Vodafone is the largest mobile telecommunications network company in the world, with equity interests in 27 countries and Partner Networks in a further 33 countries. At 30 June 2006, Vodafone had approximately 186.8 million proportionate customers worldwide.
Vodafone was formed in 1984 as a subsidiary of Racal Electronics Plc. then known as Racal Telecom Limited. As Chairman of the Racal Radio Group in 1982, Gerald Whent had the vision and fortitude to convince the Racal Electronics Group Board that it should bid for the private sector UK cellular license being offered by the UK government. He masterminds the successful bid. In 1988 approximately 20% of the Company's capital was offered to the public in London Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange. It was fully demerged from Racal Electronics Plc and became an independent company in September 1991 and it changed its name to Vodafone Group Plc. In 1999 it merged with AirTouch Communications Inc. and the company became Vodafone AirTouch Plc. In 2000 it got its original name with the approval of shareholders.

Now the company in order to grow is looking for developing countries where telephone penetration is below 30 percent. In Europe where the company has wide presence is maturing and is delivering lower growth. The basic strategy for the company are:
In Europe, to focus on both cost reduction and revenue stimulation;
To deliver strong growth in emerging markets;
To satisfy our customer needs and extend our current mobile only offering by innovating and delivering total communications solutions;
To actively manage our portfolio to maximize returns; and
To align our financial policies regarding capital structure and shareholder returns to support our strategy.

MARICO

Marico is a leading Indian Group in Consumer Products and Services in the Beauty and Wellness space. Marico's products and Services in Hair care, Skin Care and Healthy Foods during 2004-05 generated a turnover of about Rs.10 billion (USD 230 Million) from 12 brands - Parachute, Saffola, Sweekar, Hair & Care, Shanti, Mediker, Oil of Malabar, Mealmaker, Sil, Revive, Kaya and Sundari. Having the presence in many SAARC countries, Middle East and US along with its unique range of products like Spa, Ayurvedic centers it is one of India’s leading FMCG brand. Marico sells over 63 Million packs to around 130 Million people every month.
Background:
Marico is the market leader in the hair oil segment, with its Parachute and Hair & Care brands. It is also one of the leading players in the branded edible oil segment with strong brands like Saffola and Sweekar. Besides hair and edible oil, the company has a presence in niche segments like Instant Starch (Revive), Anti lice shampoo (Mediker) and food products like jams and sauces (Sil). Marico also has a fee based marketing arrangement with Procter & Gamble (P&G) for marketing a few P&G brands through its own network. Parachute, Saffola and Sweeker are the key earnings drivers, contributing to almost 80% of Marico’s turnover.
Company:
Fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) business is built on the two pillars of brand equity and distribution network. Brand equities are built over a period of time by consistent high quality and aggressive advertisement and marketing. Availability near the consumer through a wide distribution channel is another crucial success factor, as products are small value, frequently purchased, daily use items. Competition is intense, and players have to remain cost effective and provide value for money to consumers to retain market shares.
The coconut oil market is valued at around Rs14bn. Only 45% of the coconut oil is sold in the country in branded form, while the rest is sold in loose. The branded segment can be divided into pure coconut oil market and value added hair oil market. The pure coconut oil industry has grown at a CAGR of 6-7% during the last 4 years/ The value added oil market grew at a fast pace in the late 90’s. However growth is estimated to have slowed down to a CAGR of 4% pa during the last 3-4 years. Marico, Dabur and HLL are the leading players at the national level. There are several other players with a regional focus.
Branded edible oil, accounts for just 35% of total edible oil consumption in the country. However the relative proportion of edible oil sold in packaged/branded form has been rising steadily with increasing awareness about health and hygiene. In the fabric care segment, Marico is the pioneer and the only player catering to niche Indian requirements such as starching.
Marico has maintained Parachute market share despite severe competition. It is following the strategy of strengthening the brand equity of existing brands by launch of new variants of existing brands. New edible oil products are launched with 'Good for Health' positioning under the Saffola brand and catering to regional taste requirements through the Sweekar franchise. In the hair oil segment, the company has successfully launched value added Parachute variants. A new brand Shanti Amla, in the amla hair oil category dominated by Dabur, has been launched during FY02 and has been extremely successful.

