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☆ Indian wedding industry: Elephants, Michelin stars and Mughal jewels make it a $130 billion business
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Diksha Madhok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Sujit Jaiswal/AFP/Getty ImagesThe Indian wedding industry has boomed since the country emerged from the pandemic. “And this is irrespective of the economic classes.”At about $15,000, the average Indian wedding costs more than three times the average annual household income. Indian weddings are often spread across several days, with an average guest list of 326, compared with 115 in the United States, according to The Knot Worldwide. Rihanna, couture and emeraldsThe average luxury Indian wedding can cost anywhere between $200,000 and $400,000, according to Jefferies. No luxury Indian wedding is complete without lavish meals, which at times involves flying in Michelin star chefs and the finest of ingredients from across the world.

Persons: Anant Ambani, Mukesh Ambani, Radhika Merchant, Mukesh Ambani’s, Tim Chi, Nita, Anant, Sujit Jaiswal, it’s, Jefferies, ” Jefferies, Nasir Kachroo, ”, Sima Taparia, Aditya Motwane, Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas, “, you’ve, Ambani’s, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Rihanna, Motwane, —, Stringer, Knight Frank, Tina Tharwani, Nita Ambani, Olivier Polet, Tharwani, Virat, Vanessa Almeida, Almeida, videographers, Katy Perry, Andrea Bocelli, Rafiq Maqbool, Narendra Modi, ” Modi Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, Silicon, CNN, Getty, Netflix, Motwane Entertainment, Shaadi, Michelin, Backstreet Boys Locations: New Delhi, Radhika Merchant . India, India, Mumbai, AFP, South Asia, Jammu, Kashmir, United States, Indian, Jamnagar, Monte Carlo, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Florence, Indian Italian, Tuscany, Goa, Italian, Genoa

☆ The Ambani Wedding Event Signifies the Rise of the Oligarch in Modi’s India - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Sonia Faleiro | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Those were some of the highlights of what is likely the most ostentatious “pre-wedding” ceremony the modern world has ever seen. Watching the event, I couldn’t help thinking of the 1911 durbar, or royal reception, when King George V was proclaimed emperor of India. It’s difficult to imagine the Ambani-Merchant wedding event in an India that isn’t ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India’s richest 1 percent now own more than 40 percent of the country’s wealth, according to Oxfam. Oxfam has described this new India as the “survival of the richest.”

Persons: Rihanna, Mark Zuckerberg, Mukesh Ambani’s, Anant, Radhika Merchant ., Bill Gates, Ivanka Trump, King George V, Ambani, isn’t, Narendra Modi, Modi, ” Organizations: Radhika Merchant . Monarchs, India, Oxfam Locations: Gujarat, India, Britain

☆ Disney, Ambani’s Reliance create new India media giant with 750 million viewers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Diksha Madhok | Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New Delhi/London CNN —Disney is joining forces with Asia’s richest man to create a new media giant in India that says it will reach a domestic audience of more than 750 million people. Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries and Disney have combined their digital streaming platforms and 100 TV channels in the country in a joint venture worth about $8.5 billion, the companies said in a statement Wednesday. Disney (DIS) made a major push into the country in 2019, when it acquired most of 21st Century Fox, including its vast Star India network. “India is the world’s most populous market, and we are excited for the opportunities that this joint venture will provide to create long-term value for the company,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger. Disney salvaging its Indian dreamDisney has faced multiple challenges in India, which boasts a vibrant media and entertainment sector.

Persons: Mukesh, ”, Mukesh Ambani, Nita M, Ambani, Viacom18, Bob Iger, Mouse, Weeks, JioCinema, Iger, “, Mihir Shah Organizations: London CNN, Disney, Reliance Industries, Century Fox, Star, Reliance, Indian Premier League, Warner Bros ., HBO, CNN, Media Partners Locations: New Delhi, London, India, Star India, Viacom18

☆ 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

☆ Indian economy regains its swagger as China stumbles
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Diksha Madhok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

New Delhi CNN —India’s economy is like an elephant. India’s economy is currently worth nearly $3.5 trillion, making it the world’s fifth largest. “India’s economy is comfortably placed to grow at an annual rate of at least 6% in the coming few years,” Barclays said. But even as India’s heft is increasing, it is far from recreating the economic miracle China unleashed decades ago. It will, no doubt — though it won’t be enough to shield the world economy should China’s economy stumble badly,” they added.

