Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: The Sensex and Nifty ended the day positively despite volatile swings in the benchmark indices, boosted by global market trends ahead of upcoming interest rate decisions. Top gainers on the Sensex included Tata Steel, Mahindra & Mahindra, JSW Steel, Tata Motors, and Axis Bank, while Infosys, TCS, Titan, Wipro, and HUL were the main losers for the day.

BUSINESS

Mother Dairy Makes Multi-Crore Bet on Dairy and Fruit Processing

What happened

Mother Dairy, a prominent milk supplier, is gearing up for significant expansion with an investment of ₹650 crore. This investment will be utilized to establish two new plants for processing milk, fruits, and vegetables. Additionally, the company plans to invest another ₹100 crore to enhance the capacities of its existing plants. 

Simultaneously, Mother Dairy is venturing into the fruit processing sector by establishing a new plant in Karnataka, investing over ₹125 crore under its Safal brand. These endeavours are part of the company's ambitious plan to strengthen its presence and capabilities across key locations.

Why it matters

Mother Dairy's substantial investment signifies its proactive approach to capitalize on market opportunities and meet evolving consumer preferences. The expansion into new processing facilities for both dairy and fruits/vegetables reflects the company's strategic vision to diversify its product offerings and enhance production capacities.

• The first major development is the construction of a large dairy plant in Nagpur, Maharashtra, costing around ₹525 crore. 
  
  

• This state-of-the-art facility will have an initial processing capacity of 600,000 litres of milk per day, with the potential to expand to one million litres daily. 

The plant's strategic location will cater to markets in central and southern regions, ensuring efficient distribution and supply chain management. With rising consumer demand for quality dairy products and processed fruits/vegetables, Mother Dairy's investments align with market trends and customer expectations.

The planned plants in Nagpur and Karnataka will not only boost production capabilities but also contribute to job creation and economic growth in these regions.

Zoom out

Mother Dairy's strategic investments totalling ₹750 crore underline its dedication to innovation, growth, and meeting the needs of a dynamic market. The forthcoming dairy plant in Nagpur and fruit processing plant in Karnataka are significant milestones that will enhance the company's operational efficiency and market competitiveness.

BIG MONEY MOVES

NexGen Energia begins  ₹1,000 Crore venture in J&K's EV industry

NexGen Energia, a sustainable energy solutions firm, is set to invest  ₹1,000 crore in establishing an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing unit in Jammu and Kashmir. This move follows their recent announcement of a ₹3,000 crore investment in a Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) plant in Gujarat.

The leadership highlighted the company's commitment to "Make in India" and self-reliance, emphasizing plans to create direct and indirect employment for about 1 lakh individuals. NexGen Energia aims to launch its most affordable electric two-wheeler in April, priced at ₹36,900.

BAT launches £1.6 billion buyback post-ITC stake sale

British American Tobacco Plc. (BAT) has embarked on a substantial £1.6 billion ($2 billion) buyback program after successfully selling a portion of its stake in India's prominent conglomerate, ITC Ltd. The sale of its ITC stake generated significant net proceeds amounting to £1.57 billion, prompting BAT to initiate this buyback endeavour as part of its strategic financial management.

BUSINESS

Tata Sons Plans Block Deal to Raise ₹9,300 Crore from TCS Stake Sale

What happened

Tata Sons, the renowned parent company of India's leading software services exporter Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS), has announced its intention to sell a significant portion of its stake in TCS through a block deal. This strategic move involves selling 23.4 million shares of TCS, amounting to a whopping ₹9,300 crore. The shares will be offered at a price of ₹4,001 per share.

Why it matters

The decision to sell such a substantial stake in TCS holds significant implications for Tata Sons and the broader market. 

• With Tata Sons holding a majority stake of 72.38% in TCS, this stake sale marks a strategic move aimed at raising substantial funds while also potentially bypassing the requirement for Tata Sons to list publicly on the stock exchanges, as per RBI rules for some NBFCs.
  
  

• TCS, known for its strong performance in the stock market, has seen its shares surge by an impressive 30% over the past year, reaching an all-time high of ₹4,254 per share. 
  
  

• Despite a slight dip at the end of the trading day, closing at ₹4,144 per share, TCS remains one of India's most valued listed companies with a market capitalization of ₹15 trillion.

The proposed sale of TCS shares by Tata Sons at a discounted rate of 3.6% compared to Monday's closing price reflects a strategic move to attract potential buyers and maximize returns. 

Zoom out

The proposed sale of TCS shares by Tata Sons not only aims to raise substantial funds but also navigates regulatory requirements. This stake sale aligns with Tata Group's broader financial strategy and ongoing discussions regarding the potential listing of Tata Sons by September 2025.

BIG PICTURE

💊 Procter & Gamble Health sets sights on VMS market leadership

Procter & Gamble Health Ltd, a subsidiary of the multinational consumer goods firm Procter & Gamble, is gearing up for a significant expansion in its portfolio of vitamins, minerals, and supplements (VMS). The company's Managing Director, Milind Thatte, revealed plans to focus especially on neurotrophic vitamins as part of its five-year strategy.

The company's renowned brands such as Livogen, Evion, Neurobion Polybion, and Seven Seas are well-established in the market. Currently, 90% of P&G Health's portfolio comprises VMS products, with the remaining share attributed to the nasal decongestant Nasivision. 

🤝 Apple and Google in talks for groundbreaking AI partnership

Apple and Google are reportedly on the brink of finalizing what could be the largest AI deal in history. Apple is engaged in discussions to integrate Google's Gemini artificial intelligence engine into the iPhone ecosystem. The Gemini AI, renowned for its advanced generative models, is poised to power innovative features slated for the upcoming iPhone software update.

This deal is reminiscent of their previous partnership, which saw Chrome become the default browser on iPhones, generating over $2 billion annually.

BUSINESS

Oister Global Sets Sights on ₹4,500 Crore Investment in Private Market Funds

What happened

Oister Global, a Gurugram-based firm specializing in investments in private market funds, particularly in venture capital, venture debt, private equity, and private credit, has announced a significant investment plan. The company intends to deploy a whopping ₹4,500 crore in private market funds over the next two years. 

This investment strategy encompasses both debt and equity, focusing on various asset categories including venture capital, growth equity, private equity, startup debt (venture debt), and SME debt (private credit).

Why it matters

This massive investment by Oister Global is significant for several reasons. 

• Firstly, it reflects a strong belief in the Indian growth story and innovation landscape. 
  
  

• Despite global market fluctuations and uncertainties, Oister Global remains optimistic about the prospects in India.
  
  

• The company intends to deploy ₹1,000 crore by the end of this year and ₹3,500 crore in the following year.
  

The company's diversified investment approach, spanning across different asset classes, demonstrates a strategic and forward-thinking investment strategy. Moreover, Oister Global's emphasis on identifying and supporting fund managers who can generate robust returns without relying solely on unicorns aligns with a more sustainable and realistic investment approach in the current market scenario.

Zoom out

Oister Global's ambitious investment plan underscores its confidence in India's economic fundamentals, policy direction, innovation potential, and overall growth trajectory. By focusing on a diverse range of investment opportunities and adopting a pragmatic approach to generating returns, the company aims to navigate through market challenges and capitalize on emerging trends in the private market funds space. 

MIRCH MASALA

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👪️ Nick Jonas joins Priyanka Chopra and daughter in India ahead of Holi
💔 R Ashwin heartbroken over interaction with Janhvi Kapoor's parody profile on X