The story of Sivasankaran

From rags to riches – that's what Mr C. Sivasankaran, 54, the maverick businessman, is all about.

Starting his career as a fabrication contractor for MRL (now Chennai Petroleum Corporation), Mr Sivasankaran in the last two decades has built a $3-billion business empire that includes realty, telecom, project engineering, shipping, energy, commodities trading, agri exports and e-education and software.

In 1996, the NRI shot to fame in the US when he bought rapper M.C. Hammer's residence in Fremont, California.

Siva, as Mr Sivasankaran is known among his friends, as Chairman of the Chennai-based Sterling group and Siva Ventures Ltd, had acquired and exited a number of companies such as RPG Cellular, Barista, Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank and Best & Crompton. He is also known for his networking prowess for developing resorts and even recapitalising banks in Thailand.

Recently, he acquired Norwegian shipping company JB Ugland and also acquired controlling stake in Finnish firm WinWind, makers of wind turbines. His other acquisitions are in sectors such as palm oil and mineral water.

The first buy for Mr Sivasankaran was of Sterling Computers from Mr Robert Amritraj, father of the ex-tennis star Mr Vijay Amritraj, in the 1980s. He created a sensation in the hardware circle by selling personal computers for as low as Rs 33,000 under the brand name of Siva PC.

The biggest breakthrough, however, was the launch of Aircel in the 90s, which became a major telecom player in South India and later across the country. He also started Dishnet DSL, the country's first DSL Internet Service Provider.

In June 2009, Mr Sivasankaran acquired a 51 per cent stake in Chennai-based telecom firm S Tel, three-and-a-half years after it pulled out of Aircel.

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