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The restaurant industry is expected to <keyword id="22996156" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="turn-around" source="keywords">turn around</keyword> on the back of India's overall strong fundamentals after facing temporary headwinds such as high <keyword id="19999654" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-inflation" source="keywords">food inflation</keyword> and people <keyword id="19995898" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dining-out" source="keywords">dining out</keyword> less that hurt the sector in the first quarter, according to <keyword id="22996436" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Speciality-Restaurants-Ltd" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Speciality Restaurants Ltd" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Speciality Restaurants Ltd">Speciality Restaurants Ltd</keyword> <keyword id="22996437" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CMD-Anjanmoy-Chatterjee" source="Orion">CMD Anjanmoy Chatterjee</keyword>. The company, which has a slew of brands such as Mainland China, Asia Kitchen by Mainland China, Episode One, Haka, and Sweet Bengal, among others and shut 29 outlets during the pandemic, is now focusing on <keyword id="20596119" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="profitable-growth" source="keywords">profitable growth</keyword> while expanding its footprint. "It should be clear that India not eating out or inflation not settling down is something which I don't believe in. India is better than many more countries...," Chatterjee told PTI. He was responding to a query on how long factors such as high food inflation and people dining out less after the diminishing of '<keyword id="22996157" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="revenge-eating" source="keywords">revenge eating</keyword>' post pandemic that affected the restaurant industry, will continue to impact the sector. "It is a short-term phenomenon. It will settle down once the food inflation comes down," he said, however, adding it would also depend on employment generation and the rise of <keyword id="22996435" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="disposable-incomes" source="keywords">disposable incomes</keyword>. "I'm very sure this will turn around," he asserted. As per government data, food inflation in July was 3.45 per cent, down from 10.87 per cent in June, mainly due to month-on-month decline in prices of vegetables, cereals, pulses and onion. Chatterjee, however, said in the first quarter of this fiscal for players in the sector from QSR and fine dining to casual dining, things have not been very good as 'revenge eating' had diminished, while food inflation coupled with competition from cheaper unorganised players also played a part. Asked about the company's expansion plans, he said,"We are looking at controlled, profitable growth, intentionally done with a geographical expansion of not cannibalising the existing stores." Flagship brand Mainland China, its variant Asia Kitchen by Mainland China will be the main growth drivers along with the new one, Episode One, he added. Last fiscal, he said the company opened four restaurants and similarly another three to four are expected subject to availability of space in time. In the first quarter ended June 30, <keyword id="19980909" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="speciality-restaurants" source="keywords">Speciality Restaurants</keyword> had reported total income of Rs 111.52 crore and PAT of Rs 7.64 crore.

Restaurant sector expected to turn around after tough Q1: Speciality Restaurants CMD

