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Bengaluru Oct 29, 2024: wienerberger India, a leading provider of innovative green building solutions, has been conferred with the esteemed CII National Award for Environmental Best Practices 2024. This recognition honors the company’s ground-breaking project, “Utilization of Renewable Energy – Thermal for Bricks Manufacturing,” which harnesses biomass to meet thermal energy needs in brick production.

“We are thrilled to receive this prestigious award, which validates our unwavering commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable practices,” said Mr. Monnanda Appaiah, Managing Director, wienerberger India. “Our innovative approach to renewable energy demonstrates our ability to balance business growth with environmental stewardship, setting new industry benchmarks.”

wienerberger India’s pioneering project has been recognized as one of the TOP 10 “Most Innovative Environmental Projects” and one of the three most “Useful Environmental Projects” amidst numerous renowned companies. This achievement underscores the company’s strategic vision, relentless effort, and dedication to excellence.

The CII National Award for Environmental Best Practices 2024 reinforces wienerberger India’s position as a leader in sustainable building solutions. By leveraging biomass energy, the company has significantly reduced its carbon footprint, contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment.

“This award is a testament to our employees’ hard work and dedication to sustainability,” added Mr. Appaiah. “We will continue to innovate and strive for environmental excellence, promoting eco-friendly practices and responsible business growth.”

Bengaluru, 29 October 2024: As Diwali brings joy and light to homes across India, it also brings a surge in air pollution, primarily due to fireworks and festive activities. While we celebrate the Festival of Lights, the spikes in airborne pollutants create a serious concern for our health, making it more important than ever to focus on clean air inside our homes, since indoor air pollution can be four times higher than outdoor pollution.

 This Diwali, QNET India proudly launches its “Breathe Easy, Keep Healthy this Diwali” campaign, encouraging families to prioritise their indoor air quality during the festive season. With the sharp decline in the Air Quality Index (AQI) during Diwali, QNET introduces this campaign with the SHARP-QNET Zensational Air Purifier which serves as the perfect solution to combat the harmful effects of air pollution.

 The SHARP-QNET Zensational Air Purifier, equipped with advanced, patented Plasmacluster Ion Technology and a three-stage filtration system, neutralises up to 99.97% of airborne pollutants and the deadly smog which often enters your home during Diwali. From PM2.5 particles, dust, and toxins to allergens, bacteria, and viruses, this purifier ensures your indoor air is clean and fresh, providing a safe haven for your loved ones, especially for children and the elderly who are most vulnerable to respiratory distress during this festive time.

 Speaking on the launch of the campaign, Nischal C, Head of Corporate Communications, QNET, India Region said, “As we celebrate the vibrant spirit of Diwali, it’s vital to recognize the role clean air plays in our health. Fresh air is essential, and this festive season, we encourage families to protect their well-being by enhancing indoor air quality with the SHARP-QNET Zensational Air Purifier. Let’s make this Diwali not only joyful but also healthier and safer for everyone.”

By- Akriti Mehrotra, Research Analyst, StoxBox

– Company reported revenue of Rs. 41,473 crores, up 12.0% YoY / up 7.7% QoQ in Q2FY25, above market expectations of Rs. 41,256 crores owing to strong momentum in India and growth in constant currency in Africa.
– India revenues for Q2 FY25 stood at Rs. 31,561 crores, an increase of 16.9% YoY. Domestic mobile revenues grew 18.5% YoY, driven by increased tariffs, a greater focus on premiumizing the portfolio with quality customers, and an increase in ARPU.
– ARPU for the quarter stood at an industry-leading Rs. 233 in Q2FY25 compared to Rs. 203 in Q2FY24 on consistent strategy of acquiring high-value customers, improved realizations, and pricing strategies. The mobile data consumption was up 22.6% YoY, with consumption per customer at 23.9 GB per month.
– Total customer base stood at 563 million in Q2FY25 compared to 540 million in Q2FY24.
– EBITDA rose 12.0% YoY / up 10.9% QoQ to Rs. 21,846 crores, while EBITDA margin stood at 52.7% (flat YoY / up 150 bps QoQ) in Q2FY25. India’s EBITDA margins improved to 54.8% (up 86 bps YoY) in Q2FY25.
– Profit after Tax stood at Rs. 4,153 crores (up 98.4% YoY / down 12.0% QoQ) in Q2FY25, missing market expectations of Rs. 4,389.6 crores.
– Net Debt to EBITDA (annualized) stood at 2.50x as on 30 September, 2024 compared to 2.63x in Q2FY24.

