Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

As many as seven <keyword id="19955648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adani-group" source="keywords">Adani group</keyword> stocks ended lower on Friday as the Swiss authorities froze USD 311 million (Rs 2,610 crore) held by a Taiwanese resident in multiple Swiss bank accounts as part of a money laundering probe, suspecting he may be a frontman from the group -- a charge the conglomerate vehemently denied. Shares of <keyword id="19934911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adani-Power" source="keywords">Adani Power</keyword> dropped 2.73 per cent, Adani Energy Solutions declined 2.42 per cent, Adani Ports slipped 1.37 per cent, Adani Green Energy went lower by 1.17 per cent, Adani Enterprises dipped 0.76 per cent, Adani Total Gas (0.55 per cent) and Adani Wilmar (0.37 per cent) on the BSE. However, three group firms managed to settle in the green. The stock of <keyword id="19963163" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ACC" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="ACC" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="ACC">ACC</keyword> jumped 1.94 per cent, NDTV climbed 1.01 per cent and <keyword id="20057393" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ambuja-Cements" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ambuja Cements" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Ambuja Cements">Ambuja Cements</keyword> (0.01 per cent). During the day, shares of Adani Power tumbled 3.20 per cent, Adani Energy dived 2.75 per cent, Adani Green declined 1.53 per cent, Adani Ports went down by 1.51 per cent, Adani Enterprises fell 1.18 per cent, Adani Wilmar (1.07 per cent), Adani Total (0.89 per cent), NDTV (0.57 per cent), Ambuja Cements (0.54 per cent) and ACC (0.46 per cent). Swiss authorities have frozen USD 311 million (Rs 2,610 crore) held by a Taiwanese resident in multiple Swiss bank accounts as part of money laundering probe, suspecting he may be a frontman from the Adani group -- a charge the conglomerate vehemently denied saying it was neither involved in any Swiss court proceedings nor any of its accounts are subject to sequestration. US-based short-seller <keyword id="20016892" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hindenburg-Research" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Hindenburg Research" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Hindenburg Research">Hindenburg Research</keyword>, which had last year targeted the Adani group in a damning report that led to wiping away of USD 150 billion in market value of listed firms of the conglomerate in the following weeks, in a post on X cited "newly released Swiss criminal records reported by Swiss media outlet" to state that "Swiss authorities have frozen more than $310 million in funds across multiple Swiss bank accounts as part of a money laundering and securities forgery investigation into Adani, dating back as early as 2021." "Prosecutors detailed how an Adani frontman invested in opaque BVI/Mauritius &amp; Bermuda funds that almost exclusively owned <keyword id="20372802" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adani-stocks" source="keywords">Adani stocks</keyword>," it said citing the report. Adani group rejected the allegations as baseless, saying it had no involvement in any Swiss court proceedings. "We unequivocally reject and deny the baseless allegations presented. The Adani Group has no involvement in any Swiss court proceedings, nor have any of our company accounts been subject to sequestration by any authority," it said. The Swiss media outlet Gotham City in its report stated that a ruling by the Federal Criminal Court (FCC) reveals that the Geneva Public Prosecutor's Office was investigating alleged wrongdoing and more than USD 310 million belonging to an alleged frontman for billionaire <keyword id="19929098" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gautam-Adani" source="keywords">Gautam Adani</keyword> have been sequestered in five Swiss banks over the last three years. The Swiss investigators suspect that the associate, Chang Chung-Ling, is not the ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) of the company under investigation, but a mere front. The Adani Group, however, said that the court order was not linked to them and they have not been mentioned in it. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/western-carriers-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/113312196.cms">Western Carriers IPO – Price band to risk factors, all you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/pn-gadgil-jewellers-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-ipo-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/113302533.cms">PN Gadgil Jewellers IPO allotment – How to check allotment, IPO GMP, listing date and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/iphone-16-pro-is-already-cheaper-than-the-iphone-15-pro-in-india-but-you-can-get-it-for-up-to-30000-cheaper/articleshow/113220789.cms">iPhone 16 Pro is already cheaper than the iPhone 15 Pro in India, but you can get it for up to ₹30,000 cheaper</a>

