At USD 10.5 billion, the largest acquisition ever made in India's infrastructure and materials sectors

Ahmedabad, India, May 15, 2022: The Adani Family stated that it has finalised arrangements to purchase the whole interest of Switzerland-based Holcim Ltd in two of India's top cement companies, ACC Ltd. and Ambuja Cements Ltd., through an offshore special purpose company.   Holcim owns 54.53% of ACC (of which 50.05% is held through Ambuja Cements) and 63.19% of Ambuja Cements through its subsidiaries. With a value of about USD 10.5 billion for the Holcim holding and open offer consideration for Ambuja Cements and ACC, this is both the largest acquisition by Adani and the largest M&A deal in the infrastructure and materials sector in India.   "Thanks to Holcim's global leadership in cement production and sustainability best practices, we can accelerate the transition to greener cement production," Mr. Adani continued. Additionally, two of the most well-known brands in India are ACC and Ambuja Cements. Our footprint in the production of renewable energy gives us a significant advantage in the decarbonisation process, which is essential for the manufacturing of cement. With all of our skills combined, I have no doubt that we will be able to create the greenest and most sustainable cement production methods possible, ones that will either match or surpass international standards.   "I am thrilled that the Adani Group is taking over our Indian company to spearhead its next phase of expansion," stated Mr.Jan Jenisch, CEO of Holcim Limited

HDFC Bank to sell its whole 9.95 percent equity stake at ₹600.36 per equity share to Softcell Technologies Global Private Limited (STGPL).

For a value of ₹9.94 crore, HDFC Bank has signed an agreement to sell its whole 9.95 percent equity ownership in Softcell Technologies Global Private Limited (STGPL) at ₹600.36 per equity share.   Founded on September 6, 2018, STGPL is a company that sells software, related services, and IT items. The company reported a net profit of ₹11.33 crore for FY22, with a turnover (operating income) of ₹584.42 crore.   According to the bank's regulatory filing, the deal is expected to be completed by the end of February.   According to the filing, STGPL is a shareholder of HDFC Investments Limited, a promoter group entity of the Bank.    

Sobek Auto to be acquired by CarTrade Tech for ₹537 crore

CarTrade Tech, an online vehicle classifieds platform, announced on Monday that it has signed an agreement to buy Sobek Auto India for a reported ₹537 crore. Sobek operates an online classifieds company in addition to an automotive digital platform.   CarTrade Tech announced in a regulatory filing that the business has engaged into a share purchase agreement to purchase a 100% ownership in Sobek from OLX India BV, subject to the fulfilment of certain requirements.   According to the company, the acquisition is a step towards its strategic goals of making investments that will complement CarTrade Tech's current commercial operations.   On June 30, 2023, Sobek purchased the online classifieds company from OLX India in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the business transfer agreement.    

The Adani Group buys the bulk of IANS News Agency

Adani Group announced on last Friday that it has purchased a 50.50 percent ownership in news agency IANS India Private Limited through its fully owned subsidiary, AMG Media Networks Limited (AMNL). According to the Share Purchase Agreement dated December 15, 2023, this majority stake is made up of Equity Shares (Category I shares with voting rights) and Equity Shares (Category II shares without voting rights) of IANS India Private Limited (IANS), each, the company announced through an exchange filing. Adani first entered the media industry in March of last year when it bought Quintillion Business Media, the company behind the digital news platform BQ Prime for business and finance. After that, in December, it acquired over 65% of the broadcaster NDTV. According to the petition, AMNL would have complete operational and managerial control over IANS, and it will also have the authority to name all of the organization's directors.   IANS is currently an AMNL subsidiary as a result of the aforementioned acquisition." Adani, a first-generation businessman, began his career as a commodities trader in 1988 before growing his company to become the biggest private infrastructure player in India, owning 13 ports and 8 airports. Its operations have expanded over time to include the production of coal, energy distribution, data centers, and, more recently, cement and copper. In order to establish a private network, it even placed a bid and won the 5G telecom spectrum.

Elections and a more optimistic outlook will result in a successful year for advertising.