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Bharti Airtel posted strong results in Q2FY25, with an improving ARPU of Rs. 233, the highest in the industry. This reflects the positive absorption of recent tariff hikes, robust smartphone data customer additions, and an improved customer mix. The India business continued its healthy growth trajectory, driven by a sustained focus on premiumizing the portfolio with quality customers. However, the tariff hikes did impact subscriber numbers, leading to a 0.7% QoQ reduction in Airtel’s customer base, which stood at 407 million in Q2FY25. This decline was notably less severe than market leader Jio’s loss of 10.9 million subscribers during the same period. Looking ahead, the company plans to invest in its digital business, diversifying its portfolio to drive long-term growth. Key areas to monitor will include progress on 5G adoption, capital expenditure trajectory, trends in prepaid-to-postpaid conversions, and traction in home broadband. Operating margins are expected to improve slightly, added by the ongoing transition from 2G to 4G and the ramp-up of its Fixed Wireless Access business across 30 cities. Overall, Bharti Airtel is well-positioned for sustained growth in the coming quarters.

Mumbai | Monday, 29 October 2024 | Kalpataru Projects International Limited (KPIL), a leading global infrastructure EPC company, announced its results today for the quarter and half year ended 30th September, 2024.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Quarterly Performance (Q2 FY25 vs Q2 FY24)

· Revenue growth of 9% YoY to ₹4,930 Crores in Q2 FY25 led by robust execution and healthy order backlog

· EBITDA grew by 18% YoY to ₹438 Crores; EBITDA Margin at 8.9% in Q2 FY25

· PBT grew by 42% YoY to ₹188 Crores in Q2 FY25 with margin at 3.8%

· PAT up by 40% YoY to ₹126 Crores in Q2 FY25

Half Yearly Performance (H1 FY25 vs H1 FY24)

· Revenue for H1 FY25 stands at ₹9,517 Crores, up 9% YoY

· EBITDA at ₹817 Crores higher by 8% YoY; EBITDA Margin at 8.6% for H1 FY25

· PBT at ₹325 Crores in H1 FY25, up by 9% YoY

· PAT grew by 3% YoY to ₹210 Crores in H1 FY25

· Net Debt stand at ₹3,668 Crores as on 30th September 2024

STANDALONE FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Quarterly Performance (Q2 FY25 vs Q2 FY24)

· Revenue for Q2 FY25 stands at ₹4,136 Crores, up 8% YoY

· EBITDA up by 13% YoY to ₹348 Crores; EBITDA Margin at 8.4% for Q2 FY25

· PBT grew by 15% to ₹184 Crores, PBT margin at 4.4% for Q2 FY25

· PAT of ₹132 Crores in Q2 FY25, up by 17% YoY

Half Yearly Performance (H1 FY25 vs H1 FY24)

· Revenue for H1 FY25 stands at ₹7,858 Crores, up 5% YoY

· EBITDA at ₹662 Crores higher by 6% YoY; EBITDA Margin at 8.4% for H1 FY25

· PBT at ₹348 Crores in H1 FY25 compared to ₹335 Crores in H1 FY24

· PAT of ₹249 Crores in H1 FY25 compared to ₹239 Crores in H1 FY24

· Net debt stands at ₹2,793 Crores as on 30th September 2024

ORDER INTAKE & ORDER BOOK

· Received new orders (including international subsidiaries) of ₹ 835 Crores in month of Oct-24 till date

· Order inflows at ₹11,865 Crores for YTD FY25; Additional L1 position for over ₹7,000 Crores

· Order book grew by 29% YoY to ₹60,631 Crores as on 30 Sep 2024

Management Comments

Commenting on the results, Mr. Manish Mohnot, MD & CEO, KPIL said:

“We have delivered solid performance this quarter, backed by consolidated revenue growth of 9% to ₹4,930 crores, PBT growth of 42% YoY ₹188 crores and PAT growth of 40% YoY to ₹126 crores. More importantly, the growth has come along with strong order book position ₹60,631 crores and YTD order inflows approx. ₹19,000 crores (including L1 of over ₹7,000 crore). Our diversified business mix, consistent performance, established capabilities and strong balance sheet showcases the underlying strength of our business model.”

October 29, 2024: Newgen Software, a global provider of AI-enabled end-to-end automation at scale, has been recognized in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms (LCAP). The report evaluated its flagship digital transformation platform, NewgenONE. The report evaluated 13 low-code application platform providers and recognized Newgen for the fifth time in a row.

 As per Gartner, “The enterprise LCAPs included in this research demonstrate successful adoption for business application delivery in all use cases and every business vertical.”

 Newgen primarily targets large and midsize enterprises in the banking, insurance, government and healthcare industries. Owing to its heritage, Newgen has strong capabilities for Intelligent Document Processing and document management. It has further enhanced its OCR and NLP capabilities using the Marvin GenAI tools.