3M

About the company
3M is a diversified technology company with a worldwide presence in the following markets: consumer and office; display and graphics; electro and communications; health care; industrial and transportation; and safety, security and protection services. What makes the company so diverse is its ability to apply our technologies – often in combination – to an endless array of customer needs.
3M at a Glance
Worldwide sales: $21.2 billion where international sales: $12.9 billion (61 percent of company's total).
Presence in more than 60 countries.
3M products sold in nearly 200 countries.
It has employed more than 69,000 employees.
3M employs mostly local nationals. Fewer than 300 3M employees worldwide are Foreign Service Employees not residing in their home countries.
Plant locations: 139 worldwide.
Sales office locations: 188 worldwide.
3M Businesses

3M serves customers through six business segments, which increase speed and efficiency by sharing technological, manufacturing, marketing and other resources.
These six businesses are:
Display and Graphics Business
Drawing on 3M’s technology platforms, it provide products – display enhancement films, reflective materials, eye-catching graphics and more – that people around the world rely on every day.
Electro and Communications Business
3M technology provides solutions for customers in electrical, electronics and communications markets around the world. It contributes to reliable sources of electrical power, high-performance electronic devices, and speedy and dependable telecommunications networks globally.
Health Care Business
Every day, it help improve the quality of care provided by health care professionals throughout the world. Its innovative products and services also make the delivery of patient care more affordable.
Industrial and Transportation Business
3M is the global leader in tapes, abrasives, adhesives, specialty chemicals, filtration systems, and software for supply chain management. It also serve the transportation market with products for the manufacture, repair and maintenance of autos, aircraft, boats and other vehicles.
Safety, Security and Protection Services Business
3M products increase the safety, security and productivity of people, facilities and systems around the world. It is also a leading supplier of roofing granules for asphalt shingles.



History At a Glance:

3M was founded in 1902 at the Lake Superior town of Two Harbors, Minn. Five businessmen set out to mine a mineral deposit for grinding-wheel abrasives. But the deposits proved to be of little value, and the new Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. quickly moved to nearby Duluth to focus on sandpaper products. Years of struggle ensued until the company could master quality production and a supply chain. New investors were attracted to 3M, such as Lucius Ordway, who moved the company to St. Paul in 1910. Early technical and marketing innovations began to produce successes and, in 1916, the company paid its first dividend of 6 cents a share.
· The world's first waterproof sandpaper, which reduced airborne dusts during automobile manufacturing, was developed in the early 1920s.
· A second major milestone occurred in 1925 when Richard G. Drew, a young lab assistant, invented masking tape – an innovative step toward diversification and the first of many Scotch® Pressure-Sensitive Tapes.
· In the following years, technical progress resulted in Scotch® Cellophane Tape for box sealing and soon hundreds of practical uses were discovered.
· In the early 1940s, 3M was diverted into defense materials for World War II, which was followed by new ventures, such as Scotchlite™ Reflective Sheeting for highway markings, magnetic sound recording tape, filament adhesive tape and the start of 3M's involvement in the graphic arts field with offset printing plates.
· In the 1950s, 3M introduced the Thermo-Fax™ copying process, Scotchgard™ Fabric Protector, videotape, Scotch-Brite™ Cleaning Pads and several new electro-mechanical products.
· Dry-silver microfilm was introduced in the 1960s, along with photographic products, carbonless papers, overhead projection systems, and a rapidly growing health care business of medical and dental products.
· Markets further expanded in the 1970s and 1980s into pharmaceuticals, radiology and energy control.
· In 1980, 3M introduced Post-it® Notes, which created a whole new category in the marketplace and changed people’s communication and organization behavior forever.
· In the 1990s, sales reached the $15 billion mark. 3M continued to develop an array of innovative products, including immune response modifier pharmaceuticals; brightness enhancement films for electronic displays; and flexible circuits used in inkjet printers, cell phones and other electronic devices.
· In 2004, sales topped $20 billion for the first time, with innovative new products contributing significantly to growth. Recent innovations include Post-it® Super Sticky Notes, Scotch® Transparent Duct Tape, optical films for LCD televisions and a new family of Scotch-Brite® Cleaning Products that give consumers the right scrubbing power for a host of cleaning jobs.

