MAM
Maxus bags IDBI’s Rs 200 million media business
MUMBAI: Maxus has bagged the IDBI media account in Mumbai. The account is estimated to be in the region of Rs 200-250 million. The win comes on the back of several wins the agency has recorded over the last 2-3 months.
Says an elated Maxus India and Asia Pacific MD CVL Srinivas, “We are delighted with these wins. Importantly for us they have come from all three of our main offices of Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. We have strong operations in all these centers and today have a diverse client base across each of these units. All these clients are embarking on aggressive growth plans, and we are delighted to be chosen their media partner.”
According to Lodestar media CEO Shashi Sinha, Lodestar lost the agency three months ago. While FCB Ulka was handling the creative, Lodestar was handling the media duties. When the creative duties moved from FCB Ulka to Bates in June, the IDBI media duties moved to Maxus as Bates is a WPP agency.
Srinivas adds, “We have been selective in our pitching this year. After our big account wins last year, our focus has been to look at clients who have the potential to grow in the coming years, and where it makes business sense for us.”
Maxus India won several high profile pitches in 2004, including Britannia, Titan (Planning), Walt Disney, Titan (Buying).
Over the last three months, Maxus has added new businesses that tallies to about Rs 1 billion, according to the agency. These include AMD (microprocessors) in Bangalore, Essar Telecom (Mumbai), GE Money, SBI Cards, Dabur Oral care and the Bill Gates Foundation.
Maxus client portfolio in India includes Hero Honda, Hutch, Britannia, Titan, Seagram, Dabur, Pidilite, VIP luggage, Tata Motors (SUV), Himalaya, Reebok, Hindustan Times and AajTak.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â 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.
