Salman Khan Gifted with Black Suzuki Hayabusa

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, like MS Dhoni is also known for his passion for bikes, recently added the widely acclaimed Suzuki Hayabusa to his collection of superbikes. The Busa becomes Salman’s second Suzuki, after a limited edition Intruder M1800RZ which he gifted himself in September-2012.
The legendary Black Hayabusa was gifted to Salman Khan by Atul Gupta, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt. Ltd. (SMIPL) and Anu Anamika, National Head – Marketing, SMIPL, as a token of their appreciation for a favourable response flowing in since Salman was signed up as their brand ambassador.

“Suzuki two-wheelers’ association with Salman Khan has produced phenomenal results for us. This gesture serves as a token of acknowledgement of the value Salman has added to our brand. The Hayabusa is world renowned for its state-of- the-art technology. This occasion marks the coming together of two legendary icons.” said Atul Gupta, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, SMIPL.

Anu Anamika, National Head – Marketing, SMIPL, said, “Salman has a passionate streak for biking. His collection of bikes includes variants from mass bikes to superbikes. He has also used Suzuki bikes in his movies like ‘Ek Tha Tiger’, ‘Ready’ and ‘Dabangg2’. We are honoured to add another Suzuki masterpiece to his collection.”

Refresher – Suzuki Hayabusa is powered by a 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC 1340cc engine and is equipped with electronic ignition. It is priced at Rs. 13.76 lakhs (On-road price, Mumbai).

Nikon Organizes International Photo Contest Exhibition In Mumbai

Nikon Corporation, leader in imaging technology, today announced the commencement of the Nikon Photo Contest (NPC) Exhibition at National Center Performing Arts / Pramal Gallery Mumbai. The exhibition will showcase the collection of 53 images of NPC 2010–2011 winners and is scheduled to continue till December 23, 2012.

Nikon photo contest is an attempt to nurture an aspirational community to support photographers and provide them an opportunity to communicate and enrich photographic culture for professionals and amateurs alike. Nikon has also announced international Nikon Photo Contest for 2012–2013 in the month of November. The entry period is December 1, 2012, through February 28, 2013. This year Mr. Raghu Rai member of Magnum Photos & Chief Mentor-Nikon India is part of the esteemed jury for Nikon Photo Contest 2012-2013.

Speaking at the occasion Mr. Hiroshi Takashina, Managing Director, Nikon India said “We at Nikon have always strived to promote photography as an art form and Nikon Photo Contest is an attempt to help us achieve our dream. Photography as an art has extended its dimension to reach new heights; for Nikon this community is a source of great inspiration as we pursue our goal of helping strengthening the art of photography through innovation and invention as well as through projects and exhibitions, such as this.”

He further added -“India is a key market for Nikon Corporation and we are witnessing strong growth in the country. As a result to sustain the momentum and provide a better platform for photo-enthusiasts Nikon Corporation has bought NPC exhibition to Mumbai this year.”

Nikon Photo Contest, sponsored by Nikon, is one of the world's most prestigious international photo contests. Nikon Photo contest international (NPCI) has been held by Nikon Corporation since 1969 to provide an opportunity for photographers around the world to communicate and to enrich photographic culture for professional and amateurs alike. NPCI 2010-2011 saw Indian photographers grabbing the Grand Prix award along with 3 more awards in different categories. Mr. Debarshi Duttagupta won the Grand Prix Award for his image “Learning to fly”. Mr. Dhaval Kanada stood 3rd in “Energy” category while Mr. Saurav Karmakar & Mr. Abhishek Hajela were Runners-up in the “Emerging Talent” category.

As NPCI celebrates its 34th anniversary, Nikon Photo contest International is changing its name to Nikon Photo Contest (NPC), adding a photographic video category and opening up the judging to expert photographers selected from all over the world.

Nipro sets up India's first dialyser manufacturing facility

Nipro Corporation, a Japan based maker of  life saving medical devices, consumables, pharmaceutical glass products has seta up a facility at Shirwal near Pune which will manufacture the first made-in-India artificial kidney (dialyser).
The company has made investment of Rs 700 crore for this facility and it has been given mega project status by the State Government.

