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☆ Ratan Tata, the former chairman of Indian conglomerate Tata Sons, dies at age 86
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ratan Tata, a former chairman of Indian conglomerate Tata Sons, died at a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday night. Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran confirmed Tata's death and described him in a statement as his "friend, mentor, and guide." Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Tata as a visionary leader, and a compassionate and an extraordinary human being. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, said Ratan Tata left behind an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy and he was instrumental in mentoring and developing modern business leadership in India. "My last meeting with Ratan Tata at Google , we talked about the progress of Waymo and his vision was inspiring to hear," Pichai said on X.

Persons: Ratan Tata, N Chandrasekaran, Tata, Narendra Modi, Modi, Harsh Goenka, Sundar Pichai, Pichai, Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata's, Anand Mahindra, Padma Bhushan Organizations: Tata Sons, Tata, Google, Reliance Industries, India Inc, Tata Group, Mahindra Group, Padma, Jaguar, Rover, Ford Locations: Mumbai, boardrooms, India

☆ Welspun Living CEO explains why India's textiles market 'stands to gain'
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWelspun Living CEO explains why India's textiles market 'stands to gain'Dipali Goenka of Welspun Living shares her outlook for India's textiles industry.

Persons: Goenka Organizations: Welspun

☆ CNBC Changemaker & Welspun Living CEO on her AANHPI legacy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCNBC Changemaker & Welspun Living CEO on her AANHPI legacyWelspun Living CEO Dipali Goenka says despite growing up in a patriarchal society, she prioritized leading by example.

Persons: Dipali Goenka Organizations: CNBC, Welspun

☆ 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 .

☆ India's Zee Entertainment urges Sony to restore blockbuster merger, sues over termination
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Indian entertainment conglomerate Zee Entertainment on Wednesday said it urged Sony to revive their blockbuster entertainment merger and has sued the Japanese tech giant over the deal's termination. Sony earlier this week called of the transaction with Zee Entertainment, which is reported to be worth $10 billion. In a filing, Zee said it denies that Sony is entitled to call off the merger agreement and that its claim for a termination fee is "legally untenable and has no basis whatsoever." A merger of Zee with Sony's India subsidiary, Culver Max Entertainment Pvt. Sony would have gained access to Zee's local content, giving it a bigger footing in the lucrative Indian entertainment market.

Persons: Zee, Culver Max, BEPL, Punit Goenka, Arjun Kharpal Organizations: Zee Entertainment, Sony, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Sony's, CNBC Wednesday, Culver, MCA, Company, Singapore International Arbitration Center, Zee, Culver Max Entertainment, Ltd, Bangla Entertainment, Disney, Reliance Industries Locations: India, Zee, Singapore, Sony's India

☆ What’s next for Zee shares? Here’s what Wall Street analysts are saying after Sony merger was called off
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Shares of the Indian media house fell 34% on Tuesday, while investors shrugged off the impact on the $124 billion Japanese media and technology giant Sony. ZEEL-IN 1Y mountain What are analysts saying about Zee shares, moving forward? Citi sharply slashed its price target on Zee's stock from 340 Indian rupees to 180 Indian rupees. Zee has not stated whether it will pursue the merger while the litigation with Sony could hinder improvements in operations or explore a merger with other players," the analysts added. Similarly, Elara analysts added, "Possibility of any other strategic/financial partner buying majority stake in Zee could provide respite to valuation multiples."

Persons: Motilal Oswal, Zee, Motilal, Aliasgar Shakir, Karan Taurani, Pulkit Chawla, Emkay, Zee's, Punit Goenka, Chawla Organizations: Zee Entertainment, Sony, Zee, Citi, Wall, Reliance, Disney Star India, Motilal Oswal, Star, Disney, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Reliance Industries, Media, Elara, RIL, Zee Management, Quintillion Business Media, Bloomberg News, NDTV Locations: India, Zee

☆ 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

☆ 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 says Zee merger to be delayed by a few months
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Zee Entertainment and SONY logos are displayed in this illustration taken, September 1, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 29 (Reuters) - Japan's Sony Group Corp (6758.T) said on Friday a merger of its Indian unit with Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE.NS), which had an initial deadline of September, would take a few more months to complete. "Based on the current state of preparation, we expect completion within the next few months," Sony said in a statement, without elaborating further. It was delayed due to issues including a legal battle with lenders over loan defaults by a Zee group entity. Zee shares, which have lost about a quarter of their value since the merger was announced in 2021, were up 2.7% on Friday.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Punit Goenka, Zee, Ashna Teresa Britto, Chris Thomas, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Sohini Organizations: Zee Entertainment, SONY, REUTERS, Sony Group Corp, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Sony, Zee, Securities and Exchange Board, India, Finance, Thomson

