Mumbai, Oct 10: The Pantaloon group is hiving off its garments, software and brand businesses from the flagship Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd following recommendations from consultants KPMG Peat Marwick. The hived-off garment entity may be merged into group company Pantaloon Textiles Ltd and strategic partners will be roped in for each of the outfits. After the restructuring, the group flagship will be made the holding company and it will confine itself to the retail operations. The proposed rejig exercise will also see the group promoters Biyani family handing over the control of the new companies to professional CEOs."We have decided to restructure the group in an attempt to create more shareholder value. The new outfit for brands will be exclusively for the management and distribution of the group's brands," Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd managing director Kishore Biyani told The Financial Express. It has been decided to complete the entire exercise in two months. "We are also planning to offerminority staked to some overseas equity funds," Biyani said. Though the Biyani family will continue to have control over the group's affairs, professionals with vast experience abroad will independently man the operations of the hived-off companies on a regular basis, he said.
A search is already on to find out suitable CEOs for the new outfits especially from southeast Asia where top executives no longer get attractive remunerations following recessionary conditions, Biyani added. KPMG is still working on a valuation of the Rs 150 crore groups' brand and knowledge base. The group had estimated a Rs 30 crore value for its brands three years ago and has decided to do it again due to a thinking that balance sheets are not reflecting the inherent strengths, the Pantaloon Retail managing director said.
The consultant has addressed the issue of increasing the turnover in the medium term. It is also looking into ways of contributing value to the group apart from analysing the business plans and the impact ofthem on the shareholder value.
The Pantaloon group had earlier made known its intention for the brand recast by announcing its decision to sell the popular brand John Miller. The industry circles are agog with various names of the prospective buyer. However, senior company officials are unwilling to divulge the name of the buyer saying that the discussions are at an advanced stage. Launched in 1995, John Miller has become a front runner in the branded shirts market. The other brands of the company include Srishti and a ready to wear trouser length called Pantalength.
INSIGHT
Move makes sense
It makes sense for a company as diversified as Pantaloon to operate on a holding company structure. The advantage the holding company will have is that each division can enter into a joint venture or have a strategic partner, thereby individually adding value to the holding company. This has been the route followed by most conglomerates.
Percy Dubash
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.