Author: Rabindra

Kolmar Korea Teams Up with Amazon to Support Global Expansion of K-beauty Companies

Tuesday, July 9, Seoul, South Korea : Kolmar Korea (KRX: 161890) joins forces with Amazon, the world’s leading e-commerce platform, to support the successful global market entry of K-beauty brands.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240708461379/en/

Sang-hyun Yoon, Vice President of Kolmar Group, delivers welcoming remark at the Amazon K-Beauty Conference Seller Day (Image: Kolmar Korea)
Sang-hyun Yoon, Vice President of Kolmar Group, delivers welcoming remark at the Amazon K-Beauty Conference Seller Day (Image: Kolmar Korea)

Kolmar Korea announced that it has jointly hosted the ‘Amazon K-Beauty Conference Seller Day’ with Amazon on June 27 at the InterContinental Hotel in Seoul.

The event was attended by about 1,500 individuals, including officials from Korean beauty brands as well as those from the distribution and manufacturing sectors, both online and offline. Key attendees included Sang-hyun Yoon, Vice President of Kolmar Group; Hyun-gyu Choi, CEO of Kolmar Korea; Jim Yang, Executive Vice President of Amazon Global Selling Asia Pacific (APAC); and Yuki Suita, Head of Consumer Beauty Business at Amazon Japan.

In his welcome speech, Sang-hyun Yoon explained the event’s purpose. He said, “This event, organized by Kolmar and Amazon, is more than just a business partnership. It aims to spread the innovation and value of K-beauty globally. We hope this event will be a cornerstone in exploring global opportunities for K-beauty and sharing detailed strategies for implementation.”

The event came as K-beauty is gaining a great popularity on Amazon, and both companies want to actively support Korean beauty companies’ entry into the global market.

K-beauty is so popular that sales of K-beauty products on Amazon’s global store rose more than 75% last year. Kolmar Korea is leading this trend by securing new contracts with 253 customers, predominantly indie brands, marking a 48.7% increase from the previous year. The two companies plan to keep identifying standout brands that drive global market trends with compelling concepts and innovative technologies.

At the event, Kolmar Korea established a large-scale booth showcasing skin care, makeup, sun care, and cosmetic packages. They also provided customized consultations for the global cosmetics business. Moreover, Sang-Keun Han, Vice Director of Kolmar Korea R&D Complex, delivered a lecture titled ‘Deeply Grounded Confidence: The Competitiveness of Korean Cosmetics.’

A representative from Kolmar Korea said, “This event is significant as it marks the inaugural collaboration between Kolmar Korea, a global cosmetics ODM company that has driven the growth of K-beauty, and Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce company. Kolmar and Amazon will pursue shared growth by offering the optimal pathway to support our customers’ successful entry into global markets.”

Boomi Bolsters API Management Offering With New API Control Plane for Centralized Discovery, Management, and Governance

July 9, 2024,CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., United States : Boomi™, the intelligent integration and automation leader, today announced the launch of the Boomi API Control Plane — providing enterprises with a centralized platform to discover, manage, and govern all APIs across their organizations for accelerated business innovation, improved developer productivity, and stronger API governance.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240708054181/en/

Boomi Bolsters API Management Offering With New API Control Plane for Centralized Discovery, Management, and Governance (Graphic: Business Wire)
Boomi Bolsters API Management Offering With New API Control Plane for Centralized Discovery, Management, and Governance (Graphic: Business Wire)

Utilizing the recently acquired federated API management business from APIIDA, the Boomi API Control Plane bolsters Boomi’s existing API Management solution, allowing users to discover all APIs in one place, including “shadow APIs” that may exist outside the purview of IT. By bringing these shadow APIs under control, organizations can increase API consumption throughout the enterprise, driving new efficiencies and opportunities for innovation.

“APIs are the backbone of modern digital transformation, yet managing them across various platforms remains a significant challenge for many organizations. Unlike other APIM vendors, Boomi provides a federated API management approach that is truly vendor-independent, enabling organizations to utilize existing on-premises and cloud API runtimes effectively while addressing API sprawl,” said Ed Macosky, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Boomi. “With the Boomi API Control Plane, we are setting a new standard for API management by offering an integrated, holistic solution that simplifies operations, strengthens governance, and accelerates innovation.”

