SRF's Coming of Age

How Arun Bharat Ram’s sons have transformed the maker of nylon tyre cord into a specialty chemical player with global scale

- SAMAR SRIVASTAVA

Amongst the first points that Kartik Bharat Ram makes, as we settle in for our interview, is their steadfast intention to avoid a repeat of what they have seen in several business families: Sibling rivalry resulting in a split. Indian business history is littered with founding families destroying promising businesses. The Bharat Ram family saw its own business split in 1999. Arun Bharat Ram’s sons are clear they don’t intend to go down that path.

It’s plain to see why. They’d clearly have a lot to lose. Since taking over SRF, or Shri Ram Fibres as it was then known, as part of a family spilled, this branch of the Bharat Ram family has built a business that is valued at ₹35,000 crores. One of their lines—specialty chemicals—has immense growth potential. Another business, refrigerant gases, too has a promising future as India’s cooling needs grow. The increase in market capitalization that has taken place mainly over the last six years has catapulted chairman Arun Bharat Ram, 80, worth $1.8 billion, to the Forbes Billionaires List. Sons Ashish, 52, managing director, and Kartik, 49, deputy managing director, are now the stewards of this business.

Equally, theirs is a story of efficient capital allocation, long-term thinking, and the benefits of a diversified revenue and profit stream. These businesses have taken decades to put together and their durability is sticky. That is one reason why the market is valuing it at a 35 price to earnings multiple even though a part of their profitability comes from legacy businesses with poor growth potential. In the year ended March 2020, SRF had revenues of ₹7,209 crore and profits of ₹1,019 crores. Its return on equity capital was at a decadal high at 21 percent.