Majority of Adani group stocks settle lower; Adani Power drops nearly 3%

India's <keyword id="20884491" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cement-industry" source="keywords">cement industry</keyword> is heating up faster than a kiln! If one’s tracking the sector, the war-like situation between the existing and emerging cement giants is pretty evident. For the uninitiated, Aditya Birla Group-backed <keyword id="19963567" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ultratech-Cement" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ultratech Cement" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Ultratech Cement">Ultratech Cement</keyword> and <keyword id="19955648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adani-Group" source="keywords">Adani Group</keyword> have been at loggerheads for increased market share in recent years. And now, JSW Cement also seems to be gearing up to challenge the potential duopoly. As conglomerates aggressively acquire smaller players to achieve market domination, the cement industry in India right now resembles an eighteenth-century battlefield. The battle has significantly escalated this year, but this trend of acquiring regional cement companies can be traced back to 2018 when Ultratech acquired Binani Cement. Since then, both Adani Group and Birla Group have been capturing checkposts all over India, one by one. Ultratech acquired Binani Cement to strengthen its base in the western region and this week, India Cement, for the southern states. Adani has also acquired the Hyderabad-based Penna Cement this year, after acquiring majority stakes in Ambuja Cements and ACC in 2022. But why the obsession with cement? <h2>Why are the Titans clashing for…cement?</h2>India's infrastructure boom is in full swing, and whoever controls the cement supply holds the key to this construction kingdom. Adani Group has been known to follow an acquire &amp; dominate strategy for capturing market segments. <keyword id="19907441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aditya-Birla-Group" source="keywords">Aditya Birla Group</keyword>, however, has dominated the cement industry in India through Ultratech for a while now. The answer to the above question may simply lie in establishing the leadership moat for themselves. With even-growing public and private spending on infrastructure, both players want to capture the majority share to dominate the supplies of cement, which is essential for construction. <h2>Where is the sector heading?</h2>While both Adani and Aditya Birla groups have locked horns to acquire CK Birla’s Orient Cement for a while now, a new hurdle threatens their dominance. As per an Economic Times report, Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Cement has now started to evaluate the acquisition of the promoter stake in Orient Cement. As an emerging front, JSW Cement also aims to reach 50 MT per annum by 2030. However, two other major players, Shree Cement and Dalmia Bharat, already have 53 MTPA and 43 MTPA capacity. <div type="image" title="Birla Vs Adani" msid="112196675" hostid="261" sizebytes="284160" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Look back at major acquisitions in the cement sector&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> However, with over a dozen acquisitions over the last decade, both Ultratech and Adani Group are by far the largest players in the sector eyeing over 200 MT per annum by 2030. <h2>What about the prices?</h2>Will consumers benefit from this cutthroat competition to industry domination? In the short term at least, yes! While lower prices might sound appealing, it's essential to keep an eye on quality as consolidation in the manufacturing sector is always tricky. We don't want to end up with buildings crumbling like cookies. And let's not forget about the little guys. This consolidation of power into a few mega-corporations could squeeze out smaller players, reducing competition and potentially leading to higher prices in the long run. <h2>I think I’ve seen this film before….</h2>The current atmosphere of the cement industry feels reminiscent of what happened in the telecom industry in India in 2016 i.e. the infamous tussle of tariffs. As Reliance Industries launched Jio, it disrupted the entire segment and forced other telecom companies to compete on their terms. As a result, the tariffs fell sharply, companies shut and brands merged, but Jio still claims 40% of the market share in India in terms of subscriber count. Moreover, experts feel that the change in power dynamics in both these industries, cement and telecom, have direct ties to the current government’s industrial policy. Government policies seem to favour companies that have acquired a dominant position in distinct sectors of the economy, which in India’s case are led by two of the richest men in Asia — Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani. This strategy of adopting ‘<keyword id="1327299" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-champions" source="Orion">National Champions</keyword>’ is seemingly inspired by South Korea’s <keyword id="4933297" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chaebols" source="Orion">Chaebols</keyword> and Japan’s Zaibatsu conglomerates that came into existence decades ago. <h2>From corporate drama to k-drama: Chaebols</h2>The term Chaebol might ring a bell if you've watched K-dramas. They are family-owned business conglomerates in South Korea. This business structure originated in the 1960s and got so popular that it made its way into Korean pop culture. While chaebols have fueled the rapid growth of the Korean economy, concerns about their opaque governance and controlling shareholder interests often deter external investors. Japan’s zaibatsu were also similar financial and industrial conglomerates that were major forces in Japan during World War II. Korea’s Hyundai and Japan’s Mitsubishi are some prime examples of this structure. <h2>Growth of the Goliaths</h2>Viral Acharya, the former Deputy Governor of the RBI, highlights the decade-old trend of the central government achieving economic growth outcomes by working with large conglomerates in part, rather than with state governments. In his conference paper for the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity in March 2023, he demonstrates this pattern with examples from multiple sectors. “By way of specific examples, the share of the Top 5 groups by sales in Civil Engineering and Construction rose from 31% in 2016 to 42% in 2021, in Telecommunications from 65% to over 84%, and in the Retail trade sector from under 44% to over 65%. Similarly, the share of Top-5 groups by Assets rose sharply by 2021 to 68% in the Manufacturing of Basic Metals, 26% in the Manufacturing of Chemicals, 90% in the Manufacturing of Refined Petroleum and Coke, and 47% in the Manufacturing of Non-metallic Mineral Products (including cement and other building materials),” writes Acharya. While this strategy of ‘National Champions’ has benefitted the telecom sector, it has its caveats. The acceleration in the growth may lead to an oligopolistic economy, thereby restricting the entry of new players and stifling innovation. Additionally, a multi-dimensional concentration of power poses the threat of crony capitalism. <h2>National champions: checks and challenges</h2>There’s more to this debate. Arvind Subramanian and Josh Felman, in their paper titled ‘India’s Stalled Rise’ note that the collective impact of this strategy could be more adverse in India, more than anywhere else. They explain that the two big conglomerates — Adani Group and Ambani-led Reliance “have interests that extend throughout the economy, in defence production, ports and airports, energy, natural gas, petroleum, digital platforms, telecommunications, entertainment, media, retail, textiles, financial payments, and education.” Chaebols and Zaibatsu have/had their demerits that range from autocratic decision-making dubbed as ‘imperialistic management’ to the slow inclination of the market towards an oligopolistic structure. However, they weren’t shielded from international competition, nor was this strategy of creating ‘national champions’ shaped using government regulation. They were prevalent in sectors that faced competition internationally, like Hyundai in automobile manufacturing, keeping them in check. The lack of a similar system of checks and balances in India may lead to deeper implications of this strategy of ‘national champions.’ Viral Acharya further notes that they “grew not just at the expense of the smallest firms, but also of the next largest firms” and empirically established a causal link between market power and markups (broadly, profit). At a point when India has seen a monumental shift in infrastructure and looks to capture the market share that China could evacuate, the implications of a tilted policy could prove detrimental. While consolidation can improve performance and catalyse growth, we need to be very careful as a country of the direction we will set ourselves in at this crucial juncture. <h2>Also read:</h2> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112159576" title="India Cement employees to lose jobs after UltraTech acquisition? Chairman Srinivasan answers" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[seealso]]></payload></div> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112163130" title="Ambuja Cements Q1FY25 profit at Rs 789.63 crore; revenue at Rs 8,311.48 crore" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[seealso]]></payload></div>

