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☆ India's twin growth engines face turbulent weather
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, Sept 1 (Reuters Breakingviews) - India’s gross domestic product grew 7.8% in the April to June quarter, its fastest pace in a year. The print preserves the South Asian nation’s title for the fastest-growing major economy, yet the eye-popping level may not sustain. A patchy monsoon and high food costs threaten the twin engines behind the latest headline figure. Meanwhile, El Nino weather conditions mean the winter agriculture crop could be as weak as the summer yield, keeping prices high for longer. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Narendra Modi’s, Modi, Shritama Bose, Pernod Ricard, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Tata Consultancy Services, Reserve Bank, India’s, X, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, El Nino

☆ 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

☆ VinFast’s volatile stock has an easy, painful fix
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Antony Currie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

On Tuesday the Vietnamese nascent electric-car maker’s shares capped a flighty first fortnight as a publicly traded company by tumbling 44%. Yet the unprofitable manufacturer still sports a racy $107 billion market capitalisation courtesy of the previous eightfold rocketing of its stock since its merger with a blank cheque company in mid-August. Even with the wild swings, the stock trades almost five times higher than what already looked like a punchy valuation when the merger was announced in May. Granted, VinFast might not be desperate for cash – parent Vingroup (VIC.HM) and Vuong injected $2.5 billion in April. Absent a rapid rise in car sales, though, VinFast’s zippy valuation is heading for more crashes anyway.

Persons: Steve Marcus, David Mansfield, Le Thi, –, Pham Nhat Vuong, Vuong, it’s, VinFast, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: VinFast Global, Las Vegas Convention, REUTERS, Rights MELBOURNE, Reuters, VinFast Auto, Finance, Vietnam’s, Ford, GM, Thomson Locations: Las Vegas , Nevada, U.S

☆ 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

☆ India is warming up to a cooling China
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Shritama Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A screening policy that dramatically slowed investments into India looks ripe for some fine-tuning. India appears to be warming up to a larger Chinese presence in its businesses three years since it introduced an approval regime for investments from countries sharing a land border. Modi has made a deepening financial relationship with China dependent on a warming political one. India is “open” to investments from China, the former’s Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar told Financial Times in an interview published in July. Shein is set to re-enter India through a partnership with Reliance Retail, The Wall Street Journal reported in May.

Persons: Narendra Modi’s, Xi Jinping, hamstrung, Sajjan, Modi, Narendra Modi, BYD, Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Sajjan Jindal, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Indian, pharma, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Authorities, Apple, Reliance Industries, Wall Street, SAIC, Motor India, Economic Times, State, Electronics, Technology, Times, India’s, MG Motor India, Reliance Retail, Street, Bloomberg, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, South Africa, India, New Delhi, China, Johannesburg, Shanghai

☆ Xpeng’s Didi deal is smart shortcut to growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An Xpeng P5 electric vehicle (EV) is seen displayed during a media day for the Auto Shanghai show in Shanghai, China April 19, 2021. It’s buying compatriot Didi’s smart EV unit and paying $744 million, or 3.25% of its own stock. For its part, Didi seems to have given up its ambition to break into capital-intensive EV manufacturing, and that’s probably a smart move for a company stuck in listing limbo. It’s unclear if the deal with Didi will dilute VW’s shareholding but Xpeng’s worth is at least rising. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Aly, Didi, that’s, Li Auto, BYD, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Auto Shanghai, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, HK, Volkswagen, EV maker’s, X, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China

☆ KKR pours itself a thirst-quencher deal Down Under
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Trading information for KKR & Co is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., August 23, 2018. On Friday the U.S. asset manager said it had agreed to sell its 80% stake in Australian Venue to fellow private equity firm PAG six years after buying the pubs group. That means KKR has poured itself a tasty – and possibly frothy - internal rate of return. Assume KKR funded half the original acquisition with debt, and it increases to 32%. KKR’s local private equity boss David Lang and his team deserve a drink.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, that’s, That’s, David Lang, Antony Currie, Coinbase’s, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: KKR, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Rights MELBOURNE, Reuters, X, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, New Zealand

☆ Indian interlopers can disrupt global mining M&A
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Pranav Kiran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BENGALURU, Aug 25 (Reuters Breakingviews) - An Indian tycoon has a powerful motive to throw himself into some global mining M&A. Sajjan Jindal is looking to pull together a consortium to take a 75% stake in the coal unit of Canadian miner Teck Resources (TECKb.TO), according to Bloomberg. Such a move would pit his $23 billion Mumbai-listed JSW Steel (JSTL.NS) against a rival $8 billion bid by Swiss commodities giant Glencore (GLEN.L). In North America, JSW already has steel plants in Ohio and Texas, and coal mining facilities in West Virginia. Anchoring a consortium bid makes sense but if push comes to shove, Indian tycoons can afford to be aggressive interlopers.

