HE Advanced Grooming Launches the New Summer Disruptor “HE MAGIC DUO”

HE, the Advanced Male Grooming Brand of the FMCG major Emami Limited launches ‘HE Magic Duo’, a unique category disrupting innovation to expand the brand’s portfolio in the zero gas perfume space. For the very first time in India, HE Magic Duo, delivers the convenience of getting two distinct fragrances in one single can.

HE Magic Duo offers two variants “Angels and Demons” and “Yin and Yang” both of which come in a cool masculine matte styled finished pack of 50 ml*2 = 100 ml inside a premium looking carton with a transparent window. The unique applicator at the top of the can is positioned side by side and can spray two different fragrances separately or together.

Adding to the excitement of the innovation, Mr. Harsha V. Agarwal, Director- Emami Ltd said, “The deodorant category in India is a highly saturated and cluttered market. With the presence of multiple players, it is becoming increasingly difficult to break through this clutter and stand out. HE as a brand has a strong legacy of differentiation from the very beginning. This time, we found through our consumer research that there is an increasing dual usage trend wherein 1 in 5 users currently use 2 or more Deos on a regular basis just from the need of variety and the urge of not smelling the same every time.

Triggered by this consumer need, we have brought in a category disrupting solution through HE Magic Duo where we are offering two fragrances at the price of one.  We believe that HE Magic Duo with its breakthrough packaging is going to create a stir in the consumer mind space.”

HE Magic Duo will roll out a series of quirky, humorous television commercials made on a single sign-off thread of “GOD Promise Bro” to vouch for this unbelievable innovative product.

Thomas Edison’s Megaphone to Empower Smartphones in India

The city saw the launch of hyper-local connectivity app titled ‘Bhonga’. The app is an initiative by Linkus Infratech Private Limited.

The app in the beta stage was tested extensively by more than 2000+ users in Mumbai and Thane so that the system is totally bug-free before the commercial launch. Encouraging results paved the way for a full-fledged launch. “The app is designed keeping in mind the connect beyond family and friends. It is designed to connect people within the same locality without worrying about whether they know each other or not. "The idea behind the app is a very simple one – that of a megaphone or loudspeaker,” said Radhika Agarwal, Director, Linkus Infratech.

We tried to understand the areas a megaphone can be of use and realized the potential and the result was "Bhonga". Incidentally, Megaphone was invented by Thomas Edison, the same visionary who invented the bulb. The light bulb brought in a revolution when it was used and the same can be done with a digital megaphone which will empower every smartphone user.

Bhonga is a simple app which once downloaded allows the user send a message to all those who have this app in the 1 km radius, whether they know each other or not exactly the way a loudspeaker allows you to reach out to people around. The user can use the app to reach out to everyone around for posting messages which may be an emergency, an offer, a query or even an opinion or information which he believes may be of help to people around him. "The app dynamically changes its location based upon the phone's geography and hence it connects the user with others in whatever area he is present thus keeping him well connected where ever he goes" emphasis Radhika.

During the beta test we saw users asking for extra chairs and mattresses from people in the neighbourhood for a wedding in the house, a user looking for a language teacher in the neighbourhood, somebody willing to sell household goods, announcement of a medical camp in the society, home tuition inquires, mom and pop stores announcing offers, etc. Bhonga offered a completely new way of reach in the area.

One can also put in a voice note and a photo to his post. Security and anonymity are at the heart of the app, the user’s identity is not disclosed but only the location coordinates from where the post was generated gets shared. This also enables users to fearlessly express their opinions. A locality or neighbourhood reach also is at times much critical than the reach to just the family and friends available over other personal messaging and social media platforms.

Bhonga is also in the process of working with several non-profit partners like blood-banks, ambulance services, etc. to make the app a lot more useful. The app is available for both Android and iPhone. The users are offered support to enable them to best use the app. “

"There are strong micro economies present in every locality and Bhonga will help to give new wings for these micro-economies to prosper. Bhonga will play a role in connecting localities and creating cohesive neighbourhood" concludes Radhika.

