31st October 2023,  India’s World leader in membership travel services and vacation ownership, RCI successfully wrapped up one of the biggest events in the Hospitality industry, HICAP 2023, an annual gathering for Asia-Pacific’s hotel investment community. This prestigious event attracted some of the most influential stakeholders in the hospitality industry, including owners, developers, lenders, executives, and professional advisors from around the world.

At HICAP 2023, RCI made a significant impact with its participation, emphasizing the company’s commitment to innovation and collaboration. The success at HICAP 2023 underscores their pivotal role in advancing the global hospitality sector.

Commenting on their learnings and participation in the event, Mr. Juan Ignacio Rodriguez, International Managing Director & Global Business Development, RCI said, “HICAP served as a valuable forum for engaging with industry giants across the Asia-Pacific region. We met with our esteemed partners, fostering knowledge exchange, exploring opportunities, and reinforcing existing relationships. The event also allowed us to forge new connections with potential partners, enriching our network for future collaboration.”

Mr Robin Mills, Vice President of Business Development EMEA, India & APAC, RCI, said “It was a great platform to engage with our dedicated partners and explore new potential partners. Our meetings with existing partners were particularly productive, unveiling promising opportunities on the horizon. Together, we’re building a brighter future.”

New Delhi,31st October 2023 India’s financial ecosystem has displayed remarkable resilience and signs of growth despite growing global geo-political challenges. Indian banks have shown stability and a strongly regulated rise of fintech firms and NBFCs is boosting financial inclusion for India’s expansive consumer market. This is furthered by the impetus towards building a robust digital public infrastructure, which has evolved to create a more accessible, efficient, and inclusive digital ecosystem to boost economic growth. However, challenges such as data security and privacy concerns, infrastructure gaps, and digital literacy still need to be addressed to fully realize the potential of India’s digital transformation.

As the global effect segues into the dynamic economic fabric of India, the leaders of tomorrow should brace for complex risk scenarios, including recession, inflation, geopolitical unrest, and global economic imbalances. The task of establishing resilient organisations capable of addressing persistent macroeconomic turbulence and technological upheavals is imperative. This necessitates the combination of innovative thinking and exceptional leadership if India wishes to fulfil its goal of joining the USD 5 trillion economy club.

The industry needs highly skilled professionals who can manage and navigate the financial and fintech business worlds, which are filled with phenomenal opportunities. With lifelong learning to create leaders ready for the future, being the core of ISB Executive Education’s value, it joined hands with Imarticus Learning, which shares the same objective, to impart industry-relevant knowledge and skills. The partnership aims to create future-ready leaders who stay ahead of tech disruption and fast adopt regulatory and policy frameworks to favourably shape India’s financial sector.

Sujatha Kumaraswamy, Executive Director, ISB Executive Education and Digital Learning, said, “We recognise that India’s accelerated pace of growth requires future-proofing of frameworks, processes, people and mindsets. Our partnership with Imarticus Learning reinforces our commitment to nurturing excellence in strategic financial leadership. Through these programs, we enable professionals to become changemakers, driving innovation and transformation that aligns with global business strategies.”

The partnership will curate three specialised programmes: the CFO Programme, the Senior Leadership Programme in Fintech, and the Advanced Certification in Fintech. These programmes are tailored to empower professionals in their career journey, from CFOs to high-potential executives transitioning to a CFO role, seasoned professionals in the finance or fintech sector, or mid-career finance experts looking to propel their fintech capabilities, respectively. These programmes are formulated for senior professionals in banking, consulting, financial services, insurance, management, and technology, who want to lead financial and fintech initiatives in their organisations or start their own venture.

About this collaboration, Mr. Nikhil Barshikar, Founder and CEO of Imarticus Learning, expressed, “Our partnership with ISB Executive Education stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing world-class education. These specialised professional programmes in finance and fintech are meticulously crafted to empower senior leadership professionals. They reflect our organisation’s dedication to bridging the skills gap and empowering individuals to excel in these dynamic domains.”

The programmes are conceived keeping consumer-centric benefits in mind, with world-class education delivered as modules from globally acclaimed ISB faculty. There are interactive sessions by Imarticus Learning and masterclasses from industry practitioners.

Bengaluru, India, 31st October 2023 Embassy Office Parks REIT (NSE: EMBASSY / BSE: 542602) (‘Embassy REIT’), India’s first listed REIT and the largest office REIT in Asia by area, reported results today for the second quarter ended September 30, 2023.

