Archives April 2026

What Bengaluru Should be Eating This Summer: Shoyu’s Light Pan-Asian Menu

Shoyu Brings a Refreshing Summer of Sushis, Dimsums and Light Plates at the comfort of your Home 

What Bengaluru Should be Eating This Summer: Shoyu’s Light Pan-Asian Menu

 Bengaluru, Apr 1: As Bengaluru eases into warmer, sun-soaked days, the city’s palate begins to shift, leaning towards food that feels lighter, brighter, and more refreshing. This season, Shoyu brings together a thoughtful selection of its signature dishes that naturally complement this mood, spotlighting flavours that are clean, vibrant, and perfectly suited for the summer months. 

The menu leans into bright flavours and playful contrasts. Salads are designed to refresh and uplift – the Crispy Quinoa & Avocado Salad pairs cool crunch with a gentle hint of sweetness from pineapple wafu, while the Baby Potato & Edamame Salad brings a soft kick through its wasabi chilli lime dressing. The Japanese Spinach Salad, finished with sesame gomae and a touch of togarashi, and the Chicken & Avocado Salad with its tangy plum notes, round out a line-up that feels both wholesome and full of flavour. 

Small plates follow a similarly light yet indulgent approach. The crudo selection – from Pepper Pizzette to Tuna & Truffle Pizzette – plays beautifully with texture and temperature, balancing crisp bases with soft, layered toppings. Carpaccios of salmon, hamachi, tuna, and avocado keep things clean and elegant, with just the right touch of acidity to awaken the palate. 

Sushi remains at the heart of the experience, especially styles that feel just right for summer. The Classic Crunchy Summer Maki Roll – with cucumber, avocado, and green apple – is light, crisp, and refreshing, while the Dragon Sushi Roll adds a playful twist with shiitake and dragon fruit. The Classic Seafood Maki Roll keeps things minimal and precise, celebrating the freshness of the fish, while nigiri like Truffle & Peppers and Kappa & Wasabi continue the theme of balance without excess. 

For those who prefer something warm, there’s depth without heaviness. Dishes like Water Chestnuts & Snow Peas in Yellow Bean Sauce and Steamed Fish with Oyster Sauce & Truffle deliver comforting flavours that remain light on the palate. 

The dim sum selection mirrors this philosophy. The Vegetable Crystal Dumpling, with its delicate, translucent wrap, and the Spinach & Water Chestnut Dimsum are subtle, textural, and quietly indulgent. 

Together, the menu reflects a way of eating that feels easy, intuitive, and just right for the season – food that’s light on the plate, yet rich in flavour, leaving you satisfied without ever feeling weighed down

 

Anastasia Beverly Hills launches its New Lip Liner & Lipstick Shades

Anastasia Beverly Hills expands its iconic lip collection in India with the launch of new shades of the Matte Lipstick and Lip Liner. Crafted with a soft, smooth formula for enhanced comfort and wearability, the new shades offer versatile hues designed to complement a wide range of lip looks.

Anastasia Beverly Hills launches its New Lip Liner & Lipstick Shades

 Anastasia Beverly Hills Matte Lipstick  ABH Matte Lipstick delivers full pigment, intense color in a single swipe with a true-matte finish that feels comfortable all day. The ultra-smooth, emollient-rich formula glides effortlessly without drying, cracking, or feathering. Designed for long lasting wear, it offers a velvety-soft texture that stays lightweight on the lips. Available in a versatile range of shades, it’s perfect for creating everything from everyday looks to bold, glam statements.

New Shades:Berry Mocha, Soft Haze, Mauve Cloud, Spice, Hazelnut, Peony

Availability:Tira, Sephora, Nykaa

 Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Liner – ABH Lip Liner delivers full-pigment color with a creamy, velvety-matte finish for effortless shaping and contouring. The smooth, wax-based formula glides on seamlessly without tugging or feathering, ensuring precise, defined lips every time. Designed for comfortable, long-lasting wear, it can be used to outline, fill, or layer with other lip products.

New Shades:Stormy, Cinnamon, Midnight Rouge

Availability: Tira, Sephora, Nykaa

UFlex Appoints Dharmesh Joshi to Drive Data Center Strategy and Business Growth

Mumbai, Apr 1: U-Flex, a flagship brand of Unitile – India’s leading raised access flooring company – today announced the appointment of Dharmesh Joshi as Head – Data Center Specifications & Business Development. In this newly created role, Dharmesh will spearhead U-Flex’s entry into high-growth data center markets across India, the USA, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the GCC region.

