KLUDI – The German bath fittings major
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KLUDI – The German bath fittings major and leading European brand announces India expansion plans.
Beginning 2014, KLUDIRAK India Pvt. Ltd. will be re-named as KLUDI India Pvt. Ltd.
New Delhi, 6th December 2013: At a press conference held at the Oberoi Hotel today, globally renowned German bath fittings Brand KLUDI announced their future expansion plans in the Indian Market. Kludi GMBH (Germany) – a 170 Million USD parent company of KLUDIRAK India has acquired majority stakes in the KLUDIRAK with quantum infusion of equity. Strategically, this is an extremely significant step not only from resource mobilization standpoint, but also in terms of the strengthening the brand awareness of KLUDI in India. Consequently, beginning 2014, KLUDIRAK India Pvt. Ltd. will be re-named as KLUDI India Pvt. Ltd.
KLUDI India Pvt. Ltd. will invest 1.50 million USD in India to support the expansion plan. This strategic move is the clear reflection of the importance that KLUDI accords India in its global expansion plans. The press conference today was addressed by; Mr. Janusz Palarczyk, Group CEO – KLUDI, Mr. Bernd Neidhardt, Managing Director – KLUDIRAK India Pvt. Ltd. and Mr. Sanjay Bankeshwar – Vice-President (Sales & Marketing) KLUDIRAK India Pvt. Ltd.
Commenting on the occasion Mr. Janusz Palarczyk, Group CEO – KLUDI said, “KLUDI is targeting a market share on a 5-year perspective of around 18-20% of the high-end segment of the Indian market by 2018. The high-end and luxury segment of the market comprises approximately 5% of the overall organized market of INR 4Bn. KLUDI India’s revenue expectations would be exceeding USD 5 million annually by 2018, growing at 35-40% year on year beginning 2014. In keeping with its core philosophy of quality sales rather than mass selling, KLUDI targets to operate at healthy sustainable gross profits.”
Mr. Bernd Neidhardt, Managing Director – KLUDIRAK India Pvt. Ltd. further added, “Our India distribution & reach plan will be focused on major metros, selected state capitals and larger II-tier cities. KLUDI high-end (made in Germany) range will be distributed in major metros through KLUDI Premier stores and KLUDI boutiques in collaboration with high-end retailing partners. While mid-segment ranges that include primarily KLUDIRAK collection made in UAE that will be distributed through distributors/stockists catering to secondary dealers. Similarly, project specialists and dealers will cater to mid-segment Projects. In the 2014-2015 phase, the focus will be on consolidation and greater depth in existing markets, rather than on geographical expansions. Thereafter, new markets like Chennai & Hyderabad etc will be addressed.”
According to Mr. Sanjay Bankeshwar – Vice-President (Sales & Marketing) KLUDIRAK India Pvt. Ltd., “Enhancing brand awareness will be the single biggest priority in terms of marketing spend and activity for KLUDI in India. High-end retail being our focus for the next few years, a huge share of the marketing effort and spend would be allotted towards enhancing visibility in showrooms and through advertising campaigns. To complement this effort, KLUDI plans to imaginatively and aggressive engage with architects, interior designers and consultants fraternity. Close to 35-40% of all investments planned will be for building brand KLUDI.”
Segment-wise, high-end retail is the focal point of KLUDI’s strategy and activity. The high-end hospitality segment too will be a major focus that will be pursued aggressively by KLUDI in India. An additional advantage for KLUDI in India is the establishment of a full-fledged sales office in Singapore, which is expected to support and complement the efforts of KLUDI India in high-end projects. The role of Singapore-based consultants in brand specifications in many high-end institutional projects in India is decisive and KLUDI Singapore office is expected to play a key support role in this endeavor of KLUDI India.
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About KLUDI:
For over 87 years, KLUDI has been known around the world as one of the leading quality manufacturers of fittings for harnessing the element of water in both bathroom and kitchen. The company’s high levels of innovation and quality, combined with fashion-conscious, award winning designs, have earned KLUDI its position as premier brand of bath and kitchen fittings in Europe and in leading markets worldwide. Worldwide KLUDI has production facilities and marketing companies in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, China and the United Arab Emirates. In India, KLUDI made its foray in 2010 by establishing its subsidiary, KLUDIRAK India Pvt. Ltd., promoting the brands KLUDI, KLUDIRAK, Esprit and Joop!, all under one roof.
