Thursday, December 31, 2020

Swaranjali: Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital’s Musical Tribute to the Heroes of the Pandemic

Mumbai, December 31, 2020: Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital organised a musical programme ‘Swaranjali: Ek Saal, Ek Safar, Ek Salaam’ to pay tribute to society’s heroic battle against the pandemic on December 30. The virtual gala was the brainchild of Dr Mihir Bapat, Director & Senior Consultant, Nanavati Institute of Spine Surgery, who wished to extend support to the musicians who suffered a loss of livelihood during the pandemic. 

Hosted by Dr. Samir Dalwai, the event was elevated by Nanavati Hospital’s singing sensations Dr. Bapat, Dr. Sanjay Nabar, Dr. Aneesh Sabnis, Dr. Agnieesh Patial and Dr. Jagruti Parthiv Sanghvi, who performed live with the musicians of the fabulous Orchestra Mahim Group on YouTube on 30 December at 6 P.M. (Wednesday).  

The global pandemic has had varied shattering effects on different communities. To acknowledge the musicians and to lift their spirits, the doctors of Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital collaborated with Orchestra Mahim Group for a musical evening. Despite battling with myriad risks every day, these front-line health workers have advanced a noble cause to make things better for the musicians.  

Expressing his unfeigned support for the initiative, legendary actor Mr. Shatrughan Sinha personally recorded a video message. “Delving into the colourful world of music, our talented doctors, who have served the society with unwavering determination and focus uptil now, have taken this marvelous step to acknowledge and encourage those musicians who were restricted by the clutches of the pandemic. This symphony is a must watch,” he said.  

Bolstering the confidence of the doctors, highly acclaimed singer Javed Ali passed on his wishes by adding, “The pandemic has been a particularly tough time for our fellow musicians. Dr. Mihir Bapat and other doctors of Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital have been very considerate in taking this step. I am confident that this event will be a huge success and that the efforts of these doctors will bear fruit!” 

It’s the time to Retrospect and Reward at the LivePixel Events International

Mumbai : 2020 has been a very eventful year in the field of event industry when suddenly

everything came to an unexpected pause. It was time not to just sit and crib rather it was time to

make new strategies, implement new technologies and cope up with the virtual trend. And it was to

honor these team members and achievers that LivePixel Events International successfully concluded

their R&R event called “Live Con”.


LivePixel Events international which is led by young, dynamic 23 years old COO, Ssamridh S

Aggarwal, knew it was time to bounce back and carve a niche for themselves in the new segment of

virtual events. The aim seemed achievable because of an in house team of professionals who boast

of decades of experience in technology and events. Live con seemed a perfect opportunity to

acknowledge the effort of the team members. The event marked the presence of Mr. Rajeev

Dwivedi - founder and CEO of live Pixel Technologies, Mr. Tapan Ramchandar and Madhuri

Munjwani who were the Chief Guests of the event.


LivePixel Events International entered the virtual space with their IP “The Megaa Model”, a beauty

pageant during the sensitive time of COVID 19 seemed to critics a flop show but it was the

determination of Ssamridh and his team which not only made the pageant a super hit but also

received immense support from various patrons of the industry including stylists, mentor, coaches

etc. This was also the time when employees were losing jobs and hopes both but LivePixel with

extended arms welcomed in their team Ms. Shyamli Sharma who due to pandemic had lost her job

and joined the team as an intern but with her sheer hard work and dedication got promoted as the

Project manager.


It is the belief in oneself that reflects at confidence in your client’s face and with this belief the team

convinced the Gandhi Museums Forum to hold a virtual Gandhi Jayanti celebration. The event

attracted artists from various fields like dancing, singing, sculpture etc. to mark their tribute to

Mahatma through their talent.


The success journey continued when LivePixel Events International curated a one of its kind

conference for the ICAI in Muscat. LivePixel Events International devised unique 3D assets and

graphics which were entirely developed in-house by the team for the front end of the event.

Multiple computers were put together as a network to capture the video feed and then it was re-

routed using professional broadcasting software to appear live. The event once again proved that

technology and client servicing are the fortes of the company.


Ssamridh S Aggarwal, COO, LivePixel Events International, who to keep the spirits high himself had

donned the role of the host of the event, shared his excitement saying, “It’s the motivation that

keeps the team moving and I firmly believe that hard work should always be appreciated and

applauded. Live con was just a small initiative to acknowledge the team of achievers whose

contribution and dedication makes us stand where we are today.”


Shyamli Sharma who was awarded with the “emerging talent of the year” award said, “Losing my job

due to pandemic had shattered my confidence and hope, I had my family responsibilities also to

cater to and when I got offer letter from Livepixel events international I knew it was time to give 

your best and restore the lost hope and faith, it’s a great feeling when your hard work is recognized.

The award means that now I have to gear up for the employee of the year trophy”.