Aravind Maiya, Chief Executive Officer of Embassy REIT, said,

“We’re delighted to report a record quarter of leasing of 2 msf. For the first half of FY2024, we have successfully leased 3.1 msf, and the outlook for the full year looks promising, bolstered by a record leasing pipeline of 2.5 msf. We’re also very pleased to further strengthen our long-standing partnership with one of our largest clients at Embassy GolfLinks, a testament to our commitment to provide best-in-class workspaces to our occupiers. This coupled with the strong leasing momentum in the business, has resulted in a revised leasing guidance of 6.5 msf for FY2024 from the earlier announced 6 msf.”

The Board of Directors of Embassy Office Parks Management Services Private Limited (‘EOPMSPL’), Manager to Embassy REIT, at its Board Meeting held earlier today, declared a distribution of ₹524 crores or ₹5.53 per unit for Q2 FY2024. The record date for the Q2 FY2024 distribution is November 03, 2023, and the distribution will be paid on or before November 10, 2023.

Business Highlights

• · Leased record 2 msf across 25 deals including 1.2 msf of new leases; Signed 7 new deals over 100k sf reflecting a return of large deal closures
• · Significant demand from Global Captive Centres (GCCs) accounting for over 70% of total leasing activity
• · Bengaluru and Mumbai led the demand, contributing 90% of the total leasing in the quarter; 90%+ occupancy levels across 50% of our properties with Embassy 247 in Mumbai 100% occupied

Financial Highlights

• · Revenue from Operations grew by 4% YoY to ₹889 crores
• · Delivered distributions of ₹524 crores or ₹5.53 per unit, marking the 18th consecutive quarter of 100% payout
• · Achieved lowest 121 bps spread over G-Sec and secured first-time participation from pension funds in the ₹1,000 crores new NCD issuance; Strong balance sheet with lowest average cost of debt in the industry at 7.4% and dual AAA/Stable credit ratings

Operational & Development Highlights

• · Delivered 1 msf new office tower in Bengaluru; 7.1 msf total development portfolio of which ~90% is in Bengaluru, expected to yield around 20% return on cost spends
• · Hospitality business continued to perform strongly with 52% occupancy, 24% YoY ADR growth and an EBITDA of ₹37 crores; Robust NOI margins of close to 50% at the 3 Hilton hotels
• · Ranked number one in India by GRESB for public disclosures, and awarded a 5-star rating for the entire 45 million square feet office portfolio for the second consecutive year

Investor Materials and Quarterly Investor Call Details

Embassy REIT has released a package of information on the quarterly results and performance, that includes (i) condensed standalone and condensed consolidated financial statements for the quarter and half year ended September 30, 2023 (ii) an earnings presentation covering Q2 FY2024 results, and (iii) supplemental operating and financial data book that is in-line with leading reporting practices across global REITs. All these materials are available in the Investors section of our website at www.embassyofficeparks.com.

Embassy REIT will host a conference call on October 26, 2023 at 18:30 hours Indian Standard Time to discuss the Q2 FY2024 results. A replay of the call will be available in the Investors section of our website at www.embassyofficeparks.com.

The growing tech ecosystem in India has revolutionized the Indian agriculture sector, and now India is home to more than 1,000 agritech startups. Agritech startups play a vital role in ensuring food security and sustainability in India. They are developing innovative solutions to address challenges, including climate change, water scarcity, food security, and soil degradation. Here are five leading AgTech platforms disrupting the Indian Agriculture Sector:

1. Nurture.farm: Established in December 2019, nurture.farm brings together the best agriculture solutions, including remote sensing, farm mechanisms, online marketplaces, traceability, and market linkage. It also encourages farmers to adopt sustainable practices to mitigate potential risks and become resilient.

The brand focuses on offering short-term and long-term solutions to farmers throughout the crop life cycle. To do so, it has come with specially curated opportunities, including nurture.farm, nurture.retail, nurture.trade and nurture.sustain.

2. Poshn: Founded by Shashank Singh and Bhuvnesh Gupta in 2020, Poshn is organising processed agri-commodity trade by providing a digital network that enables buyers, sellers & agents of agricultural commodities to trade online. The startup gives producers, mandis, and wholesalers the ability to take their storefronts online, increasing their reach and visibility. Organising the highly fragmented agri-supply chain market, Poshn provides a procurement platform, especially for bulk processed commodities, enabling smooth wholesale agri-market discovery and transactions. It also helps buyers and sellers with logistics and provides a variety of payment options.

3. Otipy: Backed by renowned VC firms like Westbridge Capital, SIG and Omidyar Network India, Otipy is a community-based agritech platform helping farmers deliver fresh produce to consumers. Founded by Varun Khurana and Prashant Jain in 2020, Otipy connects consumers, resellers, and farmers to bring fresh produce to their doorstep. It directly buys from farmers and saves money due to less wastage, at 3%.

