HCL Corp forays into healthcare, launches India's first nation-wide networked multi-specialty clinics under HCL Avitas

HCL Corporation, the parent company of HCL Technologies and HCL Infosystems, has forayed into the healthcare sector with plans to be one of India's largest healthcare service providers. The new business entity, HCL Healthcare will address the entire spectrum of healthcare needs including providing healthcare delivery, innovative medical services, products and training to meet the growing need for quality healthcare.

Accordingv to Shiv Nadar, founder & chairman, HCL and Shiv Nadar Foundation, education, healthcare and technology will be the key enablers of India's future progress and growth. “Over the last 38 years, HCL has been at the forefront of technology and innovation. I have personally been committed to the cause of education through the Foundation for 20 years,” said Nadar adding that the company's entry into healthcare is an area of paramount national importance.

Kickstarting the venture, the company has launched a subsidiary called HCL Avitas in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International. Offering a of healthcare delivery offerings, HCL Avitas is positioned as India's first nation-wide networked multi-specialty clinics. The clinics will adopt global best practices for medical quality and training using evidence-based systems and integrating advanced technology to provide unmatched patient experience and outcomes.

Steven J Thompson, CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine International, said, that HCL was a strong and trusted brand with a steadfast commitment to transform healthcare in India. “Together with HCL Avitas, we hope to establish a new paradigm in patient-centered care in India,” said Thompson.

HCL Healthcare observed that India has a shifting disease burden that is influenced by changing lifestyles and that this need is grossly underserved. “Our technology expertise and the ability to create scalable institutions will help us institute new benchmarks in healthcare delivery in India. Creating an organised technology-led health system that will be the long-term care partner is our immediate goal. HCL Healthcare intends to be that partner and provide patient-centered care for over 20 million people by 2020,” said Shikhar Malhotra, vice chairman, HCL Healthcare.

In the launch phase, HCL Avitas will establish a network of multi-specialty clinics across the country starting with the National Capital Region. Harish Natarajan, chief executive officer, HCL Avitas, said, “Technology is our strength – our clinics will all be networked giving patients access to their medical history and to the best specialists available in our system. Through our association with Johns Hopkins, we will bring in global best practices and the best evidence-based systems. In the next 5 years, we expect to have over 1500 doctors in our network across various cities in the country,” said Natarajan.

Banknotes issued prior to 2005 to be withdrawn: RBI Advisory

The Reserve Bank of India on January 22, 2014, advised that after March 31, 2014, it will completely withdraw from circulation all banknotes issued prior to 2005. 

In a note on its website, RBI said that from April 1, 2014, the public will be required to approach banks for exchanging these notes. Banks will provide exchange facility for these notes until further communication. 

The Reserve Bank further stated that public can easily identify the notes to be withdrawn as the notes issued before 2005 do not have on them the year of printing on the reverse side. (Please see illustration below)

 The Reserve Bank has also clarified that the notes issued before 2005 will continue to be legal tender. This would mean that banks are required to exchange the notes for their customers as well as for non-customers.

From July 01, 2014, however,  to exchange more than 10 pieces of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, non-customers will have to furnish proof of identity and residence to the bank branch in which she/he wants to exchange the notes.

The Reserve Bank has appealed to the public not to panic. They are requested to actively co-operate in the withdrawal process.

Ranbaxy's biggest bulk drug unit under US FDA scanner

This story first appeared in DNA Money edition on Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Troubles do not seem to end for Ranbaxy Laboratories, which saw its shares tank 9.47% on Monday after one of its key facilities at Toansa, Punjab, was slapped with Form 483 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Form 483 is issued at the conclusion of an inspection when investigators observe any conditions that in their judgment may constitute violations of the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act and related Acts.

The shares of Ranbaxy, the biggest Indian drugmaker by sales, opened at Rs 466 on Monday and reached a low of Rs 420 before closing the day at at Rs 438.80,  down 5.58% from the previous close.

This is the second biggest fall since September 2013 when the stock had lost 30.27% of its value following an import alert on its Mohali plant by the US FDA for violation of current good manufacturing practices.