The employee of the year award went to Shubham More, Senior Operations Executive, at LPEI,

sharing his excitement, he said, “I have been a freelance food photographer and after completing my

certification in SAP Abap I was looking out for an opportunity in the same but due to pandemic

finding a job was getting difficult as fresher hiring had stopped.I was getting demotivated and could

not see any sign of hope until I came across an opportunity at LivePixel Events International. I had no

idea about event industry but it was my zeal to learn that made me grab the offer letter, the journey

since then has been quite a learning experience, the support I got is beyond any expression and the

awrd which I hold today proves that with focus, determination and dedication everything is

achievable.”


Awards were divided into various categories and the awardees were chosen basis a voting by the

performance management panel. The winner list included names like Mr. Rajesh Patil (Team player

of the year), Siddhesh Gunjal (Technical support of the year), Pranav Chaudhari (Emerging leader of

the year), Prachi Bhosle (stand out performer of the year), Ashwathi Anoopkumar (writer of the

year), Sandeep Parab (Dilletante of the year), Dinesh Tambe (Mr. Dependable of the year), Siddharth

Nair (Technical Talent of the year). The vote of thanks was by Mr. Omkar Jagdale, CTO, MVX and Ashok Srivastava head business.


About LivePixel Events International

LivePixel Events International provides end to end niche event and experiential marketing solutions

to clients across the globe. From event conceptualization, designing to execution and production.

The Services include brand Strategy, Concept & Design, Event Production, Logistics & Project 

Administration, Event Coverage and animation, R&R / MICE Experiences, Celebrity / Talent

Management, Technology Engagements and Exhibit designs and fabrication. They are also

specialized in on ground promotions and experiential marketing, theme-based multimedia design

and concept development providing the audience with a surreal experience.

With the use of latest technologies like 3D Mapping Projections, 360 Degree Projections, 3D

Holography, Water Curtains etc., we ensure to give life-size experiences to our consumers.

LivePixel Events International embraces high technology vision and understanding of industry needs

with core competence being providing customized solutions.

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

DAK SEVA Award 2020 Presentation

Maharashtra Postal Circle has arranged Presentation of “DAK SEVA AWARD
2020” on 01.01.2021 at 11.00 A.M. at Auditorium Hall, 2 nd floor Mumbai GPO
Annex Bldg., Mumbai-400001.

The Dak Seva Award is State level award given to Officers/Officials in recognition
of their Meritorious Services.

The Six Officers/Officials who have been selected for the award will be felicitated
on this occasion by Shri H.C. Agrawal, Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra
Circle with cash prize of Rs.5000/-, a Medal and a Certificate.

Dak Seva Award 2020, recipients are:
1. Shri Babusing B. Nakoriya, GDS BPM Indora B. O. Nagpur MFL Division.
2. Shri Rajendra E. Panchal, Driver, Grade I, MMS, Mumbai
3. Shri Chatur C. Nimkar, Postal Assistant / ME, Mumbai South Division
4. Shri Jayant S. Daoo, ASP, Nagpur MFL Division
5. Shri Santoshkumar S. Kulkarni, AD (PSR), Circle Office Mumbai
6. Shri Ghansham M. Nandanwar, SSRM, Air Mail Sorting Division, Mumbai

 

Rohini Gopal Kudav , an Exemplary Artist without any formal education

" The picture speaks thousand words and an Art depicts lacs of Emotions " is the motto for a talented village girl ' Rohini Gopal Kudav , who has won many awards for her art ( Paintings , Sketches , drawings etc. )


Rohini hails from a non descript rural area near Shahapur.  Since school days , she has won many citations for her drawings & paintings.  She has passed both Elementary & Intermediate Government Drawing Grade examinations with A grade.


' Spirit of Mumbai ' wishes her all the best always , in her future endeavors. 

                      

                                                 

                           



Havmor Ice cream’s digital campaign encapsulates that you don’t need a reason to enjoy an Ice cream cake

Mumbai, 30th December 2020: Havmor, one of India’s favorite ice-cream brands, has launched a new digital video with the beautiful and talented, Yami Gautam, stating that you do not need a reason to enjoy and appreciate the delicious Havmor Ice Cream Cake. The new flavor of ice cream cake is meant for all occasion and can be enjoyed any time.

 

Havmor Ice Cream Cake brings best of both the worlds, ice cream and cake together in a platter. Yami Gautam, a true foodie, looks for more than just a cake and Havmor’s ice-cream cake is just what she wants. You don’t need an occasion to have these scrumptious ice-cream cakes. Every moment in life is a celebration that can be doubled with these delicacies which is two of the most favorite desserts, ice-cream and cake rolled into one.

 

Commenting on the digital campaign, Mr. Shekhar Agarwal, Head of Marketing, Havmor Ice-cream said, “Ice-cream cake is the next big category and one of the most favorite amongst the cake lovers. The taste is truly magical as it brings two different treats- cakes and ice-creams, in one. It is the delightful combination of both the desserts that makes the experience divine and unique. We are thrilled to get the famous celebrated actor, Yami Gautam on board to talk about the new ice cream cake which is synonymous to celebration and can be enjoyed any time. I am sure that our consumers will connect with the new digital video and will have similar experience with the Havmor ice cream cake.”

