Brands
CCI approves 16$ bn acquisition of Flipkart by Walmart
MUMBAI: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved American retail giant Walmart’s $16 billion acquisition of online marketplace Flipkart. In May, Walmart acquired a 77 per cent stake in Indian e-commerce company.
With this, Walmart will compete directly with Amazon India in the fast growing e-commerce market.
This is the biggest deal for India’s e-commerce sector, which is estimated to grow close to an annual $200 billion in 10 years. The acquisition will give Walmart a strong foothold in Asia’s third largest economy where the company has struggled to expand due to restrictions on foreign investment in retail stores
In a Twitter post, the CCI has given a heads up to the proposed acquisition of Flipkart by Walmart. The board, in its order, also added that the issue of Flipkart’s discounting practices would be dealt with separately in the upcoming e-commerce policy.
@CCI_India approves proposed acquisition of Flipkart Private Limited by Wal-Mart International Holdings, Inc
— CCI (@CCI_India) August 8, 2018
The regulatory board also mentioned that the discounting practices by Flipkart may have to be reviewed by the relevant authorities, which will put pressure on regulators to clamp down on discounts on online platforms.
Responding to CCI’s approval, Walmart said that the company is committed to contributing to the Indian economy by supporting farmers, businesses run by women in India and small and medium suppliers.
The statement read: Flipkart is a prominent player in India with a strong, entrepreneurial leadership team that is a good cultural fit with Walmart.
Soon after the CCI’s approval on the deal, local trader body, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) opposed the Flipkart-Walmart deal on the ground that the acquisition will create unfair competition and drive local convenience stores out of business.
CAIT’s secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said to Reuters, “We will certainly move the court against the CCI’s decision. CAIT has called an emergency meeting of its governing council on August 19 at Nagpur, where we will finalise our strategy for a nationwide movement.”
Brands
EcoMedia Solutions launches EcoMeter to track carbon impact in media
New tool aims to bring real data and accountability to ads and events
GURUGRAM: EcoMedia Solutions has rolled out EcoMeter, a new solution designed to bring sharper carbon accountability to advertising, media, marketing and events.
Built on its proprietary EMS platform, EcoMeter aims to help brands and agencies measure the environmental impact of campaigns and on-ground activations using real-world data rather than broad estimates.
The move comes as sustainability gains traction across boardrooms, even as measurement within the advertising ecosystem remains patchy and often reliant on spend-based assumptions. EcoMeter attempts to change that by using localised emission factors and activity-based inputs, offering a more grounded view of carbon output.
“Today, most carbon calculations in our industry are derived from spends or broad averages. That does not reflect what is actually happening on the ground,” said EcoMedia Solutions founder & CEO Rumjhum Gupta. She added that the tool factors in variables such as location, execution and materials to deliver a more accurate picture.
The platform allows users to compare media choices based on environmental impact, plan lower-carbon campaigns and generate data-backed ESG and BRSR reports. It spans formats including OOH, DOOH, print, digital and live events, bringing sustainability into the same decision-making framework as cost and performance.
EcoMedia Solutions says the larger goal is to move the industry beyond surface-level sustainability claims towards measurable action. As scrutiny from consumers, investors and regulators intensifies, tools like EcoMeter could play a key role in helping brands back intent with credible data.
With this launch, the company is betting that the next big metric in advertising will not just be reach or ROI, but impact that can be counted in carbon.
