Category: Press Release

  • Amway India strengthens its Nutrition portfolio; Launches Nutrilite Cal Mag D Plus

    Amway India strengthens its Nutrition portfolio; Launches Nutrilite Cal Mag D Plus

    MUMBAI: Amway India, the country’s largest FMCG direct selling company, announced the launch of the enhanced version of the calcium supplement – Nutrilite Cal Mag D Plus. Coming from the [ii]world’s #1 selling vitamin and dietary supplements brand- Nutrilite, the new calcium supplement provides essential nutrition to support and maintain healthy bones when taken as part of a well-balanced diet. In addition to the calcium from the rich algal source along with calcium carbonate and [iii]double the amount of vitamin D that promotes calcium absorption, Nutrilite Cal Mag D Plus also consists of nutrients such as magnesium, manganese, and zinc making it more effective.

    With the promise to bring The Best of Nature and The Best of Science, Nutrilite Cal Mag D Plus is packed with one of nature’s most concentrated botanical source of calcium i.e. the algal source which is harvested from the sea of Iceland.  Unlike traditional rock calcium like calcium carbonate or calcium citrate, algae calcium is plant-based, nutrient-rich and a natural multimineral ingredient that comes from a sustainable source. Besides strengthening and maintaining healthy bones and teeth, calcium supports other vital functions such as nerve transmission, critical metabolic and cardiovascular functions, while vitamin D is critical nutrient required for calcium absorption and & normal function of immune system. Magnesium and Zinc contribute to the maintenance of normal bones, in addition Zinc helps maintaining the immune system.  Manganese supports the normal formation of connective tissue.

    Talking about the need for calcium supplementation Dr. Kevin Gellenbeck, Senior Research Scientist, Nutrilite Health Institute, Amway, said, “Our current lifestyle which includes less exposure to the sun, irregular eating habits, and junk food preference in the daily diet can lead to a shortfall in essential nutrients required by the body. Calcium is one of the key micronutrients that is needed to support important functions in the human body that goes beyond just healthy bones and teeth. While food is the best source, a high-quality dietary supplement can help fill the nutrient gap in our modern diet. Therefore, the Nutrilite Cal Mag D Plus is a valuable addition to our existing portfolio of Nutrilite products as it offers a unique combination of 5 essential nutrients to support bone building and maintenance processes. In our quest to offer the best from nature, we have procured plant-based calcium from an algal source and additional vitamin D to promote calcium absorption, as well as added zinc, manganese and magnesium, making Cal Mag D Plus more effective calcium supplement.”

    To ensure the highest quality and safety of the product, best of the ingredients are sourced for Nutrilite Cal Mag D Plus and the product is manufactured under the guidelines of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) at Amway’s LEED Gold certified manufacturing facility.

    Commenting on the launch, Ajay Khanna, Category Head – Wellness Amway India, said, “As per the dietary guidelines for Indians by ICMR[iv], the consumption of food sources rich in calcium amongst Indians is grossly inadequate clearly indicating low calcium levels. This signifies a great opportunity and demand for effective calcium supplements in India. Calcium supplement market in India is pegged at INR 632 crore in 2018 and has been growing at a CAGR of 12% in last 5 years. The market holds huge potential with increasing awareness on the need for supplementation and increasing demand for high-quality nutrition products. We are excited and confident that the product range is going to resonate well with our discerning consumers of food supplement. With Nutrilite Cal Mag D Plus, we target over 11% share of calcium supplement market in the first year.”

    He further added, “We have planned a series of marketing interventions including the social media campaign and digital activations across our platforms to educate our consumers on the gap and need for calcium and maximize our reach and engagement with consumers. We are also conducting regional activations to further educate Amway direct sellers and in turn, spread awareness on the need for optimal nutrition and supplementation.”

    Priced at MRP Rs. 799/- (inclusive of all taxes)  for 1 Pack (containing 90 tablets), Nutrilite Cal Mag D Plus is sold exclusively through Amway Direct Sellers across India and to know more, please visit the website: http://www.amway.in.

    [v]The Indian nutraceutical market is currently worth around USD 2 billion a year and is expected to grow more than 20% CAGR until 2022 – more than doubling its size to over 6 billion USD. Amway Nutrilite has maintained a leadership position for the past 5 years with 12% market share.