UFlex Appoints Dharmesh Joshi to Drive Data Center Strategy and Business Growth

The appointment comes at a time when India’s data center sector is experiencing unprecedented momentum, with the Union Budget 2026–27 introducing a tax holiday until 2047 for foreign cloud providers using Indian data center infrastructure and over USD 160 billion in investments either underway or announced.

Dharmesh brings over 16 years of experience in business development, project management, and strategic growth within the construction and infrastructure ecosystem. He has a strong track record of delivering complex, large-scale projects, developing new business verticals, and aligning technical solutions with commercial objectives across diverse geographies. Prior to joining U-Flex, he held key roles with leading organisations in the building materials and project delivery space, driving revenue growth and building long-standing relationships with consultants, contractors, and end clients.

U-Flex has set an ambitious growth agenda for its data center vertical, aiming to become the go-to infrastructure partner for hyperscale and enterprise data center projects globally. The company is investing in deepening its specification network, building dedicated teams for international markets, and developing integrated solutions that combine its raised access flooring and structural ceiling systems into a single-vendor proposition for data center builders. Dharmesh’s appointment is central to this vision. His experience in navigating complex, multi-stakeholder project cycles and converting specification-level relationships into large-scale orders makes him ideally suited to drive this next phase of growth.

Speaking on his appointment, Dharmesh Joshi said:

“I believe sustainable growth comes from a combination of clear strategy, disciplined execution, and strong relationships. The data center sector presents a significant opportunity, particularly with the policy impetus India is now providing through long-term fiscal incentives. I look forward to working with the team to build a scalable, globally relevant infrastructure business for U-Flex.”

Dharmesh is recognised for his structured and collaborative leadership style, combining strategic vision with ground-level execution. His approach emphasises stakeholder alignment, process-driven growth, and long-term relationship building – capabilities that will be critical as U-Flex scales its presence in a fast-evolving global market.

This leadership addition underscores U-Flex’s intent to move from a strong domestic presence to a globally recognised data center infrastructure brand. With a growing pipeline across India, the USA, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the GCC, the company sees Dharmesh’s appointment as a catalyst for accelerating market entry, strengthening consultant relationships, and building a scalable, repeatable business model across geographies.

KLAW Snacks Introduces Super Sprout Sticks, Redefining Healthy Snacking in India

Mumbai, Apr 1: KLAW Snacks proudly announced the launch of its latest innovation, KLAW Super Sprout Sticks, expanding its portfolio of bold, flavour-packed, and better-for-you snacks. Launched after the success of KLAW Supergrains Puffs, the new Super Sprout Sticks are designed for modern consumers who believe that winding down is just as important as powering up.

At KLAW Snacks, the brand philosophy is rooted in the belief that the key to peak performance lies in the mind. Whether it’s after a long workday, a workout, or simply taking a mindful pause, KLAW Snacks aims to create healthier snacking options that support relaxation, recovery, stress relief, and better focus — making it the perfect wind-down for the keyed-up generation.

India’s first Super Sprout Snack, KLAW Super Sprout Sticks are made with 47% sprouted moong & jowar, baked, and high in protein, delivering a smart snacking experience that combines intelligence with indulgence. Crafted with mindful nutrition and bold flavours, the new sticks offer a wholesome way to snack without compromise.

The newly launched KLAW Super Sprout Sticks are available in five bold and exciting flavours — Masala Madness, Mango Mania, Achari Nimbu, Pudina Punch, and Korean Kick — bringing together familiar favourites and globally inspired tastes for adventurous snack lovers.

The launch was celebrated at an exclusive gathering in Mumbai, bringing together wellness enthusiasts, influencers, and industry insiders. The evening also saw the presence of popular personalities like Pratik Sehajpal, along with an immersive wind-down wellness session in collaboration with The Fit Corporate, led by Khyati Kanjani, creating a holistic experience that reflected the brand’s commitment to mindful snacking.

KLAW Snacks, an extended portfolio of Blue Tribe Foods under Shivanika Foods, continues to bring a bold twist to guilt free snacking with innovative snacks in wild, devilishly good flavours, making healthy snacking as exciting as it is wholesome. With the launch of Super Sprout Sticks, the brand further strengthens its commitment to offering better-for-you snacks crafted for today’s conscious consumers.

The newly launched KLAW Super Sprout Sticks are now available on Zepto, Instamart, Blinkit, and nearby retail stores across Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and other major cities, making mindful snacking easily accessible to consumers.

