India’s Voltas seeks to acquire water treatment companies

India's leading engineering services company Voltas Ltd has charted plans to expand operations in the global water treatment business. The company is also scouting for companies for acquisition overseas as well as in India.

The company, belonging to India's second largest business group, Tatas, is eyeing small-sized companies that will allow it to get entrenched in the local industry without having to set up fresh capacities and operations. The aquired companies are expected to provide Voltas pre-qualification in the water segment in their countries.

The company is also keen to acquire small companies in the hydro-carbon industry.

Voltas officials said the company was looking to make a few small-scale acquisitions in the range of Rs 100-200 crore in the water and hydrocarbon segment.

The company has been making efforts to expand its presence in the water industry, particularly in the water treatment segment, ever since it had undertaken a Rs 300 crore sewage treatment project in Singapore in 2007. It was keen to acquire companies in Singapore and Europe but had not been able to make any progress so far.

Voltas is eyeing overseas acquisitions in the water treatment segment whereas it prefers domestic acquisitions in the hydrocarbon space.

The company offers engineering solutions and undertakes electro-mechanical projects, which also include water management and treatment. Also, with water shortages becoming a big problem in several countries including India, China and the Middle East, the company has decided to step up its focus on the water treatment industry.

Over the years, Voltas has broaden its capabilities in the entire spectrum of water and wastewater management, including treatment of water for potability as well as industrial usage. The company also makes water, wastewater and sewage treatment equipment.

The company is also expecting a slew of new orders in the coming months from West Asia, Singapore and Hong Kong, among other countries.