MAM
Publicis Groupe to change name to Publicis eventive
MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe has acquired a majority stake in eventive Holding, which is a leading event group in Austria and a key player in Germany and Switzerland.
eventive, with offices in Vienna, Hamburg, Munich, New York and Beijing, will be part of the Publicis Events Worldwide network and will soon be rebranded as Publicis eventive.
The move will allow Publicis Events Worldwide to grow even faster in the core of Europe and in Switzerland, where the network is already active through its association with the World Economic Forum and the Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos.
In view of the increasing importance of events marketing within the Publicis Groupe’s Specialised Agencies and Marketing Services (SAMS) operations, an events executive board has also been created, under the chairmanship of Publicis Events Worldwide CEO Richard Attias.
“Event marketing is one of the fastest growing and most exciting areas of our business, and we now have an increasingly rich global offering giving our clients direct contact with their audiences anywhere in the world. With eventive, I am delighted that one of the most successful and respected event marketing agencies has now become part of the Publicis family. And, finally, under Richard’s inspired leadership, I am incredibly excited about the opportunities to grow in this space,” said Publicis Groupe chairman and CEO Maurice Lévy.
In another move designed to further strengthen the Groupe’s operations in the fast-growing events marketing field, Chicago-based Relay, which was until now part of the Groupe’s Starcom MediaVest network, will be realigned with Publicis Events Worldwide. The agency recently launched Relay China in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Other members, at this stage, include SAMS CEO John Farrell and Relay CEO Wally Hayward. The aim of the board is to guide the Groupe’s strategic direction in the events area and identify opportunities where the Groupe may be able to expand even more quickly and profitably.
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.
