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Acquisition by RIL not to affect listing of HomeShop18 in NYSE
NEW DELHI: Homeshop18 is to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and the fact that Reliance industries has acquired Network18 which holds 54.5 per cent in Homeshop18 is not expected to bring about any change of plans.
In fact, Homeshop18 CEO Sundeep Malhotra has assured his employees that its $75M IPO and the future of its management team will not change. However, it is learnt that three board members will change. There are expectations that Reliance may in fact double the IPO.
The concern of the employees flows out of the fact that many of them have stock options in the firm.
According to Homeshop18’s filing, in the TV18 HSN Holdings Limited Employee Stock Option Plan 2008 it says, “As of September 30, 2013 options for a total of 2,486,500 ordinary shares were outstanding, of which options for a total of 2,111,500 ordinary shares had vested and options for a total of 2,070,750 ordinary shares had become exercisable. As of September 30, 2013, 209,750 ordinary shares had been issued upon exercise of options granted under the plan.”
Following the preliminary filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) this April, the company is expected to submit a revised offer document soon.
NW18 HSN SEC, registered in Cyprus, is not expected to receive any proceeds from the sale of ordinary shares. However, the parent company NW18 which will be participating in the IPO will provide funds in rupee equivalent of $42.3 million to HomeShop18 from the proceeds, and HomeShop18 can use these funds to purchase equity interest in its Indian subsidiary.
HomeShop18 in October 2013 entered into a $14-million follow-on funding round with Korea’s GS Home Shopping (GS) funds managed by OCP Asia Ltd (OCP Asia) and Network18.
NW18 continues to be the majority shareholder (54.5%) in HomeShop18. SAIF Partners (25.2%), GS Home Shopping (17.1%) and OCP Asia (6.4%) are the other existing investors.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
