Brandspeak

Naimatullah, who pointed out that although mutual funds did pass through a bad phase in recent years was confident that SBI would be able to double its investor base from the existing base of Rs. 23 lakh in various branches across the country. He envisaged a 15 per cent rise in investments in almost all the branches. The company, which has plans to introduce another three to four schemes, is awaiting clearance from SEBI for its assured monthly income scheme.

SBI, which has opened 20 investor service branches, will shortly open branches at Eranakulam, Nagpur, Jaipur and Varanasi in the next few months thus taking the total number of branches to 26.

TCKF to be Kinetic Fincap
Following a 30 per cent share acquired by Kinetic Engineering Ltd in the 20th Century Kinetic Finance Ltd TCKF, the company which has undergone a change in its ownership pattern will now be known as Kinetic Fincap Ltd8217; from June 23. All the nominees of the 20th Century group have resigned from the company.

Sulajja Firodia Motwani, the joint managing director of Kinetic Engineering Ltd KEL who has also joined the Board the company unveiling her plans to refocus the growth areas of Kinetic Fincap told The Indian Express that entire exercise would emphasise bringing back the spotlight onto the two-wheeler segment.

Until now, TCKF financed around 10,000 KEL vehicles, Motwani revealed, adding that the company hoped to disburse around Rs. 101 crore this financial year with plans to finance atleast 50,000 vehicles approximately 50 per cent of KEL sales during the financial year 1998-99.

Kinetic Fincap is now a manufacturer-based hire purchase company that is focused on the Kinetic brand of two-wheelers, she added. The company has around 165 dealerships, and 21 branches in areas of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa which account for 65 per cent of its sales besides which there are plans to tap small towns such as Akluj, Aurangabad and Bijapur.

The company has plans to aggressively promote its various fixed deposit schemes hoping to mop up atleast Rs. 10 crore in 1998-99. The current deposit base is around Rs. 40 crore.

Yadav selected RAMA chief
Shriram Yadav of Sadhana Advertising has been selected as president of Regional Advertising Marketing Association RAMA for the year 1998-99. Others to be selected on the association include Vijay Raikar of SJ Advertising as vice president, Aghav of Himalaya Advertising as secretary, Ashok Kane of Deepa Ads as associate secretary and Sanjay Barve of new Horizon as treasurer respectively. The executive members include Mohan Kulkarni of Manoranjan, Rambhau Atre of Alka, Bapat of Ad India and Belsare of Shree Advertisers.

Mercedes-Benz School to start
Mercedes-Benz International School will commence functioning from August 3 this year. The school expects to offer international quality primarily to children of expatriate employees of the locally based multinational companies as well as for aspiring Indian children.

The medium of instruction will be English. In the first academic year beginning 1998-99, classes will be offered for primary year programme pyp 8211; Class 1 to Class 5 and middle years programme myp 8211; Class 6 to Class 10.

The school has joined hands with the well-known International Baccalaureate Organisation IBO, a non-profit international educational foundation based in Switzerland.

Shah promoted
K M Shah has been promoted as the general manager and the unit in-charge of the Pune plant of M/s Owens Brockway India Ltd. Shah was previously the deputy general manager technical of the company.

Symphony aircoolers
To mark ten years of its establishment, Symphony Comfort Systems Ltd has launched Symphony Kaizen. The company has so far sold more than 1.5 lak aircoolers of this brand.

According to a company release issued here, the company has increased its production capacity at its plant at Silvassa.

Board meetings
A meeting of the board of directors of Balaji Foods and Feeds Ltd will be held on June 30 to consider the audited financial results of company for the year ended March 31, 1998, a company release stated.

A meeting of the board of directors of Western Hatcheries Ltd is being held on June 30, to take on record the audited financial results of the company to consider the recommendation of dividend for the acocunting year ended March 31, 1998.