Atlassian Ranked In The Top 10 Best Companies In India 2023 By Great Place To Work

Atlassian Corporation Plc (NASDAQ: TEAM), a leading provider of team collaboration and productivity software and the maker of Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket, and Trello, has been ranked number 8 in India's Best Companies to Work For 2023 by the Great Place to Work Institute, jumping 15 places from a rank of 23rd in 2022.

The rankings are based on the results of the Great Place to Work’s Trust Index™ Survey and Culture Audit™ where companies are assessed on their values-driven culture, employee benefits, and authentic leadership among other criteria. 4.5 million employees from 1,394 organisations across 22 industries took part in the assessment this year, out of which the top 100 companies were awarded.

Atlassian opened its world-class R&D centre in Bengaluru in 2018 and now has 1,700+ employees in India, hiring some of the brightest tech talent from across the country. It was also ranked in India's Best Workplaces for Women by the Great Place to Work Institute in 2022 and 2021.

Atlassian’s Team Anywhere policy was recognized as a great initiative by the Great Place to Work team, allowing employees the flexibility to choose where they work – whether in an office, from the comfort of their home, or a combination of the two. Atlassian supplies tools and generous financial support for employees to create a workspace that suits their needs. Employees can also spend up to 90 days working outside their work location of record.

Atlassian offers a wide range of benefits to support its employees and their families, including 26 weeks of paid leave for birthing parents and 20 weeks for non-birthing parents. To assist with balancing work and personal life, virtual and in-person childcare support is available. It also provides inclusive and comprehensive family formation benefits, such as fertility health, assisted reproduction, fertility tissue preservation and more.

Along with physical health, mental wellbeing is also a big focus. Atlassian provides free and confidential tools for coaching, therapy, consultation, instructor-led wellness classes, meditation sessions, and annual stipends to reimburse fitness and wellness expenses. 

Atlassian also encourages employees to give back, offering 5 paid days each financial year for employees to volunteer with their favorite charity via the Atlassian Foundation.

Rajeev Rajan, CTO, Atlassian said, “We are delighted that Atlassian is recognised as a top 10 Best Company To Work For in India. Our mission is to unleash the potential of every team and we do that within our business through a values-led and open culture that fosters wellbeing and innovation. It’s a hugely exciting time for Atlassian in India as it’s our fastest growing market, and we’re continuing to hire more talent from across the country to join our team.”

About Atlassian  

Atlassian unleashes the potential of every team. Our team collaboration and productivity software helps teams organize, discuss and complete shared work. Teams at more than 250,000 customers, across large and small organizations – including Bank of America, Redfin, NASA, Verizon, and Dropbox – use Atlassian’s project tracking, content creation and sharing, and service management products to work better together and deliver quality results on time.

Learn more about our products, including Jira Software, Confluence, Jira Service Management, Trello, Bitbucket, and Jira Align at https://www.atlassian.com/.

About Great Place to Work  

Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees around the world and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their unparalleled benchmark data is used to recognize Great Place to Work-Certified™ companies and the Best Workplaces™ in the US and more than 60 countries, including the 100 Best Companies to Work For® and World’s Best list published annually in Fortune. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a Great Place to Work For All™. To learn more, visit http://greatplacetowork.com.

University of Auckland And Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s Dual Degree Programme To Unlock Diverse Career Opportunities To Students

Adhering to Education New Zealand’s commitment focus on internationalization of education, Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University announced a collaboration to offer a Dual Degree Programme in Computer Science and Engineering. The programme will empower students from both countries to earn two degrees- a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Computer Science and Engineering from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham followed by a Master of Science (MSc) in Computer Science or Master of Data Science (MDataSci) from the University of Auckland.  

Designed to offer students a future-focused global learning experience, the programme will provide students access to world-class mentorship from both institutions' faculty members and cutting-edge research facilities. Students can commence their BTech studies at Amrita University and, after three years, transition to the University of Auckland for a two-year program to complete their Master's degree. Upon completing the two degrees, students will also be eligible for post-study work visa in New Zealand. To further deepen educational ties between New Zealand and India, high-achieving students opting for the double degree programme will qualify for a scholarship of up to $20,000 towards tuition fees.

