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☆ Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway exits India's Paytm in $165 million deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBENGALURU, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Billionaire Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N) has exited India's Paytm (PAYT.NS) after selling its entire stake in the company for about 13.71 billion rupees ($164.70 million) through a bulk deal on Friday. Berkshire Hathaway's BH International Holdings has sold more than 15.6 million shares of the digital payments firm, with a weighted average price of 877.29 rupees per share, exchange data showed. Who the buyers of the Paytm shares are is not known. Paytm did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for additional details, while Berkshire was not available for comment. As of September 2023, BH International Holdings had a 2.46% stake in the company, as per exchange data.

Persons: Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, Paytm, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Hritam Mukherjee, Sonia Cheema, Pooja Desai Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, ., Holdings, BH International Holdings, SoftBank, HK, Ant, Thomson Locations: Kolkata, India, . Berkshire, Berkshire, Bengaluru

☆ India's Bharti Group to buy out French partner AXA's stake in JV
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Hritam Mukherjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Logos of France's biggest insurer Axa are seen on a building in Nanterre, near Paris, March 8, 2016. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBENGALURU, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Bharti Group will acquire French insurer AXA's (AXAF.PA) 49% stake in Bharti AXA Life Insurance Co, the Indian conglomerate said on Wednesday, taking full control of a venture that was jointly run for nearly two decades. "There is ample scope for life insurance to grow in India. Bharti's JV deal, made through its Bharti Life Ventures arm, is expected to close by December this year, subject to regulatory approvals. The company competes with HDFC Life Insurance (HDFL.NS), ICICI Prudential Life Insurance (ICIR.NS), SBI Life Insurance (SBIL.NS) and LIC in a market ranked ninth in the world, according to the insurance regulatory body's latest annual report.

Persons: Christian Hartmann, Bharti, Burman, Avinash Singh, Hritam Mukherjee, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Axa, REUTERS, Rights, Bharti Group, Bharti AXA Life Insurance, Bharti, AXA, Life Insurance Corporation of India, United Provident Association, Insurance, JV, Religare Enterprises, Emkay Global Financial Services, Bharti's JV, Ventures, Life Insurance, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, SBI Life Insurance, Bharti Airtel, Bharti Realty, Del Monte Foods, Del, Del Monte Pacific, Thomson Locations: Nanterre, Paris, India, Del Monte, Bengaluru

☆ Cognizant appoints former Wipro finance chief Jatin Dalal as CFO
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 28 (Reuters) - Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH.O) on Thursday named former Wipro (WIPR.NS) chief financial officer Jatin Dalal as its CFO, a week after his resignation from the Indian information technology (IT) major. The pace of executive churn has picked up in the Indian tech industry in recent months. Dalal became Wipro's CFO in 2015, and with CEO Thierry Delaporte steered the company through the pandemic as demand for digital services boomed. "We are pleased to welcome Jatin to Cognizant and confident he will help us achieve our goals as we continue to focus on driving revenue growth," Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S said in the statement. Cognizant projected third-quarter revenue above estimates in August as more businesses turned to the IT services provider to digitize their operations.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Jatin Dalal, Ravi Kumar S, Dalal, Jan Siegmund, Rajesh Gopinathan, Mohit Joshi, Wipro's, Thierry Delaporte, Jatin, Cognizant, Jaspreet Singh, Hritam Mukherjee, Varun Organizations: REUTERS, Technology Solutions, Wipro, Cognizant, Infosys, Indian, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Audi exec says lower tax on imported EVs will help test India market
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Hritam Mukherjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) is unveiled during its launch in Mumbai, India, August 18, 2023. Reuters reported last month that the Indian government is working on a new EV policy that would slash import taxes for automakers that commit to some local manufacturing. Audi is trying to catch up with its peers, BMW (BMWG.DE) and Mercedes (MBGn.DE), in the transition to electric. Currently, the company's India arm only makes internal combustion engines locally, which is used in its petrol cars. After four models launched last month, six out of 16 models in Audi India's offerings are electric cars, which are entirely imported and sold in the country priced between $136,000 and $234,000.

Persons: Francis Mascarenhas, Balbir Singh Dhillon, Dhillon, Piyush Goyal, Hritam Mukherjee, Maju Samuel Organizations: Audi, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, BMW, Mercedes, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, Bengaluru

SAP Labs India Managing Director Sindhu Gangadharan hopes the Indian unit will scale up its share of global SAP patents to 50% from 25% currently, she said in an interview on the sidelines of an event in Bengaluru. SAP Labs India, which employs over 15,000 people, aims to embed generative AI across its products to cater better to the changing needs of its clients ranging from Thermax (THMX.NS) to Dabur India (DABU.NS). "Through AI, India can solidify its IT supremacy," Gangadharan had said in the event, earlier in the day. The comments come as SAP looks to "double down" on investments in India, its fastest growing region and home to 40% of its global Research and Development (R&D) activity. Gangadharan, while referring to the regulation of AI, said there should be a "great amount of responsibility barriers with flexibility to the end-user".