4. Apna Godam: Godam is now not just a place where grains and other stockings are stored. In fact, Apna Godam is one of the most promising agricultural fintech startups. This venture is one of the topmost agricultural hubs, with its headquarters in Jaipur, Rajasthan. It brings an organized and unique mobile application that helps farmers to track their crops and soil health in real time. The app also provides customized recommendations for farmers based on their specific needs.

5. Arya.ag: Arya.ag is one of the best agritech startups because it uses technology to dissolve some of the most pressing problems in agriculture. It has developed a smart irrigation system that helps farmers save water and increase crop yields. The system is powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning, which means it gets smarter over time. In addition to its irrigation system, Arya.ag also offers a mobile app that helps farmers track their crops and soil health.

MUMBAI – 31st October 2023 JSW Ventures has exited its shareholding in Purplle through a sale to Manipal Education & Medical Group Family Office (MEMG). Commenting on the investment, Dr. Ranjan Pai, Chairman of the Manipal Group said: “With their vision and dedication, the Purplle team, has created a digital ecosystem that revolutionizes how Indian consumers discover and experience beauty products. We are excited to be part of Purplle’s journey as they scale up.”

With this transaction, JSW Ventures has fully exited their stake in Purple from Fund I and they have returned 2.7x of the fund size to their investors so far. JSW Ventures Fund I continues to track at a top quartile Internal rate of return (“IRR”) and Distributed to Paid-in Capital (“DPI”) among funds of an identical vintage.

Commenting on the transaction, Sachin Tagra, Managing Partner at JSW Ventures said, “Purplle was one of our earliest investments as a fund in 2016 and it has delivered a 57% IRR. We are delighted to announce that with this exit, we have returned 2.7 times the corpus of the first fund. It has been our privilege to partner with Manish, Rahul and Suyash on their remarkable journey. We continue to stay invested in Purplle from our second fund and wish the team at Purplle continued success.”

Commenting on the investment, Manish Taneja, Co-Founder and CEO at Purplle said, “We welcome Dr. Ranjan Pai to Purplle and are pleased to provide a great exit to JSW Ventures Fund 1. As we build Purplle into a remarkable data and technology led beauty company, we are excited about the value-add that Dr. Pai can add. We are grateful to the JSW Ventures team for all the support extended to us since 2016.”

Mumbai, 31st October 2023: DeHaat, the leading AgTech platform in India providing comprehensive agricultural services for farmers is entering into a strategic partnership with Freshtrop Fruits Ltd. to enhance the export business of grapes & other fruits from India. The partnership aligns with the vision of both the companies to strengthen the fruits value chain from India with deeper engagement with farmers, better technology transfer & improved infrastructure.

Speaking on the acquisition, Shashank Kumar, Co-founder & CEO, DeHaat, says, “The way how Freshtrop has built its relationship with 50+ global retail chains delivering strong business presence across 20+ countries is quite commendable. Over last 25 years, Freshtrop has empowered hundreds of farmers to start the grape exports journey which completely aligns with DeHaat’s vision of being a ‘Farmers First’ organization. We established our exports business 18 months ago and are today exporting more than 20 agri produce from India to the Middle East, UK & EU. We see strong synergies around the complementary core competencies between DeHaat & Freshtrop. We are super excited about this collaboration to grow the grapes & overall agri export business together. Each member of the Freshtrop’s founding family along with the larger team will continue to remain actively involved in the business and DeHaat will bring its network & resources for market expansion, development of new grape varieties & technology led deeper pre-harvest support to the associated farmers.”

DeHaat is in advanced stages of acquiring Freshtrop Fruits Ltd’s fresh fruit export network and grading, packing & precooling centers, and will absorb all people from the company, including the top leadership team, in its structure. Commenting on the acquisition, Ashok Motiani, Managing Director, Freshtrop Fruit Ltd says, “In order to take the business to the next level it is essential to work on development of new varieties of grapes, establish access to other global markets and the domestic market and diversify the product basket for a year-round activity. DeHaat’s strength is in providing quality farm inputs, using technology to provide predictive crop advisory and in its infrastructure for domestic sales & distribution. There is a fundamental alignment of value systems in both organizations of farmer-first approach, respect for everyone in the value chain, maintaining integrity & investing in innovation for further value creation. Hence, we feel that this association would be beneficial to all stakeholders with farmers getting access to new varieties and potential to diversify into other products, customers getting a larger basket of products from an established source, employees getting better prospect through organizational growth and the shareholders getting a good return on their investment.”