 

On being associated with the new digital campaign, Yami Gautam said, “I am elated with this collaboration as I am a huge fan of both ice-cream and cakes. I have a sweet tooth and my excitement knew no bound when I came to know about the new flavours of Havmor ice cream cake. For me celebrations need no occasion, and so does Havmor ice cream cake. These cakes make every moment a special one.”

 

Recently, Havmor Ice Cream has launched four new flavours of ice cream cake. Adhering to the authenticity of two different tastes, The Chocolate Fantasy Ice Cream Cake is crafted to perfection with a generous layer of chocolate ice cream between two perfectly light and fluffy sponges, whereas the Nutty Caramel Ice Cream Cake is created with butterscotch ice cream sandwiched between two perfectly baked vanilla sponges. Topped with freshly whipped cream and mouth-watering chocolate cookies, Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Cake is one of the finest confections in the category. To exemplify the excitement and celebration with your loved ones, additionally the brand has launched one of the most extraordinary and exotic ice-cream cakes known as Heartbeat Ice Cream Cake. With delicious Red Velvet Ice Cream and topped with freshly whipped cream this makes the Ice Cream Cake a love affair that you cannot resist.

 

The new products start from INR 600 and go up to INR 750. Besides the current four new products, there are eighteen existing ice-cream cakes in different flavors which are available at leading general trade outlets and all Havmor parlors across the country. So, double your celebration with Havmor ice-cream cakes and make the most of it with your loved ones.

 

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About Havmor Ice Cream

 

Havmor Ice Cream, a part of Lotte Confectionery Ltd., is one of India’s largest and most-loved ice cream brands. Over a period of 75 years, the brand has grown immensely by reinventing itself time and again. While innovation forms the essence of every creation at Havmor, the brand has been constantly curating a novelty of flavours ranging from the homegrown ‘paan ice cream’ and ‘ladoo ice cream’ to the premium

 

ones like Belgian dark chocolate, mocha and hazelnut chiffon. In the last decade, Havmor has grown ten-fold, establishing a strong brand presence and emerging as one of the fastest growing, most loved ice cream brand of the country. With a wide and varied range of flavours, 15 markets, a network of 40,000 retail outlets and more than 250 flagship stores, Havmor is truly a national brand that caters to a wide spectrum of audience across the country. Havmor is also one of the few brands which operates both in retail and a franchisee parlour model.

 

Havmor has worked tirelessly to deliver a differentiated product to its consumers – always keeping things real. With its last campaign, the brand repositioned itself with the ‘Made of Milk’ promise. ‘The Cool Gaiz (cows)’ communicated the message in a playful yet effective way across media.

Digital empowerment solutions for NPS Subscribers to exit from NPS

 1. PFRDA offers NPS Subscribers through its intermediaries, a comprehensive and digitally enabled solutions for their diverse needs from on-boarding, servicing, exit and facilitating issuance of annuity from the empanelled Annuity Service Providers (ASPs) as per the choice of the Subscribers.

 

  1. Under the current process of exit of NPS Subscribers of POPs, the subscribers have to physically approach their POPs to complete their withdrawal request processed and the task is performed offline. The subscribers are required to submit the NPS withdrawal forms along with the other supporting documents for authorization by POP.

 

  1. Now in addition to the existing offline process as mentioned above, the subscribers shall also have an online option to submit the withdrawal documents and   authorizing their withdrawal request by using OTP/e-sign to make the process seamless in a paperless manner.

 

  1. In the online process, Subscribers associated to a POP will initiate the exit request in Central Record Keeping Agency (CRA) system using login credentials and provide the relevant details of exit viz. Corpus allocation for lump sum/annuity, Annuity Service Provider (ASP), Annuity scheme etc. and would upload the withdrawal documents including KYC. The online submission is further authenticated through either OTP or e-sign.

 

  1. The POP shall identify the bank account number of the subscriber by ‘Instant Bank Account Verification’ through penny drop and also verify the uploaded documents.  The detailed online exit process for NPS Subscribers associated to POPs is provided at the Annexure.

 

  1. The role of POPs while performing the task of processing Withdrawal requests of NPS Subscribers is defined under PFRDA (Point of Presence) Regulations 2018 under Regulation-15 (2) (c) which needs to be complied with.

 

  1. For successful processing online/offline withdrawal request of NPS subscribers, PoPs shall be incentivized with a   fee   @ 0.125% of the corpus with minimum amount of Rs.125/- and max. up to Rs. 500/ payable by the Subscribers.

 

  1. Central Record Keeping Agencies (CRAs) and POPs are advised by PFRDA to develop the required technical functionalities in a time bound manner in the interest of NPS Subscribers.

