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VIJAY MALLYA

VIJAY MALLYA (BORN 18 DECEMBER 1955) IS AN INDIAN BILLIONAIRE AND RAJYA SABHA MP. THE SON OF INDUSTRIALIST VITTAL MALLYA, HE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE UNITED BREWERIES GROUP AND KINGFISHER AIRLINES, WHICH DRAWS ITS NAME FROM UNITED BREWERIES GROUP'S FLAGSHIP BEER BRAND, KINGFISHER.

MALLYA IS ORIGINALLY FROM THE TOWN OF BANTWAL (NEAR MANGALORE) IN KARNATAKA. HE WAS EDUCATED AT LA MARTINIERE BOYS' COLLEGE, CALCUTTA IN KOLKATA[3] AND COMPLETED HIS DEGREE FROM ST. XAVIER'S COLLEGE, CALCUTTA UNDER CALCUTTA UNIVERSITY. HE LATER SET UP BUSINESS VENTURES IN DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.

MALLYA IS MARRIED TWICE. HIS FIRST WIFE WAS SAMEERA AND THEY HAVE A SON TOGETHER, NAMED SIDHARTHA VIJAY MALLYA. LATER ON, HE MARRIED REKHA AND HAS TWO DAUGHTERS LEANA MALLYA AND TANYA MALLYA AND ONE SON.

BUSINESS

BREWERIES

MALLYA TOOK OVER AS CHAIRMAN OF THE UNITED BREWERIES GROUP IN 1984. SINCE THEN, THE GROUP HAS GROWN INTO A MULTI-NATIONAL CONGLOMERATE OF OVER SIXTY COMPANIES WITH AN ANNUAL TURNOVER WHICH HAS INCREASED BY 639% TO US$11.2 BILLION IN 1998-1999 . THE FOCAL BUSINESS AREAS OF THE GROUP ENCOMPASS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, LIFE SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AGRICULTURE, CHEMICALS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AVIATION AND LEISURE. HE OWNED MCDOWELL CREST.

IN MAY 2007, UNITED BREWERIES GROUP ANNOUNCED THE ALL-CASH ACQUISITION OF SCOTCH WHISKY MAKER WHYTE & MACKAY FOR £595 MILLION (APPROXIMATELY RS 6000 CRORE).[4] IN 2005 HE TOOK OVER MILLENNIUM BREWERIES LTD (FORMERLY KNOWN AS INERTIA INDUSTRIES LTD), WHICH OWNED THE TWO PREMIUM BEER BRANDS NAMED SANDPIPER AND ZINGARO.

AIRLINES

IN 2005, VIJAY MALLYA ESTABLISHED KINGFISHER AIRLINES. AT PRESENT, THE AIRLINE CONNECTS 32 CITIES. KINGFISHER AIRLINES OBTAINED A 26% STAKE IN AIR DECCAN, A LOW COST INDIAN AIRLINE WHICH MALLYA LATER ACQUIRED FULLY AND INTEGRATED INTO HIS KINGFISHER FLEET, REBRANDING IT AS KINGFISHER RED. VIJAY MALLYA AND HIS JET AIRWAYS COUNTERPART NARESH GOYAL ANNOUNCED AN ALLIANCE AFTER A MARATHON MEETING ON 13 OCTOBER 2008 AT MUMBAI, INDIA.

Association with sports

FORMULA ONE

IN 2007, MALLYA AND THE MOL FAMILY FROM THE NETHERLANDS BOUGHT THE SPYKER F1 TEAM FOR 88 MILLION EUROS.[6] THE TEAM CHANGED ITS NAME TO FORCE INDIA F1 FROM THE 2008 SEASON.[7] TEAM'S CAR VJM-01 WAS NAMED AFTER ITS OWNERS VIJAY MALLYA, JAN MOL AND MICHIEL MOL.

FOOTBALL

MALLYA'S UNITED BREWERIES SPONSORS THE EAST BENGAL AND MOHUN BAGAN FOOTBALL CLUBS IN KOLKATA.

IN 2008 HE WAS LINKED WITH BUYING INTO THE NEW REVOLUTION AT QUEENS PARK RANGERS FC, AS PART OF THE BERNIE ECCLESTONE, FLAVIO BRIATORE AND LAKSHMI MITTAL CONSORTIUM.

CRICKET

MALLYA'S FLAGSHIP FIRM UB GROUP OWNS THE ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE TEAM IN THE INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE. HE WON THIS TEAM IN AN AUCTION BY PAYING US$111.6 MILLION FOR THE TEAM. THE ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE TEAM INCLUDES PLAYERS LIKE RAHUL DRAVID, ANIL KUMBLE, KEVIN PIETERSEN, JACQUES KALLIS, SHIVNARINE CHANDERPAUL, ROBIN UTHAPPA, MARK BOUCHER, SUNIL JOSHI, MISBAH-UL-HAQ, ROSS TAYLOR AND DALE STEYN.

HORSE RACING

MALLYA ALSO OWNS THE COMPANY, UNITED RACING AND BLOODSTOCK BREEDERS (URBB) WHICH HAS INTERESTS IN HORSE RACING. URBB RUNS THE KUNIGAL STUD FARM, UNDER LEASE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA.

POLITICAL CAREER

MALLYA ENTERED POLITICS IN 2000 AND REPLACED SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE JANATA PARTY, A BREAKAWAY FACTION OF THE ORIGINAL JANATA DAL PARTY. HIS PARTY CONTESTED ALMOST ALL OF THE 224 SEATS DURING THE KARNATAKA STATE LEGISLATIVE ELECTION. HE CAMPAIGNED VIGOROUSLY THROUGH THE MEDIA, BUT HIS PARTY FAILED TO MAKE ANY IMPACT AND DID NOT WIN A SINGLE SEAT. FOLLOWING THE PARTY'S FAILURE IN THE ELECTIONS, IT HAS BEEN LARGELY IGNORED BY THE MEDIA.

AUCTION PURCHASES

VIJAY MALLYA IS NOTED FOR HIS SUCCESSFUL BIDDING IN AUCTION OF ITEMS THAT ARE CONSIDERED OF GREAT CULTURAL VALUE TO INDIA. IN 2004, HE PLACED THE WINNING BID OF £175,000 FOR THE SWORD OF TIPU SULTAN AT AN AUCTION IN LONDON, AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO INDIA.[10] IN MARCH 2009, MALLYA SUCCESSFULLY BIDDED FOR THE BELONGINGS OF MAHATMA GANDHI AT US$1.8 MILLION, IN A NEW YORK AUCTION THAT INITIALLY CAUSED AN UPROAR IN INDIA AND ITS GOVERNMENT TRIED AND FAILED TO PREVENT IT FROM GOING UNDER THE HAMMER.

ACHIEVEMENTS

ESTABLISHMENT OF MALLYA HOSPITAL IN BANGALORE. THE HOSPITAL IS LOCATED IN VITTAL MALLYA ROAD, NAMED AFTER HIS FATHER.

HELPED TO FUND THE MALLYA ADITI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, A PRESTIGIOUS PRIVATE SCHOOL IN BANGALORE.

INDIAN EMPRESS

INDIAN EMPRESS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PRIVATE YACHTS IN THE WORLD AT 311 FEET 8 INCHES (95 METRES) IN LENGTH. LAUNCHED IN 2000 AS AL MIRQAB, SHE WAS FINISHED AT THE OCEANCO YARD IN HOLLAND TO THE DESIGN OF THE A GROUP AFTER HAVING HAD HER HULL ASSEMBLED IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA. THE YACHT WAS OWNED BY A QATARI ROYAL FAMILY MEMBER, AFTER WHICH IT WAS COMMISSIONED TO SAMPAT RABANI, WHO SOLD HER TO INDIAN BILLIONAIRE VIJAY MALLYA IN 2006.

INDIAN EMPRESS IS POWERED BY THREE 10,000-HP MTU 20-CYLINDER ENGINES, AND HAS THREE PROPELLERS ENABLING HER TO REACH SPEEDS OF UP TO 24 KNOTS. HER CRUISING GROUNDS INCLUDE THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND THE INDIAN OCEAN.

MALLYA ALSO OWNS INDIAN PRINCESS, A 181 FOOT (55 METER) MOTOR YACHT BUILT BY STERLING YACHT & SHIPBUILDERS IN JAPAN IN 1986.

