TACT ventures into digital space with an impressive acquisition - The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column
The Trinity Academy for Corporate Training, TACT, a human capital enrichment company, has acquired the printing arm of CMS, which will focus on its core IT service business.
CMS offers a lot of opportunities, is a strategic acquisition, and adds capabilities to TACT, says Suresh Ramakrishnan, the executive director at TACT, who has had a brush with publishing in the not so distant past.
This Sunday Column is all about understanding TACT’s digital plan
22 Mar 2019 | 6040 Views | By Noel D'Cunha
Why did CMS decide to divest their printing arm to TACT?
They wanted to focus on their core IT services business. Hence they decided to divest their print and training institute profit centres.
What does CMS gain from this print acquisition by TACT?
As investors in growth opportunities, we evaluate a number of business proposals that come our way. The print business presented an opportunity to grow the book printing side/ In the book space we are scratching the surface while maintaining a strong position in the VDP offering.
Are there targets for CMS 2.0? In terms of print revenue and outreach?
While we intend to maintain our position of strength in the VDP business, our objective in 2019-20 would be to grow the short-run book printing pie significantly. We could be looking at a year-on-year growth of 30-40% over the next three years.
You are looking at books; does this mean diluting some of the VDP outreach at CMS at the nine locations and shifting resources to book printing?
Not at all. We remain strong in VDP with some marquee clients in the telecom, banking and insurance space. Telecom is a declining sector (the choice of a digital statement is catching up fast) but there are opportunities in the insurance sector that can compensate the possible de-growth.
"We remain strong in VDP with some marquee clients in the telecom, banking and insurance space"
How does this strengthen TACT which is primarily focused on human capital?
Besides its intense focus on human capital enrichment, TACT is also a well-capitalised funding arm. Bringing the institute and print business of CMS under its banner helps it leverage on its core strength as far as institute business is concerned. The print arm will provide the additional leverage of content repository management, internal printing needs and catering to other group companies as well.
Define TACT's role now with CMS? Will it be strategic? Or a relook at the cost base? Or tweak the management structure?
Our initial task would be to maintain the momentum that the firms bring with them and subsequently relooking at the operations in-depth to structure them for growth. This would entail fresh investment where necessary and make changes to the working structure to bring in efficiency and increase the productivity.
Which are the synergies that will be leveraged?
The TACT management is hungry for growth and relevant steps (investment + restructuring if necessary) would be taken to boost the growth. The print side has several opportunities to scale business and strategic investments would be made as and when necessary to provide the necessary impetus.
How does TACT view the book industry, nationally and internationally?
We see significant potential in the short-run book printing segment. Given the fact that print run for several books – fiction, selective educational titles are moving away from offset because of shrinking volumes, the short-run printing will have several opportunities.
Do you see a lot of consolidation in print?
There could be strategic moves by print players to join hands or acquire print firms based on the area they want to penetrate or strengthen. Is it going to be a big number? … we don't think so at least in the near future.
And finally, what kind of conversation will we have, if we meet on 15 March 2020?
We would be talking about further investments in key areas within the business to seek exponential growth.
About TACT
Formed in 2004, the Trinity Academy for Corporate Training (TACT) has been focused on human capital enrichment. Over the years, the organisation has been engaged in full-cycle human resource advisory and organisational development interventions. At last count, it has conducted training for over 15,000 participants at top-tier clients such as LIC, Deloitte, Birla Sun Life Insurance, Axis Bank, Godrej Industries and DHL.
TACT is an integral part of an investment group involved in non-banking financial services, investment banking and private equity. The group also operates businesses in real estate development, digital learning and building materials manufacturing and has investments in various listed and private companies, the latest being in CMS IT Services.
CMS Printing Services now a part of TACT has nine print locations spread across the country. Its focus has been on VDP with major telecom, banking and insurance companies as its clients. It has some marquee clients in the short-run book printing business too. The intent is to provide an impetus to the short-run book printing business with necessary investment, to scale the business significantly over the next five years.