Pocket News Alert

A SBI Group and AntWorks™Joint Venture also Announced to Target Opportunities in the Asian Region

Bengaluru , July 30th, 2018: AntWorks, a leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Intelligent Automation products and solutions company, today announced their Series A funding with a $15 million investment by SBI Investment Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of SBI Holdings, Inc., which conducts investments and management of venture capitalfunds, at an undisclosed valuation. This investment will provide AntWorks with an impetus for their next level of growth in Artificial Intelligence & Enterprise RPA, fuel R&D, strengthen their marketing and sales engine, and energise their foray into newer markets.

In addition, in an unusual show of commitment, a joint venture between SBIand AntWorks was also announced to tap the tremendous opportunities in the emerging AI space in South East Asia.
Fuelled by cognitive automation and machine–learning capabilities, AntWorks delivers industry–best RPA — that’s powered by AI — using its ANTstein™ platform to enterprises of all sizes. AntWorks provides a unique code-free RPA product and its one-of-a-kind Cognitive Machine Reading (CMR) engine — that is very rapidly replacing OCR — is the most critical component to any Automation, RPA or digitisation journey for enterprises as it ingests any data type – Structured, Unstructured, Inferred, or Image data.

Asheesh Mehra, Founder and Group CEO says,“When Govind Sandhu and I started AntWorks with a small, passionate group of people, the dream was to create a company that would serve as a catalyst for enterprises on their digitization journey. SBI Holdings reposing this faith in us with both the investment and the joint venture is a validation and an opportunity to grow and come into what we have always believed AntWorks can be – a true leader forging a new path, reimagining business as usual. Today I feel pride in our team who have worked so tirelessly and gratitude towards SBI Holdings and towards every employee, partner, analyst and well-wisher who has been on this journey with us. May we remain fresh in our approach, fearless in embracing change and fast in learning, adapting and delivering on everything we stand for as AntWorks.”
As a relatively new entrant, AntWorks has already made a global impact in the space and is consistently benchmarked against competitors who have been in the space for far longer. The AntWorks differentiator is in bringing together all three pieces of the Automation puzzle, effortlessly and under one umbrella — Data Ingestion, RPA, and Artificial Intelligence.
“AntWorks’ has risen through the ranks of global RPA, Automation and Artificial Intelligence companies with a ferocity that’s unprecedented in the industry. We are excited with the possibilities of ANTstein™and look forward to their growth in the Asian region through our joint venture, as well as globally,” said Mr. Yoshitaka Kitao, Representative Director, President, and CEO of SBI Holdings, Inc. “SBI Group is actively involved in introducing RPA solutions to financial institutions in Japan and strongly believes in the future of this field.”
Highlights of AntWorks’ capabilities, enterprise automation solutions, and business growth:
· Providing solutions for about 450+ customers and with a presence in 4 continents, AntWorks is building a business that works with a diverse range of verticals and creates unique Deep Automation™ solutions for every industry.
· Their intelligent automation platform — ANTsteinTMhas made an impressive debut with its user-friendly interface, code free RPA environment, intuitive ML (Machine Learning), & NLM (Natural Language Modelling) capabilities.
· ANTStein™ is unmatched in the industry for both its deep automation capability and its ability to meet diverse AI requirements across industries.
· AntWorks’ advanced capabilities in AI, NLP, and NLM, allow training of BOTs which are proficient and highly accurate while performing higher-value tasks.
· In a marketplace that is growing at 10X multiples, AntWorks has the only end-to-end automation offering in the market built using the fundamentals of fractal science.
· AntWorks has performed at an annual revenue growth in 3-digit multiples.

· Analytics Insight included AntWorks in their annual report of the 10 most innovative companies in Machine Learning for July 2018. They were also awarded the IDC Digital Disruptor of the Year for 2017 apart from a number of other accolades and analyst mentions over the last 18 months.
· SQUARE, the new RPA product release is slated for Q4 of this calendar year and details will be released closer to launch.

“With this investment we will work together with SBI Group to bring end-to-end, AI-based Enterprise RPA to the globe in a way not done before. Our goal is to empower enterprises in emerging markets like Philippines, India, China, etc. — by unleashing the limitless potential of Machine Learning and Cognitive Automation.” says Govind Sandhu, Co-Founder and CFO, AntWorks.

The funding that we have received, and the repute of our investors will only bolster our efforts to forge ahead. Our ANTsteinTMplatform will be leveraged to automate administration and augment human judgement, creating new criteria for success: collaboration capabilities, information sharing, experimentation, learning, and decision-making effectiveness. I am excited about this investment from SBI Group and I welcome them to the board as their contribution will be game-changing, for us at AntWorks and for the industry at large,” says Asheesh Mehra in his closing remarks.

By TAPAS GUPTA
Founder & MD
BEI Confluence Communication Ltd.
(Formerly President & CEO of a
McCann-Erickson agency)

Experience has shown that a good new business manager in an advertising agency has a different mindset from the majority of her established colleagues. Such a mindset is essentially entrepreneurial and these persons have a knack of sniffing new business opportunities with greater enthusiasm. This attitude actually stems from the survival instinct of a keen business woman that if new business is not coming then it is not possible to survive and grow in a competitive market.

Managers may be classified into either Maintenance Managers or Entrepreneurial Business Managers. A good maintenance manager services existing accounts well and keeps clients happy. But she lacks the power and energy to go the extra mile. An entrepreneurial manager not only does her job well keeping clients happy, but also searches for new opportunities through new challenges that appear to her.

An entrepreneurial manager sees a recessionary market as an opportunity. The marketer is constantly reviewing the brand’s performance, marketing inputs & strategies including advertising. The client is always looking for innovative solutions for his brand. An entrepreneurial manager is able to demonstrate her interest by presenting a fresh perspective to the problem. She can also rise up the career ladder faster.

One of the basics of preparation is to make a list of prospects by category. Parameters used to gauge the ‘satisfaction index’ may be Category, company, brands, size of business, agency/s, number of years with existing agency, level of dissatisfaction with current agency, top managers of the client company and proposed new launches / brand extensions. For example, one could make, as a rule, 10 cold calls in a month, generating responses from at least 4 and convert at least 2 pitches.

At this stage one may prioritise the ‘hit list’ on the basis of the reputation / brand, size of business and its potential, satisfaction index, agency’s experience in the category, and contacts at the client’s office.
New business prospects may be categorized as cold, lukewarm or hot accordingly as when contact establishment, pitch presentation opportunity and short listing /negotiation has been completed.
A few tips handling new business pitches:

New business calls should not be delegated. It is a top management responsibility and the likelihood of success is higher if it is treated that way. Business leads can come from anyone who matters in the prospect’s company.

Make one person at client’s office the ‘ambassador’ or your spokesman. He may not be a decision maker, but can be an influencer and informer.

In a multi-agency pitch, go for over-kill. That means not only outstanding presentation but also creative ‘effects’ that leave a lasting impression. For example, when one of the world’s most reputed writing instruments company from the UK was entering India, McCann Ericsson made a pitch among others. The agency’s extra effect consisted of hiring an exhibition hall for the presentation and putting up for display, a collection of vintage writing instruments made by the prospect’s company since its inception along with old posters and other items connected with the brand in that Gallery. The team from UK was very impressed. McCann won the account.

