Category business

32-year-old insurance agency becomes a part of growing alliance.

(St. Louis, Mo., April 12, 2023) Luebbering Insurance Agency recently joined Valley Insurance Agency Alliance (VIAA), a cohesive family of more than 160 independent insurance agencies in Missouri and Illinois.

Founded in 1991, Luebbering Insurance Agency was created by owner Dennis Luebbering. The full-service nine-person agency is located at 2717 Industrial Dr. in Jefferson City, Mo. Luebbering Insurance Agency specializes in auto, home, commercial, life and health insurance.

Dennis has 32 years of experience in the insurance industry. Luebbering Insurance Agency began as a captive agency and switched to an independent agency in 2009. Luebbering currently serves on the board of the Missouri Association of Insurance Agents as the organization’s vice president.

“We have been in business for more than three decades, and we liked that Valley Insurance Agency Alliance is a locally owned and operated business which features so many member benefits,” said Luebbering Insurance Agency owner Dennis Luebbering. “The Alliance provides a variety of perks, everything from extensive training to the ease of reporting, and we look forward to a long-term mutually beneficial relationship.”

Founded in 2006, sister company Valley Insurance Agency Alliance generates more than $600 million in written premium and is the regional founding member for the Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance (SIAA), a $11 billion national alliance.

For more information about Luebbering Insurance Agency, call (573) 635-5810 or visit www.li-ins.com.

New Delhi, April 12, 2023 – Broadband India Forum (BIF) and Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) concluded their inaugural event on “Wi-Fi and Delicensing of 6GHz – The Driving Force of Broadband for All” on April 11, 2023, at Le Meridian Hotel, Delhi. The event jointly focused on the importance of the globally harmonized unlicensed 6Ghz spectrum band and the benefits it brings by addressing the Digital Divide, making spectrum available for the next generation. Wi-Fi products based on standardized IEEE 802.11 technologies viz, Wi-Fi6E and Wi-Fi 7, accelerate technology innovations including new applications like AR/VR, Holographic & Haptic systems.

The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders to discuss and deliberate on aspects around how the latest Wi-Fi technologies viz. Wi-Fi6E

(and upcoming Wi-Fi 7) that work exclusively in the delicensed 6Ghz spectrum band can help complement 5G and thereby help bridge the connectivity gap besides spurring new innovations and research & development of new applications & services.

India urgently needs the 6GHz spectrum to be opened up for Wi-Fi to achieve its broadband goals as well as meet the growth opportunities for business and societal needs, as has already been agreed in over 50 countries worldwide.

The event also focused on how next-gen Wi-Fi technologies, riding on the delicensed 6Ghz spectrum band, could help provide ultra-high-speed and low latency connectivity to every nook and corner of the country, thereby complementing 5G in places where conventional tower and fiber infrastructure deployment may either not be feasible or cost-effective.

There was a dedicated session on Public Wi-Fi Roaming. Two different standards & approaches were discussed & deliberated upon viz The Global ‘OpenRoaming‘ standard as well as our homegrown PM-WANI Roaming. The event also featured a live demo of both PM-WANI Roaming and OpenRoaming TM/, which drew a lot of appreciation from the policymakers, and other delegates. The PM-WANI Roaming was developed to provide easy and seamless roaming of users as they move from one PDOA to another PDOA without having to re-authenticate and revalidate their payment wallets every time. OpenRoaming is an initiative by the WBA that allows for automatic seamless and secure Wi-Fi roaming across different networks, platforms, and providers with the ability to rapidly scale.

During the event, BIF and WBA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the NextGen Wireless Ecosystem together in a collaborative manner.

Commenting on the significance of the event, BIF Chairperson Smt. Aruna Sundararajan stated “Given that Public Wi-Fi is the way to go to accelerate Broadband penetration across the country, liberalization of Public Wi-Fi through the PM-WANI scheme is one of the important steps to help achieve the Government of India’s vision of Digital India and to attain the objectives of providing ‘Broadband for all’.