Persons: Sajjan Jindal, Jindal, JSW, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Teck Resources, Bloomberg, Tata Steel, Steel Authority of India, South, JSW, Elk Valley Resources, Deloitte, Chamber of Commerce, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Teck, Mumbai, India, JSW, Australia, Ukraine, North America, Ohio, Texas, West Virginia, Teck Resources, Elk Valley, Elk

☆ India’s space startups are ready to blast off too
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Amit Dave Acquire Licensing RightsBENGALURU, Aug 24 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Nearly seven million people watched India’s space program make history on Wednesday. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) became the first to land near the moon’s unexplored south pole. Peak XV Partners, formerly Sequoia India and Southeast Asia, in June led a $10 million investment in Digantara, which maps space debris. At $74 million, the bill for India’s moon mission was less than the cost of producing 2013 Hollywood space thriller "Gravity". New Delhi is finalising new foreign direct investment rules, and that will likely turbocharge India’s space startups.

Persons: Amit Dave, Elon Musk, Singapore’s GIC, Pranav Kiran, Coinbase’s, Una Galani, Streisand Neto Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO, SpaceX, XV Partners, Sequoia, Skyroot Aerospace, Hollywood, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Gujarat Science City, Ahmedabad, India, Sequoia India, Southeast Asia, Digantara, New Delhi

☆ High food prices put populism on India’s table
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Shritama Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Prices of tomatoes, onions, potatoes, pulses and spices – all the basic ingredients - are soaring as the world’s most populous country heads towards key state polls later this year and national ones soon after. It increases the temptation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to indulge in some fiscal populism. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsA surge in food prices drove annual retail inflation to 7.44% in July, the most in 15 months. Elections will be held this year in five of India’s 28 states, including heavyweight constituencies Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. India banned the export of non-basmati rice on July 20 to clamp down on rising domestic prices of the grain.

Persons: Narendra Modi’s, Modi, Nirmala Sitharaman, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Bharatiya Janata Party, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Madhya, Bloomberg, India’s, IDBI, India’s Ministry of Finance, Reserve Bank, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, Nepal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, New Delhi, India

☆ Yuan slide half pulls Beijing out of its inertia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Yawen Chen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Support measures appear piecemeal, the latest include a move to extend trading hours to jolt a battered stock market. But if there’s one thing that authorities cannot let slide, it is the weakening currency. Slowing economic growth also has forced the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) to cut interest rates against Western counterparts’ aggressive rate hikes. Policymakers also could increase offshore issuance of yuan bills in Hong Kong, and there’s always the option of introducing more stringent capital controls. The central bank will "resolutely" prevent excessive movement in the yuan, the report said.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Bond, there’s, Xi, Una Galani, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: Reuters, Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, People’s Bank of China, Western, People's Bank of China, Thomson Locations: China, Hong Kong, U.S

☆ Vietnam’s Tesla charges itself up for a big fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

VinFast (VFS.O) shares leapt 270% on Tuesday following the group’s $27 billion merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). It catapults the enterprise’s value to $90 billion, a grand outcome only possible because Vuong and related entities still own 99% of the Tesla (TSLA.O) wannabe. The pop values the unprofitable Vietnamese company at 142 times its sales in 2022, some 16 times Tesla’s multiple. VinFast has pushed back plans to operate its $4 billion plant in North Carolina by a year to 2025. Ultimately, VinFast is heavily reliant on Vuong who is betting big on electric vehicles.

Persons: Mike Blake, Pham Nhat Vuong, Rivian, VinFast, topline, David Mansfield, Reuters Breakingviews, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Los Angeles Auto, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Tesla, Elon Musk’s, P Global Mobility, Nasdaq, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, North Carolina, Vingroup

HONG KONG, Aug 15 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Hong Kong has lost some permanent appeal. The introduction of two sets of approvals was mandated three decades ago when foreign investors wanted additional protections to invest in the first wave of Chinese firms listing in Hong Kong. China's domestic securities laws have since developed and global investors can now directly buy shares onshore through various channels. That could lead to more onshore shares being issued relative to offshore shares, further diluting minority owners in Hong Kong. In 2020, Hong Kong shareholders vetoed the Bank of Zhengzhou's proposal to avoid such an outcome.

