MAM
#KDY14 kicks off with IAA Kyoorius Digiyatra 2014
MUMBAI: Kyoorius Designyatra being held from 11 until 13 September 2014 concluded the first day dedicated to digital – IAA Kyoorius Digiyatra, 2014.
The second edition of IAA Kyoorius Digiyatra brought together some of the world’s most influential experts to showcase the future of digital, breaking conventions and defying boundaries to explore this year’s theme, ‘What If’.
As digital marketing has grown to be one of the most effective platforms to create brand awareness and brand engagement, this day dedicated to the digital age brought together industry stalwarts who participated in talks, workshops and breakout sessions.
Patrick Burgoyne, Editor of Creative Review, and this year’s moderator, kickstarted the day with his usual wit and energy. The full day of talks began with Gaston Legorburu Executive Director & Worldwide Chief Creative Officer, SapientNitro on storytelling and how companies need to create worlds instead of creating ads. Christian Etter, Founder of Etter Studio explored new avenues of being social online, with his collaborative game ‘Drei’ where players are encouraged to build basic structures, working together. He shared insights about how brands can use gamification to connect with audiences.
During the MIT Media Lab session, Dhairya Dand and Deepak Jagdish wowed audiences with their explorations in digital technology – asking people to re-think their perceptions of smart devices and new ways to interpret their own lives through data visualisation. Content strategist Elizabeth McGuane develops ways to structure a company’s story and make digital more human. A common thread throughout the day was storytelling and how brands need to find ways to create meaningful connections with their audiences online.
Another, was the importance of collaboration in gathering multiple perspectives to create holistic digital experiences. Tim Malbon- Founding Partner of Made by Many, asked several relevant ‘What If” questions while at the same time giving an overview of the current state of digital and what to look forward to in the future.
Maria Eriksson of Hyper Island closed the day, highlighting the four fundamental pillars of digital – people, companies, learning and change. She emphasized the need to develop a culture in which change is accepted and celebrated.
The audience of 1500-odd professionals and students were exposed to a variety of perspectives – one of the themes that emerged was how storytelling is a powerful tool for companies to connect with their consumers, and speakers offered multiple approaches for brands to create interactive and emotional digital experiences. The two MIT Media Lab Designer/Researchers – Deepak Jagdish and Dhairya Dand, revealed their radical experiments with technology and data visualisation.
IAA Kyoorius Digiyatra will be followed by Kyoorius Designyatra and Kyoorius Design Awards to be hosted on 12th and 13th September, 2014.
Kyoorius founder and CEO Rajesh Kejriwal commented, “Now in its second year, IAA Kyoorius Digiyatra has been a great success once again. There were a lot of interesting insights and discussions throughout the day about how to humanize digital, and thinking beyond social media. We are looking forward to the next two days of Kyoorius Designyatra and pushing people to think beyond clichés and to give shape to new ideas.”
Brands
Sun Pharma to acquire Organon in $11.75 billion deal at $14 per share
Acquisition to create $12.4 billion pharma giant with global scale and biosimilars push
MUMBAI: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Organon & Co. in an all-cash deal valued at $11.75 billion, marking one of the largest cross-border pharma acquisitions by an Indian firm.
Under the terms of the agreement, Organon shareholders will receive $14.00 per share in cash, with Sun Pharma set to acquire 100 per cent of the company’s outstanding shares. The transaction, approved by the boards of both companies, is expected to close in early 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and shareholder consent.
The deal significantly expands Sun Pharma’s global footprint and strengthens its position across women’s health, biosimilars, and branded generics. The combined entity is projected to generate revenues of around $12.4 billion, placing it among the top 25 pharmaceutical companies globally.
Organon, which was spun off from Merck in 2021, brings a portfolio of over 70 products spanning women’s health and general medicines, with operations across more than 140 countries. Its established presence in key markets such as the US, Europe, and China complements Sun Pharma’s existing strengths and growth ambitions.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited executive chairman Dilip Shanghvi said, “This transaction represents a significant opportunity for Sun Pharma to build on its vision of reaching people and touching lives. Organon’s portfolio, capabilities and global reach are highly complementary to our own.”
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited managing director Kirti Ganorkar added, “This transaction is a logical next step in strengthening Sun Pharma’s global business. Together, we will become a partner of choice for acquiring and launching new products.”
From Organon’s side, Organon & Co. executive chair Carrie Cox noted, “This all-cash transaction offers compelling and immediate value to Organon stockholders, while positioning the business for continued growth under Sun Pharma.”
Strategically, the acquisition gives Sun Pharma entry into the global biosimilars space as a top 10 player and strengthens its innovative medicines portfolio, which is expected to contribute around 27 per cent of combined revenues. The deal is also expected to nearly double EBITDA and cash flow, supporting long-term deleveraging and investment capacity.
Sun Pharma plans to fund the acquisition through a mix of internal accruals and committed financing from global banks, while maintaining focus on disciplined integration and operational continuity post-merger.
If completed as planned, the deal signals a clear shift in India’s pharmaceutical ambitions, from scale at home to leadership on the global stage, with Sun Pharma positioning itself as a more diversified and innovation-led healthcare powerhouse.