  • Zee Action to air the blockbuster action drama Jung on 20th July at 8PM

    Zee Action to air the blockbuster action drama Jung on 20th July at 8PM

    MUMBAI: Zee Action – India’s One Stop Destination for Action Movies is all set to air the 1996 action blockbuster Jung on Saturday, 20th July at 8 PM, under its property Shanivaar Fight Club. Directed by legendary filmmaker T. Rama Rao, the action-packed drama stars Mithun Chakraborty, Ajay Devgn and Rambhaa in the lead, along with Aditya Pancholi in a double role. The movie also stars veteran actors Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Tinnu Anand and Sujata Mehta in pivotal roles. The action-packed thriller that chronicles the war between law and justice, promises to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

    Jung revolves around two brothers ACP Arjun Saxena (Mithun Chakraborty) and defence lawyer Ajay Saxena (Ajay Devgn) who are at war with each other over a possibly innocent convict Ram (Aditya Pancholi). Ajay, a brilliant attorney has mastered the art of deceiving the opponent, due to existing loopholes in the law system. This does not go down well with Ajay’s elder brother Arjun and is the fundamental cause of the crack in their relationship.

    While Ajay believes his client Ram is innocent, the law-abiding Arjun believes otherwise and stands as a strong opposition to Ajay. The story heads towards an unexpected twist with the entry of Ram’s evil twin Billa. Meanwhile, Arjun's honesty has found him contending with a powerful new enemy, Chakradhari Choudhry (Sadashiv Amrapurkar), and the relationship of the two brothers only worsens as Ajay falls in love with Chakradhari's daughter Madhu (Rambhaa).

    Will Ajay succeed in proving Ram’s innocence? Or will the two brothers grow apart?

  • Thomas Cook India honoured with “India Travel Partner of the Year 2018” Award by SAP Concur for its digital-led achievements in the Business Travel sector

    Thomas Cook India honoured with “India Travel Partner of the Year 2018” Award by SAP Concur for its digital-led achievements in the Business Travel sector

    MUMBAI: Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., India’s leading integrated travel and related financial services company, was honoured with the “India Travel Partner of the Year 2018” Award by SAP Concur at the recently concluded India Partner Ascend, 2019. The award, presented by Ms. Mankiran Chowhan, Managing Director, SAP Concur, recognised the exemplary achievements of Thomas Cook India in pushing the boundaries of business travel, expense, and invoice solutions, to make a meaningful impact on employees and their businesses – locally and globally.

    For today’s always on-the-go business traveller, automated solutions are a critical need. Thomas Cook India has, hence, stepped in by playing a vital role as a dynamic change agent to successfully transform business travel – optimising costs and implementing technology enhancements which deliver superior customer experiences.

    The company’s technology-driven culture has seen the delivery of two vibrant innovations that work seamlessly across digital devices, to empower business travellers:

    · Click2Book: A direct customer self-booking platform that provides a comprehensive suite of products across flights, hotels, forex, and travel insurance, incorporating real-time availability and rates, along with corporate policies

    · iBook: A unique custom-built business travel management tool to enhance the experience of a corporate traveller – where multiple client profiles, invoicing, and credit limits, can be managed seamlessly. The App is built to cater to the specific reporting needs of corporate clients.

    Thomas Cook India’s partnership with SAP Concur is, hence, a strong reiteration of the company’s focus on leveraging the power of technology to create a more seamless and integrated solution for business customers.

    Mr. Mahesh Iyer, Executive Director and CEO, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said, “It is truly an honour to accept the award of India Travel Partner of the Year 2018 from SAP Concur.  At Thomas Cook India, we’ve been sustained in strategic ideation that brings value to multinationals, Indian corporates, and SMEs. Our delivery of employee experiences help eliminate tedious tasks, and hence, enable them to work smarter. Concur helps us deliver cutting-edge solutions by driving automation and integration – equipping our corporates and SME travellers to better manage their travel expenses and invoice processes.”

