Car-sharing platform Zoomcar to go public via SPAC deal in the USA. Why it is in the news: Zoomcar Inc, an India-based car-sharing platform, has reached an agreement to go public via a merger with blank-check firm Innovative International Acquisition Corp., according to people familiar with the matter. Combined company is valued in transaction at $456 million Innovative International SPAC raised $235 million in US IPO Last year: Last November, Zoomcar got $92 million in a Series E round led by SternAegis Ventures, bringing the total it has raised to $332 million, according to data provider PitchBook. Sequoia Capital India is an investor and board member. Backdrop: Zoomcar operates a marketplace for private vehicles, with owners making their cars available on the platform and users able to rent them by the hour, day, week or month. Zoomcar was founded in 2013 by Greg Moran, who is now chief executive officer, and David Back, who is no longer with the company. The platform has more than 3 million active users, with over 25,000 vehicles registered by their owners. The company, which doesn’t own any of the vehicles rented through its platform, takes 40% of each transaction. What next: Shares of the merged company, to be called Zoomcar Holdings Inc., are expected to trade on the Nasdaq.

Fashion retailer V-Mart Retail on Monday (October 17) said it would acquire Tiger Global-backed eCommerce startup LimeRoad in an all-cash deal of INR 31.12 Cr on a slump basis. Why it matters: Aiming to not only acquire digital first millennials but build an omnichannel expertise, Lalit Agarwal, managing director of V-Mart Retail stated that V-Mart will operate LimeRoad as an independent business unit, retaining its tech startup culture. V-Mart is a leader in the price-meets-quality space. This partnership would help fundamentally solve the quality conundrum at value prices online, and accelerate making of the freshest of fashion accessible to customers through an online-offline experience, said Mukherjee, the founder of LimeRoad. Backdrop: Founded in 2012, LimeRoad claims to sell its fashion products to 17 Mn buyers. The startup claims to deliver gross merchandise value (GMV) of more than INR 700 Cr at consistently strong contribution margins after marketing costs. V-Mart plans to make a total investment of INR 150 Cr to help the startup scale further and achieve sustained profitability, the fashion retailer said in a release. Also: The completion of the transaction is subject to necessary approvals and closing conditions. Both companies aim to leverage each other’s synergies and deliver emerging fashion trends to their customers through the acquisition. This is V-Mart’s second acquisition after the Unlimited store brand, which is bought from Arvind Fashions. As part of the deal, V-Mart would acquire the fashion marketplace’s assets worth about INR 14.61 Cr and assume its current liabilities of INR 36.26 Cr. In brief: V-Mart acquiring LimeRoad will continue to operate with LimeRoad as an independent business unit to retain its tech startup culture.

In a bid to strengthen its house of brands strategy, Temasek-backed Licious — so far largely an animal meat-focused startup launched UnCrave, its direct-to-consumer (D2C) plant-based meat unit. Why it matters: Globally, companies that sell animal and plant-based meat, earn about 10% of their total revenue from the latter. Licious stated that the split will hold true for Licious as well and that it has the potential to add much more. Licious serves over 2 million orders every month and boasts of a repeat consumption rate of over 90%. As one of the largest meat-selling startups, venturing into new lands would help them expand their market while simultaneously curbing the competition of upcoming plant meat providers. Last year: Licious said these products were underway for about two years during which over 100 startups have mushroomed in the plant-based meat industry. UnCrave’s Bhasin said the company was also open to acquiring more minor players in the space to strengthen its hold as it aims to be the largest player in the space in India in the next two years. Backdrop: The business head Simran Bhasin, in an interview stated that India has about 100 days in a year where meat consumers cannot eat their favorite animal meat, and that is exactly where they were positioning themselves. "Animal meat eaters who cannot consume meat on those 100 days are our target audience, not the vegetarians because they’re anyway not used to the texture" Bhasin added that the margins were healthier on the plant-based meat side of the business, compared with the animal meat side. What's next: The company said it plans to enter the other remaining top cities in India over the next few months. Over the coming 12 months, Licious will focus only on the top seven metro cities. The brand will piggyback on Licious’ supply chain and take its products to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru during its initial days. Catch up quick: Licious has now expanded its arena to include plant-based meat which the business head stated was to tap into their consumers' requirements for those days when they cannot eat meat given the cultural beliefs in India.

