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☆ The hottest housing markets for the super rich in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Robert Frank | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

While luxury real estate has been buffeted by many of the same pressures as the rest of the market — low supply, slow sales, rising prices — the ultra-high-end has fared slightly better. With interest rates stabilizing and possibly falling this year, real estate experts say there are early signs that luxury supply may be growing, which could lead to more sales. The report forecasts that the best-performing U.S. luxury market this year for price growth will be Miami, with an expected increase of 4%, according to the report. New York ranked second in the U.S., with expected price growth of 2%, followed by Los Angeles with 1% growth. Globally, the top market for luxury real estate is expected to be Auckland, New Zealand, with projected price growth of 10% in 2024.

Persons: Douglas Elliman, Frank Wealth, Robert Frank, Liam Bailey, Knight Frank Organizations: Miami, New York Locations: U.S, Los Angeles, Auckland, New Zealand, Mumbai, Dubai, Madrid, Sydney, Stockholm

☆ Air India is rebranding after years of decline. Here are the biggest changes, from updated uniforms to swanky new Airbus A350s.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The new plane launched on domestic routes, like Bengaluru and Mumbai, in January and will eventually launch overseas, Air India says. It's very likely to fly to the US, though Air India has yet to release specific cities. Air India's business class is also way behind industry standards. Flight attendants and pilots are getting a makeoverIn December, Air India released photos of its new crew uniforms. Ground staff, engineers, and security personnel are also set to get new uniforms, which Air India said it will reveal in "due course."

Persons: —, Campbell Wilson, Taylor Rains, It's, Wilson, Christophe Archambault, Manish Malhotra Organizations: Service, Air India, Tata Group, Air, Business, Tata, Airbus, Boeing, Wings, Paris Airshow, Airbus A320neos, Russian, Aeroflot, India's Boeing, Qatar Airways, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Q, Getty Images Air, Air India's Boeing Locations: India, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Air India, AFP, Getty Images Air India, Qatar, Emirates

☆ Pankaj Udhas, Bollywood Singer and Maestro of the Ghazal, Dies at 72
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Suhasini Raj | John Yoon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Pankaj Udhas, a singer from India whose soulful renditions of ghazals, or lyric love songs, were a cornerstone of many Bollywood films over his decades-long career, died in Mumbai on Monday. His death was announced on social media by his daughter Nayaab Udhas. Mr. Udhas moved generations of people in India and the Indian diaspora by singing ghazals, the lyric poems that have been written for centuries in Persian, Hindi, Urdu, Turkish and other languages. He also worked as a playback singer, the term for a vocalist who recorded tracks offscreen for actors to lip-sync over. Mr. Udhas became a stalwart in the Indian music industry through both his discography of more than 50 albums and the enormous success of the movies in which he sang.

Persons: Pankaj Udhas, Nayaab Udhas, Udhas Locations: India, Mumbai

☆ Four Eye Ointments Pulled Because of Infection Risk
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Yan Zhuang | More About Yan Zhuang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Four eye ointments sold in stores including Walmart and CVS are being recalled because of a potential risk of eye infections or related harm, after U.S. investigators raised concerns about the potential lack of sterility. The voluntary recall involves four over-the-counter products manufactured by Brassica Pharma, according to an announcement by the Food and Drug Administration on Monday. Two are from Equate, a Walmart brand; one is a CVS Health brand; and another is an AACE Pharmaceuticals brand. Brassica Pharma is a drug development and manufacturing company based in the Indian state of Maharashtra that supplies products to the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa, according to the company’s website. Brassica Pharma’s factory is in the city of Tarapur, about three hours north of Mumbai.

Persons: ointments Organizations: Walmart, CVS, U.S, Brassica Pharma, Food and Drug Administration, Pharmaceuticals, Pharma Locations: Indian, Maharashtra, United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, Tarapur, Mumbai

☆ India’s Zee Entertainment pops 10% on report that $10 billion merger with Sony is being revived
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Sony and Zee did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment. Shares of India's Zee Entertainment jumped more than 10% on Tuesday after a report that its $10 billion merger with Japanese tech giant Sony could be revived. Sony first proposed to combine its India entertainment business with Zee in December 2021. Last month, Zee sued Sony over the termination of the deal and urged the Japanese firm to revive the merger. The union of Zee and Sony's India subsidiary would have created a potential content and entertainment powerhouse in India.

