TCS gives Rs 5-cr farewell gift to Tata

Six months before he is due to retire, Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata has got a unique gift from Tata Consultancy Services, the most valuable company in his group.

The TCS board approved a special compensation of Rs 5 crore (Rs 50 million) over and above the Rs 3-crore (Rs 30-million) commission due to him for the last financial year.

According to the company's annual report, Tata, who is also the chairman of TCS, has been paid Rs 8 crore (Rs 80 million) as commission for the year ended March 2012, compared to Rs 2.4 crore (Rs 24 million) he got in the previous year.

. . .

In an emailed response to a query, TCS said the board recommended a special compensation for Tata 'in recognition of his long-standing contribution to the sustained growth and success' of the company.

The reply added: "Commissions paid to the board of directors reflect their participation and contribution to the company's growth and success."

Though it could not be independently confirmed, sources within the group said some other Tata Group companies were also planning to convey their gratitude to the chairman through similar farewell gifts.

. . .

FY12 has been a momentous one for TCS, as the company achieved the $10-billion revenue mark at the end of the fiscal.

The earnings per share increased to Rs 53.07 in the fiscal and the company announced a dividend payout of Rs 25 a share, which included a final dividend of Rs 8 a share and a special dividend of Rs 8 a share.

In the year ended March 31, the revenues of TCS went up 31 per cent, to Rs 48,894 crore (Rs 488.94 billion).

. . .

The operating profit jumped 29 per cent to Rs 13,517 crore (Rs 135.17 billion) and the net profit stood at Rs 10,413 crore (Rs 104.13 billion), up 15 per cent.

Of all the board members of TCS, the commission paid to Ratan Tata saw the steepest jump of 233.3 per cent. MD & CEO N Chandrasekaran was next, with a rise of Rs 2 crore (Rs 20 million) in his commission to Rs 6 crore (Rs 60 million).

The commission paid to CFO S Mahalingam was Rs 2.5 crore (Rs 25 million) as against Rs 1.95 crore (Rs 19.5 million) in the year before.