Persons: Hong Kong, HKEX, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Hong Kong Exchanges, HK, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Asia Securities Industry, Financial Markets Association, Corporate Governance Association, China Life Insurance, Wall, Hong, Bank of, Companies, Global, Hang Seng China Enterprise Index, Graphics Global, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, China, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong

☆ Electric vehicle premiums will ride high in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Pranav Kiran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Mahindra Funster electric concept SUV is on display after it was unveiled at the India Auto Expo 2020 in Greater Noida, India, February 5, 2020. Singapore's Temasek handed Anand Mahindra’s EV business a punchy valuation of up to $9.8 billion this month. The $23 billion Mumbai-listed Mahindra & Mahindra (MAHM.NS) generates most of its top line from its sprawling autos business churning out everything from commercial vehicles to three wheelers. It follows the sale of up to 4.8% to British International Investments, the UK's development finance institution, at a $9.1 billion valuation in July last year. True, Temasek's valuation of the EV business depends on the latter hitting undisclosed milestones.

Persons: Kumar Rakesh, It’s, Maruti Suzuki, Una Galani, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: Mahindra, India, REUTERS, Reuters, Singapore's Temasek, Anand, Temasek, British International Investments, BNP, Tata Motors, TPG, HK, China’s MG Motors, Maruti, India’s, India’s Mahindra, British International Investment, Thomson Locations: Greater Noida, India, BENGALURU, Mumbai, China, EVs, Temasek

☆ Alibaba previews benefits of slimming down
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, Aug 11 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Just months after announcing a six-way breakup, Alibaba's (9988.HK) corporate overhaul is off to a good start. Quarterly sales jumped 14% year-on-year in the three months to June and all its main business units are growing again. That should ease concern that Alibaba is losing market share to rivals like PDD (PDD.O). In logistics and digital media, both reported positive adjusted earnings before interest, tax and amortisation in the recent quarter, versus losses a year ago. It’s early days but a more focused and less bloated Alibaba is starting to emerge.

Persons: It’s, Robyn Mak, Una Galani, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: Reuters, HK, Twitter, Siemens, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG

☆ 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

☆ SoftBank’s Arm-twisting fails to convince
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shareholders already had good reason to take that with a pinch of salt. The Japanese conglomerate’s 478 billion yen ($3.3 billion) net loss, which missed analysts’ estimates, included an increase in the carrying value of chip designer Arm, even though revenue dipped. That allowed the company’s Vision Fund to post a $1.1 billion profit, its first in six quarters. But investors in the Japanese group will be waiting a long time for SoftBank’s new campaign to pay off. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Masayoshi Son, Yoshimitsu Goto, ’, Navneet, Arm’s, Antony Currie, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: MELBOURNE, Reuters, SoftBank, Fund, Vision Fund, Twitter, Siemens, Thomson

☆ Uday Kotak is wanting for the market’s support
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Shritama Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Uday Kotak plans to remain on the board of the $44 billion lender carrying his name after he steps down as CEO in December. India’s regulator will bear that in mind as it also decides if someone from inside Kotak Mahindra Bank (KTKM.NS) can succeed the 64-year-old. In the past, the regulator has booted out private bank chiefs for poor management of bad loans and overhauled a bank board where it perceived succession planning was poor. Whatever regulators decide for Uday Kotak and his bank, having the market onside will be helpful all around. Follow @ShritamaBose on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSThe Reserve Bank of India is nudging Kotak Mahindra Bank to select someone outside the lender to succeed billionaire founder Uday Kotak as the next CEO, Bloomberg reported on July 31, citing unnamed sources.

Persons: Uday Kotak, Jamie Dimon, Kotak, Jay, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Reserve Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak, Reuters Graphics, nudging, Mahindra Bank, Bloomberg, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, Mumbai

☆ Jho Low could create a new world of 1MDB pain: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

MUMBAI, Aug 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The fugitive at the centre of Malaysia’s sovereign fund scandal, is in China. In this Exchange podcast Billion Dollar Whale co-author Bradley Hope explains why Beijing may soon give him up and how his return could be difficult for all involved, from global banks to celebrities. Listen to the podcastFollow @ugalani on TwitterSubscribe to Breakingviews' podcasts, Viewsroom and The Exchange. Editing by Pranav KiranOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Bradley Hope, Pranav Kiran Organizations: Reuters, Twitter, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, China, Beijing

☆ Byju’s blowup makes its investors look bad
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Pranav Kiran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File Photo/File PhotoBENGALURU, Aug 7 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Byju’s says it provides learning programs to over 150 million students. The biggest lesson may be for the Indian education giant’s global investors including Prosus (PRX.AS) and Peak XV, formerly part of Sequoia, who watched founder power run amok in a country they have pinned high hopes on. But so long as the blowup at the hot startup once valued at $22 billion goes from bad to worse, its backers will struggle to create enough distance. For early supporter Peak XV Partners, the mess comes at a sensitive time, hot on the heels of announcing a separation from its U.S. parent. Representatives of the Amsterdam-listed investor and Peak XV Partners, formerly Sequoia’s India unit, both quit Byju’s board in June.