New Delhi: Markets regulator <keyword id="19901201" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sebi" source="keywords">Sebi</keyword> has debarred 14 entities including, <keyword id="22941399" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rana-Sugars" source="keywords">Rana Sugars</keyword> promoters' and other related entities from the securities markets for two years and slapped a Rs 63-crore fine on them on charges of diversion of funds. The regulator also prohibited Inder Pratap Singh Rana (promoter), Ranjit Singh Rana (Chairman), Veer Pratap Singh Rana (MD), Gurjeet Singh Rana, Karan Pratap Singh Rana, Rajbans Kaur, Preet Inder Singh Rana and <keyword id="22946824" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sukhjinder-kaur" source="keywords">Sukhjinder Kaur</keyword> (promoter) from holding any position as director or key managerial person of any other listed company for two years. Ranjit Singh, Veer Pratap and Sukhjinder Kaur were also the promoters of <keyword id="22946823" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rana-Sugars-Ltd" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Rana Sugars Ltd" meta.hostid="345" meta.entityid="Rana Sugars Ltd">Rana Sugars Ltd</keyword>, as per the exchange data. Individually, Sebi imposed penalties in the range of Rs 3 crore to 7 crore on Rana Sugars, its promoters, and other related entities. "I find that noticee No 1 to 9, who are promoters of RSL and beneficiaries of such diversion of funds from RSL, have violated PFUTP (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices) regulations. "...also find that Noticee No 10 (Manoj Gupta), who was CFO and signed and certified such manipulated financial statements of RSL, aided and abetted such diversion of funds from RSL to its promoters and their family members violated PFUTP regulations," Sebi's Chief General Manager G Ramar said in the final order on Tuesday. The probe revealed that Rana Sugars Ltd failed to disclose <keyword id="22946822" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Laxmiji-Sugars-Mills-Company" source="keywords">Laxmiji Sugars Mills Company</keyword> as a related party in FY 2016-17. Further, the firm failed to disclose FTPL, CAPL, JABPL, RJPL and RGSPL as related parties. Inder Pratap, Ranjit, Veer Pratap Singh Rana, were persons in charge of and responsible for the affairs of Rana Sugars. Therefore, Rana Sugars, Inder Pratap, Ranjit Singh and Veer Pratap Singh Rana have violated the disclosure rules. Sebi also noted with respect to the movement of funds between RSL, and its related entities was not towards business advance for the purchase of sugar cane seeds and repayment of unsecured loan. Related parties are Flawless Traders Pvt Ltd (FTPL), Century Agros Pvt Ltd (CAPL), Jay Aar Builders Pvt Ltd (JABPL), RJ Texfab Pvt Ltd (RJPL) and RGS Traders (RGSPL). These funds were then transferred by RSL to related parties on the same day to promoters of Rana Sugars and their family members. The regulator found that related parties aided and abetted Rana Sugars, its promoters and directors to divert funds from RSL and violated PFUTP norms, the order said. Sebi also directed Rana Sugars to recover Rs 607 crore from related entities which includes Rs 339 crore in receivables and Rs 268 crore in interest dues. Thereafter, the regulator directed Rana Sugars to take all necessary steps for recovery of dues from these entities and advised them to appoint an independent law firm to take effective steps for recovery in consultation with the NSE. The markets watchdog also observed that RSL, Inder Pratap Singh Rana, Ranjit Singh, Veer Pratap Singh, Gurjeet Singh, Karan Pratap Singh and Rajbans Kaur have failed to provide any explanation for not appearing before the investigation authority (IA). Further, they also failed to furnish information/documents sought by the IA, which hampered the investigation process, thereby, violating Sebi norms. The order came after Sebi investigated the affairs of RSL to examine the diversion of funds from the company by the promoters and promoter-related entities of Rana Sugars, and consequent misstatements in the financial statements of the company. And whether the alleged diverted funds have been siphoned off by the promoters and promoter-related entities of the firm, resulting in violations of the provisions of PFUTP rules and LODR (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) norms. The investigation period was from financial year (FY) 2014-15 to FY 2020-21.

Sebi bans Rana Sugars' promoters from securities market for 2 years, imposes Rs 63 crore fine

<keyword id="20341279" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sbi-cards-and-payment-services-ltd" source="keywords">SBI Cards and Payment Services Ltd</keyword> has reported an 8 per cent rise in net profit to Rs 549 crore for the third quarter ended December 2023. The pure-play credit card company, promoted by <keyword id="19898108" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sbi" source="keywords">SBI</keyword>, had posted a net profit of Rs 509 crore during the corresponding period of the previous financial year. Total income grew to Rs 4,742 crore during the October-December period from Rs 3,656 crore in the year-ago period, <keyword id="20190417" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sbi-card" source="keywords">SBI Card</keyword> said in a regulatory filing. Total operating cost increased by 23 per cent at Rs 2,426 crore for the third quarter of FY24 from Rs 1,974 crore in the previous fiscal, it said. Gross non-performing assets (NPA) rose to 2.64 per cent during the quarter under review as against 2.22 per cent a year ago. Net NPA too increased to 0.96 per cent from 0.80 per cent at the end of the December quarter of the previous financial year. As a result, impairment losses and bad debt expenses grew to Rs 883 crore from Rs 533 crore in FY23. As of December 31, 2023, the card company's capital adequacy ratio was 18.4 per cent compared to 23.1 per cent as of March 31, 2023. As per the capital adequacy norms issued by the <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>, the company's capital-to-risk ratio consisting of Tier I and Tier II capital should not be less than 15 per cent of its aggregate risk-weighted assets on the balance sheet and of the risk-adjusted value of off-balance sheet items. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/oneplus-12-vs-oneplus-12r-heres-whats-different-between-the-two-devices/slidelist/107138750.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/oneplus-12-vs-oneplus-12r-heres-whats-different-between-the-two-devices/slidelist/107138750.cms" target="_blank">OnePlus 12 vs OnePlus 12R – What distinguishes the two new smartphones</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/rolls-royce-spectre-rolls-out-as-indias-most-expensive-electric-car/articleshow/107051636.cms">Rolls Royce Spectre rolls out as India’s most expensive electric car</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/global-pc-shipments-decline-for-the-eighth-straight-quarter-hopes-pinned-on-ai-to-drive-sales/articleshow/106981182.cms">Global PC shipments decline for the eighth straight quarter; hopes pinned on AI to drive sales</a>