Speaking about the launch, Nikki Arora Singh, Founder & Director, said: “With KLAW Super Sprout Sticks, we wanted to create a snack that supports mindful winding down while delivering on taste and nutrition. Made with 47% sprouted moong and jowar, these baked, high-protein sticks are designed for those who believe that winding down is just as important as powering up. With bold flavours and wholesome ingredients, we’re building snacks that support relaxation, stress relief, and better focus — making conscious snacking exciting, accessible, and intelligent.”

With its expanding range of innovative offerings, KLAW Snacks continues to focus on creating a healthier, smarter, and more mindful snacking experience — one wind-down moment at a time.

Odisha Leads India’s Clean Energy Push with Forward Looking Green Hydrogen Policy

Odisha has taken a significant step toward a sustainable future by emerging as the first state in India to unveil a dedicated Green Hydrogen Policy. The move highlights the state’s strong commitment to clean energy adoption and reducing industrial carbon emissions.

During a high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, along with representatives from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and other key stakeholders, a clear roadmap for renewable energy expansion was discussed. The plan places special emphasis on green hydrogen production, floating solar projects, pumped storage systems, and advanced battery energy storage solutions.

This strategic initiative is expected to draw substantial investments into the state while boosting infrastructure designed to withstand natural disasters. It also aims to position Odisha as a leading destination for clean energy innovation in India.

With growing support from industry leaders, Odisha is steadily shaping its future as a hub for sustainable development and next-generation energy solutions.

Axis MF Insights Gold Breaks the Playbook in Its Long Journey

Precious metals have been on a rollercoaster. Gold prices surged to record highs in 2025 and early 2026 amid safe-haven buying, and silver and platinum also rallied strongly, before a sharp reversal struck in Q1 2026. Major forces that propelled gold upward are  de-dollarization, easy liquidity, reserve diversification, and geopolitical risks, and the recent developments  tightening liquidity, Middle Eastern dynamics, dollar strengthening and unwinding of leverage – triggered the decline.

A Historic Rally in Gold (2025)

The recent rise in gold until early this year was mainly supported by a weak dollar and easy money, coupled with the central bank “de-dollarization” purchases and geopolitical demand.

  1. Safe-Haven Flows on Geopolitical Jitters: Conflicts like the war in Ukraine and Middle East flare-ups, along with escalating U.S tariff tantrums since Feb 2025, created a climate of uncertainty. Investors sought safety in gold to guard against volatile equity markets and geopolitical risks. This flight to safety was a key pillar of gold’s strength, as fear and uncertainty made gold’s stability appealing when other assets faltered.

  2. Easy Money and Ample Liquidity: Central Banks continued with easy liquidity to counter the negative growth impact from tariff situation, which made it cheap to borrow and invest some of that capital into gold. The U.S. dollar weakened by roughly 10% in 2025, influenced in part by these dovish policy signals. Since gold is traded globally in dollars, a softer dollar lowers its price for overseas buyers, making gold more affordable and therefore more appealing. Falling real interest rates also boosted gold’s appeal.

  3. De-dollarization and Reserve Diversification: US’s mounting fiscal strains have reinforced the de- dollarization push. The U.S. gross national debt soared to about $39 trillion by Dec 2025, fuelled by persistent large deficits (~$1.8T in 2025). Consequently, for geopolitical and financial stability reasons, many emerging market central banks have been ramping up gold purchases to reduce their reliance on the dollar. Central banks collectively added ~1,000 tonnes of gold in last 3 years – taking Gold’s share in Reserves from ~13% to over 24%. Notably, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was also among the major buyers, boosting India’s gold reserves in recent years.

The cumulative effect of these forces was a remarkable upswell in the price of gold and by January 2026, gold had climbed further to nearly $5,600 per ounce.

The Sharp Reversal in Early 2026

After a spectacular run-up, gold’s fortunes turned abruptly in the latter part of Q1 2026. By late March, gold had given up all its year-to-date (2026) gains, falling back to Dec 2025 levels – roughly $4,100–4,300/oz – a drop of about 20–25% from the peak of Jan 2026. The downturn began with the widespread unwinding of leveraged positions as investors booked profits. The subsequent escalation in the US–Iran conflict pushed oil prices sharply higher, stoking inflation concerns. This, in turn, led to tighter global liquidity conditions and a stronger U.S. dollar, while falling surplus in parts of the Middle East further weighed on falling gold prices.