Car Collection

DR VIJAY MALLYA TOOK THE REINS AS CHAIRMAN OF THE UB GROUP IN 1983 AND SINCE THEN, THE GROUP HAS GROWN INTO A MULTI-NATIONAL BUSINESS CONGLOMERATE OF OVER 60 COMPANIES WITH AN ANNUAL TURNOVER WHICH HAS INCREASED BY 439% TO US$ 1.2 BILLION IN 1998-99 DESPITE THE FREQUENT DEVALUATION OF CURRENCIES IN MANY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, INCLUDING INDIA, WHERE THE GROUP OPERATES. THE FOCAL BUISNESS AREA OF THE GROUP ENCOMPASS BEVERAGE ALCOHOL, LIFE SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AGRICULTURE AND CHEMICALS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND LEISURE.

BRILLIANT ORATOR AND SPORTSMAN, VIJAY MALLYA HAS WON TROPHIES ON THE PROFESSIONAL CAR RACING CIRCUITS AND IS A KEEN YACHTMAN AND AVIATOR. HE IS INVOLVED IN A VARIETY OF SPORT BY WAY OF PERSONAL PARTICIPATION AS WELL AS PROMOTION OF SPORT AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES BY STEERING VARIUS SPONSORSHIPS. AMONGEST HIS MUSEUM COLLECTION OF HISTORIC RARE AUTOMOBILES ARE JAGUARS, FERRARIS, ALFA ROMEOS AND MERCEDES BENZ.

VIJAY MALLYA HAS ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT CORPORATE ENTERPRISE MUST HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS SOCIETY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE NEEDY. TO THIS END VIJAY MALLYA HAS ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING:

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MALLYA HOSPITAL IN BANGALORE, INDIA WITH CHARITY WARD.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MALLYA-ADITI INTRNATIONAL SCHOOL IN BANGALORE, INDIA, WITH A SECTION FOR SUBSIDIZED EDUCATION.

SPONSORSHIPS OF SPORTING EVENTS FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND POOR.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO: THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON; PRINCE'S YOUTH TRUST; AND THE DUKE OF ENDINBURGH AWARDS SCHEME.

HE HAS A COLLECTION FROM THE HUMMER BICYCLE TO THE GREAT ROLLS ROYCE .

HUMMER MERCEDES BENZ JAGUAR JAGUARSPORT FERRARI LOTUS BMW ENSIGN ALL AMERICAN RACING JAGUAR FERRARI MCLAREN FERRARI SHELBY AMERICA MERCEDES BENZ OSCA EDSEL FORD CHEVROLET MERCEDES BENZ ALLARD PORSCHE JAGUAR ALFA ROMEO AUTO SHIPPERS SCHWINN (WIZZER) FORD MERCEDES SUNBEAM HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROLLS ROYCE

CORPORATE FAMILY

SQUARERADIUS

SQUARE RADIUS A SUBSIDARY OF UBICS HELPS IN TRANSFORMING YOUR ORGANIZATION INTO A ROBUST TECHNOLOGY ENABLED ENTERPRISE. BEING THE SUBSIDARY OF UB GROUP IT IS GLOBAL IN SCOPE WHICH BROADLY INCLUDES UNITED STATES, EUROPE, AND ASIA. SQUARERADIUS' CAPABILITIES INCLUDE FRONT-END WEB DEVELOPMENT, BRANDING, AND GRAPHIC DESIGN, AS WELL AS BACK-END DATABASE ENGINEERING, SYSTEM INTEGRATION, NETWORK ADMINISTRATION AND CUSTOM APPLICATION DEVELOPMEN

DSF Internet Services

DSF INTERNET SERVICES A SUBSIDARY OF UBICS IS GEARED TO PROVIDE COMPLETE SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS TO THE FIRMS. WITH A BREAKTHROUGH DEVELOPMENT OR CREATIVE EDGE SOLUTIONS IN THE POWER OF TECHNICAL INNOVATION.

BREWERIES DIVISION

KINGFISHER IS THE COMPANY OPERATING IN THE BREWERIES DIVISION OF THE UB GROUP. KINGFISHER- THE BEER BRANDS MANUFACTURED AND MARKETED BY UNITED BREWERIES LTD. HAVE ALWAYS BEEN RECOGNISED FOR THEIR INTERNATIONAL QUALITY. THAT’S BEER AT ITS BEST FOR THE DISCERNING CONSUMER! KINGFISHER IS AVAILABLE IN 52 countries across the globe and the only beer brand in India that can be purchased online.

MCDOWELL & CO. LTD.

THE UB GROUP SPIRITS DIVISION COMPRISES MCDOWELL & COMPANY, HERBERTSONS LTD AND MCDOWELL INTERNATIONAL BRANDS LIMITED. MCDOWELL HAS THE LARGEST PORTFOLIO OF 53 BRANDS. CLICK HERE TO KNOW THE MCDOWELL'S REFRESHING AND INFORMATIVE JOURNEY TO SUCCESS OF THEIR BRANDS AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND THEM.

MANGALORE CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS LIMITED

MANGALORE CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS LIMITED , A LARGE AND DIVERSIFIED INDIAN BUSINESS HOUSE THAT HAS, OVER THE YEARS. MANGALORE CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS LIMITED A PART OF THE UB GROUP FERTILIZERS DIVISION HAS GROWN TO BECOME THE FOREMOST MULTINATIONAL ORGANIZATION BASED IN THE SUB-CONTINENT WITH OPERATIONS IN MANY WORLD MARKETS. THE ONLY MANUFACTURER OF FERTILIZERS IN KARNATAKA, INDIA. THE GROUP HAS INTERESTS IN BREWING, DISTILLING, FERTILIZERS, LIFE SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

UB BUSINESS CENTRE

UB BUSINESS CENTRE IS A PART OF THE UB GROUP'S APPAREL DIVISION, ONE OF THE LARGEST AND SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS CENTRE IN DUBAI SPECIFICALLY OPERATING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR.

UBICS INC.

THE FASTEST GROWING SOFTWARE COMPANY IN THE US. UBICS' IS ONE OF THE WORLD CLASS, FULL-SERVICE IT SOLUTIONS COMPANY OF THE UB GROUP. UBICS' IS DEDICATED TO STRATEGIZING AND PROVIDING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) PROFESSIONAL STAFFING SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS TO LARGE AND MID-SIZED ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE AND ASIA.

VMSRF

VITALL MALLAYA SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF THE UB GROUP R & D DIVISION IS INTO RESEARCHING AND DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS. VITALL MALLAYA SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION (VMSRF) HAD ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE GROUP'S LATEST DEVELOPEMENT INCLUDES THE NEW DRUG FOR GETTING RID OF BEAR BELLY.

MENDOCINO

THE UB GROUP'S BREWING COMPANY - MENDOCINO IS INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED AS A BREWER OF FULL-FLAVORED, TRADITIONAL ALES. THE COMPANY IS RECOGNIZED AS A PIONEER IN THE AMERICAN CRAFT BREWING RENAISSANCE. ALTHOUGH THE GROUP'S BREWING COMPANY HAS WON MANY AWARDS, BUT THE AWARD THEY CHERISH THE MOST - IS CONSUMER LOYALTY TO THEIR PRODUCTS.

NEW INDIA DIGEST

NEW INDIA DIGEST IS A NON-COMMERCIAL VENTURE OF THE UB GROUP, AN INDEPENDENT NON-PROFIT TRUST REGISTERED IN INDIA. THE GROUP HAD INCREASED AWARENESS OF THE MORE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIA TODAY IN DIFFERENT AREAS AND HAVE FOCUSED ON THE LIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUTSTANDING INDIANS IN ORDER TO MOTIVATE THE YOUNGER GENERATION TO HIGHER LEVELS OF EXCELLENCE.

THE ASIAN AGE

THE ASIAN AGE BEING THE MEDIA DIVISION OF UB GROUP, HAS THE ABILITY IN CAPTURING THE LATEST NEWS ONLINE, FROM INDIA AND THE WORLD.

MARINSCOPE NEWSPAPERS

MARINSCOPE NEWS PAPERS ARE A GROUP OF LOCAL COMMUNITY PAPERS SERVING THE MARIN AREA.

PEGASUS

A HOUSE MAGAZINE OF UB GROUP.

