Old rivals, new game: Flipkart Azim Premji vs Amazon Narayana Murthy

August 14, 2014

azim-premji-and-narayana-murthy

Bangalore, Aug 14: India's tech titans and fierce cross-town rivals, Wipro's Azim Premji and Infosys' N R Narayana Murthy, are squaring off in the burgeoning $3-billion e-commerce market space too. Premji has gone with the domestic players; he has investments in Myntra (recently acquired by Flipkart) and Snapdeal while Murthy has placed his bets on global e-tailing giant Amazon.

India's rapidly growing e-commerce market is turning out to be a two-horse race between Amazon and Flipkart.

Earlier this year, the Wipro chairman through his investment arm, Premji Invest, and a clutch of other investors, pumped in about $50 million in fashion e-tailer Myntra. Snapdeal, another e-commerce player, got $100 million in funding from five investors including Premji Invest.

More recently, Amazon and Murthy's family office, Catamaran Ventures, floated a JV to help small and medium businesses join the online bandwagon.

Catamaran holds a majority 51% in the JV—Taurus Business and Trade Services.

"Myntra and Snapdeal needed money and expertise from successful Indian entrepreneurs. From an investment perspective, Premji's investments are a more classic VC style investment that fosters local entrepreneurship with a very high risk-reward ratio," said Praveen Chakravarty, a successful angel investor and co-founder of Mumbai Angels. However, he has a counter view on the Amazon transaction. "It seems to me as a low-risk, financial return-focused yield investment that has risen out of an opportunity driven by regulations in India."

(Premji has gone with the domestic players; he has investments in Myntra and Snapdeal while Murthy has placed his bets on global e-tailing giant Amazon.)

Sources privy to developments in Amazon said that the US e-tailing behemoth was scouting for a big brand that could invest Rs 100 crore in cash with a guaranteed return on investment of around 20% at the time of exit. TOI could not ascertain the nature of the Amazon-Catamaran tie-up, as both parties have not disclosed the financials of the deal.

"Amazon doesn't need money nor does it need hand-holding and guidance," said a senior executive of a Bangalore-based VC fund-house, who requested anonymity as the subject was sensitive in his opinion.

Deepak Srinath, director—digital practice at Bangalore-based Allegro Capital Advisors, said comparisons between Premji and Murthy's venture is not like-to-like. "Having said that, it's easier to be a financial investor. But in the case of Catamaran, they are setting up full-scale operations and would be managing business operations. It's not easy to stick your neck out in this fashion which is a high-risk game in itself."

Aashish Bhinde of Avendus Capital said both Murthy and Premji have carved their own paths to align with players in the country's e-commerce play. When asked if Murthy's embraced a safe game plan with assured returns, while Premji's is a higher risk affair, Bhinde said he doesn't agree with those characterizations. "I believe they both are bullish about the sector but have different investment strategies. While one is taking a portfolio investment approach, the other has made a more strategic move," he added.

With Flipkart raising $1 billion in fresh funds and Amazon pouring $2 billion into the India market, many existing players could fall off the investors' radar paving the way for a two- or a three-way race between Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal in India. So far, Flipkart has raised close to about $1.7 billion from a clutch of investors as it fights Amazon and Snapdeal in a fast-growing e-commerce market. India has 243 million internet users, and this number continues to grow rapidly due to increased smartphone penetration.

Higher disposable incomes and internet connectivity are pushing the Indian middle class to shop online. The two IT czars are fighting it out in an e-commerce market that's expected to touch $32 billion by the end of this decade.

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News Network
July 21,2020

New Delhi, Jul 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday condoled the demise of Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon.

Tandon, 85, passed away at 5:35 am on Tuesday after a prolonged illness.

Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Modi posted a picture with Madhya Pradesh Governor and wrote, "Shri Lalji Tandon will be remembered for his untiring efforts to serve society. He played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. He made a mark as an effective administrator, always giving importance of public welfare. Anguished by his passing away."
"Shri Lalji Tandon was well-versed with constitutional matters. He enjoyed a long and close association with beloved Atal Ji. In this hour of grief, my condolences to the family and well-wishers of Shri Tandon. Om Shanti," he added.

President Kovind expressed condolences saying that we have lost a legendary leader today.