    Speaking on the partnership with Thomas Cook India, Ms. Mankiran Chowhan, Managing Director, SAP Concur, said, “We are delighted to present this award to our TMC partner Thomas Cook India. SAP Concur’s value proposition is simplicity, integrated travel, and expense management, and we look at partnerships that help translate these into customer experiences. The award recognises Thomas Cook India’s commitment to partnering with us towards a completely automated organisation when it comes to managing travel for our key customers, thereby freeing employees and resources to focus on more strategic tasks to improve overall productivity.”'

  • As the world celebrates 50 years of Moon landing, Sony BBC Earth, AXN and Sony PIX peek into what went behind the mission

    As the world celebrates 50 years of Moon landing, Sony BBC Earth, AXN and Sony PIX peek into what went behind the mission

    MUMBAI: 50 years ago, on July 20, 1969, millions of people around the world witnessed a trio of astronauts – Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collin – create history, as they became the first men to step on the moon. To commemorate this historical milestone, Sony Pictures Networks India’s (SPNI) English Cluster (comprising channels like Sony BBC Earth, AXN and Sony PIX) will celebrate the big day by premiering the movie ‘First Man’ and ‘8 days to the Moon’ for the first time on Indian television.

    The Oscar and Golden Globe winning film ‘First Man’, is a biography on the life of astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969. The movie, starring Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy, will air on AXN and Sony PIX this July 20 at 1:00 pm and 9:00 pm.

    In a unique initiative, Sony BBC Earth has partnered with India’s largest interactive science centre – Nehru Science Centre – to showcase its content 8 Days: To the Moon and Back. The docu-series chronicles the journey of the first man to step on the moon. Students from various schools will get to witness this grand visual spectacle and hear the original and candid cockpit audio files from fifty years ago!

    In addition to the on-ground leg, Sony BBC Earth has collaborated with leading radio channels across India to give the listeners a feel of one of the most dangerous and magnificent missions in history by airing the original conversation audio clips between the three astronauts. The channel also has an interesting digital campaign in place with games, facts and stories that will leave the viewers in awe.  

  • Swatch X Bape: ‘Swatch Big Bold Bape : The World launched in India’

    Swatch X Bape: ‘Swatch Big Bold Bape : The World launched in India’

    MUMBAI: When it comes to legendary streetwear brands, A  BATHING APE®’s legend precedes it. Swatch is proud to announce a collaboration with BAPE®  through the release of six limited watches where street culture meets innovative Swiss watchmaking!

    Founded  in  1993,  A  BATHING  APE®   –  also  known  as  BAPE®   –  is  commonly  credited  as  one  of  the first-ever true streetwear brands and a pioneering label in street culture. Swatch and BAPE®  show their love for a globalized world with the launch of six new limited-edition watches dedicated to their favorite (mega)-cities and the globe. Bern, London, New York City, Paris, Tokyo and the entire planet: here we come!

    The newest SWATCH BIG BOLD product line, a statement piece boasting a striking Ø47mm watchcase, serves as a daring canvas for this limited-edition collection. All six models feature a newly designed signature BAPE®  camo pattern as well as the Ape Head logo on the hour hand and the lower strap, while  the  enhanced  Swatch  logo  is  invocative  of  the  watchmaker’s  debut  in  the  1980s.  The five city watches are numbered and limited to either 983 or 1993 pieces, paying tribute to each brand’s respective birth year. Together with the sixth model BIG BOLD BAPE The World, this limited-edition collection shouts out to big personalities, celebrating the world, diversity and time.

  • India News Haryana Hosted Mega Political Conclave ‘Manch Haryana’ in Chandigarh

    India News Haryana Hosted Mega Political Conclave ‘Manch Haryana’ in Chandigarh

    Chandigarh: India News Haryana the leading regional Hindi news channel by iTV Network today hosted a mega political conclave ‘Manch Haryana’ at Hotel Taj, Chandigarh to present the holistic picture of the development in the state. Manch Haryana is an initiative of India News Haryana, to foster a sense of citizenship and make political processes more transparent and accountable towards the people of the state.      