And this experience of ‘effects’ came to good use when McCann pitched on the Coca-Cola brand against formidable rivals Lintas. While the presentation was greatly guided by McCann’s Atlanta office, the ‘effects’ were mind-boggling. At Oberoi Mumbai, and with active support from the Hotel, the management had made to order a giant 6 ft tall Coca-Cola bottle made of ice. This was specially installed by the Hotel right in front of the presentation venue at the Oberoi. The Coca-Cola International team stood in front of the exhibit before entering the venue, completely ‘frozen’ for a few minutes, appreciating the ice sculpture. McCann Erickson won the Coca-Cola business easily.
New business is rarely won across the table. But sustained effort at pre-selling and post-selling often does the trick. Pre-selling is when you make an impression with the client before the actual presentation and they start believing that you are someone they can co-opt as their professional partner sharing the same passion for their brand.

Post-selling includes follow by up starting with a ‘Thank you’ letter for attending the presentation preferably with a token memento. Continue to engage the prospect’s attention. Send him competitive information, interesting news items relevant to his company/brand and specimens of your good creative work from time to time. He may not always send you a thank you note, but you will certainly be at the top of his mind.

~ Company eyes revenues of Rs 100 crs in 2 years~

30th July, 2018, New Delhi - M-tech mobile, a manufacturer of affordable mobile phones has launched its mobile accessories brand - Nexez. Designed in Japan, Nexez will introduce products across 10 categories in the current financial year and to begin with, will roll out products spanning 5 categories including Headphone, Earphone, Bluetooth Speaker, Power Bank and USB cable & Charger. The company eyeing revenues of Rs 100 crs in the next 2 years.

As per a Research Nester report, the Indian mobile phone accessories market is anticipated to clock a CAGR of 10.5% till 2024. The market is expected to reach USD 3.54 Billion by the end of 2024 up from USD 1.42 Billion in 2016.A young population coupled with affordable smartphones and rising disposable incomes are driving this growth. Through Nexez, M-tech hopes to capture a significant part of this burgeoning market and be the preferred brand in the affordable mobile accessories segment. The company plans to leverage its existing network of 600+ distribution center, 20,000 retailers and 700+ service centers to ramp up sales and effectively serve its customers.

Commenting on the development, Goutam Kumar Jain, Co-Founder, M-tech Informatics Ltd, said, ‘ After establishing our reputation in the affordable mobile phone market, we felt the time is ideal to foray into the exploding mobile accessories market. Nexez with its elegant, Japanese design, product quality and affordable pricing has all the right ingredients to appeal to customers. Additionally, with our years of expertise in product design, manufacturing , marketing and distribution strength, we are well positioned to transform Nexez into a leading mobile accessories brand.’

About M-tech Informatics Ltd –

M-tech is a brand of affordable phones promoted by M-tech Informatics Ltd with its headquarters in Delhi. Incorporated in 2010, the ISO 9001:2008 company has a wide range of smartphones and feature phones in its portfolio catering to various price points and offering world class quality and reliable after sales service. With its manufacturing plant in Baddi, HP, the M-tech is backed by a network of 600+ distribution center, 20,000 retailers and 700+ service centers allowing it to seamlessly serve consumers. The brand also has a presence in Nepal.

Launches ORIScan feature on the Oriflame app and Oriflame SkinExpert App to revolutionize
the way consultants do business

Oriflame gears up to digitally empower its global consultant community

New Delhi, July 30, 2018: With an amplified focus on being the wind beneath the wings of its global consultant community, Swedish beauty brand Oriflame is now poised to further empower their growth on the digital front. Over the past 50 years, Oriflame has been striving towards its long-term goal of offering its consultants the best tools to help them achieve their dream in a smart way. To drive this vision, Oriflame is now launching a string of digital initiatives in a bid to enable its community to achieve enhanced business outcomes. ORIScan, a new feature on the Oriflame app for digitalised product catalogue and Oriflame SkinExpert App, for iOS and Android, are the two major initiatives going live this month. The tools can be accessed by the consultants through their login ID and password.

Designed exclusively for Oriflame business consultants, ORIScan is a unique scan feature built into the Oriflame app, which endeavours to revolutionize their way of doing business, thereby improving the efficiency of the processes. Oriflame product catalogue is the important tool of communication for all consultants in order to introduce Oriflame products to their consumers. With ORIScan, there is now an immersive digital experience of the product catalogue, which enables it to go live and one can know about the products through interesting articles and live videos. This allows the consultants to augment their knowledge about the products to facilitate better information exchange for their customers. ORIScan also enhances the experience of going through the catalogue for the customers making them enjoy the buying process better, while also allowing them to order the product in a single click. Overall, ORIScan accelerates the response time and customer service anywhere in the world.

Meanwhile, the Oriflame SkinExpert App takes skin care consultations to the next level. The tool acts as a third party while interacting with the potential customers for knowing their skincare concerns. The app enables the consultants to recommend skin care products that correspond to their customers’ needs. Both the digital initiatives by Oriflame are meant for ensuring great experiences for the consultants, helping them in doing their business smoothly.
Commenting on the launch of such progressive initiatives, Naveen Anand, Senior Director Regional Marketing South Asia, Oriflame “For years, Oriflame has been constantly searching for better solutions and technologies in order to create more innovative products that can serve the consumers’ needs perfectly. Correspondingly, we have also been looking at new ways to boost the capability of our consultant community to do business better in a digitally competitive market. The newly initiated SkinExpert App and the ORIScan feature intend to help Oriflame evolve as an effective tech-oriented platform that can bring a drastic makeover to the approach of its consultant community in doing business.”

To use the ORIScan feature, consultants are required to login to the Oriflame App, locate a page on the catalogue which has the ORIScan stamp and click on the ORIScan icon on the top left corner of the app. ORIScan uses the phone’s camera as a scanner so the app has to be granted permission to use the camera. Once the page gets scanned, consultants can see a product video related to the product being featured on that page, read beauty edit articles or even go through descriptions of a product. They can also buy the product from there itself using ADD to bag option in just one click.
On the other hand, the SkinExpert app is a three-in-one solution which enables the consultants to build trust and credibility between them and their customer. They can conduct consultations, confidently get into recommending advanced skin care in a credible way and keep a track of any upcoming events and follow-up consultations. Through such smart tools, Oriflame intends to craft an unmatched experience of doing business, thereby giving its global community of consultants something beyond simple access to income and new skills.

About Oriflame

Founded in 1967, Oriflame is a beauty company selling direct in more than 60 countries. It offers a wide portfolio of Swedish, nature-inspired, innovative beauty, skincare & wellness products. Respect for people and nature underlies Oriflame’s operating principles and is reflected in its social and environmental policies. Oriflame supports numerous charities worldwide and is a Co-founder of the World Childhood Foundation. Oriflame Cosmetics is listed on the Nasdaq OMX Nordic Exchange.

Launches a new project in Mumbai and the multi-product SEZ at Jaipur

MUMBAI, July 30, 2018: Mahindra Lifespace Developers Limited (MLDL), the real estate and infrastructure development business of the Mahindra Group, announced its financial results for the quarter ended 30th June 2018 today.