  1. Unwinding of Leveraged Positions: Gold’s prior rally had been amplified by investors using leverage – from hedge funds increasing futures positions to retail buyers piling into gold ETFs. When the tide turned, these leveraged bets began to unravel. Profit-booking set in, and as prices slipped from their highs, a wave of

stop-loss orders was triggered, automated sell orders kicked in, accelerating the decline in a self-reinforcing spiral. Margin calls forced further liquidation as investors sold gold to cover losses in other assets during the concurrent equity market turmoil.

  1. Middle Eastern Surplus Dry Up: The US–Iran conflict, that erupted in late February 2026, disrupted oil shipments from the Persian Gulf, threatening regional stability. The crisis put certain oil-rich states under financial stress: with their oil revenues in jeopardy and rising expenditures, Gulf nations no longer enjoyed large surpluses to invest in gold. Market observers even speculated that some Middle Eastern oil producers might liquidate gold reserves to raise cash, recalling the infamous 1983 scenario when OPEC members sold off gold amid an oil revenue collapse.

  2. Inflation Fears and Liquidity Squeeze: In mid-March, Fed Chair Jerome Powell signalled that the oil shock was an “energy-driven inflation tax” requiring interest rates to stay higher for longer. Consequently, the US dollar shot up to multi-year highs and the 10-year Treasury yield climbed above 4.35% by late March. The war-induced surge in inflation also raised concerns that global central banks would drain liquidity or delay any easing. Signs of tightening dollar funding appeared (e.g. widening cross-currency swap spreads), reinforcing the view that cash dollars were in high demand. All these factors removed the liquidity tailwinds that had buoyed gold and instead created headwinds of strengthened dollar and a resolutely hawkish policy outlook.

The result was a crash in precious metals by mid-March: gold dropped over 10% in a week (its steepest weekly fall since 1983) and silver plunged more than 15% in that same week. At the same time, a previously supportive trend began to reverse; after two years of accumulation, central banks slowed their gold purchases in early 2026, and gold-backed ETFs saw net outflows for several consecutive weeks.

Impact on India

As one of the world’s largest gold consumers and importers, India is directly affected by big moves in gold.

  1. Trade Balance & Inflation: When gold prices soar, India’s import bill rises (as the country imports a large portion of its gold consumption). Record high gold prices in 2025 contributed to a wider trade deficit and put upward pressure on inflation – higher bullion costs filtered through to domestic gold and jewellery prices. Indeed, India’s core CPI in late 2025 ticked up despite a lower WPI, partly due to costlier gold.

  2. Central Bank Reserves: RBI has been part of the global gold buying spree, indicating that policymakers value gold as a strategic asset. It increased its gold reserves in recent years, aligning with the trend of diversifying foreign exchange reserves into gold. The recent price drop does not change that long-term strategy, though it might offer an opportunity for central banks to accumulate gold at slightly lower prices.

What Next for Gold?

As of 24th March 2026, gold trades around the mid-$4,000s per ounce, having erased its gains for the year. There are early signs of bargain-hunting: speculative positions have started to build again anticipating a comeback. However, the outlook will depend on how the global macro environment evolves. In the near term, much hinges on liquidity, inflation and central banks.

Scenario 1: If inflation remains elevated due to persistent high oil prices, central bankers may keep liquidity tight  bolstering the dollar and yields, which would cap gold’s upside.

Scenario 2: On the other hand, if oil prices settle down indicating lower inflation risk, it could rekindle expectations of rate cuts, easier liquidity and a weaker dollar: conditions under which gold typically thrives. Moreover, if geopolitical risks intensify to the point of severely undermining global growth (a “hard landing” scenario), even a hawkish Fed might be forced to pivot, potentially restoring gold’s safe-haven shine.

Gold’s 2025 rally was built on trust: that inflation would stay low, interest rates would fall, and gold would safeguard against geopolitical storms and currency debasement. The early 2026 sell-off was driven by fear: that inflation would spiral, liquidity would tighten, and even traditional buyers might turn into sellers. For now, Gold’s lustre is tempered by a resurgent dollar and high interest rates. Yet the long-term story  of central banks, investors, and even Indian households valuing gold as a resilient store of wealth  remains intact.