 

 

 Annexure 

      A.   Initiation of online Exit request by Subscriber

  1. Subscriber will initiate online exit request by logging to CRA system using his/her credentials.
  2. At the time of initiation of request, the relevant messages about e-Sign/OTP authentication, authorization of request by POP etc. will be displayed to the Subscriber.
  3. Subscriber will earmark the corpus for lump sum/ Annuity, Nomination details etc. as per regulations.
  4. Subscriber will mandatory upload the scanned images of the relevant withdrawal documents along with the KYC. 
  5. Subscriber will authenticate the request through OTP wherein OTP will be sent to Subscriber's registered Mobile Number and Registered e-mail Id.   If these details are incomplete/incorrect, Subscriber will have to first update Mobile No/email ID through the associated POP /login before initiating the request.

 

   B. Authorization of Exit request by associated POP

  1. On successful submission of online exit request by the subscribers, the exit request along with scanned documents will be made available to associated POPs in their CRA login.
  2.  POPs will be carrying out 'Instant Bank Acct. verification' through 'penny drop' to verify bank account and match the beneficiary details.
  3. On authorization of request by POP, the request will get executed in the CRA system.
  4. The Withdrawal and KYC documents thus uploaded, will be made available to ASPs online for processing Annuity, if applicable.

Nippon Paint &Nissan Motor India collaborate Exclusively for Paint Supplies under Unique Drop Shipment Process

 -       Aim for Enriching Customer Experience & Standardize Bodyshop Operations

Mumbai, December 30, 2020: Nippon Paint, Asia’s No. 1 player in the paint and coatings industry segment,has inked an exclusive partnership with Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd to supply paints to its dealer network pan-India via a novel Drop Shipment Model. Under this three-year partnership, Nippon Paint will exclusively provide Nissan Motor dealers with their best in class Nax-Premila range of products for bodyshop operations.

Mr. Sharad Malhotra, President, Nippon Paint India Automotive Refinish said,“At Nippon Paint India, we provide innovative paint and coating products & services with a focus to drive .win:win and a healthy business for the long term. We have been proactively working with Nissan in India for past several years and our new exclusive partnership will help us reach out to the entire Nissan dealer network across the length and breadth of the country. Ultimately this will result in improved body shop operations, product quality and value that will benefit Nissan dealers and customers.”

“It is our constant endeavor to offer excellent service and products to our customers, this partnership will enhance customer experience with standardization of bodyshop process. Our exclusive tie-up with renowned Japanese brand Nippon Paint India will ensure paint supplies at standardized rates through our unique Drop shipment model for our dealership.” Said MrRakesh Srivastava, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India

Nax Premila is a premium solvent borne paint system that focusses on rapid, high quality and cost-efficient paint repair and refinishingsolutionsfor automotive body & paint shops. It is an internationally acclaimed OEM approved brand based on best in class Japanese technology with superior colour matching capability. Under this partnership, Nax Premila product range will be progressively available across the Nissan dealer workshop network, ensuring the best quality paint repair to Nissan customers.

Nippon Paint India is a leading producer of high-quality paints and coatings for automotive, industrial, wood and the decorative sector. Nippon Paint India is part of the NIPSEA Group which is a subsidiary of Nippon Paint Japan, which forms the largest coatings group in Asia Pacific and the 4th largest in the world in terms of revenue.   Nippon Paint GroupAR is the business unit focused on automotive aftermarket delivering a unified and systematic approach to refinishing in the world.

About Nipsea Group

Operating in over 18regions and countries, the Nipsea Group is a subsidiary of Nippon Paint Japan, producing 1.6 billion litres of paint annually from its 82 manufacturing locations. The over 22,000 strong work force at the Nipsea Group is committed at delivering state of the art products and best in class service to discerning customers. The Nipsea Group believes in transforming spaces, re-imagining mobility and steering innovation and works primarily with these core concepts in 3 business areas: architectural, automotive and industrial.

Navi Mumbai doctors performed rare tumour surgery, adrenal Angiomyolipoma on senior citizen

Only 20 cases of adrenal Angiomyolipoma cases found in the world


Mumbai - : 65 years male patient resident of Nerul came to Terna Speciality Hospital & Research Centre with lower urinary tract complaints suggestive of benign enlargement of prostate. However on detailed investigations doctors found that the patient had an 11 cm diameter tumour in his left adrenal with uncontrolled hypertension. This patient was evaluated by the team of Urologist, endocrinologist and physicians and they prepared the patient for surgery over a month. Given his uncontrolled hypertension and biochemistry suggestive of Pheochromocytoma, this surgery was risky with high degree of mortality and morbidity. Commenting on this Dr. Nishant Kathale, CONSULTANT, UROLOGY & ANDROLOGY from Terna Speciality Hospital said, “Angiomyolipoma, a benign form of tumor of mesenchymal origin, is characterized by smooth muscle cells, thick-walled blood vessels, and adipose tissue. Angiomyolipoma is most commonly found in the kidney and in the extra-renal area in the liver. It is rarely reported that angiomyolipoma is found in the retroperitoneum, spleen, bone, lung; ovary and so on.Adrenal tumours of such nature are extremely rare. This tumour was above the left kidney, behind large intestines, compressing on pancreas and spleen and had to be separated delicately from these organs and removed. Patient underwent surgery at the beginning of this month and was in ICU for 2 days. He got discharged within a week. The histopathological examination of the tumour showed that he had an Angiomyolipoma of Adrenal gland with adrenal hyperplasia. It is an extremely rare tumour, with literature reports of only 20 cases of adrenal Angiomyolipoma in the world. As per Indian medical record this is 3rd patient in India before those 2 patients were found this type of tumour in 2007 & 2014 respectively. The patient was absolutely fine on follow up and has resumed work. Such difficult and rare surgeries are routinely done at Terna Speciality Hospital & Research Centre in Navi Mumbai, which has a great team of specialists and super specialists." 