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
The Company has adopted IND AS 115 during Q1 FY19, effective from 1st April 2018 and has opted for the modified retrospective method. As a part of this adoption, the Company has done a transitional adjustment of Rs. 135.34 Crs (net of deferred tax) to the opening retained earnings of the consolidated financials. The financials of the prior reporting periods have not been restated. Hence, Q1 FY19 numbers are not comparable with previous reporting periods. Detailed disclosure is part of financial results for Q1 FY19.
The consolidated total income does not include the impact of line by line consolidation of key operating entities, which are now consolidated based on equity method of consolidation in accordance with IND AS applicable from FY17.
· The consolidated total income for the quarter was Rs. 175.8 crores as against Rs. 148.7 crores in Q1 FY18 and Rs. 180.6 crores in Q4 FY18.
· EBITDA margin stood at 24.4% for the quarter as against 20.3% in Q1 FY 18 and 41.5% in Q4 FY18.
· The consolidated PAT, post minority interest, stood at Rs. 26.7 crores for the quarter as against Rs 13.8 crores in Q1 FY18 and Rs. 47.8 crores in Q4 FY18.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS DURING Q1 FY19
· Launched a new project ‘ROOTS’ in Kandivali (E), Mumbai having a saleable* area of 0.14 msft and comprising 126 units.
· Inaugurated the Multi-product SEZ at Mahindra World City, Jaipur.
· Mahindra World City, Jaipur, a subsidiary of the Company, executed definitive documentation with International Finance Corporation (IFC) for an investment of upto Rs. 200 crores.
· Acquired 30% stake in Mahindra Bebanco Developers Ltd. (MBDL) from BE Billimoria Ltd. (BEBL), making MBDL a 100% subsidiary.
· MLDL repaid the last tranche of its NCDs in April 2018, taking the standalone net debt to equity ratio to 0.04 and reducing the cost of debt to 8.15% as of June 2018.
· Launched Mahindra TERI Centre of Excellence (CoE), a research initiative of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) supported by MLDL to focus on the development of open-source and science-based solutions for energy efficient green buildings in India.

Commenting on the performance, Anita Arjundas, Managing Director, Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd., said, “This has been a transitionary quarter in terms of shifting to new standards that are based on completion of contracts and hence the financial numbers are not directly comparable with previous periods. Strong collections, the launch of ‘Roots’ at Kandivali and the multi-product SEZ at Jaipur are key milestones for the quarter. Multiple new projects that are targeted for launch during the year, will further strengthen operational throughput and performance.”

BUSINESS PERFORMANCE FOR Q1 FY19
The operating highlights for Q1 FY19 for the Company and its subsidiaries /joint ventures /associates engaged in the real estate business are given below:
Residential (Premium Residential and Affordable Housing)
· Achieved sales of 0.29 msft of saleable* area valued at Rs. 145 crores.
· Attained a quarterly collection of Rs. 218 crore – highest in the last 4 years.
· Launched subsequent phases at Palghar, Antheia and Avadi with saleable* area of 0.44 msft.
· Completed 0.25 msft of saleable* area at Antheia and Bloomdale.
· 364 units handed over during the quarter.

Integrated Business Cities
· Leased an area of ~13.5 acres (2 new customers) at Mahindra World City, Jaipur during the quarter.

* The Company uses carpet areas as per RERA in its customer communication. However, the data in saleable area terms has been presented here to enable continuity of information to investors and shall not be construed to be of any relevance to home buyers / customers.

New Delhi, July 30th, 2018: Panasonic India, a leader in technology and innovation, has introduced the new Stain Master Plus series in the top load washing machines category. Launched in 10 kg (NA-F100V5LRB) and 14 kg (NA-FS14V5SRB) capacity segments, these are intelligent washing machines developed specially for the Indian Market. Powered by ECONAVI technology, it detects the laundry load and input water temperature and automatically adjusts the optimal operation for energy, water and duration of wash. These machines come equipped with an Inbuilt Heater, for a better wash. Irrespective of how dirty the clothes are or what the weather conditions are like, these machines deliver washing performance, almost at par with professional laundromats at home. 99.9% Bacteria Elimination can also be achieved with this hot wash. Also available in the regular Stain Master series (without hot wash) are 18 different models and in 7 different colours ranging from White to Charcoal Grey, from Red to Floral blue. Price ranges from INR 20,000 to INR 60,000. With this new range, Panasonic is looking at 30% growth in the washing machines segment in FY 2018-19.

Panasonic expands its Top Load Washing Machines with an intelligent new product line up Launches ‘Stain Master Plus Series’ with Active Foam Ensures up to 99.9% bacteria removal

This new Top loading range of washing machine is powered by ‘Active Foam Technology’ which uses Foam to remove stubborn stains such as Mud, Sweat, Sauce, Curries and difficult to clean areas like Cuffs & Collars, at a press of a button. Additionally, the bacteria elimination feature in Stain Master plus Models, soaks and washes clothes in hot detergent solution to eliminate common Bacteria like E-Coli & Staphylococcus for an extra hygienic wash.

Stain master range of Washing Machines also have an Aqua Spin Rinse feature which ensures 100% removal of detergent from clothes while saving 25% water as compared to other machines. Additionally Gentle Hand Wash is a feature which allows users to wash even the most delicate items like embroidered garments, lace and fine silks, which they normally hesitate to put in a washing machine, and set aside to wash by hand. Besides these power house features, these machines are ergonomically designed with large see through glass lid. Designed at an angle, topped with a completely water proof user panel, loading and unloading clothes is now a breeze. The washer lids are made of Toughened glass, and can withstand upto 60 kg of weight; making them the sturdiest of machines in the market today.

Talking about the new models Mr. Gaurav Minocha, Home Appliances Head, Panasonic India said, “With the new range we have incorporated a perfect combination of technology, innovation and design. We have also done an extensive research on consumer needs and behavior to build the latest capabilities in our new washing machines.

About Panasonic India
Panasonic makes available in India & South Asia its wide range of consumer electronics, home appliances like LED & DVD players, Home Theatre Systems, Cameras, Camcorders, Car Audio Systems, Air Conditioners, Washing Machines, Refrigerators, Microwave Ovens, Automatic Cookers, Vacuum Cleaners and an extensive range of system products including communication like Phones, High Definition Videoconferencing, Professional Audio Video products like Broadcast Cameras, Projectors and Displays, Business Solutions including Printers, Whiteboards and Security solutions. The company currently has a workforce of about 13,000 in India & South Asia.

- A joint venture between Tata Motors Limited (40 %) and Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (60 %)
- Three plants at Jamshedpur – Jharkhand , Dharwad – Karnataka and Kharagpur – West Bengal
- Product lineup encompassing a wide range of excavators: from 2T – 800T Excavators , 35T to 290T Rigid dump trucks, Wheel Loaders and Backhoe Loaders
- The all new Backhoe Loader Tata Hitachi SHINRAI : built in collaboration with Hitachi Construction Machinery, Japan and Tata Technologies

New Delhi July 30th 2018 : In a landmark event, Tata Hitachi launched the all new backhoe loader, TATA HITACHI SHINRAI at Anantapur , Andhra Pradesh , today.

This revolutionary new offering from Tata Hitachi is designed and manufactured key tenets of capability and reliability. An engineering masterpiece, this machine with its new and advanced features stands true to its name: SHINRAI - a Japanese word that means Trust, Reliability and Confidence.

With Industry leading reaches, dig forces, brand new front end loader geometry and a design built for attachments; Tata HITACHI SHINRAI is a truly capable machine. This capability is backed by a “high torque at low rpm” engine with enough reserve power across its entire spectrum to provide confidence in its capabilities.

With a spacious, cabin with easy to work controls, fully mechanical drive train, an In-line fuel injection pump, a special warranty & support package and INSITE (Tata Hitachi’s Telematics suite) enabled, with an air conditioned cabin as an optional fitment, Tata Hitachi SHINRAI is sure to evoke confidence and trust amongst customers. This all new Backhoe Loader holds out a promise of performance, power and low operating costs.

Built on the platform of next-gen engineering that can tackle all terrains, SHINRAI is a machine where solid trust meets unparalleled reliability
Mr Sandeep Singh, MD Tata Hitachi mentioned, “As an organization, we continue to create new milestones and strive towards building a brighter, better tomorrow. Today, we are proud to launch our all new backhoe loader – Tata Hitachi SHINRAI which we believe will take the market by storm. We dedicate this machine to our customer and dealer fraternity. Built in collaboration with Tata Technologies and Hitachi Construction Machinery, Japan, thisall new backhoe loader with its new and advanced features stands true to its name–SHINRAI.

