When I came here this evening, I couldn’t have been here more than two minutes when somebody told me that, if asked, I should say I’m delighted that [the acquisition of a controlling stake by Tata Sons in CMC] has taken place. But in truth I am delighted that this has taken place and that TCS and CMC have come together.

Very often, we tend to believe that two organisations with different cultures might have a problem coming together and, from where I sat, in the distance, I had my concerns also as to whether we were buying ourselves, perhaps, difficulties that we didn’t need to.

But Mr Ramadorai, in responding to my queries, provided me the greatest comfort because he said, “Look, CMC has enormous capabilities and talent among its people. It has excellence in a variety of areas — embedded systems, security systems and others — and, I believe, it has great skills complementary with TCS. I think we can really fly together.” Those words encouraged me to support the action that we took, and I'm delighted that it has taken place in so short a period of time and that it has been the first real disinvestment process that has taken place.

My hope is that one plus one, CMC and TCS, will equal more than two and that, together, we can show that the skills of the public sector — which are enormous and, in this case, embodied in the great power of the people of CMC — will blend in an excellent manner with those of TCS and that, together, we can go out and win in a manner that makes more sense.

I would like, at this point in time, to express on behalf of the Tata Group a warm welcome to the employees and staff of CMC and say that we welcome them to the group and that, together, we look forward to great success in this new venture. And I know that it will succeed, and I know that the skills that are embodied in CMC will shine. Thank you very much.