While we fight the novel coronavirus, Terna Speciality Hospital & Research Centre must ensure that the price to be paid is not with the lives of non-COVID patients. Even during the COVID times, critical as well as routine surgeries are performed at Terna hospital unhindered. Separation of COVID and non COVID areas at Terna Speciality Hospital is effective and meticulous, thus ensuring the safety of the patients and staff from acquiring COVID infection. Patients should therefore not postpone appointments or surgeries due to fear of COVID infection at hospital, as delay in treatment may be severely detrimental to the health and wellbeing of patients, added by Dr. Nishant Kathale from Terna Speciality Hospital & Research Centre.  


About Terna Speciality Hospital & Research Centre:  We aim to provide quality healthcare services at an affordable cost and make these services accessible to all under one roof in the vicinity of Navi Mumbai. We are located at Nerul backed by modern medical infrastructure and quality care of patients, we are very proud to achieve the milestone of becoming a preferred choice of hospital for the community. We are a 250-bedded multi-speciality tertiary care hospital where our expert medical professionals, skilled nurses and technologists use state-of-the-art facilities and provide quality healthcare services with distinctive care and accuracy. With our motto ‘Our Patient Comes First’, we assure you the highest standard of safety and clinical excellence for all your healthcare needs.

www.ternahospital.org

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Digital Lenders Association of India Issues guideline for customers to identify unorganised and unreliable apps

Reiterates Responsible and Ethical Lending practices for DLAI members

December 29, 2020, Mumbai: The Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI), established in 2016, comprises more than 85 member companies who provide digital lending or related services to the Nation. DLAI’s key objective is to ensure healthy growth and sustenance of digital lending ecosystem in India. 

Supported by Government’s Digital India mission and by Regulatory bodies, digital lenders have played a very important role in making financial services pervasive.

- DLAI members collectively serve more than [4] million borrowers in this country today. A very large number of these customers are first time borrowers.

- Last financial year, our members (with their registered NBFCs and Banks) have issued loans amounting to nearly INR 50,000 crores.

 All DLAI members are registered firms, governed by at least one regulatory body. Each firm therefore adheres to policies such as ‘privacy law’, ‘shop and establishment’ act etc.

In recent times, there have been reports about unethical practices of specific groups of companies who are completely different from lending companies that DLAI represents. 

These firms typically only have a mobile app as a consumer interface. In many cases police departments has been able to trace the origin of such APP based lenders to a individuals without any credentials.  They operate in a manner similar to the unorganised money-lenders and use collection malpractices, like blackmailing or misuse of personal information are linked to such firms.

DLAI has been working with its members and the regulatory bodies to control practices that are illegal or in anyways harmful to the customer. However, we have noticed many such apps have found loopholes in the systems and reach vulnerable customers, often in urgent need of money.

 As an industry body, we strongly condemn any such practices and want to make the customers aware of certain guidelines that can help them identify any such APP:

 1)   Minimal or No KYC: if the loan app is offering a loan without a background check, authenticity of their process is questionable. An app offering loans without KYC is comparable to an unorganised money lender and cannot be trusted.

 2)   Noticeably short tenure of the loan: any loan offered for less than 30 days is targeted at exploiting the urgency and vulnerability of a consumer.They typically charge a very high interest rate and equally high late fees. Consumer’s well-being is not their priority.

 3)   Loan agreement is not signed with an RBI registered entity: a customer must check the loan agreement parties. If the loan agreement is not with an RBI registered entity ( a simple google search can highlight that), indicates the process of the firm is not regulated and can prove to be dangerous if there is an issue.

 4) Very high upfront processing fees : similar to old money lenders, if the loan app has a very high processing fee/ upfront procedure fee, for e.g. approved loan amount is 5000 but the actual disbursal is 4000, it should be a red flag.

 5)   Re-payment / collection mechanism: does the app also offer an option of making digital re-payment? If not, the money flow is unaccounted for and should be a red flag as well. It also means the collection agent has a right to physically reach the consumer, which may lead to issues.

 6)   Late fees details and structure: dubious firms tend to hide or mis-represent the late fees applicable. They exploit the lack of knowledge / limited financial understanding of the customer to get a much higher return. For e.g. it has been brought to our notice that in some cases the late fees applicable by firms are as high as 1% per day. It is important for customers to take notice of not just applicable interest rate but also hidden charges.

