Friday, January 29, 2021

The Sporty, Smart, Stunning Renault Kiger Makes Its Debut In India


 * Showcases Renault’s focus on disruptive innovation and will radically alter the dynamics in the B-SUV segment

* To be first launched in India, followed by other markets

* Stunning design: Distinct, athletic design combining urban modernity with agility and muscular bodywork that exudes sturdiness and dynamism

* Smart Cabin: A smart cabin that combines technology, functionality and roominess, Renault KIGER brings latest tech features to the CMFA+ platform that laid the foundation for the success of TRIBER with segment leading roominess, cabin storage and cargo space

* Sporty Drive Powered by a New Global Engine: Renault KIGER will come with a brand-new turbo petrol engine, providing both performance and fuel efficiency

After the initial exhilaration created by the reveal of its show car, Groupe Renault globally premiered the eagerly awaited Renault KIGER in India today. A brand-new compact SUV designed and developed for India before making its international debut, Renault KIGER is the latest in the line of revolutionary products to be launched by Renault in India. Just like DUSTER, KWID AND TRIBER, Renault KIGER will also change the dynamics in its segment and promises to be another gamechanger from Renault.

Renault KIGER has already made a striking presence thanks to its Stunning design, which depicts a very strong personality. Renault KIGER has been designed with a host of sporty and muscular elements and stands out as a true SUV. On the inside, Renault KIGER’s Smart cabin combines technology, functionality and roominess. Renault KIGER will be powered by a new turbocharged 1.0L petrol engine for more performance and driving pleasure. The engine has been tested for reliability and durability, and offers the latest technological innovations already featured on Renault’s global range. This high performance, modern and efficient engine will ensure a Sporty drive and will be complemented by multi sense drive modes which offer the flexibility to best suit the customers driving preferences.

“After Duster, Kwid and Triber, we are now preparing for the launch of Renault KIGER, a modern SUV that is a perfect fit for the Indian market. KIGER combines the best Renault has to offer: our expertise in innovative cars with the creativity and in-depth knowledge of customer needs. A strong proof that Renault really is a game-changer,” shared Fabrice Cambolive, SVP, Renault Brand, Sales & Operations.

“True to the promise of the show-car, Renault KIGER is a robust, dynamic and generous SUV. Armed for travel in the urban jungle, we also designed it for the outdoors and to easily navigate any type of road conditions. KIGER has a distinctive SUV look and its long wheelbase enables great space and volume on board. Its ‘smart cabin’ has been specially designed to encourage sharing and convenience,” added Laurens van den Acker, EVP, Head of Design, Groupe Renault.

Renault KIGER will demonstrate the competence of India’s design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities and highlights Renault’s strong commitment to the ‘Make in India’ mission. In India, Groupe Renault has always focused to be disruptive and innovative which is amply proven with its product range. Renault will further build on this with the launch of the all-new Renault KIGER. 

Commenting on Renault KIGER and the importance of the India market, Venkatram Mamillapalle, Country CEO & Managing Director, Renault India Operations, shared, “Renault has continued to move forward in India and has navigated the challenging macro-economic environment, bettering the industry trends. We have managed this by our robust business strategy which includes our exciting product range, laser-sharp focus on quality and customer centricity and our aggressive network ramp up across the country. Today, we take another major step in India with the global reveal of Renault KIGER, our all-new B-SUV which will stand out as an excitingly sporty, super smart and attractively stunning offering. Following Duster, which made SUVs accessible to a large set of people, not just in India but across the world, Renault KIGER will once again make SUV aspirations accessible to a whole new set of customers and we look forward to building on our increasing customer base with this new game-changer.”

RENAULT KIGER: STUNNING DESIGN

With its distinct, athletic design that is bursting with energy, the KIGER SUV combines urban modernity with agility, whichever road it takes. With its muscular bodywork that exudes sturdiness and dynamism, the KIGER is a real invitation to escape the urban jungle and experience a new kind of driving.

Sturdy on the road

The KIGER’S design was inspired by the KIGER show-car that was unveiled at the end of 2020. A sculpted bonnet that enhances the car’s personality sits at the front, above an impressive bumper. The wings boost the design with their pronounced shoulder lines, while the black sills and wheel arches provide further protection. The high ground clearance (205 mm) and functional roof bars heighten the vehicle’s silhouette and complete its bold SUV look.