Mr. T V Ramachandran, President, of Broadband India Forum said “BIF has conducted a very exhaustive study for co-existence in the 6GHz band based on actual data, which has conclusively proved that

Wi-Fi can co-exist with incumbent users of Fixed Services (FS) and Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) in the band.

Mr. Tiago Rodrigues, Chief Executive Officer at Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), added “We are delighted to announce this partnership with Broadband India Forum. Extending the work of Wireless Broadband Alliance and leveraging the latest Wi-Fi capabilities to enable long-term sustainable wireless broadband solutions for India”

Mumbai, April 12, 2023: UGRO Capital Limited (NSE: UGROCAP I BSE: 511742), which was formed as a lendng FinTech in July 2018 as a listed entity by raising approximately INR 900+ Cr of Equity Capital, today announced its second capital raise since inception. UGRO Capital’s Board of Directors have approved a preferential allotment of INR 240 Cr to IFU (Investeringsfonden for Udviklingslande) through its Danish Sustainable Development Goals Investment Fund K/S. The equity fundraise is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory and shareholder approvals.

UGRO Capital is simultaneously raising up to INR 101 Cr from long-term shareholders like insurance companies, AIF, and other financial institutions through a Qualified Institutions Placement (QIP) of up to INR 101 Cr.

Preferential Allotment: UGRO Capital has entered into a definitive investment agreement with IFU. IFU is an independent Denmark government-owned fund offering risk capital to companies in developing countries and emerging markets is the Danish Development Finance Institution and an impact investor which invests to support sustainable development in developing countries and contribute to the realization of the SDGs by creating better opportunities for people in low and middle-income countries. The growth capital from the funds raised will primarily be used for onward lending, this shall assist the MSME segment and take credit to the last mile. This capital raise will further enhance UGRO Capital’s strong capital position and strengthen the balance sheet.

Commenting on the fund-raising announcement, Mr. Shachindra Nath, Vice Chairman, and Managing Director, UGRO Capital said, “We have seen multiple FinTech and NBFCs which were created as private ventures and then being floated in Public Market at a significant premium, it was our desire to create an Institutionally Owned, Independently Supervised and Professionally managed FinTech in the listed world so that the opportunity is available to the large universe of Public Market Institutional Investors, HNIs,

AIFs, PMS and Retail Investors.

We intent to gain 1% market share with 1 million small businesses – it has been our endeavour to change the life of small businesses and having a global development financial institution like IFU as a partner would help us achieve our mission with an accelerated pace.”

UGRO Capital Raise Background: UGRO Capital was envisaged to be built as India’s largest small business financing platform combining the power of Data & Tech and was uniquely created as India first listed startup. In 2018, its founder Mr. Shachindra Nath, acquired control of a small listed NBFC ‘Chokhani Securities Limited’ and simultaneously raised capital institutional equity capital from the likes of TPG –

UGRO CAPITAL LIMITED

Registered Office Address: Equinox Business Park, Tower 3, 4th Floor, LBS Road, Kurla (West), Mumbai – 400070

CIN: L67120MH1993PLC070739

Telephone: +91 22 41821600 I E-mail: info@ugrocapital.com I Website: www.ugrocapital.com New Quest, PAG, ADV Capital, Sameena Capital, and other domestic family offices and public market investors. This in 2018 was one of the largest capital raises for a listed company at a startup stage. UGRO Capital, over the last 4 years in spite of broader challenges to the lending industry has successfully built an AUM of INR 6,000+ Cr and with a monthly disbursement of more than INR 500 Cr as of March 2023. It has truly demonstrated the power of Lending as a Service (LaaS) by being one of the most preferred partners for Banks for Co Lending. Its unique Data-driven GRO Score is a leading platform for accessing credit for small businesses in India and have recently launched GRO X platform for fully digital credit through the UPI platform.

