Marshals' group consolidates operations

The Chennai based Marshals group has come out with a new identity, Marshals' Corporate as it now has diverse business interests in the power, telecom and software development activities. The flagship company, Marshals' Power and Telecom (MPTEL) (formerly Marshals' Power and Communication) had entered South Asia long time ago through the execution of major projects, technology transfers and additional contract receivables.

The strong presence in the infrastructure sector and greater focus on telecom and software and the new economic order have stressed the need for a single, stronger entity, said Ms. Subhadra Kunduri, Head, Corporate Planning of the group. The group turnover has exceeded Rs.1,000 crores and is expected to more than double in about three years, with the new focus on software projects and services, education and training networking solutions, multi-media projects and telecommunication, she said.

Though the group had acquired a new identity, the affiliate companies would function independently, Ms. Kunduri said. MPTEL caters to high voltage power transmission and distribution sectors under multilateral funding. It has a manufacturing facility in Pondicherry for transmission line material of medium and extra high voltage up to 800 kV.

As part of the backward integration project, the company proposes to set up a plant at Pondicherry for producing capacitors, which were hitherto procured from outside sources. The outlay on this project is about Rs.100 crores and is being found mainly through internal sources. MPTEL also plans to manufacture and market a broad range of fibre optic cables for 'high bandwidth' transmission of data, video and audio over medium distances. It is looking for alliances in the fibre optic cables field. Future plans of the infrastructure division include foray into petroleum refinery works, roads and bridges and waste water treatment.

In the IT segment, Marshals' Supersoft Technologies (MSS) has secured a networking contract from the Government of Cambodia worth $18.5 million. The project involves developing a networking solution for visa immigration requirements and other administrative specifications. MSS is also active in the retail segment of IT education and development. It has a business and technology alliance with Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) for opening overseas training and development centres. It also has a strategic tie-up with the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET) for providing training in CAD/CAM.

The group is in advance stages for launching its logistic venture, Marshals' Logistics and Insurance next year. After launch, it would be a global freight management company offering services such as seafreight, airferight, import and export consolidation, customs agency and multinational transport services.

Marshals' Trade and Retail will deal in a diverse portfolio of goods, commodities and services. It will offer a range of finest international and national brands backed by quality.

The group which traces its origin 150 years ago was formally incorporated in the eighties and is a widely held but non-traded public limited company.

The shareholding of the primary investors was later diluted through enhancement of authorised and paid up capital by involving contractors, suppliers and employees as stock holders to buildup its current base. It is managed by professional nominees and directors having extensive domain expertise and proven credentials. It is a professionally managed corporation operating within overall corporate governance guidelines, according to the promoters.

Marshals to enter retail, logistics

The Chennai-based Marshals' group, which is into power and other infrastructure sectors and software, is venturing into trade and retail, and logistics. It will now have four strategic business units -- power and telecom, software, trade and retail, and logistics and insurance.

Marshals' will launch its logistic venture, Marshals' Logistics and Insurance, in financial year 2002. This will be a global freight management company catering to a comprehensive range of activities including sea freight, airfreight, import and export consolidation, customs house agency, and multinational transport agency. The services segment of this SBU will cater to delivery requirements and customised solutions with activities covering transportation, distribution, warehousing and value added services, company officials told a press conference here today.

The retail venture Marshals' Trade & Retail, will deal in a diverse portfolio of goods, commodities and services. It will offer a range of international and national brands, and may even set up supermarkets. The business plan will crystallise in the next three to four months, according to the officials.

Ms Subhadra Kunduri, Head-Corporate Planning Marshals' Corporate Group, said the group targeted revenues of Rs.2,500 crore by 2004. Last year, it had an income of about Rs.900 crore, of which 28 per cent came from its power transmission business, 32 per cent from the power efficiency improvement business, 15 per cent from energy equipment business, 10 per cent from project consultancy, and eight per cent from the information technology side. In 2004, the power business was expected to account for 23 per cent of the turnover, infrastructure 22 per cent, IT 30 per cent, retail & trading 10 per cent, and logistics & insurance eight per cent.

