In brief: HMG’s Indian venture, £65bn hit for pension funds, and more
HMG PAINTS, the family-owned industrial paints company, has set up a joint venture with Indian firm Titan Paints, which is part of the Lakshmi Group.
The joint venture company, called Titan HMG Paints India Limited, is 51% owned by Titan, which is providing manufacturing and sales expertise for its home market.
Collyhurst-based HMG owns the remaining 49% and has given its intellectual property to enable its Indian partner to upgrade raw materials, paint formulations and production methods.
John Fenton, HMG’s operations board manager, said the joint venture company looks set to become profitable from the first year: “We hope to get great dividends from the new company – as well as creating a facility to manufacture paint for the Indian domestic market we also hope to create links with the Far East and Middle East from our new base and therefore increase our customer base even further.”
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THE credit crunch has wiped around £65bn off assets in the pension schemes of the UK’s largest 100 companies, according to the business advisory firm Deloitte.
The sum is equivalent to five years’ worth of current pension contributions from these companies. Tony Clare, head of consulting and pensions partner at Deloitte, North West, commented: “In the current environment, it is crucial that companies look to proactively manage their pension schemes, just like the other aspects of their business operations.”
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SALFORD-based planning and architecture practice Urban Vision has joined a European learning network designed to address the planning and renewal needs of ‘intermediate’ cities.
Working closely with Salford city council, Urban Vision is managing Salford’s involvement with the network, coordinating a local support group, organising a ‘best practice’ partner event in Salford, and maximising the benefit of the project for the city.
NeT-Topic has been created to address the needs of ‘’peripheral’ cities, located in metropolitan areas and near to large cities.
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PR firm Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster has been handed a national brief by Fit for Sport, to promote a new initiative with former footballer Ian Wright that aims to get families active. Biss Lancaster won the business following a competitive pitch against seven other agencies.
A team, led by Manchester director Melissa Hinds, will work closely with Fit for Sport on the ‘Fitter Families’ engagement campaign, promoting Ian Wright’s Fitter Families book launch, its sponsors, national press activity, regional road shows and a TV documentary.
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BRAND design consultancy Studio North has been commissioned by the Chester and Coventry Primary Care Trusts to design full brand identities and websites, and develop marketing communications for their respective sexual health campaigns.
Manchester-based Studio North has created the brand identity for Chester’s “R U Sure” and Coventry’s “Got It” campaigns. It is also working with the local teams to develop a range of promotional materials.
The briefs were awarded after the success of Greater Manchester PCT’s “R U Clear” campaign, which Studio North has developed and implemented over the past 18 months.