Jiangxi, China – April 11, 2023: Birla Carbon, one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of high-quality carbon black solutions, will participate in the Carbon Black World 2023, in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, China, from April 12 – 14, 2023.

As a global leader in carbon black solutions, Birla Carbon is dedicated to providing advanced products to the industry while remaining committed to sustainability and circularity. Through its innovation and technical expertise, Birla Carbon has played a vital role in realizing the full potential of carbon black across the tire, mechanical rubber goods, energy systems, plastics, inks, and coatings industries.

Commenting on the participation, John Davidson, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Birla Carbon said, “The global Carbon Black World 2023 conference, presents a valuable opportunity for all stakeholders in the carbon black industry, including Birla Carbon, to collaborate and exchange knowledge, ideas, and best practices. We can contribute to and gain from this dynamic platform to enhance our industry know-how, foster innovation, and develop practical solutions to meet the evolving demands of the market.” He further adds, “Our sustainability efforts have led us to achieve the ‘Platinum’ rating by EcoVadis for sustainable business practices which reaffirms our efforts in providing high-quality sustainable alternatives to traditional carbon blacks. Ultimately, the knowledge and insights gained from this conference can help us and our peers to drive growth and make a positive impact in the industry.”

The theme of Carbon Black World 2023 – ‘Exploring Innovations and Sustainability in the Carbon Black Value Chain’ – aligns with Birla Carbon’s strategy in enabling significant and measurable reductions in carbon footprint.

The Carbon Black World 2023 technical conference aims to feature the most distinguished market analysts and experts from around the world, who will present diverse and balanced perspectives on various topics, including emerging opportunities, the latest technological advancements, and other critical industry updates in the carbon black industry.

April 11 2023 SIG, a leading solutions provider of packaging for better, recorded exponential growth and is set to become one of the fastest-growing aseptic packaging brands in India. The brand aims to expand its business in India with increased manufacturing capacities and partnerships with most of the biggest Indian beverage, juice, and dairy players.

In 2017, SIG began operating in the Indian market. The brand has expanded its operations significantly and will have over 40 SIG filling lines for aseptic carton packs in operation at its customers in India by end of 2023.

The CEO of the SIG Group, Samuel Sigrist, visited India between April 3 and 5, accompanied by SIG executives, to open SIG’s second production plant in Palghar, which specializes in the production of SIG’s bag-in-box and spouted pouch packaging, previously marketed under Scholle IPN and Bossar.

The aim of his visit was also to further develop good relationships with industry experts, strategic partners, and customers.

SIG India’s aseptic carton journey started with two iconic customers: ITC and Coca-Cola India, as it set up its local headquarters in Gurgaon in November 2017. Its growth in the sector can be attributed to its strong value proposition, which provides clients with innovative, aseptic packaging solutions. As a result, SIG is now associated with leading beverage players in India like Amul, Parle Agro, Coca-Cola, ITC, Milky Mist, PepsiCo, KMF, Dabur, Haldiram, and Creamline Dairy. Today, with a strong base of installed filling machines across the country and a full-fledged, experienced local team, SIG is looking to further accelerate its growth trajectory in India.

Samuel Sigrist, CEO of SIG: “SIG’s growing customer base in India is a testimony to our attractive product offering and our sustainable packaging technology. With the new investment and increased production capacities, we are set to grow significantly in the upcoming years.”

Angela Lu, President & General Manager Asia-Pacific South at SIG: “SIG has received positive feedback from its customers, signaling a promising future for the company in the years to come. Recognizing the potential for growth in the sector, India is a crucial market for SIG. Our company’s objective is to establish a comprehensive framework for sustainable packaging solutions that can be customized, provides flexibility, and can meet the demands of customers and every Indian consumer.”

Vandana Tandan, Head of Markets for India, and Bangladesh at SIG: “It is impressive to see SIG’s operations in India expand rapidly, even amidst market fluctuations and challenges. The company has demonstrated remarkable potential, and I am confident that this success can be attributed to its focus on sustainability and integrated production capacities. With these strengths at its core, SIG is poised to remain at the forefront of the industry.”