 “Being recognized for the fifth consecutive year in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms (LCAP), we feel, is a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence,” said Virender Jeet, CEO at Newgen Software. “At Newgen, our mission is to drive transformative growth for businesses worldwide by simplifying complex workflows and embedding agility at the core of operations. We empower enterprises to not only navigate but thrive in the ever-evolving market and regulatory environments.”

New Delhi, 29 October, 2024: Indian Sellers Collective, an umbrella body of trade associations and sellers across the country, has launched the Diwali Desi Delights campaign. The campaign champions Indian sweet items and savouries over western food items like chocolates and cakes. The campaign, which also aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call of ‘Vocal for Local’, seeks to revive and celebrate the unique flavours and traditions that define our cultural identity, ultimately forging a stronger connection with our roots and communities.

The campaign is being launched across digital platforms to reach out to the new generation and help them understand the relevance of traditional sweets in festive season. The campaign highlights how traditional savouries filled with ingredients like cashews, almonds, pistachios and jaggery are a healthier alternative compared to western food items like cakes and chocolates.

The campaign also goes beyond encouraging the adoption of traditional sweets by calling out efforts by foreign food corporations and international organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO) to influence Indian food preferences so that these food MNCs can make inroads into the vast Indian market. It alleges that by influencing food choices, they aim to create a preference for foreign products, thereby disrupting the long-standing culinary traditions deeply rooted in Indian culture.

Mr. Abhay Raj Mishra, Member & National Coordinator, Indian Sellers Collective, said, “Amidst the festive cheer, we urge our fellow citizens to include only Indian sweets and delicacies as part of their celebrations. A festival like Diwali provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate and showcase our rich food culture and heritage, safeguarding it against the encroachment by foreign foods. We must challenge the introduction of regulations like FOPNL, which aim to present foreign foods as healthier than traditional Indian foods. Our culinary heritage deserves to be celebrated and protected. So this festive season, let’s trend #DiwaliDesiDelights.”

Indian Sellers Collective asserts that due to saturation in the western markets, multinational corporations are now targeting populous markets like India to promote their packaged foods. The guidelines of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) seem to align with this agenda, attempting to alter Indian food preferences by generating unwarranted concerns about traditional Indian foods.

Indian Sellers Collective argues that the FOPNL regulation is deeply flawed. In a study that assessed favourite Indian foods using the star rating method proposed by FSSAI, significant flaws were uncovered by Indian Sellers Collective.

29th October 2024, India: Match It By Softline, a brand from the house of Rupa, is proud to unveil its latest campaign, ‘Aren’t We All Girls?’, which celebrates the courage, resilience, and multifaceted lives of modern Indian women. With this campaign, the brand honours the spirit of women who confidently balance multiple roles, all while staying true to themselves.

The vibrant campaign features women dancing and singing to a lively anthem, united by a shared sense of empowerment. Their message is clear and bold: “Aren’t we all girls?” – a statement of solidarity and celebration of womanhood.

Match It by Softline, the new outerwear collection, is designed to meet the practical needs of the modern woman’s wardrobe. With a wide array of colours, prints, and patterns, it offers the perfect blend of style and comfort. Each piece is thoughtfully crafted to reflect the individuality and dynamic lifestyle of Indian women, offering endless options for mix-and-match dressing.

Vikash Agarwal, Director of Rupa & Company, commented: “India’s rise on the global stage is powered by its youth, and our young women are leading the way in every sphere of life. ‘Match It by Softline’ reflects the essence of this ‘Girl Power.’ We are delighted to collaborate with Wamiqa Gabbi, our new brand ambassador, whose style and energy perfectly complement the values of our brand. With our range of pants, leggings, palazzos, and tees, we’re confident that women will love the versatility and flair of our collection.”

Wamiqa Gabbi, the new brand ambassador of ‘Match It by Softline’, shared her excitement: “I’m thrilled to be part of this journey. Softline’s focus on comfort, style, and adaptability resonates with my own approach to fashion. It’s empowering to represent a brand that designs for the diverse needs of today’s women, offering both elegance and ease.”

By-Sakshi Kalani Founder & CEO of Savy Click and Jaipur Unfolded 

In today’s market, brands are turning to their heritage to build lasting connections, especially during festive seasons. Heritage branding goes beyond just selling products; it taps into nostalgia, tradition, and timeless values, positioning brands as part of the rituals and memories that festivals create. By embracing their cultural roots, brands foster trust and a sense of belonging, becoming integral to the celebrations and stories people cherish.

Building emotional bonds through festive heritage
Festivals evoke nostalgia, tradition, and family bonding, and brands that align with these sentiments forge deeper emotional connections with consumers. Instead of seasonal trends, a brand like Cadbury emphasizes its long-standing presence, nurturing loyalty by becoming symbolic of cherished memories, from family conversations over tea to gifting chocolates.