Mr Shin Nakajima, Director, Sales, Marketing and CSD said, “The launch of Tata Hitachi SHINRAI marks a new milestone for us. We are launching this machine in South India and will slowly extend our footprint to the rest of the country over the period of one year. “

Ahmedabad, 30 July 2018: JK Cement Ltd, India’s premier cement company today hosted the 27th edition of Architect of the Year Awards in Ahmedabad to encourage and recognise outstanding talent in the field of architecture.

JK Cement announces winners of the 27th edition of Architect of the Year Awards

The Architect of the Year Award is JK Cement’s annual flagship event that aims at recognizing and encouraging outstanding talent in the field of architecture on a global scale. The 27th edition of the JK Cement Architect of the Year Awards continued its legacy of getting an overwhelming response. The awards received 199 entries from India and neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Sri Lanka, among others.

The prestigious award ceremony was graced by the iconic architect and Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate Mr. B.V. Doshi. The winners who were felicitated at the event were selected after much deliberation with industry veterans and architects across the globe.

The revolving category of ‘Religious Architecture’ was bagged by Ar. Amritha Ballal & Ar. Suditya Sinha for their project ‘Temple in stone and light in Barmar’. This special category was aimed at acknowledging the sacred designs constructed over the years.

The Architect of the Year award was won by Ar. Sharukh Mistry for their project Art and Innovation Hub-Agastya International Foundation in Bengaluru. Architecture Student of the Year was awarded to (Ms.) Ambika Malhotra for her work on project City Centre Redevelopment, Connaught Place Extension in New Delhi while the Young Architect Award was given to Ar. Rasika Naik for her work on Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya in Assam. (refer list).

Apart from these, this year’s Green Architecture Award was won by Ar. Prasanna Morey for his project Kondan, The Retreat Resort, Pimpri in Pune.

Like every year, AYA honours talent beyond boundaries with the FCAA Focus Countries’ Architect of thjeYear Award. This year, Ar. Palinda Kannangara from Sri Lanka was conferred with the Foreign Countries’ Architect of Year Award for Studio Dwelling project. Further commendation awards in various categories were also presented.

Commenting on the success of the awards ceremony, Mr. Yadupati Singhania – Chairman & Managing Director, JK Cement Ltd. said, “AYA has lived up to its legacy of awarding excellence every year. Constituted a quarter century ago, the AYA has had an exceptionally successful journey of over 25 years and it has blossomed into a great institution that will continue to help pave the way for a better tomorrow in design. I congratulate all the winners who truly deserve the recognition and have set high standards in the architect community.”

Architect B.V.Doshi said, “Awards in the field of architecture are a rare thing. It is important to take these awards to the masses, so that people recognize the profession of architecture as something that makes people’s lives better. The contribution of JK Cement Architect of the Year Awards to the field of architecture is unparalleled, and I hope that the legacy set forth by JK Cement gets support from other industries and disciplines as well.”

The recipients of the award are selected through careful examination and scrutiny of the projects by an esteemed jury after intense debates and deliberations. The jury for AYA is chaired by Mr. Yadupati Singhania – Chairman & Managing Director, JK Cement Ltd. along with eminent architects from various regions of India.

About J.K. Cement Ltd
Born to the 129-year-old multi-disciplinary industrial conglomerate JK Organisation, JK Cement is one of the top ten producers of Cement in the Country. The Company has over four decades of experience in the cement manufacturing industry, having Grey Cement plants in Nimbahera, Mangrol and Gotan, Rajasthan and in Muddapur, Karnataka with a combined capacity of 7.5 MTPA. The Company is one of the only 2 producers of White Cement in India with a capacity of 0.6 MTPA, making JK White Cement the second largest manufacturer in the country. Other value added products include brands like JK Wall Putty, JK Primaxx, JK Super Grip and JK Water Proof Compound. The Company, which has been in existence in the market for over 30 years, exports White Cement to a number of countries across the globe.

As a part of its new initiatives, the Company has had Brown field expansions of 3 MTPA. An integrated plant at Mangrol, Rajasthan having a capacity of 1.5 MTPA and another at Jhajjar, Haryana with a split grinding unit producing 1.5 MTPA.

Having established a strong presence in India, the Company made its first international foray with the setting up of a green-field dual process white cement-cum-grey cement plant in the free trade zone at Fujairah, U.A.E to cater to the GCC and African markets.

Some of the country’s abiding strengths are superior products and a strong Brand name, an extensive marketing and distribution network and their technical know-how.

Wins the distinction for the third year running on the back of its domain expertise and strong execution capabilities

July 30th, 2018: Cybage, a leading global technology consulting organisation specialising in outsourced product engineering services, has recently been recognised in the Zinnov Zones Media & Technology 2017 (M&T) Survey. Cybage has been named in the Leadership Zone in two categories –Marketing & Advertising and New Media – by Zinnov on the back of its superior lab infrastructure and strong execution capabilities.

Through the use of state-of-the-art technologies for cloud, mobility, e-commerce, data analytics, and social collaboration, Cybage has been solving complex problems for its clients and is already driving wide-spread technological transformation across multiple industries. The achievement marks the third consecutive year that Cybage has been recognized as an industry leader in the Media and Advertising space by Zinnov and further underlines its focus on innovation, as well as its technological prowess.

Speaking on the achievement, Rajesh Kurup, EVP and Head – Media & Advertising, Cybage, said, “Our continued position in the Leadership Zone for Marketing & Advertising and New Media has set the industry benchmark when it comes to serving the technological and service-oriented needs for its clients in the Media & Advertising industry. Our strong technological capabilities and in-depth industry expertise are being actively leveraged by the top global media agencies, ad-tech providers, and marketers. The latest ranking yet again highlights Cybage’s domain leadership and operational excellence, and gives us the impetus to keep innovating to further raise the industry benchmark that we’ve set.”

About Cybage Software Pvt. Ltd

Cybage Software Pvt. Ltd., a technology consulting organization, is a leader in the hi-tech and outsourced product engineering space. It is a valued partner to technology startups, mid-size companies, and Fortune 500 corporations alike. Cybage’s solutions are focused on cutting-edge technologies and are enabled by a scientific, data-driven system called DecisionMines™ for Digital Excellence.
Cybage has a highly skilled talent pool of more than 5,800 employees and a marked presence in North America, the UK, Europe, Japan, Australia, and Singapore. Cybage provides seamless services and dependable deliveries to clients from diverse industry verticals such as Media & Entertainment, Travel & Hospitality, Online Retail, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Supply Chain & Logistics, and Technology.

Mumbai, July 31, 2018 : Bank of India announced its audited results for the Q1 FY 2018-19, following the approval of its Board of Directors on July,31 2018.