In the 70th North Eastern Council (NEC) held in Guwahati, the Home minister stated that Amul will be merged with five other cooperative societies to form a multi-state cooperative society (MSCS). Why it matters: Amit Shah emphasized the need to double milk production in the country over the next five years, not just to meet the demand in the domestic market, but also those of neighboring countries like Nepal, Bhutan, etc. India has the biggest milk industry in the world, producing more than 180 million tons of milk every year. This is 23% of the world’s annual production, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization What was said: "Modi Govt is giving priority to natural agriculture and digital agriculture and for certification of natural products, the process to form a multi-state cooperative society by merging Amul and five other cooperative societies have been started," the Union Home and Cooperation minister said. The big picture: While the EU, as well as the U.S., exports a lot of their products, India is not a major exporter of milk, showing a high domestic consumption. Indian dairy market is worth more than 9 trillion Rupees ($128 billion) and is growing at 5.5% every year according to IBEF. This will also help Modi Govt to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25. What will happen: MSCS will ensure the export of the products after its certification so that profit can go directly into the bank accounts of the farmers. Adoption of technology solutions will help in increasing production efficiency and reducing wastage in the supply chain. About 60% surplus milk is handled by the unorganized sector (milkmen), while the remaining 40% is procured by the organized sector. This move is expected to improve these numbers. Catch up quick: Citing a necessity for India to climb up higher in the world economy and increase export of milk and milk products to neighboring countries, the Modi-led government has initiated a merger between Amul and 5 other cooperative societies, which would post-certification of exported products, immediately transfer the profits to the accounts of farmers.

Dave Portnoy is not only the founder of Barstool Sports but also a self-proclaimed pizza connoisseur. He has reviewed thousands of pizza places around the world on his YouTube channel, One Bite Pizza Reviews, where he rates each pizza on a scale of 1 to 10. In this article, we will show you his top five pizza places in London, the capital of England. You might be surprised by his choices, as he is not afraid to give honest and sometimes harsh opinions. Whether you agree with him or not, you have to respect his dedication and passion for pizza. So let’s get started with Dave Portnoy’s top pizza places in London. 1. Crisp Pizza W6 (London, UK) - Rate: 8.1 (Full Review) Order Online | Google Maps Rating: 4.5/5 Address: 25 Crisp Rd, London W6 9RL, United Kingdom 2. Breadstall (London, UK) - Rate: 7.6/10 (Full Review) Address: Northcote Road, Battersea, London SW11 6PS Order Online | Google Maps Rating: 4.4/5 3. Bad Boy Pizza Society (London, UK) - Rate: 7.6 (Full Review) Address: Courtyard Bar, Vinegar Yard, 72 St Thomas St, London SE1 3QU Order Online | Google Maps Rating: 4.8/5 4. Oliveto (London, UK) - Rate: 7.4 (Full Review) Address: 49 Elizabeth St, London SW1W 9PP, United Kingdom Order Online | Google Maps Rating: 4.8/5 5. Crazy Pizza (London, UK) - Rate: 6.9 (Full Review) Address: 7 Paddington St, London W1U 5QH, United Kingdom Order Online | Google Maps Rating: 3.5/5 6. Yard Sale Pizza (London, UK) - Rate: 6.8 (Full Review) Address: 15 Hoe Street, London E17 4SD, United Kingdom Order Online | Google Maps Rating: Not Found 7. Homeslice Neal's Yard (London, UK) - Rate: 6.8 (Full Review) Address: 13 Neal's Yard, London WC2H 9DP, United Kingdom Order Online | Google Maps Rating: 4.5/5 8. Delfino Mayfair (London, UK) - Rate: 6.6 (Full Review) Address: 121A Mount St, London W1K 3NW, United Kingdom Order Online | Google Maps Rating: 4.4/5 Other Dave Portnoy's Top Pizza Places: Top Pizza Places in Toronto Top Pizza Places in the US

Fabindia, a brand famous for its artistry and handloom designs in India, After 60 years since its inception is gearing up to float an IPO later this year. Why it matters: Fabindia runs more than 309 Fabindia-branded outlets and more than 70 Organic India stores nationwide and the New Delhi-based retailer sources products from over 2,200 farmers directly and deals with over 10,300 farmers through their associates. In order to reward certain artisans and farmers engaged with the company, it intends to transfer 775,080 equity shares. What's happening: In 2022, Fabindia got SEBI's approval to float an IPO of ₹4,000 crores. Going by the DRHP, the company plans to offer a fresh issue of value over ₹500 crores for existing shareholders and investors. It competes with top brands like Manyavar, Reliance Trends, and BIBA. By the numbers: The ethnic apparel market in India is expected to grow at a rate of approximately 10.2% per annum between FY2022-26 to reach ₹1,879 Billion by FY26. In FY22 - The company narrowed its losses after sales rose 29% it posted revenues of 1,392 cr during the year with a net loss of ₹39 cr. It posted a net loss of ₹117 cr on revenues of ₹1,081 cr in FY21, its worst performance in two decades. Catch up quick: Fabindia is one of the iconic brands that has been around for 60 years. Besides the two years of the pandemic, it has been profitable as well and plans for IPO later this year after receiving SEBI's approval to float an IPO worth ₹4,000 crores.