Industry analysts have highlighted the growing necessity for federated API management solutions. “Organizations increasingly need federated API management to handle the complex and diverse API landscapes that span multiple environments and platforms,” said Shari Lava, Senior Research Director, AI and Automation at IDC. “A centralized, federated approach can enable consistent governance, security, and monitoring across all APIs, reducing risks and enhancing operational efficiency.”

Key Features of Boomi API Control Plane:

Centralized API Discovery: Discover all APIs within an organization from a single location, bring shadow APIs under control, and increase API consumption to drive business innovation.
Simplified API Management Across Gateways: Enhance productivity with a consistent developer experience, gain insights into API performance and usage, and extend the value of existing on-premises and cloud investments.
Strengthened API Governance: Ensure consistent policies across all platforms, reduce the risk of data breaches, and streamline security audits, making compliance simpler and more efficient.

Additional Resources

Take a free interactive API Management Maturity Assessment to better understand where your organization stands when it comes to managing APIs
Read the technical blog on Boomi API Control Plane
Follow Boomi on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube

PwC Hosts Analyst Day 2024 in India

9th July 2024  New Delhi, Delhi, India  PwC recently hosted its Analyst Day 2024 event in India, a day-long forum that brought together key analysts, industry stakeholders and PwC leaders from India and across the globe to explore business model reinvention.

Held at the Gurgaon Experience Centre in India, the event showcased PwC’s commitment to driving digital-led solutions and shaping the future of business model reinvention. Market, Industry and Technology Analysts from firms including Everest Group, Forrester Research, HfS Research, IDC, ISG, Ecosystem, TBR, Third Eye Advisory, and Quadrant Knowledge Solutions joined PwC leaders and stakeholders for a day of insightful discussions and networking.

In line with its accelerated focus on investments around strategic areas to build speed and scale, PwC showcased digital-led initiatives and real-world case studies across sectors, a testament to its commitment to build trust and deliver sustained outcomes.

Arnab Basu, Partner and Leader – Advisory, PwC India added, “This is the age of disruption and change and at a time like this, our clients are looking to us to help them become truly digital-led, transformative enterprises. We partner with them to build their business in a way that they can rethink, reinvent and thrive. Through a blend of innovation and latest technology, we seek to offer differentiated and sustained outcomes that not only address current needs but also anticipate future demands. Through our purposeful work around creating value-based, digital solutions, we seek to not only enable our clients to reinvent for the future, but also align ourselves to the overall growth opportunity presented by India. Hosting this year’s PwC Analyst Day in India could not have come at a better time, as it provided a platform for engaging in meaningful interactions and showcasing our capabilities to the analyst community and stakeholders. It underscores our focus on spotlighting the transformative impact of our solutions.”

Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson, PwC in India commented, “India has been making tremendous strides – firmly establishing itself on the global map, creating opportunities for our institutions and carving new avenues for our people to thrive. PwC is committed to being a part of this journey, by creating, delivering and capturing lasting value for our clients and the broader stakeholder community. It was our pleasure to have had the opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities and have key clients showcase the work we do, at the PwC Analyst Day 2024.”

Annapurna Group Celebrates Mother’s Day: Birth of a Mother; A Thought-Provoking Film

9th July 2024  Mumbai, Maharashtra, India  Annapurna Group, a pioneering FMCG firm with over 70 years of experience in delivering pure and delightful products, is coming out with a thoughtful film on this Mother’s Day. Titled Birth of a Mother, this cinematic masterpiece celebrates the essence of motherhood and pays tribute to the profound influence of mothers in our lives.

“Our founding father, Late Gouranga Chandra Ghosh, a true visionary, started building up Annapurna from scratch in the year 1952,” shares Mr. Subir Ghosh, MD of Annapurna Group. “Today, it reigns as a leading household name in the entire Eastern India. With an experience of over 70 years, Annapurna Group has always believed in researching and developing a delightful selection of products – sourced in its purest forms.” Please click know more about Annapurna Group: www.annapurnagroup.in.

Motherhood stands as nature’s most immaculate offering, encapsulating the epitome of purity and grace. The connection shared with a mother transcends mere words; it is a beacon of authenticity, embodying the most genuine and profound connection one can encounter in a lifetime.

At Annapurna Group, the celebration of purity is deeply ingrained in their ethos. “Our aim – to deliver only the purest products to our consumers whose trust is paramount to our legacy,” affirms Ghosh. “Our purpose – to uphold your Right to Purity. Today and forever”.