Conceptioneering Digital Workflow Helps Optimize Water Distribution for 1 Million Households in West Bengal, India

Bankura is an administrative unit in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is part of Medinipur—one of the state’s five administrative divisions. The Damodar River flows in the northern part of the Bankura district and separates it from the major part of the Burdwan district. The district has been described as the “connecting link between the plains of Bengal on the east and the Chota Nagpur plateau on the west.” West Bengal Bankura has been selected for this water distribution improvement project by the Public Health and Environmental Engineering Department (PHED) of West Bengal. PHED is headquartered at Kolkata for Multi-Village Bulk Water Supply Projects and is jointly funded by PHED and the Asian Development Bank.

This project was limited to four of the eight blocks in the Bankura District: Mejhia, Gangajalghati, Indpur, and Taldangra, and is of critical importance to the region, as less than 4 percent of the 359,172 habitants in the 600 villages contained within the four blocks have a piped drinking water supply. The aim of this project is to connect the remaining 96 percent of the population through developing new water systems to meet supply, while rehabilitating the existing, aged water system to continue supplying existing customers. The scope of the project calls for adding 4,000 kilometers of new pipeline to the existing 100 kilometers of pipeline, leveraging a single hydraulic model covering more than 50 unique scenarios. DTK Hydronet Solutions used Bentley’s WaterGEMS to perform the design engineering on this INR 12.38 billion project to improve the lives of more than 1 million inhabitants in the region.

Projects of similar scope had required four months of effort to create the initial hydraulic model. Using WaterGEMS, DTK Hydronet Solutions’ engineers accomplished this new model in one month, saving 75 percent in project resource-hour costs. WaterGEMS’ sophisticated modeling capabilities enabled the team to model the existing network and develop proposed roadmaps for the new network in a single GIS model, including assessing more than 39,000 junctions within the network.

Village population and density projections were included to help future-proof the design. This solution enabled the team to create its initial model of the entire network (existing and proposed new) in just five days. Difficult topography assessments, changes in transmission routes, optimal scheduling of pumping operations and energy-to-cost calculations were all performed on the model as it was revised to yield the final proposed design. In only 25 days, not only was the initial design created, optimized, and finalized, but multiple worst-case scenarios, high-demand analysis, and other “what-if” scenarios were assessed that could not have been performed outside of the single hydraulic model in WaterGEMS.

Devashir Karve, water engineering consultant at DTK Hydronet Solutions, said, “Bentley WaterGEMS enabled ‘conceptioneering’ in this 4,000 kilometer-long, multi-village rural water supply’s single hydraulic model to benefit about 1 million villagers in India. Design evaluation and analysis was efficiently done in an optimal timeframe of 25 man-days making the project the first of its kind!”

HSIL Limited Appoints Sanjay Kalra as President of its Bath Products Business

HSIL Limited, makers of the iconic sanitary ware brand Hindware, named Mr. Sanjay Kalra to head the Bath Products Business. Mr. Kalra will be the President of the business and will directly report to Mr. Sandip Somany, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, HSIL Ltd. In his new role, Mr. Kalra will oversee key operations including marketing, research and development, distribution, strategy and e-commerce for the Bath Products Business for the company.

“Sanjay will be instrumental as we sharpen our integrated long-term growth strategy. He shares a long-standing relationship with HSIL and we are thrilled to have him join us back. He is a highly motivated, positive and goal-oriented individual who has an in-depth understanding of our industry. With his knack for identifying newer business paradigms and opportunities, I am confident he will chart higher milestones and further strengthen our market leadership,” Mr. Sandip Somany Vice Chairman and Managing Director, HSIL Ltd. said.

His newest appointment marks a second stint for Mr. Kalra at HSIL Ltd. In his earlier role of Senior Vice President – Sales, he spent almost a decade at the company.  Prior to joining HSIL Ltd, Mr. Kalra has held leadership positions at Sintex Industries, Somany Ceramics and Pidlite Industries.

