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• Gearing up for the Next Wave of AI in Pharmaceutical Industry – From Cost-based to Value-based models

  Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping business operations in the health industry. Amid the ever-evolving AI infrastructure, growth in tech-savvy patients and availability of big data, the industry is set to make a transition from using AI for controlling costs to utilizing it for improving patient care. The AI in healthcare market is estimated to reach $6.6Bn in 2021 from $600Mn in 2014, recording a CAGR of 40%; in the five years subsequent to 2021, the market is estimated to grow by more than 10 times.1 In this article, we provide insights on the applications of AI in patient-centric models for improving patient care, from diagnosis to post-treatment care.

• Mini-grids: Bridging the Gap in Electricity Access

  More than a billion people across the world do not have access to electricity; this includes Africa, where a major share of the population lives without electricity. To increase electrification and link remote locations, more and more countries are looking to install mini-grids. Asia and Africa are recording higher growth in installation of mini-grids, and it is expected that by 2030, mini-grids will provide electricity to more than 500 million people globally.

• Purchase Price Allocations: What CFOs need to know to get it right?

  Purchase Price Allocation (PPA) is an important component of a merger and acquisition transaction. It entails distribution of the value of the purchase consideration among various tangible and intangible assets (and liabilities) acquired from the target following the merger/acquisition. Residual purchase consideration, if any, is recorded as goodwill in the acquiring company’s books. A fairly complex process, it requires deep domain knowledge, understanding of the business plan, and expertise in intrinsic valuation to ensure all aspects of the analysis have been factored in accurately.

• 5 Reasons why CFOs Like (and Dislike) Goodwill

  Purchase price allocation (PPA) and goodwill assessment is a must-have for any acquirer following an M&A deal to report the correct value of the assets on its financials. Assessing goodwill has always been a complex process and could create a fair amount of issues if not handled correctly. CFOs usually have a love-hate relationship with goodwill as it relates to their specific situation. The article provides a brief overview of the two sides of a goodwill assessment.

• Every surface as an interface

  The constantly evolving technological landscape has paved the way for making surfaces digital and sensor-enabled. Amid IoT and focus on global internet connectivity, this seems rather feasible. Devices going online will only reduce the clutter and create space. This technological domain has already piqued the interest of startups that are working on its various aspects. A world where the population of digital natives is growing gradually, surface serving as interface seems to be the future.

• Floating Offshore Wind Energy

  The need for environment-friendly resources and technology is rising. Renewable energy resources are gaining popularity, with wind energy being the second largest source. Though offshore wind is the fastest growing source, floating offshore wind source is also emerging as a powerful source of energy. Platforms and turbines are being developed to garner this energy. Though the resource faces challenges in implementation, it is a viable and economic option, and if a few measures are taken, it can easily become a main contributor of renewable energy.

• Will ESG become the new norm for selecting investments?

  The phrase Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investing, often used interchangeably with socially responsible, sustainable, and mission-related investing, was coined at the Who Cares Wins Conference in 2005. The conference was attended by asset managers, institutional investors, global consultants, research analysts, and government bodies and regulators to discuss the importance of ESG in longer-term investments as well as financial research.

• US-China Trade War: And The Winners Are...

  Over the last year and a half, the US-China tariff war has had a significant impact on trade diversion, creating both winners and losers. It has reshaped supply chains globally. The hike in tariff prompted the US to shift its supply chains to other Asian countries, while Chinese firms increased sourcing of goods from the Americas, excluding the US. Vietnam emerged as the biggest beneficiary and has since seen the most significant increase in market share, particularly in electronics and textiles. Asia’s other emerging economies, such as Bangladesh, Taiwan, and Thailand, have also benefitted from the trade war.

• Asset purchase versus stock purchase - Which one suits your transaction more?

  A company is usually acquired through one of the two routes: acquisition of equity shares of the target business or acquisition of its assets. Various aspects are taken into consideration while making this decision, such as tax exposure, hidden liabilities, existing contracts, and intellectual property rights. The decision also factors in the acquirer’s objectives and reasons for the acquisition.