7) Income / bureau verification is very easy: income verification is important to judge the repayment capacity of an individual and is also helpful for the customer in the long term. Any app not looking at income details/ or bureau  is encouraging debt trap and hence should be avoided. 

While it may not always be possible to cross check all the points given above, we at DLAI urge customers to make sure they cross-check at least 4-5 points mentioned above.  

We are committed to maintaining the trust of consumers by following right practices as well as controlling harmful practices in the country. We are constantly working with eco-system players to ensure fair practices.

TReDS platform M1xchange crosses Rs 10,000 crore worth of bills discounting serving MSMEs across 352 cities in India

-          More than Rs 10,000 Crore throughput volume

-          MSMEs across 352 Cities used the TReDS Platform during the lockdown period

-          Access to funds at around 5 per cent pa, much lower rate through the platform

-          Approx Rs 3500 crore worth transactions in 3quarters of 20-21

-          M1 is actively contributing lion’s share of the total sector’s growth

 

29 December, 2020, Mumbai, M1Xchange, among the three official license holders in India to set-up a digital marketplace that can sell the receivables of MSMEs to banks/NBFCs to facilitate the discounting of invoices and bills of exchange on a PAN India basis has crossed Rs. 10,000 crore recording the fastest growth & contributing to 37% of the sector’s growth. All exchanges together have done 9,500 crores worth of bill discounting so far in 2020-21. With the fastest & maximum corporate activation on M1Xchange, the total number of new corporate registrations have gone up by 20% post lockdown in 2020. The platform overall has funded more than 3500 cr worth of invoices of MSME vendors on M1Xchange.

The unique process of signing deed of assignment for every transaction on M1xchange make the digital process fully compliant under Factoring Act 2011.  As a result the defaults are negligible and the confidence of banks is high.

During the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, M1 stood at Rs 6,500 crores but due to steps taken in the direction of further enabling social distancing, full compliance & implementation of Digital On-boarding of MSMEs on the platform, M1change is now at Rs 10,000 crores. This paperless, digital onboarding has enabled MSMEs to complete their digital onboarding journey within 15 minutes, without usage of courier for delivery of documents.

Sundeep Mohindru, CEO of M1xchange says, “The beneficiary of the platform is MSME with reduced cost of funding and by selling the risk of receivables. However the benefit of this also flow to large corporate as their cost of doing business is reduced with reduction in interest cost for MSMEs. The adoption of Supply chain finance platform has gone up multifold post lockdown. The average monthly volume has surpassed Rs 600 crores in Dec, highest amongst the exchanges. This goes to say the adoption has increased multifold this year, especially post lockdown and average volumes have grown by 40% in Q2 and Q3 versus FY 19-20.”

The improved usage of the platform experienced in Q2 and Q3 is expected to continue in Q4 as well. More so since the economy seems to have overcome the Covid induced slow down. It is widely expected that in Q4 GDP growth will turn positive. For 1921-22, India is expected to be among the fastest growing economy in the world with 9 per cent growth rate in GDP.

“In view of the present trend and expected take off in the economy”, said Sundeep Mohindru, “we are hopeful of touching Rs 6000 crore through put in 2020-21. Even if we maintain the current trend, we will reach Rs 10,000 crore through put in the next fiscal year of 2021-22”.  

MSMEs across 352 Cities have logged into TReDS Platform since the pandemic/ outbreak and have discounted invoices at rate of interest ranging between 4.75% pa to 8% pa. 60% of such MSME Enterprises are from Tier 3 & Tier 4 Cities and are able to take the benefit of this digital revolution.

Started in 2017 under licence from RBI, M1xchange has scaled up to discount invoices worth more than Rs 10,000 crore. Recently last month, Beenext Asia , Singapore and Mayfield jointly made an investment of USD 4.5 Million in the current equity round in M1xchange, largest among the three holders of the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) licences issued by RBI. The round was led by incoming investor BeeNext from Japan and existing investor Mayfield. As a bank agnostic platform with 35 banks on-board, M1xchange is the only TReDS platform wherein the assignment of receivables is done digitally for every transaction, in favour of the financing bank.

About M1Xchange

M1xchange is an RBI approved TReDS (Trade Receivable Discounting System) platform. TReDS is an institutional mechanism set up in order to facilitate the financing of trade receivables of MSMEs from corporate buyers through multiple financiers. TReDS will boost the Indian economy by solving the erratic cash flow problems of MSMEs caused due to slow paying invoices. M1Xchange has digitally transformed the vender payment ecosystem and the way MSMEs generate working capital. This has been achieved through seamless presentation of bills, their validation, discounting, and approval of funds on a single platform. There is no need for additional collaterals to raise money through the platform.

More details on M1Xchange can be accessed at http://www.m1xchange.com/. The utility of TReDS has been explained through videos at http://www.m1xchange.com/videos.php.

Capri Global Capital Ltd appoints Mr. Raj Kumar Ahuja as Group Chief Financial Officer

Capri Global Capital Ltd (CGCL), a diversified NBFC focusing on MSME lending and housing finance has appointed Mr. Raj Kumar Ahuja as its Group Chief Financial Officer. The appointment has come into effect from December 15, 2020.

