MAM
Aegis’ Isobar expands to Bangalore; wins digital duties of VMware
MUMBAI: Isobar India, Aegis Media Group‘s digital marketing agency, is expanding operations in Bangalore.
The agency, which will start its Bangalore office on 10 January, also said Thursday that it has just won the digital duties of the VMware that offers virtualisation and cloud infrastructure.
The Bangalore branch would serve as a hub for the southern region. Said Isobar Country Head Shamsuddin Jasani, “We will be sending Ashish Singh, Group Head Mumbai to start the Bangalore office. We wanted to first setup a world class product with international tools and thought process and making them relevant to the Indian context. We are confident of Isobar India attaining digital leadership in India.”
Founded two years ago, Isobar has bagged over 35 brands including Reebok, Adidas, Philips, UTI MF, Tourism Australia and Perfetti across all forms of digital advertising, making it a truly integrated digital offering.
Said Aegis Media chairman India and CEO South East Asia Ashish Bhasin, “Isobar India has had a spectacular run under Shamsu and I am very pleased to see them expand to Bangalore, the Digital & IT centre of India. On behalf of Isobar India, I am very pleased to welcome VMware to the Aegis Media family. Coming on the back of the successful launch of iProspect, this expansion from Isobar will help Aegis Media move towards digital leadership in India”.
Isobar India is a part of Aegis Media India Group that also Includes Carat, media planning and buying independent, Posterscope, OOH agency, Hyperspace – (Retail), Brandscope – (OOH), Carat Fresh Intergrated (Activation) and Vizeum.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