Persons: Narendra Modi, ”, Eswar Prasad, Modi, Prasad, Ludovic Marin, Mukesh Ambani’s, Gautam Adani’s, Willy Shih, Frederic Neumann, Justin Feng Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, Economic, Cornell University, International Monetary Fund, China, Barclays, IMF, ” Barclays, Hindustan Times, Modi, bonanza, Unified, Bharat, Getty, Bank, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, Apple, Harvard Business School, HSBC Locations: New Delhi, India, Switzerland, Davos, ”, ’, China, ” New Delhi, Sewri, Mumbai Bhushan, AFP, Beijing, Washington

☆ South Korea Had High Hopes for 5G. What Happened?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Jiyoung Sohn | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Journal Reports: TechnologyBillionaire Bets That a $12 Mobile Phone Can Get More of the World’s Most-Populous Country OnlineBy Newley PurnellSmartphones are financially out of reach for millions of people in India. Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio Infocomm’s new device can stream music and video.

Persons: Newley Purnell, Mukesh Ambani’s Organizations: Technology Locations: India

☆ India’s fintech partygoers nurse a needed hangover
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Shritama Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MUMBAI, Sept 11 (Reuters Breakingviews) - India’s financial technology industry is suffering from overindulgence. And it was on full display at a sombre Global Fintech Festival in Mumbai last week. The South Asian country is the world’s third-largest fintech market by number of unicorns. Poster child Byju’s is squabbling with lenders as investors walk away and financial reports get delayed. Follow @ShritamaBose on XCONTEXT NEWSThe Global Fintech Fest organised by the National Payments Corporation of India and industry association Payments Council of India was held between Sept. 5 and 7 in Mumbai.

Persons: securitisation, ’, hesitatingly, Vishwas Patel, they’re, fintechs, Mukesh Ambani’s, Antony Currie, Katrina Hamlin, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Founders, Boston Consulting Group, Venture, Reserve Bank, One97 Communications, FSN, Commerce Ventures, Innoven Triple Blue Capital, XV Partners, Financial, National Payments Corporation of India, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, Mumbai, India, fintech, Sequoia Capital’s India, Southeast Asia, Rwanda, Japan, Germany, Peru

☆ Pernod Ricard shares face a lengthy dry spell
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A glass of cognac is pictured on a bar in the Manhattan borough of New York City, November 13, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Segar Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Aug 31 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Pernod Ricard (PERP.PA) shareholders have few reasons to cheer. The owner of Mumm champagne and Absolut Vodka said that China’s property crunch was making wholesalers cautious and keeping punters out of nightclubs. China has been a key source of growth for drink-makers: helped by Asia, Pernod Ricard’s sales outside of Europe and the Americas grew 17% in 2023. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Mike Segar, Pernod Ricard, Mumm, Remy Cointreau, Aimee Donnellan, Mukesh Ambani’s, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Investors, Pernod, Diageo, X, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, China, Asia, Europe, Americas

☆ Microsoft swerves to avoid EU speeding ticket
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Microsoft Teams app is seen on the smartphone placed on the keyboard in this illustration taken, July 26, 2021. Yet Microsoft has arguably created a lot more value using its market clout. Back in 2016, Slack was the hottest new product for helping office workers communicate with over 4 million users. Combining Teams with its Office 365 and Microsoft 365 software bundles gave the messaging and collaboration app a big leg up. Microsoft said on a call in April that Teams had over 300 million monthly users.

Persons: Slack, Robert Cyran, Pernod Ricard, Mukesh Ambani’s, Peter Thal Larsen, Sharon Lam Organizations: Microsoft, Reuters, Big Tech, European Union, Apps, X, Thomson Locations: Europe