Wheels built for adventure

At higher trim levels, the KIGER’S 40.64 cm alloy wheels have a black diamond-cut finish for a sporty and stylish look. The protective wheel arch cladding makes the bodywork look bolder and sturdier. The 2,500 mm long wheelbase places the wheels at the four corners of the vehicle, offering increased stability on any type of road while optimising the space inside the car, providing optimum comfort for each passenger and boot volume of 405 Litres that is unrivalled in the segment.

Strong and agile, athletic curves

The top of the KIGER boasts a dynamic silhouette with sleek and taut lines, in contrast with the more muscular and solid lower part. The slender windscreen extends into a floating roof that runs down to a steep-sloping rear window, giving the car a coupé-style SUV look. The aerodynamic spoiler with cut-outs featured on the roof drop is topped by a shark fin antenna to give the car a very distinctive look.

Sporty design expression

Renault designers have equipped the KIGER with several features to give the car a sporty look. The front grille’s 3D graphic finish with honeycomb-shaped chromed effects is a perfect example, while the Aluminium Finish skid plate further enhances the rear bumper.

The boot door’s sloping and sporty rear window, finished off with the integrated spoiler, once again highlights KIGER’S aerodynamic silhouette.

Modern and striking front end

The upper strip formed by the front grille and the LED daytime running lights positioned at both ends give the car an elevated stance. The highly recognisable lower part divides the bumper into two areas, each large corner featuring three LED headlights separately encased in a chrome octagonal unit with PURE VISION and a chrome reflector. This coherent and overlapping split-design contrasts with the bodywork and gives a strong identity with modernity and sophistication.

Rear lighting signature

All-new LED taillights light up the rear of the car. The tail lamp units with glossy black inserts are resolutely modern and distinctive within the segment, outlining the KIGER’S rear double C-shaped lighting signature. They are featured at each end of the bodywork and extend out over the wings, providing Kiger a distinct unique personality.

Two-tone body colour

The KIGER comes in six exciting body colours: Ice Cool White, Planet Grey, Moonlight Grey, Mahogany Brown, Caspian Blue, Radiant Red with Mystery Black Roof. All trim-levels include a two-tone option. Providing an opportunity to customers to choose from the wide range of single or dual tone colour options, Radiant Red which is an exclusive colour will only be available as a top variant under two-tone colour scheme.

RENAULT KIGER: SMART CABIN

A compact yet surprisingly spacious vehicle

KIGER interiors are called the smart cabin as it combines technology, functionality and roominess. KIGER is just under four metres long and falls into the compact SUV category, yet thanks to the CMFA+ platform DNA, just like Triber it offers segment leading roominess, cabin storage and cargo space. The interior has been designed to perfectly combine the sturdiness of an SUV with a focus on sophistication and technology.  With a high centre console, 20.32 cm floating display link and wireless smart phone replication, KIGER interiors have been specially designed to encourage sharing and convenience.

Attractive style

The chiselled curves that play with light and shade give the impression of a floating cockpit, accentuated by piano-style control dials, suspended air conditioning controls and a pedestal that is easily accessible from the centre console. The console features a 20.32 cm floating touch screen, giving the passenger compartment a modern look, and so does a 17.78 cm Multi-Skin Reconfigurable TFT colour cluster.

Unprecedented comfort and roominess

The KIGER provides record levels of roominess with space onboard that you can feel. At the front, the KIGER offers a 710-mm Couple Distance between seats – the best in its segment. At the rear, KIGER provides best in segment second row legroom (222 mm) and elbow room (1431 mm). The seat height provides a commanding driving position accentuating driving comfort.

Optimum Boot capacity

The Kiger sets a very high standard when it comes to load capacity, offering the best boot capacity in the segment (405 litres which extends to 879 litres with second row folded).

Optimised storage space

The KIGER provides passengers with a whole host of clever storage compartments for a total onboard capacity of 29L including four 1L water bottle holders and 2 cup holders – an outstanding figure in the segment. The central armrest hides a 7.5 litre storage space while the glove compartment has an unprecedented volume of 10.5 litres. Smart solutions like these allow multi-level access organised with the needs of passengers in mind.

Smart and practical passenger compartment

The KIGER’S smart cockpit was designed to give a practical onboard experience without detracting from the style. Its new technology makes every day driving easy and enjoyable.

Modern and smart central console

The KIGER’S high, wide centre console is focused around a large 20.32 cm floating touch screen that features wireless smart phone replication for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto at higher trims. Wireless smart phone replication allows passengers to connect their smartphones seamlessly and access the special driving and multimedia apps. Passengers can select five permanent shortcuts for faster access to apps and features. The system not only offers voice recognition through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but also Bluetooth connectivity that can pair with up to five devices, a USB socket for faster charging and a built-in MP4 video player.