About KLUDI’s association with RAK Ceramics:
Kludi’s association with international ceramics major RAK Ceramics began in 2006 with setting-up of its JV faucet manufacturing plant at Ras-Al-Khaimah with KLUDI technology. Initially it was for serving the middle-east market. However, this association has bolstered KLUDI’s product portfolio and versatility in India, enabling it to effectively cater to the mid-segment projects market. KLUDI’s synergy with RAK’s India establishment is based on an effective, though unstructured co-operation in customer-base sharing in trade and projects, without the latter being strategically and operationally involved in KLUDI’s India operations. In view of the recent acquisition of majority shareholding by KLUDI Germany in KLUDIRAK India, the German imprint on its approach and strategy will be even more evident.
Contd…
Product Range:
Worldwide, the Product architecture of KLUDI covers luxury, high-end and mid-segment – beginning from life-style luxury at the top (Brand licence partnerships like Joop! And Esprit), thru high-end (Amba, Balance, Bozz, O-cean, Q-Beo, MX, A-QA Dual Shower and Fizz shower programs) and E-go and L-Line Kitchen faucets) till mid-segment and project ranges (Objecta, Logo-neo and Tercio).
In India, the product range also includes the KLUDIRAK collection for the mass and project segments produced in the JV plant of KLUDI and RAK LLC at Ras-Al-Khaimah.
Markets:
Worldwide markets include Europe, Middle-East, South Asia ( including India), Asia-Pacific, Australia-New Zealand & Africa
In India KLUDI is distributed in Metros like Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru & Kolkata; Semi-metros like Pune and State Capitals & II-tier cities like Ahmedabad, Raipur, Bhopal, Indore, Surat, Baroda & Ludhiana. Future markets planned – Chennai, Hyderabad & Chandigarh (late 2014 onwards)
Product range:
Worldwide, the product architecture of KLUDI covers luxury, high-end and mid-segment beginning from life-style luxury at the top (Brand licence partnerships like Joop! And Esprit), thru high-end (Amba , Balance, Bozz , Ocean, Q-Beo, MX, A-QA Dual Shower and Fizz shower programs) and E-go and L-Line Kitchen faucets) till mid-segment and project ranges (Objecta, Logo-neo and Tercio)
In India, the product range also includes the KLUDIRAK collection for masses and project segments produced in the JV plant of KLUDI and RAK LLC at Ras-Al-Khaimah.
Target group:
- High-end and Luxury retail customers (end-users)
- High-end and upper-mid residential projects
- High-end and upper-mid Hospitality and other institutional segment
Awards & accolades received:
Year after year, KLUDI has excelled in design innovation, which is manifest in many of its ranges being awarded the IF Product design award, Plus X design award, the most recent examples being their hot-sellers KLUDI BALANCE (2012), KLUDI E-GO and L-LINE KITCHEN FAUCETS, FIZZ SHOWERS and KLUDI AMBA (2013) on its debut at the ISH exhibition in Frankfurt last March.
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Website: www.kludi.com
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6122013
Dear Friends,
You will find attached the invitations for tonight concert (Flagas’k) and for next Writers Etc with Jeet Thayil (Narcopolis) in conversation with Supriya Nair.
I see you this evening?
Warmest regards,
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Jean-Philippe Bottin
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Jean-Philippe Bottin
Directeur, Alliance Française Delhi
Délégué Général Inde Népal, Fondation Alliance Française
72 Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110 003, India
Mob: (91) 9560004641, Twitter: @JPBottin
Posted by Naresh Kumar Sagar
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Rajya Sabha MPs: Analysis of Criminal Background
6122013
Rajya Sabha MPs: Analysis of Criminal Background, Financial, Education, Gender and other details.
Highlights
National Election Watch (NEW) has analyzed affidavits of 227 out of 245 MPs of Rajya Sabha. 12 members of Rajya Sabha are nominated by the President and are not mandated under current laws to submit their affidavits to the Election Commission. There are 4 seats vacant right now (2 in Uttar Pradesh, 1 in Andhra Pradesh and 1 nominated seat) and 3 affidavits were either badly scanned or a few pages are missing (Nand Kumar Sai of BJP from Chhattisgarh, Aayanur Manjunatha of BJP from Karnataka and Mohammed Adeeb an Independent member from Uttar Pradesh).