Inflation, advertising, AI, and elections will all be significant in 2024. During The Year Ahead 2024, which was held in London last week, Ian Whittaker, media analyst and founder of Liberty Sky Advisors, and Kelly Beaver, CEO of Ipsos UK and Ireland, discussed a number of these trends.wholesome marketing Speaking to delegates who were invited only to the Waldorf Hilton, Whittaker declared that 2024 would be "relatively benign" and that 2023 had been "generally better than expected. " As per Whittaker, the stock markets and tech companies' reduction in adspend was likely influenced by the rising interest rates in the past few years."We are probably going to be in an environment of historically low interest rates, but not where we were with the same level of cheap money," he said, adding that the days of interest rates close to 0% "are gone."Although "stickier than we thought," inflation over the previous 18 months had nevertheless enabled businesses to quickly implement price increases equivalent to nearly a decade's worth, and this trend is expected to continue. He did predict that advertising would "be healthy this year" and that adspend would "continue to come through" provided corporate profitability held steady.More precisely, Whittaker predicted that the subscription VOD market would be "flatlining" in all major markets because it was "hard to see further penetration" and that the tech giants, which he dubbed "the Magnificent Seven" and included Meta and Google, would not have quite as good a year in 2024.Conversely, he anticipated strong performance from retail and broadcast media. Whittaker concluded, saying, "I believe that 2024 will be a good year overall. It will be fairly harmless, and the advertising space will perform admirably. 

Despite losing the Bat

Islamabad: Barrister Gohar Khan, the leader of the beleaguered Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, declared on Monday that his party would not abstain from the February 8 election, even though they were compelled to run without their cricket bat poll symbol. Mr. Gohar made his remarks a few days after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party was forced to field its candidates as independents for the elections after losing its famous cricket bat, which served as its electoral symbol.   "With God willing, we will participate fully in the elections," Mr. Gohar declared. He also mentioned that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party would release a list of its endorsed candidates along with their corresponding electoral symbols in three days.In a decision released late on Saturday, a three-judge Supreme Court panel maintained the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) ruling from December 22, which had deemed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's intra-party polls "unconstitutional" and removed the party's poll symbol. Speaking to the media outside the Adiala Jail, he claimed that the ruling of the top court was a "conspiracy against democracy" and that it had an impact on Pakistanis' fundamental rights. Additionally, he announced that the party would file a review petition against the ruling, pointing out that since the case involved Article 17 of the Constitution, a five-member bench of the top court should have heard the case.

EaseMyTrip refutes the claim that

CEO of EaseMyTrip Nishant Pitti addressed allegations on Tuesday that the standoff between the two nations was "instigated" by the travel aggregator's decision to halt flight reservations to the Maldives following criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by three Maldivian ministers. In a lengthy post on X, Mr. Pitti emphasized the island nation's "pro-China" stance under President Mohamed Muizzu, who has demanded that Indian military assets stationed in the Maldives leave and called for Beijing to send more tourists, saying it is "only fair they earn money from Chinese tourist now". Additionally, he attacked those who were "seeing it (his company's decision) politically."

When individuals decide to move abroad

"People go to their destination—their place of employment—from their source—their native village, town, or city—for a variety of reasons. One is the migration of people with access to financial resources and a large social network to other nations in search of employment or business opportunities. Systems and regulations strongly encourage this kind of migration, which is frequently viewed as a means of generating wealth.The second is distress migration, which is typically seen by impoverished communities in their home regions as a coping strategy. This is frequently seen in India's rural-urban movement patterns, which may be brought on by natural disasters, other circumstances, or the failure of people's principal occupations, such agriculture, at the source. People are being compelled to migrate in this situation, and it is believed that the cause of the migration should be stopped.People moving voluntarily from rural to urban areas in India constitute the third type of migration, motivated by the desire to advance socially and economically. Similar to the first type of migration, this one is motivated by both the desire and capacity to take advantage of better possibilities that exist outside of the source location. In this situation, migrants search for work in metropolitan labor markets where there may be greater opportunity for advancement, better pay, and more favorable working circumstances. In Odisha, this last trend is very prevalent, with many people relying on migration as a source of income."  

Heinrich Klaasen ends his Test cricket career.