Global meets local
In a globalized world, international brands like Starbucks use heritage branding to tap into local cultures. Starbucks celebrates festivals by blending global appeal with local traditions, offering seasonal beverages and merchandise that honour both modernity and tradition, creating a unique, resonant brand experience for Indian consumers.

Crafting timeless narratives
Heritage branding goes beyond recalling a brand’s past—it builds narratives that resonate year after year, becoming part of personal and family traditions. Brands like Amul master this by blending festive themes with modern events, creating campaigns that feel both timely and deeply rooted in Indian culture.

Building on trust and authenticity
Heritage branding thrives on trust, with brands that have stood the test of time often inspiring confidence, especially during festivals. Consumers seek authenticity, knowing legacy brands will deliver tradition and quality. For instance, Haldiram leverages its rich history in Indian sweets and snacks, reinforcing its legacy of authentic, time-honoured flavours integral to the celebration.

Heritage brands and cultural connection
It allows brands to go beyond mere transactions and become an integral part of cultural traditions, especially during festivals. Brands that leverage their heritage are not just offering products, they’re offering memories, continuity, and a sense of belonging.

As festivals like Diwali celebrate connection and tradition, brands that honour their legacy can find a permanent place in the hearts and homes of their consumers, building relationships that last for generations. This long-term connection is the true power of heritage branding, making brands not just participants in celebrations, but cherished companions through time.

Ahmedabad, August 29, 2024 – Advait Energy Transitions Ltd., a leader in the renewable energy sector, proudly collaborated with youth social entrepreneurs Aarini Sheth and Saumya Sheth to support sanitation workers through the impactful event, Awaaz. The initiative, spearheaded by Aarini Sheth, daughter of Advait’s founder, successfully raised over INR 2,00,000, highlighting the contributions of sanitation workers and demonstrating the power of youth leadership and corporate responsibility.

Awaaz, organised by Sahayta Square, brought together partners such as YUVA Unstoppable, Project Iraada, Money Matters, and Trash to Treasure to honour the essential but often overlooked role of sanitation workers in society. The event combined art and advocacy, featuring Odissi and Kathak performances, a play, and a documentary that shed light on the hardships faced by these workers.

Aarini Sheth herself played a significant role, both in organising the event and delivering a powerful Kathak performance. The initiative, supported by Advait Energy Transitions Ltd. and contributions from notable philanthropists such as Mr. Vneet Jain’s Adimahesh Seva Foundation, Mr. Kurang Panchal, and Mr. Saumil Purohit, made a lasting impact on the cause.

Dr. Jayanti Ravi, Additional Chief Secretary for Revenue Gujarat and Ex-Commissioner of Health Gujarat, who were the chief guest for the evening, praised Aarini’s dedication, stating, “Seeing such commitment from a young individual like Aarini in supporting sanitation workers is inspiring. She has not only taken thoughtful steps but has taken tangible actions that all of us should admire.”

With over INR 2,00,000 raised, Awaaz set a benchmark for future social justice initiatives by combining community action, corporate partnership, and artistic expression. Advait Energy Transitions Ltd. continues to demonstrate its dedication to social responsibility alongside its leadership in the energy sector.

A recent survey conducted by Fracspace, a prop-tech startup specializing in fractional real estate ownership, reveals the key motivations that drive investors to choose fractional ownership over traditional real estate investments. The survey results highlight the growing appeal of co-ownership models, offering a range of benefits to middle-class investors looking for affordable and flexible ways to enter the real estate market.

According to the survey, nearly half (48%) of respondents indicated that earning passive rental income is the most attractive feature of fractional real estate investments. This indicates that for many investors, the ability to generate consistent rental income without the full responsibility of managing a property is a major draw.

In addition to passive income, 18% of respondents were most interested in the lower upfront investment cost, which makes it easier for individuals to enter the real estate market without the financial burden of traditional property ownership. Another 18% valued the flexibility and ease of exit options that fractional ownership offers, allowing investors to sell their shares when needed without being tied to long-term commitments. Finally, 15% of participants were drawn to the opportunity to access luxury properties in prime locations, which may have otherwise been out of reach.

Commenting on the survey’s findings, Unnath Reddy, founder of Fracspace, said, “These results validate the need for flexible and affordable real estate investment opportunities. Investors are increasingly looking for ways to earn passive income and benefit from high-value properties without the traditional financial hurdles. At Fracspace, we are committed to simplifying property ownership and providing a model that meets the diverse needs of today’s investors.”

As fractional ownership models continue to gain popularity, the survey offers insights into the evolving preferences of real estate investors. With its unique co-ownership model, Fracspace is well-positioned to meet the demand for accessible, profitable, and flexible real estate investments, helping individuals realize their property ownership dreams with minimal financial risk.