SBI Card Q3 profit rises 8 pc to ₹549 crore

<keyword id="19938772" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliance-Industries-Ltd" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reliance Industries Ltd" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reliance Industries Ltd">Reliance Industries Ltd</keyword> on Monday reported an almost flat March quarter net profit, while its annual earnings hit a record high on the back of a recovery in its core oil and petrochemicals business and sustained momentum across the consumer-facing telecom and retail businesses. The oil-to-telecom-and-retail conglomerate's consolidated net profit stood at Rs 18,951 crore, or Rs 28.01 per share, in January-March quarter of the 2023-24 fiscal compared to Rs 19,299 crore, or Rs 28.52 a share, a year ago, according to a company's stock exchange filing. The profit was, however, higher quarter-on-quarter when compared to Rs 17,265 crore in October-December period. For the full fiscal FY24 (April 2023 to March 2024), Reliance posted a record net profit of Rs 69,621 crore as compared to Rs 66,702 crore earnings in the preceding financial year. Reliance also became the first Indian company to hit Rs 10 lakh crore turnover in FY24 when revenue from operations rose 2.6 per cent from Rs 9.74 lakh crore in 2022-23. The oil-to-chemicals (O2C) business, the main milch cow, posted a rise in profitability annually as well as sequentially, while retail business' earnings rose on new store openings despite lower footfalls. The firm helmed by billionaire <keyword id="19916798" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mukesh-Ambani" source="keywords">Mukesh Ambani</keyword> saw telecom revenues soar as it outpaced competition in subscriber addition and data traffic. While quarterly EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) was up 14.3 per cent year-on-year to Rs 47,150 crore, registering growth across all businesses, the revenue from operations rose almost 11 per cent to Rs 2.64 lakh crore. The mainstay oil refining and petrochemicals business, called O2C, posted a 11 per cent rise in revenue and a 3 per cent higher EBITDA at Rs 16,777 crore in Q4. This was primarily because of "advantageous" sourcing of feedstock (crude oil) for refining business and use of ethane for making chemicals as well as higher domestic product placement, a company statement said, adding exports were down 8.5 per cent. With the consumer base swelling to 481.8 million from 470.9 million at the end of December on a flat per-user revenues of Rs 181.7, Reliance <keyword id="21397660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jio-Infocomm-Ltd" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Jio Infocomm Ltd" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Jio Infocomm Ltd">Jio Infocomm Ltd</keyword> - the digital services business - posted a 12 per cent rise in net profit at Rs 5,583 crore in the fourth quarter of FY24. Also, aiding the business was rise in data traffic to 40.9 billion GB in January-March from 38.1 billion GB in the preceding quarter. For the full year, Jio posted a profit of Rs 21,424 crore as compared to Rs 19,124 crore in FY23. Profits from the retail business climbed 11.7 per cent to Rs 2,698 crore as store count rose to 18,836 from 18,774. Store footfalls dropped to 272 million from 282 million in October-December 2023 but were higher than 219 million recorded in January-March 2023. Oil and gas EBITDA soared 47.5 per cent to Rs 5,606 crore as higher gas volumes partly offset lower price realisation. The firm's flagship KG-D6 block in Krishna Godavari basin in the Bay of Bengal is now producing about 30 million standard cubic metres per day of gas and 23,000 barrels a day of oil/condensate. The company said its outstanding debt rose to Rs 3.24 lakh crore from Rs 3.11 lakh crore in December-end. After accounting for cash in hand, net debt at Rs 1.16 lakh crore as on March 31 was lower than Rs 1.25 lakh crore a year back. Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of <keyword id="20076630" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reliance-industries-limited" source="keywords">Reliance Industries Limited</keyword>, said all segments of business have posted a robust financial and operating performance. "This has helped the Company achieve multiple milestones. I am happy to share that this year, Reliance became the first Indian company to cross the Rs 1 lakh-crore threshold in pre-tax profits," he said. Performance of the digital services segment has been boosted by accelerated expansion of subscriber base, supported by both mobility and fixed wireless services, he said. "With over 108 million True 5G customers, Jio truly leads the 5G transformation in India." <keyword id="19901342" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reliance-retail" source="keywords">Reliance Retail</keyword>, he said, continued to provide customers endless choices through its robust omni-channel presence. "We continue to offer product differentiation and superior offline experience through stores re-modelling and revamping of layouts. Our digital commerce platforms also provide newer solutions to users with a broad brand catalogue," Ambani said. Strong demand for fuels globally, and limited flexibility in refining system worldwide supported margins and profitability of the O2C segment. "Downstream chemical industry experienced increasingly challenging market conditions through the year. Despite headwinds, maintaining leading product positions and feedstock flexibility through our operating model that prioritises cost management, we delivered a resilient performance," he said. "We remain committed to our projects and initiatives, including those in the new energy segment, which will bolster the company, and help it deliver sustainable growth for the future," he added. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/vodafone-idea-fpo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-and-more/articleshow/109504341.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/vodafone-idea-fpo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-and-more/articleshow/109504341.cms" target="_blank">Vodafone Idea FPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP and more</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-8a-may-be-more-expensive-than-its-predecessor-as-per-a-new-leak/articleshow/109499394.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-8a-may-be-more-expensive-than-its-predecessor-as-per-a-new-leak/articleshow/109499394.cms" target="_blank">Google Pixel 8a may be more expensive than its predecessor, as per a new leak</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/at-17-indian-chess-prodigy-d-gukesh-becomes-youngest-challenger-for-world-championship/slidelist/109492021.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/at-17-indian-chess-prodigy-d-gukesh-becomes-youngest-challenger-for-world-championship/slidelist/109492021.cms" target="_blank">At 17, Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh becomes youngest challenger for World Championship</a>