    The event was graced by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Haryana, Sh. Manohar Lal. While attending, Shri Manohar Lal in an exclusive session at India News Manch Haryana, said “The people of the state of Haryana has given us so much Love because of our fair and transparent governance.” We will prove the slogan of ‘Ab Ki Baar 75 Paar’, because people and trust and confidence in our government.” On the employment front, Shri Manohar Lal said, “Our government has given huge jobs, our focus is on skill development, and we have opened Vishwakarma Skill University to polish skills of youth to get new jobs.” He further added that, “Haryana has ranked number 3 from 14 in the ease of doing business ranking.”  Further on the farmer empowerment he said “Our government has given maximum compensation to farmers, we have recently started ‘Meri Fasal Mera Byora’ portal for farmers benefit, and by 2022 we will achieve our target to double the farmer’s income.” He also announced about his next 5 years plans. He said “Govt. is planning to set up a database of the people of the state to provide benefits of government schemes.”

    The conclave was attended by the biggest political leaders of Haryana, who voiced their opinion on various topical issues. The event of Haryana Manch was marked by multiple panel discussions and one-on-ones that sought and addressed several key issues including law and order, development and infrastructure, health and education, youth welfare and employment, women safety and agriculture.

    During the India News Haryana Manch Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Former Chief Minister of Haryana, spoke exclusively during a one on one session, while speaking he said “Congress government did a lot for people of the state while BJP government failed on most of the points.” On the issue of development he said, “Anyone can compare the statistics of the work done by Congress and BJP government on employment and development.”

    In another session on employment through industrial development in the state, Shri Vipul Goyal, Industry & Commerce Minister, Govt. of Haryana and Shri Kuldeep Sharma, Senior Congress Leader attended the session, while discussing, Shri Sharma said “Haryana has not yet been developed in terms of industrial growth, further he suggested that, Haryana government should reserve some percentage of Jobs for the people of Haryana” countering the same, Shri Goyal said “People of the state are happy with the work of Manohar Lal-led BJP government.” While speaking on providing jobs he said, “Our government has provided more jobs than promised, we have organized more than 160 Job fairs under ITI in 2016-17.”

    In an exclusive session with the Shri Vinod Sharma, Former Central Minister and President of Haryana Jan Chetna Party, Mr. Sharma said “establishing Industries can create Job opportunities in the state”, further he added that, every district should have IMT, while employment is an important issue, the state can only develop once our youth get jobs.”  Further he added that, “People were not satisfied with the work done by Congress government.”  He also said that, “In a democracy, only people matters not any politician.” 

    In an exclusive session with Finance Minister of Haryana Captain Abhimanyu, he said, “Employment rate has increased in past five years, crores of rupees has been invested in Haryana.” He also shared his views on the Budget 2019-20, says “Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman presented a historic budget.” He also said that “Our government avoided loans, tightened expenses and cut down the losses of Electricity Companies.”  On the employment generation he said, “Our government has given employment to the youth of the state in an honest manner.”

    In another session on the social security in the state, Shri. Krishan Bedi, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt of Haryana with Shri Satbir Saini, Senior INLD Leader and  Shri Karan Singh Dalal, Senior Congress Leader, the leaders discussed about the situation on how Haryana can become a better place for coming generations and the development work done by BJP government so far in the state.  During the session, Shri. Krishan Bedi said “We have empowered all the sections of the society, our government has implemented CM Shagun Yojna for daughter’s marriage.” While, Shri Satbir Saini said “Crime graph has increased in the state.”

    In an important session on water conservation, Shri Rao Narbir Singh, Cabinet Minister for PWD (B&R), Forest, Civil Aviation & Architecture, Govt. of Haryana and Shri Karan Singh Dalal, Senior Congress Leader, discussed about the core issue and how the government can take adequate steps to improve ground lever water level in Haryana. While speaking Shri Rao Narbir Singh, said “Our government has implemented many projects for water conservation, no one can get the benefit in just one day, we have created many bridges and Dams.” While, Shri Karan Singh Dalal said “Water Conservation is the need of the hour today.”  Further he suggested that, “Government should build a Bridge over Yamuna River in Haryana and the government should also focus on Crop diversification at large scale.” 

    In another session on Health & Wellness situation in the state, the panelists including Shri Ram Bilas Sharma, Education Minister, Govt of Haryana with Ms. Geeta Bhukkal, Senior Congress Leader. Shri Ram Bilas Sharma said “We have increased the number of teachers in the state, the education system of the state became much better under our regime.” While, Ms. Geeta Bhukkal said “We should avoid politics in the name of education and health.”

