The Sphinx.
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And Then There Were None.
For the better part of two decades, no company was more synonymous with the Indian IT sector than Infosys. The Bangalore – based, Narayana Murthy – founded entity rose from being a minnow to a juggernaut in its industry and virtually achieved a cult status. The stock markets too loved Infy and revered it as the poster boy of the information technology sector, despite the fact that it was often overshadowed by TCS in terms of size and financial parameters. Infy grew from strength to strength and today, the company boasts of a topline in the region of $8 billion (Rs. 50000 crores) and a bottomline of a little under $2 billion. It still commands one of the healthiest margins in the industry and an enviable client list that includes several Fortune 500 companies, many of whom have multi – hundred million dollar contracts with Infy. For over two decades, Infy had its time and place in the Indian sun. Then, a few years ago, Murthy and Nandan...
WM XXX: Money, Mania and The End Of An Era.
On April 6 th 2014, WrestleMania XXX descended upon the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans, with over 75,000 spectators in attendance. The event went down in the history books as the biggest and most spectacular WrestleMania of all time. It was filled with action, drama, excitement, surprises and shocks but most of all, it turned out to be the biggest money – spinner of the year for the WWE. For the past three decades, WrestleMania has been the chef d’oeuvre of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and the event is often billed as the Mecca of sports entertainment. WrestleMania XXX marked three decades of the WWE’s flagship pay-per-view and the company went all out to generate the hype, excitement and storylines, in the build – up to the Super Bowl of professional wrestling. A star-studded line-up of wrestlers, multiple championships on the line and a legendary host, the immortal Hulk Hogan, were just some of the fireworks that the W...
The Sheep Of Dalal Street.
It’s happening. Both the Sensex and the Nifty have rallied to their lifetime highs and the rally hasn’t fizzled out yet. The party, apparently, is just getting started. A few months ago, in the wake of a depreciating Rupee, a ballooning current account deficit, an impending banking sector meltdown (which, incidentally, is only going from bad to worse) and a crisis of confidence in India Inc., the bourses weren’t exactly the prettiest place to be and returns were just enough to keep the wolf from the door. But now, in a few short months, the markets have shattered their 2008 highs and ventured into uncharted territory, all at a time when the underlying fundamentals are nothing to write home about. So, what and who are responsible for such a rally, one that only promises to get bigger and better? Well, in a very short time, India will be going to the polls and this time around, the BJP is expected to capture the elections and form the gov...
The Next Big Thing.
First of all, please don’t let the title fool you. This article has nothing to do with the so – called ‘Next Big Thing’, Brock Lesnar. As far as Lesnar goes, his upcoming clash with The Undertaker at WrestleMania 30 is bound to be one for the ages but a victory for The Undertaker, with his streak advancing to an incredible 22 – 0, is sure-fire. And that’s a prophecy that you first read on this blog. But that’s enough digression for now and it’s time to cut to the chase. If there’s one thing that we can all learn from the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett, it’s that most fortunes are made in the long run. The gameplan, according to the legend, is to spot a company when it’s virtually ignored by the bourses, buy into it and sit back and enjoy the ride when the markets eventually warm up to ...
February 10, 2014.
No, you haven't been redirected to the Sports Illustrated website. And yes, I can fully comprehend your amazement. You're probably wondering how a 10 day - long string of cryptic promos could lead to this photograph (an incredibly sexy one, if I may add) of the Bella Twins. Well, you're right. It doesn't. As far as the photograph goes, I thought it would be a good way to kick - start the day. Besides, the Bella Twins just so happen to be my favourite divas. But the day is still young. February 10, 2014 isn't over by any measure. The promos, after all, aren't for nothing and the suspense has a few more hours to build itself up. In the meantime, enjoy the photograph. As Arnold Schwarzenegger would say, I'll be back.
The Last Bastion Of The King.
Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there lived a mighty King who reigned supreme over a massive and wealthy kingdom. The UB empire, powered by beer and booze, was one of India ’s most successful, powerful and valued conglomerates but its King was not content. For, the King harboured a dream of giving his empire a pair of wings. So, in the year 2005, he launched his most ambitious venture till date. It was an airline that was named after his flagship beer brand, Kingfisher. However, after a turbulent flight that lasted seven long years, Kingfisher Airlines metamorphosed into the entity that turned out to be the King’s undoing. An unsustainable business model, an expensive acquisition of the loss-making low-cost carrier Air Deccan, a much-too-early debut in the international skies and an over-ambitious plan to be the King of the skies all combined to send Kingfisher Airlines crashing down. But this tale does not end with the King living happily ever af...
The Rise Of The Wildcat.
The year was 2007. Greed and euphoria had gripped the markets and the bourses were rising to the sky. In the midst of an ebullient equity market, the M&A (mergers and acquisitions) space was really heating up. Deal Street was witnessing deals worth billions of dollars, as alliances and takeovers were consummated. However, even as the economy was surging and the automotive sector booming, one particular auto giant was hurtling towards financial disaster. Ford, the American giant, was losing millions of dollars and it was in the process of implementing a do-or-die turnaround plan christened ‘One Ford’. The order of the day at the Detroit headquarters was to cut Ford’s excess flab, jettison the unprofitable divisions and strengthen the arms of the business that held some promise for the future. After months of deliberation, Ford decided that it needed to get rid of Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover. When Ford turned to the task of divesting i...