Speaking on his appointment, Mr. Sanjay Kalra shared, “I am extremely excited to be back at HSIL Ltd. I am grateful for the opportunity to further HSIL’s bathware business vision and mission in these interesting times, as how we do business today has evolved owing to the changing preferences of consumers and other critical trends unfolding in the world and its impact on the Indian economy.”

Mr. Kalra holds a graduation degree in science and a post graduate degree in sales and marketing. With over 33 years of well-honed experience, he has worked across functions including marketing and sales.

ABOUT HSIL LIMITED

HSIL Limited listed on NSE and BSE has been crafting unforgettable home experiences and contemporary bathroom solutions for over five decades. Incorporated in 1960 as Hindusthan Twyfords Limited, with a technological collaboration with Twyfords, UK, the company introduced vitreous china sanitaryware in India in the year 1962 and was subsequently renamed HSIL Limited in

TVS Motor Company Updates TVS Apache RTR Series with ABS

TVS Motor Company, a reputed manufacturer of two-wheelers and three-wheelers in the world, today announced that the entire TVS Apache RTR series has been updated with ABS.  The Super Moto ABS for Apache RTR 160 2V, Apache RTR 160 4V and Apache RTR 180 provides ultimate safety for the rider.  The new generation ABS unit on the TVS Apache RTR series motorcycles has been developed with a special algorithm, extensively derived out of the racing track.  This enables the rider to find the quickest line around the corner without losing any speed.

Apache RTR 200 4V Race Edition 2.0 continues to be available with Dual-Channel ABS and RLP (Rear wheel Lift-off Protection) control offering quick detection and recovery of the wheel lock achieving superior braking performance and optimal cornering control.  With the implementation of ABS across the range, the TVS Apache RTR series becomes better equipped to manage late braking and offers razor-sharp control around the corners.  The system provides ultimate braking control while allowing sharp feedback.

Commenting on this, Mr. KN Radhakrishnan, Director & CEO, TVS Motor Company said, "Since inception; TVS Apache series have revolutionised performance biking by introducing cutting edge technology from their factory racing versions. In 2011, we were the 1st manufacturer to introduce twin channel ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) on Apache RTR 180, in the Indian two-wheeler industry. In line with this tradition, today, we are delighted to announce the inclusion of Super Moto ABS across RTR 160; RTR 160 4V and RTR 180 versions. This one of a kind racing tuned ABS technology that ensures maximum dynamic performance along with cutting edge safety technology to our consumers. The motorcycles are already on sale in market to ensure proactive compliance to the regulatory requirement laid down by the Government of India.”

The company also announced the launch of TVS Apache RTR 160 2V (ABS) with new features. The new model is equipped with an all-new, back-lit speedometer with dial-art, new seats and new handle-bar end dampeners for better stability and precision.  The refresh will sport new TVS Racing inspired graphics making it more appealing.

The entire TVS Apache RTR series with ABS is available across all TVS Motor Company showrooms in India.

Prices (Ex-showroom Delhi)

TVS Apache RTR 160 front disc (drum) with ABS - Rs. 85,510
TVS Apache RTR 180 with ABS - Rs. 90,978
TVS Apache RTR 160 4V (drum) with ABS - Rs. 89,785
TVS Apache RTR 200 (carb) with ABS - Rs. 1,11,280

India’s Real Estate Stock to Grow by 200 MN SFT IN 2019 to Reach 3.7 Trillion SFT: CBRE

CBRE South Asia Pvt. Ltd., India’s leading real estate consulting firm, has announced the findings of its Real Estate Market Outlook 2019 – India. As per the report, India continues to retain its position as the world’s fastest growing major economy, on the back of improved investor confidence and better policy reforms. The IMF’s database also suggested that India’s contribution to world growth has increased from 7.6% during 2000-2008 to 14.5% in 2018. The CBRE report highlights 2019 trends and dynamics across various segments in the real estate sector in India.

Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO – India, South East Asia, Middle East & Africa said, “The current government’s pro-reform policies have yielded positive news for the equity market and investment inflows, thereby positioning India as an attractive business destination. The growth of the Indian Real Estate market in 2019 will be driven by numerous factors including technology, demand-supply dynamics, improved ease of doing business rankings and the dust settling post the implementation of reforms such as GST, RERA among others. We expect to see significant growth across segments, which will lead to the addition of almost 200 million sq. ft. of new real estate space in 2019 across categories including office, retail, residential and logistics”.

Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Internet of Things, Robotic Process Automation and Blockchain are trends that are reshaping how the Real Estate sector works. For instance, AI is allowing for more productive location decision making, predictive maintenance of assets, easing portfolio planning, reconfiguring workspaces, automating FM processes and making spaces smarter. Similarly, IoT is allowing for the construction of smart buildings and smart cities, while creating more data for analytics also across portfolios, fine-tuning portfolio management decisions and enabling more accurate valuations.

OFFICE MARKET OUTLOOK: DISRUPTING THE DISRUPTIONS

The year 2018 was a landmark one with office space absorption crossing an all-time high of 47 million sq. ft. (up 5% y-o-y) across the nine leading cities, boosted by a supply influx of 35 million sq. ft. (up 17% y-o-y). Bangalore and Delhi-NCR continued to dominate take-up; Hyderabad emerged as the third most preferred office destination, overtaking Mumbai.

Market Outlook trends expected to continue from 2018

o   Polarisation between cities: Demand and supply would continue to be focused towards the most prominent destinations i.e., Bangalore, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

o   Infrastructure-led growth: The pace of infrastructure development will determine the growth and emergence of new micro-markets; supply and demand will be influenced by infrastructure completions, particularly provision of metro services/ major arterial roads.

o   Greater appetite for SEZ’s/tech parks: With the sunset date of March 2020 fast approaching (which will impact the benefits for occupiers), heightened activity for both absorption and development completions is expected in the SEZ and tech park space in 2019.

o   Tech-driven real estate decisions: Technology will continue to impact occupier and developer decision-making, resulting in increased flexibility in both space leased and released.

Office Market Outlook for 2019: Expected in 2019

o   Absorption trends: Leasing activity in the sector will be driven by evolved sources of demand rising interest of global occupiers, workplace changes due to digitization of jobs, evolving need for flexibility, increased demand for domestic needs, rise in net absorption and Core + Flexi workplace strategies. The combination of these sources of demand, coupled with the supply influx of quality space is likely to result in the share of net absorption to rise from the current 60-65% to about 70-75% during 2019-20. The share of tech in overall space take-up in the country will remain in the range of 30 – 35% by the end of 2019.

o   Supply trends: We expect development patterns to be more tech-tailored and anticipate a stronger pipeline in 2019. CBRE expects nearly 40 million sq. ft. of new office space to be released over the next twelve months. Almost 30% of this pipeline is expected to be in the SEZ space. There is also expected to be an impetus on “smarter” buildings – driven by the augmented use of tech for optimising space and costs.

o   Rental trends: We expect rents to continue to grow across the key markets in Bangalore, Chennai and Pune, however, this growth is expected to taper across most cities. ‘Gateway’ cities of Delhi-NCR and Mumbai would also see rental growth, however only in select locations. Also, a convergence between SEZ and non-SEZ rentals is expected in 2019.

LOGISTICS MARKET: ON THE PATH TO TRANSFORMATION

2018 was a remarkable year for the warehousing market as overall absorption during the year touched 24 million sq. ft., a growth of about 44% compared to the previous year. Majority of the demand was concentrated in Mumbai (23%), Delhi-NCR (19%) and Bangalore (19%), closely followed by Chennai and Hyderabad accounting for about 15% and 12% respectively. Following the expected trend, 3PL players, e-commerce and engineering & manufacturing firms drove demand during the year contributing about 35%, 23% and 15% respectively. Markets which led rental appreciation during the year were Bhiwandi in Mumbai (23%), Western corridor in Hyderabad (20%), NH-6 in Kolkata (16%) and Northern belt in Chennai (11%).