In the current context, SIG’s expansion plans are in line with the “Make in India” initiative aimed at promoting local production. Keeping this in mind, the company recently announced the construction of its first aseptic carton plant in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It will invest up to €60 million over the period 2023–2025. The aim is to reach a production capacity of 4 billion packs per annum. Additionally, significant further capacity investments can be made over time and buildings will be financed through a long-term lease with an NPV of approximately €30 million.

JSW Steel reported its highest-ever quarterly consolidated crude steel production at 6.58 million tonnes for Q4 FY23, registering a growth of 13% YoY and 7% QoQ. This was driven by improved capacity utilization at the Indian operations (capacity utilization of 96% in Q4 FY23 versus 91% in Q3 FY23).

Consolidated Crude Steel production for FY23 was the highest ever at 24.15 Mnt, up 24% YoY.

Q4 FY23 Crude Steel Production (Million MT)

FY23 Crude Steel Production (Million MT)

The Company achieved combined production of 24.57 million tonnes against its guidance of 25 Million tonnes, which is a 98% achievement. While the Company achieved 100% of its Guidance for Consolidated Indian Operations, production volumes at JISPL and JSW Steel USA – Ohio were impacted due to shutdowns and subdued market conditions for part of the year.

FY23 Crude Steel Production – Guidance v/s Actuals: (Million MT)

Gurugram: April 11, 2023– ShopClues.com, India’s largest and oldest e-commerce platform, has announced an exciting partnership with Technix Electronics to sell Rocking Deals’ Inventory, Asia’s foremost excess-inventory supplier, to bring an unparalleled selection of high-quality deals and refurbished products to its customers. With this collaboration, ShopClues is expanding its inventory to over 2 lakh SKUs, spanning various categories such as apparel, footwear, furniture, electronics, kitchenware, gym equipment, and luxury items.

What’s more, ShopClues is bridging the gap for Technix Electronics, offering the same discounted products online to a larger customer base, who can now enjoy up to 80% discounts on select products. This move is aimed at providing customers with more value and choice while catering to the growing demand for refurbished products. Through this partnership, Technix Electronics’ offline customer base can also access the same discounted products online with ease.

As a leading player in the refurbished and excess inventory industry, Technix Electronics provides top-quality refurbished products that are reliable and durable. Leveraging Technix’s expertise and reach, ShopClues aims to better serve its customers with more value and choice.

Anuraag Gambhir, Managing Director of ShopClues, said, “We are excited to partner with Technix and leverage their expertise in the refurbished and excess inventory industry to better serve our customers. This partnership will provide our customers with more value and choice, and we are confident that it will be a game-changer in the rapidly evolving market for refurbished products.”

Yuvraj Aman Singh, CEO & Founder of Technix Electronics, said, “We are thrilled to partner with ShopClues, to take this industry online and directly to the end consumer (D2C).”

ShopClues is dedicated to providing the best online shopping experience to its customers across all categories.

11 April 2023: Jewellery has the power to make or break a look. And with the summer season upon us, it’s time to step up your sartorial game with pieces that are unique yet versatile, sleek yet stylish and subtle yet striking! Elevate your summer looks and outfits with contemporary platinum jewellery pieces from the Men of Platinum collection. Each exquisite design can be paired with a variety of outfits and styled in multiple ways.

Born of the stars, platinum is found only in select locations across the globe and is a symbol of what is truly rare and precious. Platinum, with its inherent attributes, instantly uplifts the style quotient and has emerged as a new-age symbol of success. It is a fitting ode to the rare men of character and creates a subtle yet distinct statement.