Criminal:
· MPs with Criminal Cases: Out of the 227 MPs analyzed for Rajya Sabha Election, 38 (17%) MPs, declared criminal cases against themselves.
· MPs with Serious Criminal Cases: Out of these 227 MPs analyzed, 15 MPs (7%) declared Serious Criminal cases against themselves.
· Top 3 MPs with Serious Criminal Cases: Among the 15 MPs who have declared serious criminal cases, Prof. Baghel S.P. Singh of BSP from Uttar Pradesh has declared 1 case including charges related to Attempt to murder followed by Shri Parvej Hashmi of INC from Delhi with 1 case including charges related to voluntarily causing grievous hurt and Thiru T.Rathinavel of AIADMK from Tamil Nadu with 1 case including charges related to undue influence or personation at an election.
Financial:
· Average Assets of MPs: The average asset of the 227 Rajya Sabha MPs analyzed is Rs. 20.17 Crore.
· Party wise Average Assets: Among major parties, the average asset of Rajya Sabha MPs from INC is Rs 16.74crores, from BJP is Rs 8.51 crores, from BSP is Rs 13.82 crores, and from CPI (M) it is Rs 39.65 Lacs.
· Crorepati MPs: Out of 227 MPs analyzed from Rajya Sabha, 153 (67%) are crorepatis.
· High Asset MPs: The MP with maximum assets in the Rajya Sabha Election is Mahendra Prasad of JD(U) from Bihar with assets worth Rs 683.56 crores, followed by Dr.Vijaya Mallya, Independent member from Karnataka with Rs 615.42 crores and Jaya Amitabh Bachchan of SP from Uttar Pradesh with assets worth Rs. 493.86 crores.
· Low Asset MPs: 9 MPs have declared assets worth less than Rs 20 Lakh. Anil Dave of BJP from Madhya Pradesh is the MP who has declared lowest assets worth Rs. 2.75 lakhs followed by Mohammed Nadimul of AITC from West Bengal who has declared assets worth Rs. 3.19 lakhs and Shymal Chakraborty of CPI (M) from West Bengal with assets worth Rs 5.47 lakhs.
· Liabilities of MPs: A total of 4 (2%) MPs out of 227 analyzed declared liabilities of Rs. 20 Crore and above. 99 MPs declared Zero Liabilities.
· MPs with Highest Liabilities: Jaya Amitabh Bachchan of SP from Uttar Pradesh declared the highest liabilities worth Rs. 152.34 Crores, followed by Abhishek Manu of INC from Rajasthan with liabilities worth Rs. 37.24 Crores
· PAN detail of MPs: 32 (14%) MPs have not declared their PAN details.
Other Background Details (Education, Age, Gender):
· MPs Education: A total of 190 (84%) out of 227 MPs analyzed are Graduates or with higher educational qualification. About 5% of MPs (12 out 227 analyzed) have educational qualifications equivalent to 10th Pass or below.
· MPs Gender: Out of the 227 MPs analyzed, there are only 20 women MPs in the Rajya Sabha.
· MPs Age: Out of 227 MPs analyzed, 3 MPs are above 80 years of age.
Thanks and Regards
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IIM Ahmedabad (Retd.)
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Reforms
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6th JK Tyre Hornbill Motor Rally comes to a successful end
6122013
Kohima, December 6, 2013: The 6th JK Tyre Hornbill Motor Rally came to a successful conclusion after exciting action and lots of enthusiasm here in Kohima. In keeping with its commitment of taking motor sports to the farthest corners of the country, JK Tyre with the support from the Government of Nagaland has helped to establish the Hornbill Motor Rally as the premier motorsports event in the North East. The Time, Speed, Distance (TSD) rally is organized by the Nagaland Adventure and Motor Sports Association (NAMSA).
The rally coincides with the famous Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, a seven-day extravaganza of cultural performances, ethnic food courts, handlooms and handicrafts bazaars, film and art festivals, fashion shows and national rock contest.
The event saw enthusiastic participation from drivers and two-wheeler rallyists. This year saw a significant increase in participation in the four-wheeler and two-wheeler categories including an all-women’s team that also took part in the challenging event. The participants came from Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Delhi and Chandigarh reflecting the pan-Indian appeal of the JK Tyre Hornbill Motor Rally.