Logistics Outlook for 2019

o   Significant supply addition expected; the share of Grade A supply expected to increase in overall supply. While the overall supply (grade A and inferior grade) for the sector is expected to be almost 60 million sq. ft. till 2020, at least 22 million sq. ft. of this supply is estimated to be in the grade A category.

o   Demand from e-commerce players may slow down in the short-term due to policy disruptions. However, in the long run, BTS properties to become more commonplace for such players.

o   Favourable policy framework and government focus on infrastructure initiatives likely to spur further growth in the sector in 2019.

o   Focus on building in-city logistics, grocery delivery and cold chain facilities to see more activity in the coming year.

RETAIL MARKET OUTLOOK: CONSUMER GROWTH DRIVEN

The Indian retail sector has been evolving at a fast pace in the past couple of years. Increasing urbanisation, evolving brand preferences, availability of technology and social media have been the driving factors behind this evolution. In 2018, nearly 5.1 million sq. ft. of new retail developments became operational across the seven major cities in the country. Supply was led by the Southern cities, with Hyderabad at the forefront; followed by Chennai and Bangalore. Smaller retail developments also became operational in Delhi-NCR and Kolkata during 2018.

Demand on the other hand has also been strong and the past couple of years have witnessed a divergence in the demand and consumption pattern of consumers in India. While fashion and apparel is expected to continue remaining a key demand stream (value fashion, along with mid-range fashion is expected to drive retail sales), but it has also given way to categories such as F&B, multiplexes and entertainment centres, along with accessories amongst others.

Retail Outlook for 2019:

o   Although nearly 10 – 12 million sq. ft. of supply is expected to come on-stream in 2019; demand is expected to outstrip supply. While changes in FDI norms for e-commerce may impact online sales in the short-term, it may also impact investor sentiment in the segment.

o   However, despite uncertainty across the e-commerce segment, omni-channel retailing is here to stay.

o   Diversification in demand to continue with expansion by various domestic and international brands across newer categories.

o   Experiential retail and placemaking will be the key, landlords and retailers likely to use tech for studying consumer patterns and enhance customer experience.

CAPITAL MARKETS & LAND OUTLOOK: STABILITY TO ENSUE

During 2018, the commercial real estate investment market witnessed few large-scale deals which led to about USD 4.7 billion of investments. Transaction activity was led by private equity investors focusing on office and retail sectors, while local investors focused on investing in land parcels for RE developments. The inflow of long term, patient capital from private equity and other institutional players – especially in office and retail has provided the sector with stability that will ensure a steady growth curve.

The Capital Markets and Land outlook for 2019:

o   The liquidity squeeze in the NBFC sector, besides government policies and focus on due diligence, will lead to consolidation in the sector.

o   PE investments are likely to focus on completed and under-construction quality assets across the office, warehousing and retail segments; residential sector will continue to be dominated by debt funding.

o   As the due diligence process tightens, the quality of loans is also anticipated to improve, however, as a result funding costs may rise.

RESIDENTIAL MARKET OUTLOOK: PATH TO RECOVERY CONTINUES

Post the policy reforms of 2017 such as demonetisation, RERA and GST, the residential market is absorbing the impact of these changes and is on the path to recovery. This led to a growth of about 15% y-o-y in new supply and 13% y-o-y in sales. As developers align themselves with structural policy reforms implemented in the past few years and with changing characteristics of demand, we can expect residential supply to improve in 2019. The residential market is better placed this year as speculation-led investment activity has reduced significantly and financial checks are in place to prevent over-gearing. In terms of segments, mid-end projects will still garner the major chunk of supply, followed by the affordable segment (owing to government incentives and increase in end-user demand). The uptick in launches is expected to be witnessed in Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, whereas launches in Kolkata and Pune are expected to be stable.

The Residential Market Outlook for 2019:

o   Supply- demand scenario is expected to improve, unsold inventory levels to further decline.

o   Alternate assets such as co-living, student and senior housing will continue to garner greater interest from end-users and developers.

o   Affordable housing will drive supply and demand, backed by several government reforms

o   Alternate assets such as co-living, student and senior housing will continue to garner greater interest from end users and developers.

o   In the affordable segment, developers are likely to draw up appropriate marketing strategies, phase-out launches and defend their margins by managing construction costs. Greater use of tech and tech-enabled construction techniques can assist in better execution of projects.

