MAM
Pixar’s Jobs takes potshots at Eisner post break up
MUMBAI: Just a few days have gone by since Disney and Pixar announced that they would go their separate ways and already the barbs are flying forth. Pixar’s CEO Steve Jobs has hit out at his counterpart at Disney Michael Eisner stating that the little big mouse was suffering from a lack of creativity.
Jobs understandably was also peeved at Pixar being treated by Disney in the last few months of their relationship as a sort of “second class citizen”.
Jobs has been quoted in a Reuters report as saying, “Not even Disney’s marketing and brand could turn its last two animated films, Treasure Planet and Brother Bear into successes. Both bombed at the box office. We feel sick about Disney doing sequels because if you look at the quality of their sequels, like The Lion King 1-1/2, Peter Pan sequels and stuff, it is pretty embarrassing.”
Jobs also criticised the lack of creative collaboration at Disney. An AP report quotes him saying,”You can compare the creative quality of Pixar’s last three films, for example, with the creative quality of Disney’s last three animated films and gauge each company’s creative abilities for yourself.”
Disney issued a statement saying, “It is sad and unfortunate that he has resorted to insults and name-calling in the wake of the disagreement. We expected better of him.” Meanwhile Pixar reported net income of $84 million for the quarter ended 3 January compared to $17 million in the same quarter last year. The sharp difference was due to the performance of the Oscar nominated Finding Nemo. The irony here is that before the film’s release Eisner had told his board not to expect a blockbuster. He went so far as to suggest that Pixar was heading towards a reality check.
Another report in the Los Angeles Times stated that while Disney maintained that financial terms were the main reason for the break up people within and outside the two companies felt that the situation could have been retrieved had Jobs and Eisner not allowed their egos to get the better of them.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