Marshals' Power and Telecom (I) Ltd. (MPTEL), the flagship company of the group, caters to the high voltage power transmission and distribution. It has a manufacturing facility in Pondicherry for producing transmission line materials for medium and extra high voltage. The power and telecom SBU is diversifying into manufacturing optical fibre cables. It also plans to enter the refinery sector, roads and bridges, and waste water treatment.

Ms Kunduri said that MPTEL had tied up with Sasktel of Canada for the optical fibre business. For the refinery sector, it would tie up with Ventech of the US, and for the hydro power sector, with CGGC of China. To a question, she said that each SBU would be a separate entity. The group would offer up to 10 per cent of the equity to alliance or technical partners for specific projects depending on the requirement.

Marshals' Group

MARSHALS' GROUP has announced its plans to diversity into trade and retail business. The group already has a presence in power, telecom and software sectors.

Marshal's to foray into retailing

Marshal's Corporate Group which has diverse business interests in the power, telecom and software industries is venturing into the trade and retail business.

Talking to reporters here Thursday, Subhadra Kunduri, head-Corporate Planning, Marshals' Group, said liberalisation of the infrastructure sector has thrown open tremendous opportunity for the group to venture into a new and synergistic terrain to exploit the changing industrial climate.

She further said conducting businesses in the new environment has become more transparent and as a group the company is progressing towards front-end of the operations delivering solutions to the retail segment.

The new identity marks the birth of a contemporary Marshals' which will be people-oriented, market responsive and focussed on service.

The group will now have four SBUs viz Marshals' Power Telecom India Limited (MPTEL), Marshals' Supersoft Technologies Private Limited (MSS), Marshals' Trade and Retail (MT&R), Marshals' Logistics and Insurance (ML&I).

Marshal's has chalked out aggressive plans for each division, which are in an advanced stage of implementation. The group has oriented itself towards revenue-based projects.

The company's power and telecom is also looking at a strategy of backward integration and setting up of ALCOM in Pondicherry. MPTEL is pursuing worldwide alliances for branching into fibre optic cables.

Marshals Corporate revamps businesses

With a view to exploiting the opportunities available in the changing industrial climate, Marshals Corporate group has revamped all its businesses.

The Rs.950-crore group company will now have four SBUs focussing on areas such as power, telecom, software, trade, retail, logistics and insurance. Speaking at a press conference, Ms Subhadra Kunduri, head-corporate planning, Marshals group said, "liberalisation of the infrastructure sector has thrown open tremendous opportunity for the group. And we have revamped our businesses and have ventured into new and synergistic terrains to exploit the changing industrial climate".

Mr A S Dumenil, president of Marshals' Logistics and Insurance said "the company is planning to focus more on offering one stop logistics solution to the corporates". In the next couple of months the company is looking at an investment of around Rs.10 crore in logistics and insurance alone. Marshals will be pitching in Rs.5 crore and the balance will be from the other strategic partners. The company is planning to have alliances with other logistics providers and has already identified four players for the purpose, he said. It is likely to sign agreements with them by April this year, he added.

On the insurance front, Mr Dumenil said, the company will be offering both life and non-life insurance products in association with other insurance companies. It is in talks with three insurance companies and is likely to finalise within the next couple of weeks. The company is also looking at setting up chain stores across the country in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi and Hyderabad.

Marshals' launches new identity

Harnessing the strengths of its various divisions, the Marshal's group has launched a new and unifying corporate identity. Marshal's Corporate encompasses the Marshal's Supersoft Technologies, Marshal's Power and Telecom, Marshal's Logistics & Insurance and Marshal's Trade and Retail. The objective of the new identify is to leverage the group's skills and project a competitive front. "Conducting business in this new environment has become more transparent and as a group we are progressing towards front end of operations delivering solutions to the retail segment. The new identity marks the birth of a contemporary Marshals', which will be people oriented, market responsive and focused on service, said Subhadra Kunduri, Head Corporate Planning, Marshal's Group. The IT arm of Marshals', Marshals' Supersoft has been awarded a networking contract worth $18.5 million from the Government of Cambodia for developing networking solutions for the Ministry of Interior for handling visa and passport requirements. "The project would be implemented within a period of three years and would include design, supply, installation and maintenance for six years," said Commander RV Ramani, President, Marshals' Supersoft. Marshals' Supersoft, which clocked a turn over of Rs.23 crore last year, is all set to double the figure this year.