BANGKOK, Aug 22 (Reuters) - When Thailand's deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra went into self-imposed exile in 2008 facing a raft of corruption charges following his ouster in a military coup, he issued a hand-written note. Thaksin has been Thailand's most prominent politician for decades, retaining outsized influence despite the years away. "It closes a crucial chapter in Thailand's politics," Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, said of Thaksin's return. A shrewd operator who rarely minces his words, an increasingly wealthy Thaksin entered politics in the mid-1990s, initially serving as foreign minister and then deputy prime minister. But the brash Thaksin, who called himself Thailand's first "CEO prime minister", faced royalist accusations that he was undermining the revered monarchy, which he denied.

Persons: Thailand's, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Thaksin's, Yingluck Shinawatra, Critics, watchdogs, Chalinee, Chiang Mai, Love Thais, Devjyot Ghoshal, Chayut Setboonsarng, Panu, Robert Birsel Organizations: Thaksin, Chulalongkorn University, Thai, REUTERS, Rights, Shin Corporation, Thai Rak Thai, Singapore's Temasek, Premier League, Manchester City, Thomson Locations: BANGKOK, Bangkok, Thailand, Chiang, United States, Thai, Britain

☆ India's offer to privatise rocket has 20 potential bidders
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Nivedita Bhattacharjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU, July 27 (Reuters) - The Indian government's effort to privatise part of its space programme by opening bids to build its small satellite launch rocket has attracted initial interest from 20 companies, an official overseeing the process told Reuters. India's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) was developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation, the national space agency, and had its first successful satellite launch in February. The bid to take over manufacturing and development of the SSLV rocket programme was the first privatisation of its kind under that policy. Pawan Goenka, chairman of IN-SPACe, said 20 companies had submitted an "expression of interest" (EOI) in the rocket programme. India is aiming to increase its share of the global satellite launch market by fivefold within the next decade.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Pawan Goenka, Goenka, Nivedita, Kevin Krolicki, Stephen Coates Organizations: Reuters, India's, Indian Space Research Organisation, SpaceX, Indian, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, India, Bengaluru

BANGKOK, July 20 (Reuters) - Chinese automakers dominated Southeast Asia's fast-growing electric vehicle market, selling three out of every four EVs in the first quarter, research firm Counterpoint Research said on Thursday. Thailand - the main regional auto manufacturing hub - is driving the transition, with the country accounting for almost 79% of all EVs sold in Southeast Asia in the first quarter, Counterpoint said. "Chinese auto groups are experiencing rapid growth and outpacing their competitors in the SEA (Southeast Asia) region, with their market share increasing from 38% a year ago to nearly 75%," Counterpoint analyst Abhilash Gupta said. With Chinese EV offerings expanding, Counterpoint said the share of EVs as a percent of total vehicle sales in Southeast Asia could reach 6% by the end of 2023. Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia are the largest auto markets in Southeast Asia.

Persons: Abhilash Gupta, Devjyot Ghoshal, Emma Rumney Organizations: Research, Great Wall, Chinese EV, SEA, Hozon New Energy Automobile, Thomson Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Chinese, Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar

☆ 'Unprecedented' floods in India will have a severe impact on agriculture, nonprofit says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via Email'Unprecedented' floods in India will have a severe impact on agriculture, nonprofit saysDebi Goenka of the Conservation Action Trust says there's a lack of preparation when it comes to disaster management.

Persons: Debi Goenka Locations: India

☆ Adani case threatens watchdog’s rising credibility
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Shritama Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

In June the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the country’s markets regulator, disciplined two media tycoons for alleged wrongdoing and strengthened disclosure norms for foreign investors. Going all-in on the Adani case would entail working with other law enforcers, such as the Directorate of Enforcement and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. Unless Buch’s team pulls out all the stops, the regulator’s toughest test under her leadership so far is a threat to its rising credibility. The markets regulator on June 12 barred Zee Entertainment Enterprises CEO Punit Goenka and Chair Emeritus Subhash Chandra from holding key managerial positions in any listed company. In a separate order dated June 22 Sebi barred Eros group Managing Director Sunil Arjan Lulla and three group entities including Eros International Media from the securities market, citing accounting irregularities.