ITC

ITC is one of India's foremost private sector companies with a market capitalisation of over US $ 14 billion and a turnover of US $ 3 billion. Rated among the World's Best Big Companies by Forbes magazine, ITC ranks third on all major profit parameters among India's private sector corporations. ITC has a diversified presence in Cigarettes, Hotels, Paperboards & Specialty Papers, Packaging, Agri-Business, Packaged Foods & Confectionery, Branded Apparel, Greeting Cards and other FMCG products. While ITC is an outstanding market leader in its traditional businesses of Cigarettes, Hotels, Paperboards, Packaging and Agri-Exports, it is rapidly gaining market share even in its nascent businesses of Packaged Foods & Confectionery, Branded Apparel and Greeting Cards.
ITC employs over 20,000 people at more than 60 locations across India. Ranked among India's most valuable companies by the 'Business Today' magazine, ITC continuously endeavors to enhance its wealth generating capabilities in a globalising environment to consistently reward more than 3,79,028 shareholders, fulfil the aspirations of its stakeholders and meet societal expectations. This over-arching vision of the company is expressively captured in its corporate positioning statement: "Enduring Value. For the nation. For the Shareholder."
ITC's diversified status originates from its corporate strategy aimed at creating multiple drivers of growth anchored on its time-tested core competencies: unmatched distribution reach, superior brand-building capabilities, effective supply chain management and acknowledged service skills in hoteliering. Over time, the strategic forays into new businesses are expected to garner a significant share of these emerging high-growth markets in India.
ITC's Agri-Business is one of India's largest exporters of agricultural products. ITC is one of the country's biggest foreign exchange earners (US $ 2 billion in the last decade). The Company's 'e-Choupal' initiative is enabling Indian agriculture significantly enhance its competitiveness by empowering Indian farmers through the power of the Internet. This transformational strategy, which has already become the subject matter of a case study at Harvard Business School, is expected to progressively create for ITC a huge rural distribution infrastructure, significantly enhancing the Company's marketing reach. ITC's wholly owned Information Technology subsidiary, ITC Infotech India Limited, is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities in providing end-to-end IT solutions, including e-enabled services and business process outsourcing. ITC's production facilities and hotels have won numerous national and international awards for quality, productivity, safety and environment management systems. ITC was the first company in India to be rated for Corporate Governance by ICRA, an associate of Moody's Investors Service, which accorded it the second highest rating, signifying "a high level of assurance on the quality of corporate governance."

ITC

It was started by the Peninsular Tobacco Company on 6th November, 1907 in Munger in India because of its proximity to a suitable tobacco cultivating area and also due to the availability of transport facilities by rail, road and river. ITC was incorporated on August 24, 1910 under the name of 'Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited'. The Company manufactured and distribute cigarettes and smoking tobaccos and speciality papers including cigarette tissue papers (Sole manufacturer in the country).It's headquarter building, 'Virginia House', which came up two years later, became one of Kolkata's most venerated landmarks.
The Company's ownership progressively Indianised, and the name was changed from the Imperial Tobacco Co. of India Ltd., to India Tobacco Co. Ltd in the year 1970, and the present name ’ ITC limited’ was given in September 18,2001. A wide range of businesses was started- Cigarettes & Tobacco, Hotels, Information Technology, Packaging, Paperboards & Specialty Papers, Agri-Exports, Foods, Lifestyle Retailing and Greeting Gifting & Stationery..The following are the milestones of the company:-
· ITC's Packaging & Printing Business Division, was set up in 1925.
· The Company was converted into a Public Limited Company in 1954.
· The Company launched its Hotels business with the acquisition of a hotel in Chennai which was rechristened 'ITC-Welcomgroup Hotel Chola' in 1975.
· ITC entered the Paperboards business by promoting ITC Bhadrachalam Paperboards Limited, which today has become the market leader in India in 1979.
· ITC set up Surya Tobacco Co. in Nepal as an Indo-Nepal and British joint venture in 1985.
· ITC acquired Tribeni Tissues Limited, a Specialty paper manufacturing company and a major supplier of tissue paper to the cigarette industry In 1990,
· ITC set up the International Business Division (IBD) for export of agri-commodities in 1990.
· ITC spun off its information technology business into a wholly owned subsidiary, ITC Infotech India Limited, in 2000.

