How much is something worth? Whilst there are several answers to this question, it ultimately boils down to what someone is prepared to pay for it. Everything else is speculation. The valuation of a business is the financial process of calculating its economic worth. The route of acquiring a business involves two important considerations. First, arriving at a price based on a valuation methodology; and second, undertaking comprehensive due diligence to primarily verify its true assets, liabilities, potential for growth and, most importantly, hidden risks. The due diligence exercise has several props. 
This podcast explains.

Often, compliance-related rules and regulations are framed while keeping in mind the lowest common denominator. One such area, where recent tweaks in guidelines and regulations are proving burdensome, is Related Party Transactions (RPT). Two areas need attention. First, recent amendments to existing guidelines expand the scope of what would be described as a related party (RP). Second, the criteria for what constitutes ‘materiality’ have become more stringent.
At a recent joint session of the India CFO and CEO Forums in Hyderabad, Hufriz Wadia, Partner with AZB, provided a template through which to understand these amendments. This podcast offers a brief summary of the session. 

In recent years, the issue of sustainability has gained vastly in prominence – and with it, so has the need to incorporate it in financial reporting. Traditionally, the two have been kept separate, but today, SEBI’s BRSR, the IFRS S1 and S2 standards and Ind-AS all have provisions for including sustainability-related issues in financial statements. 

At a recent session of the India CFO Forum in Pune, MP Vijay Kumar, Executive Director and Group CFO of Sify Technologies, decoded these standards and their implications for Finance. This podcast offers a brief summary of the session.

The productivity gains realised by the manufacturing sector in the last decade have been a critical component of its growth. Much of these gains were made possible by the adoption of technology and digitisation along the entire manufacturing value-chain. A process that began over two decades ago with the invention of computer-aided design and production has leapt forward with the growing adoption of AI. 

At a recent India CEO Forum session in Pune, Dilip Sawhney, Regional Vice President of Rockwell Automation provided a perspective on how digitisation and automation are impacting the manufacturing sector.

This podcast summarises key takeaways from the discussion

In recent years, India, like other countries, has faced challenges such as the global pandemic and the resultant supply-chain disruptions. However, it has also created many new opportunities for itself. These opportunities are coinciding with a rising middle-class population and rapid urbanisation. India’s potential is at last being realised and this pivotal juncture in the country’s history is marked by unprecedented transformation, effective political leadership and the unwavering strength of its society. 

As the Indian market continues to surge, it is crucial for businesses to keep up with a fast-shifting landscape. At a recent India CHRO Forum session, Deepak Bagla, former Managing Director and CEO of Invest India, discussed the potential of the Indian market and the pivotal factors that will fuel growth over the next 5-7 years.
This podcast summarises key takeaways from the discussion. 

On paper, the BRI comprised an ambitious plan to connect parts of the globe through land and maritime routes, as the basis for trade. In reality, results have been mixed. Some countries benefited from China’s financial clout; still others, have fallen into a debt trap and a vicious cycle of dependency. This podcast explains.

Passive investing is now recognised as the ideal option for those seeking to take punts on the equity market. Despite what investment managers might say, the evidence is clear that ETFs provide flexibility, tax advantages and transparency. They are much cheaper, as the brokerage paid is a fraction of what mutual funds would charge. 

There is evidence to suggest that on an average, actively managed funds perform below the benchmark set by ETFs, as the attached paper on Personal Finance explains. I trust that you would find this in order. 

Most blame the judiciary as being primarily responsible for the volume of unsettled cases. A closer examination, however, suggests there is much more to this than meets the eye. As it happens, the government and its associated entities play the overriding role in burdening the Indian legal process. This podcast explains.

Real estate in China constitutes a fifth of GDP and is weighed down by a combination of untenable debt and scant demand. It is now clear that the trajectory of growth, over the course of the last two decades in China, can now no longer be sustained. A combination of debt, price deflation and demographic debility has begun to express itself in economic trends.

In the early 1980s, China’s GDP per person was about the same as that of India; now it is ~13,000 USD. However, there are reasons to suggest that it is unlikely to break out of the middle-income trap in a hurry, something that very few countries have managed to achieve. One could therefore argue that the Chinese marvel is over. This podcast provides a perspective on these issues.

Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) involves disclosure requirements of a company’s non-financial performance, including but not limited to its environmental, social, and governance practices. It is intended to provide stakeholders with more than just numerical scores. In fact, it is the wholesome perspective on a business’s impact towards the environment, society and ethical dimensions.  

This podcast explains.