☆ Adani fault lines raise bar for India’s regulator
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani speaks during an inauguration ceremony after the Adani Group completed the purchase of Haifa Port earlier in January 2023, in Haifa port, Israel January 31, 2023. It was a hunt an Indian panel probing allegations of stock manipulation warned might be "a journey without a destination". Adani on Thursday rejected OCCRP’s claims, saying they are based on decade-old closed cases. Shares of Adani Total Gas (ADAG.NS), a joint venture with France’s Total, and Adani Power (ADAN.NS) and Adani Enterprises (ADEL.NS) fell 2.5%, 3.5% and 3% respectively. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Gautam Adani, Amir Cohen, Gautam, Hindenburg, Madhabi Puri, she’s, Nasser Ali Shaban Ahli, Taiwan’s Chang Chung, Ling, Vinod Adani, Gautam Adani’s, Adani, OCCRP’s, Mukesh Ambani’s, Didi, Antony Currie, Thomas Shum Organizations: Adani Group, Haifa Port, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, India’s Securities, Exchange Board of India, United Arab Emirates, France’s, Adani Enterprises, X, Thomson Locations: Haifa, Israel, Madhabi Puri Buch, Una

☆ Mukesh Ambani’s succession planning is a bonus
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mukesh Ambani (R), Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, poses with (from 2nd R to L) wife Nita Ambani, children Isha Ambani, Anant Ambani, and Akash Ambani before addressing the company's annual general meeting in Mumbai, India July 21, 2017. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade Acquire Licensing RightsMUMBAI, Aug 29 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The bar for Mukesh Ambani to impress is rising, including on succession. Planning is sensible, yet Reliance shares closed down 1.1%. Here, the top challenge may be getting public shareholders to match the $100 billion valuation the Qataris have set for the shopping unit. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani, Isha Ambani, Anant Ambani, Akash Ambani, Shailesh Andrade, Ambani, Isha, Akash, Anant, That’s, Shritama Bose, Didi, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reliance Industries, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Reliance, Reliance Retail, Jio Financial Services, X, White, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India

☆ NN Group’s deal spree is finally delivering
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Aug 29 (Reuters Breakingviews) - NN Group (NN.AS) is reaping the benefits of scale in its Dutch backyard. Benign weather in the Netherlands, one of the few European states to escape extreme summer weather, helped. But the seeds of NN’s resurgence lie back in 2016 when it began a 3 billion euro deal splurge, first on domestic rival Delta Lloyd and then VIVAT’s general insurance arm. That helped it hike a 10% share of the general insurance market to 24% as of 2021. NN has outperformed its country rival Aegon (AEGN.AS), boosting shareholder returns by 64% since it bought Delta Lloyd in 2016.

Persons: David Knibbe, Elliott Advisors, Elliott, Delta Lloyd, Aimee Donnellan, Mukesh Ambani’s, Didi, George Hay, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Chief, Delta, Aegon, Delta Lloyd, Thomson Locations: Netherlands

☆ 3M’s $6 bln earplugs settlement is a little sticky
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A variety of 3M products are pictured at an Orchard Supply Hardware store in Pasadena, California U.S., January 24, 2017. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Aug 29 (Reuters Breakingviews) - 3M’s (MMM.N) latest legal settlement includes some curious wrinkles. Moreover, the earplugs agreement is conditioned on 98% participation from what is now roughly 250,000 claimants. The $60 billion company is trying to project the idea it’s getting past its legal entanglements, but the reality is a little stickier. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Scotchgard, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Mukesh Ambani’s, Didi, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Supply, Pasadena , California U.S, REUTERS, Reuters, Aearo Technologies, X, Thomson Locations: Pasadena , California

☆ Fairy-tale ending will elude Disney in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Shritama Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MUMBAI, Aug 11 (Reuters Breakingviews) - India has lost its magic for Walt Disney (DIS.N). Even if boss Bob Iger can find a buyer or joint venture partner, a fairy-tale ending will elude the Magic Kingdom. The combination of changing viewing preferences and Disney’s own conservatism in streaming puts Disney India in a weak spot. The average monthly revenue per subscriber held steady at 59 cents, compared to $7.31 per subscriber in its domestic Disney+ business. Disney is exploring strategic options for its Star India business, including a joint venture or a sale, the Wall Street Journal reported on July 11, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.