MULTI-SENSE driving experience and ambiance lighting

At higher trim levels, the driver has access to MULTI-SENSE settings to select different driving modes. Engine mapping, gear changes (for automatic transmissions), the responsive steering column and the digital speedometer are reset when changing driving modes, for an optimum driving experience.

· Multi-Skin 17.78 cm Reconfigurable TFT cluster changes its colour and widget configuration according to the mode selected, displaying useful information relevant to selected driving mode:

· Normal mode: Provides an optimum driving parameter of the engine apt for city driving conditions. It also provides handy information like real-time & average fuel consumption all in a blue colour look.

·  Eco mode: Provides a drive which is inclined towards economic driving practices. Changing the overall appearance of the TFT into green, the indicators, like an animated leaf provides real time feedback to maximize economic driving.

·  Sports Mode: Provides a driving environment which is full of fun and sportiness, with crisper engine response and faster shifting. The overall TFT screen appearance turns into red with quick information of acceleration gauge, torque / power ratios etc providing drivers to have all the fun!

Premium sound system

The KIGER boasts a brand new, well-tuned quality sound system: The Auditorium 3D Sound system by Arkamys, with a technology that diffuses 3D sound tailor-made to suit the materials and shape of the passenger compartment. All in all, there are eight onboard speakers (four boomers, four tweeters). The system also automatically adjusts sound volume according to the speed of the vehicle at higher trim levels. The system can be activated and adjusted on demand to ensure the best sound quality whatever the route.

Hands-free smart access card

With the modern hands-free card for everyday convenience, doors can be opened and closed automatically, and the engine started without a key. The sensors in the card allow drivers to lock and unlock the doors without having to take the card out of their pocket or press a button. They can also start the vehicle without having to insert the card. The hands-free system also includes a door auto-lock function when drivers walk away from the vehicle. This feature is a real time-saver and incredibly convenient.

Easier manoeuvring

The KIGER uses technology to ensure safety with radar sensors and a reverse camera with guiding lines. The driver can enjoy greater visibility and precision when reversing or manoeuvring for parking. The turning radius is 5.02 metres.

Additional all-new exclusive features

The KIGER boasts a variety of unique features, including automatic air-conditioning, which can still be adjusted manually via the air-conditioning control.

Another new feature available at higher trim levels is the white ambient lighting in the passenger compartment. It lights up the storage compartment at the front of the centre console and the back of the front door grip handles.

Cockpit features back-lit steering wheel controls. These have a whole host of settings such as access to the onboard computer menu, speaker volume, phone and radio features and voice recognition. Kiger will also feature a first in segment PM2.5 Clean Air Filter. This advanced atmospheric filter fitted in to the ventilation system ensures good air quality inside the vehicle.

RENAULT KIGER: SPORTY DRIVE

Platform and Engines

The KIGER features a new turbocharged petrol engine for more versatility and driving pleasure. The modular platform, designed by the Renault-Nissan Alliance and already featured on the Triber, provides the right balance between performance and efficiency.

A platform full of advantages

The KIGER shares the same modular platform as the Triber, meaning that it offers key advantages unparalleled in the market:

·        Roomier passenger compartment

·        Optimisation of engine compartment size

·        Best in Segment Cabin Storage space. Best in segment Cargo Space

·        Best in segment Rear elbow width - 3 passengers accommodated comfortably

·        Best in Segment turning Radius

·        Best in Segment dashboard visibility from rear seat

·        Comfort and driving pleasure

·        Best in segment fuel efficiency

·        Higher Ground Clearance

The KIGER’S platform and new engine guarantee response and versatility for the best possible driving experience.

Powerful engine and driving pleasure

The KIGER is fitted with a three-cylinder turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol engine, with a power output of 100 Ps and a torque of 160 Nm (available from 3,200 rpm). The engine has been tested for reliability and longevity, and offers the latest technological innovations already featured on the Clio and the Captur in Europe. It boasts the best fuel economy of its category with 20 km/litre consumption.

The 1.0-litre 100 Ps turbocharged engine is paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. An X-TRONIC automatic continuously variable transmission will be available shortly after the KIGER’S commercial launch. This latest-generation CVT gearbox designed by the Alliance provides smooth and responsive transitions enhancing drivability and comfort in urban areas, along with excellent fuel efficiency.

