Ishita Ayan Dutt, Sharleen D'souza

Stories by Ishita Ayan Dutt, Sharleen D'souza

What makes Essar steel sector's comeback kid

What makes Essar steel sector's comeback kid

Rediff.com   21 Jun 2022

Apart from being the most successful cases under the IBC, Bhushan Steel and Essar Steel are among the best steel assets in the country. They also ended up helping their lenders get back a significant chunk of the money while allowing Tata Steel to consolidate its position and giving the world's two largest steel makers - ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel - a strong foothold in India. A significant contrast was the pace at which these two cases were resolved under the bankruptcy code. In the annals of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), Essar Steel may go down in history as the most noticeable resolution with the world's largest steelmaker, ArcelorMittal, and the incumbent, Ruia family, locked in an intense battle spanning more than two years and ultimately resulting in full recovery of the principal amount for the financial creditors.

Hindustan Motors plots a comeback; talks on for JV with European co for EVs

Hindustan Motors plots a comeback; talks on for JV with European co for EVs

Rediff.com   25 May 2022

The country's first ever carmaker, Hindustan Motors, is looking at a second coming. Talks are on for a joint venture with a European auto company focused on the electric vehicle (EV) space. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed and due diligence is expected to start shortly and will take 2-3 months to conclude.

How Eveready is trying to regain its mojo

How Eveready is trying to regain its mojo

Rediff.com   8 May 2022

Over the past decade, a change in consumer choice swept through the battery industry - the walkman lost its mojo, smartphones took over cameras and batteries were tucked away in remotes and wall clocks that hardly needed frequent call-ups. The result: Brand Eveready lost mind space. And the company's attempt to stick to the on-ground marketing activities didn't quite help. But Eveready, now at the cusp of change, is putting things right - a new Give Me Red television commercial has been launched after a gap of 7 years featuring an empowered bride ski-diving to her wedding venue. The creative, according to Eveready sources, is in sync with the brand doctrine.

As inflation bites, Britannia to cut pack sizes; keep prices unchanged

As inflation bites, Britannia to cut pack sizes; keep prices unchanged

Rediff.com   5 May 2022

Britannia Industries will take higher grammage cuts instead of increasing prices in a bid to tackle rising inflation, the firm said. The biscuit major took a 10 per cent price hike in financial year 2021-22 (FY22) and resorted to reducing pack sizes as an indirect way of increasing prices. In the previous financial year, the ratio of grammage reduction was 65 per cent, which will be higher in FY23.

FMCG cos expect higher sales, higher revenues in Q4 on back of price hikes

FMCG cos expect higher sales, higher revenues in Q4 on back of price hikes

Rediff.com   2 May 2022

However, rural demand continued to remain a concern for FMCG companies during the quarter.

Bengal foundry units impacted by Ukraine war as input prices soar

Bengal foundry units impacted by Ukraine war as input prices soar

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2022

After the Ukraine war, coke prices just soared and most units don't have money left to buy raw material. Customers are not absorbing the price escalation'

Indian tea companies smell opportunity as Sri Lanka crisis brews

Indian tea companies smell opportunity as Sri Lanka crisis brews

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2022

As the economic crisis in Sri Lanka - the world's largest exporter of orthodox tea - continues to rage across the island nation, tea producers in India look to cash in on the opportunity to seize the market. The country's largest tea growing company, McLeod Russel India, expects orders to come in from July. "A huge opportunity is coming up for everyone in India. "McLeod Russel is well placed because we have the capacity for orthodox tea," said Azam Monem, director, McLeod Russel. About 10 per cent of McLeod's production is orthodox tea.

Majority of Future group's secured creditors reject Reliance deal

Majority of Future group's secured creditors reject Reliance deal

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2022

Shareholders of the six listed Future Group companies voted on Wednesday. Bankers said all the large lenders had rejected the proposal.

How Mamata can woo big-ticket projects to Bengal

How Mamata can woo big-ticket projects to Bengal

Rediff.com   11 Apr 2022

The words 'industry', 'industrial development', 'jobs', and 'employment' have been ringing with higher frequency since Mamata Banerjee stepped into her third term with landslide victory after a high-octane election last year. "Our government's next target is industrial development," the chief minister (CM) had been heard stating at different public meetings in the past few months - perhaps setting the tone for the sixth edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) slated for later this month. Investor summits by any state are about intent, big numbers, and tall claims. Yet in competitive federalism, its importance as a marketing tool is undeniable.

Festive season holds hope for consumer appliances, auto cos

Festive season holds hope for consumer appliances, auto cos

Rediff.com   11 Apr 2022

Automotive (auto) and consumer appliance companies are hoping for a bounty from the harvest season after two consecutive dry spells in 2020 and 2021. The season, which also marks the beginning of the regional New Year, kicked in across the country from April 1 - Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra; Ugadi in Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh; Bihu in the Northeast; and Chaitra Navratri in the North. Manufacturers and retailers of cars, two-wheelers, and consumer appliances said they have seen demand pick up year-on-year (YoY) at a brisk pace across categories.