With immediate effect, Heinrich Klaasen has announced his retirement from Test cricket. Klaasen will remain available in white-ball competitions for South Africa. Between 2019 and 2023, Klaasen participated in four Test matches; the most recent one was against the West Indies in the summer. After Dean Elgar's Test career ended with the New Year's Test against India, he is the second senior player to leave the format. Although Klaasen was left off the squad in favor of Kyle Verreynne, Test coach Shukri Conrad insisted that Klaasen remained in his plans.Conrad stated as recently as February of last year that he thought Klaasen was a "better batter" and hence preferred him over Verreynne.  With a top-score of 20, Klaasen scored 56 runs in four innings against the West Indies, and Verreynne ended up third in the first-class league last season. Verreynne was Conrad's choice against India, although at the time of the squad's announcement, it was stated that Klaasen would probably play in Tests in Bangladesh and the West Indies later this year. Klaasen has withdrawn from consideration for those tours as of right now. Although he gave no explanation for his retirement, it is likely that Klaasen is chasing T20 leagues at this point in his career given his obligations in the MLC, IPL, and Hundred. "After a few nights of insomnia  

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President Muizzu of the Maldives arrives in China for a closely monitored state visit

The visit to China by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu takes place against the backdrop of a diplomatic spat between India and the Maldives following remarks made disparagingly about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu landed in China on Monday and will stay for five days till January 12, according to an official announcement.During his visit, Muizzu is also expected to meet with business executives and senior Chinese government officials at the "Invest Maldives Forum," according to the presidency. China is currently the Maldives' biggest creditor; Male owes Beijing around $1.3 billion in debt obligations. Beijing is among the nation's largest investors and economic partners; in 2017, the two governments signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The Maldives has also ratified the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is supported by Beijing.  

In Tamil Nadu, India, Rangers relocated the leopard that killed a three-year-old girl

In the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, a baby was sadly killed by a huge cat on her way home from school on Saturday. The three-year-old child in Tamil Nadu state was killed by a leopard, which forest rangers were able to apprehend and move. Nancy, age three, died from injuries to her neck sustained during the huge cat's attack on Saturday. In addition to initiating the search and rescue effort, the Forest Department of Tamil Nadu and rescuers were also brought in to look for leopards in the tea estate of the Pandalur range in the Gudalur forest in the Nilgiris. Additionally, Kumki, a gigantic elephant from the Madulamai Tiger Reserve, was employed.It was forbidden for residents and employees of tea plantations, including kids, to leave their houses. Videos of the search and rescue mission, which show the trapped leopard being moved to the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, are making the rounds online.In the Nilgiris area of Tamil Nadu, a three-year-old child was tragically killed by a leopard on Saturday while she was walking home from school with her mother. The three-year-old child in Tamil Nadu state was killed by a leopard, which forest rangers were able to apprehend and move.  

Vodafone Idea and Team Vitality form a strategic partnership to advance the expansion of Indian esports

The State of India Gaming Report 2022 projects that by 2027, the Indian esports market will be worth $140 million. Esports as a category have been more well-known in recent years, particularly when they were first offered as legitimate medal sports on numerous international sports platforms. Vodafone Idea (Vi), one of India's top telecom providers, and Paris-based Team Vitality, a globally recognized esports organization, have announced a long-term partnership to strengthen the esports ecosystem in India in an effort to capitalize on this expanding consumer segment.The two brands hope to provide possibilities and exposes to both esports fans and gaming aficionados with this first-of-its-kind relationship. The agreement covers a wide range of activities, including gaming events, content partnerships, brand sponsorship, and one-of-a-kind experiences on an unprecedented scale. Vi clients will be able to take part in esports and get special access to some of the well-liked Teams Vitality competitions and teams as a result. Through this agreement, aspiring esports athletes from all around the nation will have access to professional players, master courses, meet-and-greets with esports talent, and a plethora of other chances. Vi is well-known for having a significant presence in the mobile gaming market and providing consumers with access to a large selection of ultra-casual games on Vi Games.Avneesh Khosla, CMO of Vi, commented on the affiliation, saying, "We have consistently worked to expand our gaming portfolio through appropriate partnerships and pertinent offerings. Gaming has always been our strategic focus area." Vi Games made sense to expand its focus in this area as esports, particularly among younger viewers, have transformed the mobile gaming landscape in recent years. We are thrilled to be working with Team Vitality, one of the top esports companies globally. Our joint goal is to promote and democratize India's esports industry. We'll be introducing some thrilling esports and other material geared toward young people in the upcoming months for our customers to enjoy. Speaking about the event Team Vitality's managing director, Randall Fernandez  

