Tracking the pulse of adrenaline

Blessed with a topography as diverse as ours, it isn’t far too difficult a proposition to imagine fascinating options like skiing, biking, rock-climbing, river-rafting, etc. to enthrall the young at heart! Consider mountain biking amidst the serene spread of Ladakh, or Lahaul & Spiti in Himachal Pradesh; or rappelling down the rocky cliffs of the Aravali Hills in Dumdama and Mount Abu in Rajasthan…

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Source: IIPM Editorial, 2006

Learning to do it better, and faster

China, in some ways, can put hard core capitalists to shame. The way China is investing billions of dollars to create a global intellectual powerhouse, going all out to partner with world class educational institutions, building cutting edge research centers, revising their existing programmes, goes to show that the Chinese leadership has a definite agenda.

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Source: IIPM Editorial, 2006

MUL continues dream run

Marking Maruti Udyog Lim­ited’s (MUL) tenth consecu­tive quarter of profits, India’s largest car manufacturer has recorded a 43% surge in net profits for the quarter ending September 2005, at Rs.2.63 billion. Last year’s figures for the same period were Rs.1.84 billion. The robust growth has been attributed to sale of 150,543 units in the quarter, including exports of 11,880 units. However, operating profit margins for the com­pany were lower than expec­tations, mainly due to the roy­alty payment of its new model, Swift. In addition to the three Maruti driving schools op­erating in the country, MUL has announced plans to set up fifteen more such schools across India. Undoubtedly, here’s wishing Maruti a ‘Swift’ drive ahead.

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Source: IIPM Editorial, 2006

Research and Publication, IIPM Editorial

Boots also unveiled its second major deal in just a week. It is selling off its highly profitable non-pre­scription drugs business, Boots Healthcare International (BHI), to Britain’s Reckitt Benckiser, for a higher than expected $3.38 billion in cash. The BHI business recorded a 3.6% increase in revenues to $443.1 million and operating profits to the tune of $154.1 million for 2005. Boots has been trying to battle a 1.6% fall in second quarter sales. Amazingly, it would return $2.54 billion to its shareholders as special dividend after the deal.

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Source: IIPM Editorial, 2006

Research and Publication, IIPM Editorial

Boots also unveiled its second major deal in just a week. It is selling off its highly profitable non-pre­scription drugs business, Boots Healthcare International (BHI), to Britain’s Reckitt Benckiser, for a higher than expected $3.38 billion in cash. The BHI business recorded a 3.6% increase in revenues to $443.1 million and operating profits to the tune of $154.1 million for 2005. Boots has been trying to battle a 1.6% fall in second quarter sales. Amazingly, it would return $2.54 billion to its shareholders as special dividend after the deal.

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Source: IIPM Editorial, 2006

Research and Publication, IIPM

The Viacom split makes excellent strategic sense as the two parts will present more focused investment options and ensure steady cash flow. Especially when Viacom’s stock has not performed better than most top media stocks. While Time Warner’s stock price was down by only 8.3%, and Walt Disney’s by 12%, Viacom’s stock price is down 20%. Sir Martin Sorrell’s WPP group is perhaps the most pristine example of how media companies of the same group perform more efficiently when managed as independent businesses. Redstone’s decision could well now become fashionable.

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Source: IIPM Editorial, 2006

Mickey mania in Hong Kong

Walt Disney opened its fifth holiday resort (third outside the US, after Tokyo and Paris) in Hong Kong on September 12. Hong Kong Disneyland Park, which has been built over a 6 year period, at a cost of $3.5 billion is expected to attract 5.6 million visitors ev­ery year. Disney has entered into a joint venture with the Hong Kong government for a 43 percent stake in the park. Out of the other two parks outside the US, the one in Paris is heavily indebted, and it remains to be seen how well Mickey can create its magic in Hong Kong…

Source: IIPM Publication

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Copyright IIPM(2006)