Hello, It is a historic day as India joins JP Morgan GBI-EM Global Series of indices, a move that could lead to tens of billions of dollars flowing into the economy. While it is a moment in the sun for the country’s sovereign bond market, the cement industry is seeing drama unfold in real-time. Kumar Mangalam Birla-led UltraTech Cement is set to pick up a 23% stake in Chennai-based rival India Cements, in a deal worth Rs 1,885 crore. The news comes days after Adani Group-owned Ambuja Cements bought Hyderabad-based Penna Cement at an enterprise value of Rs 10,422 crore. UltraTech was a dominant player in the industry until Adani entered the turf in 2022. The latest deal, which has sparked speculations of a potential hostile takeover, will likely help UltraTech fortify its position in south India. If news cycles seem dominated by mergers and acquisitions, it is because global M&A deals have picked up pace, hitting $1.5 trillion in the first half of 2024. The recovery comes after dealmaking hit a record low in 2023. It has also been a year of Indian IPOs, and the latest entrant is Bain Capital-backed Emcure Pharmaceuticals, which is set to launch its initial share sale on July 3. Lastly, cash is king but not for long. Although cash remains the choice mode of payment in several countries, people are quickly moving to digital platforms. India is set to see the sharpest drop in cash exchange by 2027. In today’s newsletter, we will talk about - Tapping into AI-enabled recruitment
- AI transforming women’s health
- Championing change through water recycling
Here’s your trivia for today: Founded in 1906, The Haloid Company is today known by what name?
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