Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Disney’s own recent animated features - IIPM Article

Pixar, whichDisney Animation has had its blockbuster movies, has eager suitors like Fox and Warner waiting to snatch this golden goose. Disney’s own recent animated features, like Brother Bear and Treasure Planet, were box office bombs. Pixar, on the other hand, is floating in cash, and now doesn’t anymore need Disney’s sup­port for either finance or distribution In this light, Steve Jobs’ offer is perhaps the best that could have happened to Disney. Instead of trying to renegotiate a much debated contract, Disney should animatedly buy out Pixar.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

It’s a Mickey

The Disney-Pixar alliance is coming to an end. For years, the Disney honchos have held on dearly to their cash making studio, but after the latest Pixar offering, Cars, is released in January 2006, the currentcontract will expire. Hence, the big question is, whether the alliance would continue beyond the current period?

Friday, April 21, 2006

Zetsche–Get ‘Smart’er - IIPM Article

Five years ago, when Dieter Zetsche joined Chrysler Group as CEO, few people would have imagined that this ‘average Joe’ from Stuttgart would go on to become one of the most talked about men in Europe and Detroit. His penchant for dancing around with girls in short skirts at auto launches, his trademark moustache, and the fact that he refused the overtures of Bill Ford to join Ford Motors, are all a part of Stuttgart folklore now.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Fringe Benefit Tax imposed by the Finance Minister during the last Budget

Two recent judicial orders emanating from Tamil Nadu have once again highlighted the controversial and deeply unpopular character of the Fringe Benefit Tax imposed by the Finance Minister during the last Budget. On September 14, 2005, the Madras High Court restrained the imposition of FBT on Kumbhat & Co, a firm of Chartered Accountants. On September 24, 2005, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court accepted a petition of the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and stayed the imposition of the FBT.

Monday, April 17, 2006

Visa provision called H-1B

While completely understandable, those rules happened to include a visa provision called H-1B that makes it harder for foreign students – i.e. future entrepreneurs – to stay in the U.S. after graduation. Both SOX and H1-B had unintended consequences that could have really weakened American entrepreneurship. But they haven’t. Here’s why.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Money Spent by Lok Sabha Candidate

Yet, conservative estimates of the money spent by a serious Lok Sabha candidate is at least Rs.50 million. Since there are 3 serious candidates nowadays for each seat, the total money spent by candidates in each seat is at least Rs.150 million

Friday, April 07, 2006

Korea and South Asian market (IIPM Publication)

During the recent visit, Ban Ki-Moon, Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, suggested, “One of the most effective ways to augment the vast potential that exists between the two countries... is to speed up efforts to establish institutional framework such as relevant laws, systems and consultations between the two governments.” Korea surely comes across as a catalyst for Indian businesses targeting South Asian markets.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Political gamesmanship over India’s reservations policy could cast a shadow over India’s ambitions of emerg¬ing as a global economic power in the 21st

Yes, Indian companies are extremely cash rich, but not illegally. Instead of practising blind Robin Hood socialist democracy forcing reservations down the throat of private players, the most killing need of the hour is for the government to encourage private participation in setting up entrepreneurship parks that would support self-employment opportunities of masses by directly going to grass roots rather than waiting for the fraudulent Indian trickle down effect to take place.