View source for Company:BPL Group

{{Short description|Indian electronics manufacturer}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox company
| name             = BPL Ltd.
| logo             = BPL Logo.svg
| logo_size        = 150px
| type             = [[Finance:Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{BSE|500074}}<br />{{NSE|BPL}}
| industry         = [[Engineering:Electronics|Electronics]]
| founder          = T. P. G. Nambiar
| foundation       = {{Start date and age|1963}} at Palakkad, Kerala, India
| location         = Dynamic House, Church Street Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| products         = {{Bulleted_list|[[Medicine:Medical equipment|Medical equipment]]|[[Engineering:Television|Television]]|[[Physics:Refrigerator|Refrigerator]]|[[Engineering:Washing machine|Washing machine]]|[[Physics:Microwave oven|Microwave oven]]|[[Engineering:Audio equipment|Audio equipment]]|Air conditioners}}
| revenue          = {{INRConvert|118.50|c}}
| operating_income = {{INRConvert|90|c}}
| net_income       = {{INRConvert|77|c}} (Extraordinary income inclusive)
| num_employees    =
| homepage         = {{URL|bpl.in}}
}}

'''British Physical Laboratories''', doing business as '''BPL Ltd.''', is an Indian electronics company. It makes consumer electronics and health care equipment. It was founded in 1963 in Palakkad, Kerala, and is headquartered at Bangalore, Karnataka.

==History==
British Physical Laboratories India Pvt. Ltd. was founded in 1963, during the Licence Raj, by T. P. G. Nambiar in Palakkad, Kerala, as a company for manufacturing hermetically sealed precision panel meters for the defence forces.<ref name="companyHistory">{{cite web|url=http://www.bplworld.com/group/Overview/ourhistory.asp|title=Our History|publisher=BPL Group|access-date=2007-08-28|archive-date=2007-11-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102061842/http://www.bplworld.com/group/Overview/ourhistory.asp}}</ref><ref name="BabuEtPulla2011">{{cite news|url=http://www.livemint.com/Companies/0DETNgiBEOJRHc8OfLTHYP/The-rise-and-fall-of-BPL.html|newspaper=Mint|publisher=HT Media|title=The rise and fall of BPL|date=2011-03-15|last1=Babu|first1=Venkatesha|last2=Pulla|first2=Priyanka|location=Bangalore|access-date=2014-04-18|url-status=live|archive-date=2013-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225080334/http://www.livemint.com/Companies/0DETNgiBEOJRHc8OfLTHYP/The-rise-and-fall-of-BPL.html}}</ref><ref name="iipm">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.iipm.edu/iipm-editorial-500.html
 |title='B'eyond 'P'erceptible 'L'ogic! - Nambiar's misplaced trust in his son-in-law was just the icing...
 |publisher=Indian Institute of Planning and Management
 |access-date=2014-04-18
 |archive-date=19 April 2014
 |url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419015118/http://www.iipm.edu/iipm-editorial-500.html
 |df=dmy
}}</ref> Nambiar had worked in the {{wipe|United Kingdom}} and {{wipe|United States}}, and when he returned to India, he desired to create a company that manufactured high-quality electronic products, and he wanted to make BPL a [[Social:Brand awareness|household name]].<ref name="companyHistory"/> The initial products were precision measuring instruments such as hermetic sealed panel meters for Bharat Electronics as a subcontract for Indian Army.<ref name="thenewsminute.com">{{Cite web|date=2016-07-05|title=BPL returns: The legacy of an iconic electronics brand all set to invade your home again|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/bpl-returns-legacy-iconic-electronics-brand-all-set-invade-your-home-again-45976|access-date=2021-04-20|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref> The newly-founded company was joint venture with the British company of the same name.<ref name="WhoOwnsWhom1964">{{cite book|work=Who Owns Whom|date=1964|page=93|publisher=Dun & Bradstreet|title=U.K. Subsidiary and Associate Companies showing Parent and Associate Companies}}</ref><ref name="NDTV2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/business/stock/bpl-ltd_bpl/reports|title= BPL Ltd.|work=NDTV Profit|date=2021|access-date=2021-05-08|url-status=live|archive-date=2019-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917084152/https://www.ndtv.com/business/stock/bpl-ltd_bpl/reports}}</ref>

Then BPL expanded its medical product ranges to include electrocardiographs and patient-monitoring systems.<ref name="BabuEtPulla2011"/> After the 1982 Asian Games, BPL expanded its range further and manufactured colour televisions and video cassette recorders, and later refrigerators, batteries and other consumer electrical equipment.<ref name="iipm"/>

The company headquarters was moved to Dynamic House, Church Street, Bangalore.<ref name="BabuEtPulla2011"/> From medical electronics, it expanded into consumer electronics, telecommunications, [[Engineering:Soft energy technology|soft energy]] and electronic components.<ref name="BabuEtPulla2011"/>

===1980s===
From 1980 onwards, when the industrial licensing was relaxed, BPL began manufacturing televisions and telecommunications equipment, demonstrating its potential and future business area. It began collaborating with the Japanese Sanyo Electric Company in the early 1980s with a [[Engineering:Technology transfer|technology-transfer]] agreement.<ref name="BabuEtPulla2011"/><ref name="icmr">{{cite web|url=http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Business%20Strategy/BPL%20Ltd%20Sanyo%20Electric%20Ltd%20-%20An%20Enduring%20Alliance.htm|title=BPL Ltd & Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd: An Enduring Alliance|date=2006|publisher=IBS Center for Management Research|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024012938/http://icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Business%20Strategy/BPL%20Ltd%20Sanyo%20Electric%20Ltd%20-%20An%20Enduring%20Alliance.htm|archive-date=2013-10-24|url-status=live|access-date=2014-04-18}}</ref> In the early 1990s, after globalisation and [[Finance:Liberalization|liberalization]] of the Indian economy, competition entered the market. BPL retained its strong presence and growth rate. During the late 1990s, the company's annual revenue peaked at {{INRConvert|4300|c|year=1998}}.<ref name="BabuEtPulla2011"/>

BPL concentrated on importing technology, improving product quality, innovations and manufacturing of electronic products. In late 1980s, BPL had metamorphosed from an entrepreneurial venture, into India's biggest consumer electronics & telecommunication company.

