Introduction to Merchant Banking

Definition of Merchant Banking The Notification of the Ministry of Finance defines merchant banker as; “Any person who is engaged in the business of issue management either by making arrangements regarding selling, buying or subscribing to securities as manager-consultant, adviser or rendering corporate advisory services in relation to such issue management” The Amendment Regulation specifies that issue management consist of prospectus and other information relating to issue, determining financial structure, tie-up of financiers and final allotment and refund of the subscriptions, underwriting and portfolio management services. In the words of Skully “A Merchant Bank could be best defined as a financial institution conducting money market activities and lending, underwriting and financial advice, and investment services whose organization is characterized by a high proportion of professional staff able to able to approach problems in an innovative manner and to make and implement decisions rapidly.” Nature of Merchant Banking Merchant banking is Continue reading

What is Value-Based Management?

Today’s work life has become so demanding, fast paced, stressful, ambiguous and chaotic due to our lifestyle that we are forced to seek Value-based answers and ways of achieving personal stability within. We have come to realize that our inner wisdom is the only source that will sustain our adaptation and stability in the long run. More specifically, it has to do with how we define ourselves, view the world, relate to others, and make ethical/ moral decisions. Introduction of spirituality in an organization culture will help employees desire, to integrate personal life values with professional life. What is Value-Based Management? Value management is distinct from other management approaches in way that it is simultaneously includes attributes which are not normally found together. It brings together within a single management system. Alignment of business vision, goals, strategies, policies and practice has always been the key to the effectiveness and success Continue reading

Current Cost Accounting – Definition and Criticisms

Current Cost Accounting (CCA) attempts to provide more realistic book values by valuing assets at current market buying prices. It takes into account time-value of money and inflation. It is more complex than the traditional accounting, and it has created controversy about what adjustments are appropriate. Unlike Historical Cost Accounting, there is no need for inventory cost flow assumptions such as last-in-first-out and weighted average. The business profit in CCA shows how the entity has gained in financial terms the increase in cost of its resources, which is ignored by historical cost accounting. Differentiating operating profit from holding gains and losses has claimed to enhance the usefulness of information being provided by CCA. Holding gains are different from trading income as they are due to market-wide movements which are beyond the control of the management.  Therefore,  Current Cost Accounting doesn’t rewards managers for profits from holding gains and losses which Continue reading

3Ps of Marketing Communication

An organisations marketing communication strategy are represented by 3Ps: Push, Pull and Profile. Push strategy: This strategy promotes products to retailers or wholesalers in order to force the product line down the distribution line. Pull strategy: This strategy is the opposite to push strategy where communication reaches to consumer or end user first with an aim to attract the retailer wholesaler channel to purchase the product line. Profile Strategy: In order to satisfy an organisations promotional goals profile strategy is used. This strategy mostly aims towards satisfying stakeholder needs. 1. Push Strategy Main focus of push strategy is to use minimal or no advertising to get the product to the buyers. This strategy acquires customers by personal sale. One of the places can be trade-shows where products are shown to interested business. In trade shows distributors get to know about product line up of a company with their business expertise Continue reading

Budgetary Slack – Definition, Causes and Prevention Methods

Meaning and Definition of  Budgetary Slack In an organization when a manager is responsible for planning incomes and expenses for the a future period, they can plan income very low and expenses very high so that this amounts gets approved by senior management. The manager basically does this thing to be sure of meeting the budget with a very low income goal, the manager should be able to achieve it and go over it. With a very high expense budget the manager should be able to easily keep actual expenses within the Budget. If this happens the managers performance in the coming year will look very good, as it doesn’t really give management any idea of what the coming year will actually look like because it’s not realistic. And it doesn’t show the actual evaluation of the manager’s performance. So this is known as the Budgetary Slack. In other words, Continue reading

Retailing Decisions: Factors To Consider

There are many factors for retailers to consider while developing and implementing their marketing plans. Among the major retailing decisions are these related to (a) Target markets (b) Merchandise management (c) Store location (d) Store image (e) Store personnel (f) Store design (g) Promotion, and (h) Credit and collections. Target Markets: Although retailers normally aim at the mass market, a growing number are engaging in marketing research and market segmentation, because they are finding it increasingly difficult to satisfy everyone. Through a careful definition of target markets, retailers can use their resources and capabilities to position themselves more effectively and achieve differential advantage. The tremendous growth in number of specialty stores in recent years is largely due to their ability to define precisely the type of customers, they want to serve. Merchandise Management: The objective here is to identify the merchandise that customers want, and make it available at the Continue reading