• Reverse Innovation in Healthcare Sector

  Reverse innovation (RI) refers to pioneering techniques and ideas that are developed specifically to meet the needs of emerging countries and are later adopted by the Western countries, due to their impressive performance. This concept is gaining traction in healthcare as RI has multiple benefits for different stakeholders. Realizing the potential of innovations for emerging markets, companies are now actively working toward meeting the needs in these economies, which would not only do a larger good but also generate probably more revenues for the innovator. Prompted by this change in perspective, thinkers and innovators have devised healthcare solutions that have lowered the cost of medical solutions and addressed the constraints faced by poor countries.

• Hydrogen Economy - Are Liquid Hydrogen Carriers the answer?

  Hydrogen, despite being the smallest and the lightest of all elements, is difficult to transport. Amid its rising popularity as an alternative fuel, the logistics of delivery and storage pose a concern. Various methods are used for delivery, of which some are costly or complex. Liquid hydrogen carriers (LHCs) could be the solution to the logistics problem.

• Digitalization: Gaining Momentum Across Sectors

  ‘Going digital’ is the only way for companies to grow today and gain a competitive edge. Digitalization is taking place across sectors and geographies. However, adopting a new technology is not simple and requires in-depth analysis of various parameters. An expert and knowledgeable research partner can ensure that the company gets accurate data, along with insightful evaluation, to take an informed decision.

• The Future of Digital Lending in India

  Digital lending is leading the FinTech revolution. Though still in the nascent stage, it has managed to gain a strong foothold in India. Various models are currently being used, as it slowly evolves and becomes sophisticated. In this article, we explore the potential of digital lending startups in India, along with factors driving growth and the role of various government initiatives to support it.

• AI - A Key Element in Bridging the Security Gap for IoT Devices

  Increasing vulnerability of IoT devices to cyberattacks and other security threats have led enterprises to implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)-enabled solutions. As hacks become more sophisticated and advanced, traditional security measures are being rendered ineffective. Progressive technologies such as AI and ML have helped in improving security by reducing security breaches and increasing operational efficiency.

• Market reactions on Coronavirus, Is it overhyped?

  The outbreak of the deadly coronavirus in China has already started affecting various business sectors either directly or indirectly. As the death toll in the country climbs, China is forced to take preventive measures and focus its efforts on people’s health and safety. Increased leaves in factories, along with decreased travel and shopping, are already dragging a few sectors down. Will these effects lead to a global downturn or will they be a short-term panic attack? What will be the impact of this virus on the world economy? We attempt to answer these questions in this article.

• Impact of NB-IoT and LTE-M in Manufacturers and Logistics sectors

  IoT is increasingly being incorporated by businesses, indicating its growing significance. The connectivity facilitated by this system plays a key role in boosting efficiency. Currently, the most popular connectivity technologies are LTE-M and NB-IOT, characterized by low power consumption and wide area of coverage. Here, we mainly discuss their impact on logistics and manufacturing industries, including the role they would play in further growth in the two domains, and the outlook for these technologies.

• Growing Competition in US Media Industry Driving Acquisitions

  The astronomical success of Netflix has disrupted the traditional entertainment market, luring tech players to the newly created SVOD segment and forcing incumbents to adapt. With content as the key differentiator, companies are either investing heavily in original content or acquiring traditional companies with popular existing content. Some companies are also using this opportunity to diversify or enter new segments through acquisitions. The past year has seen many major deals, including mega mergers such as Disney-Fox Corp and AT&T-Warner. The momentum is expected to continue as small media companies look to partnerships to boost scale or gain synergy.

• PE Firms Going Long on US Online Short-Term Rental Market

  The vacation rental homes industry has developed rapidly and is set for more growth. Due to the promise it holds, the market has not only attracted venture capitalists but also witnessed an increase in mergers & acquisitions. This growth can be attributed to technological advancements and the market’s online nature, making it easy for travellers to choose, review and book. Hotel chains are also entering this space through either mergers or by creating smaller entities within to have a slice of the pie. Outlook for the industry remains positive and disruptive technologies will redefine the domain further.