Survey Predicts Air Travel Boom for 2024

The International Air Transport Association predicts that passenger volume in the global aviation industry will expand significantly by 2024. This is wonderful news for airlines, but passengers may notice that flights are considerably more congested than they were this year.200 million more passengers than before the pandemic. The International Air Transport Association projects that the number of air passengers will reach 4.7 billion in 2024, up from 4.5 billion in 2019. This growth is due to shifting travel habits. According to IATA survey data, one-third of respondents are traveling more than they were prior to the pandemic, while almost half are traveling the same amount. Only 18% say they're traveling less. Looking ahead, survey respondents paint an even brighter picture: 44% intend to travel more in the next 12 months than in the previous 12 months. Just 7% think they will travel less.Airline Profits To Take Off More passengers flying is excellent news for airlines. According to the IATA, passenger revenues are expected to increase by 12% to $717 billion in 2024, up from $642 billion in 2023. They expect that passenger yields, which are a measure of revenue per passenger mile, will rise by 1.8% by 2023. The revenue increase will result in a higher bottom line. The IATA expects that airline operating earnings would reach $49.3 billion in 2024, up significantly from $40.7 billion in 2023.

Melissa Niebes is named CEO of Federal Package, effective January 1, 2024.

Melissa Niebes has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of Federal Package, a turnkey contract manufacturer with its headquarters located in Chanhassen, MN. Her appointment will take effect on January 1, 2024. Niebes is Federal Package's President and Chief Commercial Officer at the moment. She will take over as CEO from Steve Dakolios, who recently declared his intention to become a Vice Chairman and Senior Advisor at Federal Package."Melissa has a strong track record as a growth-oriented leader in the consumer goods sector. She has given the business new life, direction, and energy. As the business grows, she will keep improving operational effectiveness and organizational procedures. The time is right for new leadership, and Melissa is qualified to advance our long-term plan and quicken  

Day 20 Box Office Collection for Dunki, Shah Rukh Khans movie is getting about ₹500 crore worldwide.

Day 20 Box Office Collection for Dunki: "Dunki," Shah Rukh Khan's third Bollywood movie of 2023, is doing well at the box office. The Raju Hirani movie saw a drop on its third Tuesday; according to Sacnilk.com, early estimates indicate that the movie made ₹1.30 crore on Day 20. After 20 days after its premiere, the film has reportedly made over ₹219.27 crore in the Indian box officAccording to a Sacnilk.com assessment, the movie's occupancy on its twentieth day was 10.47 percent in Hindi, with morning shows seeing 8.72 occupancy, afternoon shows at 10.29 percent, evening shows at 10.25 percent, and night shows at 12.61 percent.In relation to the worldwide figures, Dunki is currently on track to surpass ₹500 crore worldwide. The industry tracker claims that the SRK film has made ₹430 crore in net revenue globally. According to a recent tweet by Red Chillies Entertainment on X, the movie has made ₹447.70 crore at the global box office.On the day of its release, Dunki brought in ₹29.2 crore net in India; however, Day 2 saw a sharp decline to ₹20.12 crore. Riding high on great word-of-mouth, the movie brought in ₹160.22 crore net in its first week, while the drama about immigration brought in ₹46.25 crore net in its second week in India.      

Raaya's integrated marketing mandate is won by With & Chai Group.