Cementing dominance: Birla vs Adani, of Chaebols, conglomerates, and National Champions

<ul><li>UltraTech Cement’s revenue from operations for the quarter rose 18% at ₹18,662 crore from ₹15,767 crore in the year-ago quarter.</li><li>UltraTech Cement’s board has recommended a dividend of ₹38 per equity share aggregating to ₹1,097 crore.</li><li>During the quarter, the cement maker saw an increase in energy cost by 17% on year and 4% lower sequentially.</li></ul>UltraTech Cement’s Q4 net profit fell 32% to ₹1,666 crore as compared to ₹2,461 crore in the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, its revenue from operations for the quarter rose 18% to ₹18,662 crore from ₹15,767 crore Q4 FY22, the company said in a regulatory filing. During the quarter, the cement maker saw its energy costs increase by 17%, and prices of pet coke and coal too increased 18% on a yearly basis. Raw material cost was up 9% on year on account of increase in cost of fly ash, slag and gypsum etc. Adding to it, the company’s tax expense also rose in Q4 to ₹800 crore as compared to tax credit of ₹139 crore in the same quarter last year. UltraTech Cement’s board recommended a dividend of ₹38 per equity share aggregating to ₹1,097 crore. The cement maker’s rival ACC also reported a decline in its profitability with a 40% fall in net profit to ₹235 crore for March quarter, on Thursday. Ultratech said it has achieved 100 million tons of production, dispatches and sales in FY23. This was backed by an effective capacity utilization of 95% during this quarter and 84% capacity utilization for the year. Total sales volume for the quarter rose 15% on year and 23% sequentially at 31.7 million tons. Financial performance in March quarter <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 468pt;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Particulars </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Q4 FY23 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Q4 FY22 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Net sales </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹18,436 crore </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹15,557 crore </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Net profit </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹1,666 crore </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹2,461 crore </td></tr></tbody></table> Ahead of the earnings, the company’s share price closed 0.52% higher at ₹7,540 per share. UltraTech Cement mentioned that the expansion programme is progressing as per schedule. During the year, it commissioned 12.4 mtpa (million tonne per annum) additional capacity of grey cement. It further commissioned a 2.2 mtpa brownfield cement capacity at Patliputra in April, 23. Work on its next phase of growth of 22.6 mtpa has already commenced. “Civil work is in full swing at most sites. Commercial production from these new capacities is expected to go on stream in a phased manner by FY25/FY26. Upon completion of these expansions, the Company's capacity will grow to 160.45 mtpa, reinforcing its position as the third largest cement company in the world, outside of China and the largest in India by far,” it said in the exchange filing. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/axis-bank-under-pressure-after-reporting-net-loss-in-q4/articleshow/99840323.cms">Axis Bank shares under pressure after Q4 net loss; analysts upbeat on the lender</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/wipro-says-it-services-revenue-could-decline-1-3-in-q1fy24-announces-buyback/articleshow/99809050.cms">Wipro says IT services revenue could decline 1-3% in Q1FY24, announces buyback</a>