Commenting on the collaboration, Professor John Hosking, Dean of Science, the University of Auckland, said, “The University of Auckland’s collaboration with Amrita University, one of the renowned institutes of India, strengthens our commitment to offering a powerful combination of academic excellence and a pathway for students to become global citizens. The dual degree programme will offer prospective students an opportunity to study in two culturally vibrant countries-New Zealand and India. Their academic and professional horizons will broaden significantly through world-class research opportunities, internships, and outstanding education. It will also gift them diverse career opportunities and a network of international connections. Amrita University and the University of Auckland both hold leading positions in the THE University Impact Rankings that evaluate global universities on their performance relative to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The collaboration between us will generate significant synergies, bolstering our joint endeavours towards realizing the SDGs.” 

The dual-degree programme will also offer industry-based internship opportunities allowing students to gain real-world experience and platforms to apply their theoretical knowledge in a professional setting.

About the University of Auckland

https://www.auckland.ac.nz 

Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland is Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading university, ranked 68th in the world in the QS World Rankings 2024 and 137 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World Rankings.

Founded in 1883, the University of Auckland is the country’s largest university with more than 40,000 students, of which 8,000 are international students over 100 countries. High-quality research across the full range of disciplines, represented by its eight faculties and two Large-Scale Research Institutes, ensures its place among the leading international research universities. The University’s connection with the Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland region and unique place in the world is reflected in its M?ori name, Waipapa Taumata Rau, gifted by the people of Ng?ti Wh?tua ?r?kei. The enduring relationship with tangata whenua and a commitment to sustainability are key components of the Vision 2030 and Strategic Plan 2025 Taumata Teitei.

About Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

https://www.amrita.edu/

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is a multi-disciplinary, research-intensive, private university, educating a vibrant student population of over 24,000 by 1700+ strong faculty. Accredited with the highest possible ‘A++’ grade by NAAC, Amrita offers more than 250 UG, PG, and Ph.D. programs in Engineering, Management, and Medical Sciences including Ayurveda, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Agriculture Sciences, Arts & Humanities, and Social & Behavioral Sciences. With seven campuses at Amaravati, Amritapuri, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi, and Mysuru and a new upcoming campus at NCR Delhi (Faridabad) and spread over 1200+ acres with 100 lacs square feet of built-up space, Amrita is one of India’s top-ranked private university.

Notes to Editors:

About Education New Zealand (ENZ) https://www.enz.govt.nz/

Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) is the government agency responsible for taking New Zealand’s education experiences to the world. ENZ promotes a New Zealand education as one that teaches students to be critical thinkers, problem solvers and lifelong learners, which will help them succeed in their future careers and create a positive impact on the world. In 2019, New Zealand’s education system was ranked first among English-speaking countries and third in the world for delivering a future-focused education (out of 50 economies) by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

With approximately 100 staff in 18 locations around the world, ENZ works closely with New Zealand’s diverse education sector, including schools, English language providers, Private Training Establishments, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics, universities, and internationally with NZ Inc agencies, Government agencies and education providers to encourage sustainable growth and identify opportunities. 

For more information on why New Zealand best place is to study and live:

https://www.studywithnewzealand.govt.nz/en 

Information Technology; Q1FY24 Preview: Muted Quarter; Macros To Weigh On Near-Term Growth

We expect IT companies to report softer revenue growth in Q1, owing to weaker discretionary spending, delay in decision-making leading to project deferrals and slower ramp-ups, and pockets of weakness – mortgage, retail, hi-tech, telcos, and increased caution by clients amid macro uncertainties. Sequential EBITM performance will largely reflect the wage hike cycle, while moderation in attrition, pyramid rationalization, operating efficiencies, freshers getting billed and favorable cross-currency would support improvement in underlying margin performance, largely negating operating leverage hit from muted growth. Deal activities, particularly in cost takeout and consolidation, have seen some uptick in last few weeks, although company-specific so far, augurs well for growth recovery. Valuation of IT stocks, particularly large caps, is not demanding; however, rerating would hinge on confidence in revenue recovery in our view. Considering the limited upside after the recent outperformance, we downgrade PSYS and BSOFT to HOLD. Our pecking order is INFO, WPRO, TECHM, HCLT and TCS in tier-1 companies; and ZOMATO, MPHL, ECLX and FSOL among mid-cap companies.