In 2000 :
· The Company has launched a project "e-Choupal" in Bhopal to Web-enable farmers to make a beginning in agricultural e-trade.
· The company set up the Lifestyle Retailing Business Division for the greeting cards business under the Packaging and Printing Division..
· ITC Infotech Ltd., the recently-launched it subsidiary of ITC Ltd., has become one of the select software organisations in the world to achieve the distinction of being certified at Level-5 on the prestigious Capability Maturity Model.

In 2002
· ITC Limited has taken over Wills brand. ITC had to acquire the Wills brand in the US.
· ITC, moves towards match business, ito earn more revenues from non-tobacco businesses.

In 2003
· Agarbathis manufactured by Cottage Industries, a unit of the Sri Aurobindo Udyog Trust in Pondicherry was launched .
· Introduced salt under the brand name of 'Aashirvaad' which captured the market.

In 2004
· ITC signs MoU with Andhra Pradesh government for wasteland development.
In recent years it has bagged many awards which is listed down in later part of our report.
Thus ITC established itself in the market of India and endeavors to increase it’s profits by enhancing the farmers with most modern technology.

More information about ITC in next coloumn.

Arcelor

We have come across many news regarding ARCELOR the second largest steel company in the world. The news were like L. N. Mittals attempt to acquire Arcelor through hostile bid or Arcelor’s acquisition of Dofasco Steel. The battle between Mittal and Guy Dolle for Arcelor is going on. So today I am going to give information about Arcelor.
Arcelor was created by a merger and through determination - the merger of Arbed, Aceralia and Usinor, and the determination of these three European groups to mobilise their technical, industrial, and commercial synergies in a joint venture to create a global leader with the ambition of becoming a major player in the steel industry.
Officially launched on February 19, 2001, the merger became effective on February 18, 2002, when the Arcelor share was listed on several stock exchanges. The choice of the name Arcelor was announced on December 12, 2001.
The Arcelor group is developing its activities in 4 core businesses : it is the world's biggest producer of Flat Carbon Steel and Long Carbon Steel, among the leaders in Stainless Steel production, and among the largest firms in Europe for Distribution, Transformation and Trading.
With a total workforce of 104,000, Arcelor is now the number two steel maker in the world and firmly intends to become the benchmark company in the global steel industry. This means behaving in a responsible way in relation to all company stakeholders, including employees, customers, shareholders, local communities, suppliers, sub-contractors and public authorities. From the traditional three-way concept of People-Planet-Profit, Arcelor express determination to cooperate in partnership with each and every stakeholder to meet eight top-priority targets. It is for this reason that it refer to Arcelor's 4 Ps of sustainable development (People, Planet, Profit, Partners).Arcelor has identified eight major priorities for its Sustainable Development policy :
1. Achieve profitable growth by producing and marketing steel products.
2. Commit ourselves to environmental protection and conservation of scarce resources
3. Focus o­n risk management and improved workplace safety, which includes safer products and the health of our employees
4. Promote dialogue with all our stakeholders
5. Develop competencies around shared values of quality and efficiency
6. Innovate in order to add value and support sustainable development
7. Consistently uphold the highest standards in corporate governance
8. Be a model of corporate social responsibility.
Time will say who will win the shareholsders vote to run the company.