BANK OF INDIA ANNOUNCES JUNE 2018 (Q1 - FY 2018-19) FINANCIAL RESULTS

BUSINESS:
· Global Business of the Bank stood at Rs.8,78,351 crore as on June 30, 2018 against Rs. 9,34,796 crore as on June 30,2017. The de-growth in business level has been as a result of Bank’s conscious decision for curtailing the deposits volume, particularly the high cost ones and also because of rationalization of the Bank’s overseas exposure.
· The Domestic Advances increased from Rs.2,81,570 crore in June, 2017 to Rs. 2,91,688 crore in June, 2018. The overseas advances, however, decreased from Rs. 1,09,492 crore in June 2017 to Rs.72,059 crore in June 2018 on account of Bank’s ongoing plan to rationalize overseas operation as also due to the impact of RBI’s restriction on buyer’s credit.
· The share in CASA in Domestic deposits improved from 39.12% in June 2017 to 41.76% in June, 2018.
· Retail Loans increased by 18.53% YoY and stood at Rs 49,088 crore as on June 30, 2018. The share of Retail Loans in Total Domestic Advances increased from 14.71 % in June 2017 to 16.83% in June 2018.
· Priority Sector advances stood at Rs 1,18,469 crore which constitutes 40.64 % of ANBC.
ASSET QUALITY:
· Bank’s Gross NPA declined sequentially from Rs.62,328 crore in March,2018 to Rs. 60,604 crore in June,2018. The Gross NPA ratio stood at 16.66% in June, 2018.
· The Net NPA stood at Rs. 27,932 crore in June,2018 against Rs.28,207 crore as in March, 2018. The Net NPA ratio stood at 8.45% as on June 30, 2018.

· Total Global Restructured Standard Assets of the Bank came down from Rs.11679 crore as on June 30, 2017 to Rs 8923 crore as on June 30, 2018.

· The Provision Coverage Ratio improved both on YoY basis as well as sequentially from 63.48% in June 2017 and 65.85% in March, 2018, the ratio has improved to 66.67% in June,2018.
PROFIT – Q1 FY2018-19:
· The Bank’s Operating Profit for Q1 FY 2018-19 stood at Rs.1,869 crore against Rs. 2,379 crore during Q1 FY 2017-18. Sequentially, operating profit increased by 59.47% from Rs.1,172 crore during Q4 - FY 2017-18.
· The Net Profit (PAT) of the Bank stood at Rs.95.11 crore in Q1 FY 2018-19 against Rs.87.71 crore for Q1-FY2017-18, signifying a rise by 8.44% .
· Net Interest Income (NII) increased to Rs.3,354 crore during Q1 FY 2018-19 from Rs.2,533 crore during Q1 FY 2017-18, indicating a growth rate of 32.42%.
RATIOS
· NIM (global) improved from 1.99% in June 2017 to 2.49% in June 2018. NIM (domestic) moved up from 2.39% to 3.05% during the same period.
· Cost to Income Ratio has improved sequentially from 70.24% in March,2018 to 55.33% in June,2018.
· Yield on advances improved from 6.74% in March,2018 to 8.13% in June,2018
· Cost of Deposits declined from 4.58% in March, 2018 to 4.51% in June,2018.
· Credit Cost declined significantly from 7.74% in March,2018 to 2.70% in June,2018
CAPITAL ADEQUACY:
· The CRAR on solo basis (Basel III) as on June 30, 2018 stood at 11.43%. The CET1 capital stood at 8.01%, Tier-I Capital at 8.14% and Tier -II Capital at 3.29%.

INITIATIVES:
v Concept of Area Managers and Star Prime implemented for being more customer focused and for business development, recovery, digitization at ground level and re-activation of branches.
v Monthly Campaign called “Ghar Ghar Dastak/Mahotsav” being organized every month for speeding up CASA, NPA Recovery and Credit disbursement.
v Special CASA campaigns “Amantran” organized with special focus on Government, Business Associates, HNIs & NRIs.
v Strategy for re-balancing of portfolio in favour of RAM advances (Retail, Agriculture and MSME) and reducing exposure to Corporate sector.
v A non-discriminatory OTS Scheme called “Mission Samaadhan” formulated for quick resolution of NPAs.
v “Swarna Dhara” – Gold Loans have been intensified.
v Refurbishing select branches as “Star Digi” branches with high end digitalized services for tech savvy customers.
v IT initiative “Star Mahashakti” being implemented for taking the Bank’s technological capability to next level.
v Seamless “Information and communication Technology (ICT)” based basic banking services enablement in Rural & unbanked areas.

v Selected as an “Authorized bank for Yen credit transaction by GOI-MOF” for Yen credit transaction.
v Synergizing of MCB with LCB and Branches to reduce the Operational Cost.

v Focus on Digitisation and Alternate Delivery Channels: Debit cards base increased from 485 lakh as on June 30, 2017 to 544 lakh as on June 30, 2018. Internet Banking users (Retail) increased from 43.23 lakh as on June 30, 2017 to 53.75 lakh as on June 30, 2018.
v Activation of 907 Growth Centers through Business Correspondents (BCs) called “Star Points” for expanding our outreach.

AWARDS:
The Bank has been conferred Awards in various fields as under:
v 2nd Most Trusted Bank in the PSU Bank category by Economic Times.

v “Market Achievers’ Award” in Currency Derivatives Segment amongst Public Sector Banks by NSE.

v “Best Performer in Currency Derivative Segment” amongst all Banks’ Category by BSE.

v IDRBT Banking Technology Excellence Award, Best Bank for Managing IT Ecosystem, large Bank category.

v IDRBT Banking Technology Excellence Award, Best Bank for Electronic Payments, large bank category.

v Best Corporate Social Practices: Promoting Employment for Physically Challenged and also for Support and improvement in Quality of Education from ET NOW- WORLD CSR DAY Award.

v Bank of India awarded as “The Most Efficient Bank in Kenya” by Think Business Banking Award 2018.

v Bank of India-Uganda Subsidiary awarded for “Best Company Keeping Image High Award 2018” from Indian Business Forum, Uganda.

v “Runner-up Trophy for Best Bank on AEPS implementation” by NPCI.

v “Runner up Trophy (3rd Prize) for Best Bank under – Atal Pension Yojana-Transformative Leaders Campaign.

Chennai, India (July 31, 2018) – With an objective to encourage children worldwide to explore career opportunities in arts, design and creativity, Alfonso Albaisa - Senior Vice President for Global Design, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. launched the “Roots of Design” program in India at Chennai Public School, Anna Nagar Campus in Chennai. After successfully engaging with aspiring students across schools in Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore and Beijing, Nissan is proud to introduce the initiative for the first time in India.

Nissan inspires students in India with "Roots of Design" initiative

Spearheaded by Nissan Design along with Alfonso Albaisa, the program is aimed at inspiring the next generation of creators and developing a different perspective towards design and creativity to solve new problems in the automotive industry. The stimulating session by Alfonso was attended by a packed auditorium of students from Class 11th and 12th at Chennai Public School, their parents and staff members. Albaisa shared the story of his illustrious career with the students, providing them with a first-person example of the exciting opportunities that a career in design can offer. He also gave an overview of the history of automotive design, Nissan’s design philosophy, and the future auto industry trends like artificial intelligence and automation.

Speaking at session, Albaisa said, “The world around us is changing fast and so is the auto industry. The cities we live in are becoming smarter and more connected. This in turn is affecting how consumers engage with objects around them and how they view mobility solutions to address their needs.”

“Designers will play a key role in what the future looks like, not just in the auto industry, but across technology, infrastructure, electronics, consumer durables etc. Through Roots of Design, we are opening the doors to the world of design and the numerous opportunities it offers for aspiring students across the globe”, he added.

A report by British Council in partnership with Design Council of India pegged the potential of market for design in India to touch INR 188.32 billion (GBP 1.43 billion) by 2020*. Only about a fifth of this market is currently being tapped. The fact that from a handful in 2010, the number of design institutions has grown to over 70 by 2016 is a testimony to the growing need of talent in this industry.