Macro uncertainties to weigh on QoQ growth: We expect softer revenue growth in Q1 due to i) Weaker discretionary spending, ii) Delay in decision-making leading to project deferrals and slower ramp-ups, and iii) Pockets of weakness – BFS, retail, hi-tech, telcos and increased caution by clients amid macro uncertainties. Within our coverage, we expect CC revenue growth of -2.3% to 1% for tier-1 companies (cross-currency tailwinds of 10-50bps on reported USD revenue) and -1.6% to 3.4% for mid-cap companies (cross-currency tailwinds of 10-100bps on reported USD revenue). We expect INFO to retain its guidance of 4-7% CC revenue growth and 21-22% EBITM for FY24. HCLT is also likely to retain its overall and services guidance of 6-8% and 6.5-8.5% CC YoY, respectively, and 18-19% EBITM for FY24. Wipro is likely to guide flat (-1 to 1%) CC QoQ revenue growth for Q2FY24. Deal intake is likely to remain healthy for a few large caps due to cost takeout and consolidation deals.

Salary hike cycle and muted growth would weigh on margin: The salary hike cycle and muted growth are expected to weigh on Q1 margins. The salary hike cycle will drag margin sequentially by 100bps, 70bps, 230bps, and 230bps for TCS, TechM, Coforge, and eClerx, respectively. Moderation in attrition, pyramid rationalization, improved operating efficiencies, billable freshers, and cross-currency tailwinds would largely offset the operating leverage hit from muted growth in the remaining companies, driving -10bps to 50bps swing for Tier-1 companies and -30bps to 40bps swing for mid-cap companies.

Key monitorables: i) Revision of FY24 revenue growth/margin guidance; ii) Demand trends in key verticals like BFSI, Retail, Manufacturing and Communications; iii) Deal intake in Q1 and deal pipeline; iv) Flow of smaller deals and discretionary spending; v)  Revenue leakage due to lack of backfill of discretionary projects; vi) Pricing environment considering macro uncertainties and deal mix shift towards cost takeouts and consolidation; vii) Variable compensation; viii) Management commentary on demand trends across geographies and update on project delay/deferral/cancellation due to macro uncertainties, and ix) Hiring plan amid slowing growth and uncertain demand outlook.

Tata Motors To Take A Marginal Price Hike On Its Passenger Vehicles From July 17, 2023

* Offers price protection on all booking till July 16, 2023

Tata Motors, India’s leading vehicle manufacturer has announced that it will increase prices of its passenger vehicles (ICE and EVs), effective July 17, 2023, on an average of 0.6% across models and variants. The price increase is to offset the residual impact of the past input costs. 

Tata Motors will offer price protection to bookings made upto July 16, 2023 and deliveries upto July 31, 2023.

For more information on the product, visit – https://cars.tatamotors.com/.

IIIT-Bangalore Spearheads 5G-Advance & 6G R&D And Product Lines Project

The International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B) has NM-ICPS project from DST, Government of India that focuses on 5G-Advance and 6G research, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), and product to promote start-ups in the niche areas of Advanced Communication Systems. IIIT-B is working with leading institutions and organizations. This strategic partnership aims to create cutting-edge research facilities equipped with the latest technology, enabling Indian researchers to lead global advancements in wireless communication.

Announcing this at a press conference on the sidelines of the 23rd Convocation ceremony at the institute campus, Prof. Debabarata Das, Director of IIIT-Bangalore, said “In IIIT-Bangalore COMET Foundation, professors in the Networking and Communication domain are actively involved in, 5G, Open Radio Access Network (ORAN), 5G-Advanced and 6G-related R&D and standardization efforts, in collaboration with premier academic institutions across the country. One of the important challenges in realizing Smart Radio Environments (SREs) using Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) is Channel Estimation which will allow us to dimension the unpredictable wireless environment. IIIT-Bangalore professors are at the forefront of developing such intelligent Channel Estimation algorithms, ML-based MAC scheduling in case of Multi Input Multi Output (MIMO) ORAN.”

Others addressing the Press Conference were Cmde. SR Sridhar, Registrar, Prof. Chandrashekar Ramanathan, Dean of Academics, Prof. Srinath Srinivasa, Dean of Research and Development, Prof. Jyotsna Bapat, Dean of Faculty, Dr Milind Gandhe, CEO of IIIT-B COMET Foundation, and Prof. TK Srikanth, Convenor of EHRC.

