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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

Star couturier <keyword id="19970644" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tarun-tahiliani" source="keywords">Tarun Tahiliani</keyword> is in the eye of the proverbial storm over his <keyword id="21239939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="designs" source="keywords">designs</keyword> for the <keyword id="20287873" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-contingent" source="keywords">Indian contingent</keyword> at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games with epithets such as "pathetic" and "mediocre" being used to describe his creations. As the <keyword id="21679717" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="uniforms" source="keywords">uniforms</keyword> became a talking point on social media platforms and elsewhere too, several people also criticised the designs for becoming a promotion for <keyword id="22604764" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tasva" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Tasva" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Tasva">Tasva</keyword>, the collaborative label of <keyword id="22604763" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tahiliani" source="keywords">Tahiliani</keyword> and the <keyword id="19907441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aditya-Birla-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Aditya Birla Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Aditya Birla Group">Aditya Birla Group</keyword>. The men's attire, the classic kurta bundi silhouette, had panel detailing in the colours of the national flag, safari pockets, and rolled-up sleeves. The women's saris featured a pre-pleated design for convenience and ease of wear. Their borders featured the panelling in tricolour. They completed the look in gold brocade sneakers. What has not gone down well for some is the way brand logo has been incorporated prominently in the borders of the garments, the fabric used and the fits. Tahiliani's team said he was unavailable for comment when PTI reached out for a response. However, he defended himself in an interview with NDTV when he said he stood by his work and said the opening ceremony was not a couture show. "We wanted the team in the colours of the tricolour as most countries follow their flag and that was visible from afar. It would have been very easy for me to send them in zardozi vests. But it's not appropriate," Tahiliani said. He added that he and his team had only three weeks to prepare the costumes. "I can't weave handloom for 300 uniforms in that time. The shoes were brocade, brocade from Benares," he told NDTV. Tahiliani also slammed "armchair critics" who accused him of charging a heavy sum for crafting these designs. "This was paid for by Tasva. It was not done for a fee, it was done to support our athletes. Asking what I was paid for it just shows their mentality," he added. Among those criticising the designer, who made headlines of another sort entirely when he dressed American reality star Kim Kardashian for the Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant wedding, was former badminton star Jwala Gutta. "The garments which was made for the Indian contingent participating in <keyword id="19933819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Olympics" source="keywords">Olympics</keyword> this time has been a huge disappointment!! (Especially when the designer was announced I had huge expectations) (sic)" she wrote, without mentioning Tahiliani's name. Gutta argued that not all women know how to wear a sari and that's why the designer should have crafted "pre draped" saris, which are a current trend. "The girls looked uncomfortable the blouse was of bad fit!! And second the colour and the print was so opposite of beautiful Indian!!! There was an opportunity for the designer to display the art of our culture through embroidery or hand paint!! "It was a work of absolute mediocrity and looked shabby!!! I really hope the sports family stops compromising on quality for our sportspersons looks on court and off court!!!! (sic)" Gutta wrote, posting photographs of herself from the 2016 Rio Olympics with fellow badminton players PV Sindhu, Ashwini Ponnappa and tennis star Rohan Bopanna. A user reshared her post and wrote: "Hello Tarun Tahiliani! I have seen better Sarees sold in Mumbai streets for Rs.200 than these ceremonial uniforms you've 'designed'. Cheap polyester like fabric, Ikat PRINT (!!!), tricolors thrown together with no imagination. Did you outsource it to an intern or come up with it in the last 3 minutes before the deadline? Such a disgrace to the rich weaving culture and history of India." There were others who were not too convinced either. Another user said designers for the Mongolia and Sri Lanka contingents did a better job dressing their teams. Others shared videos of the designs as reimagined by AI and wrote Tahiliani's design can be "easily replaced" by technology. One user said the kurtas were "creased", the blouse "poor fitting" and the sari was "not even white". "I don't know what Tarun Tahiliani was thinking while scribbling these pathetic uniforms, did our champions really bad. The women's saree look like 'before' shot in an Ujala Ad. While menswear, it's just looks a bit ..ringard if I may say in spirit of Paris! (sic)" commented another. According to Ashish Mukul, brand head, Tasva, the ceremonial attire for Team India is "crafted with a profound sense of national pride and an aim to balance tradition with modernity". In a statement, Mukul said the garments draw inspiration from the Indian flag, "symbolizing unity, and pride, which is one of the richest ways of representing India". He said the contemporary silhouettes, such as the Bundi jacket and pre-pleated sari, were carefully chosen to ensure "both comfort and functionality" for the athletes. "The fabrics, including cotton and viscose crepe, are selected for their practical and aesthetic qualities, as our athletes would be out in the open for almost 6 hours during the event. The use of Ikat-inspired prints and modern elements is a deliberate choice to reflect modern India. Our intention is to create an attire that represents India's rich heritage and ensure our athletes feel comfortable and confident," he added. Two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu, who was one of the flag bearers of the Indian contingent along with table tennis legend A Sharath Kamal, had posted a series of pictures on X ahead of Friday's ceremony. "Paris 2024, flag bearer-one of the greatest honors of my life to hold our country's flag in front of millions," she wrote.