Persons: Puri, Gautam, Punit Goenka, Subhash Chandra, Breakingviews, Sebi, Sunil Arjan Lulla, Antony Currie, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: Reuters, Securities and Exchange Board of India, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Eros International, Reuters Graphics Reuters, of Revenue Intelligence, Securities, Exchange Board, India, Eros International Media, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI

☆ Sony’s India deal episode hits fresh cliffhanger
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, June 13 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Sony's (6758.T) Indian unit keeps running into fresh plot twists. The deal, in the works since late 2021, has already overcome multiple hurdles. Zee has weathered shareholder calls for a rejig of the company’s board and from creditors to declare it insolvent. After all, it is a strategic combination designed to take on Disney (DIS.N), Reliance Industries (RELI.NS), Netflix (NFLX.O) and others. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Punit Goenka, Subhash Chandra, Goenka, Shritama Bose, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Zee Entertainment, Securities, Exchange Board, India, Sony, Disney, Reliance Industries, Netflix, Zee, Twitter, Brookfield, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, London, Teck, China

[1/2] The logo of Chinese carmaker Geely Auto is pictured at the second media day for the Shanghai auto show in Shanghai, China April 17, 2019. Thailand's Board of Investment held discussions with five major Chinese EV makers including Geely during a roadshow to China in April, its Secretary-General Narit Therdsteerasukdi said. "All expressed keen interest in Thailand's policy to develop a regional EV production base and an integrated EV supply chain," Narit said, without providing more details of the talks with Geely. BYD and China's Great Wall Motor Co Ltd (601633.SS) are already working on building local EV production in Thailand. China's Great Wall Motor has said it is considering a research and development centre in Thailand that could work on battery-powered pickup trucks.

Persons: Aly Song BANGKOK, Geely, Narit Therdsteerasukdi, JAC Motors, Narit, Aston Martin, China's, Devjyot Ghoshal, Zhang Yan, Jamie Freed Organizations: Shanghai, REUTERS, Reuters, of Investment, BYD Co, Chongqing Changan Automobile Co, Jiangling Motors Corp Ltd, EV, Wall Motor Co, Volvo, Aston, Malaysian carmaker Proton, Toyota Motor Corp, Isuzu Motors, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Thailand, Chongqing, Geely, Swedish, Southeast Asia

The Hebei-based company is also considering establishing a research and development centre in Thailand that could work on battery powered pickup trucks, Narong Sritalayon, managing director of Great Wall Motor Thailand said in an interview. "I think there is a lot of things we can learn from Thailand's unique market for pickup trucks," Narong said. Great Wall launched its Ora Good Cat compact EV in Thailand in late 2021. Great Wall entered Thailand in 2020 after taking over a former General Motors Co (GM.N) plant that currently makes two of its Haval hybrid vehicles for sale in the country. But the facility could be upgraded for battery cell production with additional investment depending on demand and Thai government support, Great Wall added.

☆ Indian rupee poised to weaken after central bank pulls 2,000-rupee notes
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Nimesh Vora | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, May 22 (Reuters) - The Indian rupee is expected to open weaker against the U.S. dollar after the central bank said it will withdraw the highest value currency note from circulation. Non-deliverable forwards indicate rupee will open at around 82.80-82.84 to the dollar, compared to 82.66 in the previous session. On Friday, the Reserve Bank of India said it will withdraw its highest denomination 2,000-rupee note from circulation. "Rupee would come under pressure" alongside the fall in the cost of carry (the forward premiums), Goenka said. "Conducting sell/buy swaps (on USD/INR) would address cash dollar shortage and suck out rupee liquidity and could offer respite."

☆ Bill Gates: Asking people to stop eating meat won't fix climate change
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Climate change is an urgent issue, but it won't be solved by asking everyone to become vegetarians, Bill Gates said at a recent event in India. "I don't think we can count on people living an impoverished lifestyle as a solution to climate," Gates said. But, climate change is creating more need for energy used in air conditioning, he said, and that's only going to keep increasing. "As India gets warmer and warmer, I am betting demand for air conditioning is going to skyrocket," Gates said. Currently, the United States "has the most air conditioning by far," also surpassing what is demanded in Europe, Gates said.