Boomi Named a Leader in IDC MarketScape for Worldwide API Management 2026

Business Wire India

Boomi™, the data activation company, today announced it has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide API Management 2026 Vendor Assessment, which evaluates vendors based on their capabilities and strategies for delivering API management solutions (APIM) in an increasingly AI-driven, hybrid enterprise landscape.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260331354139/en/

 

 

Boomi Named a Leader in IDC MarketScape for Worldwide API Management 2026

Boomi Named a Leader in IDC MarketScape for Worldwide API Management 2026

 

As enterprises accelerate adoption of agentic AI and hybrid architectures, the need to govern and scale APIs across increasingly complex environments has become a strategic priority. APIs are central to enabling secure, reusable, and agent-ready access to applications and data. Boomi’s API management solution, with an enterprise-grade gateway and advanced federation capabilities, enables organizations to design, secure, and manage APIs seamlessly across distributed runtimes. Governed APIs can also be exposed as MCP-enabled tools, giving AI agents secure, governed access to enterprise capabilities.

 

Boomi was named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape for Worldwide API Management 2026 based on its capabilities and strategy in delivering API management for modern, AI-driven environments.

 

 

According to the IDC MarketScape, “Boomi’s API Management offering is tightly connected to a mature, widely adopted iPaaS, AI, and automation platform, giving customers a streamlined path to wrap integrations, orchestrations, and legacy connectivity into managed APIs without stitching together multiple vendors.”

 

 

The IDC MarketScape also noted Boomi’s “AI-centric strategy that combines platform-level AI services with API management, aiming to make APIs both the fuel and the control plane for AI workloads,” highlighting Boomi’s differentiated approach to enabling AI-driven enterprises. The IDC MarketScape further emphasized Boomi’s ability to position APIs as governed interfaces for AI agents and applications, supporting secure and scalable AI adoption.

 

 

“As organizations accelerate their shift to becoming AI-driven enterprises, API management has become a strategic foundation for securely connecting applications, data, and AI workflows,” said Steve Lucas, Chairman and CEO at Boomi. We see our recognition as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape for API Management as validation of our continued innovation and commitment to delivering a unified platform for data activation, including APIM. By enabling enterprises to govern their APIs as the control plane for AI, alongside integration and data, we are helping customers worldwide move faster, operate smarter, and innovate at scale.”

 

 

Over the past year, Boomi has accelerated innovation in API management to help enterprises address API sprawl, strengthen governance, and prepare for AI-driven architectures. Key advancements include:

 

 

  • Enterprise API Management and Federation – Boomi’s comprehensive API management solution unifies governance across first- and third-party gateways, enabling organizations to discover, manage, and monitor APIs without disrupting existing runtime environments.
     
  • Enhanced Governance and Policy Enforcement – Advanced governance capabilities help organizations eliminate shadow APIs, enforce security and compliance policies, and improve API quality and reusability across the enterprise.
     
  • API Lifecycle Management – End-to-end lifecycle management accelerates API design and documentation through AI-driven experiences, enabling organizations to drive adoption of API products and deliver business value through easy onboarding, consumption and performance tracking.
     
  • APIs for AI and Agent-Ready Architectures – With Boomi, APIs are transformed into secure, governed, and MCP-enabled interfaces for AI agents, enabling organizations to safely operationalize AI and orchestrate agentic workflows at scale.

 

With more than 30,000 customers globally, Boomi is a trusted partner to enterprises across industries, including Post Consumer Brands, New Relic, A.R.M Holding, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and California State University (CSU), helping organizations connect, govern, and activate data and APIs at scale.

 

View the 2026 IDC MarketScape for API Management here.

 

 

Additional Resources

 

 

 

About IDC MarketScape

 

The IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.

 

 

About Boomi

 

 

Boomi, the data activation company, brings data to life by integrating and governing it to power everything from AI to BI. The Boomi Enterprise Platform puts data in motion, uniting data readiness, integration and automation, and agent management in one comprehensive solution. Trusted by more than 30,000 customers and supported by a global network of 800+ partners, Boomi is driving agentic transformation — helping organizations of all sizes move faster, operate smarter, and innovate at scale. Discover more at boomi.com.

 

 

© 2026 Boomi, LP. Boomi, the ‘B’ logo, and Boomiverse are trademarks of Boomi, LP or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All rights reserved. Other names or marks may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

 

 

IDC MarketScape: Worldwide API Management 2026 Vendor Assessment, Doc #US52034025, March 2026

 

 

 

 

 

Convera Joins Forces with Ripple to Empower Stablecoin-Enabled Cross-Border Payments

Business Wire India

Convera, a global leader in commercial payments, today announced a new strategic collaboration with Ripple, a leading provider of blockchain-based enterprise solutions across traditional and digital finance, to offer crypto-enabled payment and treasury solutions for businesses.

