MAM
Pubnation: How print industry plans to monetise post-Covid
NEW DELHI: Covid-2019 pandemic has had a severe impact on the business of print publications; the initial months witnessed a complete clampdown on supply chain which consequently limited advertiser movement. However, with other industries gradually reviving and the festive season opening the door for better opportunities for advertisers across the board, it seems like a good time for the print publication industry to pull up its socks. Big brands like Amazon and Flipkart have already reclaimed the front pages to trumpet their seasonal sales, and several other categories are looking to return to the broadsheets.
There are some visible changes in advertiser behaviour across media, however – budgets have shrunk, expenses are being deferred, the plans are different from pre-Covid times. In such a scenario, it is imperative that the industry begin working with newer, sharper business models, modified offerings, and monetisation strategies.
To shed light on the new rules of the ad game, Indiantelevision.com is calling in top industry players on a common platform with the print edition of its virtual roundtable “Pubnation — Monetising it Right” on 21 October 2020 at 5:00 pm.
Moderated by Indiantelevision.com founder, CEO, and editor-in-chief Anil Wanvari, the panel will witness the presence of The Hindu chief revenue officer Suresh Balakrishna, Malayala Manorama VP marketing and ad sales Varghese Chandy, Punjab Kesari Group director Abhijay Chopra, Sakshi Media Group ED and CEO Vinay Maheshwari, Amar Ujala Publications president – marketing Rajiv Kental, and HT Media Ltd ED Rajeev Beotra.
The discussion will be around what monetisation trends the industry is witnessing, the early signs of revival and strategy for various markets. The panel will also delve into advertiser sentiments, agency relationships, and the role of their digital offerings in the revenue cycle.
To register, head on to https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_E_Dddx_rRf6V-bG2eAvrQw
Brands
Flipkart completes reverse flip to India ahead of IPO
Walmart-owned e-commerce giant shifts domicile from Singapore to Bengaluru
MUMBAI: Flipkart has completed its restructuring to move its parent company from Singapore back to India, marking a key milestone as the Walmart-owned marketplace prepares for a potential initial public offering on Indian stock exchanges, ET reported, citing people aware of the matter.
The move, often referred to as a “reverse flip”, relocates the company’s legal home to India and aligns its corporate structure more closely with its largest market. It also clears an important regulatory step for Flipkart as it explores listing plans.
As part of the restructuring, several Singapore-based entities have been merged into Flipkart Internet Private Limited, which will now serve as the main holding company for the entire group.
The consolidation brings a number of major businesses directly under the Indian parent company. These include fashion platform Myntra, logistics arm Ekart, travel booking platform Cleartrip, healthcare marketplace Flipkart Health, and fintech venture Super.money.
Under the new structure, global investors including Walmart, Microsoft, SoftBank, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board will hold their stakes directly in the Indian entity rather than through an overseas holding company.
The redomiciliation required approval from the Indian government because Chinese technology company Tencent owns around a 5 to 6 per cent stake in Flipkart. Under Press Note 3, investments from countries sharing a land border with India require prior government clearance.
Flipkart had already secured approval from the National Company Law Tribunal in December. With the latest clearance from the central government, the company has now obtained all the regulatory approvals needed to complete the relocation, ET reported earlier.
Flipkart had originally shifted its holding structure to Singapore in 2011 to tap global capital more easily. However, as India’s capital markets have matured, several start-ups have begun returning their domiciles to the country ahead of public listings. Companies such as Razorpay, Groww, and Meesho have taken similar steps.
The company is now expected to move ahead with its IPO preparations and has begun early discussions with merchant bankers. According to people familiar with the matter, Flipkart could file its draft prospectus later this year, setting the stage for what may become one of the most closely watched listings in India’s e-commerce sector.
Flipkart has been majority-owned by Walmart since 2018, when the US retail giant acquired a 77 per cent stake in the company for $16 billion in one of the largest e-commerce deals globally.