The partnership will enable DeHaat to offer its full-stack agri services including availability of high quality inputs, personalized advisory, financing, insurance & access to wider global markets to Freshtrop’s farmer network, enabling seamless information exchange and better value discovery.

Pune,31st October 2023 Lexicon Institute of Media & Animation is pleased to announce the launch of its podcast series, “Media Bytes with Lexicon IMA.” This exciting initiative is designed to provide a platform for industry professionals to share their experiences, insights, and journeys in the dynamic world of media and animation and inspire aspiring professionals. The series will serve as a source of guidance and motivation for students and enthusiasts alike.

“We are excited to launch the podcast series. This platform provides a unique opportunity for our students to learn from industry leaders, gain a deeper understanding of the media landscape, and forge a path towards empowering the next generation of media professionals,” said Mr. Nasir Shaikh, Group CEO, The Lexicon Group of Institutes, EduCrack, & EasyRecruit+.

The inaugural episode featured an engaging conversation with Mr. Deepal Daas, VFX Team Lead at yFX Studios, a renowned figure in the world of visual effects. Mr. Deepal Daas, with a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering, has successfully overseen creative deliveries for over 50+ TV commercials and 75+ feature film projects, including blockbusters like Dhoom 3, Ek Tha Tiger, and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, to name a few. In this podcast, Mr. Daas shared his insights, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and passion for one’s craft.

“Hone your skills, keep learning, aim high, and be passionate about your work. You have to believe in what you do. Respect and honor your work, and choose the right mentors,” said Mr. Deepal Daas, VFX Team Lead at yFX Studios. His words of wisdom will undoubtedly resonate with listeners aspiring to excel in the world of media and animation.

The podcast series promises to be a valuable resource for anyone passionate about making their mark in the industry, offering listeners real-world perspectives, practical guidance, and a deeper understanding of the ever-evolving media landscape.

“The ‘Media Bytes with Lexicon IMA’ podcast series is designed to inspire, inform, and empower future media professionals through the shared experiences of these industry experts,” said Ms. Dipta Joshi, Principal, Lexicon Institute of Media & Animation.

For more information and updates on the podcast series, visit Lexicon Institute of Media & Animation’s official website and social media channels.

New Delhi, 31st October 2023: The 7th Edition of Indian Mobile Congress (IMC) 2023, the largest telecom, media, and technology forum in Asia, jointly organized by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), concluded by achieving the largest participation ever with over 1.5 lakh participants attending the 3-day forum. With PM Modi announcing ‘100 5G lab Initiative’ to develop 5G applications towards building a 6G-ready ecosystem in the country, the forum witnessed over 620 use cases displayed across Technology and telecom, Govt & PSUs, and startup sectors.

The premier showdown witnessed 1300 plus CXO-level delegates, 235 plus exhibitors, and 400 startups this year, in total, there was participation from around 67 countries.

During IMC 2023, more than 400 Speakers participated in over 80 sessions conducted in 7 Conference halls and deliberated on a range of subjects including Industry 4.0, 5G Applications, Enterprise Digital Transformation, Sustainable Development, Monetizing Connectivity, Role of India in Global semiconductor landscape, 6G standardization, Meeting India’s Telecommunications needs, Network Evolution beyond 5G, Standardization for 6G, 6G RAN and Devices, Applications and Digitization, Evolution of AI and Future of Networks etc.

Speaking on the success of India Mobile Congress 2023, Mr. Ramakrishna P., CEO of India Mobile Congress said, “It has been a great experience seeing IMC grow multitudes over the years. As we establish IMC as a premier technology platform going beyond telecom, this year’s edition of IMC had a spectacular show of future technologies and engaging discussions spread over 3 days. We are really happy to note the highest-ever attendance of over 1.5 Lakh at IMC 2023. We would like to thank our partners, exhibitors, delegates from around the world, and the Department of Telecom for their consistent guidance and support.”

Mumbai, 31st October 2023 – Today marks a pivotal moment in the journey towards women’s empowerment as LXME, India’s 1st Financial Platform exclusively for women proudly launches their groundbreaking campaign, “Har Ladki Banegi LXME.”. With this campaign, they are committed to giving women back their true rights by enabling financial independence and autonomy.

In a world where women’s rights and economic equality remain critical issues, “Har Ladki Banegi LXME” emerges as a beacon of hope, dedicated to reshaping the future of every woman. Our campaign is not just about financial empowerment; it’s about providing the tools, knowledge and support for women to take control of their own destinies.

