Bajaj report

Rahul Bajaj has finally realised that he needs to diversify his manufacturing base globally to compete effectively in the international mark...

Rahul Bajaj has finally realised that he needs to diversify his manufacturing base globally to compete effectively in the international market. He has decided to set up two assembly operations in Indonesia and Brazil. The tycoon, however, is likely to remain focused for the moment on the Indonesian market, which accounts for 7 million of the 32 million two-wheelers sold worldwide. The other reason for choosing Indonesia could be that he will be able serve the 6 million unit ASEAN market from the Indonesian hub quite successfully.

Bajaj is even optimistic about the performance about his three wheelers his secret weapon for developing market domination in this market too. As for the Brazilian foray he is optimistic that it will be operational in about 18 months. He appears to be preparing not only for new assembly operations, but acquisitions of vendors and distribution networks. Some international brand building activities are also on the cards. What other players want to know is what global report has Rahul read that8217;s defining the markets he8217;s going for now.

New innings

Things are surely looking up for Rajeev Chandrashekhar. He has come a long way since his long drawn out court battle with father-in-law, BPL supremo T.P.G. Nambiar. Not only has he managed to bury the hatchet, he has finally found a strategic buyer.

For Chandrashekhar, exiting a business that he so diligently nurtured for a decade may not have been an easy decision. Now with loads of cash under his belt he is looking at floating a venture capital fund for the Indian market. Some of his US-based friends and well-heeled Indian ones are also likely to join him in his venture. Even though he has not yet divulged any details about his investment plans, the areas high on his interest list at the moment appear to be predictably telecom. But making a new beginning as an investor in these sectors may of course not be as easy as it sounds.

Big league

Having made a signature purchase for a grand house bang in the heart of central Delhi, at a staggering Rs 150 crore, Nand Khemka has waltzed into the stratospheric league of Indian tycoons. It is a space he is actually used to occupying. Having been the star brewer in the humungous Soviet market, Khemka has long since gone even more aggressively global. His sell-out of his frothy market share to Interbrew catapulted him into a league where very few Indian consumer product businessmen are.

The cash plus equity deal that Khemka concluded is something that probably encouraged him to make the big brassy move on the boulevards of New Delhi.

Of course, he is no stranger to the big league here either. With a financial products company that has already been at the top league tables for a long time, the Khemkas are clearly going to get even more aggressive about their presence in the growing Indian market place.

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It is likely that the new purchase of a home is merely part of a plan to show a greater strength and interest in resuming business operations in India and is not just an escape from the aesthetics of his current abode. Whatever the case may be, the Khemka mansion in central Delhi, on account of its purchase price alone, warfs others.

The Mittals both LM and Sunil, the Jindals and even the Birlas and Bhartias are all suddenly no longer the only ones in the super residences league. But what8217;s going to be worth watching is of course how Khemka now works his plan to join the super league of India8217;s private oil playing barons. That8217;s clearly the next step for Khemka, but nobody is talking about that at the moment. The focus rather unfairly is on stuff like how Khemka will have to top the synchronised musical fountain that one of his well heeled neighbours is planning on making the centrepiece of his own new residence.

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