Adrenaline pumping buyouts such as JLR are increasingly becoming a habit with Tata, 70, who last year essayed the largest overseas takeover by an Indian company -- Tata Steel's [Get Quote] acquisition of Anglo-Dutch steel maker Corus for $12.1 billion.

"We did everything in small increments so we always lagged behind," Tata, a commercial pilot licence holder who flew a Lockheed Martin F-16 last year, said in a comment posted on the Tata group's website earlier.

The Corus buy was special for Tata as it happened in the centenary year of Tata Steel and now the acquisition of JLR will help firmly establish Tatas in the global corporate map as a name to reckon with. While Tata is a household name in India, these deals are sure to make the group familiar across the globe.

Since taking the reins of the Tata business empire in 1991, Tata has only steeled the group's reputation of integrity, goodwill and competence.

"I have always believed that if you want to become a global company, you have to dismiss your notion of being a single nationality," Tata had said.

Although steel czar Lakshmi Mittal is widely regarded as the man on the acquisition prowl, his business continues to be limited to the alloy and it is Ratan Tata who has emerged as a true takeover tycoon -- snapping up a steel company much larger than what he owns, dipping into Tetley and acquiring chemical businesses worth a billion dollar.

To the Indian polity, Tata, who is heading the Investment Commission, is an apolitical policymaker, while to corporate India, he is a great visionary and for the group, he is an outstanding entrepreneur.

The last five years have seen Tatas emerging as India's biggest buyer of global entities, adding one company after another to the kitty of the group, which otherwise is also on a major expansion drive with plans for investment of over Rs 180,000 crore (Rs 1800 billion) in the next 5-7 years.

Therefore, it doesn't come as a surprise that he is many a time asked to lead corporate giants, along with the Prime Minister, to showcase India as an investment destination.

While the Corus takeover was a fitting tribute to the legacy of Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, who in the late 1800s founded the business empire, the JLR deal is a shining example of Ratan Tata's business acumen. Under him, the group has seen significant expansion of auto and chemicals business and foray into telecom.

Ratan Tata could continue as the chairman of Tata Sons till 2012, thanks to the group approving retirement of executives at the age of 75 instead of 70. 

Tata buys Jaguar-Land Rover from Ford