Tarun Tahiliani at centre of controversy over "mediocre" designs for Indian contingent at Olympics

<ul><li><keyword id="19946118" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="luxury" source="keywords">Luxury</keyword> brands leased 0.6 million square feet of space in 2023, which is a 170% year-on-year growth.</li><li>Exclusive high-end malls like Jio World Plaza in Mumbai and Mall of Asia in Bangalore act as facilitators.</li><li>Apart from millennials and GenZs, <keyword id="20098485" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gen-alpha" source="keywords">Gen Alpha</keyword> also has an affinity to luxury retailing — forming a new set of consumers. </li></ul>Indians no longer have to fly abroad to buy Valentinos, Balenciaga, or shop at Tiffany &amp; Co. — as these luxury brands have been establishing their presence across the country for the last few years. And, there are more to come. <keyword id="20943315" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="brioni" source="keywords">Brioni</keyword>, <keyword id="20943314" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="roberto-cavalli" source="keywords">Roberto Cavalli</keyword>, and Dunhill are expected to enter <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> in 2024. Indians’ love for global luxury brands has been growing as much as their love for India, according to a report by CBRE. The report, which mapped retail space leasing in India’s top eight states, says that as much as 0.6 million square feet of space was leased by them in 2023 — a 170% year-on-year growth. Their preferred format is high streets which have a 45% share in total space leased by luxury brands. It’s followed by malls at 40%, and individual stores make up the rest at 15%. “This surge in leasing has been accompanied by the entry and expansion of various international luxury fashion, watch and jewellery brands across different locations,” says CBRE. A few exclusive high-end malls have also opened recently like Jio World Plaza in Mumbai and Mall of Asia in Bangalore — facilitating the entry of more brands. Also, French upmarket retailer Galeries Lafayette is planning to enter India in a joint venture with <keyword id="20943317" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aditya-birla-retail" source="keywords">Aditya Birla Retail</keyword>. The trend was put in high gear during the pandemic when global travel restricted the global shopping trips of affluent Indians. Consequently, international retailers ensured that their Indian customers had access to the current season trends. Also, they eliminated price disparity between Indian stores and their counterparts in other global cities — making a smooth entry. Moreover, luxury offerings in metros also attract affluent consumers from tier II cities. This growth trajectory has prompted them to adopt an aggressive expansion approach by opening stores in cities such as Chandigarh and Ahmedabad. The luxury sector, which saw a significant increase in leasing in 2023, shows a promising trend with the entry and expansion of international brands. This positive momentum is expected to continue, aligning with our anticipation for a similar trend in the years ahead,” said <keyword id="20177586" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="anshuman-magazine" source="keywords">Anshuman Magazine</keyword>, chairman &amp; CEO of India, Southeast Asia, Middle East &amp; Africa at CBRE. Young wear Prada More trends bode well for the growth of luxury sales in India. Luxe is catering to a younger and younger clientele. Millennials and GenZs collectively hold a significant market share in luxury sales. But there is a new and emerging generation of luxury brand lovers — Gen Alpha born between 2010-2024. As per CBRE, the spending power of GenZ, and even Gen Alpha is projected to grow three times faster than other generations till 2030. This trend highlights a more precocious attitude towards luxury, with GenZ consumers becoming more conscious of luxury much earlier than even millennials. It means teens are much more brand-conscious than ever and as that trend takes off, there will be more aspirations and buyers of such brands. “Luxury brands are aggressively chasing new avenues to attract both seasoned and aspiring luxury consumers,” says <keyword id="20943316" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="magazine" source="keywords">Magazine</keyword>. Social media has become a game changer when it comes to skyrocketing awareness. “For these generations, luxury isn’t about price; it’s a way to express themselves – a badge of social status, refined taste and individuality,” sums up CBRE.