The ENERGY 1.0-litre 72 Ps and 96 Nm naturally aspirated engine is also available in the KIGER range, with either a five-speed manual or the EASY-R five-speed robotised gearbox AMT, which provides the comfort of clutchless driving at affordable pricing. It features a manual mode that allows the driver to drive either in fully automatic or sequential mode. It ensures efficient engine starting, safe car-overtaking manoeuvres and the best possible driving pleasure, with an outstanding power-to-weight ratio and best in segment torque-to-weight ratio in the compact SUV segment.

Onboard safety

On board, the two front seats and the two rear side seats are fitted with three-point seatbelts, while the rear middle passenger seat features a two-point seatbelt.

The two front airbags for the driver and front-seat passenger along with the two side airbags round out the safety suite.

Both front seats get seat belt reminder alert for enhanced safety.

Aditya Birla Fashion And Retail Announces Partnership With Designer Brand “Sabyasachi”


India’s leading fashion company, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited has announced a strategic partnership with India’s largest designer brand “Sabyasachi” by signing a definitive agreement for acquiring 51% stake in Sabyasachi brand.  Sabyasachi is India’s largest and most influential luxury designer brand with strong Indian roots and global appeal. The brand straddles categories such as apparel, accessories and jewelry and has a strong franchise in India, US, UK and the Middle East. The ABFRL platform will complement brand Sabyasachi on its journey to becoming a global luxury house out of India. 

This partnership will add significant weight to ABFRL’s growing ethnic wear portfolio. This will accelerate the company’s strategy to capture a large share of ethnic wear market through a comprehensive & attractive portfolio of brands, across key consumer segments, usage occasions and geographies. The company expects to build a large ethnic wear business over next few years to complement its strong and diverse portfolio in western wear segment of the Indian apparel market. 

Commenting on the partnership with ace designer Sabyasachi, Mr. Ashish Dikshit, Managing Director, ABFRL said: “We believe that over the next few years, ethnic wear is going to be an increasingly important category as young and confident Indians rediscover their culture and heritage. The Sabyasachi brand, through its emphasis on excellence in design and craftsmanship has set new benchmarks and captivated the imagination of the sophisticated global Indian consumer. We are proud to partner Sabyasachi in its journey to become the only global luxury brand from India. We see a ‘Made in India’ global brand like Sabyasachi occupying the pinnacle of our ethnic wear portfolio. Over the next few years, ABFRL intends to craft a portfolio that addresses the entire gamut of ethnic wear segments: value, premium and luxury.”  

Mr. Sabyasachi Mukherjee, CEO and Founder, Sabyasachi Brand, said: “Over the course of the last couple of years, as my brand evolved and matured, I began searching for the right partner in order to ensure continuity and long-term sustainable growth. I am honoured and excited to have found that partner in Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla and ABFRL. Aligned in our vision, and committed to excellence, we will work together to grow a truly global luxury brand out of India.” 

The proposed acquisition is subject to necessary statutory approvals and signing of definitive agreements.  EY, PWC and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co were the transaction advisors for Sabyasachi; ABFRL was advised by KPMG, Khaitan & Co and Transaction Square LLP. 

About Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited 

ABFRL is part of a leading Indian conglomerate, The Aditya Birla Group. With revenue of Rs. 8,788 Cr in FY19-20, it is India’s first billion-dollar pure-play fashion powerhouse with an elegant bouquet of leading fashion brands and retail formats. 

As on 30th September 2020, The Company has a network of 3,025 stores across approximately 26,000 multi-brand outlets with 6,500+ point of sales in department stores across India. 

It has a repertoire of market leading brands such as Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly and Peter England established for over 25 years. Pantaloons is one of India’s largest value retail brand.  

The Company also holds exclusive online and offline rights of Forever 21. The International Brands portfolio includes - The Collective, India's largest multi-brand retailer of international brands, Simon Carter and select mono-brands such as American Eagle, Ralph Lauren, Hackett London, Ted Baker and Fred Perry. Additionally, the company has also made a foray in the branded ethnic wear through investments in Jaypore and Shantanu & Nikhil. 

About Sabyasachi 

Since 1999, Sabyasachi has been sharing with the world a unique story of Indian excellence. The brand has emerged as one of the most influential cultural voices in the country — shaping modern fashion and lifestyle while celebrating artisanal craftsmanship and traditional techniques in each and every product. Today, with solid footing in the domestic retail landscape, several major global collaborations, and international flagships opening soon, Sabyasachi continues on its path to becoming the first global luxury house out of India. 

