MAM
Licensing royalty revenue stands at $5.065 bn in 2010: Survey
MUMBAI: Year-to-year royalties generated from the sale of licensed merchandise remained fairly stable in 2010 at $5.065 billion despite ongoing softness in consumer spending, according to an annual Licensing Industry Survey released by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA).
Although the amount of royalties collected in 2010 from the sale of licensed product declined slightly, the positive retail results at the end of last year give cause for optimism and set the tone for 2011.
The survey results were released at the opening session of the LIMA-sponsored Licensing International Expo 2011, the industry’s global event taking place this week in Las Vegas.
Lima’s numbers are derived from results of its annual survey of companies directly involved in the licensing business, examination of public financial documents, and interviews with licensing industry executives, with the goal of providing reliable data to help licensing professionals identify trends and growth opportunities.
Lima president Charles Riotto said, “The Lima 2010 royalty revenues survey underscores our industry’s continuing strength and resilience against a backdrop of unsteady retail sales. Despite a 1.9 per cent decline last year, licensed products clearly hold an appeal for consumers.”
Anecdotal responses to the survey indicate a more positive business environment with indications that 2010 was a transitional year as the country started to rebound from the recession. Respondents noted that especially in the second half of 2010, decision making and deal making began to increase. They also saw a steady increase of retail sales, licensing opportunities with new kinds of retailers and a broader array of channels with significant progress seen with mid-tier, department stores and specialty/big box retailers.
Nearly half (47 per cent) of licensing industry royalty revenues are generated in the Character segment, which includes characters from all portions of the entertainment business. This segment declined by just one per cent in 2010.
Other major segments of the licensing industry include Corporate Trademarks/Brands, accounting for 16.7 per cent of the business, Fashion (13.6%), and Sports (12.7 per cent).
The music sector is the only category that showed an increase (4.5 per cent), a result of strong sales of music merchandising tied to concerts and events as well as revenue from online and mobile devices.
Brands
Wipro hires 7,500 freshers, withholds FY27 hiring outlook
Profit rises to Rs 3,522 crore, Rs 15,000 crore buyback announced.
MUMBAI- Hiring may be on, but visibility is off, Wipro is adding talent even as it pauses the crystal ball. The company hired 7,500 freshers in FY26 but stopped short of offering any hiring outlook for FY27, underscoring the uncertainty gripping the IT services sector as it pivots towards an AI-led operating model.
The disclosure came alongside its fourth-quarter earnings, where management flagged volatile demand conditions and refrained from committing to future workforce expansion. Chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil noted that over 3,000 of the total hires were onboarded in the March quarter alone, signalling continued intake despite a lack of clarity on deployment pipelines.
This divergence active hiring without forward guidance reflects a broader industry pattern where talent acquisition continues even as deal conversions remain uneven and client spending cycles stretch. Wipro expects its IT services revenue for the June quarter to range between a decline of 2 per cent and flat growth sequentially in constant currency terms, reinforcing near-term caution.
Chief executive officer Srini Pallia pointed to artificial intelligence as both a disruptor and an opportunity. He said evolving client priorities are pushing the company towards outcome-driven engagements, with Wipro increasingly focusing on a services-as-software model through its AI Native Business and Platforms unit. The shift marks a structural change from traditional headcount-led growth to AI-enabled delivery frameworks.
The company has already committed over $1 billion to its AI ecosystem, with investors closely watching how these investments translate into revenue. For now, the numbers present a mixed picture. Net profit rose sequentially to Rs 3,522 crore, while revenue grew 3 per cent to Rs 24,236 crore. However, core IT services performance remained under pressure, with full-year revenue declining 0.3 per cent in dollar terms and 1.6 per cent in constant currency.
Large deal bookings offered a counterpoint, rising 45.4 per cent year-on-year to $7.8 billion, highlighting a widening gap between deal wins and actual revenue realisation. On a quarterly basis, IT services revenue slipped 1.2 per cent sequentially, signalling continued softness in execution.
Margins, however, told a more optimistic story. Operating margins expanded to 17.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting improved cost discipline. That said, the company cautioned that upcoming wage hikes and the ramp-up of large deals could exert pressure going forward.
Attrition stood at 13.8 per cent in the March quarter, indicating stabilisation after periods of elevated churn. Alongside its earnings, Wipro also announced a Rs 15,000 crore share buyback, reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns, with a payout ratio of 88 per cent over the past three years.
Taken together, the numbers capture a company in transition investing in AI, maintaining hiring momentum, but navigating a demand environment where growth is uneven and visibility remains limited.