Reliance Industries quarterly profit stays flat; annual earnings hit record at ₹69,621 crore

<ul class="summary-list"><li>White-collar criminals who can't disconnect are spending thousands of dollars on prison cellphones.</li><li>Contraband phones are smuggled in by guards and are even dropped into prison yards by drones.</li></ul>For white-collar inmates eager to stay connected to the outside world, help is readily at hand — in the form of the ubiquitous contraband cellphone.Despite the disciplinary risks and black market prices ranging into the thousands of dollars, illicit cellphones are a coveted accessory, according to corrections experts, defense lawyers, and people who were once incarcerated.Sometimes the phones are smuggled behind bars the old-fashioned way by corrupt guards. But they can also literally fall from the sky."Particularly in the low-security camps, we hear drones are flying over and dropping contraband, including cellphones, behind the walls," said Craig Roth, a former inmate who now counsels clients on how to survive prison through his consultancy firm, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://insideoutsideltd.com/">Inside Outside Ltd</a>.Drone drops are cunning operations, said former New Jersey securities broker Joseph Degregorio, who served eight months at the federal prison in Devens, Massachusetts, for a $1.2 million investment scam.Degregorio was held at Devens for only a week in November 2022 when word swept through his unit that a drone had dropped a box holding 50 miniature cellphones in the yard."They'd paint the box to look like grass, so when it falls, it's camouflaged," Degregorio, 48, told Business Insider.That box was quickly intercepted by guards. But the next drone drop was successful a few weeks later, just in time for Christmas."The cellphones were going for $3,000," Degregorio said, explaining that the money changes hands on the outside through intermediaries. "And guys could rent them out on an hourly basis for two, three hundred dollars an hour," he said.Over the years, smaller phones and ever-improving drones have made smuggling easier. The best drones have sophisticated cameras and two-hour flight capabilities over 18 miles of range, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25190731-national-institute-of-justice-contraband-and-drones">according to a National Institute of Justice</a> report on drones and correctional facilities."It's incredibly prevalent and incredibly risky," said Justin Paperny, a former inmate whose consultancy, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.whitecollaradvice.com/">White Collar Advice,</a> advises clients before and after sentencing."Two weeks ago, I got a call from a crying mother whose son got caught with a phone in Lewisberg," he said, referring to the low-security prison camp in Pennsylvania."Now, he's facing solitary, or adding a year to his sentence, or being moved, and why? Because he had to send that email or make that phone call," Paperny said.<h2 id="191c20f0-1d54-4d51-ada3-0c2cee75752e">As many as half of 'Club Fed' inmates have phones</h2>Degregorio, who now works as a prison consultant at White Collar Advice, said he saw or heard about a couple dozen phones among the 1,000 people housed at FCC Devens, where there is a mix of security levels.But the lower the security level, the cheaper and more prevalent cellphones become, experts say.Contraband phones go for $1,000 or as little as a few hundred dollars, depending on supply, at minimum-security camps, the so-called Club Feds. (The play on "Club Med" reflects the relatively cushy accommodations — like the federal prison camp in Alderson, West Virginia, where Martha Stewart <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/take-a-tour-of-americas-cushiest-prison-2012-10#fpc-aldersons-main-administration-building-7">reportedly led yoga classes</a> during her five-month insider-trading stint.)"At the camps, you might have two guards over 200 guys, so there's leeway," Degregorio explained.At the minimum-security camp at Leavenworth, Kansas, half the people he knew had cell phones, and some had more than one, said Scotty Carper, 49, of Sacramento, California.Arrested on methamphetamine smuggling charges, Carper was released from Leavenworth in September 2023 after serving 11 months on a reduced charge of lying to federal officers.Throughout his sentence, "I saw everything from people walking around with them in their pockets, which was pretty brazen, to people on them on social media all night in their bunks," Carper, who now also works at White Collar Advice, told Business Insider."It's the contraband of choice, surpassing cocaine and fentanyl, especially for guys who are used to 24/7 connectivity," said Ron Kuby, a veteran Manhattan-based defense attorney."I get calls from contraband phones periodically from prisons," said attorney Norm Pattis, whose clients have included InfoWars conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, members of the extremist group Proud Boys, and white-collar criminals."I don't want to say more than that," Pattis added, "except that the demand comes from the prisoners, and the supply often comes from the guards, and they protect each other."