As the world ventures into the era of 5G and 6G wireless networks and higher frequency bands, the coverage range of traditional base stations undergoes a reduction. To address this challenge, IIIT-Bangalore is at the forefront of exploring an innovative solution called Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS). RIS holds immense potential to extend the communication range and enhance the quality of base stations, not only in 5G-Advanced but also in the forthcoming 6G networks.

RIS technology also enables the creation of Smart Radio Environments (SREs), which can be tailored to specific use cases such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Furthermore, by combining RIS technology with other futuristic advancements such as Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA), Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication, and cell-free massive MIMO systems, IIIT-Bangalore envisions significant enhancements in data rates, coverage, and energy efficiency.

Advancing RIS-Aided Communication

In addition, IIIT-Bangalore is actively engaged in the development and design of a novel prototype for RIS-aided communication. Their faculty, scientific staff, and students are collaborating with multiple institutes to create a practical RIS-aided communication system. This involves working on both algorithmic and hardware aspects, including the ORAN 5G base station. Furthermore, IIIT-B is leading efforts to establish a 5G use-case testbed lab, focusing on Urban Management and Health. This lab will serve as a learning environment for approximately 150 students and start-ups annually. It will be integrated into advanced graduate-level courses covering various topics like Mobile Computing, Wireless Communication, and Network Function Virtualization.

Driving Innovation with CADS-CODR Project

Driving Innovation with CADS-CODR Project, IIIT-B has made significant developments in the technological approach and methodology. This approach harnesses the power of Data Science and AI to implement analytical tools for policy formulation and evaluation. By utilizing evidence-based analysis of open data from diverse sources within the Government of Karnataka, IIIT-B aims to support socio-economic growth.

Tele-MANAS

The National Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) helpline of the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare that was launched on 10th October 2022, is now providing tele-mental health services through 43 Tele-Manas Cells spread across 31 States and Union Territories. The count of calls handled so far using the platform has crossed 1.7 lacs, with a daily average of more than 1000 calls being handled using the platform now. The platform’s capabilities are also being extended from voice-counselling to video-based consultations by psychiatrists through integration with the eSanjeevani national telemedicine platform. IIIT-B team and its collaborators are working on several other technological enhancements and optimizations of platform in coordination with apex centre NIMHANS and NHSRC towards expanding the coverage and scope of the services under this initiative.

About IIIT-Bangalore

IIIT-Bangalore is a premier institute focused on Post-Graduate IT education and research, located in the heart of Electronic City, Bangalore. IIIT-Bangalore is graded A+ by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). In the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for 2022, IIIT-B has secured 74th ranking. The institute was ranked number 1 among India's Best Technical Universities (Private) by India Today. IIIT-Bangalore contains state-of-the-art infrastructure, eminently qualified faculty, a vibrant alumni community, cutting-edge research facilities, and close industry collaborations. 

The institute’s specially designed courses make the students cognitive of the current technologies. Experiential learning and practices followed in the institute equip them with the tools and knowledge to solve contemporary real problems. IIIT-Bangalore has consistently achieved excellent placement records every year since its establishment in 1998, thanks to the unwavering support of the industry and the expanding pool of highly skilled alumni.

For more details, log onto https://www.IIIT-B.ac.in

Keysight Advances Software-Centric Solutions Leadership Through The Acquisition of ESI Group

* Expands Keysight’s application layer portfolio with simulation capabilities that are critical to accelerate innovation in multiple end markets including automotive 

* Enables customers to accelerate time to market and lower operational costs, while reducing their environmental footprint

* Increases Keysight’s software revenue and ARR

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) announced its intention to acquire the entire share capital of ESI Group SA (Euronext Paris Symbol: ESI) (“ESI Group”) at a price per share of 155 euros in cash. The acquisition values ESI Group’s entire share capital at 913 million euros on a fully diluted basis. Founded in 1973, ESI Group is a leading innovator of virtual prototyping solutions in automotive and aerospace end markets.

ESI Group’s sophisticated software solutions simulate a product’s behavior during testing and real-life use. The company’s portfolio is highly differentiated, with predictive simulation technology for the most challenging system designs. ESI Group’s real-time digital twin solutions combine model-driven simulation with data-driven test to create virtual simulations, and its immersive industrial solutions enable workflow automation and virtual manufacturing.

In today’s era of digital transformation, product development across many industries is shifting left in the design cycle and becoming virtualized. Computer-aided engineering supports this shift left with virtual prototyping of products, manufacturing processes, and workflows.

By bringing ESI Group into its electronic design and test portfolio, Keysight will further expand its software prototyping capabilities into computer-aided engineering, enabling customers to accelerate time to market and lower operational costs, while reducing their environmental footprint. 

Satish Dhanasekaran, President and Chief Executive Officer of Keysight, said: 

“Keysight’s acquisition of ESI Group accelerates our strategy of providing software-centric solutions with virtual prototyping and advanced simulation capabilities. Keysight and ESI Group share rich cultures of innovation and strong commitments to solving customers’ most complex challenges, which will enable value creation for all stakeholders. The Keysight team looks forward to working with the world-class talent at ESI Group to unlock opportunities and drive our combined success.”

Cristel de Rouvray, Chief Executive Officer of ESI Group, said:

“I am delighted for ESI to announce this significant milestone today with Keysight. Over the past four years, our entire team has been dedicated to transforming ESI Group into a leading actor in the industrial software and simulation sectors. This combination with Keysight is a testament to the success of the work carried out over the years and will enable ESI to enter a new phase of its development. The core values, vision, and ambition that have driven Keysight over its long and reputable history and under its current leadership are perfectly aligned with those of ESI Group: pioneers enabling innovation for industry. I trust this operation is the promise of an exciting and sustainable future.”

Transaction Structure

On June 28, 2023, Keysight made a binding offer to certain shareholders of ESI Group to acquire a controlling block of the ESI Group’s share capital and voting rights.

Once completed, Keysight will file a proposed mandatory tender offer for the remaining outstanding shares of ESI Group. If legal conditions are met at the end of the offer, a squeeze-out procedure will occur, and the ESI Group will be delisted from Euronext Paris.  

Completion of the acquisition of the controlling block of ESI shares is expected to take place during the fourth quarter of calendar year 2023, with the tender offer to occur shortly thereafter.

A presentation to supplement today's announcement can be found on Keysight's Investor Relations website under “News, Events, Presentations”.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Keysight with Paul Hastings LLP acting as legal advisor.

About ESI Group

Founded in 1973, ESI Group envisions a world where Industry commits to bold outcomes, addressing high stakes concerns - environmental impact, safety and comfort for consumers and workers, and adaptable and sustainable business models. ESI Group provides reliable and customized solutions anchored on predictive physics modeling and virtual prototyping expertise to allow industries to make the right decisions at the right time while managing their complexity. Acting principally in automotive & land transportation, aerospace, and heavy industry, ESI Group is present in more than 15 countries, employs 1,000 people around the world, and reported 2022 sales of 130 million euros. ESI is headquartered in France and is listed in compartment B of Euronext Paris.

About Keysight

At Keysight (NYSE: KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, we're delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product lifecycle. We're a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com. 

Honda Cars India Registers 5,080 Units of Domestic Sales In June 2023

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, registered monthly domestic sales of 5,080 units in June 2023. The export numbers for HCIL stood at 2,112 units in June’23.  

Sharing thoughts on the sales performance, Mr. Yuichi Murata, Director, Marketing and Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd said, “Our sales in June are in line with our projections and met our planned targets. After the global unveiling of our latest SUV for India Honda Elevate last month, we are getting overwhelming interest for the new model. We will soon commence the prelaunch booking for Elevate and it will be launched during festive season.” 

The company had registered 7,834 in domestic sales and exported 2,502 units in June’ 22.   

About Honda Cars India Ltd. 

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), a leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, was established in December 1995 with a commitment to provide Honda’s passenger car models and technologies, to the Indian customers. HCIL’s corporate office is based in Greater Noida, UP and its state-of- the-art manufacturing facility is located at Tapukara, District. Alwar, Rajasthan. 

Honda’s models are strongly associated with advanced design and technology, apart from their established qualities of durability, reliability, safety, and fuel-efficiency catering to diverse needs of its discerning buyers across different segments.  The company has a strong sales and distribution network spread across the country. 

Besides the new car business, Honda offers one stop solution for buying and selling pre-owned cars through its business function Honda Auto Terrace. The Honda Certified Pre-owned cars come with an assurance of quality and peace of mind that caters to the diverse and burgeoning needs of pre-owned car buyers across the country.