VIVEAT SUSAN PINTO

Stories by VIVEAT SUSAN PINTO

Top 20 dividend-paying firms raise shareholder rewards in FY22

Top 20 dividend-paying firms raise shareholder rewards in FY22

Rediff.com   25 Jul 2022

Hindustan Zinc (HZL), a subsidiary of Vedanta, announced an interim dividend of Rs 21 per share last week, resulting in an outflow of Rs 8,863 crore. The announcement has turned the spotlight on India Inc's dividend-paying policy - more so for reasons driving the generosity of firms. An analysis of BSE 500 companies by Business Standard Research Bureau shows that some of the top 20 dividend-paying companies in 2021-22 (FY22) include Vedanta, Tata Consultancy Services, HZL, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Indian Oil Corporation (IndianOil), Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Reliance Industries (RIL), and Bajaj Auto, among others.

Rupee @ 80: How it will affect Indian firms

Rupee @ 80: How it will affect Indian firms

Rediff.com   15 Jul 2022

As the Indian currency hovers around its lowest versus the US greenback, several smaller and mid-sized companies are expected to face rough weather as almost 44 per cent of the foreign loans taken by Indian companies remained unhedged. According to the data sourced from the Reserve Bank of India, Indian companies raised around $38.2 billion in the financial year ended in March. Of this, only 56 per cent of the loans are hedged while the rest of the foreign loans remain unhedged, thus risking the companies to forex volatility.

L&T CEO Subrahmanyan gets 115% jump in salary in FY22 as business grows

L&T CEO Subrahmanyan gets 115% jump in salary in FY22 as business grows

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2022

Engineering giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T) handed out a pay cheque of Rs 61.27 crore to its chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director (MD) SN Subrahmanyan in the last financial year (FY22), which is a near 115 per cent hike over FY21, as executive compensation at India Inc comes under sharp focus after two years of Covid-19. In fact, the total compensation of L&T's executive directors (including Subrahmanyan) in FY22 was 120 to 670 times the median remuneration of the company's employees, data from its FY22 annual report shows. This points to sharp hikes that the top management saw in their remuneration during the period, experts in human resources said. In FY21, L&T's executive compensation was 56 to 337 times the median remuneration of company employees.

Hindi Box Office Collects Rs 1,716 Crores!

Hindi Box Office Collects Rs 1,716 Crores!

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2022

'The second half of 2022 definitely looks stronger for Bollywood.'

L&T plans to exit road, power concessions, incubate digital business

L&T plans to exit road, power concessions, incubate digital business

Rediff.com   30 May 2022

Engineering giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is looking to divest its exposure to road and power concessions and incubate digital and e-commerce businesses as part of its new five-year plan ending 2025-26 (FY26). The base year for the plan is 2020-21 (FY21). The blueprint, called Lakshya 2026, is intended to help the company exit sub-scale businesses, concentrate on high-technology (tech) manufacturing, construction and green energy projects, and increase its share from information technology (IT) and digital services. The lending operations of the financial services business, meanwhile, will be reorganised, with focus on retail lending.

Power crisis: Gencos may not switch on idle units soon

Power crisis: Gencos may not switch on idle units soon

Rediff.com   9 May 2022

Power generating companies (gencos) that use imported coal to produce electricity, may find it difficult to switch on their idle units immediately in the wake of high fuel costs, several players have told Business Standard. Recently, the Union power ministry had invoked Section 11 of the Electricity Act mandating all imported coal-based plants to generate power at full capacity. However, some generating companies that use imported coal, argue that it is simply unviable for them to produce power when the price of coal in the international market is high, while the per-unit price of power has been capped at Rs 12 per unit on the domestic power exchange.

Box Office May Cross Rs 500 Crore For Second Month In A Row

Box Office May Cross Rs 500 Crore For Second Month In A Row

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2022

'A good pipeline of movies is fuelling this trend of revenge consumption.'

Why urban poor remain a worry for FMCG companies

Why urban poor remain a worry for FMCG companies

Rediff.com   7 Jul 2021

As the second wave of the pandemic ebbs and the daily caseload falls, the struggles of the urban poor have come into focus. Many have suffered income and job losses after two successive waves. The second wave, in particular, has seen the poor being hit hard on account of lack of medical and financial help. For the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies this has meant that an important segment is under severe distress.

India's consumption story moving fast once again

India's consumption story moving fast once again

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2021

Sanjiv Mehta, chairman of the country's largest consumer goods company, HUL, believes that the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic between April and June this year has been a mere pause in India's consumption story, and that it will not change the country's overall growth trajectory. India is poised for growth, especially in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, Mehta told shareholders at the company's annual general meeting on Tuesday. The signs of recovery are becoming evident with many states lifting lockdown restrictions in recent weeks.