Crafted in 95% platinum this stunning jewelry range from Men of Platinum is cast with clean, bold lines with minimalism at its core. Offering a wide range of avant-garde designs including platinum chains, wristwear, neckwear and rings, the design language of the collection includes distinctive emblems, crests in solid forms, and aerodynamic elements along with intricate details, incisions, and embellishments. The statement silhouettes and sophisticated textures come together to create this impeccable and exclusive range of jewellery. Extremely versatile, each piece in the collection can be paired with a variety of different outfits – right from power suits and tailored formalwear to smart casuals as well as festive Indian wear. While platinum neckwear complements everything from crisp shirts to solid tees as well as from polos to even bandhgalas; platinum wristwear and rings are the ideal everyday jewelry pieces that can be worn separately or stacked together to instantly add an edge to any look or outfit.

This season, take your style game up a notch, as you choose from these key pieces from the Men of Platinum collection:

Interlinked chains in platinum with hints of rose gold at the center, come together to make this bracelet symbolic of a rare breed of leadership.

The bracelet is the ideal accessory to elevate the smart casual look for a summer sun-downer or add a little fun to the more formal Monday work look.

This dual-toned chain with infinity-shaped motifs is crafted in rare platinum that is strong to withstand the tests of time.

Worn with an embellished kurta or with a bespoke shirt to add a touch of drama to the Sangeet attire or elevate the style quotient of a semi-formal look for a networking event.

Crafted in a metal that retains its naturally white sheen and forms through time, this design with dual-toned arrows directed toward the center of the piece is bold, distinctive and timeless.

The perfect accessory to take the power game a notch higher as you don your best suit to address the board. This distinct design would also perfectly complement and elevate the simple kurta pajama look for an intimate family gathering.

A statement in fluidity, this interwoven design with hints of rose gold, is crafted in unwavering platinum that retains its shape through years of wear. Akin to the men whose resilience stands tall in the face of the unforeseen as they lead with incomparable inner strength.

An interesting choice to add a stylish statement piece to that perfect date night look, the bracelet instantly uplifts the semi-formal attire and adds an element of personal style. The bracelet can just as easily be paired with a formal suit for a fun and decadent cocktail night.

This dynamic chain features a series of infinity-shaped facets. Symbolic of the choice of rare men who rise up, time and again, despite the odds. Crafted in rare platinum, one of the strongest metals on Earth, the design comes together with knotted gold links.

The chain adds a touch of personal style when paired with an office shirt to create a subtle yet distinct statement at work. It also serves as an ideal accessory to instantly uplift a casual ethnic look ideal for intimate family gatherings and events.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, April 11, 2023: The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM) has shortlisted 13 local and international companies to progress to the next application stage for the exploration sites of the Muhaddad and Ar Ridaniyah exploration licenses. The announcement was made in accordance with the new Mining Investment Law and underscores MIM’s commitment to advancing transparent and sustainable mining practices in the Kingdom.

The Muhaddad exploration site, located in Bisha within the Asir geological terrane, covers 139 sq.km, and includes deposits of copper, zinc, and lead ores. The Ar Ridaniyah exploration ⁠site, meanwhile, is located in Riyadh region within the Al-Dawadmi geological terrane and spans an area of more than 75 sq.km, and includes deposits of zinc and silver ore. The qualified bidders for Muhaddad and Ar Ridaniyah site are: African Rainbow Minerals Limited (ARM), Alara Saudi Ventures Pty. Ltd., , Almasane Alkobra Mining Co.( AMAK), Barrick Gold Corporation, ERG Arabia Limited, Moxico Resources, Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden), Yilmaden Holding , Vedanta Limited, Abdulrahman Saad AlRashid & Sons Co. (ARTAR), Ajlan & Bros Mining Company & Norin Mining Company Consortium, Panoro Minerals Ltd, Royal Road & MSB Holding Co – Consortium. Qualified bidders are now invited to submit their proposals by end of May 2023, with successful applicants scheduled to be announced in June 2023.. The qualified bidders are requested to submit their best work program and social & environmental impact management plans that outline their employment and local community development experience for the sites in which they seek to operate To uphold Saudi Arabia’s commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.