Russian Helicopters Holding Company Negotiating Delivery of Upto Eight Helicopters to Malaysia

Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec State Corporation) is holding negotiations regarding delivery of up to eight rotorcraft units of three types to Malaysian customers. Contract details are to be specified during the fifteenth Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2019 through March 26 to 30 on Langkawi island.

“Malaysian operators made requests for purchasing up to eight Ansat, Mi-8/17 and Ka-32A11BC helicopters. We are currently providing consultations to customers to clarify technical configurations of the helicopters planned for delivery as well as other organizational matters”, said Igor Chechikov, Deputy General Director for after-sales support and head of the delegation of Russian Helicopters Holding Company.

The inquiries of Malaysian partners were partly a result of the South Asian Heli Tour organized by JSC “Russian Helicopters”. In November and December 2018 two new helicopters, one Mi-171А2 and one Ansat, made a tour over 5 thousand kilometers in length, holding demonstration shows in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia.

“Southeast Asia is one of strategically important regions for us. We see numerous opportunities for increasing the export volume of civil rotorcraft”. After the recent South Asian Heli Tour we have concluded firm and soft contracts for the delivery of 70 civil helicopters. At present we are negotiating terms and delivery dates with the potential customers”, highlighted Viktor Kladov, Director for international cooperation and regional policy at Rostec State Corporation.

Ansat is a light twin-engine utility helicopter serially produced at Kazan Helicopters. As per the type certificate, the helicopter design makes it possible to carry out quick conversion from cargo to passenger version capable to transport up to seven people. Ansat is certified for EMS version and for operation in ambient air temperatures from minus 45°С to plus 50°С. In addition, Ansat successfully completed a series of tests confirming its capability to operate in high-altitude conditions up to 3,500 m.

Мi-8/17 type helicopters and their various versions are among the most well-known and commercially popular rotorcraft in the world. The newest modifications are certified for operation in high-altitude conditions, adversary climates and a broad temperature range. Mi-17 helicopters are designed for a wide range of missions from patrolling, coastal guard services and EMS to search and rescue operations.

Civil all-weather helicopter Ка-32А11ВС with coaxial rotor scheme was developed by Kamov design bureau (part of Russian Helicopters Holding Company). Serial production of Ka-32A11BC is carried out by JSC Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise (KumAPE). Currently over 140 rotorcraft have been produced, operating in over 30 countries all over the world. The coaxial rotor scheme provides the helicopter with several critical stabilization and maneuverability improvements, especially for fire extinguishing missions. The configuration of Ka-32A11BC equipment features over 40 options.

JSC “Russian Helicopters”, a part of Rostec State Corporation, is a leading player in the global helicopter industry, the sole Russian designer and manufacturer of helicopters. The Holding Company was established in 2007 and is headquartered in Moscow. We operate five helicopter assembly plants, two design bureaus, component production and maintenance enterprises, aircraft repair plants and one helicopter service company providing after-sales support in Russia and abroad. The customers of the Holding Company are the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Home Affairs, EMERCOM of Russia, and other state customers, Gazpromavia, UTair Aviation company, large Russian and foreign companies.

Rostec is a Russian State Corporation that was established in 2007 to facilitate the development, production and export of high-tech industrial products designed for civilian and military applications. The Corporation comprises over 700 organizations in 60 constituent entities of the Russian Federation that are currently part of 15 holding companies and 80 directly managed organizations specializing in manufacturing military-industrial, civilian and dual-purpose products. Rostec's portfolio includes well-known brands such as AVTOVAZ, KAMAZ, Concern Kalashnikov, Russian Helicopters, UralVagonZavod, etc. In 2017 the consolidated revenue of Rostec reached 1 trillion 589 million rubles, while the consolidated net income and EBITDA amounted to 121 and 305 billion rubles respectively. According to Rostec strategy, the main objective of the Corporation is to ensure that Russia has a technological advantage in highly competitive global markets. Rostec's key objectives include the introduction of a new techno-economic paradigm and digitalization of Russian economy.