2 million products sold across all categories to 7 lakh customers
8 lakh users’ wishlisted and 1 lakh customers shopped during the VIP slots

New Delhi, July 31, 2018: Jabong, India’s leading online fashion brand, concluded the 4th edition of its Big Brand Sale (BBS) on a high note, achieving 150% y-o-y growth and breaking previous records. Becoming Jabong’s biggest sale ever, BBS was held from 27th-30th July. 8 lakh users had wishlisted their favourite products ahead of the sale and 1 lakh customers shopped during the VIP slots hours from 7-11pm on 26th July.

Commenting on the success of BBS, Ananth Narayanan, CEO, Myntra-Jabong said, “The 4th edition of BBS has been the biggest and most exciting ever for us. We witnessed a whopping growth of 150% yoy with over 2 lakh new customers and 5 lakh loyal Jabong customers ordering 2 million products over 4 days. For the first time ever, we recorded 1500 hundred orders per minute at peak and had over 8 lakh orders placed during the sale. We offered the largest ever catalogue to our customers with approximately 5 lakh styles which led to 25% growth in the AOV as compared to a normal day.”

Gunjan Soni, Head of Jabong said, “Our flagship event BBS has become India’s most sought after sale for premium and International brands. We witnessed a spectacular growth with 10X sales over a normal day. The premium nature of the event came through with more than 40% sales coming from global brands and higher ASP items. Several innovations on the demand side like VIP slots, 100 % cashback and differentiated 360 marketing helped us acquire new customers and attract 3X traffic across platforms as compared to a normal day.”

This BBS, Jabong offered its customers the largest ever catalogue with approximately 5 lakh styles from 3000 premium international and Indian brands, with new styles added exclusively for the 4 day sale period. Since December, as a run up to the BBS, Jabong added 150 new brands to increase the overall brand and style portfolio available to its customers. Jabong’s fashion forward and highly engaged 1 million daily active users also got the opportunity to use an exclusive on-demand stylist service on Whatsapp to seek expert fashion advice and shopping assistance from a professional.

The Jabong Big Brand Sale (BBS) is the brand’s flagship sale which is held twice a year (January and July) to mark the end of the season. Premium brands including U.S. Polo Assn., Calvin Klein, Next, Adidas, Nike, Guess, Superdry, Mango, Fossil, Dorothy Perkins, Lee Cooper, Vero Moda, Jack& Jones, Puma, Blackberrys, Lakme, Lavie, Sangria and many more were on 55-80% discount during the 4th edition.

28 to 31 weeks of graded hands-on internship makes students ready for placement season

Chennai, 31 July 2018: A New Delhi-based employment solutions company, Aspiring Minds, conducted an employability-focused study based on 150,000 engineering students who graduated in 2018. As per the results 95% of engineering graduates are unemployable.

BML Munjal University was founded in 2014 by the promoters of the Hero Group with the aim to bridge the gap between education and employability. BMU’s curriculum is designed to nurture technically sound, multi-skilled and ethical leaders.

The Practice School programme at BMU, a unique internship concept, for B.Tech. students gives students hands-on learning and working experience with various sectoral business organizations for a period of 28 to 31 weeks. Throughout the duration of the programme, students gain invaluable practical experience by applying interdisciplinary and integrated learning to real-world problems.

The Practice School program gives students first-hand experience of working on real-life projects with the experts from the industry and graduate ‘industry ready’. The programme also gives students a chance to leverage their work experience during placements. The program is jointly mentored by a faculty and the industry expert who later evaluate the programme. Unlike the other internships, Practice School comprises credit units and contributes to the final university score.

Commenting on BML Munjal University’s Practice School programme, Dr. M.B. Srinivas, Dean, School of Engineering and Technology, BMU said: “Practice School is designed for institutionalized linkage between the university and the industry, with the aim to make students industry-ready even before they are formally part of the industry. Through Practice School, our students have got opportunities to work with leading Indian and global organizations. I am happy to share that many have already got placement offers from these companies.”

Practice School is applicable for all the programmes at BMU.

“Practice School-3 provided me with a lot of exposure. The most important aspect of my learning was the emphasis on respecting all your professional peers, something which I have carried forward and has helped me in my current organisation as well. I also learnt how to work in and across teams in a large organisation and coordinating with individuals working at the other end of the globe to complete tasks,” says Dhruv Dua, BTech alumni from BMU.

Companies like Maruti Suzuki, FIAT, L&T, Tata Motors, Airtel, Ashok Leyland, Yamaha India, Honda, Huawei, Amazon, Digital Product (Germany), NYX (US) have offered internships through PS3. Companies like Dell, ServiceNow, Rane Group, Synopsys India, Hero MotoCorp, XEBIA, TekSystems, ZS Associates, Lutron, Zest IOT, Polaris, DBS, and others have offered jobs to students. The response from the industry has been encouraging and would have a positive impact on the placement season.

Practice School 1 is for 1 week. This phase is the first handshake with the organisation. It is an industrial visit, giving students the experience of 5 different industries’ such as mechanical industry, automotive company, BFSI or software industry. They learn how the organisation works, the atmosphere inside, the culture, the people, etc. After completion of PS 1, the students come back to the campus and write a report on their overall experience and views. The report carries one credit unit that contributes to their credit point average.

At the end of Second Year, students attend 8 weeks of Practice School 2. Here the students implement the two years of their academic learning and experience in a live project. Throughout this phase they are guided by a faculty mentor and an industry mentor.

Towards the end of a students’ engineering programme, the last semester comprises 22 weeks of mandatory graded internship – Practice School 3. Different companies come for campus recruitments and offer a 6-month internship also, which can also lead to a job offer.

At BMU, students spend up to 45% of the contact hours learning outside the classrooms in labs and workshops, on projects, research assignments and in Practice School (supervised internships). BMU students have the opportunity of exchange programmes with Singapore Management University, Carleton University, Canada, and Imperial College London. Along with its mentor, Imperial College London, BMU focuses strongly on research and innovation.

Q1FY19 Revenue grew by 16% to Rs. 194.71 cr

Consolidated Financial Performance for Q1FY19 vs Q1FY18 (Corresponding Quarter)

· Revenue of Rs. 194.71 crore v/s. Rs. 168.48 crore [á 16%]
· EBITDA before exceptional items of Rs. 28.18 crore v/s. Rs. (0.09) crore
· PAT at Rs. 39.15 crore v/s. Rs. (5.68) crore

Consolidated Financial Performance for Q1FY19 vs Q4FY18 (Sequential Quarter)

· Revenue of Rs. 194.71 crore v/s. Rs. 178.64 crore [á 9%]
· EBITDA before exceptional items of Rs. 28.18 crore v/s. Rs. 21.23 crore
· PAT at Rs. 39.15 crore v/s. Rs. 19.80 crore

Hyderabad, July 31, 2018: Cigniti Technologies Limited, a global leader in independent quality engineering services, today announced the consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended June 30, 2018.

The company’s Net Profit for Q1FY19 stood at Rs 39.15 crore (Net Profit includes one-time reversal of tax provision amounting Rs 13.62 crore in Cigniti Technologies Inc, USA) as against Net Loss of Rs 5.68 crore in Q1FY18.

The Company’s Revenue from operations for the quarter under consideration stood at Rs 194.71 crore as against Rs 168.48 crore in Q1FY18.

EBIDTA for the June quarter was at Rs 28.18 crore and EBIDTA margin stood at 14.5%.

Highlights for the quarter ended June 30, 2018
· 30 clients added during the quarter
· Focusing on new service lines such as IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Digital and Quality Engineering to cater to enterprises across the globe
· Revenue from top 10 clients contributed approximately 30% of the Revenue
· Travel, Transport & Hospitality sector contributed the most to the revenue for Q1FY19 followed by ISV and BFSI sectors
· Revenue split geographically: North America – 84%, UK & Europe – 11%, Rest of the World 6%
Management Commentary
Commenting on the result Mr. C V Subramanyam, Chairman & MD - Cigniti Technologies said “Our performance during the quarter further accelerates our journey in becoming the world’s largest and most respected independent quality engineering services company. I am pleased with our healthy revenue growth and profitability in Q1. I would like to extend my gratitude to the dedicated employees and to our clients for their constant support. The company is confident of growing at an accelerated phase in the coming years.”