Persons: Zee Organizations: Sony, Zee, CNBC, Economic Times, India's Zee Entertainment, Sony's, Disney, Reliance Industries Locations: Mumbai, Japan, India, Sony's India

☆ Big Tech’s next key market is India. Here’s how four Club portfolio names are playing it
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Just days after delivering a stellar quarter, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was on a whirlwind speaking tour throughout India. The Indian market also represents a largely untapped market that will diversify revenue streams. Over the summer, India became Amazon's first market in Asia to launch its dedicated virtual cargo airline , dubbed Amazon Air. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.

Persons: Satya Nadella, Morgan Stanley, Chetan Ahya, Ahya, Bernstein, Nadella, Zev Fima, Fima, Tim Cook, Amazon, Sundar Pichai, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim Organizations: Microsoft, Apple, country's Ministry, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Club, Foxconn Technology, Media, Amazon, Walmart, Web Services, Google, CNBC Locations: India, Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, China, Asia, United States, Chennai, Puna, Hyderabad, Tamil Nadu, India's, Gujarat

☆ Why a rare ‘golden’ tiger photographed in India is worrying conservationists
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Rebecca Cairns | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But golden tigers — also known as golden tabby tigers or strawberry tigers — are not a subspecies: they’re the result of a genetic mutation that changes the color of their fur. Ramnarayanan spotted the golden tiger, which came within 100 meters of the group, while guiding a safari in the wildlife reserve. The big cat is one of four "golden" tigers in Kaziranga, according to the park's official social media. If Kaziranga’s tiger population becomes more isolated, issues like inbreeding will threaten the population, said Sharma in his post on X. For photographer Ramnarayanan, Kaziranga’s golden tiger was his first sighting of these unusually colored big cats.

Persons: Gaurav Ramnarayanan, Ramnarayanan, “ I’ve, —, Uma Ramakrishnan, There’s, ”, that’s, Gaurav, Mayuresh Hendre, Rabindra Sharma, Sharma, Kota Ullas Organizations: CNN, UNESCO, Heritage, National Center for Biological Sciences, Centre for Wildlife Studies Locations: India’s, Assam, Kaziranga, Mumbai, ”, India

☆ Growing quant giant Qube just added a fundraiser focused on Asian investors
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Bradley Saacks | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Sources familiar with the firm's plans told Business Insider that it hopes Hirazumi will help bring in assets to the firm’s China strategy. The manager has four Asian offices listed on its website, including one in mainland China in Shanghai, plus others in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Mumbai. It helps that performance has been stellar: The manager is already up roughly 10% through January this year, Business Insider previously reported . Another Millennium spin-out, Kurt Baker’s 30th Century Partners, is planning to start trading this year with $3 billion out of Hong Kong, according to a Bloomberg report.

Persons: Noriaki Hirazumi, Qube, Hirazumi, Ray Dalio, Blackstone, Jonathan Xiong, Kurt Baker’s Organizations: Research, Technologies, General Investment, London, Winton Group, Business, Credit Suisse, Public, Tiger, Investment Partners, Century Partners, Bloomberg Locations: Asia, London, Japan, China, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mumbai, Qube, Bridgewater

BENGALURU, India (AP) — Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella urged in a speech to more than a thousand Indian computer code developers on Thursday that they use the company's artificial intelligence tools being deployed across its products. Nadella said Microsoft Corp. expects that use of AI can help achieve 10%, or $500 billion, of India’s GDP target for 2025. Microsoft is building its fourth data center in India near the city of Hyderabad, where Nadella grew up. Nadella boasted in a speech in Mumbai on Wednesday that his company is still ahead on most benchmarks. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Nadella during a visit to the U.S. last June.

Persons: Satya Nadella, ” Nadella, Nadella, ”, “ We’re, It’ll, Narendra Modi, ___ O'Brien Organizations: Microsoft Corp, Microsoft, Hyderabad, OpenAI, Google, Nadella, Apple Inc, Microsoft's, Indian, U.S Locations: BENGALURU, India, Bengaluru, Silicon, United States, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Nadella, Microsoft's India, Providence , Rhode Island

Google is immediately releasing a standalone Gemini app for smartphones running on its Android software. Photos You Should See View All 15 ImagesThe Gemini app initially will be released in the U.S. in English before expanding to the Asia-Pacific region next week, with versions in Japanese and Korean. Besides the free version of Gemini, Google will be selling an advanced service accessible through the new app for $20 a month. Google is offering a free two-month trial of Gemini Advanced to encourage people to try it out. In a blog post, Google CEO Sundar Puchai predicted the technology underlying Gemini Advanced will be able to outthink even the smartest people when tackling many complex topics.