Also, the project has been accorded approval by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre to introduce in-house Gamma technology for sterilising devices for the first time in the country.
Nipro has been operating in India since 1995, and notches an annual turnover of Rs 500 crore.
Commenting on this development, Milind Pappu, managing director, Nipro India Corporation said, "NIPRO India Corporation expects to achieve Rs 350 crore turnover in 2013.
The Pune Factory currently provides employment opportunity to 800 people and expects to double it by end of 2013. Nipro India’s Facility for manufacturing Artificial kidneys from synthetic fibers is the country’s most ambitious project in the Medical Device Industry.
The growing importance of Indian Healthcare market gives this country a central position in Nipro Corporation’s global strategy. We entered the Indian Market in 1995 and started our trading activity in the country."
According to Pappu, Nipro products will bring down the cost of dialysis and increase the reach. Currently, In India, only 10 per cent of patients can afford dialysis treatment. Initially, it will make six million dialysers per annum, which can be ramped-up and it plans to export 90 per cent of its production in the beginning.
This was accomplished with active support and cooperation from over 50 specialized engineers from Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) who commissioned the facility. With an initial capacity to make six million dialysers per annum, which can be ramped-up, Nipro plans to export 90 per cent of its production in the beginning.
In addition to the Shirwal facility, it has a factory in Tripura to make glass vials and ampules and plants in Meerut, Badlapur, Chiplun and Tarapur to make pharma glass tubing. Another plant is being set up in Khopoli.
This factory would manufacture the highest quality of artificial kidney (dialyzers), disposable syringes & needles, cannulas, IVC (Intravenous Catheters), AVF (arterial venous fistulas) and BTS (blood tubing sets).
Nipro Corporation has  manufacturing facilities in Japan, Thailand, China, Brazil, USA, Indonesia, Bangladesh and India.
The new facility is a testament to Nipro Corporation’s strategy to expand its worldwide presence in the major economies.

Hitachi, Panasonic to make India base to access Africa, Middle East; plan Rs 5,700-cr investments

Hitachi and Panasonic, Japan's two biggest corporations, plan to invest more than Rs 5,700 crore in India as they have identified the country as one of their biggest bets for growth and a base to expand in Africa and Middle East markets.

Hitachi, which held its first board of directors meeting outside Japan in its 102-year history in New Delhi on Thursday, announced Rs 4,700-crore expansion plans that include building 5 manufacturing plants.

Japan's largest industrial power and electronics conglomerate has formulated a 'India business strategy 2015' plan to make the country one of its top markets and targets a three-fold jump in its India revenues to Rs 20,000 crore by 2015-16.

"With its market, human resources and business partnerships, India is an important strategic base for Hitachi," its global president Hiroaki Nakanishi said.

Panasonic too has lined up more than Rs 1,000 crore investment in a new plant at Haryana and targets Rs 20,000-crore revenues by 2014-15, a year earlier than Hitachi.

Yorihisa Shiokawa, Panasonic's managing executive officer and chief of the Asia Pacific, Middle East and African operations, said the firm wants to set up more such plants and become the country's largest appliances maker by 2018.

Kotak Mahindra Capital in tie-up for Indo-Japan deals

Kotak Mahindra Capital Co. Ltd, the investment banking arm of Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd, has formed an alliance with Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC) and SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. to tap the growing number of merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions involving Japanese companies in India.

 

“Japan is a priority market for cross-border M&As with India, and the growing relationship and synergies between the two countries will only continue to get stronger,” T.V. Raghunath, managing director and chief executive of Kotak Investment Banking, said in a statement.

 

In the last five years, there have been as many as 107 transactions involving Japanese companies in India, with disclosed deal value of $10.6 billion, of which 103 deals were inbound, according to estimates of consulting firm Ernst and Young Pvt. Ltd.

 

Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd’s acquisition of Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd for $4.6 billion in 2008 is the largest Indo-Japanese M%A transaction.