    In another session, Haryana Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Mr. O.P. Dhankar, said “Haryana is moving on a development pathway. We are educating farmers to stop crop burning in the state, we are working for the betterment of farmers.” Further he also added that, “Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has a vision to double to salaries of the farmers in India.”

    During Manch Haryana, high-caliber individuals from the state were also felicitated by the Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri. Manohar Lal with the Haryana Gaurav Awards. The award took genuine pride in the efforts of real-life heroes from the state and saluted them for resolutely chipping away at their goals to turn simple life experiences into something extraordinary.  

  • Catch these Emmy Award Nominated shows on Hotstar Premium

    Catch these Emmy Award Nominated shows on Hotstar Premium

    MUMBAI: The best and the most revered have been spoken for! The 71st Emmy Awards Nominations have just been announced. New faces and a fresh group of shows were prominently recognized in the nominations, together with acclaimed, veteran television programs. Game of Thrones secured 32 nominations, the most for any program in a single season. Over its eight-season run, the series has received a total of 161 nominations. Highest rated series Chernobyl received 19 nominations, while Barry and Fosse/ Verdon both received 17 nominations. Escape at Dannemora leads the race in limited series with 12 nominations.

    Catch some of these exciting titles Now Streaming on Hotstar Premium.

    DRAMA

    Game of Thrones
    Nine noble families wage war against each other in order to gain control over the mythical land of Westeros. Meanwhile, a force is rising after millenniums and threatens the existence of living men

    Outstanding drama series
    Lead actor in drama series – Kit Harington
    Lead actress in drama series – Emilia Clarke
    Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Alfie Allen, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Peter Dinklage
    Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Gwendoline Christie, Lena Headey, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams
    Directing for drama series – David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, David Nutter, Miguel Sapochnik
    Writing for a Drama Series – David Benioff and D.B. Weiss

    Pose
    Pose is set in the world of 1987 and looks at the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York: the rise of the luxury universe, the downtown social and literary scene and the ball culture world

    Outstanding Drama Series
    Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Billy Porter

    Succession
    Succession is an American satire comedy which follows a dysfunctional global-media family.

    Outstanding Drama Series
    Directing for a Drama Series – Adam McKay
    Writing for a Drama Series – Jeese Armstrong

    This is Us
    A heart-warming and emotional story about a unique set of triplets, their struggles, and their wonderful parents.

    Outstanding Drama Series
    Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Sterling K. Brown and Milo Ventimiglia
    Lead Actress in a Drama Series – Mandy Moore
    Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Chris Sullivan

    LIMITED SERIES

    Chernobyl
    Chernobyl is the highest rated TV show that gained global popularity for chronicling the events around one of the worst man-made catastrophes, the 1986 nuclear accident in Chernobyl, Ukraine.

    Outstanding Limited Series
    Lead actor in a Limited series or movie – Jared Harris
    Supporting Actress in a Limited series or movie – Emily Watson
    Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special – Craig Mazin
    Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special – Johan Renck

    Escape at Dannemora
    An employee at a prison in upstate New York becomes romantically involved with a pair of inmates and helps them escape.

    Outstanding Limited Series
    Lead Actor in a Limited Series or movie – Benicio Del Toro
    Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie – Patricia Arquette
    Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special – Ben Stiller

    Fosse/Verdon
    Spanning five decades, Fosse/Verdon explores the singular romantic and creative partnership between Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon

    Outstanding Limited Series
    Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie – Michelle Williams
    Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie – Sam Rockwell
    Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie – Margaret Qualley

    True Detective Season 3
    Seasonal anthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and outside the law.

    Lead actor in a Limited series or movie– Mahershala Ali

    Sharp Objects
    A reporter confronts the psychological demons from her past when she returns to her hometown to cover a violent murder.

    Outstanding Limited Series
    Lead actress in Limited Series – Amy Adams

    COMEDY

    Veep
    A satire comedy, where former Senator Selina Meyer finds that being Vice President of the United States is nothing like she hoped and everything that everyone ever warned her about.

    Outstanding Comedy Series
    Lead actress in comedy series – Julia Louis-Dryfus
    Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Tony Hale
    Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Anna Chlumsky

    Barry
    A hit man from the Midwest moves to Los Angeles and gets caught up in the city's theatre arts scene. Touted to win multiple awards Bill Halder the series lead actor is the one to watch out for.

