Thursday, July 17, 2008

A run(a)way success

It’s yet another year of building a better India for GVK Reddy

“He is very dynamic! He has built up a professional team with clear lines of responsibilities,” avers Kamlesh Kotak, Vice President – Research, Asian Markets Securities, on being asked about G V Krishna Reddy, chairman of GVK Power and Infrastructure Limited. The audacity with which GVK Power and Infrastructure Ltd. snatched the Mumbai Airport project from the jaws of well established international players also speaks volumes about the leadership at the top of the company.

So, what is it that puts GVK Power & Infrastructure Ltd and its chairman G.V. Krishna Reddy in the watchout list for 2008? Well, there are a slew of reasons why this company will make some deafening noise in the coming year. As Kotak unhesitatingly states, “the company will be in the limelight at least for the next five years as it has an excellent business model, strong growth credentials & high earning visibility.” Another analyst tracking GVK, on the condition of anonymity said “GVK has quite a few big and long projects.”

The company has been impressively increasing its presence in the lucrative power sector and is also planning to get into power transmission and distribution – a step that further diversifies the business of the company, which is already into infrastructure, roads and construction, power generation, et al. Even the current airport business would generate higher cash flows in the future (or at least once the commercialisation of the space inside the airports happens). The company will also see a surge in revenues stemming from advertisements, rents, et al, along with the normal aero related revenues.

However, one can argue that it’s not always a cake walk. Agreed! GVK is operating in a sector where competition is definitely high, with the fight coming from the likes of REL, Gammon, Punj Lyod etc. But Kotak who has interacted with the company management reveals, “GVK has a good management team in place which is highly focused in their respective business domain and taking newer initiatives. Moreover, the pie is getting bigger by the day so, every one will get a fair share.” Apart from the competition, there’s one more thing that might prove to be heartbreak for the company – the execution. Winning projects is one thing, but many believe that the sector inherently embodies more than a few bureaucratic bottlenecks that may create problems in execution. For example, in the airport business, land availability, clearing slums, and getting approvals, are big problems that a company has to deal with, eventually causing project delays.

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Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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B-schooled in India, Placed Abroad (Print Version)

IIPM in Financial times (Print Version)

IIPM makes business education truly global

The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM)

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Monday, July 14, 2008

The tabloid talisman

Will tabloids ever replace your first newspaper of the day?

Yellow journalism and sensationalised reporting are almost synonymous to tabloids in the West; and to a large extent are the key factors contributing to their success also. In sharp contrast, the tabloid market in India (so far) is still unevolved and the fact is pretty obvious if you just zoom into the miniscule number of tabloids in the country. “You find a lot of niche magazines in the country, but not tabloids. While if you look at the West, there are even tabloids on niche subjects,” says Anita Nayyar, CEO, MPG India. “In India, television media has been known for tabloid journalism and sensational news and that’s one of the key reasons why tabloids have not been that popular in the country,” says columnist Sevanthi Ninan.

However, Mumbai is an exception to that. Tabloids are a success in Mumbai and its clearly reflected in the popularity of Mid Day in the city. Apart from Mid Day, there are other tabloids in the tinsel town like Vashi Times, Twin City, Newsband, 21st Century Commercial, though none of these is anywhere near the popularity ratings of Mid Day. The Mumbai Mirror is also fairly popular, but is positioned as a newspaper in compact form, as opposed to a tabloid.

On the contrary, tabloids had not been a popular concept in the national capital of Delhi, until recently. Last year, two major tabloids burst into the psyche of the national capital. The first one ‘Metro Now’ created history in the sense that the two arch rivals of the print industry, Times of India and Hindustan Times, joined hands to taste the tabloid market of Delhi. Then came Mail Today, a collaboration between India Today group and British group Associated Newspapers (which owns Daily Mail). “I find Mail Today as an interesting tabloid and I think it will pick up with Delhites, once the metro network in the capital city is completed,” offers Sevanthi. For now, the state government and DMRC is leaving no stone unturned to improve public transport in Delhi, after which the market for tabloids will become better, as they are traditionally read while travelling. Agrees Ravi Dhariwal, Executive Director, Times Of India, “The tabloid market is growing and will only get better with a strong public transport system.”
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

B-schooled in India, Placed Abroad (Print Version)
IIPM in Financial times (Print Version)

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Cup dé Espresso

A ‘forbidden’ pleasure no more

For donkey’s years, we’ve heard admonitions about caffeine cravings so much so that we’ve grown to know coffee as the ‘forbidden drink’. Nutritionists and dieticians claiming coffee caused dehydration, besides being a diuretic put it on the ‘No-No’ list along with chocolate, ice cream and drinks. But for all you forlorn coffee lovers, here’s a twist! A recent research proves these theories wrong. In fact, other studies even prove that a doze of caffeine could actually help one walk the treadmill longer than usual.

Confirms Dr. Mukesh Batra, Chairman and MD, Dr. Batra’s Positive Health Clinics Pvt. Ltd., “Caffeine has been shown to increase short-term intense exercise performance, stop-start activities (football, rugby etc), and long distance running and pumping iron. It is likely that coffee increases the fat burning process.” However, this may not be applicable to one and all as Dr. Batra cautions, “Individual results may vary greatly. Differences in metabolism, diet, and frequency of consumption, are a few factors that can determine how an individual will react to caffeine.”

The research which reviewed a dozen studies concluded that caffeine, (if taken in mild dozes of up to 500 mg a day i.e. slightly over three cups of coffee daily) wouldn’t adversely affect one’s exercise routine.

Back on the Indian shores, nutritionists aren’t ready to let coffee addicts rejoice just yet. “Dehydration is a potential concern because caffeine is a mild diuretic,” asserts Dr. Batra.

It wouldn’t hurt to indulge in a cup or two but that sure doesn’t give you the licence to go easy on those spoonfuls of sugar or creamers!

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Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2008

Thursday, May 08, 2008

TIME believes in her!

Sheetal MAFATLAL...has been rated as India’s Fashion Retail Pioneer by the TIME Magazine

Known for her flamboyant style and elegance, Sheetal Mafatlal is the President of Mafatlal Luxury Ltd. When Sheetal, the style icon, married Atulya Mafatlal in 2000,Sheetal MAFATLAL she joined one of the oldest industrial families of India. Sheetal, who started with her father’s business, ultimately carved a niche for herself as a businesswoman by selling modular kitchens before founding Mafatlal Luxury. Interestingly, Sheetal fits the ‘beauty with brains’ plume perfectly, with degrees in finance & law.

She established Mafatlal Luxury in 2005 when the Mafatlal Group chose to make a strategic foray into luxury retailing. Not only this, she is also President of Mafatlal Home Products Ltd. The lady who always wanted to do something connected to fashion, brought luxury and fashion together by partnering with Valentino Fashion Group and opened the first Valentino boutique in Delhi last year.

“My ambition is to create a retail commemorate for a variety of brands,” Sheetal told 4Ps B&M. With so many feathers already on her hat, she was also profiled as India’s Fashion Retail Pioneer by TIME Magazine. The future would surely see Sheetal dictate India’s fashion essentials...
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Source: IIPM Editorial, 2008
An IIPM and Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri's Initiative