"Quiet" Mistry sees $2.8 billion wealth swell due to TCS rally

By Rizza Sta. Ana

Jan 02, 2014 02:35 AM EST

The wealth increase of Indian-origin billionaire Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry, despite being known as a closely-guarded individual, was much-talked about in the financial markets in India. Mistry earned an additional $2.8 billion last year, thanks to the 73% rally of the stocks of Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, a Bloomberg report said.

Dalton Capital Advisors India Pvt managing director U R Bhat, said about Shapoorji Pallonji Group, "They are a very quiet group which goes about executing its projects and building its businesses rather than seeking publicity. That's how they are and that's how it should be."

Mistry, whose father received Tata group shares amounting to a 12.5% equity stake, and his family member's subsequent purchases amassed a total of 18% in Tata holding, making them the largest individual shareholder of Tata group.

TCS, said Bloomberg, was the best performer in the S&P BSE Sensex index. The report attributed the optimism about a global economic recovery an 11% drop in the rupee against the US dollar as the reasons behind the gains experienced by the biggest software exporter on the stock market. TCS is 74% owned by Tata Sons Ltd. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Mistry, who is the largest individual shareholder in Tata Sons, now has a $14.1 billion fortune. Mistry's wealth easily surpassed that of the nation's richest man Mukesh Ambani and ArcelorMittal chairman Lakshmi N Mittal despite a weakening economy. TCS' earnings last year managed to also succeed that of its competitors Infosys Ltd and Wipro Ltd.

In a phone interview, Mumbai-based Nirmal Bang Institutional Equities analyst Harit Shah said, "Even within the Indian IT sector that is outperforming, the performance of TCS has been flawless. European clients are becoming more open to outsourcing, that is a very flattering sign. U.S., the other important geography, is picking up too."

Shapoorji Pallonji in November last year has formed an alliance with Toronto-based Canada Pension Plan Investment Board to acquire office buildings across urban India. The closely-held construction group poured $1.6 billion into Misty's coffers, while Tata Son contributed $9.2 billion, based from Bloomberg Billionaires Index calculations.

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