UNITED BREWERIES GROUP

UNITED BREWERIES GROUP OR UB GROUP, BASED IN BANGALORE, IS A CONGLOMERATE OF DIFFERENT COMPANIES WITH A MAJOR FOCUS ON THE BREWERY (BEER) AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES INDUSTRY. THE COMPANY MARKETS MOST OF ITS BEER UNDER THE KINGFISHER BRAND AND HAS ALSO LAUNCHED KINGFISHER AIRLINES, AN AIRLINE SERVICE IN INDIA, WITH INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS OPERATING RECENTLY. UNITED BREWERIES IS INDIA'S LARGEST PRODUCER OF BEER WITH A MARKET SHARE OF AROUND 48% BY VOLUME.[1]

THE GROUP IS HEADED BY DR.VIJAY MALLYA WHO IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE INDIAN PARLIAMENT. UNITED BREWERIES NOW HAS GREATER THAN A 40% SHARE OF THE INDIAN BREWING MARKET. RECENTLY UB FINANCED A TAKEOVER OF THE SPIRITS BUSINESS OF THE RIVAL SHAW-WALLACE COMPANY GIVING IT A MAJORITY SHARE OF INDIA'S SPIRITS BUSINESS. THE GROUP OWNS THE MENDOCINO BREWING COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES.

HISTORY

THE UB GROUP WAS FOUNDED BY A SCOTSMAN, THOMAS LEISHMAN IN 1857. THE GROUP TOOK ITS INITIAL LESSONS IN MANUFACTURING BEER FROM SOUTH INDIAN BASED BRITISH BREWERIES. AT THE AGE OF 22, VITTAL MALLYA WAS ELECTED AS THE COMPANY'S FIRST INDIAN DIRECTOR IN 1947. AFTER A YEAR, HE REPLACED R G N PRICE AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMPANY.

UNITED BREWERIES MADE ITS INITIAL IMPACT BY MANUFACTURING BULK BEER FOR THE BRITISH TROOPS, WHICH WAS TRANSPORTED IN HUGE BARRELS OR "HOGSHEADS". KINGFISHER, THE GROUP'S MOST VISIBLE AND PROFITABLE BRAND, MADE A MODEST ENTRY IN THE SIXTIES. DURING THE 1950'S AND 60'S, THE COMPANY EXPANDED GREATLY BY ACQUIRING OTHER BREWERIES. FIRST WAS THE ADDITION OF MCDOWELL AS ONE OF THE GROUP SUBSIDIARIES, A MOVE WHICH HELPED UNITED BREWERIES TO EXTEND ITS PORTFOLIO TO WINES AND SPIRITS BUSINESS. STRATEGICALLY, THE GROUP MOVED INTO AGRO-BASED INDUSTRIES AND MEDICINES WHEN MALLYA ACQUIRED KISSAN PRODUCTS AND FORMED A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH HOECHST AG OF GERMANY TO CREATE THE INDIAN PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY NOW KNOWN AS AVENTIS PHARMA , THE INDIAN SUBSIDIARY OF THE GLOBAL PHARMA MAJOR SANOFI-AVENTIS.

THE LOGO

THE PEGASUS, WHICH IS THE SYMBOL OF THE UNITED BREWERIES, FIRST FOUND ITS PLACE AS THE GROUP LOGO IN 1940. THEN, THE HELLADIC HORSE – ASSOCIATED WITH BEER AND NECTAR IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY- CARRIED A BEER CASK BETWEEN THE WINGS, OSTENSIBLY BECAUSE BEER FORMED THE CORE OPERATIONS OF THE GROUP. LATER, THE BEER CASK WAS REMOVED TO REPRESENT THE GROUP’S MULTIFACETED OPERATIONS . NOW, IT IS JUST THE PEGASUS.

PRESENT HISTORY

SALES OF UNITED SPIRITS LTD [4] PRODUCTS ARE EXPECTED TO EXCEED 60 MILLION CASES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2005-06 MAKING THE GROUP THE THIRD LARGEST MANUFACTURER OF SPIRITS PRODUCTS IN THE WORLD[2], ONLY AFTER DIAGEO PLC AND PERNOD RICARD. IN ADDITION, USL IS ONE OF ONLY THREE IN THE WORLD TO OWN SEVEN MILLIONAIRE BRANDS AND AT LEAST FIVE BRANDS RATED BY DRINKS INTERNATIONAL, UK, TO BE AMONGST THE TEN FASTEST GROWING BRANDS IN THE WORLD IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CATEGORIES. THE MARKET SHARE OF THE SPIRITS DIVISION IN INDIA IS CURRENTLY 60% AND EXPORTS TO THE MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA AND ASIAN COUNTRIES ARE GROWING RAPIDLY.

THE UB GROUP’S BREWING ENITY - CALLED UNITED BREWERIES LIMITED (UBL) - HAS ALSO ASSUMED UNDISPUTED MARKET LEADERSHIP WITH A NATIONAL MARKET SHARE IN EXCESS OF 50%. THROUGH A PROCESS OF AGGRESSIVE ACQUISITION AND MARKET PENETRATION, THE UB GROUP TODAY CONTROLS 60% OF THE TOTAL MANUFACTURING CAPACITY FOR BEER IN INDIA. THE FLAGSHIP BRAND, KINGFISHER IS NOW SOLD IN OVER 52 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE HAVING RECEIVED MANY ACCOLADES FOR ITS QUALITY.

WITH PLANS TO BECOMING A GLOBAL PLAYER UNITED SPIRITS LTD. (USL), THE FLAGSHIP OF THE UB GROUP, PURCHASED THE SCOTTISH DISTILLER WHYTE AND MACKAY IN MAY 2007 FOR £595 MILLION (RS. 4,800 CRORE)[5]. THIS WOULD BRING THE BRANDS OF W&M LIKE THE DALMORE, ISLE OF JURA, GLAYVA, FETTERCAIRN, VLADIVAR VODKA, AND WHYTE & MACKAY SCOTCH UNDER ITS PORTFOLIO.

THE UB GROUP IS ALSO INTO MANUFACTURE OF FERTILIZERS. THE GROUP COMPANY MANGALORE CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS ( MCF ) HAS FACTORY AT PANAMBUR IN DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT OF KARNATAKA.

UB ENGINEERING LIMITED IS THE GROUP'S ENGINEERING BUSINESS ARM. IT UNDERTAKES EPC PROJECTS, INFRASTRUCTURE, ON-SITE FABRICATION OF STRUCTURES, INSTALLATION, TESTING AND COMMISSIONING OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL EQUIPMENTS, PIPING ETC. FOR LARGE INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS SUCH AS POWER, REFINERIES, STEEL, CEMENT, FERTILIZER, PETROCHEMICAL AND DESALINATION PROJECTS. THE COMPANY WAS INITIALLY ESTABLISHED AS WESTERN INDIA ERECTORS IN 1963 AND CAME UNDER THE UB GROUP IN 1988.

THE GROUP ENTRANCE TO THE IT SECTOR HAD ALSO BEEN MARKED BY THE FORMATION OF UBICS, INC. THE COMPANY PROVIDES IT CONSULTING, SERVICES AND PROFESSIONAL IT PRODUCTS TO BUSINESS COMPANIES.

IN AUGUST 2007, THE GROUP MADE A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND MEDIA ALLIANCE FOR THE PROMOTION OF NDTV GOOD TIMES, A LIFESTYLE TELEVISION CHANNEL RUN BY NDTV.

UNITED SPIRITS LIMITED HAS 144 BRANDS UNDER ITS UMBRELLA, INCLUDING WHITE MISCHIEF VODKA, THE MARKET LEADING BRAND IN INDIA.

FINANCIALS

IN JULY 2007, UNITED BREWERIES LIMITED REPORTED VOLUME GROWTH OF 16.3% COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR. WHICH IS A HUGE TASK IN THE ECONOMY LOW DOWN PERIOD

ANALYSIS

UNITED BREWERIES LIMITED (BSE:UBL), IS INDIA'S LARGEST PRODUCER OF BEER WITH A MARKET SHARE OF AROUND 48% BY VOLUME.[1] ITS FLAGSHIP BRAND KINGFISHER WAS RANKED AMONGST THE TOP 10 FASTEST GROWING BRANDS IN THE UK.[2]IN INDIA, ALCOHOL MARKET IS A STATE SUBJECT. EACH STATE HAS DIFFERENT TAX RATES OF UP TO 45%. DUE TO THIS DIFFERENT TAX STRUCTURE, FREE MOVEMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ACROSS THE STATES IS NOT POSSIBLE. UBL HAS A NETWORK OF 23 DISTILLERIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL GIVING IT AN UNPARALLELED DISTRIBUTION REACH WITHIN INDIA.[3] FROM FY2004 TO FY2008, ITS SALES REVENUES GREW FROM RS 452 CRORE TO RS 1,370 CRORE, AT AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE OF OVER 50%; WHEREAS NET PROFIT GREW BY A 538% AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE FROM RS 2.77 CRORE TO RS 62.47 CRORE.[4]