    Outstanding Comedy Series
    Lead actor in Comedy Series – Bill Hader
    Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Anthony Carrigan, Henry Winkler and Stephen Root
    Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Sarah Goldberg
    Directing for a Comedy Series – Alec Berg, Bill Hader
    Writing for a Comedy Series – Alec Berg and Bill Hader

    Black Monday
    A series where a group of outsiders take on the 1980s old-boys club of Wall Street

    Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Don Cheadle

    TELEVISION MOVIE

    Deadwood: The Movie
    As the residents of Deadwood gather to commemorate Dakota's statehood in 1889, saloon owner Al Swearengen and Marshal Seth Bullock clash with Senator George Hearst.

    Outstanding Television Movie

    My Dinner with Herve
    A look at the life of French actor Hervé Villechaize, co-star of the hit '70s TV series "Fantasy Island", who took his own life in 1993 at the age of 50

    Outstating Television Movie

    VARIETY TALK SERIES

    Last Week tonight with John Oliver
    Former Daily Show host and correspondent John Oliver brings his persona to this new weekly news satire program.

    Outstanding Variety Talk series

    Who Is America
    A political satire, the show offers a take on America’s patriotism.

    Outstanding Variety Talk series

  • Trick Or Treat with Slappy’s bag of evil as &flix premiers Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

    Trick Or Treat with Slappy’s bag of evil as &flix premiers Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

    MUMBAI: Pumpkin headed scarecrows, giant spiders made of balloons, witches with glowing heads and Halloween lanterns are all set to come alive this July, as Slappy is back to wreck more havoc on Halloween. Premiering this month, as part of Flix First Premiere on &flix is “Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween” on Sunday, July 21 at 1PM and 9PM.  The movie will also air on &PrivéHD at 3PM. A brand-new horror comedy adventure inspired by one of the most popular children’s horror stories by author R.L Stine, Goosebumps and now its sequel, aims to retain the spookiness of the story with exceptional visual extravaganza. Directed by academy award winner Ari Devon Sandel, the film stars Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jeremy Raymond Taylor, Madison Iseman and Caleel Harris.

    The film follows Slappy, a mischievous talking dummy from an unpublished "Goosebumps" book by R.L. Stine and the best friend pair Sonny (Jeremy Raymond Taylor) and Sam’s (Caleel Harris) adventures. Hoping to start his own family, Slappy kidnaps Sonny's mother and brings all his ghastly friends back to life – just in time for Halloween. As the sleepy town becomes overrun with monsters, witches and other mysterious creatures, can Sonny and Sam save Sonny’s mom and spoil Slappy’s plan?

  • Statement from the desk of Mr. Madhavan Menon, Chairman & Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd.

    Statement from the desk of Mr. Madhavan Menon, Chairman & Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd.

    MUMBAI: We categorically deny a rumour purposefully confusing Thomas Cook (India) Ltd with Thomas Cook Group Plc (UK), being forwarded via a social messaging platform. This rumour appears to have been created and spread deliberately with an intent to cause irreparable damage to the Thomas Cook India Group.

    We believe that it is important that we clarify for the record two key points:

    1) Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. is part of Fairfax Financial Holdings, is a completely different entity from Thomas Cook PLC and has been an independent company since August 2012

    Thomas Cook India Group is a completely different entity from Thomas Cook PLC and has been an independent company since August 2012 when a 77 percent stake in Thomas Cook India Ltd. (TCIL) was acquired by Fairfax Financial Holdings (Fairfax), a Canada based multinational with varied interests across the globe as well as in India. 

    Post transfer of its entire stake in Thomas Cook (India) Limited to Fairfax, Thomas Cook UK ceased to be the promoter of Thomas Cook (India) Limited from the said date and since then, Thomas Cook UK has had no stake in Thomas Cook (India) Limited. 

    In the last seven years since, TCIL continues to grow and build its independent legacy as a leading integrated transnational travel and travel related services company offering a broad spectrum of services that include Foreign Exchange, Corporate Travel, MICE, Leisure Travel, Insurance, Visa and Passport services and E-Business. It operates leading B2C and B2B brands including Thomas Cook, SOTC, Sterling Holidays, TCI, SITA, Asian Trails, Allied T Pro, Australian Tours Management, Desert Adventures, Travel Circle International Limited, Travel Junkie (Ithaka), Digiphoto Entertainment Imaging (DEI), Private Safaris East & South Africa – across 29 countries, making it one of the largest travel companies in the Asia Pacific region.