In a note to the exchanges, Ranbaxy said, “It is assessing the observations, and will respond to the US FDA in accordance with the agency’s procedure to resolve the concerns at the earliest.”

While Ranbaxy management did not share any production related details, industry experts said the plant manufactures around 70-75% of its API requirements.

Under the Form 483 process, the company would now have to respond with its corrective action plan and implement it expeditiously or face an import alert.

Sarabjit Kour Nangra, vice-president, research-pharma, Angel Broking, said, “During the second quarter of calendar year 2013, its other key facility at Mohali came under US FDA import alert. With this plant also under scanner, it would have impact on the operations of the company in the US, unless it can compensate for the same at the earliest and mange a smooth supply of key raw materials,” said Nangra.

She said more clarity is awaited from the Ranbaxy management in order to ascertain the exact impact on the financials, especially operating profit margins.

“Until then, the company could trade at a huge discount to its peers,” said Nangra.

Getting US FDA clearance will be crucial for Ranbaxy considering all of its India-based factories are currently banned by the regulator from exporting medicines to the US, its largest market.

Last week Ranbaxy inked a licensing pact with EPIRUS Switzerland GmbH for BOW015, a biosimilar version of Infliximab, prescribed to treat rheumatoid arthritis, and said the product will be introduced in India and other emerging markets.

Ranjit Kapadia, senior vice-president - pharma, Centrum Broking, said the molecule has only completed Phase 3 studies. “It would take 12-18 months to get regulatory approval and commercialise the product in India,” he said.

Will Wockhardt turn rocket for its lone Mutual fund believer?

My colleague Nupur Anand is the lead writer of this story appearing in DNA Money edition on Monday, Janart 13, 2014.

Last time when the Wockhardt shares shot up a whopping 350% was in 2012 after the drug firm successfully came out of debt restructuring.

This time buffeted by issues with the US Food and Drug Administration, the stock is again in doldrums -- between April and December it lost 83%, down to a new low of Rs 339.85 from Rs 2,024.90 at the start of the fiscal.

And now rooting for an encore is Prashant Jain, chief investment officer of HDFC MF, India’s largest fund house, who known for taking contra calls and unusual bets that have paid off.

As Wockhardt stock nosedived, several retail investors and mutual fund houses started dumping it.

In the same period, Jain quietly picked up the pharma firm’s shares.

Till April last year, HDFC MF had zero shares of Wockhardt, whereas other mutual funds held 10.34 lakh shares.

By September end, HDFC has 13.59 lakh shares, a whooping 97% of the total shares held by mutual fund houses.

Out of the total 1.36% shares of Wockhardt held by MFs, Jain alone holds 1.29%.

Under Jain’s watch, the asset under management of HDFC MF have grown to mammoth size of Rs 108,990 crore.

And market experts believe that this contra call by Jain may pay off.

An expert with a foreign brokerage said, “The rationale behind Prashant Jain’s optimism has to do with his philosophy on finding deep value stocks which he can hold, and expect higher value to unravel when it tides through difficult times. To me, the recent stock correction factors a worst-case scenario.”

A pharma analyst from a leading domestic brokerage added, “Fundamentally, despite trouble with US FDA, the residual business would have enough earnings power to justify current price. The current balance-sheet health is much stronger than ever, and hereon there can only be upside to earnings outlook. The kind of turnaround Prashant Jain has seen in Aurobindo could be something he is betting on in case of Wockhardt, once the regulatory issues are tackled.”

Bad times for Wockhardt started in May after the USFDA put an import alert on its Waluj plant and intensified between May and November, when the company being hauled up four more times by the US and the UK drug regulators.

Sarabjit Kour Nangra, VP-research, pharma, Angel Broking also believes that Jain’s bet may pay off.

“The Wockhardt stock took significant beating last year and has probably gone through the worst times. But one needs to also take into account that the company successfully came out of the financial mess in the years before that and Jain is certainly betting on its revival from the US FDA and UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency issues,” said Nangra.

“One also needs to remember that Wockhardt is one of the biggest players in the pharma industry and investors with a long-term view would certainly take exposure as the risk-reward is huge,” she said.