(This is not our typical story) In this article, we talk about what's happening at Page 21 HQ To viewers, Page Twenty One was started in March 2022 because we believed that was a better way to read and write articles - That's why we started: TLDR Articles TLDR format articles allow readers to read and understand the article faster and more clearly. At the time of writing, we have published over 5 TLDR-type articles. What happening: Made a few changes to our website Fewer Ads (Only 1 ad element per page) Removed paywalled stories Made website load faster (1.9 sec) Podcast's new website (Visit) By Numbers: Website's monthly visitors reached 8,236 (Google Analytics) Pinterest views dropped by 23% to 280K monthly views Added Daily Hut to our social media list to increase brand visibility We plan to remain inactive on Instagram and lay off our social media team to focus more on TLDR articles and Daily Caffeine Podcast. New Hirings: Sanjana Ratkal (Content Writing Intern) In Future: We plan to add another podcast to our portfolio, where we will discuss what's happening in Page21 HQ in an audio form every week. New Episode of Daily Caffeine (Tune In) New Stories (CCI approves Sony-ZEE Deal)

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) early last week gave the thumbs up to the mega-merger deal between the two media groups. Why it matters: The combined entity will own over 70 TV channels, 2 video streaming services (Zee5 and Sony LIV), and two film studios (Zee Studios and Sony Pictures Films India), making it the largest entertainment network in India. Last year: The proposed merger was announced last year in September. And it took 5 months for the CCI to finally approve the merger. Deals beyond certain thresholds require the approval of the CCI, which keeps a tab on unfair business practices and also promotes fair competition in the marketplace. $ZEEL, in Septemb er 2021, said it has entered into a non-binding term sheet with SPNI to bring together its linear networks, digital assets, production operations, and program libraries. Back story: After the competition commission suspected a possible adverse effect on competition, the commission issued show cause notices to all involved parties and asked for voluntary remedies. Following this, the Commission gave their okay to the merger last Tuesday. What will happens: After the closing, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) will indirectly hold a majority of 50.86% of the combined company, the promoters of ZEEL will hold 3.99%, and the other ZEEL shareholders will hold a 45.15% stake. After the deal, the combined entity had a market share of 27% In terms of revenue, Zee-Sony combined made Rs 13,452 crore in FY21 Catch up quick: Creating the new biggest media group, the merger between Sony and ZEE studios gets its merger approval from the Competition Commissioner of India-the keeper of fair competition and anti-monopolistic activities in the market.

TripActions is reported to go public at a $12 Billion valuation later next year, the travel and expense management company helps businesses with technology to keep employees informed and safe. Why it matters: TripActions has customers such as Lyft, Pinterest, Yelp, Wayfair, Shopify, and Zoom, just to name a few. Overall, TripActions is trusted by more than 8,000 companies. The spokesperson on the issue stated, “We have long considered a potential IPO as one option to fund the business, but we do not comment on our specific plans or timing.” Details: The company has acquired two businesses to expand into new markets. In 2021, it acquired Reed & Mackay, a high-end corporate travel management solution. Then in 2022, it added Comtravo to the mix. Last October, TripActions raised $275 million in a Series F “growth” funding round at a $7.25 Billion valuation. Backlash: In 2020, the company made headlines for laying off nearly 300 employees in the face of a slowdown in business related to the pandemic. How it works: As the pandemic led to increased digitization across the board, employees were suddenly making spending decisions from outside the office and more merchants were accepting digital payments. It provides a platform to help companies streamline elements of business travel like payments, rentals, and bookings. But, As the economy is going through a downturn, the number of IPOs has dropped to record lows. If trade analysts are to be believed, it might not be the best time to go public. By the numbers: TripActions hit a record $68.9M in revenue with only 4K customers in 2022. Company revenue went to $0 during the pandemic, (Link) Catch up quick: Travel management company valued at $12 Billion, intends to go public as a means to raise money. While the company remains tight lipped, one must note that as per trends, it is not the best time to go public, that in light with the company’s tough time during the pandemic makes for an interesting wait to see what they would do next.