<h2 id="dd72e71d-63f1-493d-b6b9-dc7bd81a5e96">A problem 'for decades'</h2>Contraband cellphones have been a part of the prison black market <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/contraband-wireless-devices">"for decades,"</a> as the Federal Communications Commission notes online — but it's a problem that's hard to quantify.In Georgia, one of the few states to release statistics about cellphones in jails and prisons, officials say 8,074 contraband phones were confiscated in the state's jails and prisons last year, with 5,482 confiscated this year <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25190839-georgia-attorney-general-carr-letter-2024062024">as of June</a>.When asked for statistics on confiscations, a federal Bureau of Prisons spokesperson said it was against policy to provide "internal security" data.The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/events/2010/09/workshopwebinar-on-contraband-cell-phone-use-in-prisons">FCC</a> and corrections officials have fought over how to solve the problem since at least 2010, when <a target="_blank" href="https://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/docs/summits/Combating-Contraband-Cell-Phones-in-Prison-Handout-v4.pdf">the FCC publicly rebuffed</a> law enforcement requests that cellphone jamming be legalized at the nation's 7,000 jails and prisons.Out of concern that jamming also interferes with public safety communications, the FCC has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/contraband-wireless-devices">promoted alternatives</a>, including systems that detect and block individual phones.But many in law enforcement say only cellphone jamming can truly stop the problem.Last year, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson led a consortium of AGs from 14 states<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25182377-012523-sc-contraband-cellphone-letter"> urging that Congress pass legislation</a> legalizing jamming. The stakes are particularly high for Wilson; his office continues<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.scag.gov/about-the-office/news/attorney-general-alan-wilson-announces-guilty-verdict-and-major-target-plea-in-the-prison-empire-investigation/"> to prosecute</a> a violent, 90-defendant drug ring run by imprisoned people using contraband cellphones.The Bureau of Prisons "has continued to make progress" against drone incursions, including spokesman Donald Murphy said in a statement. The bureau urges Congress to pass the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, which would upgrade the charge of smuggling contraband cellphones into a Federal prison from a misdemeanor offense to a felony, Murphy said."As with so many of the issues FBOP faces, funding for additional staffing is also important to make sure we have enough officers on duty to identify, prevent, and remove contraband," he added.<h2 id="41c75a10-48aa-4092-abd0-3de50b455769">Why cellphones?</h2>Nationwide, people incarcerated in jails and prisons are using cellphones to order hits and orchestrate kidnappings, Georgia's AG, Christopher Carr, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25190839-georgia-attorney-general-carr-letter-2024062024">wrote the FCC in June</a>.White-collar criminals tend to put their contraband phones to more benign uses."I know a guy who was in on a white collar crime, and he bought a phone because he didn't want to talk to his children on a prison phone," said Degregorio."He hadn't told his children where he was," he explained.People held in federal prisons are allowed 510 hours of free use each month on the prison wall phones. But there's no privacy, no Internet access, and calls are recorded and limited to 15 minutes. Inmates are also barred from conducting business over the phones."A couple of people I just consulted with, they wanted to still run their businesses," Degregorio said. "But you can't even tell your wife to sell stock."Other white-collar criminals "just want it to want it," he said with a laugh.Still, the risks are high."Getting caught with a phone, that's a level-100 disciplinary infraction, the same level as if you assaulted another inmate," Degregorio said.Just being friends or neighbors with someone who has a phone can get you in trouble, said Rothfeld, of the Inside Outside prison consultancy."I've had three clients in the past nine months who spent more than 100 days in solitary confinement after sweeps" for contraband cellphones at two federal prison camps, he told Business Insider."And they didn't even have cellphones," he said.Getting caught with a phone is a misdemeanor, and can lengthen an inmate's sentence by subtracting the days they have coming for good behavior, and it can get them transferred to a higher-security prison, said Paperny, of White Collar Advice."I tell my clients who are going in not to make things worse, and they say, 'How can it get any worse? I'm going to prison,'" Paperny joked."And then I tell them to stay away from cellphones," he said.

