1 Inside... 2 Brigade Cup ’08, Mysore Brigade’s new offi ces 3 Young Achiever 2008 Brigade’s 2009 Calendar 4 5 Furnished apts at BRIGADE INSIGHT Brigade Gateway and Brigade Metropolis Vol. 12 No. 3 The Newsletter of the Brigade Group Released in December ’08 6 7 Learning how to counter the new species of terrorism 7 Bangalore update Brigade in Forbes’ “Best Under a Billion” 8 Mercure Homestead BrigadeB Enterprises has Residences mmade it to this year’s 9 The Brigade International FForbes “200 Best Under School A Billion” list for the Annual Day Celebrations Asia-PacifiA c region. This @ The Brigade School prestigiousp list selects 10 Global Financial Crisis 2002 of Asia-Pacifi c’s bestb small and medi- For private circulation only THE REGION’S TOP 200 SMALL AND MIDSIZE COMPANIES umu sized companies December 3, 2008 withw sales under $ one billion. Of CMD M.R. Jaishankar received the award on 3 December at a ceremony in the 15,000 com- Singapore. (l to r) Albert Teo, CEO, Amara Holdings; Christopher Forbes, Vice- OUR HOMAGE panies listed this year, 200 Chairman, Forbes; Mike Barclay, CEO, Sentosa Dev. Corp. (See page 6 & 7) were selected for the “Best Under A has historically been a good place for investors to get Billion” list. Brigade is one of 22 Indian companies ideas about Asian investments. That could prove par- selected, contributing to India’s 4th rank. Brigade is the ticularly true this year. Members of our 2008 list have only real estate company from India (the only Bangalore proven themselves capable of navigating stormy econo- company in any fi eld) to fi nd a place in the Forbes list. mies thus far—a good sign should global growth con- The Brigade International School Totally, 15,000 companies from the Asia-Pacifi c re- tinue to sag.” Near Metropolis gion were studied for their growth in sales, profi tability, The study covered the entire Asia-Pacifi c region. soundness of fi nancials, and the strength to survive and Apart from India, it included: Japan, Australia, New thrive in present times. Zealand, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Ma- In the words of Forbes magazine, “Judging from its laysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, China and other South performance relative to the regional benchmark, our list Asian countries. For more details, see page 8 Brigade in Dubai Brigade presents Affordable Housing at Build Up '08 Bhoomi Poojas... M.R. Jaishankar addressing the gathering. Celebrating the inauguration of Dubai Offi ce. (l to r) Ms Smarinitha Shetty, Monitor Group; Mr Anurag Mathur, Cushman & 1. Premium retail space @ We are proud to announce the opening of Brigade’s fi rst Wakefi eld and Mr Prakash Chella, President, CREDAI Tamil Nadu. Residency Road, Bangalore. international marketing offi ce in Dubai on 19 October. Brigade participated in “Build Up 2008”—an international 2. Brigade Crescent, Our offi ces are located at 708, Atrium Centre, Bank real estate exhibition and conference. Held on high end apartments, Street, Bur Dubai. The inauguration was celebrated with 21 and 22 October, the conference focused on “Indian Nandidurg Road, Bangalore. a dinner party held at the Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel Realty Gearing Ahead”. CMD M.R. Jaishankar made a 3. IT SEZ in Kochi Infopark. and Towers. presentation on “Affordable Housing” for the session on For more details, see page 2 Propelling Residential Developments in India. Felicitation at the Public Affairs Centre Brigade Group’s CMD M. R. Jaishankar has served on the board of the PAC (Public Affairs Centre) from 1998 to 2008. He, along with Dr Samuel Paul, the outgoing Chairman, was felicitated on the occasion. M.R. Jaishankar, an outgoing director Former Chief Justice of India Venkatachalaiah of the Public Affairs Centre, was felicitated assumed charge as Chairman of the PAC. by former Chief Justice of India M.N. Venkatachalaiah. For more details, see page 2 2 BRIGADE INSIGHT Vol. 12 No. 3 Released in Dec ’08 The most signifi cant happening in the last quarter sectors of the old economy are agriculture, EDITO R’S NO TE is the manner in which Barack Obama was elected automobiles and construction. In the new economy as the President of the world’s biggest economy, unquestionably it is the IT sector. All these sectors This issue of Brigade Insight covers—as on the plank of promise of CHANGE. For me it require great support if the government is even always—events and developments in the was a moving experience to watch the fi nal half serious about improving the state of the stages of the US election process and to listen to economy. company. But it also goes beyond our the high quality speeches. If one reads Obama’s immediate world… Audacity of Hope, one can realise what a