In 2012, Japanese companies ranked third in terms of deals in India (by value), with the biggest being the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. Ltd’s purchase of 26% stake in Max New York Life Insurance Co., a joint venture between Max India Ltd and US-based New York Life Insurance Co., for Rs.2,731 crore in an all-cash transaction.

 

The alliance with the Japanese companies doesn’t involve any equity participation by the Japanese firms, said Shanti Ekambaram, president, corporate and investment banking, Kotak Mahindra Bank. Kotak Mahindra Capital’s alliance with SMBC and SMBC Nikko Securities comes after the Indian investment bank ended a partnership with Japan’s GCA Savvian Corp., an independent investment bank. The partnership had worked on six merger and acquisition deals, including Japanese stationery and furniture products firm Kokuyo Co. Ltd’s acquisition of Indian stationery company Camlin Ltd in 2011.

Kotak Mahindra Capital’s other global alliances include an exclusive partnership with Evercore Partners, a New York-based investment banking advisory.

 

“The need for such alliances is huge. For Indian i-banks, there is no option but to have such strategic alliances or lose business to global banks,” said Deepak Srinath, director, Allegro Capital Advisors, adding that Indian clients are increasingly looking for global investors and strategic alliances.

 

“It is difficult to set up an office overseas and create a network from scratch,” Srinath said.

Such partnerships also help the Indian bank work with clients of the foreign partner on deals in India.

In an independent development, Kotak Mahindra Group is raising an infrastructure fund with SMBC and Canadian real estate company Brookfield Asset Management.

“Fund raising is under way; we can’t give specifics right now,” said Raghunath, adding that there is significant interest in infrastructure funding.

Honda Brio and City sedan price hike by upto Rs 12,000 announced in India

Honda Cars India, the fully owned subsidiary of Honda Motors Japan, has announced that from January 2013, they will be increasing price of the Brio small car and City sedan. In a statement released by Honda India, they stated that price of Brio hatchback and City sedan will be increased in the range of 0.8% to 1.65%.

This means, the price of Brio small car base model will be increased in the range of Rs 3,200 to Rs 6,680 whereas new prices of City base variant should be increased from Rs 5,800 to Rs 12,000. Price of other Honda cars, Jazz, CR-V and Civic will remain unchanged.

Honda is going to launch the new CR-V in India early next year, while the new 2013 Civic is not going to be launched in India. The big launch next year. which everyone is waiting to see, is of the Brio based sedan, Amaze. Honda will launch Brio Amaze sedan with 1.5L diesel engine next year by April. Honda's network in India is spread across 140 outlets in 87 cities.

Nissan to increase car prices from January 2013 in India

 Almost every car manufacturers in India has announced to increase their car prices from January 2013. The latest to join the list is Japanese car maker, Nissan Motors. Earlier today, Nissan India announced that they will increase prices of all their cars sold across the country w.e.f. January 2013.

Reason of this price increase, according to Nissan India, "The price increase is being contemplated to offset the rising input costs and currency fluctuation prevailing in the Indian market. The revision of prices will soften the negative impact and help the company stay competitive."
Nissan had increased their car prices on select models last month, so this new announcement might come as a surprise to many.

From luxury car makers, Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz, to affordable car makers like, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Mahindra, and many more have announced to increase car prices from January 2013. A report suggests that car manufacturers are announcing to increasing car prices from Jan 2013 in order to clear 2012 stock. For more information, scroll down.

Auto News Release

NISSAN INDIA PLANS TO ANNOUNCE PRICE INCREASE FROM JANUARY 2013
Mumbai, December 13, 2012: Nissan today announced its plans to increase prices across all its vehicle models w.e.f. from January 01, 2013.

The price increase is being contemplated to offset the rising input costs and currency fluctuation prevailing in the Indian market. The revision of prices will soften the negative impact and help the company stay competitive.

Nissan delivers cutting-edge technology, innovative design and a rewarding experience to all its customers. In India, Nissan has been constantly expanding innovative and exciting product offerings across hatchback, sports car, SUV and sedan segments. Today, Nissan has strongly positioned three locally produced models – Micra, Sunny and Evalia. Nissan products will continue to represent outstanding value within the Indian market.