• Patient Experience Mapping - The Roadmap for Focused Pharma Strategies

  Customer experience is pivotal to the success of any business. Taking cues from other sectors, pharmaceuticals too is turning its attention to patient experience-driven strategies. Understanding a patient’s journey, key unmet needs, personas from clinical data, claims data and primary research to include the insights in strategic plans has made the pharmaceutical business more cause-driven and empathetic. Connected health applications and advancements in AI platforms have facilitated access to and use of patients’ behavioral and attitudinal data. In this article, we discuss the importance of a greater patient-driven approach for improving experience, adding value to care and creating a differentiator for the company.

• Inside of the Rare Disease - Tyrosinemia

  Historically, rare diseases are neglected primarily because of lack of disease awareness and diagnosis, limited patient population, and sparse epidemiological data. However, in recent past, rare diseases are witnessing intense R&D activity as companies are leveraging drugs for rare diseases due to less regulatory hurdles, shorter time-to-market, exorbitant cost of drugs developed, and extended market exclusivity. In this article, we provide insights on unmet medical needs, patient journey, treatment algorithm, and future outlook for tyrosinemia - a rare disease affecting 1 in 100,000 people.

• Micro mobility in the fast lane – addressing the first and last mile commute

  The rising concern on environmental degradation has led to various solutions to reduce our carbon footprints. This business model, which involves shared use fleets of small e- vehicles has recently attracted a lot of attention, due to investments flooding it. The conducive environment has allowed this model to flourish and the futuristic outlook of its market is also positive.

• Waste to Value

  Today, the environment is facing the threat of ecological imbalance, and one of the reasons for this is the massive amount of waste being generated. Efficient waste management is an urgent requirement, and every company needs to be responsible and ensure that waste is disposed through environment-friendly methods. Technological innovations have led to the emergence of various techniques of creating value from waste products. Waste management is now not just about recycling but reusing and ensuring optimum utilisation of all resources.

• Are Electronics and Automotive Manufacturing companies shifting their base from China to Vietnam?

  Vietnam has emerged as a favorable alternative production destination for the electronics and automotive industries. This is due to several factors: the country’s robust economic growth (+6.8% YoY in 2019, driven by increasing FDI), increase in imports (+10.5%) and exports (+7.3%), multiple free trade agreements, rise in industrial production, low raw material costs, and high availability of raw materials and suppliers.

• Polyester 2020 - A Tough Road Ahead

  Polyester prices that continued to decline in 2019 as a result of falling prices of raw materials are expected to fall marginally in H1 2020. Continuous reduction in feedstock prices (PTA and MEG) as well as oversupply of polyester in the market are the other reasons for decreasing prices. Slowdown in the global economy, coupled with the ongoing US-China trade war, has further weakened the demand for polyester, negatively affecting its prices.

• The Looming Pension Fund Shortfall - Are Future Retirees at Risk?

  The major shift in demographics with increasing life expectancy is expected to create problems for future retirees, who are expected to outlive their savings. In economies where the population is aging rapidly, one of the key challenges is to provide financial security for the older population. Most economies concentrate their pension fund assets in conventional investments markets – equities and bonds – thereby, depending largely on markets that are volatile and dynamic. This warrants a more cautious and planned approach by fund managers entailing diversification of pension funds from low-risk, low-return to high-risk, high-return asset classes. Moreover, at an individual level, a more prudent approach is required in terms of planning investments and increasing savings.

• Use Cases: Digital Twin in Livestock Farming

  The agriculture industry is confronted with a new set of problems such as shortage of labor, pressure to feed an increasing population, and environmental degradation that are affecting the health of plants and animals and, consequently, agricultural produce. Agtech, entailing application of technology to agricultural operations and processes, is fast emerging as a solution to address these issues. Investment in digitalization in agriculture is lucrative in terms of increasing productivity, process efficiency and animal welfare. One such approach is the digital twin technology, yet to be explored in livestock farming. The use cases mentioned here indicate the technology’s application in livestock farming.

