Cover Story

Payoff Time for ITC
India's largest FMCG firm's cigarette and hotel businesses continue to weigh on valuations, making investors restless. Can a demerger help it attract investor attention?

"We Are Sharply Focused on Creating Long-term Value for Stakeholders"
ITC's FMCG business has been at the centre of the company’s transformation journey. But the market is not impressed, and investors believe a demerger is the only way to bring the stock out of the woods. Chairman and MD Sanjiv Puri is, however, non-committal. In a conversation with Ajita Shashidhar and Rajeev Dubey, Puri shares his strategy for the company’s next level of growth. Edited excerpts:

2021-07-25

Digital

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Network

The People's Person

Tapan Singhel, CEO and Managing Director, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance

Bawa, The Travel Buff

Kulmeet Bawa, President and MD, SAP, Indian Subcontinent

Empowering Women Biz Leaders

Ameera Shah, Promoter and Managing Director of Metropolis Healthcare

Industry

India's Hydrogen Dreams

Reliance Industries’ big-bang entry into hydrogen is likely to accelerate development of the nascent industry, and play a critical role in India’s fight against climate change

Indian Pharma on a Profit Trip(S)

Whether WTO approves India-South Africa proposal for TRIPS waiver or not, Indian industry will remain pivotal to global plans to tackle pandemics

Business of Elders

Armed with disposable income and a willingness to splurge, this consumer cohort comprises over 10 per cent of the population. No wonder marketers are beginning to target this segment with specialised products

Soaring Start-up Valuations, Rising Questions

Indian start-ups are flush with funds. In fact, 2021 has seen the fastest-ever addition of 15 start-ups to the billion-dollar club, some at eyebrow-raising valuations. But will the hype sustain?

Technology