Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: After five consecutive days of market gains, a slight pullback appeared. While the RBI’s credit policy remained largely unchanged, the return of FIIs with targeted bullish investments offered investors much-needed support.

TOP STORIES

ITC's MAARS to Empower 10 Million Farmers

What Happened

ITC is taking its commitment to Indian farmers to new heights. The company has set a target to connect 10 million farmers to its advanced agricultural services platform, MAARS, within the next five years. 

Currently, 1.7 million farmers from 1,700 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) are already on board, getting everything from personalized crop advice to weather alerts. And it’s not stopping there. MAARS is about to roll out some seriously cool new services—like crop insurance, geo-tracking, and better access to loans. 

Why It Matters

So why should we care? Well, let’s put it this way—ITC isn’t just changing the way farmers farm; it’s changing the way farmers earn. With the MAARS platform, they don’t need to trek to the mandi to sell their produce. ITC buys directly from the farm gate, cutting out the middleman and giving farmers a better deal. 

• In FY24, ITC’s agri-business division raked in a jaw-dropping ₹16,124 crore—nearly 20% of the company’s total sales. 
  
  

• Over 40% of that came from the MAARS platform. 
  
  

Now that’s what we call farm-to-fork efficiency! And if you think ITC’s operation is small, think again—its wheat procurement is almost as big as the Food Corporation of India’s entire operation. 

Zoom out

ITC’s MAARS platform is the future of farming, and it’s coming at us fast—like a tractor on a mission. And there’s more—MAARS is rolling out climate-smart farming practices. Farmers will get techy tools like drones to spray fertilizers (because why not add a little sci-fi to the soil?), precision irrigation, and resilient crop varieties that could survive a zombie apocalypse. Ok, maybe not a zombie apocalypse, but they’re definitely built for a changing climate. 

PAISON KA KHEL

Paytm cashes out big in Softbank deal

Paytm's parent, One97 Communications, is selling its 5.4% stake in Japanese payment firm PayPay to SoftBank for ₹2,364 crore ($280 million). This deal values PayPay at a whopping ₹1.06 trillion ($7 billion). The move comes hot on the heels of Paytm selling its entertainment arm to Zomato for ₹2,048 crore. With a cash reserve of ₹10,000 crore already in the kitty, Paytm seems to be hoarding cash like a squirrel preparing for winter. 

MobiKwik scales down IPO target amid market volatility

MobiKwik, the fintech platform led by Bipin Preet Singh and Upasana Taku, is seeking a valuation of ₹2,165 crore for its upcoming IPO, a significant drop from the ₹7,600 crore target it had set in 2021. 

The company has reduced its fundraising target to ₹572 crore from ₹700 crore, following market fluctuations and changes in the fintech landscape, including RBI sanctions. The IPO, set to open Wednesday, offers shares at ₹265-279 each. 

TOP STORIES

Lemon Tree Plans to Dominate India’s Hotel Market

What happened

Lemon Tree Hotels is on a mission to dominate the hotel industry—well, at least the hotel industry in India and beyond. With 112 hotels and 10,300 rooms already under its belt, the company is far from hitting the brakes. In fact, it’s just getting started. They’ve got 86 more hotels in the pipeline, which will add a whopping 5,900 rooms to their portfolio. 

Plus, in a smart move to attract international travellers, Lemon Tree is eyeing co-branding partnerships with global hotel chains.

Driving the news

With India’s economy growing fast, more people are hitting the road—and not just for a weekend getaway, but for serious travel. And guess what? This means more hotel bookings. While India’s economy is cruising toward a $5 trillion target, demand for branded hotels is expected to jump. 

Right now, only 8% of hotel rooms in India are branded, which means there’s a ton of space for Lemon Tree to swoop in. Their big plan? Soft branding smaller hotels with less than 40 rooms. Instead of getting stuck in the expensive five-star race, Lemon Tree is eyeing the sweet spot—affordable, flexible options in tier 1-4 cities. 

Final words

With Fleur Hotels, a key subsidiary, preparing for a public listing, Lemon Tree is all set to accelerate its growth. As more Indians head abroad, their strategy to team up with international hotel chains for a loyalty program could make Lemon Tree the ultimate travel companion. So, whether you're booking a budget-friendly stay in India or a getaway overseas, Lemon Tree might just become your go-to brand. 

GLOBAL NAZARA

Trump’s tax cuts turn up the heat on Canada

Donald Trump’s plan to cut U.S. corporate taxes to 15% has Canada on edge. With Canadian corporate tax rates between 25-27%, the country could lose its slight advantage, pushing businesses to invest in the U.S. instead.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland had predicted a 16.8% tax rate for new investments by 2028, but Trump’s move could change everything. While Canada spends big on housing and healthcare, experts say it’s time to rethink taxes to stay competitive. 

Akasa Air's big leap with Etihad codeshare

Akasa Air has pulled off a surprise move, launching its first-ever codeshare agreement with Etihad! Starting in March 2025, flights from Ahmedabad and Bengaluru to Abu Dhabi will be available under Etihad’s flight number but operated by Akasa. This deal is a game-changer for Akasa, expanding its international reach and maximizing its capacity. 

This move gives Akasa a major international boost, unlike its competitors—IndiGo took 13 years for its first codeshare, while Go FIRST had none in 18 years.

TOP STORIES

Small Town Retailer Gets Ready for a Big IPO

What happened

Vishal Mega Mart is all set to launch its ₹8,000-crore IPO from December 11 to 13. Known for its value-packed offerings, the company is putting its faith in a unique product strategy to keep sailing smoothly despite soft consumer demand. 

The Mega Mart saw a 12.6% growth in the first half of the year, fueled by apparel, general merchandise, and FMCG, with an impressive ₹8,000 in average revenue per square foot (basically, cash registers working non-stop).

• And here's the kicker—73% of their revenue comes from their own brands, and it has grown by 27%. 
  

Why It Matters

What really sets Vishal Mega Mart apart is its focus on middle and lower-middle-income customers in tier 2 cities. Around 70% of its 645 stores are in these cities, with a strong presence in the north, east, and central parts of India. 

With high-margin products like apparel and general merchandise (gross margin of 35%) and a growing FMCG segment (19% margin), Vishal Mega Mart is not just selling products, it's selling value (think of it as the Costco of India, but with more “desi” vibes). The company has also dabbled in online sales, offering a two-hour delivery window for customers within 8-10 km from its stores.

Final words

If the IPO takes off as expected, Vishal Mega Mart will be cruising with more cash in hand to fuel its expansion—both in-store and online. With ₹254 crore in net profit and ₹5,032.5 crore in revenue for the six months leading up to September, it's clear this retail giant is no small fry. So, get your seatbelts on; Vishal Mega Mart might just become the next big thing in Indian retail—at least in tier 2 cities!

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