Persons: Bard, Siri, “, Sissie Hsiao, ”, Sundar Puchai, —, ” Pichai, Satya Nadella, ” Nadella, It’ll Organizations: FRANCISCO, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Gemini, Samsung, Inc, OpenAI Locations: U.S, Asia, Pacific, View , California, Mumbai, India, Europe

☆ India's Paytm shares pop 8% after Ambani's Jio Financial denies deal talks for wallet business
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A restaurant advertises the use of the Paytm digital payment system in Mumbai, India, on Saturday, July 17, 2021. It comes after Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Jio Financial Services denied media reports it was buying Paytm's wallet business. Hindustan Times reported Monday that Jio Financial, owned by Ambani's conglomerate Reliance, would acquire Paytm's wallet business. The report sent shares of Jio Financial up as much as 16.5% on an intraday basis yesterday. Jio Financial issued a statement to the exchange late Monday to confirm it was not in talks to buy Paytm's digital wallet business.

Persons: Mukesh Ambani's, Paytm Organizations: Financial Services, Communications, India's National Stock Exchange, Reserve Bank of India, Paytm Payments Bank, Hindustan Times, Jio Locations: Mumbai, India

☆ Gold prices at nearly two-week low as Fed rate-cut bets recede
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A view of ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold, which are placed in a workroom, at Novosibirsk Refining Plant, Russia's leading gold refining and bar manufacturing plant, in Novosibirsk, Russia on September 15, 2023. Gold prices lingered near their lowest level in almost two weeks on Tuesday, pressured by a firmer dollar and elevated Treasury yields, as traders lowered expectations of aggressive interest rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve this year. Data released on Monday showed that the U.S. services sector growth picked up in January after Friday's blowout U.S. jobs report that dashed prospects of early Fed rate cuts. Traders have repriced their bets to four quarter-point cuts for 2024, down from six last Monday, according to LSEG's interest rate probability app IRPR. Investors are awaiting remarks from at least eight Fed speakers this week for further clues on the timing of rate cuts.

Persons: Ajay Kedia Organizations: Novosibirsk Refining Plant, U.S . Federal Reserve, Fed, Kedia Commodities, Treasury, Traders Locations: Novosibirsk, Russia, U.S, Mumbai, China

☆ Pigeon suspected of spying for China released in India after PETA intervention, group says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Heather Chen | Sania Farooqui | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A pigeon suspected of spying for China and held for eight months was released by Indian officials this week after intervention from animal rights organization PETA, the group said in a statement. “After learning that a pigeon was held at the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals (BSDPHA) in Parel as case property for an astonishing eight months, PETA India sprang into action to secure the bird’s freedom from captivity,” PETA said. The animal’s ordeal began in May last year, when it was captured near a port in Mumbai. There was a message written on the pigeon’s wings in words that appeared to be Chinese, PETA added. B. Kulkarni, Chief Medical Superintendent of the BSDPHA,” PETA said.

Persons: Dinshaw, ”, Mumbai’s, Narendra Modi, B, Kulkarni, Bombay SPCA, Hvaldimir Organizations: CNN, Indian, PETA, Hospital for Animals, ” PETA, ” CNN, Bombay Society for Locations: China, Parel, PETA India, Mumbai, Bombay, Russian

☆ Paytm was once India’s hottest startup. Its shares have crashed 36% in two days
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Diksha Madhok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Shares of the hugely popular digital payments company have crashed by the daily maximum allowed in Mumbai for two days in a row, even though India’s stock markets have been touching new all-time highs. It also landed in hot water with regulators — two years ago, the central bank barred its banking arm from signing up new customers. Paytm stock is now trading at just 487 rupees (around $6) a share. The latest plunge came after India’s central bank cracked down further on its business. Paytm launched its payments bank in 2017 as a joint venture with founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma.

Persons: New Delhi CNN — Paytm, Paytm, ”, Manish Chowdhury, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Sharma, Narendra Modi, ” Sharma Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, Paytm Payments Bank, Indian, CNN Locations: New Delhi, Mumbai, India

☆ India set to clock up to 8% GDP growth as it boosts manufacturing capacity, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Workers assemble mobile phones at a Dixon Technologies factory in Noida, India, on Jan. 28, 2021. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesIndia could clock up to 8% annual GDP growth for several years as it focuses on boosting its manufacturing capabilities, a key government minister told CNBC on Thursday. watch nowHe spoke extensively about the country's mobile manufacturing ecosystem, claiming that 99% of the phones used in India were made within the country. The country exported $11 billion mobile phones last year, and they are likely to rise to between $13 billion and $15 billion in 2024, Vaishnaw said. Apple 's presence in India has grown exponentially since it first started manufacturing in the country in 2017.