"In the passing away of Madhya Pradesh Governor Shri Lal Ji Tandon, we have lost a legendary leader who combined cultural sophistication of Lucknow and acumen of a national stalwart. I deeply mourn his death. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends," he tweeted.

His last rites will be performed at Gulala Ghat in Lucknow at 4:30 pm today.

Tandon was admitted to a hospital after complaining of breathing problems, difficulty in urination and fever. He has been undergoing treatment since June 11. 

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Agencies
February 10,2020

New delhi, Feb 10: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the constitutional validity of the SC/ST Amendment Act, 2018, and said a court can grant anticipatory bail only in cases where a prima facie case is not made out.

A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra said a preliminary inquiry is not essential before lodging an FIR under the act and the approval of senior police officials is not needed.

Justice Ravindra Bhat, the other member of the bench, said in a concurring verdict that every citizen needs to treat fellow citizens equally and foster the concept of fraternity.

Justice Bhat said a court can quash the FIR if a prima facie case is not made out under the SC/ST Act and the liberal use of anticipatory bail will defeat the intention of Parliament.

The top court's verdict came on a batch of PILs challenging the validity of the SC/ST Amendment Act of 2018, which was brought to nullify the effect of the apex court's 2018 ruling, which had diluted the provisions of the stringent Act.

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News Network
March 25,2020

New Delhi, Mar 25: The Congress said on Wednesday that it stood with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his appeal for 21-day lockdown but was "deeply disappointed by the lack of coherent strategy" and demanded that Rs 7,500 should be transferred to every Jan Dhan, PM Kisan and pension account to tide over the nutrition needs for 21-days.
It also demanded that the Public Distribution System (PDS) ration should be given free.
In a series of tweets, Congress Communications in-charge Randeep Singh Surejwala said that the need of the hour was to implement 'Minimum Income Guarantee Scheme' (Nyay) mooted by the Congress and party leader Rahul Gandhi.
"Please transfer Rs 7,500 to every Jan Dhan, PM Kisan, and every pension account to tide over nutrition needs of 21 days and give free PDS ration. We will rise together as a nation and defeat COVID-19. We stand with lockdown but are deeply disappointed by the lack of coherent strategy or a clear 'way ahead' on your part," he said.
Surjewala asked what steps the government took despite an early warning about COVID-19 and sought details about isolation beds and ventilators available to people.
"Dear PM, India will adhere to the lockdown but what steps did the govt take to tackle the corona pandemic despite early warnings in Feb? When will doctors, nurses and health workers have adequate protection? How many 'isolation beds' and ventilators are available and where?" he said.
He asked how daily wagers and labourers will sustain during the 21-day lockdown.
"What's your plan to address the huge issue of bread and butter and livelihood for millions? How will daily wagers, labourers, MGNREGA workers, factory workers, unorganised workers, fishermen, farmers and farm labour sustain for 21 days?" he asked.
Surjewala said the crying need is to arm doctors, nurses and health workers with personal protection equipment and asked: "why are N-95 masks, Hazmat suits not available?"
"In March itself, India needs 7.25 lakh bodysuits, 60 lakh N-95 masks, 1 crore 3 ply masks? When will they be available?" he asked.
Surjewala said that the government banned the export of ventilators, respiratory devices and sanitisers only yesterday on March 24, "84 days after the spread of COVID-19."
"Is this your government's 'Modus operandi' to fight coronavirus? Too little, Too late!," he said.
Noting that two-thirds of the country's population is engaged in agriculture, he said that Prime Minister Modi did not refer to farmers during his address to the nation and demanded a moratorium on farmers' loans.
"Crop is ready for harvest in March itself. How will it be harvested and sold and who will buy at fair price? Indebtedness relief to farmers is the only way forward in these testing times. Please put a moratorium on farmers' loans and recoveries. Please ensure the procurement of crops at MSP. Let's not forget that farmers are the backbone of India's economy," he said.
Surjewala said the Prime Minister gave only four hours to prepare for 21-day lockdown.
"Did you think of over 5 lakh truck drivers, who are now stranded on roads? Did you think of millions of workers, who are stranded in cities away from home without food or money? What should they do," he asked.

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