Mumbai, Nov. 26 :
Mumbai, Nov. 26:
He returned to his homeland after five years. So naturally his employees were on high alert. But the second home-coming of Manohar Rajaram Chhabria was quite low profile and understated.
The normally acerbic Chhabria, who was here to sign a landmark tie-up that put his mega brands-Royal Challenge, Director's Special-on shelves abroad, seems to have mellowed down quite a lot.
While he spoke with a drawl his face did not betray any emotion when uncomfortable questions were thrown at him.
It is reported that Manu has buried the hatchet with his younger brother Kishore, but the Dubai-based business baron did not seem to be over-enthusiastic about the matter.
On the other hand, he provided a vital piece of information that steadily his three daughters are being inducted into the business.
Komal Wazir, the face of the Chhabrias, may eventually go to Dubai, the headquarters of the Jumbo group, sources said. His eldest daughter, a housewife now, may be given responsibilities in the group and so also his youngest one.
Chhabria, however, denies any succession motive behind these inductions. 'They are professionally qualified and they have done their bachelor's degree in Houston,' he said.
While a lot has been written on the prospective reunion of the two brothers, Manu does not seem to be in any hurry. His condition for rapprochement is simple-'First, Kishore has to return the brands.'
The brands under question include Officer's Choice that Kishore 'hijacked' along with BDA Distilleries, the maker of the brand, when he sided with UB Group supremo Vijay Mallya, the arch rival of Manu.
On the much-talked-about move to relocate his offices to Mumbai from Calcutta, Chhabria said that to achieve global ambitions a business needs 'proper manpower, telecom infrastructure and very good port facilities.' He is looking for setting up another Shaw Wallace House in Mumbai.
Asked about the strife-torn Dunlop India, he said the problem is simple: 'the high cost of production'. Everything else had been sorted out. 'Manpower needs to be reduced. We may have to go for a VRS and then the company will turn into a goldmine,' he declared.
Hindustan Dorr Oliver and Mather & Platt, he says, have received a big boost recently. 'They (the two companies), have secured huge orders from Iraq (amounting to Rs 250 crore) which will
keep the orderbooks full for two years.'
Asked about his standoff with Mallya and the money owed to him, Chabbria pooh-poohed it by saying that he has to go to the courts to get it. 'He (Mallya) has taken the assignment. Let him go to the court and take it.'
The liquor baron with interests in tyres, engineering and electronics today signed a memorandum of understanding on behalf of Shaw Wallace for a global tieup with Kyndal, one of the world's largest producers of Scotch whisky. The tie-up will lead to the launch of major liquor brands in India.
This was announced at a press conference today, attended by Chhabria himself and Brian Megson, chairman and chief executive of Kyndal.
The coming together of two major players in the liquor industry, will see Kyndal's impressive portfolio of brands like Whyte and Mackay Scotch, Dalmore Single Malt, Vladivar Vodka and Glavya liqueurs in the Indian market, helped by the distribution set-up of Shaw Wallace.