Persons: Vaishnaw, Narendra Modi's, Nirmala Sitharaman, CNBC's, Apple, OnePoll, Joe Biden, India's Modi, Narendra Modi, Modi, Mandel Ngan Organizations: Dixon Technologies, Bloomberg, Getty, CNBC, Union, Railways, Communications, Electronics, Technology, CNBC's Sri, Deloitte, India, Apple, Samsung, Micron, U.S, India's, White, Afp Locations: Noida, India, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, China, Washington ,

☆ Pigeon Was Cleared of Being a Chinese Spy, but Served 8 Months Anyway
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Mujib Mashal | Hari Kumar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Suspicion of foreign espionage, cursive messages in ancient Chinese, a sensitive microchip — and a suspect that could not be stopped at the border. Ravindar Patil, the assistant Mumbai police sub-inspector assigned to the case, was scratching his head for answers. But first, he had to find a place to lock up the unusual captive. So he turned to a veterinary hospital in the Indian metropolis, asking it to retrieve a list of “very confidential and necessary” information about the suspect — a black pigeon caught lurking at a port where international vessels dock. “The police never came to check the pigeon,” said Dr. Mayur Dangar, the manager of the hospital.

Persons: Ravindar Patil, ”, Mayur Dangar Locations: Mumbai, China

☆ A pigeon detained for 8 months on suspicion of spying for China has finally been set free
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A pigeon detained in India for eight months was released on Tuesday after police cleared it of suspicions that it was a spy bird for China, the news agency Press Trust of India reported. It was taken to the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals because police suspected it was used for spying, per the outlet. Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsPETA contacted police and obtained a certificate for the bird's release, the organization said. The pigeon was later discovered to be a racing bird from Taiwan that escaped and flew to India, according to the AP. Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsIndian authorities have detained other pigeons on similar suspicions before.

Persons: Dinshaw, Narendra Modi Organizations: Press Trust of, Associated Press, Hospital for Animals, People, Animals, PETA, Bombay Society for, AP, Pigeon Racing, Taiwan News Locations: India, China, Press Trust of India, Mumbai, Taiwan, Taipei, Kashmir, Pakistan

NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian police cleared a suspected Chinese spy pigeon after eight months' detention and released it into the wild Tuesday, news agency Press Trust of India reported. Police suspected it was involved in espionage and took it in, later sending it to Mumbai's Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals. Eventually, it turned out the pigeon was an open-water racing bird from Taiwan that had escaped and made its way to India. It is not the first time a bird has come under police suspicion in India. In 2016, another pigeon was taken into custody after it was found with a note that threatened Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Persons: Mumbai's Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw, Narendra Modi Organizations: DELHI, Press Trust of, Police, Hospital for Animals, Bombay Society for, Indian Locations: Press Trust of India, Mumbai, Taiwan, India, Kashmir

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Hopes sink for March rate cuts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Overnight, U.S. stocks were sharply lower after Fed chair Jerome Powell said the central bank likely won't be ready to cut rates in March. China tough place for U.S. firmsMore U.S. companies are finding it tougher to be profitable in China compared to before the pandemic. [PRO] Jefferies top picksAlibaba, ASML are some of Jefferies' "highest-conviction" stock picks to buy.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Hang Seng, Paytm, Michael Hart, Meta's, Victor Lee, Jefferies Organizations: Federal Reserve, New York Stock Exchange, CNBC, Treasury, U.S, American Chamber of Commerce, Qualcomm, Jefferies Locations: New York City, U.S, Asia, Hong Kong, South Korea, India, Mumbai, China

☆ Gold directionless ahead of US central bank decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An employee handles one kilogram gold bullion at the YLG Bullion International Co. headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. Gold headed for a weekly gain after US price data came in cooler than forecast, reinforcing expectations for multiple interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve next year. Gold prices were in a tight range on Tuesday as traders awaited the U.S. central bank's decision on key policy rates and remarks from Chair Jerome Powell. A Reuters poll showed on Monday that uncertainty about the economy and U.S. interest rate cuts could drive record gold prices in 2024. Lower interest rates decrease the opportunity cost of holding bullion.

Persons: Gold, Jerome Powell, Ajay Kedia, Powell Organizations: Co, Federal Reserve, Traders, U.S, Kedia Commodities, Wednesday, Treasury Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, U.S, U.S . Federal, Mumbai, United States

☆ India set to be world's third largest economy by 2027, finance ministry says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

India could become the world's third-largest economy by 2027 with a gross domestic product of $5 trillion, the finance ministry has said. The projections come ahead of an interim budget due to be released later this week. In a report released Monday, the finance ministry said the economy is poised to grow at or above 7% in the fiscal year 2024. If it meets this year's target, it will be the third straight year of 7% GDP growth for India. India's chief economic advisor, V Anantha Nageswaran, said the government's goal is to become a developed country by 2047.