The rally covered a total distance of 130kms after being flagged off by Mr. Sanjay Sharma, Head- Motorsports, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd from the IG Stadium. The rally cars and bikes traversed the hilly terrain passing through the beautiful landscapes of Kezoma, Kedima, Kisama and Naga Heritage village before finishing at the IG Stadium. The rally was a whole new adventure for drivers and navigators and helped them explore the unchartered territories of the state.
The day culminated in a glittering prize giving ceremony presided over by Chief Guest, Dr. Ashwani Kumar, Honorable Governor of Nagaland & Manipur and Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director of JK Tyre & Industries Ltd. The guests were treated to some mesmerizing performances by the famous Tetseo Sisters from Nagaland.
The four wheeler category was divided in four classes– professional, amateur ladies and couple classes, while two-wheeler category had one combined class. In the professional class, SK Ajgar Ali and co-driver Mohammad Mustafa clinched the top honours with a cumulative time penalty of 10 seconds. Former Raid-de-Himalaya winner, Along Aier and co-driver Chandan Sen finished with the second best time penalty of 17 seconds, while Chidanand Murthy Sathish Gopalakrishnan finished third with a time of 22 seconds.
In the Amateur Class, Nitoka Chopi and co-driver Philip Lam finished on the top of the time sheets with a cumulative penalty of 5min 06 sec, while Kezhaletuo and co-driver Bodevi Shuya finished second with a total time of 9min 53 sec. Mikrio Kayina and co-driver Arun Kayina clinched the last spot on the podium with time penalty of 14 min 14 sec.
In the All-Ladies class, Darshana Sen Gupta and Ranjana Bhajanka walked away with top honours with a total time of 25 min 47 sec, while in the Couple Class, Atsase Sangtam and co-driver Asenla KR finished on top of the time sheets after clocking 1hr 37min 12 sec.
In the two-wheeler category, Saptrishi Basu and navigator Diptojyoti Ghosh finished on the top stwp of the podium with a total time of 20sec. Udya Ganguly and Rajkumar Mundra finished second with a total time of 31 seconds, while Mukesh Thakkar and navigator Subhranshu Hazra finished third with a time penalty of 1min 43 sec.
TSD rallying (Time Speed Distance) is a form of motor sport usually conducted on public roads (following Traffic Rules) but sometimes including off-road and track sections. The objective of these rallies is to maintain precise times and precise average speeds on various segments of a predefined route. Each team consists of a rider/driver and navigator. In a Time-Speed-Distance Format, the route instructions, in addition to instructions to keep a team on course also gives assigned speeds. This is where a common man can get his personal road car with basic safety equipment’s as provided by manufacturer to participate and experience the thrill of motor rallying.
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India to host Under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017
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In a landmark development for Indian football, the country was awarded the right to host the 2017 Under-17 FIFA World Cup on Thursday by the world governing body of the game in its executive committee meeting in Brazil.
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India was chosen as the host country for the mega event by the FIFA executive committee in its meeting at Salvador de Bahia in Brazil.
South Africa, Ireland and Uzbekistan were the other countries in the running for the right to host the tournament.
By virtue of being the host country, India will take part in the 24-nation tournament for the first time in its history.
“India confirmed by the FIFA ExCo as host of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017,” FIFA said in a tweet after the meeting.
“Yes, India has won the right to host the 2017 Under-17 World Cup Football. It’s official now,” All India Football Federation General Secretary Kushal Das said.
AIFF President Praful Patel described the development as historic.”This is historic. This is what we have been waiting for. I need to thank the FIFA Executive Committee for keeping their trust on us and granting India the rights to host the 2017 U-17 World Cup,” Patel said. “I am also grateful to the Government of India for their support and giving us the necessary guarantees which made it possible for India to bid for the 2017 World Cup,” he added.
This will the biggest ever football tournament India will be hosting and the first FIFA event in the country’s history. India has hosted Asian Football Confederation’s Youth Championships (Under-20) in 2006 and then the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008 but never has hosted any FIFA tournament.
United Arab Emirates hosted the tournament this year while Chile will be the host country for the 2015 edition.
India, whose submission of final bid documents were initially in doubt due to delay in getting government guarantees on various subjects, will be held in six venues which are to be selected from eight prospective cities — New Delhi, Margao, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi and Guwahati.
From the very beginning, India’s chances of winning the hosting right have been strong as it was FIFA which mooted the idea of the country hosting the mega event. The world body felt that if India can host the mega event, it could go a long way in lifting the profile of the game in the second most populous country in the world.