A finance professional with nearly 30 years of experience in a multi-product environment of varied industries, Mr. Ahuja will be leading the financial operations at CGCL while optimizing the strategic expansion of the business. His wide-ranging knowledge of procurement & commercial, legal, compliance risk, legal, secretarial, audit, strategic and regulatory aspect would contribute to achieving the business goals of the company. He would be based out of the head office in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Speaking about the appointment, Mr. Rajesh Sharma, Managing Director, Capri Global Capital Ltd. said, “Mr. Ahuja has the well-suited experience for what we need at this point in our growth trajectory. His extensive and diversified financial expertise, strategic guidance, and commitment to strengthening the financial health of the business will make a strong contribution to our company. We are pleased to welcome Mr. Ahuja to our leadership team.”

He has diverse experience across IT, Bio-Med, Consumer Electronics, Media, Telco VAS, Bank, Financial Services & Fintech industry. His multi-dimensional skills in managing Finance & Operations role focusing on investor relations, analytics, operations, mergers, financial structuring, fund raising and other sub-functions like planning, controllership, compliances and tax, has positively impacted business performances during his previous stints. Before joining CGCL, Mr. Ahuja has served as Senior Group President & Group Chief Financial/Strategic Officer at Yes Bank. Earlier, he has worked with Reliance Jio Infocomm, FINO PayTech, One 97(PayTM) Communications, Star India Pvt Ltd, Wipro Technologies, NXP Semiconductors and American Express at various key positions.

Mr. Raj is a qualified rank holder Chartered Accountant and ICWA qualified. He is a commerce graduate from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi.

 

Trends to watch out for in the Esports industry

To be attributed to Abhishek Madhavan, SVP, Growth and Marketing at MPL

The COVID pandemic has brought about a transformation to every industry in the world and the esports industry is no different. The lockdown fueled this already-burgeoning industry.  The 300 million-strong gamer market is set to grow up to 440 million gamers by 2022. The industry has made way for new innovations and technologies to give a seamless and unique experience to gamers across the country. The industry further sought to bring in new strategies that paved the way for growth in the sector such as the adoption of AI, ML, Big Data, live streaming of gaming content, and an increase in prize pools in tournaments or leagues. Further, investments are also on the rise in the gaming and esports industry.

Here are top trends that are expected to drive the future of the esports industry:

        Rise in live streaming: The rise of online gaming and esports, along with live streaming offers gamers the opportunity to showcase their skills, entertain themselves with gaming content as well as earn money on platforms. Starting with PUBG, the live streaming universe has expanded to games like Rogue Heist, COD etc. It showcases the potential of growth for the industry, and today with more gaming apps and games coming into play,  pro players now create a loyal fan base of their own. Post the recent PUBG ban, the community is looking for new ways to innovate, play, interact and flourish together. Further, in a country as diverse as India, regional language-based game streaming will see an uptake, and will result in a spike in the number of active gamers and streamers on board.

 

        Higher Cashrewards/ increase in prize pool: Year on year, the rewards and prize pools in e-sports tournaments/leagues in India have seen an increase. Be it with individual-based tournaments, or multiplayer based tournaments, skilled gamers can earn lakhs in just a single tournament. For example, in the recently-concluded College Premier League (CPL) organised by MPL, the total prize pool was Rs 1 crore. These big prize pools not only attract talented gamers from different parts of the country but will also  continue to create more opportunities for other stakeholders in the ecosystem such as game developers, gaming studios as well as brand sponsorships. Popular inter-regional/inter-city tournaments encourage players to pursue esports as a full-time profession. This presents worthwhile prospects for budding gamers who have resorted to esports very seriously.

 

        Boost in College leagues and Tournaments at a Grassroot Level: There is a significant rise in the multitude of games and platforms, for players of all skill levels in college leagues and tournaments. The shutdown of live sports encouraged professional sports leagues to esports tournaments, which are broadcasted on game streaming platforms today. As social distancing is the new normal, and with education shifting to virtual classrooms, institutions globally are now scouting for ways to educate and empower their students through e-sports. Educators have started creating communities focused around e-sports at large, even hosting in-house college or school tournaments, matches and e-sports events. Social gaming is the new kid on the block, thus providing an opportunity for students to explore careers in esports. The day is not far away when there would be degrees or certifications to become a professional in esports. This trend has accelerated the expansion of esports in India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and beyond. In the case of Rogue Heist, which is India’s first home-made First Person Shooter game, more than 80 per cent of games played right after it was launched were in Tier 2 cities and beyond. 

 

        Technology & Innovation: There is no doubt that technology has played a long-standing role in online gaming growth. The mobile gaming industry is backed by deep-tech such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Big Data, and quantum computing, which are constantly gathering data from players’ interactions and performance on gaming apps, which helps in analyzing insights to bring new and attractive strategies making it more experiential for the gamers in the esports eco-system. The use of AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) has transformed gaming into an interactive, stimulating, and realistic experience, where India is now recognized globally as one of the top markets in gaming. These cutting edge technologies and innovation will truly change gaming, making India a gaming superpower.