Persons: Arnd, Sindhu Gangadharan, Gangadharan, Sam Altman, Hritam Mukherjee, Navamya Ganesh, Dhanya Skariachan, Josie Kao Organizations: SAP, AG, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, SAP Labs India, Research, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: Regensdorf, Switzerland, Bengaluru, India

☆ India's Aeroflex in talks to enter aerospace sector - executive
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Hritam Mukherjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU, Sept 13 (Reuters) - India's Aeroflex Industries (AERO.NS), whose metal hoses are used in utilities, refineries and fire fighting equipment, is in talks to enter the aerospace sector, a top company executive said, aiming to capitalise on the country's burgeoning space program. "It is our aim that our products be a part of India's next space mission," Aeroflex Managing Director Asad Daud told Reuters in an interview last week. While HAL and BHEL are existing clients, the ongoing talks are a first for specific space-related projects, he said. Aeroflex expects its total revenue to increase by 35% in the next three to four years, with at least 5% coming from aerospace, Daud said. Aeroflex has three Chinese suppliers that, currently, meet 70%-75% of its needs for their coils.

Persons: Asad Daud, Daud, Aeroflex, Hritam Mukherjee, Dhanya Organizations: Aeroflex Industries, Reuters, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, HAL, Electricals, Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, India, India's, China, Bengaluru

☆ South Korea's Hyundai to launch more EVs in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Hyundai Motor Company is pictured at the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 13, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File PhotoBENGALURU, Aug 8 (Reuters) - South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group said on Tuesday it plans to launch more electric vehicles (EVs) under the Hyundai (005380.KS) and Kia (000270.KS) brands in India, in a sign that it is betting big on the world's third-largest auto market. Hyundai has already laid out plans to invest $2.45 billion to beef up EV production in the country, and is bullish on the local appetite for EVS. "The country is becoming an increasingly important center for electric vehicle production and sales," Hyundai said. That could include Teslas, with the Elon Musk-run company (TSLA.O) planning to sell locally made EVs, starting at $24,000.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Kia, Hritam Mukherjee, Nandan, Savio D'Souza Organizations: Hyundai Motor, New York, REUTERS, Hyundai, Kia, EV, Hyundai Motor Group, Elon, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, BENGALURU, India, Bengaluru

☆ Reliance Retail to launch $200-laptop to replicate phone success
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, July 31 (Reuters) - India's Reliance Retail will launch a $200 laptop next month as the Mukesh Ambani-owned retailer looks to repeat the success of its low-cost cell phone. The 4G-enabled laptop, called JioBook, is priced at 16,499 rupees ($200.63) and will be available for purchase through the company-run retail outlets and online platform Reliance Digital from Aug. 5. Last October, Reuters had reported citing sources that JioBook will be produced locally by contract manufacturer Flex. Its wireless venture Jio Infocomm upended the Indian mobile market with cheap internet plans in 2016. ($1 = 82.2350 Indian rupees)Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann ThoppilOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mukesh Ambani, Infocomm, Hritam Mukherjee, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: Reliance, Reuters, Flex, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Bengaluru

☆ India's Byju's seeks investors for Aakash Education stake, ET Now reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, June 30 (Reuters) - Embattled Indian edtech startup Byju's is looking for investors to sell a part of its stake in the educational institute Aakash Education Services, television news channel ET Now reported on Friday, citing sources. Byju's holding company, Think and Learn (THIK.NS), is looking to dilute up to 20% of its total 70% equity stake in Aakash Education, sources told ET Now. The company bought Aakash Education for $950 million in 2021. The talks with prospective investors are early and preliminary, the broadcaster reported in a tweet. The reported plans of stake offloading come as a sharp contrast to the edtech's earlier plans of listing Aakash Education through an IPO by mid-2024.

Persons: Byju's, Hritam Mukherjee, Eileen Soreng Organizations: Education Services, Aakash Education, Deloitte, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Bengaluru