 

“With the growing presence and use of digital currencies such as crypto and stablecoins, Convera has maintained a thoughtful approach by listening to what our customers want while watching this space continue to mature. We knew we needed a trusted, visionary partner that can help us meet our customers where they are in their journey,” said Patrick Gauthier, CEO, Convera. “Ripple is a clear leader in the crypto space and a natural fit for Convera. We look forward to continued success and growth as we roll out these capabilities to customers near and far.”

 

 

Convera’s partnership with Ripple brings together two industry leaders to enhance global payments through stablecoin and blockchain infrastructure. By combining Convera’s trusted global network, FX expertise, and customer experience with Ripple’s liquidity, settlement, and digital asset capabilities, the collaboration enables faster, more reliable cross‑border payments – particularly in corridors where traditional options are limited.

 

 

This partnership builds on the “stablecoin sandwich” settlement model, where payments begin and end in fiat while leveraging regulated stablecoins for settlement in between. Convera orchestrates the end-to-end payment experience, while Ripple provides the underlying infrastructure for liquidity, on/off-ramping, and cross-border settlement.

 

 

“Enterprises are increasingly looking for faster, more flexible ways to move money globally without taking on the complexity of digital assets directly,” said Aaron Slettehaugh, SVP of Product at Ripple. “By partnering with Convera, we’re combining a trusted global payment infrastructure with stablecoin-powered settlement to give businesses more control over how and when they move value across borders.”

 

 

Attend Convera’s speaking session at Fintech Meetup titled, “How Do You Move Fast with New Payments Rails Without Breaking Things — Or Compliance?”, held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, on Wednesday, April 1st, at 1:05 pm PT.

 

 

Sign up to receive Convera’s upcoming Payments 2026+: Liquidity in Motion Report, which outlines how accelerating regulatory deadlines, real-time payment innovation, and the emergence of multi rail ecosystems are redefining global currency management.

 

 

To learn more about Ripple’s payments, custody and stablecoin solutions, visit https://ripple.com.

 

 

Additional Resources

 

 

 

About Convera

 

Convera is a global leader in commercial payments. With an unrivaled regulatory footprint and a financial network spanning more than 140 currencies and 200 countries and territories, Convera is reimagining the future of business payments. We combine tech-led payment solutions with deep expertise in foreign exchange, risk management, and compliance. From small businesses to CFOs and treasurers, we’re helping our customers grow with confidence. Convera makes business payments simple, smart, and secure.

 

 

 

 

 

Ducon Expects Increased Activity in Alumina Handling Projects Business in India

Business Wire India

Ducon Technologies (“Ducon”), a global leader in material handling and environmental solutions, today announced a positive outlook for its alumina handling projects business segment, driven by strong global and domestic industry fundamentals.

 

The alumina industry is poised for sustained growth, with global consumption projected to reach approximately 162 million tons by 2035. This expansion is being fueled by rising demand for lightweight aluminum in automotive and aerospace applications, as well as accelerating demand for high-purity alumina, a critical material used in electronics, LEDs, and lithium-ion batteries.

 

 

Recent geopolitical developments have also underscored the strategic importance of resilient supply chains. Iranian missile and drone strike on major aluminum facilities in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates —including Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) and an Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) —have raised concerns over potential disruptions to global aluminum supply. These events are expected to accelerate investments in capacity expansion and infrastructure diversification across other regions, including India.

 

 

India is rapidly emerging as a significant global player in the alumina sector, supported by ongoing capacity expansions and substantial investments in refining infrastructure to process domestic bauxite resources. This structural shift is expected to generate increased demand for advanced material handling, storage, and transportation systems—areas where Ducon has deep expertise and a long-standing track record.

 

 

With roots dating back to the 1960s, Ducon has established itself as a trusted supplier of engineered material handling systems for alumina, fly ash, coal, pet coke, and other bulk materials. The company has delivered numerous installations worldwide, covering complete solutions for alumina handling, storage, and transportation.

 

 

In India, Ducon has successfully executed and commissioned several key alumina-related projects for leading industry players, including:

 

 

  • Utkal Alumina International Limited, Rayagada – Alumina Handling & Wagon Loading System
  • Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Mahan Aluminium Project, Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh) – Bath Recycling System and Alumina Unloading & Transport System
  • Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Aditya Aluminium Project, Sambalpur, Odisha) – Bath Recycling System and Alumina Unloading & Transport System
  • Vedanta Limited, Lanjigarh Refinery – Alumina Handling System
  • National Aluminum Company Limited (NALCO), Damanjodi & Vizag Port – Alumina Handling System & Wagon Loading System

 

Commenting on the outlook, Aron Govil, CEO of the company said, “We are witnessing a strong pipeline of opportunities in the alumina sector, both in India and globally. Our decades of experience, proven execution capabilities, and installed base with marquee clients position us well to capitalize on the next phase of growth in this segment.”