    2) Thomas Cook (India) Limited is financially strong, profitable and maintains a positive outlook in the travel and tourism sector and continues to witness strong growth:

    · Cash and bank deposits balance of the Thomas Cook India Group (consolidated level) is at Rs. 10588 Mn. as of March 31, 2019.

    · On a standalone basis Thomas Cook India is debt free upon pre-payment of Rs. 670 Mn debenture obligations ahead of schedule. This has been made possible using stable and strong cash flows that the Thomas Cook India Group is generating year over year. Group generates an annual free cash flow of around Rs. 2000-2500 Mn.

    · As earlier reported, for the Financial Year ended March 31, 2019 on a comparable basis, the Group’s consolidated revenue from operations increased by 18% from Rs.56 Bn. to Rs.66 Bn. Consolidated PBT increased by 985% from Rs. 53 Mn. in FY18 to Rs. 573 Mn. in FY19.

    · Our Travel businesses have negative working capital and therefore do not require any external funding.

    · We have witnessed a turnaround of our international Destination Management Specialist companies during FY 2019. Additionally, during FY 2020, contribution to the profitability is expected from our recent acquisitions including Digiphoto Entertainment Imaging (DEI).

    · Our forward booking position reflects a healthy increase of over 12%.

    Mr. Madhavan Menon, Chairman and Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., said, “We have witnessed robust performances across all our key travel and foreign exchange businesses and continue to remain at a healthy financial position having prepaid our obligations and are debt free at a holding company level.”

    He added, “We are bullish on both the foreign exchange as well as the inbound and outbound businesses. We are scouting for new investments, and are looking for the right opportunity.”

  • Fast & Up ropes in table tennis marvel Sathiyan Gnanasekaran on it’s fit squad

    Fast & Up ropes in table tennis marvel Sathiyan Gnanasekaran on it’s fit squad

    MUMBAI: Fast&Up has announced the signing of highly celebrated Indian Table Tennis Player Sathiyan Gnanasekaran as a new member of its ‘Fast&Up – Fit Squad’. This collaboration has taken place at a time when Fast&Up is on the cusp of its next phase of growth focusing on a larger share of the fast-moving healthcare goods business in India while associating and supporting many young sportspersons coming from different experiences and backgrounds.

    Being the only Indian to have won two ITTF Pro Tour titles, Sathiyan had a spectacular international streak in 2018. He won three medals on debut in India's historic performance at the Commonwealth Games and played a crucial role in bringing home an elusive Asian Games medal. On home ground, he was awarded with the prestigious Arjuna Award. He currently stands in top 25 in world ranking which makes him India’s highest-ranked player in the latest International Table Tennis Federation rankings.

    Fast&Up has invariably supported sportspersons, athletes and fitness enthusiasts, to promote active living and the importance of nutritional supplements for enhanced performance. Under the aegis of ‘Fast&Up- Fit Squad’ the brand has actively focused on nurturing top quality athletes representing various sports. The Fast&Up- Fit Squad is currently supporting over 100+ athletes across the country.

    Vijayraghavan Venugopal, CEO, Aeronutrix Sports Products Private Limited, Co-Founder Fast&up while sharing his thoughts said,” Sathiyan Gnanasekaran is an exceptionally talented athlete who has brought a lot of pride to the country and we are glad that he is a part of our Fit Squad family now. At Fast&Up, sports is our passion and we strive to identify and encourage talented athletes in their sports journey by ensuring their nutritional needs are met. We believe that Sathiyan has all the qualities to continue his top performer streak for Indian table tennis and we look forward to his engagement with Fast&Up."

    Talking about his association with Fast&Up, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran said, “It’s quite important to consume the right nutrition to achieve optimum performance and stay longer in the sport without injury. It is an honour for me to partner with Fast&Up which has a range of top quality nutrition products that will form an integral component in my training, my favourite being Fast&Up Reload – Berry Flavour.”