☆ India's Zee Entertainment extends fall after insolvency admission
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Shares of Indian media company Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE.NS) extended their decline on Friday after insolvency proceedings were initiated against the company due to a loan default. Zee Entertainment shares fell as much as 5.4% in early trade after closing down nearly 4% in the previous session. Punit Goenka, chief executive of Zee on Thursday challenged insolvency proceedings against the company by India's bankruptcy court, and still expected a timely completion of a merger with the local unit of Japan's Sony Group Corp (6758.T). Meanwhile, the National Stock Exchange on Thursday banned the derivatives trading on Zee's stock effective from April 28. Goenka's petition is coming up for hearing on Friday morning at the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal.

☆ India tribunal puts Zee insolvency on hold after warning of Sony merger delay
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Arpan Chaturvedi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI, Feb 24 (Reuters) - An Indian tribunal on Friday put on hold insolvency proceedings against Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE.NS), a major relief for the Indian media company that warned the legal battle could delay its merger with a local unit of Japan's Sony (6758.T). The tribunal has put on hold the insolvency proceedings for the time being, saying the matter required detailed deliberations and will be next heard on March 29. During the hearing, Zee counsel Mukul Rohatgi warned its merger with Sony is "going to get stuck" if the insolvency proceedings continue. It competes with Disney's (DIS.N) Star India and Reliance Industries (RELI.NS) Viacom18, and its planned merger with Sony's India unit will create a $10 billion behemoth. Zee on Friday disputed its liability in the tribunal saying, according to them the liability did not meet the threshold for initiating insolvency proceedings.

Exports, which constitute about 22% of the industry, have fallen for five months in a row - declining over 15% year-on-year in November to $3.1 billion. Domestic sales are sluggish despite strong growth in the overall economy because of high costs and cheap imported garments, manufacturers say. Reuters GraphicsIn the textile industry, manufacturers say higher domestic cotton prices and other costs have hit profit margins, while overseas orders for next summer are down by about one-third and domestic demand remains weak. "The government needs to scrap the 11% import duty on cotton so local textile mills can have a level playing field," Ganatra said. Reuters GraphicsFEAR OF JOB CUTSMany textile manufacturers, who have frozen hiring of workers, have warned of jobs cuts if the government fails to provide relief soon.

☆ India rates Mumbai's 'very poor' air quality as worse than smog-filled Delhi
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MUMBAI, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Air quality in India's financial hub of Mumbai on Thursday was worse than smog-filled national capital New Delhi, raising concerns of long-term health risks to people living in the country's two highly populated cities. Mumbai's air quality was "very poor" and is expected to remain the same for the next two or three days, government data showed. Residents were advised to stay indoors and avoid long walks, according to a federal government website that charts air quality in Indian cities. India's capital New Delhi and its suburbs endure poor air every winter as colder, heavier air traps construction dust, vehicle emissions and smoke from the burning of crop stubble in the nearby states of Punjab and Haryana. Mumbai has so far not suffered poor air quality for prolonged periods, but Goenka, an executive trustee of non-profit Conservation Action Trust focused on urban ecological issues, said the city's air quality was likely to worsen due to infrastructure expansion.

☆ India cenbank's FX intervention via forwards may hamper rupee's defence -analysts
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Nimesh Vora | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, Oct 17 (Reuters) - The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) forex intervention through forward dollar sales instead of an on-spot basis may undermine its effort to boost the rupee, analysts said. The central bank has been selling dollars in spot and conducting buy/sell swaps to shift the delivery of dollars to a future date. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterA buy/sell swap involves an agreement to buy dollars at the spot date and to sell dollars at a future predetermined rate. The difference between the sell rate and the buy rate is the forward premium. Meanwhile, the fall in premiums also dissuades exporters to sell dollar forward.

☆ Gloves come off in India’s digital content wars
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-05 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MUMBAI, Sept 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The gloves are coming off in India’s content wars, and the traditionally cautious Disney (DIS.N) is proving a more ruthless fighter than many had expected. It also will hold digital rights to the ICC games throughout the rest of the year. By selling off some of the rights, Disney might reduce its spend on the ICC by a third or more. The American-owned company will hold onto the streaming rights for its digital platform, Disney+ Hotstar. The ICC said on Aug. 27 that Disney had won the TV and digital rights to events through the end of 2027.

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