Colgate-Palmolive ready to ride the herbal wave

Colgate-Palmolive ready to ride the herbal wave

Rediff.com   21 Jun 2021

Colgate-Palmolive India is placing greater emphasis on freshness, whitening, therapeutic, and family toothpastes, as rivals such as Dabur and Patanjali dominate the growing naturals segment of the market. Once under 5 per cent of the Rs 10,000-crore domestic toothpaste market, the naturals segment, which includes ayurvedic and herbal variants, is now 25-30 per cent of the market, industry executives said. Growth rates of the naturals segment are estimated to be in the region of 8-9 per cent in volume terms. In value terms, the growth rate for naturals is around 10-12 per cent, sector experts said.

Despite Covid surge, TV advertising volumes rise 64% YoY

Despite Covid surge, TV advertising volumes rise 64% YoY

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2021

Advertising on television continued to show momentum in May despite the surge in Covid-19 infections and the temporary suspension of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a high-impact television property. The data shared by the Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) on Thursday shows that advertising volumes in May were up 64 per cent year-on-year. However, there was a marginal dip sequentially, that is, in comparison to April 2021, when advertising had touched a record high owing to the start of the summer season and the return of the IPL to India after being held in the United Arab Emirates in 2020.

3rd Wave Fears: India Inc trims FY22 growth outlook

3rd Wave Fears: India Inc trims FY22 growth outlook

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2021

'While most companies were bullish before the second wave of double-digit sales growth in FY22, that may not be the case now.'

Heineken can now buy extra stake in United Breweries

Heineken can now buy extra stake in United Breweries

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2021

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Tuesday said that the proposed additional stake buy in United Breweries (UB) by Dutch major Heineken does not raise any competition concerns, effectively clearing the deal. In its order, the CCI said, "It is submitted that the proposed transaction does not give rise to competition concerns regardless of delineation of the relevant market for the purpose of this filing." UB is the country's largest beer company, while Heineken is the world's second-largest brewer after Anheuser-Busch (AB) InBev.

How much did Zee earn from Radhe?

How much did Zee earn from Radhe?

Rediff.com   4 Jun 2021

Zee is estimated to have paid around Rs 225 crore for the complete rights of Radhe. The total revenue that it may earn could be around Rs 135 crore, implying a shortfall of Rs 90 crore.

Covid: HCL Tech to HUL, corporate India extends a helping hand

Covid: HCL Tech to HUL, corporate India extends a helping hand

Rediff.com   17 May 2021

From helping their employees infected with the Covid-19 virus to vaccinating them or supporting the families of those who might have succumbed to the infection, several companies in India are trying to do their bit in this difficult time. Some have even widened their support net to include all stakeholders as well as an extended community. To the families of the employees it lost to Covid-19, Noida-headquartered IT services and consulting company HCL Technologies is, for instance, paying salary for a year, medical insurance for three years and extending support for their children's education for five years.

As Covid surge hits businesses, malls see rentals plunge

As Covid surge hits businesses, malls see rentals plunge

Rediff.com   14 May 2021

Consultants who help lease these properties say this is the steepest decline at least in a decade.

Covid-19 surge makes corporate India nervous about Q1

Covid-19 surge makes corporate India nervous about Q1

Rediff.com   13 May 2021

Since April, India has seen multiple strains of the coronanavirus sweep the nation, upending life and businesses alike. Out-of-home retail and discretionary categories such as durables, auto, fashion, lifestyle, hospitality, food services, travel, and tourism have been the worst-hit as Covid cases remain high, leaving state governments with no option but to curtail mobility and economic activity.

Mobile phone production down 50% amid Covid-19 surge

Mobile phone production down 50% amid Covid-19 surge

Rediff.com   12 May 2021

According to research firm IDC, a slowdown in smartphone shipments began showing up as early as late February, though companies insist that the March quarter was fine, albeit on a low base.

'Taming the virus is like fighting a war; all have to pitch in'

'Taming the virus is like fighting a war; all have to pitch in'

Rediff.com   11 May 2021

'I remain optimistic that 2021 will be better than 2020 because we have visibility of vaccinations this year.'

Home appliance cos seek place on essential items' list

Home appliance cos seek place on essential items' list

Rediff.com   3 May 2021

Some companies argue that the culture of staying, working and learning at home will persist for a while, altering lifestyle habits of consumers.