Young & luxurious: How new buyers are pushing luxe retail growth in India

<keyword id="3581474" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="tcns" source="Orion">TCNS</keyword> Clothing (TCNS), <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>'s leading women's ethnic-focused fashion player, today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements for combining with <keyword id="3360476" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="abfrl" source="Orion">ABFRL</keyword>, India's leading fashion &amp; apparel company, and a part of the Aditya Birla Group. The transaction entails a combination of TCNS into ABFRL and will be carried out through - (1) Acquisition of the founding promoter's stake through a SPA and a conditional public open offer followed by (2) Merger between the two entities. The value of the promoter stake and open offer consideration for TCNS is ~ Rs. 1650 Crores for 51 per cent stake, making this one of the largest deals in the Indian fashion space. Onkar <keyword id="16015401" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="singh-pasricha" source="Orion">Singh Pasricha</keyword>, Chairman and Executive Director of TCNS, commented "This deal marks a true milestone for our company and its stakeholders. Under the support and guidance of ABFRL, TCNS will surely achieve even greater heights of success and excellence. We are happy that we have been able to pass on our legacy to one of the most prestigious and respected groups - one that is known for its values, ethics, corporate governance and employee empowerment. We believe that all stakeholders of TCNS will benefit immensely from this landmark transaction." Speaking on the transaction, <keyword id="6354955" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="kumar-mangalam-birla" source="Orion">Kumar Mangalam Birla</keyword>, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group, said, "This deal is yet another marker of the Aditya Birla Group's faith in the dynamism and buoyancy of the Indian consumer economy. As India stands on the cusp of a multi-decadal consumption boom, ABFRL is a forerunner in shaping the fashion landscape of our vibrant nation. For ABFRL, the TCNS deal is indeed a significant milestone as it complements our existing portfolio of exceptional brands across the entire spectrum of Indian fashion. By embracing TCNS's portfolio of loved women's ethnic brands, we are reinforcing our commitment to ethnic wear, the largest category in the apparel industry. With this acquisition, the fast-growing ABFRL platform is poised for the next phase of transformational growth." Over the years, TCNS has evolved into a leading women's branded apparel company with a proven playbook of multiple brand creations and seamless execution across multiple channels. Commenting on the acquisition, Ashish Dikshit, Managing Director, ABFRL said, "As young Indians identify a new-found confidence in their identities woven around Indian culture and heritage, the next set of leading consumer brands will be built in the Indian ethnic wear space. TCNS, through its brands W, Aurelia, Wishful &amp; Elleven, is catering to the Indian women's fashion needs across markets and price points. Each of these brands have been built over a long period of time and enjoy tremendous consumer love. This transaction is the pivotal piece of our ethnic strategy and marks the culmination of our stated intent of building India's most comprehensive ethnic wear portfolio." Anant Daga, Managing Director of TCNS said, "TCNS has been a pioneer in branded women's ethnic wear market in the country. Over the last 20 years, we have built India's most successful women's franchise on the back of our leading brands. The market continues to offer long-term growth opportunities and our partnership with ABFRL will help us fully realize this potential. ABFRL's proven brand-building capability, distribution strength and strong ecosystem of partners will help our brands into its next phase of growth and profitability." Credit Suisse acted as the exclusive financial advisor and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas &amp; Co acted as the legal advisors for the transaction. Grant Thornton acted as an independent valuer for TCNS while ICICI Securities provided the Fairness Opinion to the Board of TCNS. Transaction Structure As part of the transaction, ABFRL will make a conditional open offer to acquire up to 29 per cent stake at Rs. 503 per share from public shareholders and acquire the remaining stake from the founder promoters to reach an overall shareholding of 51% in TCNS. Pursuant to the above, TCNS will be amalgamated with ABFRL under the merger scheme wherein public shareholders of TCNS (as on effective date) will receive 11 shares of ABFRL for every 6 shares that they hold in TCNS. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals including approvals from the Competition Commission of India, SEBI, Stock Exchanges, and National Company Law Tribunal. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/iafs-mig-21-crashes-in-rajasthan-three-civilians-killed-pilot-safe/articleshow/100069573.cms">IAF's MiG-21 crashes in Rajasthan; three civilians killed, pilot safe</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/india-coal-imports-surge-to-162-mt-in-fy23-inbound-coking-coal-shipment-grows-to-54-mt/articleshow/100069770.cms">India coal imports surge to 162 MT in FY23; inbound coking coal shipment grows to 54 MT</a>

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

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Tarun Tahiliani at centre of controversy over "mediocre" designs for Indian contingent at Olympics

PTI

Young & luxurious: How new buyers are pushing luxe retail growth in India

Katya Naidu

TCNS to merge with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL)

ANI

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