Rajnikant D. Shroff, Chairman and Managing Director Of UPL Ltd. Conferred Padma Bhushan


On the eve of the 72nd Republic Day of India, Mr. Rajnikant Devidasbhai Shroff, the founder of UPL Ltd. a global provider of sustainable agriculture products & solutions, was conferred one of the India’s highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan, for his contribution to the field of trade and industry.

This year the President has approved conferment of 119 Padma Awards and Mr.Shroff is the only industrialist to receive Padma Bhushan.

The scientist turned entrepreneur and equal opportunity crusader, Mr. Shroff, CMD, UPL Ltd. said, “I have always been a strong nationalist at heart and I am eternally grateful for all the opportunities I had to be a part of the growth of this great nation, and its backbone, which is the agricultural sector. It is truly a humbling experience to be bestowed with such a prestigious award, and it brings immense joy and pride to the UPL Ltd. Group.”

He added, “I began working in this industry over 50 years ago, and it has truly been a remarkable experience for me. I am extremely proud to see what the company has achieved over these years, each milestone a feather in the cap of every one of the 14000 employees of UPL Ltd. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of India for bestowing upon me this great honor, and I would also like to congratulate my fellow awardees and thank them for their respective contributions to our country.”

With a professional career that spans over more than 50 years, Mr. Shroff has received several other accolades and honors for his contribution to the field of agricultural technology. His dedication to his profession and the causes he supports is unwavering and the many awards he has won are a mere testimony to his abilities. Under his watchful eye, UPL Ltd., which began as a small-scale chemical unit in 1969 at Vapi (Gujarat) involving complex chemical processes to manufacture Red Phosphorus, with a seed capital of just Rupees 4 Lakhs, has grown into India’s only multi-national and multi-cultural agrochemical company, employing over 14000 people, worldwide, with a turnover of US$ 5 billion.

Mr. Shroff has been spearheading a larger purpose that is, to expand industrialization of agrochemical sector in India, saving foreign exchange for the country by manufacturing standard quality products at affordable prices for the Indian farmer. He believes, that the purpose of science and technology is only achieved if the products are affordable to be adopted by small holding farmers.

Mr. Shroff has always been an ardent believer in giving back to society and helms various Human Welfare Trusts and Organizations. Under Mr. Shroff’s leadership, UPL Ltd. has worked towards taking several socially beneficial steps including creating Institutions of Excellence, organizing Sustainable Livelihood Programmes for neighboring farmers, as well as instilling nature conservation practices in their processes.

Needless to say, the honor is truly befitting this man who has such an extraordinary record in the industry, and who has given so much back to his nation, all while creating value for all the stakeholders of his corporation.

About UPL Ltd.:

UPL Ltd. (NSE: UPL & BSE: 512070) is a global provider of sustainable agriculture products & solutions, with annual revenue exceeding $5 billion. We are a purpose-led company. Through OpenAg, UPL is focused on facilitating progress for the entire agricultural value chain. We are building a network that redefines the way an entire industry thinks and works – open to fresh ideas, innovative ways and new answers as we strive towards our mission to make every single food product more sustainable. As one of the largest agriculture solutions companies worldwide, our robust portfolio consists of biologicals and traditional crop protection solutions with more than 13,600 registrations. We are present in more than 130 countries, represented by more than 10,000 colleagues globally. For more information about our integrated portfolio of solutions across the food value chain including seeds, post-harvest, as well as physical and digital services.

Women Consumers, EdTech And Premium Products Drove Demand For Buy Now Pay Later In 2020: ZestMoney Report


* 20% growth in women customer base

* Women Spent More On Edtech, Men Splurged On Fashion

ZestMoney, India’s leading AI-driven EMI financing and “Buy Now Pay Later” (“Pay Later”) platform, today revealed the findings of its annual report which outlines how Indian customers opted for BNPL solutions in 2020.  Despite the challenges arising due to the pandemic, the company served customers across 18,921 pin codes last year, demonstrating a strong demand for Buy Now Pay Later solutions among Indian customers.

Categories like Edtech, high end smartphones, large appliances, Electric vehicles, fashion, and travel were most sought after by customers.

ZestMoney observed a 20% growth in its women customer base last year. EdTech, online-electronics, fashion and travel ranked among the top categories that witnessed traction among women. It was also interesting that more women opted for Edtech while men preferred to splurge on fashion.

