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IT
Cement Industry Consolidation: A Look Back At The IT Sector
A consolidation of hectic kind is sweeping the Indian cement field with the Adanis and UltraTech Cement of Aditya Birla Group engaging in a no–holds–barred acquisition binge. The cement industry, perhaps, is moving away from distributed production to concentrated production. The churning is indeed a part of a dynamic process. The change, however, pushes the system down the memory lane, it appears. In former times, the IT industry had a lot of ERP companies such as Oracle, JD Edwards, Peoplesoft, BaaN, SAP and the like. Similarly, the CRM space had plenty of players like Vantive, Seibel et al. In the first decade of this century, a shift had happened in ERP space. Peoplesoft first took over JD Edwards. Then, Oracle acquired Peoplesoft. Later, Oracle came out with a blended ERP which had the features of Peoplesoft and JD Edwards. SAP, in the meanwhile, had taken over Siebel CRM. The competition now is between two giants –– Oracle and SAP.  This is a far cry from the days when the ERP space had a host of small as well as big players. Indeed, change is the name of the game. Forget the adage “small is beautiful”. Big is the in thing today. How will the emerging new normal play out in the larger economy? Well, time alone will answer this. 
srinivasan birla
Fundamentals Same But Management Change At India Cements Viewed Positively By Rating Agency CARE
In the modern business world, they play a critical role. The entire community of stakeholders in a corporate entity look for their views. Much of the decisions – of stakeholders across the canvass – are often guided by their views. The ratings of the raters are critical in the emerging business environment, which is increasingly turning riskier due to very many imponderables. Their rating can decisively impact – either way – the growth and development of any entity. Well, rating agency CARE has put the ratings assigned to the bank facilities of The India Cements on rating watch with positive implications. The CARE move comes close on the heels of the N Srinivasan-led promoters selling their stake to Aditya Birla Group-owned UltraTech Cement. No doubt, the stake sale has happened. But the operating environment remains what it was prior to the sale of sake by the promoters. A formal change of ownership will have to wait for clearances from assorted regulatory and other entities. CARE has taken a proactive view already. Sources say, CARE has removed the non-cooperation clause as non-applicable.  It has indicated that it will review the ratings once all clearances are in place. India Cements has bounced back to profit track with Rs 57.45 crore net profit in the first quarter ended June 2024 against Rs 74.87 crore loss reported in the same period last year. Net profit is due to profit from sale of Parli Grinding unit to UltraTech. The ratings could cut both ways. That’s why care has to be exercised while giving a rating. This time around CARE has given a positive spin on India Cements, which has come under Birlas.
srinivasan CSK
Strategy Or Compulsion: Srinivasan Sells India Cements To Birlas, Ring-Fences Chennai Super Kings
After 75 years, The India Cements Ltd (ICL) has changed hands. The indefatigable vice-chairman & MD N Srinivasan has finally called it quits and sold his family holdings to the Aditya Birla Group-owned flagship company UltraTech Cement. At the end of the day, he was a reluctant seller having got into a pincer-like situation by a combination of physical, economic and financial factors. An aging Srinivasan and aging plants have pushed ICL, whose birth could be traced to the pre-Independence era, into the hands of UltraTech. It may not be easy for Srinivasan -– who breathes cement -– to let go of ICL. No doubt, Srinivasan and his family are richly rewarded for their renunciation of ICL. Yet, he must be silently suffering the pain of parting ICL. Significantly enough, he has managed to ring-fence Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the largely successful IPL (Indian Premier League) cricket team. As an independent unlisted company, it is now largely owned by him and his family. CSK has not only gone from strength to strength but also spread its wings across the globe. A passionate patron of Cricket and cricketer, Srinivasan and his ilk could now focus fully on the game like a blinkered-horse. Franchise-based sport is proving to be the future across the globe.  Significantly enough, Ultratech will get ICL only since Srinivasan and his family have ring-fenced India Cements Capital as well. Indeed, a fresh innings has begun for Srinivasan and his family.
Santrupt misra
Why Aditya Birla Group’s HR Director Santrupt Misra Joined Biju Janata Dal
When Santrupt Misra, HR Director of Aditya Birla Group quit his job after 27 years to join the Biju Janata Dal none of his close friends were surprised. Why? He had confided to them a few years ago that he wanted to return back to Odisha some day and was waiting for the right break to change his track. And that break came in 2021 when Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik appointed him as the Chairman of Ekamra Kshetra Lingaraj Temple Advisory Committee, an honorary position bestowed on him while he was still working with Birlas. The way Santrupt handled the Temple project — his foresight, strategic thinking, ability to communicate clearly and solving issues impressed Patnaik immensely. Likewise Santrupt was inspired by Patnaik’s vision, ideology and leadership style. For the uninitiated, Misra is Odia and Odisha is home state; he majored at Utkal University before taking the corporate plunge. His track record in the corporate world is impressive. He has worked with JK, TISS, Hindustan Unilever followed by the Aditya Birla Group. Incidentally, his wife Alka, chairman of the World Skill Development Council is based out of Bhubaneshwar. So it made imminent sense for Santrupt to return back to Odisha. Grapevine has it that he may be nominated to the Rajya Sabha seat or may opt for Lok Sabha seat either from Cuttack or Puri.

TRENDS & VIEWS

Editor’s Note: Short Post Noticed By People Who Matter

Four years have zipped by and we are crossing another milestone on 31st January 2025 – it’s our 4th Anniversary. It feels good.
Looking back at the 1460 days, I must say Short Post has made its mark with people who matter via 4000 stories published in the areas of politics, business, entertainment and sports. All made possible by the unflinching commitment and dedication of our senior editors, most of whom have been part of this journey from Day One.
Small pack, big impact is in essence the story of Short Post which was launched at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. It shows our conviction. In all humility, I can say, we have created a new niche in the news segment space like Hindustan Unilever which created a new segment, when it launched CloseUp Gel.
Yes, we have created a brand (in a limited sense), created demand (readers) and created supply (senior journalists). But we are facing teething problems like all start-ups. What makes us happy and confident is the recognition of our efforts. For instance, we have an arrangement with the OPEN Magazine, part of the $4.5 billion Kolkata-based Sanjiv Goenka-RPG Group. This arrangement sees around 10 Short Post stories posted on OPEN Magazine website every week. This arrangement is testimony that our content has been well received! Also, I may add that the Maharashtra government has recognised Short Post and has allowed our senior editor to cover the Assembly sessions. Ditto: Odisha.
Our goal is to ensure that Short Post becomes a habit. I would like people to keep checking their smartphones to know the latest Authentic Gossip. As regards AI and the fear of it disrupting all businesses including media. On that, personally, I have no such fear as I am confident AI cannot smell news particularly Authentic Gossip. That’s the place we are well entrenched.