UBL HAS ALSO ENTERED INTO MUTLI-FACETED STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH SCOTTISH & NEWCASTLE PLC (S&N), AN INTERNATIONAL BREWERY MAJOR, WITH $6 BILLION IN REVENUE AND A MARKET CAPITALIZATION OF $5.4 BILLION.[5] THIS ALLIANCE, HAS ALLOWED S&N TO MARKET IT INTERNATIONAL BRANDS LIKE KRONENBOURG IN INDIA, WHILE ALLOWING UBL TO USE S&N'S GLOBAL NETWORK TO FURTHER GLOBALIZE THE KINGFISHER BRAND

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

UBL UNDERTAKES THE PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF BEER. ITS PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE IN 52 COUNTRIES ACROSS THE WORLD.[2] IT HAS A INSTALLED CAPACITY OF 6,025,000 HECTO LITERS/ANNUM AND IT PRODUCES AROUND 3,133,684 HECTO LITERS/ANNUM.[7] THIS CAPACITY IS DIVIDED AMONGST A NETWORK OF 23 UNITS IN DIFFERENT STATES OF INDIA.[3] THE LOWER CAPACITY UTILIZATION OF 52% IS DUE TO THE BAN OF FREE MOVEMENT OF BEER ACROSS STATE BOUNDARIES. A DISTILLERY CAN ONLY BE USED TO SUPPLY TO A STATE WHERE IT IS LOCATED.[8] IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASE IN DEMAND, THE COMPANY HAS PLANS TO EXPAND CAPACITY COVERING 8 KEY MARKETS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. A TOTAL OF 14.75 LAC HECTO LITERS/ANNUM CAPACITY WILL BE ADDED BY DEC 2011.[9] IN ADDITION TO THIS THE COMPANY ALSO HAS PLANS TO SET UP TWO NEW GREENFIELD BREWERIES, LOCATED AT MALLEPALLY IN ANDHRA PRADESH AND NANJANGUD IN KARNATAKA.[9] THE CAPITAL FOR THIS EXPANSION IS PLANNED TO BE MET WITH THE PROCEEDS OF A RIGHT ISSUE

BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL METRICS

UBL HAS HAD A HIGHLY LEVERAGED CAPITAL STRUCTURE WITH DEBT TO EQUITY RATIO AS HIGH AS 12.85 IN FY2005.[11] THE HIGH LEVERAGE WAS THE RESULT OF EXPANSION ACTIVITIES THAT THE COMPANY WAS UNDERTAKING. THE DEBT TO EQUITY RATIO WAS REDUCED TO 1.92 IN FY2006 BY ISSUE OF NEW SHARES.[12] THE COMPANY HAS MANAGED TO REDUCE THE LONG TERM DEBT TO EQUITY RATIO TO 1.19 IN FY2008; BUT THIS HAS BEEN DONE BY INCREASE IN ITS SHORT-TERM DEBT.[13]

FROM FY2004 TO FY2008, SALES REVENUES HAVE GROWN FROM RS 452 CRORE TO RS 1,370 CRORE, AT AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE OF OVER 50%.[4] IN THE SAME PERIOD, NET PROFIT GREW BY A 538% AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE FROM RS 2.77 CRORE TO RS 62.47 CRORE.[4] FROM FY2004 TO FY2007, THE OPERATING MARGIN HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM A LOW OF 6.72% TO 13.49%.[10] OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE CORRESPONDING THE NET PROFIT MARGIN HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM 0.58% TO 6.1%.[10] THIS WAS DONE BY CONTINUOUS EFFORTS IN INCREASING THE OPERATING EFFICIENCY. ONE OF THE INDICATORS OF INCREASED EFFICIENCY, THE INVENTORY TURNOVER HAS INCREASED FROM 14.26 TO 23.32.[10] IN FY2008 THE OPERATING MARGIN FELL TO 12.8% AND THE NET MARGIN FELL TO 4.49% BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN RAW MATERIAL COST.[14]

SHARE HOLDING PATTERN: THE PROMOTERS, NAMELY UNITED BREWERIES HOLDINGS LIMITED,OWNS 37.49% OF UBL; FOREIGN CORPORATE BODIES ALSO OWN 37.49% OF THE COMPANY. FII'S OWN ANOTHER 16.59%.FIDELITY INDIA SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND AND FRANKLIN FMCG FUND ARE THE MUTUAL FUNDS INVESTED IN THE FIRM, WITH 2.6% AND 0.16% OWNERSHIP RESPECTIVELY.

COMPETITION

THE INDIAN ALCOHOL MARKET IS REGULATED BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE RESTRICTIONS ON ALCOHOL ADVERTISEMENT, BRAND ENTRY, PRICING AND GREENFIELD DISTILLERIES ACT AS AN BARRIERS TO ENTRY FOR ANY NEW PLAYER. ALSO SINCE ALCOHOL IS A STATE POLICY, THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS IN ITS MOVEMENT FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER. THIS HAS RESULTED IN TO SMALL INEFFICIENT DISTILLERIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SABMILLER - HEADQUARTERED IN LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, SABMILLER, THROUGH ITS SUBSIDIARIES, UNDERTAKES MANUFACTURING, DISTRIBUTION, AND SALE OF BEVERAGES WORLDWIDE. ITS PRODUCTS PRIMARILY INCLUDE BEER AND SOFT DRINKS. IT ALSO OPERATES AS A BOTTLER FOR COCA-COLA PRODUCTS. THE COMPANY HAS A STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH CASTEL.IT HAS ALSO INVESTED IN THE LUXURY HOTEL AND ATTACHED CASINOS INDUSTRY.

MOUNT SHIVALIK (MOUNTSHIQ-BY) - BASED IN ALWAR, RAJASTHAN, MOUNT SHIVALIK IS IN THE BUSINESS OF MANUFACTURING AND MARKETING BEER. THE GROUP ALSO HAS PRESENCE IN THE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS WITH PUBS, MOTELS, BEER GARDENS, AND HIGHWAY RESTAURANTS. IT HAS A STATE-OF-THE-ART BREWERY IN THE ALWAR DISTRICT WITH AN ANNUAL INSTALLED CAPACITY OF 300,000 HECTO LITERS. IT PRODUCES INTERNATIONAL CLASS BEER UNDER TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND TIE-UP WITH WORLD LEADERS LIKE STROH BREWERY, USA & COBRA BEERS, UK. THE COMPANY HAS ITS OWN LABORATORY AT THE BREWERY PLANT FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.

MOHAN MEAKING (MOMEAKIN-BY)- REGISTERED IN SOLAN, HIMACHAL PRADESH. IT MANUFACTURES AND MARKETS ALL TYPES OF BEER AND PRESTIGIOUS BRANDS OF INDIAN MADE FOREIGN SPIRIT (IMFS) BESIDES BLENDED MALT WHISKIES, RUM, GIN AND VODKA. IN ADDITION TO THESE, THE COMPANY MANUFACTURES JUICES AND CANNED PRODUCTS, CORN FLAKES, WHEAT PORRIDGE, MALT EXTRACT, GLASS BOTTLES, MINERAL WATER, CASTINGS AND OTHER PRODUCTS. IT HAS BREWERIES AND DISTILLERIES ESTABLISHED UNDER COLLABORATION ARRANGEMENTS IN VARIOUS OTHER PLACES IN INDIA AND BHUTAN.

Market share :

KINGFISHER AIRLINES

KINGFISHER AIRLINES LIMITED, IS A MAJOR INDIAN AIRLINE. KINGFISHER OPERATES MORE THAN 400 FLIGHTS A DAY AND HAS A NETWORK OF 69 DESTINATIONS, WITH REGIONAL AND LONG-HAUL INTERNATIONAL SERVICES.[1] ITS MAIN BASES ARE BANGALORE'S BENGALURU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MUMBAI'S CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, HYDERABAD'S RAJIV GANDHI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND DELHI'S INDIRA GANDHI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.[2] KINGFISHER AIRLINES, THROUGH ONE OF ITS HOLDING COMPANIES UNITED BREWERIES GROUP, HAS A 50 PERCENT STAKE IN LOW-COST CARRIER KINGFISHER RED, FORMERLY KNOWN AS AIR DECCAN.[3]

KINGFISHER AIRLINES IS ONE OF SIX AIRLINES IN THE WORLD TO HAVE A FIVE-STAR RATING FROM SKYTRAX, ALONG WITH ASIANA AIRLINES, MALAYSIA AIRLINES, QATAR AIRWAYS, SINGAPORE AIRLINES AND CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS.[4][5] IN MAY 2009, KINGFISHER AIRLINES CARRIED MORE THAN A MILLION PASSENGERS, GIVING IT THE HIGHEST MARKET SHARE AMONG AIRLINES IN INDIA.[6] KINGFISHER AIRLINES ALSO HAS A STRATEGIC CODE-SHARING AGREEMENT WITH JET AIRWAYS, AND AN ALLIANCE WITH THE HILTON HOTELS CORPORATION.