As per the report, women from Tier I cities opted for digital EMI solutions for financing their purchases in the following categories:

·  Bengaluru: Online-Electronics & Fashion

·  Mumbai: Education & Travel

·  Delhi NCR: Fashion & Travel

·  Hyderabad: Offline-Electronics & Personal Loans

·  Pune: Fashion & Education

·  Chennai: Education & Offline-Electronics

Pay Later offers shoppers the perfect flexibility to spread the cost which is sensible financial planning and helps them afford their dreams.  It has been noticed that the average ticket size for BNPL is higher and it plays a crucial role in reviving consumer demand, especially for large ticket products.

Recognising that Buy Now Pay Later solutions offer greater convenience and flexibility especially while purchasing premium products, the category continued to witness great momentum in 2020. In fact, ZestMoney observed that the highest volume of premium products were purchased on Fridays. High end smartphones, laptops, large appliances, and fitness watches drove demand in the category.

Commenting on the trend, Lizzie Chapman, CEO and Co-Founder ZestMoney said, “2020 will be remembered as one of the most pivotal years in the adoption of Buy Now, Pay Later in India. We saw an increased trend of digitally savvy customers who prefer transparent financing options like BNPL over unfair and hidden fees associated with traditional products. The category is poised for massive growth this year as the consumer habit is here to stay. Consumers are clearly loving the all-digital experience for credit. We strongly feel India will emerge as the largest market for BNPL and will leapfrog credit cards entirely.”

“At Zest, we made significant inroads into the offline network by expanding our Buy Now, Pay Later product to 15,000 stores nationwide. We will ramp this up to 400,000 in 2021. We continue to be available on the checkout of the largest ecommerce websites and that drove adoption of BNPL as people took to online shopping in a big way. The pandemic has made customers even more focussed on financial affairs and they realise the benefit of managing cash flows by opting for Pay Later”, added Chapman. 

The company said due to the demand for professional upskilling courses, the category witnessed the highest average ticket size for transactions (~50).  Women transacted 3-4X more on Edtech than any other category.

According to ZestMoney, the average Indian consumer is 34-year old. The company said 68% of their customers are based outside Tier I cities hinting at the massive demand coming from tier II and III markets.

ZestMoney recently completed five years of operations, marking a crucial milestone in its journey. It has 6 million registered users on its platform. 

About ZestMoney:

Founded by Lizzie Chapman, Priya Sharma and Ashish Anantharaman in 2015, ZestMoney is the largest and fastest-growing EMI financing and Pay Later company in India. The fintech company is built as a platform that can meaningfully improve the lives of more than 300 million households in the country, who currently have no access to credit cards or any other formal financing options because of insufficient credit history. ZestMoney’s unique platform uses mobile technology, digital banking and Artificial Intelligence to make life more affordable to millions of Indian consumers. ZestMoney’s innovative technology and work to make affordable digital finance accessible led to their selection as a 2020 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum.

Sify Reports Revenues Of INR 6301 Million For Third Quarter Of FY 2020-21


 PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS:

·  Revenue for the quarter was INR 6301 Million, a growth of 7% over the same quarter last year.

·  EBITDA for the quarter was INR 1291 Million, an increase of 17% over the same quarter last year.

·  Profit before tax for the quarter was INR 400 Million, an increase of 61% over the same quarter last year.

·  Profit after tax for the quarter was INR 252 Million, an increase of 54% over the same quarter last year.

·  CAPEX during the quarter was INR 1140 Million.

·  Cash balance at the end of the quarter was INR 4431 Million.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

Mr. Raju Vegesna, Chairman, said, “The pandemic has been an inflection point in the way we do business. As the world rallied to find a cure, businesses and people demonstrated resilience and adaptability.

Clients are rediscovering the disruptive nature of AI, Distance learning, Telemedicine, Robotic process and Automation – long-term trends that are increasingly becoming accepted as mainstream technology. These trends continue to stimulate demand for networks and data center capacity, a business segment that Sify stays firmly committed to”.

Mr. Kamal Nath, CEO, said, “In continuation of signs seen in earlier quarters, we are seeing an aggression in customer’s decision making and spend in areas of digitalization, business continuity plan, security and remote working models. They are also allocating budgets for FY 21-22 along these lines. Overall, we are excited by these trends as our products, services and business models are in complete alignment with the customer’s priorities”.

Mr. M P Vijay Kumar, CFO, said, “Our Data Center and Network expansion plans remain on track. We will also continue to invest in People and Tools, while maintaining a tight fiscal discipline. Our discretionary spending will remain contained in the short run, without impacting the overall customer experience.

Cash balance at end of the quarter was INR 4431 Million”.