The 2029 edition of the sports gala Asian Winter games is all set to be conducted – in a $500 billion city that doesn't exist yet. What is this: Saudi Arabia on 4th Oct 2022 confirmed that it has won a bid to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games at a planned mountain resort in the Gulf Arab state’s $500bn (£440bn) flagship Neom project, at the Trojena development, the Saudi sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal said on Twitter. Hilarity ensures when the status of the hi-tech megacity Noem city is revealed- that it is expected to be completed only in 2026. Past background: Neom is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s most ambitious project under the kingdom’s Vision 2030 development plan to reduce reliance on oil and transform the economy, including by developing sports. Further: The games are slated to take place in Trojena, a development within Neom that includes a year-round ski complex, a freshwater lake, and luxury hotels, according to Neom's official website. Trojena is about 30 miles from the Saudi coastline and winter temperatures are often below freezing. Why is it in the news: If this truly does come to fruition, Saudi Arabia would become the first country in West Asia to ever host the Winter Asian Games. Moreover, the project is one of the most controversial in Saudi history. Planners, architects, and economists have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of Neom, which touts technologies that don't yet exist. Despite being five years since the announcement of the city, developments and the degree of construction remains scarce.

These are some top 5 picks that could be your go-to mates and would make your day-to-day design life much more fun, hassle-free, and rewarding at the same place. 1. Pricing your project: Cash your Flow It's not only about the money you should charge, but more about how efficiently you can minimize your load of hassles about quoting, scoping, and pitching the right cost to your potential clients. With more hours and tiresome efforts, if you are not able to justify the reward you are getting, then you must need to look out for some professional tools that can take care of that, and one of them is Cash your flow quite popular among designers. Cash your Flowis a free interactive tool that is used byWebflow developers to calculate and price their services in terms of budget and deadline. It is based on the initial finished design and draws on your experience, interest, and financial requirements according to the project’s complexity. 2. Digital Marketing materials: Template.net Let's say, you have completed your creative work and need to pitch or market to potential clients, you can present a compelling and professional design/project by using a premade template. It becomes more useful when your work needs to meet the strict deadlines Using Template.net you can find templates for your needs whether it's your resume or a business flyer. These template elements are fully customizable, so you can make changes like adding colors and or your logo without any brush. You might find some free templates for business cards, posters, flyers, videos, animations, social media posts, covers, sales brochures, ad banners, and newsletters. 3. Managing your work remotely: Workflow Working remotely on your professional tasks, and projects that might need to meet tight deadlines, you would need to be more organized, and collaborative with your personal space or meet your clients at stipulated time. Such things sometimes become hindrances to your freelancing efforts and cause unwanted delays or bad reflection on your work front, with the help of tools available this hassle can be minimized and peace of work can be brought in. Workfrom provides virtual cafés and a free community database. With the help of virtual cafes, you can create, manage, design, and personalize meeting spaces. You can customize your virtual cafes according to your way, which gives a stimulating experience and you don't feel like hitting on a desk due to just some awful arduous work. These cafés are easy to set up and as well as for others to join, you can be working at home or in an office, you can create a soothing space where that fits right for your communication. 4. Sharing your creations: Dribble and Behance What if you are able to sell your work, check out your peers' work, and get some ideas to explore or modify your creations? Yes, there are tools that help designers to promote and post their work in open spaces. Dribbble and Behance help designers to share their creations easily and are a great source to know the trend, and designer's style, and pave a way to refine your work if your eyes are stuck on something inspirational. 5. A suite software of designs: Adobe Creative Cloud A go-to place for performing various design tasks, Adobe’s Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, After Effects and more provides a wide range of design streams. Adobe did a change in their business and from charging for expensive 'boxed' software to a subscription plan- CS6 versions of Photoshop, Illustrator, etc are still available if you are thinking of getting one. Adobe added many new features and updated its web tools for IOS 7, new versions will be released through Cloud.

European technology giant, Porsus canceled the $4.7 billion acquisition of BillDesk stating that certain conditions were not fulfilled and the agreement has terminated automatically under its terms. Why it matters: The all-cash acquisition which was announced at the peak of the bull cycle last year, was considered to be the second largest M&A deal in the South Asian market’s consumer internet space. The investment arm of Naspers - which invested close to $6 billion in India has lost more than half of its market cap since early last year. Last Year: The investment arm of Naspers - which invested close to $6 billion in India has lost more than half of its market cap since early last year. On 31 August 2021, Naspers announced that an agreement had been made between PayU Payments Private Limited and shareholders of Indian digital payments provider BillDesk to acquire Billdesk for $4.7 billion. Backstory: The deal would have meant a $1.4 billion payday for founders and over $3 billion for investors. However, certain conditions were not fulfilled by the 30 September 2022 long stop date, leading to the termination of the agreement. Backlash: The deal was aiming to create digital payments giant with a total volume of $147 billion and betting on a surge in the industry in India. The investment arm of Naspers has lost more than half of its market cap since early last year. Catch Up Quick: According to industry experts, the deal marked the beginning of the consolidation in the growing and fragmented payments space, which is also seeing players shift from only online or offline offerings to providing omnichannel products to merchants.