Persons: Adnan Abidi, Byju Raveendran, Davidson, Byju’s, Reuters Breakingviews, Prosus, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Bloomberg, XV Partners, HK, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, BENGALURU, Sequoia, U.S, Byju’s, Amsterdam, China, Delaware

HONG KONG, Aug 3 (Reuters Breakingviews) - South Korea’s dealmaking skeletons are back to haunt. Paul Singer's Elliott opposed a $9 billion union eight years ago of Samsung C&T (028260.KS) and Chiel Industries. South Korea’s successful prosecution of Lee, Park and a former minister that oversaw NPS, provided cause for Elliott to demand payback. Elliott sued in 2018 and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague in June awarded the U.S. fund over $100 million. Far from being the end of it though, President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government is contesting that award in a British arbitration court.

Persons: Samsung's Lee, Paul Singer's Elliott, Elliott, Jay Y, Lee, Park Geun, Yoon Suk, Hague, Yoon, Taiwan's TSMC, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Korea Inc, Samsung, Chiel Industries, National Pension Service, NPS, U.S ., Korea, Trade, Global, Samsung Electronics, Apple, Tokyo, Korea's Ministry, Justice, Elliott Investment, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, U.S, Hague, Seoul, Korea, China, Beijing, Washington, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, United States

☆ HSBC invites shy investors to turnaround party
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The turnaround Quinn launched shortly after taking charge of the London-headquartered bank in 2019 is gaining momentum. In the three months to the end of June, HSBC almost doubled its pre-tax profit to $8.8 billion compared with the same period last year. He’s catching up with market expectations, too, aiming for a return on tangible equity in the mid-teens and echoing Visible Alpha’s consensus numbers for 15% this year, and almost 14% next. Crucially, Quinn and his newish finance chief, Georges Elhedery, can focus on improving the bank’s performance with fewer distractions. All shareholders, though, clearly still need some convincing to join HSBC’s turnaround party in earnest.

Persons: Noel Quinn, Quinn, Georges Elhedery, Ping, Antony Currie, Thomas Shum, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, HK, HSBC, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Ping An Insurance, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, London, Hong Kong, China, Asia, Europe, North America, Canada

☆ EQT’s India IVF buyout hits on fertile themes
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, Aug 1 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Private equity giant EQT (EQTAB.ST) is buying a majority stake in the country’s largest fertility clinic chain Indira IVF via its Asian unit BPEA EQT, valuing the firm at $1.1 billion. Indira IVF serves some of the 15% of Indian couples experiencing infertility, a problem on the rise in the world’s most populous country as people marry later and air pollution stifles the ability to conceive naturally. EQT’s deal also is another bet on the changing demands of the South Asian nation’s middle class. Thanks to the gradual maturing of the private equity business, both purchases come with the added benefit of the buyer taking control. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Indira, EQT’s, Shritama Bose, Steve Cohen, ’, Una Galani, Aditya Munjuluru Organizations: Reuters, Blackstone, HDFC, Twitter, Sequoia, Walmart, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, Temasek

☆ Walmart focuses India’s retail valuation debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, July 31 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Walmart (WMT.N) is bumping up its stake in Flipkart, India’s e-commerce giant, at a handsome valuation. The U.S. retailer is buying shares from Tiger Global for $1.4 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. It’s a good deal for the seller as investors assess India’s hottest retail businesses. Reliance Industries’ (RELI.NS) retail unit might come sooner; analysts peg its valuation anywhere between $57 billion and $131 billion. How the market finally values India’s consumer will be closely watched.

Persons: India’s, Japan’s SoftBank, Robyn Mak, Pranav Kiran Organizations: Reuters, Walmart, Tiger Global, Wall Street, Reliance Industries, Twitter, BT boss’s, of Japan, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, Flipkart, U.S, Una

“In the age of AI, where data is the new oil, China is the new Saudi Arabia”, venture capitalist Lee Kai-fu declared in 2018. Washington may soon tighten export restrictions to China by targeting AI semiconductors, according to the Wall Street Journal. A slowing economy and brutal price war in the fiercely competitive cloud market will only make monetising AI products harder. China’s AI moment has arrived, only with far less promise than initially hoped. China wants to become a world leader in AI by 2030, according to a 2017 roadmap released by the State Council.

Persons: Lee Kai, OpenAI's, Xi Jinping, Goldman Sachs, Robin Li, Baidu’s, Bernstein, SenseTime, Xi, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Saudi Arabia ”, OpenAI's ChatGPT, European Union, Baidu, HK, Nasdaq, Washington, Wall Street, Nvidia, AMD, Microsoft, CloudWalk Technology, Cyberspace Administration, China, State, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Republic, Saudi Arabia, United States, Beijing, York, Shanghai

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