Priti Rathi Gupta, Founder of LXME states, “We’re not just talking about Financial Independence, we’re talking about ensuring the right to financial security, financial wellness, and financial freedom to every woman in the country. In a world where gender equality is an ongoing battle, we’re providing women with the power to script their own stories, to break free from the shackles of financial dependence, and to reclaim their true rights. Our campaign is a declaration that every woman deserves the opportunity to shine, thrive, and lead without compromise. It is also a call for every family, every parent to power their daughter, wife, sister, and mother in this journey.

Har Ladki Banegi LXME is more than a campaign, it’s a commitment to building a world where every woman has the power to shape her own destiny. We invite everyone to join us on this transformative journey towards empowering women with the financial independence they rightfully deserve.

LXME is one of the foremost platforms enabling financial independence for women. Their aim is to make every woman in India aware, educated and confident enough to take charge of her own money.

Mumbai, 31st October, 2023: Senco Gold & Diamonds, a leading jewellery retailer with over eight decades of legacy reached a landmark of 150 showrooms nationally with the opening of two new showrooms in Kolkata in the presence of its brand ambassador Actress Vidya Balan.

To celebrate this milestone, Vidya Balan graced the inauguration of the company’s two new showrooms in Kankurgachi and Hatibagan, alongside Mr. Suvankar Sen, MD & CEO, Senco Gold & Diamonds and Mrs. Joita Sen, Director and Head of Design & Marketing, Senco Gold & Diamonds. While the Kankurgachi showroom is spread across 2100+ sqft. to cater to the cosmopolitan crowd in the neighbourhood, the Hatibagan showroom spread across 11500+ sq.ft. is Senco’s largest showroom nationally.

The new showrooms at Kankurgachi and Hatibagan are designed to provide the customers a luxurious and an immersive shopping experience, with an extensive collection of jewellery pieces in gold, diamonds, and precious gemstones, to cater to diverse customers of the city.

As part of the grand celebration, Senco Gold & Diamonds launched an array of designs and jewellery pieces under Shagun Collection, a range of exquisite pieces for all occasions, from contemporary light weight to the royal traditional designs. The Lotus collection by Everlite is inspired from the motifs of Lotus with enamel and meenakari work signifying auspiciousness and prosperity and blessings of Goddess Laxmi for Dhanteras and Diwali. The Signature Collection was inspired by the Senco’s logo created with motifs of swan and lotus, representing the serenity and blessings of Lakshmi Puja. The Power Collection is inspired by the power that resides in nature and within us. The collection represents the innate power and resilience of every individual that shines through with time and the tide of life experiences. The Meenakari, Nakshi, Filigree and Jadau work on each jewellery piece, brings forth the finesse of Senco Gold and Diamonds’ craftsmanship.

Commenting on this historic occasion, Mr. Suvankar Sen, MD & CEO, Senco Gold & Diamonds said, “We are excited to celebrate this incredible milestone with the launch of our 150th showroom, and we are privileged to have Vidya Balan with us to make this occasion even more special. Vidya Balan, an embodiment of grace and elegance, has been an integral part of the Senco Gold & Diamonds family for several years. Her association with Senco Gold & Diamonds has been characterized by a shared commitment to celebrating the beauty and spirit of women, and she has been instrumental in showcasing our jewellery collections that resonate with the contemporary Indian woman. We shall continue our endeavour to offer exquisite jewellery while ensuring customer satisfaction.”

Mrs. Joita Sen, Director and Head of Design & Marketing, Senco Gold & Diamonds said, “Celebrating our 150th showroom is not just a milestone for Senco Gold & Diamonds; it’s a testament to our unwavering commitment to adorning the dreams of millions. With the grace and elegance of Vidya Balan, our beloved brand ambassador, this moment shines even brighter, reflecting our shared values of beauty, tradition, and the spirit of every Indian woman.”

Vidya Balan said, “My association with Senco Gold & Diamonds goes back a long way. Senco’s journey has been a remarkable one and the milestone of 150 showrooms showcases their commitment to providing exceptional craftsmanship and exquisite designs that has won the hearts of millions of jewellery connoisseurs over the years. It is a pleasure to be present today on this momentous occasion and I wholeheartedly congratulate Suvankar Sen, Joita Sen and the entire team of Senco Gold & Diamonds.”

To celebrate this grand occasion, there are a host of special offers for the customers – up to 25% off on making charges of Gold Jewellery; only Re.1 making charge on Diamond Jewellery and upto 8% off on Diamond value for Diamond Jewellery. These offers will be available at all Senco Gold & Diamonds showrooms and on its online platforms sencogoldanddiamonds.com