Persons: Nirmala Sitharaman, V, Nageswaran Organizations: Indian Finance, Bombay Stock Exchange Locations: Mumbai, India

☆ Zee founder family to eventually lift stake to 26%, according to reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Logos of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. displayed on computer screens arranged in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. Zee Entertainment founder Subhash Chandra's family will eventually lift their stake in the media house to 26% from 4% currently, Mint reported on Monday, days after a merger with Sony 's India unit collapsed. "I have advised my immediate and extended family to increase their shareholding in Zee... We eventually want to go back to 26%, but it will take time," Chandra told Mint, a business daily, in an interview. Chandra, who set up Zee in 1992 and is often dubbed the "Father of Indian Television", is now chairman emeritus at Zee. Chandra, who is Goenka's father, told Mint "Punit is the right person to run the company and there is no problem with Zee."

Persons: Subhash Chandra's, Zee, Chandra, Punit Goenka, Goenka, Mukesh Ambani's Organizations: Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Zee, Sony Group Corp, Zee Entertainment, Mint, Sony, Indian, Walt Disney, India Locations: Mumbai, India, Zee .

☆ Ayodhya temple: India’s Narenda Modi hails a new ‘divine India’ as he inaugurates Ram Mandir ahead of election
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Helen Regan | Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

By moving ahead of building the temple, now we all take the oath of building a national, capable, successful, beautiful, and divine India,” Modi said. His promise to build the Ram Mandir helped spur that initial election success. A devotee gets anoint the name of Lord Ram on his forehead ahead of the Inauguration of the Ram Mandir Temple on January 20, 2024 in Ayodhya, India. Ritesh Shukla/Getty Images“I have come here to seek blessings from Lord Ram and Sita, I am very happy today,” she said. “I have come here to seek blessing from Lord Ram, Modi has done so much,” he said.

Persons: Narendra Modi’s, Lord Ram –, Ram, ” Modi, “ Ram, Modi, Lord Ram, Rafiq Maqbool, Pran Pratishtha, Mohan Bhagwat, ”, Yogi Adityanath, Acharya Mohanjodaro Bharadwaj, Babar, Money Sharma, Maulana Badshah Khan, “, ” Khan, weaponizing, Modi “, Modi fasted, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, Chandravanshi, Ritesh Shukla, Sita, Lal Singh Khushwa Organizations: CNN, “, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Getty, Human Rights, AP, YouTube Locations: India, India’s Ayodhya, Babri, Ayodhya, Vedika, India's, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, New York, Square, South Asia, Sarayu, New India, US, Tamil Nadu, “, Chhattisgarh

☆ Sony’s $10 billion India media deal with Zee ends in ugly breakup
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Diksha Madhok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New Delhi CNN —A dramatic acquisition saga in one of the world’s fastest growing media industries is headed for a bitter ending. Sony Group (SONY) has called off the merger between its India unit and Mumbai-based Zee Entertainment, the Japanese company said on Monday. Sony’s move to end talks comes at a time when Disney (DIS) and Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries are discussing combining their Indian media businesses. Zee “categorically denies all the assertions … including their claims for the termination fee,” the statement added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government expects the nation to soon become the world’s third largest media and entertainment market, from fifth currently.

Persons: Sony’s, Mukesh Ambani’s, Zee, Punit Goenka, Zee “, Narendra Modi’s Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, Sony Group, SONY, Zee Entertainment, Netflix, Disney, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, Sony, Reuters, Zee, Reliance Locations: New Delhi, India, Mumbai

☆ Japan's Sony terminates $10 billion merger with India's Zee
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Japan's Sony Group said on Monday it has sent a termination notice to Zee Entertainment to call off a $10 billion merger of their Indian operations, following an impasse over who will lead the combined entity. It cited unmet conditions of the merger agreement as the reason for the termination. Although Sony did not specify on Monday what conditions were unfulfilled, a stalemate over who will lead the combined company had put the merger in danger. Zee proposed CEO Punit Goenka, but Sony disagreed in light of a market regulator probe into Goenka. On Friday, Zee had said it was committed to the merger and was working to close the deal through "good faith negotiations".

Persons: Mukesh, Zee, Punit Goenka, Karan Taurani Organizations: Sony, Zee Entertainment, Reliance Industries, Goenka, Reuters, Disney, Elara Capital, Netflix, Disney's Star, Zee, Bloomberg Locations: Mumbai, Maharashtra

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