Steel prices soar over mounting raw material costs

Steel prices soar over mounting raw material costs

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2022

Raw material prices had been on the rise, but since Russia waged war on Ukraine, prices have surged.

Virat Kohli tops celebrity brand rankings for 5th straight year

Virat Kohli tops celebrity brand rankings for 5th straight year

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2022

Virat Kohli has emerged as the most valued celebrity in India for the fifth year in a row, topping the Duff & Phelps Celebrity Brand Valuation Report 2021 despite seeing a dip in his brand value to $185.7 million last year from a high of $237.7 million in 2020. The annual report explained that brand Kohli faced a decline following the cricketer's resignation from the ODI (One Day International) and T20 captaincy and "associated exchanges" with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and recent on-field outcomes. "However, we believe that with the reduced workload after stepping down from captaincy, Kohli can focus now on what he is known for - his batting - and continue his journey on becoming the world's best batsmen," it added.

Ukraine war impact: Steel producers feel a new pinch in India

Ukraine war impact: Steel producers feel a new pinch in India

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2022

Russia's war on Ukraine has sent steel prices soaring to its highest levels in the domestic market since November 2021. But there is little cheer in the industry. That's because input costs are spiralling out of control, leaving the big boys nearly as high and dry as the small, medium and secondary steel producers. Russia and Ukraine are major providers of steel and raw materials to the world.

Metals get their shine back

Metals get their shine back

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2022

When the world was upended by the Covid-19 pandemic, metals got its shine back. In the last two years, infrastructure spending by major economies spurred demand, energy transition and intermittent supply disruptions fuelled a scorching rally in metals after a downturn during the first Covid wave. Now, Russia's war on Ukraine is ensuring that elevated prices stay the course.

What's in the Eveready takeover for Burmans

What's in the Eveready takeover for Burmans

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2022

The change in ownership is expected to give a fresh lease of life to the company that has often been dragged by financial stress in its close to three-decade journey under the Khaitans, reports Ishita Ayan Dutt.

Tea Industry On Tenterhooks About Ukraine Conflict

Tea Industry On Tenterhooks About Ukraine Conflict

Rediff.com   16 Mar 2022

Russia is among the top buyers of Indian tea, accounting for about 18 per cent of the industry's total exports.

From Lux to Kissan jam, Hindustan Unilever hikes prices by 3-13%

From Lux to Kissan jam, Hindustan Unilever hikes prices by 3-13%

Rediff.com   2 Mar 2022

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) hiked prices across its portfolio of products by 3-13 per cent in multiple tranches in February, with the sharpest increase of 13 per cent seen in the 100 gm Lux soap pack, the price of which increased to Rs 35 from Rs 31 earlier. The price of the 125 gms soap pack of Lifebuoy was hiked from Rs 31 to Rs 33, a rise of 6.5 per cent. In January, the company had hiked the price of the same stock-keeping unit from Rs 29 to Rs 31.

Future Retail shuts Big Bazaar as RIL plans takeover

Future Retail shuts Big Bazaar as RIL plans takeover

Rediff.com   28 Feb 2022

Future Retail has shut most of its Big Bazaar stores since February 25 (Friday) and its website is also down as it missed lease payments to Reliance Industries (RIL). RIL will open most of the 200 Future Retail stores as Reliance stores in the next week and it is in the process of taking stock, re-branding, and transferring 30,000 Future Retail and Future Lifestyle employees on to the rolls of its manpower and staffing firm Reliance SMSL, according to a source. The first tranche of stores are set to be opened as early as in the next two days.

Gangubai, Valimai, Bheemla Nayak draw crowds to cinemas

Gangubai, Valimai, Bheemla Nayak draw crowds to cinemas

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2022

'The weekend advance booking are extremely encouraging for these movies, and the extended break due to Mahashivratri, will provide a significant impetus.'

India Inc braces for fallout of Russia-Ukraine crisis

India Inc braces for fallout of Russia-Ukraine crisis

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2022

Stocks of Indian companies with exposure to Europe fell on Tuesday amid concerns about the impact on their sales in case the Russia-Ukraine crisis worsens and the US and its allies impose economic sanctions on Russia. While top conglomerates, including Reliance Industries, the Tata group, and Aditya Birla Group, said they did not have any significant exposure to Russia, executives of some of the oil and gas, pharmaceutical, and tea companies said they were monitoring the situation closely as they earned substantial income from the region. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered troops into two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine after announcing that Russia would recognise their independence.