Through this film, Annapurna Group aspires to inspire audiences to reflect on the purity of maternal love and the profound bond between mother and child. As Ghosh aptly stated, “Purity is the source of great living”. An appreciation is extended to Director Vinay Jaiswal and Mr. Subir Ghosh, MD of Annapurna Group, for laying the foundation of this film during their jam session. Vinay Jaiswal’s creativity and vision have shaped this film, portraying the purity of motherhood in a completely different perspective.

Curated and Creatively Produced by Shameer Tandon’s Music Boutique, the Savlon Swasth India Mission Clinches Three Golds at ET Brand Equity Brand Disruption Awards

9th July 202 Mumbai, Maharashtra, India  Shameer Tandon’s Music Boutique, a leader in innovative brand solutions, has reshaped perceptions of hygiene with its groundbreaking Savlon Swasth India mission for ITC Savlon alongside Ogilvy. The exceptional work by Music Boutique, Shameer Tandon’s creative production house led the brand to victory with three gold awards in the categories of Viral Marketing, Influencer Marketing, and Best Video/Visual Content at the Brand Disruption Awards by ET Brand Equity.

The Savlon Swasth India Mission was designed to tackle the issue of hand hygiene, particularly among children in smaller towns. It aimed to transform handwashing before eating from a mundane chore to a trendy habit. Through a collaboration with India’s renowned gully rapper Emiway Bantai, Shameer Tandon’s Music Boutique creatively conceived the song and curated the audio and video. A rap song and music video that not only entertained but also educated viewers on the importance of handwashing.

Shameer Tandon, the creative force behind the campaign, expressed his delight at the campaign’s success. “After receiving the brief from the ITC Savlon team and their agency Ogilvy, we creatively curated the lyrics, music and the video with a clear goal in mind: to start a movement that would resonate with audiences and drive meaningful change. The Savlon Swasth India Mission aims to promote good hygiene practices, particularly among children in smaller towns, making it more than just a campaign—it’s a transformative initiative.”

The campaign’s impact extended beyond just winning awards; it sparked conversations and inspired action, making handwashing a cool and essential habit. The campaign’s success is a testament to Shameer Tandon’s Music Boutique’s commitment to creating innovative brand solutions with a unique focus on music that resonates with audiences.

Shameer Tandon’s journey in the entertainment industry has been marked by a series of groundbreaking projects that have redefined brand solutions. From creating India’s first transgender band, the 6-Pack Band for Brooke Bond Red Label, to championing inclusivity with a band featuring members on the mental health spectrum, Shameer Tandon has consistently pushed boundaries and set new standards.

Nexus Select Trust Outperforms Full-Year FY24 Guidance on the Back of Strong Leasing and Consumption Momentum

9th July 2024  Mumbai, Maharashtra, India  Nexus Select Trust (NSE: NXST / BSE: 543913), India’s first listed Retail REIT, reported results for the fourth quarter and full year ended March 31, 2024. Nexus Select Trust is targeting the acquisition of 3 Grade-A malls in Hyderabad at an attractive basis of 10% stabilized cap rate.

NXST reported strong quarterly operating and financial performance with quarterly tenant sales of INR 28 billion (9% YoY growth) while achieving INR 120 billion in sales on a full-year basis which implies 13% YoY growth in FY24. During the quarter, the REIT leased 0.26M sf across 181 deals, achieving the highest ever occupancy of 97.6%, an improvement of ~130 bps over March 2023.

Dalip Sehgal, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer at Nexus Select Trust, said, “FY24 has been an excellent year for us with strong operating and financial performance. We have outperformed our projections for FY24 and ended the year with robust performance in the fourth quarter. On the back of this strong operating and financial performance, we are delighted to announce our third distribution of INR 3,168 million translating to INR 2.09 per unit outperforming our guidance.”

NXST achieved a Net Operating Income of INR 4,166 million (13% YoY growth) in Q4 FY24; similarly, NOI for FY24 was achieved in-line with the guidance provided. Backed by a strong balance sheet with low LTV of 14%, attractive debt cost at 8.1% (sequentially reduction of 10 bps), AAA / Stable rating and no near-term large debt maturity, NXST declared a distribution of INR 3,168 million or INR 2.09 per unit for Q4 FY24 outperforming the guidance; with this, distribution for FY24 (from our listing on 19th May 2023) amounts to INR 7.08 per unit / INR 10,719 million. NXST has refinanced INR 9,500 million at ~8.1% (compared to pre-refinancing average debt cost of 8.5%), resulting in annual savings of ~INR 40 million.