KINGFISHER HAS ITS REGISTERED OFFICE IN THE UB TOWER IN BANGALORE AND ITS HEAD OFFICE IN THE KINGFISHER HOUSE IN MUMBAI.

HISTORY

THE AIRLINE STARTED OPERATIONS ON 9 MAY 2005, FOLLOWING THE DRY LEASE OF FOUR BRAND NEW AIRBUS A320-200 AIRCRAFT.[9] ITS FIRST FLIGHT WAS FROM MUMBAI TO DELHI. AT THE LAUNCH OF THE AIRLINE, DR. MALLYA SAID THAT HE IS "COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING OUR AMBITION OF MAKING KINGFISHER AIRLINES INDIA'S LARGEST PRIVATE AIRLINE BOTH IN CAPACITY AND MARKET SHARE BY 2010."

THE AIRLINE USHERED IN A NEW ERA OF LUXURY IN INDIA'S DOMESTIC AVIATION SECTOR WITH ITS BRAND NEW AIRCRAFT WITH STYLISH RED INTERIORS, AND SMARTLY DRESSED CREW AND GROUND STAFF. KINGFISHER WAS THE FIRST INDIAN AIRLINE TO HAVE IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT (IFE) SYSTEMS ON EVERY SEAT EVEN ON DOMESTIC FLIGHTS. ALL PASSENGERS WERE GIVEN A "WELCOME KIT" CONSISTING GOODIES SUCH AS A PEN, FACIAL TISSUE AND HEADPHONES TO USE WITH THE IFE SYSTEM. INITIALLY, PASSENGERS WERE ABLE TO WATCH ONLY RECORDED TV PROGRAMMING ON THE IFE SYSTEM, BUT LATER AN ALLIANCE WAS FORMED WITH DISH TV TO PROVIDE LIVE TV IN-FLIGHT.[10] AND IN A MARKED DEPARTURE FROM TRADITION, KINGFISHER AIRLINES DECIDED TO HAVE AN ON-SCREEN SAFETY DEMONSTRATION USING THE IFE SYSTEM.

IN JANUARY 2007, KINGFISHER ENTERED INTO A MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP DEAL WITH TOYOTA MOTORSPORT TO BE AN OFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE TOYOTA F1 RACING TEAM.[11]

IN SEPTEMBER 2008, KINGFISHER ANNOUNCED ITS PLANS TO RAISE US$ 100 MILLION THROUGH EQUITY.[12]

ON 13 OCTOBER 2008, AS A RESULT OF THE WORSENING ECONOMIC SCENARIO AND THE RESULTANT DROP IN PASSENGER TRAFFIC AND INCREASE IN COSTS, KINGFISHER CHAIRMAN VIJAY MALLYA AND HIS JET AIRWAYS COUNTERPART NARESH GOYAL ANNOUNCED A STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AFTER A MEETING IN MUMBAI. THE ALLIANCE WAS FORMED TO IMPLEMENT CODE-SHARING BETWEEN THE TWO AIRLINES ON BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS, JOINT FUEL MANAGEMENT TO REDUCE EXPENSES, COMMON GROUND HANDLING, JOINT UTILISATION OF CREW AND SHARING OF THEIR FREQUENT FLIER PROGRAMMES, NAMELY KING CLUB AND JET PRIVILEGE.[13][14]

ON 12 JANUARY 2009, KINGFISHER AIRLINES ANNOUNCED ITS ALLIANCE WITH HILTON HHONORS, THE GUEST REWARDS PROGRAM FOR THE MORE THAN 3,000 HOTELS OF THE HILTON HOTELS CORPORATION WORLDWIDE. THE NEW ALLIANCE ALLOWS MEMBERS OF THE KING CLUB FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAMME TO EARN BOTH KING MILES AND HILTON HHONORS POINTS WHEN THEY STAY AT HILTON HOTELS.

FLEET

AIRBUS A320-200

ATR 72-500

AIRBUS A330-200

KINGFISHER AIRLINES' FLEET CURRENTLY CONSISTS OF ATR 42, ATR 72 AND AIRBUS A320 AIRCRAFT FOR DOMESTIC AND SHORT HAUL SERVICES AND AIRBUS A330S FOR INTERNATIONAL LONG-HAUL SERVICES. THE AVERAGE AGE OF ITS FLEET AS OF JANUARY 2009 WAS 2.3 YEARS.

SERVICES

CABIN CLASSES

DOMESTIC

KINGFISHER FIRST

THE DOMESTIC KINGFISHER FIRST SEATS HAVE A 48 INCH SEAT PITCH AND A 125 DEGREE SEAT RECLINE. THERE ARE LAPTOP AND MOBILE PHONE CHARGERS ON EVERY SEAT. PASSENGERS CAN AVAIL OF THE LATEST INTERNATIONAL NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES. THERE IS ALSO A STEAM IRONING SERVICE ON BOARD KINGFISHER FIRST CABINS. EVERY SEAT IS EQUIPPED WITH A PERSONALIZED IFE SYSTEM WITH AVOD WHICH OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF HOLLYWOOD AND BOLLYWOOD MOVIES, ENGLISH AND HINDI TV PROGRAMMES, 16 LIVE TV CHANNELS AND 10 CHANNELS OF KINGFISHER RADIO. PASSENGERS ALSO GET BOSE NOISE CANCELLATION HEADPHONES.

DOMESTIC KINGFISHER FIRST IS ONLY AVAILABLE ON SELECTED AIRBUS A320 FAMILY AIRCRAFT.

KINGFISHER CLASS

THE DOMESTIC KINGFISHER CLASS HAS 32-34 INCH SEAT PITCH WITH FOOTRESTS. EVERY SEAT IS EQUIPPED WITH PERSONAL IFE SYSTEMS WITH AVOD ON-BOARD THE AIRBUS A320 FAMILY AIRCRAFT. AS IN KINGFISHER FIRST, PASSENGERS CAN ACCESS THE LATEST MOVIES, ENGLISH AND HINDI TV PROGRAMMES, LIVE TV AND KINGFISHER RADIO.

ON-BOARD THE ATR 72-500S THERE ARE 17 COLOUR LCD DROP-DOWN SCREENS MOUNTED ALONG WITH LOUDSPEAKERS FOR AUDIO IN THE CABIN OVERHEAD, A HEAD-END UNIT TO HANDLE CDS AND DVDS, AND A CREW CONTROL PANEL. THE SCREENS MEASURE 12.7CM BY 9.3CM, WEIGH 0.2KG EACH AND ARE SPACED EVERY TWO OR THREE SEAT ROWS ALONG BOTH SIDES OF THE CABIN.

ECONOMY CLASS MEAL ON-BOARD A KINGFISHER AIRLINES DOMESTIC FLIGHT

KINGFISHER RED

AFTER KINGFISHER AIRLINES ACQUIRED AIR DECCAN, ITS NAME WAS CHANGED TO SIMPLIFLY DECCAN AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO KINGFISHER RED. KINGFISHER RED IS KINGFISHER AIRLINE'S LOW-COST CLASS ON DOMESTIC ROUTES. PASSENGERS ARE GIVEN COMPLIMENTARY IN-FLIGHT MEALS AND BOTTLED WATER. A SPECIAL EDITION OF CINE BLITZ MAGAZINE IS THE ONLY READING MATERIAL PROVIDED.

KINGFISHER AIRLINES IS THE FIRST AIRLINE IN INDIA TO EXTEND ITS KING CLUB FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM TO ITS LOW-COST CARRIER AS WELL. PASSENGERS CAN EARN KING MILES EVEN WHEN THEY FLY KINGFISHER RED, WHICH THEY CAN REDEEM FOR FREE TICKETS TO TRAVEL ON KINGFISHER AIRLINES OR PARTNER AIRLINES.

INTERNATIONAL

KINGFISHER FIRST

THE INTERNATIONAL KINGFISHER FIRST HAS FULL FLAT-BED SEATS WITH A 180 DEGREE RECLINE, IN A SEAT PITCH OF 78 INCHES, AND A SEAT WIDTH OF 20-24.54 INCHES.[28] PASSENGERS ARE GIVEN MERINO WOOL BLANKETS, FIVE-COURSE MEALS AND THE FINEST WINES, SPIRITS AND LIQUOR. ALSO AVAILABLE ARE IN-SEAT MASSAGERS, CHARGERS AND USB CONNECTORS.

