Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd Announces Q3 Results FY 2024-2025

Kansai Nerolac Paints Limited (KNPL), one of the leading Paint companies in India at the Board meeting announced its unaudited results for the third quarter of the financial year 2024-25. For the quarter, the company declared Net revenue of Rs.1842.2 Crores, a growth of 1.5 % over the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

EBITDA was at Rs.246.9 Crores, a growth of 2.9% over the same quarter of the previous year. PBT before exceptional items was at Rs.228.1 Crores, a growth of 7.2 % over the same period of the previous year. Exceptional items include Net Profit on sale of land at Lower Parel Mumbai Rs 665.4 Cr. and a provision of Rs 186.3 Cr. for impairment for its long- term investment/loan/receivables and financial guarantees in its subsidiaries in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

PAT after exceptional item was at Rs 526.5 Crores, a growth of 234 % over the same quarter of the previous year.

For the nine months net revenue was Rs.5756.3 Crores, growth of 0.4% over the same period of the previous year. EBITDA was at Rs.796.3 Crores, a growth of -5.6 % over the same period of the previous year. PBT before exceptional items was at Rs. 743.6 Crores, a growth of -2.3 % over the same period of the previous year. PAT after exceptional item was at Rs 897.8 Crores.

Commenting on the results, Mr. Anuj Jain, Managing Director, Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd said, “The company continued to see good growth in Paint+ products, projects, wood coatings and construction chemicals. Demand in Decorative was impacted due to higher inflation leading to lower spend on discretionary products and tight liquidity. We are seeing a gradual recovery in demand.

In Automotive growth was better than market, based on several internal initiatives.

Performance coatings registered strong growth due to a good order pipeline.

The various strategic initiatives undertaken have led to a better than market performance across all businesses.

EBITDA improved during the quarter over the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The improvement was driven by improvement in mix, cost optimization and control on overheads.

Going forward It is expected that the recent budget announcements will help improve the consumption cycle which would positively impact demand.”    

Kovai.co Rewards Long-Term Employees With $1.62 Million In Bonuses

One of Coimbatore’s fastest-growing SaaS companies, Kovai.co, founded by Saravana Kumar, announced a distribution of $1.62 million (Rs 14.5 crore) as bonuses to around 140 of its employees. Called the “Together We Grow” bonus, all employees who joined the company on or before 31st December 2022, will receive 50% of their gross annual salary as a bonus upon completing three years of service.

The first batch of beneficiaries, around 80, will receive their bonuses as part of their salary payouts on January 31.

Kovai.co, based in the UK and India, announced the Together We Grow bonus to all existing and new employees in 2022, to share the company’s profits with its workforce. “I have always believed that employees who contribute to the company’s success and profits must be rewarded. It has also been my dream to come up with ways to share and distribute wealth,” said CEO and founder Saravana Kumar.

Saravana Kumar shared that when they were considering ways to reward employees or give them a share of the profits, they initially explored alternatives. “We considered employee stock ownership plans or shares. But that is ‘paper money’ that is not realized unless the company raises external capital or decides to list its shares”, he added.

The company chose to provide the reward in cash, allowing employees to use it as they see fit. “People can use it to close a loan, put a down payment on a house, or invest in anything they want or really need,” he said.

Kovai.co is a B2B multi-product enterprise SaaS company with three products in its portfolio—BizTalk360, Document360, and Turbo360. Their products are used by 2,500+ customers worldwide. The bootstrapped company crossed $16 million ARR in 2023. The 260+ people strong company has offices in London, UK, Chennai, and Coimbatore.

The company was also recently in the spotlight after acquiring the Bangalore-based company Floik.

Embassy Group Becomes India’s First Residential Developer To Revolutionize Marketing With Mixed Reality Innovation

Embassy Group, India’s leading real estate developer, has redefined property marketing by becoming the first real estate brand in the country to integrate mixed reality (MR) technology into its campaigns. This pioneering innovation debuts with the launch of The Signature Residences at Embassy Lake Terraces, a limited collection of just 20 ultra-luxurious sky villas in simplex and duplex formats.

The Embassy Group's pioneering use of MR technology in the campaign transforms the traditional print ad experience into an immersive journey. Prospective buyers can scan the ad using their mobile devices to virtually step inside these opulent residences, exploring their expansive living spaces and stunning vistas. This innovative approach underscores Embassy's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance the customer experience, setting a precedent for the real estate industry in India.

Nestled within Embassy Lake Terraces in Hebbal—one of Bangalore's most prestigious addresses—The Signature Residences embody villa grandeur intertwined with the ease of high-rise living. Crafted as statement homes, these exquisite residences promise unparalleled privacy, bespoke services, and timeless elegance. Residents will enjoy proximity to key business hubs, educational institutions, retail destinations, and Kempegowda International Airport.

The campaign for Signature Residences will span digital platforms, OOH advertising, exclusive print collaborations, and high-profile PR outreach. The initiative also includes exclusive on-ground events for HNIs, offering a first-hand experience of Embassy Group's unmatched expertise in luxury living.

Links to campaign - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/embassy-group_embassygroup-embassyresidential-futurefirst-activity-7285999850553229312-lR0l?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/embassyresidential_embassyresidential-embassylaketerraces-thesignatureresidences-ugcPost-7287076860159574016-RKP3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

About Embassy Group

Embassy Group is a leading real estate developer. The over 85 million square feet of commercial, residential, industrial and warehousing, hospitality, services, retail, and education spaces we have delivered emphasise high standards of quality, world-class services, environmental management, and safety. Founded in 1993, our operations now span the Indian and international markets of Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Pune, the NCR, and Serbia, amongst others. Our 53 million square feet of ready and ongoing residential developments encompass branded residences, uber-luxury villas, exclusive villaments, sky condominiums, integrated developments, senior living, and contemporary homes. Embassy is a sponsor of India’s first publicly listed and Asia Pacific’s largest Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). We strive to build a resilient ecosystem and proactively foster the social, economic, and environmental developments of the communities we work in.

JLR Open Innovation Hub Kicks-Off India Startups Engagement With Bangalore Event

Co-hosted with the new Plug and Play Mobility platform, 300 invitees came together to celebrate the launch of JLR’s Open Innovation Hub in India

The day included some of the country’s disruptive startups, as well as speakers and panellists from across the mobility and technology sectors

The event was a key milestone in JLR’s Open Innovation program, which has already engaged with over 2,500 startups globally, resulting in 33 formal collaborations

Bangalore, India, 5 February 2025: JLR’s Open Innovation Hub in India has begun engagement with the country’s startups at an event in Bangalore, urging them to join its new “globally connected community in India”. 

Co-hosted with the Plug and Play Mobility platform, the event saw 300 invitees across startups, industry, government, investors, academia, and more meet on 30 January 2025 at the Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel. They celebrated the launch of the Open Innovation Hub, heard from industry speakers, and met a range of innovative startups focused on technologies across mobility. 

The event was a key milestone in JLR’s Open Innovation program, which has already engaged with over 2,500 startups globally, resulting in 33 formal collaborations. The day included some of India’s disruptive startups – including Oorja Energy, Swapp Design, HYD-GENRC LABs, Compredict, RabBan Control Solutions – and highlighted three in particular:

e-TRNL Energy, which is building next-gen Lithium-ion battery systems with a novel cell architecture that allows higher efficiency, better storage, faster charging, and a longer cycle life.

Cynlr, a visual object intelligence platform that enables industrial robotic arms to see, understand and manipulate any object in random unstructured environments.

Swaayatt Robots, which is developing autonomous driving technology that works in dynamic traffic situations, and in both structured and unstructured environmental conditions.

Meanwhile, speakers on subjects like automotive innovation, corporate and startup collaboration, and venture capital included Ravi Arora, Senior Vice President, Group Innovation at Tata Sons; Thomas Mueller, Executive Director, Product Engineering at JLR; Sobhan Khani, Partner at Plug and Play; and Michael Smeed, Managing Director at InMotion Ventures, JLR’s Corporate Venture Capital arm. They appeared alongside panellists from a range of automotive sector businesses and innovation leaders.

Keynote speaker, JLR’s Thomas Mueller, said: “With a wealth of talent and skills in deep-tech solutions, India is a breeding ground for disruptive ideas in sustainability, electrification and connected technologies. That is why our Open Innovation program is here, and I was hugely inspired by the ideas and engagement in the room.”

Lalitha Indrakanti, CEO at JLR Technology & Business Services India (TBSI), who led the event and a panel discussion, added: “We want to tap into India’s deep ecosystem for new mobility and sustainability solutions that help us deliver our next generation vehicles. This event was the perfect way to announce our intentions and meet a host of Indian startups to begin collaboration. 

“Alongside Plug and Play, we are building a globally connected community in India, and we intend the relationships from this event to continue in the coming years. I am excited to see what we’ll create together in the future.”

Sobhan Khani, Partner at Plug and Play, said: “India’s dynamic startup ecosystem is a powerhouse of innovation, and this collaboration between Plug and Play and JLR’s Open Innovation Hub marks an exciting step forward. By connecting disruptive startups with global mobility leaders, we aim to accelerate groundbreaking solutions that will shape the future of mobility and sustainability.” 

Building on the success of the JLR’s existing innovation hubs in the UK, US, Israel, and Brazil, the India Hub is focused on deep tech including artificial intelligence (AI), big data and analytics, internet of things (IoT), ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) and sensors and devices. 

About Reimagine

JLR’s Reimagine strategy aims to deliver a sustainability-rich vision of modern luxury by design.

We are transforming our business with the aim to become carbon net zero across our supply chain, products, and operations by 2039.

Electrification is central to our strategy and before the end of the decade our brands will each have a pure electric model, while Jaguar will be entirely electric. 

The flexibility of our world-leading powertrain technologies means we can continue to offer hybrid and ICE vehicles in our ranges as we begin to roll out full BEV options, to match demand in the global transition to electric. 

At heart we are a British company, with two design and engineering sites, two vehicle manufacturing facilities, a components and finishing facility, an electric propulsion manufacturing centre, and a battery assembly centre in the UK. We also have vehicle plants in China (joint venture), Slovakia, India, and Brazil, as well as seven technology hubs across the globe.  

JLR is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors Limited, part of Tata Sons.

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we're present in 60+ locations across five continents. 

We offer corporate innovation programs and help our corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. 

We also organize startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where we've invested in hundreds of successful companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi. 

For more information, visit https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/ 

Ushering In A New Era Of Learning With Great Learning’s AI Mentor

* AI Mentor delivers 24/7 doubt resolution, hints for tackling coding challenges and conducts mock interviews with personalised feedback

* AI Teacher enables highly personalised and impactful learning mapped to each learner’s context and ability

* These AI innovations will pave the way for quality education to become more accessible to millions of learners

Great Learning, a global leader in professional learning and upskilling, is leveraging AI to chart the next phase of its growth with the launch of AI Mentor and AI Teacher. These breakthrough AI innovations are set to transform the overall digital learning experience, making high-quality education personalised, accessible, affordable and scalable for learners worldwide.

With the AI Mentor, every learner gets their own personal learning coach to support them through their learning journey at every step. It delivers an uninterrupted learning experience with 24/7 doubt resolution, and step-by-step guidance while working on projects. If a learner gets stuck while coding, the AI Mentor provides real-time coding support by dropping intelligent hints to nudge them towards the correct solution without revealing the answer directly. It also makes them job-ready through AI-driven mock interviews to simulate real-world job interview scenarios, which help learners build their confidence to crack interviews.

Since its rollout across select cohorts of learners over the past few months, the AI Mentor has made a significant impact, with over 400,000 coding hints generated, 130,000 learner queries resolved, and 300+ mock interviews conducted.

The AI Teacher, a breakthrough innovation, ensures a highly personalised, and interactive learning experience. It customises the lessons based on learners' context, evaluates their understanding, identifies knowledge gaps, and provides valuable feedback on their progress—just like a great human teacher would. This is all in addition to the guidance and mentorship from industry experts & faculty that learners already have access to as part of Great Learning’s ‘Mentored learning’ model.

The company also announced that all their AI powered learning enablements will come under the umbrella brand ‘Glaide’ - a combination of ‘GL’ (Great Learning), ‘AI’ and ‘aide’ - which is the true essence of what it delivers.

Commenting on the launch, Mohan Lakhamraju, Founder & CEO of Great Learning, said: “Our singular focus has always been on delivering exceptional learning outcomes.

We were the first to bring together the best of classroom and online education in 2013, and the first globally to introduce online mentored learning in 2017 —combining the flexibility of self-learning with the power of expert human guidance to drive real outcomes at scale. However, great teachers are few and most learners never get to experience the magic of learning from them. This is what we are trying to solve using AI. We are leveraging AI to bring that same magic of great teachers to everyone. As AI advances further, we will continue to push boundaries, making high-quality education more accessible, affordable, and impactful for learners everywhere.”

Over the coming months and years, Great Learning will roll out its AI-powered learning experiences to newer and larger audiences. As AI permeates through all aspects of our professional and personal lives, Great Learning aspires to be the trusted source of learning for everyone to navigate this transformation.

About Great Learning

Great Learning is a leading global EdTech company for professional learning and higher education. It offers comprehensive, industry-relevant, hands-on learning programs across various business, technology, and interdisciplinary domains driving the digital economy. These programs are developed and offered in collaboration with the world's foremost academic institutions in various formats including certificate programs, diplomas and degrees. The Great Learning platform enables the highly qualified, world-class faculty at these universities together with its vast network of 7500+ industry expert mentors to deliver an unmatched learning experience for over 12 million learners from over 170 countries around the world.

Kendriya Vidyalaya And Tetra Pak Create A Replicable Model Eco-Conscious Classroom

PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya Malleswaram, in collaboration with Tetra Pak, has unveiled a pioneering initiative to establish a model sustainable classroom, demonstrating the potential of recycling in everyday life.

As part of this initiative, PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya Malleswaram has created a newly refurbished classroom featuring 25 sets of desks, cupboards, blackboards, and other essential furniture, all crafted from recycled beverage cartons, like the ones made using Tetra Pak’s packaging material. This project exemplifies how sustainable practices can be seamlessly integrated into education while promoting environmental responsibility

Shri Anil Kumar, Principal, PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya, Malleswaram, shared the school’s excitement: “This partnership with Tetra Pak has positioned our school as a model for environmental consciousness. The overwhelmingly positive response, including interest from other Kendriya Vidyalayas, underscores the importance of integrating sustainability into learning spaces. This initiative is more than just a classroom transformation—it’s shaping responsible, environmentally conscious citizens of tomorrow.”

Cassio Simoes, Managing Director, Tetra Pak South Asia, highlighted the broader impact: “At Tetra Pak, we believe that true environmental sustainability is about creating a tangible, lasting impact on communities and future generations. This initiative is an example of our commitment to advancing environmental responsibility while empowering young minds. We had committed to donate 1000 recycled products to the community in a year, and we are delighted that PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya Malleswaram is one of them.”

The model school project was implemented with the support of AARC (Action Alliance for Recycling beverage Cartons)- an industry alliance that represents the voice of the beverage cartons industry, and RUR Greenlife – a Mumbai-based social enterprise working in the area of environmental education. As part of the inauguration, a two-hour workshop on sustainability and carton recycling was conducted by RUR Greenlife to educate the students about the importance of recycling and responsible waste management.

Tetra Pak cartons are paper-based, recyclable, and increasingly being recycled through a robust ecosystem nurtured by Tetra Pak over the last 20 years, working closely with various stakeholders such as urban local governments, NGOs, brand owners, academia, and consumers.  The used beverage cartons are collected and recycled into various materials like paper, waterproof poly-aluminium, or panel boards which are then turned into useful items like classroom furniture for disadvantaged schools, roofing sheets, notebooks, seats & backrests for commercial vehicles and more. Today, Tetra Pak’s collection network covers 26 States & Union Territories. This network is actively supported by 30 collection partners, 15 Indian Army contingents, and 8 recyclers across the country.

About PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya, Malleswaram, Bengaluru

Kendriya Vidyalaya, Malleswaram founded on 4th July, 1965, from a modest and quiet beginning has spiraled up and its position is iconic in Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan.

Committed to total quality in Education, PM SHRI KV Malleswaram has a strength of 1580 students and 63 dedicated staff in first shift, 840 students and 36 staff in second shift with all infrastructural facilities. The school under Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan aims for excellence in the field of education promoting national integration and a sense of ”Indianness” among the children while ensuring their total personality development and academic excellence.

About Tetra Pak

Tetra Pak is a global leader in food processing and packaging solutions, ensuring safe and nutritious food reaches millions in over 160 countries. With a strong commitment to sustainability, the company continually innovates to protect food, people, and the planet through impactful community programs and advanced recycling initiatives.

With over 24,000 employees worldwide, Tetra Pak remains dedicated to making food safe and available, everywhere, while upholding its promise to protect what’s good: food, people, and the planet.

More information about Tetra Pak is available at www.tetrapak.com.

Rolls-Royce Unveils The Ghost Series II In The Indian Market

·         Rolls-Royce unveils The Ghost Series II in India: the most technologically advanced and driver-focused V12 Rolls-Royce yet. Ghost Series II is now available to order at Rolls -Royce’s Chennai and New Delhi Showrooms.

·         New exterior styling is an impactful evolution of Ghost’s foundational design

·         Built with driving at its heart, including an uncompromising twin-turbocharged engine

·         Incorporates Planar Suspension system, Flagbearer, and Satellite Aided Transmission systems that underpin the driver-oriented chassis

·         Integrates new SPIRIT digital interface and Whispers private members app

·         Enhanced audio system, internet connectivity, and video streaming functions

·         Ghost Extended Series II represents an even greater canvas for creativity

·         Black Badge Ghost Series II and Ghost Series II Extended are available to commission from launch

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ latest evolution of its most popular nameplate in history, Ghost Series II, is now available in India. A powerful, driver-oriented and elegant rendition, the subtle evolution of Ghost's monolithic and self-assured external appearance serves as a potent stage for Bespoke commissions. To extend their choices, clients now have access to interior finishes and features never previously available on Ghost, as well as advanced software technologies that see Bespoke enter the digital world.

“Our clients truly appreciate Ghost’s handling capabilities and its potential for Bespoke. Ghost Series II remains faithful to its principles, yet it elevates every aspect of its presence. It is the most technologically advanced and driver-focused V12 Rolls-Royce ever created, and its self-assured appearance serves as a potent stage for creatively daring commissions – making it the perfect driver-focused touring machine. The marque reaffirmed its position as a highly desirable luxury brand in India, with the market expanding by almost a-third in 2024. With Ghost Series II now available in India, I believe clients will be excited to create ever more ambitious and valuable motor cars.” Irene Nikkein, Regional Director Asia-Pacific, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

ALL THREE EXPRESSIONS OF GHOST SERIES II NOW AVAILABLE IN INDIA

Ghost Series II, Black Badge Ghost Series II and Ghost Extended Series II are now available to order at Rolls-Royce’s Chennai and New Delhi showrooms.

Rolls-Royce pricing is dependent on client specification. Prices start from:

Ghost Series II – Rs.8,95,00,000

Ghost Extended Series II – Rs. 10,19,00,000

Black Badge Ghost Series II – Rs. 10,52,00,000