Motorola

Paul V. Galvin and his brother, Joseph E. Galvin, purchase a battery eliminator business in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. They incorporate Galvin Manufacturing Corporation on September 25, 1928.
The Galvin Manufacturing Corporation had five employees. The first week's payroll was $63. Assets consist of $565 in cash, $750 in tools and a design for the company's first product, a battery eliminator. Net sales for the year total $63,000, with net earnings of $6,015.
Galvin Manufacturing Corporation's first product is a battery eliminator, a device that allows battery-powered radios to run on standard household electric current. Galvin Manufacturing Corporation rented quarters at 847 West Harrison Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
In 1937, Galvin Manufacturing Corporation introduced one of the first commercially successful car radios. The original Motorola model 5T71 radio sold between $110 and $130, and can be installed in most popular automobiles.
Galvin Manufacturing Corporation founder Paul V. Galvin created the brand name "Motorola" for the company's new car radio, linking "motor" (motorcar, motion) with the suffix "ola" (sound).
Galvin Manufacturing Corporation entered the home radio business with a line of Motorola phonographs, and table and console radios. The company's automobile radios feature electronic push-button tuning, fine-tuning and tone control.
Galvin Manufacturing Corporation develops the Handie-Talkie SCR536 two-way radio, a lightweight, handheld radio that becomes widely used during World War II.

In 1941, Galvin Manufacturing Corporation introduced its first commercial line of Motorola FM two-way radio systems and equipment. FM technology provides quieter operation than AM technology. The first Motorola FM system was installed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
In 1943 the first portable FM two-way radio, the SCR300 backpack radio, was designed by Motorola chief scientist Daniel E. Noble for the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Weighing 35 pounds, the "walkie-talkie" radio had a range of 10 to 20 miles.
Motorola's first public stock was offered. A share sold for $8.50.

Motorola's first television, the Golden View model VT71was introduced in 1947, priced to sell for under $200 in the United States. More than 100,000 units were sold in one year. Galvin Manufacturing Corporation becomes Motorola, Inc.
In 1956, Motorola's new Handie-Talkie radio pocket pager selectively delivers a radio message to a particular individual. Pagers begin to replace public announcement systems in hospitals and factories. In 1962 Motorola introduced the fully transistorized Handie-Talkie HT200 portable two-way radio. Weighing 33 ounces (935 grams), it was nicknamed the "brick" because of its shape and durable construction. Astronaut Neil Armstrong's first words from the moon are relayed to Earth by a Motorola radio transponder aboard the Apollo 11 lunar module. The transponder provides telemetry, tracking, two-way voice communications and television signal transmissions between Earth and the moon.
In 1970, net sales reached to $796.42 million and it reached to $3.10 billion in 1980. Motorola commits to improving the quality of its products and services. The implementation of a company-wide Six SigmaTM total-quality program was underway by the mid-1980s. The world's first commercial handheld cellular phone, the Motorola DynaTAC phone, received approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. The 28-ounce handheld phone became available to consumers in 1984.
In 1986, Motorola introduces the Bravo numeric pager. It becomes the world's best-selling pager. In 1990, net sales reached to $10.89 billion. In 1994, Motorola developed the world's commercial digital radio system that integrated paging, data communications, voice dispatch and wireless telephones in a single radio network and a single handset.
In 2000, Motorola's Broadband Communications Sector receives an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievement in the development of consumer digital set-top terminals. This achievement marked Motorola's seventh Emmy win. Motorola celebrated 75 years of making things, smarter and life better for people around the world.
Motorola introduces the RAZR V3 phone in 2004, an ultraslim, metal-clad, quad-band flip phone. The 13.9mm thin device uses aircraft-grade aluminum to achieve several design and engineering innovations, including a nickel-plated keypad. Motorola is among the Top Ten Corporate Citizens in Environmental Stewardship, as chosen by Citizens Advisers. The list is drawn from the Citizens Index, a broad-based index of 300 companies that have passed multiple screens for financial strength and corporate responsibility. Motorola received the 2004 Award for Corporate Excellence from the U.S. Department of State for the company's activities in Brazil.
In 2005, the Motorola RAZR V3 cellular phone became Gold Winner in the consumer product category of Business Week magazine's Industrial Design Excellence Awards. Motorola Research and Design centers open in Bangalore, India, and Taipei, Taiwan. The centers focus on telecom switching technologies and products for CDMA and GSM/UMTS networks, and on broadband and wireless initiatives.