EVERY KINGFISHER FIRST SEAT HAS A 17 INCH WIDESCREEN PERSONAL TELEVISION WITH AVOD TOUCHSCREEN CONTROLS AND OFFERS 357 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING CONTENT SPREAD OVER 36 CHANNELS. IT HAS AN EXCLUSIVE RANGE OF HOLLYWOOD AND BOLLYWOOD MOVIES ALONG WITH 16 CHANNELS OF LIVE TV, SO PASSENGERS CAN WATCH THEIR FAVORITE TV PROGRAMMES LIVE. THERE IS ALSO A COLLECTION OF INTERACTIVE GAMES, A JUKEBOX WITH CUSTOMIZABLE PLAYLISTS AND KINGFISHER RADIO. PASSENGERS ARE GIVEN BOSE NOISE CANCELLATION HEADPHONES.

THE SERVICE ON BOARD THE KINGFISHER FIRST CABINS INCLUDES A SOCIAL AREA COMPRISING A FULL-FLEDGED BAR STAFFED WITH A BARTENDER, A BREAK-OUT SEATING AREA JUST NEARBY FITTED WITH TWO COUCHES AND BAR STOOLS, A FULL-FLEDGED CHEF ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AND ANY-TIME DINING.

BOTH KINGFISHER FIRST AND KINGFISHER CLASSES FEATURE MOOD LIGHTING ON THE AIRBUS A330-200 WITH LIGHT SCHEMES CORRESPONDING TO THE TIME OF DAY AND FLIGHT POSITION.

KINGFISHER CLASS

THE INTERNATIONAL KINGFISHER CLASS SEATS OFFER A SEAT PITCH OF 34 INCHES, A SEAT WIDTH OF 18 INCHES AND A SEAT RECLINE OF 25 DEGREES (6 INCHES). PASSENGERS GET FULL LENGTH MODACRYLIC BLANKETS, FULL SIZE PILLOWS AND BUSINESS CLASS MEALS. THERE ARE IN-SEAT CHARGERS AND USB CONNECTORS.

EACH KINGFISHER CLASS SEAT HAS A 10.6 INCH WIDESCREEN PERSONAL TELEVISION WITH AVOD TOUCHSCREEN CONTROLS. THE IFE IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE INTERNATIONAL KINGFISHER FIRST CLASS.

IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

KINGFISHER'S IFE SYSTEM IS THE THALES TOPSERIES I3000/I4000 ON-BOARD THE AIRBUS A320 FAMILY AIRCRAFT, AND THALES TOPSERIES I5000 ON-BOARD THE AIRBUS A330 FAMILY AIRCRAFT PROVIDED BY THE FRANCE-BASED THALES GROUP.[29]

KINGFISHER LOUNGE

KINGFISHER LOUNGES ARE OFFERED TO KINGFISHER FIRST PASSENGERS, ALONG WITH KING CLUB SILVER AND KING CLUB GOLD MEMBERS.

KING CLUB

THE FREQUENT-FLYER PROGRAM OF KINGFISHER AIRLINES IS CALLED THE KING CLUB IN WHICH MEMBERS EARN KING MILES EVERYTIME THEY FLY WITH KINGFISHER OR ITS PARTNER AIRLINES, HOTELS, CAR RENTAL, FINANCE AND LIFESTYLE BUSINESSES. THERE ARE FOUR LEVELS IN THE SCHEME: KING CLUB BASE, RED, SILVER AND GOLD LEVELS. MEMBERS CAN REDEEM POINTS FOR OVER A NUMBER OF SCHEMES. GOLD AND SILVER MEMBERS ENJOY ACCESS TO THE KINGFISHER LOUNGE, PRIORITY CHECK-IN, EXCESS BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE, BONUS MILES, AND 2 KINGFISHER FIRST UPGRADE VOUCHERS FOR GOLD MEMBERSHIP.

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

"NDTV PROFIT BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR AVIATION" - AWARDED TO KINGFISHER AIRLINES BY NDTV.

*"BRAND LEADERSHIP AWARD" - IN THE SERVICE AND HOSPITALITY SEGMENT AGAINST SEVERAL ACCLAIMED HOTELS, LEADING BANKS AND OTHER AIRLINES.

ECONOMIC TIMES AVAYA AWARD 2006 FOR EXCELLENCE IN “CUSTOMER RESPONSIVENESS” - THE PRESTIGIOUS AWARD IS PRESENTED BY THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED BUSINESS DAILY, ECONOMIC TIMES.

"INDIA'S NO. 1 AIRLINE IN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION" - BUSINESS WORLD

"RATED AMONGST INDIA'S MOST RESPECTED COMPANIES" - BUSINESS WORLD

RATED AMONGST INDIA’S 25 INNOVATIVE COMPANIES - SURVEY CONDUCTED BY PLANMAN MEDIA

"THE BEST AIRLINE” AND “INDIA’S FAVOURITE CARRIER” - IN A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY IMB FOR THE TIMES OF INDIA.

“BEST NEW DOMESTIC AIRLINE FOR EXCELLENT SERVICES AND CUISINE” - PACIFIC AREA TRAVEL WRITERS ASSOCIATION (PATWA) THE BIGGEST TRAVEL WRITERS’ ORGANISATION, REPRESENTING MEMBERS FROM 70 COUNTRIES ACROSS THE GLOBE, THAT CONDUCTS INDEPENDENT ANNUAL SURVEYS ACROSS VARIOUS INDUSTRIES RELATED WITH TRAVEL AND TOURISM IN ORDER TO SELECT THE BEST IN EACH CATEGORY.

“SERVICE EXCELLENCE FOR A NEW AIRLINE” - SKYTRAX, A UK BASED SPECIALIST GLOBAL AIR TRANSPORT ADVISOR

“RANKED THIRD IN THE SURVEY ON INDIA’S MOST SUCCESSFUL BRAND LAUNCH OF 2005” - UNDER THE BRAND DERBY SURVEY CONDUCTED BY INDIA’S LEADING BUSINESS DAILY - BUSINESS STANDARD.

“BUZZIEST BRANDS OF 2005” - RANKED AMONGST THE TOP TEN BUZZIEST BRANDS OF 2005 & 2006 ACROSS PRODUCT CATEGORIES, IN THE SURVEY CONDUCTED BY AGENCYFAQS.COM AND BRAND REPORTER.

BEST NEW AIRLINE OF THE YEAR” - CENTRE FOR ASIA PACIFIC AVIATION (CAPA) AWARD IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC AND MIDDLE EAST REGION.

RATED AMONGST TOP TEN INTERNET ADVERTISERS - YAHOO INDIA

RATED AMONGST THE TOP TEN IN THE BEST TELEVISION COMMERCIAL JINGLES – NDTV

ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS

ON 28 MARCH 2008, KINGFISHER AIRLINES FLIGHT 2427, AN ATR 72-500 WITH 29 PEOPLE ON BOARD, HIT A DOG ON THE RUNWAY, CAUSING THE NOSE GEAR TO COLLAPSE AND LEAVING THE PLANE STRANDED ON THE RUNWAY. TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED. THE DOG WAS KILLED.

FORCE INDIA

FORCE INDIA F1 IS A FORMULA ONE MOTOR RACING TEAM. THE TEAM WAS FORMED IN OCTOBER 2007, WHEN A CONSORTIUM LED BY INDIAN BUSINESSMAN VIJAY MALLYA AND MICHIEL MOL BOUGHT THE SPYKER F1 TEAM FOR € 88 MILLION.[1]

FORCE INDIA F1 REPRESENTS INCREASED INDIAN PARTICIPATION WITHIN FORMULA ONE, WITH DELHI SET TO HOST THE FIRST EVER INDIAN GRAND PRIX IN 2011.[2] THE FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE L'AUTOMOBILE CONFIRMED THE CHANGE IN NAME FROM SPYKER TO FORCE INDIA ON 24 OCTOBER 2007.[3]

AFTER GOING THROUGH 29 RACES WITHOUT A POINT, FORCE INDIA WON THEIR FIRST FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AND PODIUM PLACE WHEN GIANCARLO FISICHELLA FINISHED SECOND IN THE 2009 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX.

BACKGROUND

ALTHOUGH CREATED IN 2007, THE TEAM'S ROOTS CAN BE TRACED BACK TO 1991, WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED AS JORDAN GRAND PRIX. JORDAN ENJOYED MANY YEARS IN FORMULA ONE EVEN RUNNING THE TITLE CLOSE IN 1999, BUT FINANCIAL PROBLEMS CREPT IN AND THE TEAM'S PERFORMANCE DRIED UP. EDDIE JORDAN, THE THEN OWNER, REALISED THE WRITING WAS ON THE WALL AND THE BEST WAY TO SAVE THE TEAM WAS TO OPT FOR A SALE.