MIM also emphasized that local and international mining companies are still welcome to participate and visit the publicly available data room in the three open exploration sites available at Umm Hadid (Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu) covering an area of around 246 sq. km, Bir Umq (Cu, Zn) covers an area of around 187 sq. km, and Jabal Sahabiyah (Zn, Pb, Cu) covers an area of around 283 sq. km. Qualified bidders for these sites will also be announced in June 2023. Interested investors can apply for these opportunities via the provided link: Mining Auctions (mim.gov.sa)

By promoting responsible mining practices and embracing ESG principles, MIM seeks to contribute to the sustainable development of Saudi Arabia’s mining sector while safeguarding the interests of the local communities and preserving the natural environment.

India, 11 April 2023: In an endeavor to provide students with enhanced exposure to 4.0 technologies, and strengthen their resolve to build careers in these emerging technologies, NxtWave, an upskilling company, recently held a four-day 4.0 Tech Camp in Dubai, UAE for its students.

27 students were selected for the tech camp out of thousands across India who participated in the Fly High Challenge, a unique challenge that was designed by NxtWave for its students to recognize the next wave of technology leaders. The challenge assessed their coding skills and encouraged consistent learning among students to secure their seats for the tech camp.

Speaking about the initiative, CEO of NxtWave, Rahul Attuluri said – “The 4.0 Tech Camp was designed to further encourage students and create an opportunity for them to explore newer forte of Technology. By participating in the event, students gained valuable insights into how the world of technology is evolving and how future careers are going to be shaped by this.”

He added, “NxtWave has been extremely successful in creating job-ready tech professionals through its training programs. Over the last couple of years, 1250+ companies, from fast-growing startups to Fortune 500 giants have hired thousands of NxtWave learners. 4.0 Tech Camp is another step forward to provide industry-relevant exposure to Indian youth.”

During their time in Dubai, the students visited Samsung Headquarters Gulf and Samsung SmartThings Home, an Ecosystem of Samsung devices that works together using IoT technology. Students got to know about Metaverse, Blockchain, and Samsung’s work in these technologies and the opportunities that lie ahead from Mr. Alaa Alsweileh, Head of Digital, Gulf, Samsung Electronics. They participated in an engaging quiz later.

The students also attended masterclasses where they learned from industry experts like Mr. Nikhil Nair, a Consumer Business Leader of the Middle East, Turkey & Africa, HTC Vive; and Mr. Sonam Kaithan, a Fintech leader in UAE. During the interactions with experts, students learned how companies are shifting their businesses towards the metaverse, and about blockchain technology. They witnessed some cutting-edge projects happening at these companies and understood the vast career opportunities available to students who are skilled in these technologies.

At the 4.0 Tech Camp, the students participated in a day-long hackathon where they exchanged and gained knowledge about ongoing digital transformation in India. They learned about inculcating an entrepreneurial mindset and creating solutions to the problems they face and turning them into ‌businesses through value creation.

After special sessions on how D2C companies are built using technology and case studies of successful tech companies, students participated in teams and came up with innovative startup ideas. Using no-code tools, they got the website, product, and vision ready by the end of the hackathon.

Speaking about her experience at 4.0 Tech Camp, Rashi Chauhan, 2nd year Engineering student from Noida said, ‌ “I learned a lot about Artificial Intelligence, Metaverse, Blockchain, NFTs, Fintech and many more emerging technologies. While working as a team in a hackathon, I improved my communication and leadership skills. This tech camp pushed me out of my comfort zone and increased my awareness of these technologies drastically.”

Apart from the intense learning, the students also got the chance to explore engineering marvels in Dubai by visiting iconic places like the Dubai Mall, the Burj Khalifa, and the Dubai Frame. The city tour provided them with a glimpse of the rich cultural and technological landscape of Dubai. The event was a success and is expected to continue in the future, inspiring more students to become leaders in the field of 4.0 technologies.