PLEXCONCIL acknowledges & applauds GWRL in Fish-netting and Ropes category

Mumbai, 31st July, 2018: Garware-Wall Ropes Ltd. (GWRL), one of India's leading players in the technical textiles sector, has been awarded the prestigious ‘Top Exporter Award’ for their outstanding performance in the Fish Netting export category and Ropes category for FY 15-16 and FY 16-17 by the Plastics Export Promotion Council (PLEXCONCIL) at an award function held in The Leela, Mumbai recently.

The Plastics Export Promotion Council sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, represents the exporting community in the Indian Plastics industry and honors outstanding export performance of the industry leaders across categories.

Mr. Shujaul Rehman, Chief Executive Officer, Garware Wall Ropes Ltd. said, “We are delighted by the recognition and appreciation received from PLEXCONCIL. The Award is an acknowledgement of our continuous endeavor to ensure that enhance value to our customers through our differentiated solutions.”
PLEXCONCIL undertakes various export promotional activities including participation in international trade fairs; sponsoring delegations to target markets; inviting business delegations from the overseas to India; organizing buyer-seller meets both in India and the overseas etc. and servicing the needs of its members.

About Garware Wall Ropes Ltd: (BSE: 509557 / NSE: GARWALLROP)
Garware-Wall Ropes Ltd. (GWRL), an ISO 9001:2015 certified company is a leading player in Technical Textiles specializing in providing customized solutions to its customers worldwide. Globally, the company is known for its innovation in the field of sports, fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, agriculture, coated fabrics and geosynthetics. GWRL products are manufactured in state-of-art facilities at Wai and Pune and marketed in more than 75 countries worldwide.

No matter if it’s summers, winters or monsoons, one glorious piece of art that always shines in a house is an element of classic wood. Adding textures of wood to your home is a subtle way of adding harmony to your interiors. Adding different textures of wood to your abode adds both, drama and uniqueness to your living space. This ensemble simultaneously adds a touch of tranquillity to the entire view.

While there are numerous ways of adding wood to your home, lets shed some light on the current trends and how you can include wood in your home:

Keep It Simple, Silly!
While you might be attracted to vibrant and dazzling interiors, your bedroom is a place where you relax and take a break from an otherwise lively schedule. Therefore, from the dynamic and peppy colours, there has been a sudden shift towards bringing a cozier and softer vibe to your bedroom. You can fill your room with oversize plush chairs/ sofas or seating nooks and pair them with elegant oak wood veneers to heighten the sense of serenity and peace in your home. Be it soft pink, crisp cobalt or rich violet, these hues being the new neutrals, will turn your room into a sheer piece of beauty.

Monochromatic Maximalism
Not a fan of changing the entire décor but some subtle modifications that make a difference? Contrasting two-tone interiors is the way to go! Two-tone décor works best with wood paired with statement hardware and gives character to your interiors. The best part of having two-tone decorations in your home is that you get the best of both worlds! One can experiment with bleached out real-wood and dark-textured woods to create a balance between your living room. This two-tone trend can also be used in kitchens making it feel airy without sacrificing storage. Using white for the upper cabinets, with dark or colourful lower cabinets to ground the space is how you master this unique trend.

Let florals persuade you
Florals are all a blaze this season and are a must-have for any trendy home. They create magic to your living room and can easily add spark to your décor with minimal effort. Amidst a perfect space with dark real-wood panels complementing a groovy grey throw blanket, vibrant blue floral cushions will add a touch of clarity and freshness to your sight. Florals have the power to effortlessly make your home look compelling and make you spellbound by their naturalness!

Bangalore, 31st July 2018: Idea Cellular has announced the winner of its ‘Recharge Challenge for Gold and Car Season 8’ national contest in which Ms. Vasantha Lakshmi from Hassan has been declared as the Bumper prize winner.

Mr. Sanjeev Govil - Chief Operating Officer, Karnataka, Idea Cellular handed over the key of a stunning Hyundai Creta car to Ms. Vasantha Lakshmi during the prize distribution event organized at the Idea office in Bangalore.

Idea customers from across the country participated in the ‘Recharge Challenge for Gold and Car Season 8’ by calling on a toll-free number. The contestants had to go through several rounds of questions related to general knowledge and current affairs, which was available for pre-paid customers. The contestants were entitled to win a range of exciting prizes including Hyundai Creta, Iphone 7, Gold voucher Rs. 50,000, LED TV, Smart phone and free recharges.
The car winner, Idea customer, Ms. Vasantha Lakshmi ecstatically stated, “It is a pleasant surprise to be the winner of a national contest. I am grateful to Idea for giving me the opportunity to win a luxury car and changing my life forever.”
Idea Cellular is currently running Recharge Challenge for Gold and Car Season 10. The contest offers exciting prizes like Hyundai Creta, Activa 5G, Gold voucher, Smartphone and range of daily recharges.

Odisha & Hockey India call out to all Indians to get behind hockey

New Delhi, 31st July 2018: Does your heat beat for Hockey? As the date for the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 draws near, it is time for all Indians to get behind the sport. In a 360 degree campaign that will cover every corner of the country, the Government of Odisha, will attempt to inspire every Indian to give their love and support to Hockey, which is set to take center stage at the Kalinga Stadium from November 28th to December 16th, 2018 at Bhubaneswar.

The World Cup fever kicks-off with “Heartbeats for Hockey” a movement that attempts to get India behind hockey by way of music, entertainment, fashion, pure sport and panel discussions. It was launched by unveiling the digital campaign starring the National Hockey Team urging people to pledge their support for the game, saying: “My heart beats for hockey, does yours?”

“We are asking India to give their heart to hockey. And this by way a nationwide outreach where we go to the heartlands of hockey and ask people to come and immortalise their heartbeats by recording them on a specially-designed hockey stick,” explained Nupur Mahajan, brand strategist and creator of the campaign who is working alongside Government of Odisha as Communication and Strategy Consultant for the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018.

“If your heart beats for hockey,” added Ms. Mahajan, “we urge you to give a few heartbeats to hockey. India’s collective heart beats, gathered over four months, will be presented to the 16 Captains of the World at the Opening Ceremony of the tournament, which is scheduled for November 27th.”

Each time anyone holds the custom-made hockey stick, named ‘Heart Beat’, they record their heart beat as a pledge to support hockey. Over the next few months, Heart Beat will travel across the country through the ‘Hockey Adda’, a curated on-ground discussion platform for hockey players and experts alike with youth in the audience. Additionally, special ‘Heartbeat Canters’ will be sent across select cities in India, encouraging every sports lover to participate in an effort to gather as many heart beats as possible. People will also have the opportunity to pledge a heartbeat at one of the many curated events that will unfold in the Build Up to the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018. At the Opening Ceremony as all the 16 Captains gather on stage they will be presented heart beats of the entire nation as a gesture of support for the game that says: India’s heart beats for hockey.
Your heartbeat could be one of them.

Elena Norman, CEO Hockey India, commented, “The trajectory of Hockey as a sport in India has attained a new high given the recent commendable performances of the Indian Hockey Teams. We urge one and all to come forward and support your hockey team during the upcoming Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018.”