Men's ethnic clothing company Raaya has awarded the marketing mandate to Pune-based advertising firm Wit & Chai Group. Following a multi-agency pitch, the mandate was acquired by Wit & Chai in October 2023.With online and offline promotions, Wit & Chai Group hopes to raise awareness of Raaya and bolster its standing as a high-end menswear brand. "Wit & Chai gave a strong pitch, and we think working with them will help our brand reach new audiences. Our goal is to set Raaya apart as a luxury brand that is reasonably priced and to highlight our exceptional craftsmanship. Preshit Jain remarked, "We are confident that Wit & Chai has our best interests at heart.Furthermore, Wit & Chai Group partner Nahush Gulawani added, "We are thrilled to collaborate with a brand like Raaya that has such an intriguing focus: men's ethnic apparel. We are eager to collaborate with the Raaya team and use our skills to further improve the brand image. Men's ethnic clothing company Raaya has awarded the marketing mandate to Pune-based advertising firm Wit & Chai Group. Following a multi-agency pitch, the mandate was acquired by Wit & Chai in October 2023.With online and offline promotions, Wit & Chai Group hopes to raise awareness of Raaya and bolster its standing as a high-end menswear brand. "Wit & Chai gave a strong pitch, and we think working with them will help our brand reach new audiences. Our goal is to set Raaya apart as a luxury brand that is reasonably priced and to highlight our exceptional craftsmanship. Preshit Jain remarked, "We are confident that Wit & Chai has our best interests at heart.Furthermore, Wit & Chai Group partner Nahush Gulawani added, "We are thrilled to collaborate with a brand like Raaya that has such an intriguing focus: men's ethnic apparel. We are eager to collaborate with the Raaya team and use our skills to further improve the brand image.  

Many items in my business are designed: Piyush Pandey

I spent a brief time working at Ogilvy Mumbai in the early years of my profession. I was definitely looking forward to meeting Piyush and simply watching and learning from his talent. It was the strongest incentive to sign up. However, deep down I was also realistic about it. I was aware that he would never have a conversation with a junior. After joining, I came to the realization that he most likely would have, but I also understood it was impossible given the amount of work he had to accomplish each day. And boy, was I glad I was. Apart from the fact that he is an advertising genius, these are the things I picked up from him during my tenure, even though I never worked directly with him.I learned the power of words from him. On my first day there, I recall being sucked into a film short for a newly launched bank. I expected an assignment when I walked in, but instead I got a really good poem. It was exquisite. The story and the slogan were both brimming with skill. Written specifically for the pitch, Piyush delivered it to the group by reading it aloud. The client gave it their blessing because it was so clever. It was enjoyable to come up with ways to carry it out. That day made me proud to be a copywriter because he demonstrated to me the power of words to accomplish goals that so many rounds of PowerPoints couldn't. I learned from him that leaders are people too.Everyone gathered on the floor to celebrate Piyush's birthday by cutting cakes. He was asked to speak a few words, as custom would have it. He became so overcome by the festivities during his remarks that he started crying. The largest agency leader in our nation displayed weakness during a time when all of them exuded strength and conceit. Furthermore, this was taking place in front of 200 or more workers. And we all cherished it. He taught me early on that leaders are people too and that it's appropriate to occasionally display your feelings as a leader since it's the right thing to do.  

MC Stan and MS Dhoni collaborate on Fire-Boltt

Leading Indian smart wearable manufacturer Fire-Boltt releases the #GaleTohMil advertisement, which stars the most unexpected pair—cricket great MS Dhoni and well-known Indian rapper MC Stan. This engaging movie seeks to showcase the exceptional qualities of Fire-Boltt's most recent invention, the ground-breaking Wristphone, which flawlessly blends the endless possibilities of a smartphone with the practicality of a smartwatch. With #GaleTohMil, Fire-Boltt showcases how technology is seamlessly incorporated into daily life while offering a new take on the marriage of sports and music.The video, which was conceptualized and filmed by the innovative powerhouse Moonshot, enthralls viewers with its distinctive fusion of humor, technology, and star power. The narrative takes place at a party, where MS Dhoni is approached by MC Stan and has an embarrassing encounter. As Dhoni struggles to remember Stan's name and songs, tension grows and the scenario takes an unexpected turn. The situation is amusing yet relatable.The story revolves around the Fire-Boltt Wristphone, which plays a pivotal role in saving Dhoni's life by giving him the knowledge he finds difficult to recall. The movie does a good job of conveying how useful the wristwatch is and why it is deserving of the hashtag #TheSmartestSmartwatch. "We are proud to introduce our first-ever Wristphone through this entertaining and engaging ad film featuring two iconic personalities, MS Dhoni and MC Stan," stated Arnav Kishore, CEO and Founder of Fire-Boltt. This wearable technology product is revolutionary, and we think the movie will do a great job of conveying to our viewers what makes it special. To guarantee broad visibility, the advertisement film will be heavily promoted on OTT channels and social media sites. Fire-Boltt wants to engage audiences from a varie