GROWTH DRIVERS

The pandemic has accelerated the primary growth drivers in the market for cloud adoption, led by digital initiatives and transformation. This trend is triggering movement of workloads from on-premise Data Centers to hyperscale Public Cloud and hosted Private Cloud in varied degrees, based on the digital objectives of the Enterprises. This results in transformation of the traditional network architecture and transformation at the edge which connects the end user. The need for digital services like analytics, data lakes, IoT, etc are shifting the balance toward adoption of Hybrid and Public Cloud vs Private Cloud. Collectively, these trends are generating opportunities for full scale Cloud, DC and Network service providers with digital services skills.

KEY WINS

Highlights of our major wins in the quarter include:

Customers choosing Sify for migration of their on-premise data center to multi-cloud platforms like Cloudinfinit, AWS, Azure and Oracle. They also entrusted Sify with management and security.

Customers choosing Sify as their DC Hosting partner as they embrace hybrid cloud strategy.

Customers choosing Sify as their multi-service Digital Transformation partner.

Customers choosing Sify as their Network Transformation and Management partner as they migrate to Cloud-ready networks. 

A consolidated summary of the key highlights during the quarter is noted below:

Data Center centric IT Services highlights include:

An MNC electronics retailer entering India contracted for greenfield Cloud implementation for their new applications on AWS.

An industrial product subsidiary of one of India’s oldest business conglomerates signed up for migration to AWS, while one of India’s fastest growing FMCG companies signed up for AWS services.

5 clients signed up for SAP Basis support, among them one of India’s largest B2B eCommerce platforms. Others were from verticals like civil engineering, mining, petrochemical and fabrics.

5 customers signed up for SAP Cloud and Managed Services, across verticals like renewable energy, electronics manufacturing, automotive fabrication and industrial engineering.

2 customers, one of India’s premier automotive finance companies, and the other, an Indian multinational pharmaceutical company, migrated from their on-premise Data Center to Sify DC, while a major Indian fintech player migrated their captive DR to Sify DC.

A scheduled commercial bank signed a multi-year contract to commission their Private Cloud and host their Core banking infrastructure. This contract includes IT, Network, security and management of their DC IT services.

3 customers contracted with Sify to modernize and expand their Disaster Recovery within Sify’s Data Center; among them a subsidiary of the Central Bank, a Global content delivery network, and a cybersecurity and cloud service company.

One of the largest gas-powered power plant operators in the North East contracted with Sify to build a new DC for their non-IT infra and migrate their IT services.

A major International Fintech and Payment services player contracted with Sify for Kubernetes/Docker as a Service and the complete suite of Digital Transformation services.

A major Public Sector lender signed a multi-year contract to renew their security and managed services, as well as to refresh their IT Services, Technology, and Security.

A major construction subsidiary of one of the India’s oldest business houses signed up to fully integrate their backend supply chain on the Cloud.

Network centric Services added 70 new customers in the quarter.

The most significant win was for a Multi-Terabit DCI network for a Hyperscale cloud provider in Mumbai.

Sify signed up multiple clients for interconnection to the Cloud across multiple verticals. including Network engineering, Network infrastructure, DTH, and BFSI.

A major fashion brand contracted with Sify for pan-India implementation of IoT services.

Multiple clients contracted for pan India MPLS network services from verticals like banking, microfinance, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, Painting, NBFC, Energy, Retail and Entertainment.

A pharmaceutical major contracted with Sify for managed and secure SD-WAN services.

One of India’s premier stock exchanges, a battery major, a PSU bank and a hosiery export major contracted for WAN commissioning on a pan-India basis.

A multinational investment bank and one of India’s leading two-wheeler manufacturers signed up for collaboration services at their premises.

LawSikho Signs MoU With MEPSC To Roll Out Law Courses



 LawSikho, India’s leading online education company that creates advanced and practical legal courses, has signed an MOU with Management & Entrepreneurship and Professional Skills Council (MEPSC), to co-brand practical legal online programmes with Skill India and MEPSC.

In the first phase, LawSikho and MEPSC will launch three one year diploma programme/s in Advanced Contact Drafting Negotiation and Dispute Resolution, Mergers & Acquisitions- Institutional Finance and Investment Laws (PE & VC Transactions) and Cyber Law, Fintech Regulation and Technology Contracts. Each of these courses has been built to enable participants to innovate and build capabilities to provide high quality and empathetic care in a cost effective and an integrated manner. These courses will not only prepare students for the industry, but will also give them a boost in the mental preparation of what organizations expect from them.