UltraTech Cement’s Q4 net profit falls 32% to ₹1,666 crore, declares dividend

Meet Vinod Adani, the elder brother of Gautam Adani and keyman in ACC-Ambuja acquisition

<keyword id="111343" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="gautam-adani" source="Orion">Gautam Adani</keyword>, Chairman, <keyword id="6367820" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="adani-group" source="Orion">Adani Group</keyword>, has said that the combined Group market capitalisation this year exceeded $200 billion. "We were able to raise billions of dollars from the international markets, a direct validation of confidence in the <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> and <keyword id="76451" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="adani" source="Orion">Adani</keyword> growth story. Our growth and success have been recognised around the world. Several foreign governments are now approaching us to work in their geographies and help build their infrastructure. Therefore, in 2022, we also laid the foundation to seek a broader expansion beyond India's boundaries," he said at the annual general meeting (AGM) of Adani Enterprises Limited (<keyword id="236769" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ael" source="Orion">AEL</keyword>). The success of the Adani Group is based on its alignment with the India growth story, and it is my strong conviction that there is no other nation that is as well positioned as India, said Gautam Adani. "The best evidence which showcased our confidence and belief in the future, is our investment of $70 billion in facilitating India's green transition. We are already one of the world's largest developers of solar power. Our strength in renewables will empower us enormously in the effort to make green hydrogen the fuel of the future. We are leading the race to turn India from a country over-reliant on import of oil and gas, to a country that might one day become a net exporter of clean energy. "While we now hold a major global renewable energies portfolio, we have made also remarkable progress in several other industries over the past 12 months. In one stroke, we have become the largest airport operator in India. "Around these airports that we operate today we are engaged in the adjacent businesses of developing aero-tro-polises and creating localised community based economic centres. We continue to grow as builders of India's infrastructure, winning some of the largest road contracts in the nation and growing our already substantial market share in business such as ports, logistics, transmission and distribution, city gas and piped natural gas. "Our successful IPO of Adani Wilmar makes us the largest FMCG company in the country. And following the acquisition of Holcim's assets in India that include two of the most recognised brand names across the country, <keyword id="6374289" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="acc" source="Orion">ACC</keyword> and <keyword id="105382" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ambuja-cements" source="Orion">Ambuja Cements</keyword>, we are now the second largest cement manufacturer in India. This is a classic example of our adjacency based business model at work. In addition, we have also made entries in sectors ranging from data centres, digital super apps, and industrial clouds to defence and aerospace, metals, and materials, all aligned with the government's vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat," he says. Gautam Adani said the group's rising market capitalisation has been supported by a robust and sustained growth in our cash flows. "Our focus on operational excellence across our portfolio and the accretive capacity addition delivered an EBITDA growth of 26 per cemt. Portfolio EBITDA stood at Rs 42,623 crore. This diversified growth was reflected across our range of businesses. Our utility portfolio grew by 26 per cent, our transport and logistics portfolio grew by 19 per cent, our FMCG portfolio grew by 34 per cent, and Adani Enterprises Limited, our incubator business, grew by 45 per cent. AEL's unique business model has no parallel and we intend to leverage this further." The high growth of AEL provides the Group with a reliable foundation for the continued development of new businesses for yet another big decade. "While we may look back and feel content, it is only now that we are gathering real momentum. What we have been able to achieve in two decades, is become India's largest integrated infrastructure business based on a rapid extension into adjacent businesses. This has resulted in our transformation into an integrated 'platform of platforms' that combines an energy platform with a logistics platform, both of which help us with unprecedented access to the Indian consumer. I today know of no company that has such an unique business model with potential access to an unlimited B2B and B2C market for the next several decades," Gautam Adani said.

Our group's combined market cap exceeds $200 billion, says Gautam Adani

Chhath Puja 2024 Wishes

Bank holidays in India

ChatGPT will let you create images for free

Should the government give freebies to the poor?

World’s most powerful passports

Jio vs Airtel vs Vi Prepaid Plans

You Searched For "acc cement" and got 5 results

Majority of Adani group stocks settle lower; Adani Power drops nearly 3%

PTI

Cementing dominance: Birla vs Adani, of Chaebols, conglomerates, and National Champions

Prerna

Deekshith

UltraTech Cement’s Q4 net profit falls 32% to ₹1,666 crore, declares dividend

Bhakti Makwana

Meet Vinod Adani, the elder brother of Gautam Adani and keyman in ACC-Ambuja acquisition

Rounak Jain

Our group's combined market cap exceeds $200 billion, says Gautam Adani

IANS

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides