Author: Neel Achary

Cosmo First reports Q4, FY25 and FY24-25 results

Mumbai, 21st May 2025: Cosmo First Limited today declared its financial results for the quarter and year ended March 2025.

Q4, FY25 EBIDTA is backed by higher specialty sales and better BOPP & BOPET film margins. The EBITDA would have been better but for one-time non-recurring cost of Rs 4.3 crores for thermal line shifting from Korea to India (bringing in 10 crores annual efficiencies) and 10% lower volume of BOPET film due to planned shutdown.

FY25 EBITDA is higher primarily due to higher specialty sales (10% growth vs PY), cost rationalization of about Rs 25 crores, better BOPP and BOPET films margins and improved performance of specialty chemical subsidiary.

The Company has invested 1,180 crores in the last 3 years (including 502 crores in the last year) in multiple growth projects including BOPP, CPP & Polyester lines, Metallizers, Coating lines, Window / PPF films, Zigly and Rigid Packaging) and these will yield a significant ramp up in revenue as well as profitability in the next 2 to 3 years.

Cast Polypropylene Line (CPP) with an annual capacity of 22K Mt has started operations from March 2025 while Sunshield films from May 2025. The Company has successfully done pilot runs with 50+ distributors, who are going to distribute both Sunshield films and Paint Protection films. The BOPP line having annual capacity of 81k Mt p.a. is also expected to start operations from Q1, FY26.

The Specialty Chemical subsidiary has achieved high teens EBITDA with topline of Rs 180 crores in FY25.

The Board of Directors had recommended dividend of Rs.4 per equity share for the financial year FY 24-25 subject to approval of shareholders in annual general meeting.

Commenting on Company’s performance Mr. Pankaj Poddar, Group CEO, Cosmo First Ltd said “The Company’s focus will be taking full leverage of the new investments, grow specialty film sales, expand in international geographies and push down costs. The new film lines are the most cost-efficient and should make Cosmo more competitive in the market. Specialty Chemicals is already earning healthy ROCE. In Zigly, we are expecting profitable growth in services (including Vet and Grooming). Our focus shall continue to be on expanding services particularly Vet care services as well as launch Private labels to improve margins on Product Sales.”

5 Upskilling Platforms to Accelerate Your Career Growth

In today’s fast-evolving job market, staying relevant means constantly learning and adapting. Whether you’re aiming for a promotion, switching careers, or simply expanding your skill set, the right upskilling platform can make all the difference. Here’s a curated list of the top 5 upskilling platforms that are helping professionals like you accelerate career growth and stay ahead of the curve.

• NextLeap – NextLeap is a fast-growing startup in the workforce skilling segment, revolutionizing career transitions for early career professionals in India. Founded with the mission to bridge the gap between traditional education and real-world skills, NextLeap offers bootcamp-style Fellowship programs designed to help individuals break into new age technology roles in Product Management, UX Design, Data Analytics and Software Engineering. Since its inception in 2021, NextLeap has empowered over 15,000+ learners to successfully transition into technology careers, thanks to a curriculum rooted in hands-on learning, mentorship from industry leaders, and a strong focus on job placement. What sets NextLeap apart is its focus on outcomes led learning delivered at an affordable cost via an AI enabled full stack technology platform. NextLeap has been voted as one of the Top 100 Edtech startups in South Asia by HolonIQ in 2022 and has since established itself as a trusted learning platform driven for career advancement in India’s tech landscape.
• UpGrad – UpGrad is one of India’s most prominent online education platforms, offering industry-relevant programs in collaboration with top global universities like IIT Madras, IIIT Bangalore, and Deakin University. With a focus on career transition and professional growth, upGrad provides courses in data science, digital marketing, software development, management, and more. The platform emphasizes outcome-driven learning, combining live lectures, mentorship, and placement support, making it a go-to choice for working professionals.
• TeamLease Edtech – TeamLease EdTech is India’s leading Learning and Employability solution company. It helps Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) launch, run and manage their own Online/ODL Programs, improve the employability of their students through its apprenticeship programs and helps employers build talent supply chains along with improving employee productivity. Through its cloud-hosted, mobile-first, managed services platform, TL Edtech provides a wide range of services – enrollment, learning, upskilling, apprenticeships, student support and assessment – helping customers improve access and learning outcomes. TeamLease EdTech has exclusive partnerships with over 60 of India’s largest Universities and Premier Institutions across 16 Indian states, and it trains 7 Lakh students on its platform through 9 Indian languages, works with 1200 corporates in their upskilling/skilling initiatives and manages over 200 degree, diploma, certificate programs
• Simplilearn- Simplilearn delivers high-quality online bootcamps and certification programs in digital skills such as cloud computing, AI/ML, project management, and cybersecurity. Partnered with global names like Purdue University, IBM, and Microsoft, the platform is popular among mid-career professionals looking to upgrade their technical and managerial skills. Simplilearn’s blended learning model — combining live classes, labs, and capstone projects — ensures that learners gain both theoretical and practical proficiency.
• Great Learning – Great Learning is an edtech platform in India for postgraduate programs and certificate courses in high-demand fields like analytics, AI, data science, cloud, and business management. Collaborating with top institutions like Stanford, MIT, and IIT Madras, it caters to early- and mid-career professionals. The platform offers personalized mentorship, hands-on projects, and career support, enabling learners to build job-ready skills and gain industry-recognized credentials.

Cellecor Gadgets Limited set to launch Premium QLED Smart TV Range in May 2025

New Delhi, May 20th, 2025 – Cellecor Gadgets Limited, one of India’s fastest-growing consumer electronics brands, has launched its premium range of QLED Smart TVs, marking a significant leap in its television portfolio and reinforcing its commitment to delivering immersive, next-generation home entertainment experiences.

Launched in May 2025, the QLED Smart TV range is available in sizes of 32″, 43″, 50″, 55″, and 65″. This range offers vibrant picture quality, elegant design, and an intuitive smart interface catering to the growing demand for high-performance TVs among discerning Indian consumers. With this launch, Cellecor provides a compelling combination of advanced technology and value-driven pricing in the premium TV segment.

The QLED Smart TV range is now available across Cellecor’s nationwide retail footprint, including its exclusive brand stores.

“Cellecor is committed to transforming everyday living through technology that’s intuitive, impactful, and proudly Made in India,” said Ravi Agarwal, Founder & Managing Director of Cellecor Gadgets Ltd. “With our QLED Smart TV range, we’ve brought cinema-quality viewing into Indian living rooms making premium entertainment more accessible than ever before.”

This launch significantly strengthens Cellecor’s position in the television category, enhances brand perception in the premium segment, and attracts a new audience seeking sophisticated entertainment solutions. It also supports the brand’s broader strategy to become a comprehensive, trusted name in smart lifestyle technology.

Rosero Group Unveils Rosero Elena The Ongoing Project Redefining Luxury Living After the Resounding Success of Roseate Homes

Rosero Group, a trusted name in the real estate sector, proudly announces the successful completion and delivery of Roseate Homes, a premium residential development that has redefined modern living. Following this remarkable achievement, the group is set to introduce Rosero Elena – an ongoing project that embodies the pinnacle of luxury, innovation, and architectural excellence.

Founded by Amit Dua and Inderjeet Singh Kalra, Rosero Group has earned a reputation for delivering meticulously designed residential spaces that reflect superior quality and sophistication. With Roseate Homes receiving widespread acclaim, Rosero Elena – the ongoing project is poised to become a landmark of contemporary living, offering an elite lifestyle to discerning homeowners.

“With Roseate Homes, our vision was to craft an extraordinary living experience by blending modernity with comfort. With Rosero Elena – our ongoing project, we are pushing the boundaries of luxury, introducing a development that epitomizes elegance, convenience, and excellence in every aspect,” said Amit Dua, Founder, Rosero Group.

“At Rosero Group, we don’t just construct buildings; we create thriving communities that enhance lives. Rosero Elena – the ongoing project, will be a testament to this commitment, offering an unparalleled fusion of opulence and functionality,” added Inderjeet Singh Kalra, Founder, Rosero Group.

Rosero Elena – The Ongoing Project Ushering in a New Era of Luxury

Strategically located in a prime area, Rosero Elena – the ongoing project is meticulously designed to provide a superior living experience, featuring:

Architectural Brilliance: Thoughtfully designed residences with modern aesthetics and spacious layouts.

World-Class Amenities: Landscaped gardens, wellness zones, and state-of-the-art recreational facilities.

Unmatched Connectivity: Easy access to key city hubs, business districts, and essential infrastructure.

“Rosero Elena – our ongoing project, is not just a residential development; it is a statement of luxury and forward-thinking design. Every detail has been carefully curated to offer an unparalleled lifestyle, making it one of the most sought-after addresses in the region,” said Shubham Bedi, Business Unit Head, Rosero Group.

With an unwavering focus on customer satisfaction and excellence, Rosero Group continues to shape the future of urban living by developing homes that seamlessly blend luxury, functionality, and sustainability.

Roseate Homes – A Successfully Delivered Benchmark of Modern Living

The successful completion of Roseate Homes stands as a testament to Rosero Group’s dedication to quality and customer-centric development. This premium residential project, known for its architectural finesse and world-class amenities, has raised the bar for contemporary living and cemented the group’s position as a market leader.

Nestling Wood An Ongoing Project Setting New Standards

Alongside Rosero Elena – the ongoing project, Rosero Group is also developing Nestling Wood an ongoing project designed to integrate sustainability with luxury. With its eco-friendly design, green spaces, and smart living solutions, Nestling Wood promises to offer a distinctive residential experience tailored for modern homeowners.

MyDesignation Onboards ITW Playworx as Strategic Communications Partner

National, India– 20th May 2025: ITW Playworx, the global brand solutions arm of ITW Universe, has been roped in as the strategic communications partner for MyDesignation, a rising D2C fashion and lifestyle brand. This collaboration aims to elevate MyDesignation’s brand story and forge deeper, more impactful connections with its audience through sharp, insight-driven communication strategies.

Under this mandate, ITW Playworx will develop and implement a holistic PR strategy for MyDesignation, using creative and forward-thinking methods to boost the brand’s visibility. In parallel, ITW Universe will collaborate closely with MyDesignation’s marketing team to expand the brand’s reach through strategic outdoor (OOH) campaigns and sports marketing, and other branding platforms, delivering a cohesive and powerful brand presence.

Swaroop Krishnan, Co-founder & CEO, added, “Our journey from Thiruvananthapuram to the national stage has been powered by authenticity, bold creativity, and solid business fundamentals. Teaming up with ITW Playworx is a strategic move to amplify this momentum. Their expertise in media and storytelling will help us cultivate a brand voice that speaks to India’s identity-driven youth as we scale across the country.”

Commenting on the partnership, Sidharth Ghosh, CEO of ITW Playworx, said, “MyDesignation is a great example of how powerful storytelling can build a bold brand. Their journey from local to capturing the national spotlight reflects the spirit of new-age India. At ITW Playworx, we’re excited to bring our strategic and creative ideas to help shape their next chapter.

Speaking on the association, Bhairav Shanth, Co-Founder, ITW Universe, said, “We’re excited to join hands with a dynamic, new-age brand like MyDesignation that’s redefining fashion from the grassroots level. In today’s fast-evolving consumer landscape, brands need integrated, multi-channel strategies to break through and build lasting impact. Alongside the work led by ITW Playworx, we’re bringing a robust 360-degree approach, spanning digital, OOH, sports marketing, and more to elevate MyDesignation’s presence and connect with the next generation of fashion-forward consumers across India.”

With this association, ITW Playworx aims to position MyDesignation as more than just a fashion label, establishing it as a cultural movement that resonates deeply with India’s youth and their desire for self-expression through style.

Thales Report: 70% in India Cite AI Ecosystem as Top GenAI Security Risk

Thales today announced the release of the 2025 Thales Data Threat Report, its annual report on the latest data security threats, trends, and emerging topics based on a survey conducted by S&P Global Market Intelligence 451 Research of more than 3,100 IT and security professionals in 20 countries across 15 industries. This year’s report found that nearly 70% of organisations in India view the fast-moving ecosystem as the most concerning GenAI security risk, followed by lack of integrity (66%) and trustworthiness (55%).

The 2025 Thales Data Threat Report results reveal a major focus on the transformative impact of AI, especially GenAI, which relies heavily on high-quality, sensitive data for functions like training, inference, and content generation. As agentic AI emerges, ensuring data quality becomes even more critical for enabling sound decision-making and actions by AI systems. Many organisations across the world are already adopting GenAI, with a third of respondents indicating it is either being integrated or is actively transforming their operations.

Organisations Embrace GenAI, Taking on Greater Security Risks Amid Rapid Adoption

As GenAI introduces complex data security challenges and offers strategic opportunities to strengthen defences, its growing integration marks a shift among organisations from experimentation to more mature, operational deployment. While most respondents said rapid adoption of GenAI is their top security concern, respondents in the more advanced stages of AI adoption aren’t waiting to fully secure their systems or optimise their tech stacks before forging ahead. Because the drive to achieve rapid transformation often outweighs efforts to strengthen organisational readiness, these organisations may be inadvertently creating their own biggest security vulnerabilities.

“The fast-evolving GenAI landscape is pressuring enterprises to move quickly, sometimes at the cost of caution, as they race to stay ahead of the adoption curve,” Eric Hanselman, Chief Analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence 451 Research, said. “Many enterprises are deploying GenAI faster than they can fully understand their application architectures, compounded by the rapid spread of SaaS tools embedding GenAI capabilities, adding layers of complexity and risk.”

In India, 72% of respondents report investing in GenAI-specific security tools, with 16% using newly allocated budget. Globally, those prioritising AI security are diversifying their approaches: over two-thirds have acquired tools from their cloud providers, three in five are leveraging established security vendors, and nearly half are turning to new or emerging startups. Notably, security for generative AI has quickly risen as a top spending priority, securing the second spot in ranked-choice voting, just behind cloud security. This shift underscores the growing recognition of AI-driven risks and the need for specialised defences to mitigate them.

Data Breaches Show Modest Decline, Though Threats Remain Elevated

While data breaches remain a significant concern, their frequency has slightly decreased over the past few years. In 2021, 56% of surveyed enterprises across the world reported experiencing a breach, but that figure has dropped to 45% in 2025. Additionally, the percentage of respondents reporting a breach within the last 12 months has fallen from 23% in 2021 to just 14% in 2025. In India, 11% of respondents reported experiencing a data breach recently.

Globally, malware continues to lead as the most prevalent threat, maintaining its top position since 2021. Phishing climbed to second place, overtaking ransomware, which now ranks third. When it comes to the most concerning threat actors, external sources dominate—hacktivists hold the top spot, followed by nation-state actors. Human error, while still significant, has dropped to third, down one position from the previous year.

Vendors Pressed on Post-Quantum Readiness as Encryption Strategies Are Reassessed

The 2025 Thales Data Threat Report reveals that most organisations are increasingly concerned about quantum-related security risks. The top threat, cited by 68% of respondents in India, is future encryption compromise—the risk that quantum computers could eventually break current or future encryption algorithms, exposing data once considered secure. Close behind, 56% identified key distribution vulnerabilities, where quantum advancements could undermine the secure exchange of encryption keys. Additionally, 58% highlighted the “harvest now, decrypt later” (HNDL) threat, where encrypted data intercepted today could be decrypted in the future. In response, 55% of organisations in India are prototyping or evaluating post-quantum cryptography (PQC) solutions, and 49% are assessing their encryption strategies. Only 40% are placing their trust in telecom or cloud providers to manage the transition.

“The clock is ticking on post-quantum readiness. It’s encouraging that three out of five organisations are already prototyping new ciphers, but deployment timelines are tight and falling behind could leave critical data exposed,” Todd Moore, Global Vice President, Data Security Products at Thales, said. “Even with clear timelines for transitioning to PQC algorithms, the pace of encryption change has been slower than expected due to a mix of legacy systems, complexity, and the challenge of balancing innovation with security.”

While this year’s survey results indicate improvements in security posture, much more is needed to elevate operational data security to fully support the capabilities of emerging technologies such as GenAI and to pave the way for future innovations.

Bansal Wire Q4 FY25 net profit surges 36% to Rs 331 Mn

20^th May, 2025, Mumbai:

Bansal Wire Industries Limited, country’s largest stainless steel wire manufacturing company and second largest steel wire manufacturing company by volume, reported 36 % year-on-year jump in net profit to ₹ 331 Mn for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2025. The Company’s revenue for Q4 FY25 rose 33 % YoY to ₹ 9,402 Mn; while EBITDA grew to ₹ 747 Mn, up 59 % YoY.

For the full year ended March 31, 2025, the Company’s net profit was at ₹ 1,464 Mn, up 95 % YoY. Revenue for the period stood at ₹ 35,072 Mn, growing 42 % YoY; while EBITDA rose 86 % to ₹ 2,782 Mn.

The Company has announced approx. ₹6,000 million investment in a greenfield project in Sanand, Gujarat, comprising capacity of approx. 1.8 lakh-tonne induction-based steel plant and a 60,000-tonne low-carbon and stainless steel wire facility. With 42 acres of land acquired near Tata Nagar Manufacturing plant for ₹800 – ₹900 million, the project is expected to be completed by September 2027. This initiative will support backward integration by importing steel scrap for steel production to support wire manufacturing.

Consolidated Q4 & FY25 Financial Highlights (₹ in Mn)

Commenting on the performance, Mr. Pranav Bansal, MD & CEO, Bansal Wire Industries Limited said, We stand at an exciting milestone, poised to unlock the next phase of growth and opportunity. The past year has been truly transformative — marked by a successful IPO and the commissioning of our new, state-of-the-art plant dedicated to value-added products. These milestones have laid a strong foundation and created a robust launchpad for the journey ahead. The consolidation of all our businesses under a single brand has not only sharpened our strategic focus but also significantly strengthened our leadership position in the Indian steel wire industry.

 Today, the company operates through five manufacturing facilities with a combined installed capacity of 560kt. The recently commissioned 300kt expansion at our Dadri plant is progressing well through its ramp-up phase, and an additional 120kt is expected to come on stream by the first half of FY26. Our emphasis remains firmly on enhancing the share of value-added products, even as we continue to capture market share and solidify our position higher up the value chain in a highly fragmented industry landscape.

 We are pushing boundaries, embracing new opportunities, and shaping an exciting future. We look forward to all that we will accomplish together.”

The Company recently unveiled its largest cutting-edge facility in Dadri, envisioned as one of the most advanced and sustainable wire manufacturing units in the country. With a current production capacity of 3 lakh MTPA, the facility is poised to scale up to 4.2 lakh MTPA by H1 FY26. BWIL’s total infrastructure is capable of supporting up to 6.80 Lakh MTPA.