“We are excited to expand our footprint with the acquisition of 3 malls in Hyderabad, a market which continues to perform strongly and deliver growth. During the year, we leased 1.1 million square feet achieving our highest ever occupancy of 97.6%. Our tenant sales grew by 13% YoY ahead of the market growth. Our net operating income grew by 16% YoY. In summary, team has surpassed on the projections related to FY24 and given the strong momentum and positive macro-outlook on Grade A Indian retail, we are confident of achieving the FY25 projections”, Sehgal added.

The Board of Directors of Nexus Select Mall Management Private Limited, Manager to the Nexus Select Trust, at its Board Meeting declared that the record date for the Q4 FY24 distribution is May 17, 2024, and the distribution will be paid on or before May 24, 2024

FY25 Guidance (excluding acquisitions): 9% Net Operating Income growth and ~9-10% Distribution growth.

KARNEX Unveils New Global Development & Engineering Centre in Bangalore to Pioneer R&D in Next-Generation Automotive Technologies

9th July 2024  Bengaluru, Karnataka, India  KARNEX, a renowned name in the Indian automotive software industry, strategically announces the opening of its new global development and engineering center in Bengaluru, Karnataka. This strategic expansion marks a significant milestone in KARNEX’s journey of delivering cutting-edge solutions to the automotive sector.

Established in 2013 under AUTO-CAN Solutions, KARNEX has rapidly emerged as a pioneering force in providing specialized software solutions tailored for the Automotive Industry. With a relentless focus on innovation and a commitment to excellence, KARNEX has garnered a reputation for its innovative offerings and customer-centric approach.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by the esteemed presence of Mr. Suresh D, CEO & Group CTO of Spark Minda Technical Centre, Minda Corporation Ltd., as the guest of honor. His presence serves to underscore the industry-wide recognition and endorsement that KARNEX garners for its significant contributions to the automotive software domain.

Reflecting on the significance of the event, Mr. Suresh D, CEO & Group CTO of Spark Minda Technical Centre, Minda Corporation Ltd., said, “KARNEX has proven to be an invaluable partner in our pursuit of technological excellence. We extend our heartfelt congratulations on the inauguration of their new engineering center in Bengaluru and eagerly anticipate sustained collaboration in pivotal realms of CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric) Mobility.”

“Our mission at KARNEX is to provide innovative technological solutions that empower our esteemed customers to achieve their development roadmaps and organizational goals,” said Mr. Karan Singh, Founder & CEO, KARNEX. “This new facility positions KARNEX in proximity to the largest talent pool in India i.e., Bengaluru, fostering our growth journey. With the launch of our new development centre, we are confident to add 500 engineers, specialists, architects, and advanced labs in the next 2 years. Focus will be on the automotive solutions & services for passenger & commercial vehicles, 2-wheelers and electric vehicle segments.”

Pavan Majeti, General Manager-BD at KARNEX, added, “Our expansion to Bengaluru signifies our commitment to providing exceptional services to our key clients, and cater to both domestic and international markets. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality solutions and fostering long-term partnerships.”

The company’s distinctive qualities were highlighted by Manish Sharma, Senior Director of Engineering at KARNEX, “Our in-house team’s strength ensures seamless project execution and quick response times, offering our clients a competitive edge.” KARNEX focuses on a number of topics, including connected vehicles, SDV, AUTOSAR, Functional Safety (FuSa), Cyber Security, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), e-mobility, cloud computing, and data science.

For businesses looking to establish a lasting partnership with their new Engineering Services Partner (ESP), KARNEX invites them to connect now and embark on a journey of innovation and growth. For more details please log in KARNEX.

Curate Your Summer Playlist with Compelling Titles from Audible at INR 69 Only

9th July 2024  Mumbai, Maharashtra, India  With mercury levels soaring this summer, beat the heat by staying indoors with Audible’s vast collection of audiobooks and podcasts to keep you company. To provide listeners with an opportunity to explore, entertain, and enrich themselves, Audible, a leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, today announced the launch of a limited-period, a la carte campaign wherein customers in India can access over 150 audiobooks and podcasts from Audible’s catalog at a nominal price of INR 69 each.