For white-collar prisoners who just can't disconnect, $3,000 contraband cellphones can literally fall from the sky

<ul><li><keyword id="28721" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cognizant" source="Orion">Cognizant</keyword>’s March quarter net profit for March quarter grew 3% on year to $580 million.</li><li>Meanwhile, its revenue declined 0.3% on year to $4.8 billion during the quarter.</li><li>Adding to the woes, Cognizant says full year guidance of 2023 is expected to be $19.2 - $19.6 billion, which would mean a decline of 1.2%.</li><li>Cognizant reported an operating margin of 14.6% for March quarter, which is lower than Indian IT giants TCS, Infosys, HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra.</li></ul>The trend of weak quarterly numbers continued for IT services companies and the latest one to disappoint the markets is Cognizant. The company also announced that it would layoff 3500 employees as it sees revenues slowing further in 2023. The Nasdaq-listed company’s March quarter net profit grew 3% on year to $580 million. Meanwhile, its revenue declined 0.3% on year to $4.8 billion during the quarter. The company follows a January to December accounting year. Adding to the woes, Cognizant says full year guidance of 2023 is expected to be $19.2 - $19.6 billion, which would mean a decline of 1.2%. The next quarter revenue is expected to be at $4.83 - $4.88 billion, showing a decline of 0.6% to 1.6%, or a decline of 1.0% to flat in constant currency. Cognizant reported an operating margin of 14.6% for March quarter, which is lower than Indian IT giants TCS, Infosys, HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra. For the full year 2023, the company has guided for adjusted operating margin to be in the range of 14.2%-14.7%. Following the peer IT major’s mixed bag of earnings which expects a decline in 2023 revenues, shares of most Indian IT companies were trading lower. Indian companies monitor Cognizant’s earnings as the company is listed in the US but a majority of its operations are based in India. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 468pt;" class="redcator-table-advance"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">IT companies </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">% change </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Persistent Systems </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-0.98% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Mphasis </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-0.56% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">LTIMindtree </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-0.47% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">HCL Technologies </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-0.42% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Tech Mahindra </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-0.27% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Infosys </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-0.09% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Wipro </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-0.03% </td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody></table>Source: NSE Moreover, the company informed investors that it will be laying off 3,500 employees and also reduce office space as part of the cost cutting measures. It attributed the move to its NextGen program through which it expects to simplify its operating model and optimise corporate functions. “In the second quarter of 2023, we initiated the NextGen program aimed at simplifying our operating model, optimizing corporate functions and consolidating and realigning office space to reflect the post-pandemic hybrid work environment. Our drive for simplification will include operating with fewer layers in an effort to enhance agility and enable faster decision making,” the company said in a statement. Cognizant has a total headcount of 3.51 lakh in the March quarter, which is a decrease of 3,800 from the previous quarter. Its voluntary attrition rate declined to 23% in Q1 FY23 from 30% in Q1 FY22. "Our accelerated bookings growth in the quarter, which included several large deals and a healthy mix of new and expansion work, reflects the strengths of our services, our brand, and the longstanding relationships we have with our clients. I am also encouraged by the continuing reduction in our voluntary attrition," said Ravi Kumar S, CEO at Cognizant. “Having spent more than three months assessing the business, meeting with over a hundred clients and thousands of employees, I firmly believe Cognizant has a strong foundation for accelerating growth," said Kumar S in a statement. This was the first quarter for new CEO Ravi Kumar S who assumed control on January 12 following the "involuntary termination" of former CEO Brian Humphries at a time when the industry is facing several challenges. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Image"><cdata><![CDATA[]]></cdata></div> SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/hiring-in-it-companies-like-tcs-wipro-infosys-hcl-tech-plunges-by-66-in-fy23/articleshow/99960690.cms">Hiring in the IT sector plunges by 66% in FY23</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/titan-q4-net-profit-rises-50-to-734-crore-as-wedding-segment-makes-a-comeback/articleshow/99964029.cms">Titan Q4 net profit rises 50% to ₹734 crore as wedding segment makes a comeback</a>