Persons: Walt Disney, pare, Bob Iger, Iger, Mukesh, Ambani, JioCinema, Una Galani, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: Reuters, Fox, Kingdom, Netflix, Indian Premier League, HBO, Disney, Disney India, Walt Disney, Star India, Wall Street, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, India, U.S, Mumbai, United States, Canada

☆ Ambani’s finance unit gets credit before it’s due
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, July 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Mukesh Ambani’s capacity to disrupt India’s $2 trillion small loans market is fully priced in. It’s a big endorsement, considering the lending company starts with a tiny $244 million loan portfolio as of March 2022. Ambani will have his task cut out to deliver on expectations, despite a reputation for upending industries from telecoms to retail. The $155 billion HDFC Bank (HDBK.NS), freshly merged with its mortgage financier parent, will chase the latter’s customers with renewed vigour. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Mukesh, Ambani, It’s, Jio, Shritama Bose, whir, Xavier Niel’s, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Reliance Industries, Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank, Twitter, Xavier Niel’s GAM, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI

☆ Shein partners with Reliance in major India comeback
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Shein is plotting a major comeback in India, nearly three years after it was booted out of the country. The fast fashion giant is partnering with the retail arm of Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, a Shein spokesperson confirmed Friday. “We can confirm Shein’s partnership with Reliance Retail and have no additional comment at this time,” a Shein spokesperson said. A powerful partnerIts new partnership with Reliance Retail, which bills itself as the country’s largest retailer, could be a game-changer. Shein has said it doesn’t have any suppliers in the Xinjiang region, and it has zero tolerance for forced labor.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Shein, Mukesh Ambani’s, Shein, Bain, “, Sania Farooqui Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Industries, Wall Street, Financial Times, Reliance, Reliance Retail, Burberry, Apple, US Securities and Exchange Commission Locations: Hong Kong, India, Zara, China, Singapore, ”, Washington, Xinjiang, New Delhi

☆ EU will go easy on Indian resale of Russian fuel
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Shritama Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Yet, the risk of an energy inflation resurgence makes a European Union ban on Russian oil reselling a tough call. The war in Ukraine has offered India an opportunity to boost purchases of discounted Russian oil. European imports of oil derivatives jumped to 200,000 barrels per day after the EU banned Russian crude products imports on Feb. 5 from 154,000 barrels previously, according to Kpler data. And New Delhi argues oil products substantially transformed in a third country cannot be subject to EU sanctions. loadingTo avoid an open clash with India, the EU could try to target European companies buying Russian-origin refined oil.

NEW DELHI, May 13 (Reuters) - Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s streaming platform JioCinema announced premium pricing of 999 Indian rupees ($12) a year, its first step to move away from a free content model to fight global rivals such as Netflix and Disney in the country. The JioCinema website on Saturday showed the new premium pricing for Hollywood content, with the much-awaited Succession series available for streaming. JioCinema has become popular for showing the IPL cricket tournament on the platform for free in the ongoing season. The new pricing, according to the website, is only for premium content, while the matches continue to stream for free. Viacom18 won the IPL digital streaming rights from 2023 to 2027 for around $2.9 billion, rights which Disney previously held.

☆ Geopolitics is shrinking India’s risk premium
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

They are lured by a country whose potential as an alternative investment destination to China increasingly outweighs the local challenges of doing business. India’s $3 trillion economy is forecast to grow by 6.5% this fiscal year, continuing to outpace the rest of the world. Executives and investors also see a business-friendly government that is likely to remain in power for the next half-decade. Morgan Stanley analysts and strategists expect India to become the world’s third-largest economy and stock market before the end of the decade. The India risk premium is rapidly disappearing.

☆ Gautam Adani’s woes were in banks' plain sight
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

MUMBAI, Feb 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Gautam Adani’s recent woes have vindicated persistent doubts in India about the tycoon’s rise. The Indian group dismisses those claims as a “malicious combination of selective misinformation and stale, baseless and discredited allegations”. By contrast, other big Indian groups like Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries (DBKGn.DE) and those carrying the Tata name are more popular with institutional investors. Fee-hungry international banks were much less picky. Deutsche, Barclays and StanChart pocketed $57 million of the $260 million of investment banking revenue generated by the Adani group since Dealogic records began.

☆ Mukesh Ambani pulls off one shade of overseas M&A
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MUMBAI, Sept 19 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Mukesh Ambani’s overseas shopping spree is so far more splash than cash. Ambani calls this the “newest growth engine” and “far more global in scope than anything Reliance has ever done before”. Earlier this month, Reliance bought a majority stake in SenseHawk, which develops software-based management tools for solar energy generation. The unknown, following the failed flutter at Boots, is where Ambani’s global ambitions stop. CONTEXT NEWSMukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries on Sept. 5 announced an agreement to acquire a majority stake in California-based SenseHawk for $32 million.

☆ 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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