 

Ducon remains committed to delivering high-efficiency, reliable, and environmentally sustainable material handling solutions to support the evolving needs of the global alumina and aluminum industries.

 

 

About Ducon Group

 

 

Ducon is a global technology, engineering and construction company specializing in material handling systems and environmental control technologies. With decades of experience and installations across multiple industries, Ducon provides innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency and sustainability for its clients worldwide.

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

 

This release contains forward-looking statements, including expectations regarding technology development, market adoption, project pipeline, and financial impacts. Actual results may differ due to factors beyond the Company’s control. Ducon undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.

 

 

 

 

 

Lotte Rental Speeds Growth and Innovation with Multiyear Partnership with Rimini Street

Business Wire India

Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), the Software Support and Agentic AI ERP Company™, and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software, today announced that Lotte Rental, South Korea’s leading car rental company, has selected Rimini Street to provide support for its Oracle and SAP systems.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260331863399/en/

 

 

Lotte Rental Speeds Growth and Innovation with Multiyear Partnership with Rimini Street

Lotte Rental Speeds Growth and Innovation with Multiyear Partnership with Rimini Street

 

A leader in the rental industry for over 40 years, Lotte Rental operates 300 branches across Korea and subsidiaries in Thailand and Vietnam and offers car sharing and used car sales. To drive its vision of accelerating growth and staying ahead in the mobility industry, the company has restructured its IT systems and invested in next-generation technology to power innovation and support its strategic expansion plans.

 

Cost Savings and System Stability Fuel Innovation

 

 

Lotte Rental is leading a company-wide cost-optimization initiative to identify and eliminate factors impacting profitability. By selecting Rimini Support™ for its mission-critical SAP and Oracle systems, Lotte Rental benefits from savings of over 50% total annual support fees and expert support from a dedicated Primary Support Engineer backed by a global team of highly experienced ERP experts and engineers. The efficiencies and savings realized by partnering with Rimini Street enable Lotte Rental to reinvest in strategic priorities and advance both top and bottom-line growth.

 

 

“Ensuring that our foundational enterprise systems are secure, flexible and primed for innovation is essential to achieving our vision to lead the mobility industry,” said Changgeun Park, head of IT, Lotte Rental. “Our partnership with Rimini Street provides us with a level of savings and quality of service unmatched in the industry.”

 

 

With the support of Rimini Street, Lotte Rental no longer experiences gaps in support needs or feels vendor pressure to take on costly, disruptive upgrades just to remain fully supported. Its systems are now stable, secure and ready for immediate innovation leveraging a composable ERP strategy.

 

 

Initially signed for a one-year Rimini Support™ for Oracle contract in 2024, Lotte Rental extended the partnership for an additional 3 years and signed a 3-year support contract for its SAP systems – a testament to the service Rimini Street provided.

 

 

“Our growing partnership with Rimini Street reflects a shared commitment to advancing Lotte Rental’s capabilities and growth, empowering our ability to deliver greater value and innovation in an ever-changing consumer market,” said Park. “In this highly competitive environment, speed to market is critical, and Rimini Street helps us realize our vision to remain South Korea’s number one car rental brand – and beyond.”

 

 

A Partnership Built on Results

 

 

With the savings achieved, Lotte Rental is investing in AI, ESG mobility services and cloud capabilities. The company has rolled out robotic process automation (RPA), improved SAP ERP interfaces and brought marketing, logistics, finance and HR together on one platform. These initiatives are expected to save over 100,000 work hours in five years and help boost productivity and employee satisfaction.

 

 

“Lotte Rental’s vision to advance the mobility industry relies on a strategy rooted in stability, agility and innovation around core systems,” said Kevin Kim, GVP and regional general manager, Rimini Street Korea. “With Rimini Street, Lotte Rental has a roadmap that allows for immediate investment in AI-driven initiatives, digital transformation and operational excellence, strengthening its competitive position in the industry.”

 

 

Learn how Rimini Support™ is helping IT leaders achieve their growth and profitability goals.

 

 

About Rimini Street, Inc.