Wockhardt stock has been recovering slowly and is now trading at Rs 424.95, already up 25% from the December low of Rs 339.85.

Wockhardt’s foreign drug regulator alerts

May 2013 - US Food and Drug Administration import alert on Waluj Plant

July - UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (UK MHRA) import alert on Waluj plant

Oct - UK MHRA withdraws Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificate for Daman plant

Oct - UK MHRA withdraws GMP for Chikalthana plant

Nov - US FDA import alert on Chikalthana plant

Dec - US FDA import alert on Chikalthana and Waluj units for veterinary drugs

Now, IHCL aligns its United Kingdom hotels with Taj brand

This story first appeared in DNA Money edition on Wednesday, January 08, 2014.

Indian Hotels (IHCL), Tata’s hospitality business vertical, has rebranded two of its hotels in the United Kingdom (UK), aligning them with its luxury positioning in the international hospitality market.

The UK hotels will now be promoted within the Taj group’s portfolio of luxury hotels, resorts and palaces.

Taj management said it now has sole ownership and management, as well as operational and marketing control, of both properties.

The over a century old Crowne Plaza London - St James, a property located in central London and featuring 340 guestrooms and 21 suites, has been renamed St James’s Court, a Taj Hotel. While the published rate for a standard room at this hotel is £495 (around Rs 50,500) for a night’s stay, the best available rate as shown on its website is £119 (Rs 12,100) including the value-added tax or VAT.

Similarly, 51 Buckingham Gate, Taj Suites & Residences (pictured, below; 86 luxury suites and residences) has been re-branded Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences. With a published rate of £720 for a base category room, the hotel’s website shows £360 and £324 as best available and early bird (non-refundable) rates for a night’s stay.

Raymond Bickson, MD and CEO of the Taj group, said that the rebranding comes at an exciting time for the increasing strategic links between India and the UK. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to restore these iconic hotels that have more than a century of heritage.”

Deepa Harris, senior VP-global sales and marketing, the Taj Group, said that the success of the two London hotels has provided impetus to consolidate Taj’s brand presence in the UK, an important source market where the Tata group has had a presence for over a century, and is now the UK’s largest manufacturing sector employer and one of its largest foreign investors.

Both hotels have undergone phased renovations at considerable (but undisclosed) investment from the Taj group.

Taj will add to the Tata brands portfolio in the UK that includes Jaguar, Land Rover, Tata Steel Europe (formerly Corus) and Tetley Tea.

Mylan ropes in Biocon honcho Bamzai

This story first appeared in DNA Money edition on January 03, 2014.

Post the US parent Mylan Inc accomplishing the $1.75-billion acquisition of Agila injectables businesses from Strides Arcolab in December last year, the Indian subsidiary is now understood to be getting on board a top-notch pharma industry veteran to lead its Indian business activities.

Touted to be taking up a leadership position with Mylan India is Rakesh Bamzai, (pictured) who recently quit as president of Bangalore-based biopharmaceutical company, Biocon Ltd, after 19 years of association.

“He (Bamzai) is joining Mylan India,” confirmed an industry source familiar with the move.

Bamzai could not be reached for a comment on this move, while Mylan India did not respond to a email seeking confirmation on the same.

While details about the leadership position at Mylan India is still unknown, industry sources say it could very likely be a similar position Bamzai held at Biocon or possibly a higher management position.

Interestingly, in a notification to the exchanges, Biocon had said that Bamzai has decided to leave the organisation to accept a new leadership role.

“Rakesh has decided to take up a very senior and challenging leadership assignment,” said Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairperson and managing director, Biocon.

Media reports had indicated that Bamzai was widely considered to be the next chief executive officer (CEO) of Biocon despite the fact that the biopharmaceutical company was going through a process of extensive reorganisation.

Mylan Labs’ current CEO and managing director, B Hari Babu, has been associated with the company since May 2001.

Hari is responsible for all of Mylan Labs’ operations including research and development, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and finished dosage production, supply chain management, environmental health and safety, sales and marketing, human relations and finance.

Mylan Labs is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of over 150 APIs.  