Cognizant braces for slow year ahead, to cut 3,500 jobs and slash office spaces

Encouraged by volume growth, margin improvement and recovery in rural sales, India's top fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies are now back to their normal growth cycle as they step up investments as well as spending on advertising and marketing. <keyword id="84065" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fmcg-companies" source="Orion">FMCG companies</keyword> are chasing volume growth again after a gap of a few quarters, offering higher grammage and price cuts thanks to inflationary pressures softening on key raw materials for everything from soaps to food items. Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Dabur, Marico, Godrej Consumer Products, ITC, Tata Consumer Products and Nestle reported volume recovery in the March quarter and said they expect a gradual pickup in consumption in FY24. "The prospects of a sustained recovery have strengthened. After five quarters of volume decline, the sector has posted volume growth," Marico MD and CEO Saugata Gupta said in the company's earnings conference call. "Urban consumption has been steady while rural is showing some convincing signs of having bottomed out." Foods continue to drive growth for the sector, while the home and personal care segment also entered positive territory after an extended slowdown. Marico, which owns popular brands like Saffola, Parachute and Livon, reported an 18.7 per cent increase in its consolidated net profit to Rs 305 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 2023 while sales rose 3.65 per cent to Rs 2,240 crore, driven by single-digit volume growth and moderation in commodity prices. HUL said rural areas have shown improvement with higher value growth sequentially. While HUL's volumes continue to fall, the extent of decline has reduced versus last quarter. "The slowdown in the FMCG market is bottoming out. This improvement was led by volumes, which have turned flat in this quarter, versus a mid-single-digit decline in the December quarter," said HUL CFO Ritesh Tiwari in its earnings call. The makers of popular brands such as Rin, Lux, Surf Excel and Pond's said it expects the price-volume growth to rebalance further. "We expect volumes to recover gradually due to high levels of cumulative inflation and the fact that consumption habits typically recover with a lag," he said. For the March quarter, HUL reported an increase of 12.74 per cent in its consolidated net profit to Rs 2,601 crore. Net sales rose 10.83 per cent to Rs 14,926 crore. However, HUL warned the near-term operating environment is likely to remain volatile due to global slowdown risk and uncertainty related to weather phenomena like El Nino and heatwaves. Abneesh Roy, Nuvama Group Executive Director for Institutional Equities, said the outlook for the <keyword id="495979" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fmcg-industry" source="Orion">FMCG industry</keyword> was "positive" with volume growth and improvement in margins for most companies in FY24. "As raw material prices are cooling off, companies shall start paring prices via grammage increase or gradual price reductions. Price growth shall ease while volume growth will improve," he said. Roy also cautioned about the impact of El Nino and the "aggression" from billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd, a known disrupter, which aims to be a big player in the USD 110-billion FMCG segment. Meanwhile, Godrej Consumer reported an 11.47 per cent increase in its India revenue to Rs 1,822.92 crore in the March quarter. This was led by volume growth of 11 per cent. Its home care segment, which consists of household insecticides and air fresheners, grew 14 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively. "We expect to build on the current momentum and deliver volume-led growth along with upfront marketing investments and improvement in profitability," said its Managing Director and CEO Sudhir Sitapati. Britannia Executive Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Varun Berry also expressed optimism. "Volume growth will be certainly much better than this year," he said. On commodity prices, Berry said there is deflation in prices of palm oil, laminates and corrugated material for packing but flour and milk prices are soaring. "There are certain brands and certain packs where we have already initiated price reductions or promotions," he said. In the March quarter, Britannia reported a 47.53 per cent jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 557.60 crore. Its revenue from operations rose 10.93 per cent to Rs 3,892.02. Similarly, Dabur reported volume growth of 11 per cent during the March quarter and 14 per cent for FY23. Its quarterly net profit was Rs 292.76 crore and revenue from operations stood at Rs 2,677.8 crore. "Despite near-term concerns around inflationary pressures, we plan to accelerate the growth momentum by continuing to invest in brand building, innovation, and capabilities that will drive growth," said Dabur India CEO Mohit Malhotra. Other companies also recorded growth. ITC's revenue from the FMCG segment rose 19.34 per cent to Rs 4,951.17 crore from Rs 4,148.62 crore while EBITDA jumped 76 per cent. Nestle, the maker of Maggi, Kitkat and Nescafe, reported an increase of 24.69 per cent in its net profit to Rs 736.64 crore in the March quarter. Sales rose 20.43 per cent to Rs 4,808.40 crore. Tata Consumer reported a 21.12 per cent rise in its consolidated net profit to Rs 289.56 crore. Its revenue from operations was up 13.96 per cent at Rs 3,618.73 crore. Tata Consumer said it recorded growth in the India beverages business and food. It had a "strong margin growth and strong topline growth driven both by volume and price," the company said in its earnings call. "We have started seeing volume growth coming back. The impact of inflation and monetary tightening on economic growth and demand seems to be slowing down, but I would keep my fingers crossed and monitor it closely," said Tata Consumer MD and CEO Sunil D'Souza. "In the near term, we are seeing stability." SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/zomato-net-loss-narrows-to-188-crore-in-q4-revenue-rises-70-yoy/articleshow/100358894.cms">Zomato net loss narrows to ₹188 crore in Q4, revenue rises 70% YoY</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/mankind-pharma-pnb-among-stocks-to-become-largecap-from-midcap-mutibagger-rail-vikas-nigam-to-turn-midcap-from-smallcap/articleshow/100356527.cms">Mankind Pharma, PNB among stocks to become largecap from midcap; mutibagger Rail Vikas Nigam to turn midcap from smallcap</a>