In a visit to the country, FIFA President Sepp Blatter and then his secretary Jerome Valcke, have supported India hosting the event, provided it builds the required infrastructure and facilities.
But, the journey has not been a smooth one as India’s initial bid in January was rejected due to want of clear guarantees from the government on several subjects which the FIFA wants from a host country.
The bidding countries were required to submit written guarantees on tax exemptions for broadcasters and sponsors, foreign exchange remittances, security, transport and accommodation of players, and visa, among others.
The government supported the AIFF’s bid from the very beginning but the sticking point had been the issue of the guarantees. India submitted the final bid document just a few days before the deadline of November 15.
While the expenses of hosting the event will be borne by FIFA and AIFF, the government has assured additional financial assistance.
“While the expenditure for upgradation of stadia (Rs 95 crore) will be provided as additional central assistance to the State Governments, a sum of Rs 25 crore is kept as a contingency to ensure smooth conduct of the tournament,” the Sports Ministry had said.
“AIFF and FIFA have agreed to bear the entire expenditure of hosting the tournament. The amounts required are to be raised through sponsorships and other commercial agreements,” it had said.
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Nelson Mandela dies at 95
6122013
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Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first elected black president and a global anti-apartheid icon died early Friday, at his home in the suburb of Houghton in Johannesburg, following a lengthy illness. He was 95.
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The elder statesman was receiving medical care from a leading team since September after spending three months in a Pretoria hospital for a recurrent lung ailment.
“Fellow South Africans, our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation, has departed,” Zuma said in a nationally televised address.
He passed away peacefully at 20:50 (local time), 5th December, Zuma said.
“He is now resting. He is now at peace…Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father,” he said.
Zuma announced that there would be a state funeral for the departed world leader. Details of the funeral have not been announced yet, but all flags will fly at half-mast until the funeral.
Zuma said Mandela’s tireless struggle for freedom earned him the respect of the world, “His humility, his compassion, and his humanity earned him their love.”
“Our thoughts are with the South African people who today mourn the loss of the one person who, more than any other, came to embody their sense of a common nationhood.
Our thoughts are with the millions of people across the world who embraced Madiba as their own, and who saw his cause as their cause, Zuma said.
“Let us reaffirm his vision of a society in which none is exploited, oppressed or dispossessed by another. Let us commit ourselves to strive together sparing neither strength nor courage to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa,” he said.
Hundreds of South Africans all over the country huddled in groups from the early hours of this morning to mourn the death of founding father of the democratic nation.
The government has also set up a special tribute website at http://www.mandela.gov.za.
Mandela spent 27 years in prison, most of them on Robben Island, after being convicted in the Rivonia trial with several others 50 years ago.
He stepped down after serving one term as President following the first democratic elections in 1994.
Mandela had been in and out of hospital for the past two years with a range of medical problems.
Tributes and condolences from many world leaders have been pouring in from all corners of the world after the tragic news.
President Pranab Mukherjee said, “President Mandela was a statesman, world leader and icon of inspiration of humanity.He was a great friend of India and his contribution for strengthening the close ties between our two countries will be always remembered”.
Mandela was awarded the Bharat Ratna in honour of his contribution to the friendship between our two countries, he said.
“I convey heartfelt condolences on behalf of the people and the Government of India as well as my personal behalf to the family members of Late President Mandela and the people and the Government of South Africa,” Mukherjee said on Friday.
Describing Mandela as the “greatest personalities of our times”, Vice President Hamid Ansari said he represented the best of human spirit and values.
While his courage, determination and sacrifice inspired millions of people during the anti-apartheid movement, his message of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation thereafter, united them and led the rainbow nation on the path to peace and progress, he said.
“In his death, South Africans have lost the father of their nation and the world a statesman, whose life and message of courage and goodness would continue to inspire and guide all of us around the world in the years ahead,” the Vice President said.
Condoling his death, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, “A giant among men has passed away. This is as much India’s loss as South Africa’s. He was a true Gandhian. His life and work will remain a source of eternal inspiration for generations to come. I join all those who are praying for his soul”.
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Updated on : 06-12-2013 09:48 AMEdit : Edit
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On the passing of Nelson Mandela
6122013 | Thursday, December 5, 2013 | ||||
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