AMP Capital establishes energy transmission platform in India with Sterlite Power

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- Both invest USD 150 Million each in the development of four transmission projects

Global investment manager AMP Capital has established a 50/50 partnership with Sterlite Power Transmission Limited (Sterlite Power) for the development of energy transmission projects in India. This marks the first investment in India for AMP Capital’s global infrastructure equity strategy.

 

AMP Capital and Sterlite Power will each invest an initial amount of approximately USD 150 million in the development of four transmission projects, and have put in place debt financing, which represents a total capital outlay of around USD 1 billion. These projects have a circuit length of nearly 1800 kilometres of transmission lines across the Western, Southern and North Eastern regions of India. They will provide the critical infrastructure required for evacuating power from multiple renewable energy generation projects and will strengthen the power delivery infrastructure in the country.

 

The partners may in the future contribute further capital for new inter-state transmission projects which are expected to be tendered by the government of India. Therefore, the partnership has the potential to reach an overall investment size of USD 500 million.

 

Transmission infrastructure has underpinned the rapid growth seen in the generation capacity of India over the last decade. This growth has been led by renewable energy, where India is rapidly becoming recognised as a global leader, having surpassed its ambitious Paris Agreement targets with 38% of generation capacity currently from clean energy. The Indian power market still has huge potential for expansion, with low relative per capita power consumption in the country. Due to years of underinvestment in transmission capacity there is significant demand for investment, and the Indian government has been actively promoting the participation of the private sector in transmission line development through the continued implementation of supportive regulatory reforms.

 

Sterlite Power is a leading developer of transmission projects with a robust execution record across India and Brazil. It has won a third (by tariff) of all inter-state private transmission projects awarded in India under competitive bidding since 2011, and has successfully established its unique asset flip business model across both markets. Sterlite Power has completed and sold nine transmission assets to date in India.

 

Sharat Goyal, Head of India, Infrastructure Equity at AMP Capital said: “AMP Capital and Sterlite Power believe that this is a unique partnership bringing together operational and investment expertise to support the hitherto under-invested construction phase of power infrastructure in India. Our investment will create a pool of valuable transmission assets, with long-term contractual arrangements and a robust payment security framework, which are extremely attractive to yield-seeking investors.

 

“India is a key target market for AMP Capital and we have dedicated time and resource to finding a compelling investment opportunity suited to our clients. This investment capitalises on the opportunity presented by the Indian infrastructure sector at this time, as well as benefitting from policy initiatives like Infrastructure Investment Trusts (INVITs) which have created transparent, market-driven exit opportunities for investors willing to invest capital in the development of greenfield infrastructure projects in India.”

 

Commenting on the transaction, Anuraag Srivastava, CFO Sterlite Power said “We are delighted to enter into a partnership with AMP Capital – a leading global infrastructure private equity firm. This investment is another testimony of continued trust reposed on us by the investor community.”

Pratik Agarwal, Managing Director, Sterlite Power said: We are driven by our core purpose to enable access to reliable power while minimizing the impact on climate change. The world is undergoing a clean-energy revolution and India is leading this effort with its mammoth target of 450GW by the year 2030. Sterlite Power will contribute towards this noble cause by creating the required transmission infrastructure so that green energy can reach the most underserved households. We are happy to have like-minded partners like AMP Capital who believe in our core purpose and in our model of sustainable development.”

AMP Capital was advised by Citigroup (financial), PwC (commercial and tax) and AZB (legal). Sterlite was advised by Moelis & Company and Credit Suisse (financial), Khaitan & Co (legal), and EY (tax).

About AMP Capital

AMP Capital is a global investment manager with a heritage and strength in real estate and infrastructure, and experience in fixed income, equities and multi-asset solutions. AMP Capital has been investing in infrastructure since 1988 and has US$21bn infrastructure equity and debt assets under management as at 30 June 20201. AMP Capital has been ranked in the top 10 infrastructure managers globally, based on total capital raised.2 AMP Capital is owned by AMP Limited, which was established in 1849, and is one of Australia's largest retail and corporate pension providers.

 

About Sterlite Power

Sterlite Power is a leading global developer of power transmission infrastructure with projects of over 13,700 circuit kms and 24,800 MVA in India and Brazil. With an industry-leading portfolio of power conductors, EHV cables and OPGW, Sterlite Power also offers solutions for upgrading, uprating and strengthening existing networks. The Company has set new benchmarks in the industry by use of cutting-edge technologies and innovative financing. Sterlite Power is the sponsor of IndiGrid, India’s first power sector Infrastructure Investment Trust (“InvIT”), listed on the BSE and NSE. Sterlite Power has been recognised with The Economic Times Innovation Awards 2020 and is a recipient of prestigious global awards from S&P Global Platts and International Project Management Association (IPMA). www.sterlitepower.com