Col. Anil Kumar Pokhriyal (Retd.), Chief Executive Officer, MEPSC, highlighted on the success of MEPSC’s journey and said that “Education is a continual process and online courses are the way forward to build relevant professional skills. This collaboration is much needed and will push forward the cause of employability for India’s youth.”

Ramanuj Mukherjee, CEO, LawSikho, said that LawSikho is catering to over 6000 learners per year, and caters to an online community that exceeds 1 million monthly active users from around the world. With support from the Skill India initiative, LawSikho will reach out to a much larger community, especially expanding to tier-2, tier-3 cities, smaller towns and rural areas where law graduates face difficulty in finding employment opportunities.

The courses will be offered online and students can access basic study material through an online learning management system 24/7, available both on Android and iOS applications. Students can also choose to procure a hard copy of the study material modules that can be delivered to their home. In order to assist working professionals, the classes for these courses have been scheduled to be held after regular work hours or on Sunday afternoons. Every student completing these courses will be issued a certificate by LawSikho, MEPSC and Skill India. The duration of each of the courses is 12 months and will require one to commit to 8-10 hours a week.

About MEPSC

Management & Entrepreneurship and Professional Skills Councils (MEPSC) is the Sector Skill Council under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Govt. of India working towards skilling the youth in key areas of management and entrepreneurship to make them job-ready. MEPSC is engaged in Skilling under the Skill India Mission of Govt. of India. It offers a skill development initiative in 5 key segments - training and assessment, office management, professional skills (including Security Sector), non-teaching job roles in the education sector, and entrepreneurship.

About LawSikho

LawSikho is India’s leading online education company that creates advanced and practical legal courses and customized training programs catering to lawyers, leading businesses and universities. Bridging the gap between theory and practice in legal education. Over the years, LawSikho has become a formidable eco-system which consist of practical legal knowledge, repository of insights, video lessons and a library of how-to guides and templates that can elevate a legal practice and help it scale faster.

Grinntech Inaugurates Their Larger Manufacturing Facility In Chennai

 


Grinntech, an investor-backed start-up specialising in Lithium-Ion batteries for EVs and energy storage systems announced the inauguration of their Larger manufacturing plant today. Constructed on a One-acre plot located in Chennai’s Ambattur Industrial Estate this facility of Grinntech will have the capacity to produce 400 MWh per year of Lithium-Ion batteries suitable for 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers, farm tractors, and light vehicles. In October 2020, Grinntech had executed an MoU with the Government of Tamil Nadu involving an investment of Rs. 100 Crores.

“Our state-of-the-art plant is a modern facility that will leverage the infrastructural and supply chain advantages of our strategic location. We have installed an optimal level of automation and have deployed contemporary quality control principles keeping in mind the quality expectations of our customers and our own productivity and safety targets,” said Puneet Jain, Co-Founder of Grinntech.

In addition to a wide range of batteries, the facility will also manufacture Grinntech’s proprietary and award-winning Battery Management Systems to address the anticipated growth of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in India. The new site is equipped with state-of-the-art features and maintains high standards for quality and safety. 

“We have had a growing number of enquiries and are engaged in a number of projects across our target segments from start-ups, established OEMs, and also overseas customers. This new facility which also includes a modern R&D wing, which will help us address the growing demands more rapidly”. Nikhilesh Mishra, Co-Founder of Grinntech.

Dr. V. Sumantran (former Vice-Chairman of Ashok Leyland) and Mr. Lakshmi Narayanan (Co-Founder and former Vice-Chairman of Cognizant) Directors of Grinntech joined the Management and staff in the Pooja to mark the momentous occasion. They re-emphasised the pioneering role that Grinntech is playing in the rapidly evolving EV Industry. 

About Grinntech

Grinntech is an investor-backed, growth-phase start-up, specialising in Lithium-Ion batteries for EVs and energy storage systems along with our proprietary BMS and connectivity systems. Its product range has established new standards in safety, intelligent controls, energy-density, power-management, long life, and reliability. Apart from a range of standard products, Grinntech also undertakes custom battery development for customers in India and abroad. 

Grinntech works closely with leading global technology companies and cell suppliers, bringing cutting-edge advances in semiconductor, materials, cell-chemistry and packaging. Grinntech deploys contemporary techniques for manufacturing that includes cell-characterisation and product testing. Grinntech’s expertise has been recognised by its customers, many of whom are market leaders, and Grinntech is working with many of them to power their future EV platforms. 

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