Following economic liberalisation in India in 1991, BPL faced increased competition from South Korean companies LG and [[Company:Samsung|Samsung]].<ref name="BabuEtPulla2011"/> Internal disputes within the controlling family took away attention from external threats, and the company's fortunes declined.<ref name="BabuEtPulla2011"/> By 2004, BPL and Sanyo were facing serious financial problems due to intense competition in the global electronics market.<ref name="icmr"/> In 2005, the companies announced a joint-venture, and BPL transferred its colour television business, then worth US$80 million, to the new venture.<ref name="MathewEtSinha2005">{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2005-06-28/news/27489856_1_cdr-package-wilful-defaulter-sanyo|title=Bombay HC clears BPL's debt restructuring plan|last1=Mathew|first1=James|last2=Sinha|first2=Vivek|date=2005-06-28|access-date=2011-04-18|archive-date=2014-04-18|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418210512/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2005-06-28/news/27489856_1_cdr-package-wilful-defaulter-sanyo|location=[[Place:New Delhi|New Delhi]]|newspaper=The Economic Times|publisher=The Times Group}}</ref>

BPL was [[Social:Restructuring|restructured]] with a focus on energy, healthcare, consumer electronics and home security systems. In 2015, BPL partnered with [[Company:Flipkart|Flipkart]] as an online retailer.<ref name="thenewsminute.com"/> In 2016, BPL launched new [[Engineering:Light-emitting diode|LED]] TV's like 32 inch and 40 inch etc with a very economical price through [[Social:E-commerce|E-commerce]] websites like Flipkart and [[Company:Amazon|Amazon]].<ref name="BabuEtPulla2011" />

==Performance==
BPL Ltd has reported a net loss of {{INRConvert|34.76|c|year=2006}} in the second quarter of fiscal 2005-06, on gross sales of {{INRConvert|34.71|c|year=2006}}. Operating losses were at {{INRConvert|13.91|c|year=2006}}.

Gross sales were {{INRConvert|64.45|c|year=2005}} in the corresponding period during 2004-05 while net loss was at {{INRConvert|41.59|c|year=2005}}.

According to the company, the promoters have brought in {{INRConvert|50.08|c|year=2005}} as contemplated in the corporate [[Finance:Debt restructuring|debt restructuring]] scheme. The amount was to pay statutory liabilities, unsecured, pressing creditors, dealers, credit balances, employee dues and working capital requirements, in part.

In respect to the auditors' qualification of the company's accounts for the period ended 31 March 2005, about undisputed amounts payable in respect of income-tax ({{INRConvert|4.44|c|year=2005}}), dividend tax ({{INRConvert|2.51|c|year=2005}}), wealth tax ({{INRConvert|0.11|c|year=2005}}), TDS ({{INRConvert|6.77|c|year=2006}}) and customs duty ({{INRConvert|1.68|c|year=2005}}).

The balance in customs duty would be paid once the financial restructuring is completed and normalcy of operations is achieved, according to the company.

==Joint venture with Sanyo==
The BPL Group and Japanese electronics major Sanyo Electric Company Ltd formally started their 50:50 joint venture.

The partners, who had shared a long-standing relationship since 1982, had been off the market for about two years, going through some tough times. In the year 2006, they decided to get back in action together to regain lost market share.

While unveiling the Joint Venture's plans, Sanyo-BPL Pvt Ltd Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ajit G Nambiar, said the company expected to post revenues of around {{INRConvert|2000|c|year=2009}} by 2009 and lead the market in consumer electronics and white goods in five years.

However, they decided to market their brands separately with BPL focusing on the volume segment while Sanyo brand positioned itself as the value driver.

Besides, Sanyo also planned to use India as its sourcing base and has already started sourcing slim TVs from India. It also expected India to contribute five per cent of its global revenues from its operations in India.

In May 2007 after the failure of Sanyo BPL venture. The attrition rate in Sanyo BPL was 70%. BPL concentrated 100% on Healthcare Business group which has its own manufacturing of electromedical equipment such as electrocardiography apparatus and patient monitors.{{cn|date=September 2022}}

== BPL Medical Technologies ==
BPL Medical Technologies was spun off into a separate company in 2013. In May 2013, [[Company:Goldman Sachs|Goldman Sachs]] purchased a 49% stake in the new company for {{INRConvert|110|c|year=2013}}.<ref name="goldman">{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/goldman-sachs-picks-up-49-stake-in-bpl-med-113051300698_1.html|title=Goldman Sachs picks up 49% stake in BPL Med|date=2013-05-14|newspaper=Business Standard|access-date=2014-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913071200/http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/goldman-sachs-picks-up-49-stake-in-bpl-med-113051300698_1.html|archive-date=2013-09-13|url-status=live|publisher=Business Standard Ltd}}</ref>

==See also==
* Loop Mobile, formerly BPL Mobile
*Rajeev Chandrasekhar

== References ==
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Home appliance manufacturers]]

{{Sourceattribution|BPL Group}}