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
Malaika Arora launches accessories brand Maejoy
The Bollywood star’s lifestyle brand, built with Myntra and Exceed Entertainment, promises aspirational fashion without the high price tag
MUMBAI: Malaika Arora is not the first Bollywood star to put her name on a brand, and she will not be the last. But Maejoy, the accessories label she has launched in partnership with Myntra Jabong India Private Limited (MJIPL) and talent outfit Exceed Entertainment, at least has a sharper pitch than most. The brand drops with 250-plus styles spanning handbags and lab-grown diamond jewellery, two categories that sit squarely in the sweet spot between aspiration and affordability, and lands on Myntra’s platform from day one, putting it in front of millions of shoppers without breaking a sweat.
The handbag range covers the full gamut: crossbody bags, structured shoulder bags, bucket bags, totes, workwear classics, backpacks and clutches, rendered in synthetic leather, raffia, braids, satin, rhinestone and metallic finishes. The jewellery line runs to rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets and tennis bracelets in silver, gold and rose-gold tones, set in 925 sterling silver with IGI and GCI certified lab-grown diamonds. The brand’s guiding philosophy, “The Joy of Being Me,” stakes its claim on individuality and self-expression; its three brand pillars, Authentic, Empowering, Accessible, are the usual suspects, though the lab-grown diamond bet is savvier than it sounds. Lab-grown stones now sell at a fraction of the price of mined ones, and the category is growing fast in India as younger buyers wise up to the arbitrage.
“Maejoy is a labour of love. Throughout my career, whether on screen, in business, or through my personal style, I’ve championed the idea that fashion should be empowering yet effortless. The brand aims to democratise global fashion trends while offering women something that extends the feeling of luxury every day, be it a lab-grown diamond or a perfectly crafted handbag,” said Malaika Arora, founder of Maejoy
MJIPL, the B2B wholesale arm of Myntra, is putting its design and brand-building muscle behind the venture. Suman Saha, chief experience officer and head of house of brands at MJIPL, was bullish on the tie-up.
“Maejoy brings together Malaika Arora’s distinctive style perspective with a strong proposition in the accessible yet elevated accessories space. We believe the brand’s fashion-forward designs and thoughtful positioning will connect strongly with discerning consumers.”
Suman Saha, chief experience officer, head of house of brands, MJIPL
Afsar Zaidi, chief executive of Exceed Entertainment, the talent management firm that helped broker the deal, has worked with MJIPL before and was characteristically direct about what makes Arora an unusually bankable partner.
“Building celebrity-led brands requires a delicate balance of authenticity and market viability. Malaika is a rare talent who commands equal respect as a fashion icon and a savvy businesswoman. We are proud to facilitate this partnership that brings together her creative clout and Myntra’s brand-building excellence,” said Zaidi
Celebrity fashion brands live or die on one question: does the star actually wear it, or is the cheque the only thing they signed? Arora, who has spent three decades as one of Bollywood’s most-watched style references, has at least built a plausible case. Maejoy is live now on www.myntra.com and the Myntra app. The real test, whether shoppers buy the handbag or just the hype, starts today.
