CATEGORIES
“I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC ON 5G, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF 10 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE, BECAUSE ITS IMPACT WILL BE LIFE-CHANGING.”
ONE OF THE PERKS of owning a McLaren 720S Spider is the ability to control the light in the cabin.
AIR INDIA: TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY
In its second attempt to sell the loss-making national carrier, the government has sweetened the deal for potential buyers. But are the concessions enough for take-off?
BIKE BUST: AN A.I. PREVIEW?
Investors in China’s doomed bike-sharing craze don’t seem to have learnt their lesson as an artificial intelligence boom gathers speed.
A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
Once known only for working with the big boys’ club, Microsoft is changing its game in India with small and medium businesses, and startups, and stitching interesting tie-ups along the way.
The Great Big Billionaire Backlash
Fifteen years ago, the ultrarich were widely admired by the American public. Now we find their entire existence is being questioned. What changed?
Investing In 2020
There is a clear divergence between the Indian economy and markets. While the economy continues to face challenges, the markets remain buoyant. What does an investor do in these interesting times? Over the next few pages, Fortune India gives a peak into the road ahead across sectors.
2020: Great Expectations
It was surprising that the markets in India touched new highs in 2019 though these were hard times for the economy. A deeper look reveals that markets thrive on hopes of things turning around in the future through measures adopted in the present. Here’s what market watchers think will be positive for 2020.
RIPPING UP THE RULES AT GOLDMAN SACHS
One year into his tenure as CEO, David Solomon is bulldozing the old ways of doing business at Wall Street’s most storied bank—from its legendary pay and perks to its 35-page dress code. Will a shake-up help Goldman grow again?
I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU
IT WOULDN’T BE HYPERBOLE TO CALL WARBURG PINCUS A ROUGH-WEATHER FRIEND FOR INDIAN ENTREPRENEURS. OVER 25 YEARS, THE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM HAS SHOWN ITS WILLINGNESS TO RIDE OUT THE STORM WITH ITS INVESTEES.
TAKING THE LONG VIEW
MARKET MAVEN MOTILAL OSWAL EXPECTS INDIAN MARKETS TO REMAIN STRONG IN 2020, NOTWITHSTANDING HEADWINDS. HE SEES OPPORTUNITIES FOR LONG-TERM WEALTH CREATION.
CYRUS MISTRY WALKS THE TALK
By giving up his claim to the Tata top job, Mistry gives primacy to governance over quest for power.
THE CRYSTAL GAZERS
INDIA'S EQUITY MARKETS ARE ON A ROLL DESPITE A SLUGGISH ECONOMY, LEAVING INVESTORS PERPLEXED. FORTUNE' INDIA SPOKE TO SOME OF THE BEST INVESTMENT BRAINS IN THE BUSINESS FOR THEIR OUTLOOK ON INDIA'S GROWTH STORY THE POTENTIAL UPSIDE IN THE FINANCIAL MARKETS, THEIR PREFERRED ASSET ALLOCATION, AND OVERALL INVESTMENT STRATEGY.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: INVESTORS GATHER HEFT
Institutional investors would generally abstain from voting on issues that could upset promoters, who would then force their way through at board meetings. With institutions now owning close to 35% of the market and promoter holding down to 54%, the power equation has changed.
TAILOR-MADE FOR INDIA
How online fashion retailer Myntra’s new alteration service is a convenience for its customers and an invaluable additional source of income for 200 tailors (and counting).
WHY TRUMP IS BAD FOR BUSINESS
America’s first billionaire president promised to bring a C-suite sensibility to the Oval Office. It started well—but now bad policy choices have pushed CEO confidence to the lowest level in a decade.
OUTSIDERS NOT WELCOME
INFOSYS HAS HAD ONLY TWO EXTERNAL CEOs, THE REST BEING CO-FOUNDERS. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES OF WHISTLE-BLOWING DURING THE STINTS OF OUTSIDERS VISHAL SIKKA AND NOW SALIL PAREKH. ANALYSTS SAY IT COULD BE FRICTION CAUSED BY THE TRANSITION FROM A PROMOTER-LED MANAGEMENT TO A PROFESSIONAL LED ONE.
WASTE NOT WANT NOT
BUSINESSES ARE REDUCING THEIR USE OF WATER AND HAVE ADOPTED TECH TO RECYCLE AND REUSE IT. THEY ARE ALSO DEVELOPING MORE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS.
MUKESH AMBANI, REDUX
“At Reliance, we have been ruthless in reshaping our growth model in response to the global realities.”
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
ABOUT 75% OF THE 37 MILLION STUDENTS IN INDIA PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION LIVE AWAY FROM HOME. AT HOSTELS, PGs, AND OTHER RUN-OF-THE-MILL OPTIONS, THE EXPERIENCE IS FAR FROM IDEAL: UNHEALTHY FOOD, POOR HYGIENE, CRAMPED ROOMS, AND NOSY LANDLORDS. A CLUTCH OF STARTUPS ARE LOOKING TO CHANGE IT ALL.
Telcos Are Gasping For A Top-Up
The massive financial burden arising from adjusted gross revenue dues is threatening to undo telecom firms. To pay up and continue in business, they need capital. Getting that, however, is unlikely.
Will Everybody Love Raymond?
Gautam Hari Singhania is hoping they will as he encourages handpicked professionals to reimagine the lifestyle and consumer businesses and even go where the group has never gone before: real estate.
Why Are There So Few Women Leaders?
Only around 6% companies on the Fortune India 500 list are managed by women.
THE PAY CHEQUE DEBATE
The pay growth of India Inc.’s top executives and directors was slower in FY19, but six of them took home 1,000 times the median remuneration of their employees.
Mission Accomplished!
Ship to investor base...Braving multi-fold challenges... Fortune India 500 companies see 9.53% and 11.8% growth in revenue and profit in FY19... More detials in a bit...
TOP OF THE CHARTS
Since the first Fortune India 500 list in 2010, Indian Oil has been the topper. But this year, Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries has beaten it to the No.1 spot.
IF THE CAPE FITS
Vedanta Resources chairman Anil Agarwal’s superpower is resuscitation. He has 10 examples to prove it.
BUSINESS - PERSON OF THE YEAR
“LEAD FROM THE BACK,” Nelson Mandela famously said, “and let others believe they are in front.” In a year dominated by political chaos and bluster, it was a rare brand of steady—even quiet— leadership that won the day in the business world. And no one epitomises that brand of obsessively results-driven, team-based leadership more than our new No. 1 (turn the page to find out more). To create our annual list, we first screen for results, looking at 10 financial factors ranging from total return to shareholders to return on capital. Then we search for the standouts. The leaders who tackled audacious goals, overcame impossible odds, found creative solutions. Read on for how they—and their companies— thrived in 2019. You just might learn something about tackling a challenge of your own.
ONE NATION, TWO REALITIES
A strange situation is unfolding in India: The bulls are charging in a slowing economy. And economists and market pundits don’t know what to make of it.
BREATH OF NEW AIR
Structural changes in the global pharma industry are throwing up challenges and opportunities. Enter Cipla with its expertise in respiratory medicine, readiness for a crusade against antibiotic resistance, and vision for relevance beyond pharma.
How HUL Is Leveraging Novel Ideas For New Realities
If the biggest has to grow bigger, business as usual barely suffices, it calls for fresh thinking and the gumption to try new things, under Sanjiv Mehta's leadership, Hindustan Unilever is showing just that.