MAM
France’s BPI aligns APAC media biz with MPG Media Contacts
MUMBAI: French fragrance company Beaute Prestige International (BPI) has appointed Havas Media agency, MPG Media Contacts, as its regional media AOR.
The account will be handled out of the agency‘s Singapore office. The incumbent agency on the account is Carat Singapore.
The mandate includes responsibilities of the offline and online media planning and buying duties for brands under BPI umbrella, including Issey Miyake, Jean Paul Gaultier, Elie Saab and Narciso Rodriguez.
BPI is based in based in Paris and has regional offices in Miami and Singapore. It was founded in 1990.
BPI Asia Pacific marketing director Karen Cheong said, “We have chosen MPG because they have a strong experience working with luxury and fragrance brands. Their support network of offices in 18 markets across Asia-Pacific, coordinated out of their regional hub in Singapore closely matches our own regional set-up and will allow us to benefit from both local and regional expertise in media buying.”
Havas Media Singapore CEO Melvin Lim said, “BPI has an iconic roster of brands and we are happy to be given an opportunity to work on them. Our expertise and success in working with luxury brands was what encouraged the clients to entrust this account to us. The team in Singapore is already working on the media strategy and plans for the brands under the BPI umbrella.”
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.