THE SILVERSTONE-BASED SQUAD AND FACILITIES WERE BOUGHT BY THE MIDLAND GROUP IN 2005 AND RE-NAMED MIDLAND F1 RACING IN 2006, BEFORE BEING SOLD TO SPYKER CARS TOWARDS THE END OF THE 2006 SEASON. HOWEVER, THE RUNNING COSTS OF A SMALL FORMULA ONE TEAM ONCE AGAIN CAUSED THE SALE OF THE TEAM THIS TIME TO THE ORANGE INDIA HOLDINGS GROUP, WITH VIJAY MALLYA AND MICHIEL MOL TAKING OVER THE OWNERSHIP OF THE TEAM.

BUYOUT OF SPYKER F1

RUMOURS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE SALE OF THE TEAM HAD BEEN ABUNDANT IN THE PADDOCK THROUGHOUT THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF THE 2007 SEASON, AFTER SPYKER ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION TO SELL 50% OF THE TEAM,[5] LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER SPYKER BOUGHT IT FROM MIDLAND. THE COST OF THE TEAM WAS € 88 MILLION, SEVERAL MILLION MORE THAN SPYKER PAID FOR THE TEAM INITIALLY.

ONWARDS

ADRIAN SUTIL TESTING FOR FORCE INDIA IN JANUARY 2008.

FISICHELLA DRIVING FOR FORCE INDIA AT THE 2008 CHINESE GRAND PRIX.

COLIN KOLLES REMAINED AS TEAM PRINCIPAL IN 2008, WITH MICHIEL MOL AS DIRECTOR OF F1 RACING, AND MIKE GASCOYNE AS THE CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER.

FORCE INDIA USED THE VJM-01 CHASSIS, AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S SPYKER CAR, FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE 2008 SEASON.[7] THE TEAM USED CUSTOMER FERRARI ENGINES IN 2008, WITH THE TEAM'S EXISTING DEAL WITH FERRARI ORIGINALLY RUNNING TO 2010.[8] THE TEAM ALSO USED THE INDIAN FLAG IN ITS TEAM LOGO FROM 2008.[3] FORMER SPYKER SPONSOR ETIHAD AIRWAYS HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE TEAM UNTIL 2009, AND HAVE YET TO ANNOUNCE ANY CHANGES TO THIS ARRANGEMENT. FORCE INDIA WILL CONSTRUCT THEIR OWN CARS AS SPYKER DID, RATHER THAN USING CUSTOMER CHASSIS.[9] FORCE INDIA HAS A CONTRACT WITH ADRIAN SUTIL FOR 2008.[6] IN NOVEMBER 2007 THE TEAM INVITED VITANTONIO LIUZZI, CHRISTIAN KLIEN, GIANCARLO FISICHELLA, RALF SCHUMACHER, FRANCK MONTAGNY AND FORMER SPYKER TEST DRIVERS GIEDO VAN DER GARDE AND ROLDAN RODRIGUEZ TO TAKE PART IN WINTER TESTS ALONG WITH SUTIL. FORCE INDIA CONFIRMED FISICHELLA AS FIRST DRIVER AND VITANTONIO LIUZZI AS A TEST DRIVER. ADRIAN SUTIL HAD ALREADY BEEN CONFIRMED AND TOOK THE SECOND DRIVER ROLE. FORMER SPYKER TEST DRIVERS ROLDAN RODRIGUEZ AND GIEDO VAN DER GARDE WERE CONFIRMED AS TEST DRIVERS FOR FORCE INDIA F1.[13]

AT MONACO 2008 IT LOOKED LIKE FORCE INDIA WAS NEAR TO SCORING THEIR FIRST POINT AS ADRIAN SUTIL HAD MOVED UP TO FOURTH PLACE UNTIL KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN COLLIDED WITH HIM 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE END OF THE RACE. HOWEVER, IT WAS JUDGED THAT SUTIL WAS IN WRONG POSITION BECAUSE HE HAD OVERTAKEN UNDER YELLOW FLAGS.[14] MORE POINTS WERE LOST IN SINGAPORE BECAUSE THE SAFETY CAR PERIOD THAT ENSUED AFTER SUTIL'S ACCIDENT RUINED FISICHELLA'S STRATEGY. HE HAD RUN AS HIGH AS THIRD EARLIER IN THE RACE.

AT MONACO, FISICHELLA FINISHED JUST OUT OF THE POINTS IN NINTH PLACE. FISICHELLA AND SUTIL HAD MOVED TO Q2 DURING QUALIFYING AND SECURED POSITIONS IN THE TOP 15.

AT THE GERMAN GP, SUTIL QUALIFIED IN THE 7TH PLACE AND BATTLED FOR THE POINTS, REACHING SECOND AT ONE POINT, BEFORE CRASHING WITH KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN AFTER LEAVING THE PITLANE AND BEING FORCED TO PIT AGAIN TO CHANGE A BROKEN FRONT WING. HE FINISHED 15TH. FISICHELLA ALSO FOUGHT FOR THE POINTS THE WHOLE RACE, BUT DESPITE BEING A PART OF A GROUP THAT WERE BATTLING FOR THE FINAL POINTS POSITION, HE FINISHED 11TH.

FORCE INDIA GAINED THEIR FIRST POLE POSITION IN FORMULA ONE ON AUGUST 29, 2009 AT THE BELGIAN GP IN SPA WITH FISICHELLA POSTING A TIME OF 1:46.308.[16]. FISICHELLA FINISHED THE RACE IN SECOND POSITION EARNING FORCE INDIA'S FIRST EVER POINTS.

ON SEPTEMBER 3 2009, FORCE INDIA ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE RELEASING FISICHELLA TO ALLOW HIM TO RACE FOR FERRARI FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON. IT WAS ANNOUNCED FOUR DAYS LATER THAT TEST DRIVER VITANTONIO LIUZZI WOULD REPLACE FISICHELLA FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON.

VJM01

THE VJM-01 WAS LAUNCHED WITH A WHITE, GOLD AND TUNGSTEN COLORED LIVERY AT THE GATEWAY OF INDIA, IN MUMBAI, INDIA, ON FEBRUARY 7 2008. THE CAR WAS NAMED AFTER FORCE INDIA F1'S OWNERS DR. VIJAY MALLYA, JAN MOL AND MICHEL MOL. THE CAR WAS FITTED WITH NEW AERODYNAMIC UPDATES AFTER ALMOST EVERY RACE.

VJM02

THE VJM-02 IS POWERED BY MERCEDES-BENZ ENGINES FROM THE 2009 SEASON AFTER SIGNING A FIVE YEAR DEAL ON 10 NOVEMBER 2008. THE DEAL ALSO INCLUDES SUPPLY OF MCLAREN-MERCEDES GEARBOXES, HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS AND KINETIC ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEMS (KERS). THE CAR WAS REVEALED ON MARCH 1 2009.

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE (ALSO REFERRED TO AS RCB) IS AN INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM, BASED IN THE CITY OF BANGALORE. THE TEAM IS OWNED BY THE DRINKS MAGNATE VIJAY MALLYA, THROUGH HIS FLAGSHIP FIRM UB GROUP.[4] BRIJESH PATEL IS THE CEO OF THE RCB AND ANIL KUMBLE IS THE CAPTAIN. RAHUL DRAVID IS THE TEAM'S ICON PLAYER, WHILE RAY JENNINGS, THE FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN COACH, IS THE COACH.

FRANCHISE HISTORY

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE IS A CRICKET TOURNAMENT BEING ORGANISED BY THE BOARD OF CONTROL FOR CRICKET IN INDIA (BCCI) AND BACKED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL (ICC).[6] FOR THE INAUGURAL TOURNAMENT HELD IN APR-JUN 2008, THE BCCI HAD FINALISED A LIST OF 8 TEAMS WHO WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE TOURNAMENT. THE TEAMS REPRESENTING 8 DIFFERENT CITIES OF INDIA, INCLUDING BANGALORE, WERE PUT UP ON AUCTION IN MUMBAI ON 20 FEBRUARY 2008 AND THE BANGALORE TEAM WAS WON BY VIJAY MALLYA, WHO PAID US$111.6 MILLION FOR IT. THIS WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST BID FOR A TEAM IN THE IPL, NEXT ONLY TO MUKESH AMBANI'S RELIANCE INDUSTRIES' BID OF $111.9 MILLION FOR THE MUMBAI TEAM. BOLLYWOOD ACTRESSES KATRINA KAIF AND DEEPIKA PADUKONE, AND SANDALWOOD FILM STARS RAMYA AND UPENDRA ARE THE BRAND AMBASSADORS OF THE TEAM.