Among a wide range of therapeutic categories being catered to by Mylan include antibacterials, central nervous system agents, antihistamine/anti-asthmatics, cardiovasculars, antivirals, antidiabetics, antifungals, proton pump inhibitors and pain management drugs.

Update from Mylan Inc.

Mylan Inc (Nasdaq: MYL) announced that Rakesh Bamzai has joined the company and has been appointed president, India Commercial and Emerging Markets.

Bamzai has more than 20 years of experience in the Indian and global biopharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Mylan, he was president of Marketing at Biocon, where he played a key role in building the company's global biopharmaceutical business. He had overall responsibility for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and branded formulations and managed a team of more than 2,000 people across functional areas and geographies.

Through the years, he also spearheaded many strategic partnerships that enabled the organization to gain wider global access and greater market penetration for its biopharmaceuticals business. Bamzai also led Biocon's foray into branded formulations and built many successful brands across therapies in India and Gulf Cooperation Council states.

Mylan President Rajiv Malik commented, "We were extremely pleased when Rakesh asked to join our company. Many of us at Mylan have had a firsthand opportunity to work with Rakesh over the course of our strategic partnership with Biocon and have observed his strong business and marketing acumen, his strategic insight and outstanding leadership skills. In this new role overseeing all of Mylan's commercial operations in India and emerging markets, we believe that Rakesh will add significant value to Mylan."

Bamzai said, "I have had the privilege of collaborating with Mylan during my time at Biocon, and I am excited about the significant opportunities I see for the company in India and other emerging markets. I believe Mylan's commitment to quality and to setting new standards for innovation, reliability and service for patients and physicians in India will further distinguish Mylan from its peers. I look forward to supporting Mylan's continued expansion and differentiation in these exciting growth markets."

Bamzai graduated from the University of Mumbai (Department of Chemical Technology).

Fairmont Raffles looking to wind up India operations

A version of this story first appeared in DNA Money edition on January 01, 2014.

Canadian hotel company Fairmont Raffles Hotel International (FRHI) is considering winding up its India operations as the cost of operating a hotel management company in India is becoming unviable, industry sources said.

It may re-enter when overall environment gets more conducive for business, they said.

“The hotel management company has begun giving out feelers to asset owners on its plans to withdraw from India. A communication has been sent out by the company to hotel asset partners with whom it has signed Letters of Intent for future launches expressing its intentions. The same is true for its operational properties, too,” said an industry source privy with the development.

It is also learnt that FRHI has already shut its development office in India and has moved some of the staff to its Dubai office. The development office typically identifies and initiates discussions with hotel asset owners and enters into LoIs and management contracts.

“However, slowdown in development activities forced the hospitality firm to relocate operations,” said another source.

FRHI, however, denied all market talk of its India exit.

In an emailed response, the hotel operator said, “FRHI Hotels & Resorts continues to view India as a core strategic market and we look forward to growing our presence in the country in the future. We have enjoyed a very successful entry into the market with Fairmont Jaipur, and remain fully committed to operating in this key domestic market. Additionally, we see the Indian market as critical not only for our growth in India but also for outbound travel to our hotels globally.”

Fairmont Raffles Hotel International is a global operator of hotels in the five-star luxury category with brands like Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel with more than 100 properties. 

The company had entered India in 2010-11 with plans to operate 40 hotels in five years. The plan was to operate up to six hotels under Raffles brand, about 8 to 12 under Fairmont and around 20 Swissotels under management contract in India, a top official had said then.

However, it has only two operational hotels so far -- one each under Fairmont (Jaipur) and Swissotel (Kolkata) brands. Its third brand Raffles is yet to debut in the market.

Its Swissotel branded five-star deluxe resort at Calangute in Goa was deflagged (within six months of the launch) in September 2013.

The development pipeline had two more hotels under the Swissotel brand in Gurgaon/Noida and Bangalore (Whitefield) that were to be operational in 2013 – the Swissotel website now has 2015 and 2016 as the year of launch.

Similarly, work on a Swissotel property at Mumbai's Andheri-Kurla road area has been stalled for almost a year now and is unlikely to meet the 2015 launch date. The fate of Fairmont branded hotel in Hyderabad is uncertain as well.