☆ Reliance's JioCinema signs content streaming deal with NBC Universal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, May 29 (Reuters) - JioCinema, the streaming platform run by India's Reliance Industries Ltd (RELI.NS), has signed a partnership with NBC Universal Media in a push to increase Hollywood content on the platform for Indian viewers, the companies said on Monday. The multi-year deal will give JioCinema's premium subscribers access to popular shows such as "Downton Abbey", "Suits" and "The Office," the companies said in a joint statement. This comes after JioCinema signed a content streaming deal with Warner Bros Discovery Inc (WBD.O) in April for shows such as "Succession" and "Game of Thrones". JioCinema announced its premium pricing earlier this month, moving away from free content model to fight rivals like Netflix (NFLX.O) and Disney (DIS.N) in the content streaming space. Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar and Hritam Mukherjee; Editing by Savio D'SouzaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Xiaomi to make wireless audio products in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW DELHI/BENGALURU, May 29 (Reuters) - Xiaomi Corp's (1810.HK) Indian arm will start making wireless audio products in the country through a partnership with electronics manufacturer Optiemus in a push to further localise its operations, the company said on Monday. The push comes as the manufacturer of the Redmi brand of smartphones recently lost out to South Korean rival Samsung (005930.KS) as India's top smartphones company. Xiaomi, which locally manufactures most of the smartphones and TVs it sells in India, did not say when it will start making the audio products. It sells speakers, ear-buds, wired and wireless headphones in India. Reporting by Aditya Kalra in New Delhi, writing by Hritam Mukherjee in BengaluruOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ India's PhonePe raises additional $100 mln from General Atlantic
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BENGALURU, May 22 (Reuters) - Walmart Inc (WMT.N)-owned Indian payments firm PhonePe on Monday said that it has secured an additional $100 million from private equity firm General Atlantic, in the latest round of its ongoing $1 billion fundraising. Including the latest round, PhonePe has raised a total of $850 million so far. PhonePe is India's most valuable payments firm with an estimated value of $12 billion and among the country's most highly-valued startups. The company plans to deploy these funds to build and scale new businesses including insurance, wealth management and lending, PhonePe said in March. American retailer Walmart, which acquired a majority share in PhonePe in 2018, will continue as a majority investor in the company.

☆ India's Sterlite Tech swings to profit in Q4 on optical networking boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU, May 17 (Reuters) - Indian networking solutions provider Sterlite Technologies Ltd (STTE.NS) swung to a fourth-quarter profit on Wednesday, aided by strong growth in its mainstay optical networking business. The company's consolidated net profit stood at 650 million rupees ($8 million) for the quarter ended March 2023, compared to a net loss of 220 million rupees a year ago, it said in an exchange filing. Consolidated revenue from operations jumped 25% to 18.72 billion rupees, the company said. Optical networking business, which contributed a hefty 80% of the company's topline, grew 40% to 15.05 billion rupees. Additionally, the company declared a final dividend of 1 rupee per share and approved fundraise of up to 10 billion rupees.

☆ Japan's Mitsubishi Electric to build India plant for $231 mln
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BENGALURU, May 9 (Reuters) - The Indian arm of Japan's Mitsubishi Electric Corp (6503.T) said on Tuesday that it will invest 18.91 billion rupees ($231.2 million) to set up a manufacturing facility in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Mitsubishi Electric India will employ 2004 people for this project, it said in an official statement. ($1 = 81.7800 Indian rupees)Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann ThoppilOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Pepsi bottler Varun Beverages posts Q1 profit jump; announces stock split
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU/CHENNAI, May 2 (Reuters) - India-based Pepsi bottler Varun Beverages (VARB.NS) on Tuesday reported an about 69% jump in quarterly profit on price increases and steady demand, and said it would split each of its existing shares into two. The company reported a consolidated net profit of 4.29 billion rupees ($52.46 million) for the first quarter ended March 31, compared to 2.54 billion rupees a year earlier. Gurugram-based Varun Beverages, which is PepsiCo's No.2 franchisee outside the United States, packages and distributes beverages under the Pepsi, Mirinda and Tropicana labels. Varun Beverages approved a share split of its existing shares in a ratio of 1:2 to boost its liquidity and make its stock "more attractive" to small investors. The stock was last up marginally at 1,450 rupees and up about 10% so far this year.

☆ India's Tata Group mulls pumping $2 bln into super app venture -Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, March 23 (Reuters) - Indian salt-to-software conglomerate Tata Group is considering injecting another $2 billion into its super app venture to bolster its digital business, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Tata Group has also asked Tata Digital to look for ways to boost the valuation of the super app, according to the report. A Tata Group spokesperson and Tata Digital declined to comment on the report. Tata launched the e-commerce super app in April last year, offering everything from apparel to air tickets in a renewed push for a slice of a fast-growing market dominated by Amazon.com (AMZN.O) and Walmart's (WMT.N) Flipkart. Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza and Varun H KOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ India's Amrutanjan Health Care sinks on whistleblower allegations
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Shares of India's Amrutanjan Health Care Ltd (AJAN.NS) plunged as much as nearly 10% on Wednesday, a day after it said an anonymous whistleblower complaint alleged some senior management of "undue enrichment" and "conflict of interest." Amrutanjan's shares closed 1.4% lower on Tuesday after the company disclosed the allegations, and were down 8.7% as of 12.14 p.m. IST on Wednesday. The complaint alleged "lapses by certain senior management employees including undue enrichment through marketing, advertising and procurement activities, ethical concerns and conflict of interest etc," Amrutanjan said on Tuesday. Amrutanjan did not immediately respond to a Reuters' email seeking further details on the complaint, including if the company has conducted its own probe or if the managers were still employed with the company. ($1 = 82.8600 Indian rupees)Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane VenkatramanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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