2008 IPL SEASON

THE TEAM WON 4 MATCHES IN THIS SEASON, LOSING 10 MATCHES AND MANAGED TO SECURE ONLY THE LAST BUT ONE POSITION IN THE POINTS TABLE. ONLY ONE OF THEIR BATSMAN, RAHUL DRAVID MANAGED TO SCORE MORE THAN 300 RUNS IN THE TOURNAMENT AND THEY HAD TO EVEN BENCH THEIR COSTLIEST FOREIGN PLAYER, JACQUES KALLIS FOR FEW OF THE MATCHES DUE TO HIS POOR FORM.[8][9] THE STRING OF FAILURES MID-WAY THROUGH THE SEASON LED TO THE SACKING OF THE CEO, CHARU SHARMA WHO WAS REPLACED WITH BRIJESH PATEL.[10] EVEN COACH VENKATESH PRASAD WAS ABOUT TO BE SACKED, BUT HE SAVED HIS JOB BY PUBLICLY APOLOGISING FOR THE TEAM'S FAILURE. THEY WERE THE ONLY TEAM IN THE IPL TO TRY OUT 11 OPENING COMBINATIONS IN 14 GAMES. EVENTUALLY THE CHIEF CRICKETING OFFICER, MARTIN CROWE RESIGNED.[11]. FROM 2009 IPL SESSION ONWARDS THE TEAM WILL BE COACHED BY FORMER SOUTH AFRICA COACH RAY JENNINGS.

2009 IPL SEASON

THE TEAM STARTED WITH A WIN AGAINST DEFENDING CHAMPIONS RAJASTHAN ROYALS BUT QUICKLY WENT ON TO LOSE A FEW GAMES AFTERWARDS UNDER THE CAPTAINCY OF KEVIN PIETERSEN. HOWEVER, HE HAD TO LEAVE FOR NATIONAL DUTY AND CAPTAINCY WAS TAKEN OVER BY FORMER INDIAN TEST CAPTAIN ANIL KUMBLE. THE TEAM FORTUNES REVERSED AND THEY BEAT DECCAN CHARGERS TO SECURE A 3RD PLACE IN THE ROUND ROBIN STAGE ON IPL2. IN THE SEMI FINAL THEY BEAT TEAM CHENNAI TO MAKE IT TO THE FINAL OF THE IPL2. HOWEVER THEY LOST BY 6 RUNS, IN A CLOSE MATCH TO DECCAN CHARGERS.

THEME SONG

THE ORIGINAL THEME SONG OF ROYAL CHALLENGERS IS JEETENGE HUM SHAAN SE SUNG BY KUNAL GANJAWALA AND SUNIDHI CHOWHAN. HOWEVER ANOTHER UNOFFICIAL FANCLUB'S THEME SONG CALLED THAKKATH GEETE HAS BEEN COMPOSED IN SUPPORT OF THE RED & YELLOW TEAM, WITH THE HELP OF TV9. THE THEME SONG FOR 2009 HAS BEEN MADE BY REDIFFUSION Y&R BANGALORE AND IS CALLED "GAME FOR MORE". THE MUSIC VIDEO WAS DIRECTED BY SANJAY SHETTY AND VISHAL FROM OPTICUS FILMS, THE MUSIC WAS DIRECTED BY AMIT TRIVEDI (DEV.D AND AAMIR FAME)AND THE LYRICS WERE CREATED BY ANSHU SHARMA FROM REDIFFUSION Y&R.

PLAYERS

1ST IPL AUCTION

THE PLAYERS IN THE TEAM (EXCEPT FOR RAHUL DRAVID, WHO WAS THE ICON PLAYER), WERE SELECTED IN AN AUCTION CONDUCTED BY BCCI ON 20 FEBRUARY 2008. SOUTH AFRICA'S JACQUES KALLIS AT $900,000 BECAME THE COSTLIEST PLAYER TO BE SELECTED TO PLAY FOR THE ROYAL CHALLENGERS. THIS MEANT THAT RAHUL DRAVID, BEING THE ICON PLAYER WOULD BE PAID $1,035,000 (15% MORE THAN THE HIGHEST BID PLAYER IN THE TEAM). OTHER PLAYERS SELECTED INCLUDED THE THEN INDIAN TEST CRICKET CAPTAIN ANIL KUMBLE ALONG WITH HIS TEAM-MATES PRAVEEN KUMAR AND ZAHEER KHAN, WEST INDIAN SHIVNARINE CHANDERPAUL, AUSSIES NATHAN BRACKEN AND CAMERON WHITE, SOUTH AFRICA'S MARK BOUCHER (WICKET KEEPER) AND DALE STEYN. THE TEAM ALSO INCLUDED PAKISTAN CRICKET TEAM'S VICE CAPTAIN MISBAH-UL-HAQ ALTHOUGH HE WASN'T IN THE PLAYING 11 FOR MOST PART OF THE TOURNAMENT.

TRANSFERS & NEW SIGNINGS

ON THE LAST DAY OF THE 2008-2009 TRANSFER WINDOW, ZAHEER KHAN WAS SWAPPED WITH ROBIN UTHAPPA OF MUMBAI INDIANS, WITH NO MONEY EXCHANGED. THE TEAM ALSO ACQUIRED KARNATAKA BATSMAN GAURAV DHIMAN FROM MUMBAI INDIANS AND RAJASTHAN FAST BOWLER PANKAJ SINGH FROM RAJASTHAN ROYALS.

THE TEAM HAS SIGNED EAGLES FAST BOWLER DILLON DU PREEZ AS A REPLACEMENT FOR ZAHEER KHAN.

2ND IPL AUCTION

KEVIN PIETERSEN MADE HIS WAY INTO RCB AS ONE OF THE COSTLIEST PLAYERS IN IPL HISTORY. KEVIN PIETERSEN WAS VALUED AT $1.55M OVER A BASE PRICE OF $1.35M. ALSO JESSE RYDER FROM NEW ZEALAND WAS ACQUIRED IN THE AUCTION AT $160,000.

CAPTAINCY

VIJAY MALLYA, THE OWNER OF BANGALORE ROYAL CHALLENGERS, HAS KEPT THE CAPTAINCY OPTIONS OPEN. MINUTES AFTER PICKING UP KEVIN PIETERSEN AT USD 1.55 MILLION, MALLAYA SAID HE WAS HAPPY WITH THE PRICE HE GOT HIM AT. "THE CAPTAINCY OPTIONS ARE OPEN. THE TEAM MANAGEMENT WILL TAKE A DECISION ON IT." THE ROYAL CHALLENGERS, WHO FINISHED SECOND LAST THE PREVIOUS YEAR, WERE LED BY RAHUL DRAVID. ON MARCH 21, 2009 VIJAY MALLYA ANNOUNCED THAT KEVIN PIETERSEN WAS REPLACING RAHUL DRAVID AS THE TEAM CAPTAIN FOR THE 2009 SEASON. THE REASON GIVEN WAS DRAVID'S ABSENCE IN THE LEAGUE DUE TO FAMILY RELATED REASONS.[14] HOWEVER MANY SUSPECT THAT THE CHANGE IN CAPTAINCY IS THE RESULT OF THE POOR PERFORMANCE OF THE TEAM IN THE FIRST SEASON OF THE INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE. ON THE 30TH APRIL 2009, ANIL KUMBLE WAS NAMED THE CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM FOR THE REMAINING GAMES OF THE IPL SEASON 2, DUE TO KEVIN PIETERSEN'S ABSENCE TO PLAY FOR ENGLAND AGAINST THE WEST INDIES.

SOME QUOTES BY VIJAY MALLYA

“I THINK THAT THE POOREST OF THE POOR... LOOK UP TO WEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL INDIANS WITH SOME DEGREE OF RESPECT AND PRIDE,”

“THEY TAKE PRIDE IN THE SUCCESS OF FELLOW INDIANS AS WELL.”

“I'M ALWAYS CLAIMING THAT 24 BY 7 ISN'T ENOUGH. ... I LOVE CHALLENGES,”

AS VIJAY MALLYA SAYS, HE WANTS FOR NOTHING 'BUT MY ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE IS TO PILOT A KINGFISHER AIRLINES A380 SUPERJUMBO.

PHOTOS

THANK YOU…