 

 

Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a Russell 2000® Company, is a proven, trusted global provider of end-to-end, mission-critical enterprise software support, managed services and innovative Agentic AI ERP solutions, and is the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software. The Company has signed thousands of IT service contracts with Fortune Global 100, Fortune 500, midmarket, public sector and government organizations who have leveraged the Rimini Smart Path™ methodology to achieve better operational outcomes, billions of US dollars in savings and fund AI and other innovation.

 

 

To learn more, please visit www.riministreet.com, and connect with Rimini Street on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

 

Certain statements included in this communication are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “budget,” “continue,” “could,” “currently,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “goal,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “reflect,” “results,” “seem,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would” and other similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our expectations of future events, future opportunities, global expansion and other growth initiatives and our investments in such initiatives. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance, nor are these statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Rimini Street’s business, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to our ability to attract new clients or retain and/or sell additional products or services to existing clients; our ability to achieve and maintain an adequate rate of revenue growth; cost of revenue, including changes in costs associated with our efforts to grow and the results of any efforts to manage costs to align with current revenue expectations and the expansion of our offerings; the effects of increased intense competition in our industry and our ability to compete effectively; our ability to successfully educate the market regarding the advantages of our support and managed services for enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and to sell the products and services comprising our “Rimini Smart Path™” solutions portfolio, including but not limited to our Agentic AI ERP solutions; our intentions with respect to our pricing model and expectations of client savings relative to use of other providers; the evolution of the ERP software management and support landscape facing our clients and prospects; estimates of our total addressable market; the effects of seasonal trends on our results of operations, including the contract renewal cycles for vendor-supplied software support and managed services; the effects of the efforts of enterprise software vendors to sell upgrades or migrations to cloud-based versions of their enterprise software on our results of operations; our ability to scale our operations quickly enough to meet our clients’ changing needs or decrease our costs adequately in response to changing client demand; risks arising from incorporating artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies into our products or services or any deficiencies associated with AI technologies used by us or by our third-party vendors and service providers; our ability to maintain, protect, and enhance our brand; the continuing impact of and our ability to comply with the terms of our July 2025 settlement agreement with Oracle; our wind down of support services for Oracle PeopleSoft software products and the impact on future period revenue and costs incurred related to these efforts; the loss of one or more members of our management team and our ability to attract and retain additional qualified technical, sales and marketing personnel; our ability to expand our marketing and sales capabilities; our ability to avoid interruptions to, or degraded performance of, our services and the impact of any such interruptions or performance problems on our operations; our ability to defend against cybersecurity threats and to comply with data protection and privacy regulations; our expectations regarding new product offerings, innovation solutions, partnerships and alliance programs and our ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships; our ability to expand internationally and the risks associated with global operations; the impact of macro-economic trends, including inflation and changes in foreign exchange rates, as well as general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the industry in which we operate and the industries in which our clients operate; our ability to generate significant capital through our operations or to raise additional capital necessary to fund and expand our operations and invest in new services and products; our business plan and our ability to effectively secure and manage our growth and associated investments; risks relating to retention rates, including our ability to accurately forecast retention rates; our ability to protect our intellectual property; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting; changes in laws or regulations, including tax laws or unfavorable outcomes of tax positions we take; tariff costs, including those imposed by the United States government and the potential for retaliatory trade measures by affected countries; our ability to realize benefits from our net operating losses; any negative impact of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters on our reputation or business and the exposure of our business to additional costs or risks from our reporting on such matters; our credit facility’s ongoing debt service obligations and financial and operational covenants on our business and related interest rate risk; the sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents to meet our liquidity requirements; the volatility of our stock price; the amount and timing of repurchases, if any, under our stock repurchase program and our ability to enhance stockholder value through such program; our ability to maintain our good standing with the United States government and international governments and capture new contracts with governmental entities/agencies; the occurrence of catastrophic events that may disrupt our business or that of our current and prospective clients; future acquisitions of, or investments in, complementary companies, products, subscriptions or technologies; and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Rimini Street’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 19, 2026, and as updated from time to time by Rimini Street’s future Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings by Rimini Street with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Rimini Street’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Rimini Street anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Rimini Street’s assessments to change. However, while Rimini Street may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Rimini Street specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Rimini Street’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication.

 

 

© 2026 Rimini Street, Inc. All rights reserved. “Rimini Street” is a registered trademark of Rimini Street, Inc. in the United States and other countries, and Rimini Street, the Rimini Street logo, and combinations thereof, and other marks marked by TM are trademarks of Rimini Street, Inc. All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners, and unless otherwise specified, Rimini Street claims no affiliation, endorsement, or association with any such trademark holder or other companies referenced herein.