clear The November terrorist attack in Mumbai is the “Today, the American economy may be thinking person he is. It certainly brings hope of most heinous and boldest ever, exposing all the entering a downturn that is best described a better tomorrow for the world as his views are chinks in our armour. It has made the citizens as L-shaped. It is in a very low place indeed, full of sense. angry, dumbfounded and helpless. and likely to remain there for some time to Many political leaders were behaving come,” said Joseph E. Stiglitz, the Nobel prize By and large, the last quarter has seen like Nero when Mumbai was under winning economist. The meltdown in the USA the stock markets world over getting attack. has turned global and we hope this will not battered, India not being an exception. go down in history as ‘The Great Recession Once the December quarter results If the government does not ACT now of 2008’. The world seemed bleak enough start pouring in, the mood is unlikely by taking measures similar to what to become better. The spectre of United States took post 9/11, I do not with concerns about the economy. falling rates, increasing unemployment know what will make them move. The Then came November 26 and three and tougher visa conditions in the time has come to stop barking and days that shook the nation. Photographs of western economies is not the fodder start biting when driven to do so. these dark days will haunt us for years to stock markets like. come: young, well-dressed terrorists prowling In an otherwise gloomy quarter, corridors in search of victims; the empty, Unlike the bold ‘bail out’ packages of the US the highlight event for Brigade Group is the suitcase-scattered, blood-stained hall of the and European economies, the stimulus package/s recognition from Forbes Asia as one of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus; black smoke announced by the Indian Government are at best 200 Best Under a Billion companies in the Asia spewing from the Taj; the wounded being knee-jerk reactions which are unlikely to have a Pacifi c region. It is a recognition of the hard and pulled out of the line of fi re on strangely silent signifi cant positive impact. What is required is result-oriented work of the entire Brigade team for an extraordinary response to an extraordinary the past two decades. My sincere thanks to the streets; shadowy fi gures of hotel residents situation. Also required is a major initiative to spend valuable contribution by our Board Members, the gazing helplessly out of windows; security US $50 to $100 billion on infrastructural projects entire staff of Brigade Group and our associates. forces arriving at sites and commandos like building highways—completing the golden being lowered from helicopters; ambulances quadrilateral and networking other roads that will As the curtain comes down on what can be racing to hospitals; fearful people dreading generate large employment and improve the core called as the most forgettable year in the recent confi rmation of death…and shattered families sectors. Why not a ‘Great Wall of India’ bordering times (from the economic stand-point), let me coping with knowledge of it. our problematic neighbours, which will also help sincerely wish all the readers a brighter, happier We look forward to brighter days ahead. in reducing infi ltration? The three most important and peaceful 2009. , Brigade launches Highlights from Brigade Cup 08 at Mysore IT SEZ at Kochi A ground breaking ceremony for a 600,000 sft IT space in Kochi was held on 10 September. It was followed by a press conference. Press conference at Kochi, on the launch of Brigade IT SEZ. (l to r) Branch Incharge, Lalu Isaac; CMD, M.R. Jaishankar and COO, Roshin Mathew. Contd from page 1 Contd from page 1 The Brigade Cup 2008 was held at the Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar Golf Club in Mysore, New Brigade Offi ces inaugurated The PAC is a not-for-profi t organisation, on 22 and 23 November. With 120 golfers from founded by Dr Samuel Paul in 1994. The focus The Brigade Kochi offi ce at No 39/5993, Mysore and surrounding cities participating, of PAC is primarily in areas where citizens Plot No 213, Panampilly Nagar, Kochi, was the Brigade Cup was a memorable success. and civil society organisations can play a role inaugurated on 10 September. Participants competed against each other for in improving governance. The PAC is globally Our Chikmagalur offi ce at Kadur Nivas, the 4 trophies to be won. The four winners known for its pioneering Citizen Report Opp. Mountain View School, Vidyanagar, were: Prakash V. (Strokeplay Gross), Lingaraju Cards, benchmarking studies used to improve Chikmagalur, was inaugurated on 21 September. K.B. (Strokeplay Net), Anantha A.