on valuation.
Bisleri is one of India’s most well-known and widely consumed bottled water brands, with a history dating back to 1969 when it was acquired by the Parle Group. The company claims to have a 60% share of India’s bottled mineral water market and has recently expanded its product portfolio to include hand sanitizer.
For Tata Group, which already owns the popular Himalayan Natural Mineral Water and Tata Water Plus brands through its listed unit, Tata Consumer Products Ltd, acquiring Bisleri could have been a significant move in expanding its portfolio in the bottled water segment.
Despite the setback in negotiations, sources say that talks between Tata and Bisleri could potentially resume in the future. Additionally, other potential suitors may emerge for Bisleri, given its market dominance and strong brand recognition in India.
Representatives for both Tata and Bisleri declined to comment on the matter, suggesting that negotiations remain private and ongoing.