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Adani, Asia’s Richest Man, Targeted In $68 Billion Stock Market Crash

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(CTN NEWS) – SINGAPORE – Asia’s richest man, Gautam Adani, saw his firms lose $68 billion in market value due to accusations that he had “pulled the greatest fraud in corporate history”.

Made by the short-selling company Hindenburg Research, which led to a significant decline in the price of Adani stock.

The second-largest conglomerate in India was the target of a report last week from a U.S.-based company called Hindenburg accusing it of stock price manipulation.

And fraud just before the company started a $2.5 billion share offering.

According to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index, Adani, 60, has dropped from the third richest man in the world to eleventh place as his net worth decreased by more than $30 billion to an estimated $84 billion.

/ AP

GAUTAM ADANI, WHO IS HE?

Adani, a middle-class Ahmedabad native, dropped out of college to work as a diamond trader in Mumbai, the nation’s financial hub.

Before founding Adani Enterprises, which continues to be his primary business, he began importing plastics in the 1980s and traded everything from shoes to buckets.

When India’s economy opened up in the 1990s, tens of millions of people escaped poverty, and the country experienced economic growth, which led Adani to place bets on coal and infrastructure.

Gujarat’s Mundra port, Adani’s first significant undertaking, debuted in 1998 and is India’s largest port.

FILE- Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani attends the 'Invest Karnataka 2016 - Global Investors Meet' in Bangalore, India, Feb. 3, 2016. Asia’s richest man, Gautam Adani, saw his companies shed tens of billions of dollars in market value after short-selling firm Hindenburg Research accused him of “pulling the largest con in corporate history,” triggering a massive sell-off of Adani stocks. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi, File)

(AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi, File)

The largest private port operator in India is Adani Ports, and Special Economic Zone Ltd. Adani rose to the position of leading coal mine developer and operator in India within a decade.

According to the website of Adani Power, it has grown to Australia and Indonesia and is on pace to become “one of the largest mining conglomerates in the world.”

The Adani Group of Companies manages major metropolitan airports, constructs highways, produces power, makes defense gear, develops agricultural drones, sells cooking oil, and has a media station.

Despite having a history with fossil fuels, the billionaire, Adani Green wants to overtake all other renewable energy producers by 2030.

/ AP

HOW ADANI GOT TO BE THE RICHEST MAN IN ASIA?

As share prices for his publicly traded companies rose in recent years, Adani’s net wealth increased by nearly 2000%.

According to his detractors, many of his supporters are connected to the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has occasionally used an Adani plane for political campaigns.

They claim that the government changed the procedures for bidding to make it simpler for Adani to obtain contracts, like those to run airports.

The business disputes this, claiming that contracts were obtained fairly and transparently.

/ adani

Adani was friends with the opposition Congress Party, which ruled Gujarat state when many of his early projects got off the ground before Modi’s election.

According to R N Bhaskar, a writer who authored a biography on Adani, the businessman has been “connected to every politician in power.”

Adani’s admirers claim that by investing in crucial sectors like agriculture, military, and renewable energy, he has successfully coordinated the group’s interests with the government’s.

Additionally, his international initiatives in strategically significant nations like the close neighbor Sri Lanka assist New Delhi in competing with Beijing in the region.

Reuters Graphics

Reuters Graphics

THE ADANI GROUP LOST $68 BILLION; WHY?

Following the release of Hindenburg Research’s research last week, companies in the Adani Group reportedly lost approximately $68 billion, according to Bloomberg.

The short-selling company claims to have spent two years looking into the Adani group and concluded that the seven companies listed under the Adani name were overvalued with an “85% negative risk.”

Thousands of documents, evidence from former Adani executives, and other studies were cited in the report.

The company is accused of stock price manipulation, accounting fraud, and other violations.

According to the study, the Adani Group allegedly exploited offshore shell firms connected to Adani’s family to boost stock prices. It asked Adani to respond to 88 questions.

Reuters Graphics

Reuters Graphics

Nathan Anderson’s five-year-old company Hindenburg gained notoriety in 2020 when it charged Nikola, a manufacturer of electric vehicles, with lying and misrepresenting its technology.

The founder of Nikola was convicted of fraud last year.

In a 413-page report, the Adani group refuted Hindenburg’s claims and claimed that none of its inquiries were “based on independent or journalistic fact research.”

Adani’s answer contained documents and data tables and stated that the company had complied with local laws and completed all relevant regulatory disclosures.

In response, Hindenburg claimed that Adani had addressed only 26 of its 88 queries and several of the issues it identified.

Adani has stated that it was thinking of filing a lawsuit. Hindenburg applauded the proposal and suggested that it might gain access to papers about Adani’s business transactions through a legal fight in the United States.

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani speaks during an interview with Reuters at his office in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad April 2, 2014. Picture was taken April 2, 2014. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo

VANISHING OF BILLIONS IN MARKET VALUE

Investors sold off Adani Group shares due to the Hindenburg report, which stoked worries about bigger issues.

Adani Enterprises, the group’s main company, and other members have experienced a 20% drop in a single day since Jan. 25.

According to several analysts, financial institutions and banks the group has borrowed from could suffer if the worries mentioned by Hindenburg were accurate.

However, Aveek Mitra, the company’s creator, asserts that he thinks the scenario would only result in “a few days of turbulence.”

/ GETTY IMAGE

Although Hindenburg has expressed significant concerns about the stock values of Adani, he insisted that this does not imply that the company’s whole operations or holdings are “a farce.”

As of late Tuesday, the share sale for Adani Enterprises was completely subscribed, indicating the company still has backing. However, three Adani companies’ shares were down 5 to 10%.

Adani, as a businessman, will need to examine this if shares continue to fall and determine where and how to make his next investment, according to Mitra.

Since lenders would demand greater assurances, “it could also heighten scrutiny and make the organisation more cautious.” But the million-dollar issue is if this is a setback or merely a hiccup for Adani.

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PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

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(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.

This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.

Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.

Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.

The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.

Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.

Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.

The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.

Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.

Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.

Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.

Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.

Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”

Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.

The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.

Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.

The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.

Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”

Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.

The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.

Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.

The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:

SOURCE: CNBC

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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

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(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.

This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.

For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.

This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.

Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”

This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.

This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.

Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.

Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.

Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.

This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.

It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.

Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”

This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.

We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.

Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.

SOURCE: THBL

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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

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water

The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.

water

American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.

water

The corporation stated that it has alerted legal enforcement and is cooperating with them. It also stated that consumers will not be charged late fees while its systems are unavailable.

According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

SOURCE | AP

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