Through this special offer, Audible aims to promote the joy of listening among customers in a more accessible and affordable manner. It presents young listeners and freshers embarking on their professional journey, an opportunity to expand their horizons and elevate their skills. In a world that is time-strapped, Audible’s commitment lies in empowering audiences and inculcating the habit of listening to utilize their time effectively.

This campaign also spotlights the breadth of Audible’s catalogue across genres – action and adventure, well-being, self-help or pop culture, comprising an array of formats such as audiobooks, podcasts, and scripted originals. Voiced by renowned talent, authors, and celebrities, these titles are available at an attractive price point for listeners in India for a limited time to indulge in engaging storytelling experiences. From timeless classics to contemporary bestsellers, listeners are in for an immersive experience as Audible offers something for everyone to enrich their summer.

Customers in India can seamlessly access membership subscriptions and single a la carte titles using UPI and credit/debit cards.

“At Audible, we’re committed to making audio storytelling accessible for all,” said Shailesh Sawlani, Country Manager, India – Audible. “With our latest campaign, we’re excited to empower listeners to explore and experience the length and breadth of audio content at exceptional value. This offer was designed to aid users in educating and entertaining themselves, by offering them access to a wealth of immersive audio experiences at the tap of a button. Whether someone is lounging by the pool, embarking on a road trip, or simply enjoying a leisurely afternoon indoors, we believe that this summer, audiobooks and podcasts will be the perfect companion for enjoyment and enrichment.”

Ruskin Bond said, “Audible is truly providing a great service to users and I hope to see people listening to audiobooks extensively during the summer break. It excites me to know that many of my books and stories are accessible on Audible.in and I am confident that children will enjoy listening to these audiobooks on the service during their summer vacation.”

Ankur Warikoo “For a generation that wants everything on the go, audiobooks are the right choice as they offer information and entertainment in a more digestible and convenient format. With this offer, users can now save money and get access to a ‘wealth’ of audio content on financial planning directly from me, broken down into simple tips without any complex jargon!”

Experience the magic of storytelling like never before with Audible. Elevate your summer to new heights and celebrate the joy of storytelling with Audible, accessible on all devices and payment methods including UPI and cards.

Some of the titles available for INR 69 include:

Self-Development:

• Ikigai (Hindi Edition) by Hector Garcia, Francesc Miralles,
• How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie,
• The 12-Week Fitness Project (Hindi Edition) by Rujuta Diwekar,
• Develop Self-Confidence, Improve Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie,
• Do Epic Shit by Ankur Warikoo

Romance

• Falling in Love Again by Ruskin Bond
• Diary of My Love by Deesha Sangani
• Our Virtual Love Story by Juhi GP
• The Girl in the Red Lipstick by Ajay K Pandey
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Mystery and Horror

• Byomkesh Bakshi Stories by Saradindu Bandopadhyay
• You Die Alone by Novoneel Chakraborty
• The Perfect Murder by Ruskin Bond
• Ghost Stories of Shimla Hills by Minakshi Chaudhry
• Maut Ke Bad Kuchh Nahin (Hindi Edition) by James Hadley Chase

Action and Adventure

• The Great Train Journey by Ruskin Bond
• Karna by Kevin Missal
• The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi
• Vikram and Vetaal by Kevin Missal
• Twisted by Chandrima Das

Non-fiction

• Ambedkar’s India by B.R Ambedkar
• An Era of Darkness by Shashi Tharoor
• Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Power by Rajiv Malhotra
• 1984 by Pav Singh
• Lost and Found by Stuti Changle

Religion, Spirituality, Mythology

• Durga by Kevin Missal
• Dharmayoddha Kalki: Avatar of Vishnu by Kevin Missal
• 7 Secrets of Vishnu by Devdutt Pattanaik
• 7 Secrets of the Goddess by Devdutt Pattanaik
• Narasimha by Kevin Missal

Children and Family Titles

• Ruskin Bond: The Essential Collection for Young Readers
• Masha and the Bear by Pegasus Books
• Bhagavad Gita for Children by Pegasus Books
• Ramayana for Children by Sudha Gupta
• 365 Moral Stories by Pegasus Books