The specially designed Hockey stick will be installed and made available at Hockey heartlands in select locations across 6 cities namely Chandigarh, Bangalore, Mumbai, Bhopal, Rourkela and Imphal. Additionally two permanent installations at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar will also be made accessible to the masses. The Heartbeat Canter will cover other Indian cities including Jalandhar, Lucknow, Ranchi, New Delhi, Chennai and many more.

The Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 will be the 14th edition of the biggest tournament in Men's Hockey and the third time that India will be hosting it after having organised it in 1982 in Bombay and in 2010 in New Delhi. A total of sixteen nations will take part in the tournament which will see each team play three matches during the league stage over the span of twelve days before four cross-over matches take place on 10th and 11th December, 2018. The knockout matches will take place on 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th as the teams will look to become the Champions of the prestigious quadrennial event which was won by Australia in 2014.

India FMCG business reports 21% Volume Growth

New Delhi, July 31st, 2018: The Board of Directors of Dabur India Ltd (DIL) met today to consider the unaudited financial results of the company for the first quarter ended June 30, 2018.

Riding on sustained gains across its key business categories and geographies, Dabur India Ltd opened the year 2018-19 on a strong note as the Comparable Consolidated Revenue for the first quarter grew by 19.6%. Consolidated Net Profit for Q1 of 2018-19 marked a 24.6% growth.
Dabur India Ltd reported a Consolidated Revenue of Rs 2,080.70 Crore, while Net Profit for the first quarter stood at Rs 329.22 Crore.

Dabur’s Comparable Standalone India Revenue for the quarter grew by 24.7%. The company reported a Standalone India Revenue of Rs 1,473.1 Crore in Q1 of 2018-19. The domestic FMCG business reported a Volume Growth of 21% during the quarter.

“Despite an increase in the level of competitive intensity, our brands reported a robust performance during the quarter, growing ahead of the market and delivering strong double-digit growth across all our key categories like Health Supplements, Hair Care, Oral Care, Skin Care, Home Care and Foods. We have put in place a prudent growth strategy and continued to invest heavily behind our brands to successfully tap the emerging opportunities. Our India FMCG business, in fact, reported its highest-ever Volume growth of 21% during the quarter,” Dabur India Ltd Chief Executive Officer Mr. Sunil Duggal said.
Category Growths

The Shampoo business ended Q1 with a growth of over 30%. Dabur’s Honey sales continued to report strong gains, growing by around 42%, driving the Health Supplements category growth to 27.5% in Q1. The Skin Care category grew by 27.1%, while the Foods business, led by strong demand for our packaged juices, posted an over 26% growth during the first quarter. The Digestives business also grew by nearly 22% during the first quarter of 2018-19, while Dabur’s Home Care and Oral Care businesses reported an over 17% growth.

“We have been witnessing a gradual improvement in consumer demand. Our focus on brand-building and market expansion coupled with innovation has helped Dabur sustain strong growth in our core categories, which has been significantly ahead of the market. Going forward, we will continue to focus on pursuing an aggressive and profitable growth strategy,” Mr. Duggal added.

During the quarter, Dabur’s International Business reported a 10.5% growth, in constant currency terms. Sales in GCC markets grew 17%, led by Saudi Arabia which reported a 54% growth during the quarter. The Business in Egypt reported 31% gains.

About Dabur India Ltd

Dabur India Limited is one of India’s leading FMCG Companies. Building on a legacy of quality and experience for 134 years, Dabur is today India’s most trusted name and one of the world’s largest Ayurvedic and Natural Health Care Company. Dabur India's FMCG portfolio today includes five flagship brands with distinct brand identities – Dabur as the master brand for natural healthcare products, Vatika for premium personal care, Hajmola for digestives, Réal for fruit-based beverages, and Fem for fairness bleaches & skin care.

Bengaluru, 31 July, 2018: Varun-Anushka gives 40 days for Sui Dhaaga- Made In India promotions! Both stars have told their teams to carve out these days from their calendar to promote a film that they deeply believe in.Varun Dhawan and Anushka Sharma are India’s most in demand and busiest movie stars but they are ensuring they would go all out for the promotions of Sui Dhaaga. A relevant film that talks about finding respect through self-reliance is a universal subject that impacts every youth of the country and both the superstars who are also thought leaders in their own right, want to take the thought of this special film to as many people as possible. They have directed their teams to they want Sui Dhaaga to get maximum visibility and reach and that their calendar should be wiped clear for this purpose.

A source close to the film’s team said, “Anushka and Varun saw the first cut of the trailer this week and both were overwhelmed with emotions. They want to go all out and promote this film because they feel there are some very important and relevant messages for the youth of the country. They want to take the film’s heart-touching message to as many people as possible. When actors give maximum 20 days for promotions in today’s age, Anushka and Varun giving 40 days for promotions means they are supremely confident about the film. Sui Dhaaga must be incredibly special for the busiest superstars to carve out these many dates from their calendars.”

A film about finding love and respect through self-reliance, Varun and Anushka starrer Sui Dhaaga - Made in India is a heart-warming story that celebrates the spirit of self-reliance. The film’s plot is inspired Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy and takes inspiration from the hugely acclaimed Make In India campaign. While Varun plays the role of a tailor, Anushka plays an embroiderer in the film.

Both champion actors, Varun and Anushka have been paired for the first time and are definitely the most-awaited on-screen jodis of 2018. The National Award-winning, dream-team of director Sharat Kataria and producer Maneesh Sharma seem to have taken the bar of perfectionism several notches higher with the looks they have crafted for their leading actors.

When contacted Maneesh said, “Varun and Anushka are exceptional performers and they have outdone themselves in Sui Dhaaga. They had believed in the core message of the film since the day we narrated it to them and they have told us that they are eagerly looking forward to sharing their conviction with audiences. It is a dream project for Yash Raj Films and we intend to passionately promote a film that we are incredibly confident about.”

Yash Raj Films’ entertainer Sui Dhaaga - Made in India is set to release on September 28 this year, just before Gandhi Jayanti.

AntWorks™announces Series A Funding with Strategic Investment by SBI Holdings, Inc.

Get ahead in advertising

M-tech mobile launches mobile accessories brand - Nexez

Oriflame gears up to digitally empower its global consultant community

Mahindra Lifespaces records Q1 F19 profit of Rs. 26.7 crores

Panasonic expands its Top Load Washing Machines with an intelligent new product line up Launches ‘Stain Master Plus Series’ with Active Foam Ensures up to 99.9% bacteria removal

Announcing the launch of the all new Backhoe Loader, TATA HITACHI SHINRAI

JK Cement announces winners of the 27th edition of Architect of the Year Awards

Cybage named in the Leadership Zone for Marketing & Advertising and New Media categories in the latest Zinnov Zones Media & Technology Survey!

BANK OF INDIA ANNOUNCES JUNE 2018 (Q1 - FY 2018-19) FINANCIAL RESULTS

Nissan inspires students in India with "Roots of Design" initiative

Jabong reports roaring success with 150% y-o-y growth for its Big Brand Sale

BML Munjal University Bridges the Gap Between BTech & Industry with “Practice School”

Cigniti Technologies Q1FY19 Net Profit at Rs 39.15 cr as against Q1FY18 Net loss of Rs 5.68 Cr

Garware - Wall Ropes bags the prestigious ‘Top Exporter’ award

Wood you or wood you not!

Idea customer drives away in a brand new Hyundai Creta after winning ‘Recharge Challenge for Gold and Car Season 8’

Let Your Heart Beat for Hockey

Dabur India Q1 Consolidated Net Profit surges 24.6%

Varun Dhawan and Anushka Sharma gives 40 days for Sui Dhaaga- Made In India promotions