FMCG makers expect sustained recovery in volume and margins with price reduction in FY24

From Nykaa to Cipla to 3i infotech — these are some of the themes the market is betting on amid a sell-off

Cavelossim (Goa), Domestic passenger vehicles sales, specially those of SUVs, are expected to remain strong this fiscal despite the pent-up demand and low inventory which drove up sales in the past are no longer there, according to <keyword id="12985777" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tata-motors-passenger-vehicles-ltd-" source="Orion">Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd.</keyword> and <keyword id="12985776" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tata-passenger-electric-mobility-ltd-" source="Orion">Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd.</keyword> Managing Director <keyword id="1890649" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="shailesh-chandra" source="Orion">Shailesh Chandra</keyword>. The company, which sold around 50,000 units of electric passenger vehicles last year, is targeting to reach 1 lakh units this fiscal while it also targets deeper penetration of CNG with the launch of its Altroz iCNG premium hatchback. "So far the indicators are good in terms of demand sustaining at high levels, although the additional moves that we were getting from pent-up demand and low channel inventory that have subdued," <keyword id="796" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="chandra" source="Orion">Chandra</keyword> told PTI here. He was responding to a query on the outlook of passenger vehicles sales in India in 2023-24. In the last five to six months, Chandra said two factors -- pent-up demand and low channel inventory, were really driving the demand for the industry. "(Now) these two factors have gone but the key factor, which is the monthly demand that we generate, the flow of customers has sustained at a very healthy level, which is good enough to sustain a retail ability of about 3,10,000 a month (industry wise)," he added. Chandra further said, "Especially in the SUV segment, we are seeing a growth, which is significantly higher, as compared to where the industry growth will be. On the entry side, there has been a slight pressure that is what we see." The growth in the SUV segment has been driven at "a very high pace" by both upgraders and first time buyers opting for such vehicles, he added. In terms of volumes, he said, "Just two years back, we were talking about 2.7 million to 3 million (units for the) industry. It has gone up to 3.9 million (last year). Even if it sustains at a 4.1 million level (this year) it's very healthy, it should help the industry a lot." Chandra, however, added that the "unprecedented" growth of about 27 per cent that industry witnessed last year "will moderate a bit". For <keyword id="42747" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tata-motors" source="Orion">Tata Motors</keyword>, he said the idea would be to sustain the segments where it is present -- hatchback and sedans, "and new nameplate additions should come in the SUVs. That will be the focus". The company's share of SUVs to its total passenger vehicle sales is at around 66 per cent as compared to 43 per cent of the industry, he said, adding, it would grow even further with the launch of Curvv and Sierra, which would be launched in the market in 2024 and 2025, respectively. On electric vehicles, Chandra said Tata Motors has witnessed exponential growth in the last five years to 50,000 units last fiscal from around 500 units in FY19 "The growth journey has been exponential. Now we are on a higher base...the multiples might moderate from three-four times to lower levels, but of course the aspiration would be to be as close to 100,000 (units)," he noted. On the newly launched CNG version of the company's premium hatchback Altroz iCNG, he said the company has addressed one of the most important hurdles faced by CNG models, which is the compromise in the boot space due to the placement of the fuel cylinder, with its twin cylinder technology. Besides, the Altroz iCNG has been provided with good engine performance and premium features like voice command operated sunroof, he added When asked about sales expectations from the new car, he said Tata Motors experienced CNG penetration ranged anywhere between 30 per cent to 50 per cent in its two models Tiago and Tigor, which also have the twin cylinder technology. "Therefore, we expect that initially it might start with 30 per cent penetration and hopefully with greater awareness of this car (Altroz iCNG) being a no-compromise CNG car, as the awareness will increase, I think the demand will continue to grow," Chandra said. 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