• GCC 2020 expansionary budgets under threat from oil price slump due to Covid-19 spread

  Oil prices have been declining over the past two months following the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, China, which is now spreading globally. The spreading of the disease is expected to have a substantial effect on global GDP and oil prices. The persistent weakness in oil prices is worrisome mainly for the GCC region as oil is the major source of revenue. Gulf countries have already announced their budgets for 2020, assuming oil price at USD55–60 per barrel. With oil prices currently way below the GCC governments’ estimation, the deficits of these countries could widen toward the end of 2020. However, the constant efforts of GCC countries to diversify their economy towards the non-oil sector over the past many years would provide some cushion in this challenging environment.

• Is the US economy heading toward a significant market correction?

  The US markets suffered its worst week in over a decade as investors went into panic mode with the S&P 500 losing almost 11.5% in a week, rapidly wiping out nearly a year’s worth of steady gains. With the longest ever 128-month expansion, investors are skeptical about a significant market correction in the short term. Moreover, the impact of coronavirus may weaken the Chinese economy and, in turn, US and other markets. Though economic indicators, such as the yield curve inversion and PMI data, provide substantial evidence for a correction, valuations remain on the higher side.

• Zero Trust: A Solution to Enterprise Cybersecurity Concerns?

  Technological advancements have ensured constant connectivity for enterprises and facilitated remote access. However, this has also increased threats of data breaches, hacks and malware attacks. Various cybersecurity solutions have been developed to beat hackers who are increasingly using advanced tools. One of these solutions is the Zero Trust model, equipped with features to create more layers of safety.

• Will the oil market plunge sink all producers?

  The bloodbath witnessed by the crude oil market on the weekend of March 08, a ‘seismic’ event of sorts, saw oil prices nosedive to record lows. First, on Friday, March 6, news came in that talks between OPEC and select non-OPEC countries led by Russia for the extension of production cuts had collapsed; this implied that all producers would be free from April 1 to pump as much oil as they could. The likely result would be an oversupply in a market already grappling with slowdown in demand following the outbreak of coronavirus. Second, on Saturday, March 7, there was news of Saudi Arabia offering discounted prices to customers in line with its aggressive strategy to increase market share. This could potentially prompt producers across markets to cut prices in their bid to garner a bigger share. The overall impact was a mayhem in oil prices that led major research houses to substantially revise price targets downward. The developments may have far reaching negative impact, albeit in varying degrees, on all oil producers, from GCC countries to Russia to US shale oil producers.

• Debt Settlement Industry in US

  The American dream has always attracted people from across the globe. But sadly, today this lustrous dream is losing its sheen due to the growing debt crisis the country is grappling with. Those classy chip-embedded cards or credit cards, as they are known, have proved to be a boon for some while a bane for the others. Total consumer debt, comprising credit cards, mortgage, student loans, and auto loans, in the US climbed to $13.2bn as of Q2 2019. How is the country and its citizens going to escape the enormous debt they have hanging over them?

• Efficient Corporate Governance Framework - Essential for Success

  Corporate governance refers to a necessary framework adopted by companies to safeguard the interests of customers and other stakeholders. An efficient corporate governance structure can ensure positive returns for shareholder. Moreover, with ESG increasingly being recognized as a key component of corporate governance, this ensures that the company meets its obligations toward the environment and society.

• Silicon-based LHCs: Driving Carbon-free Hydrogen Economy

  In our previous article, we shared an overview of liquid hydrogen carriers (LHCs) and their role in the rapid adoption of hydrogen as a fuel. Liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) are currently the popular choice for storing and transporting H2. However, these carriers eventually degrade over time in the form of carbon emissions. Recently, silicon-based carriers, which are free of carbon, have been introduced as a solution to the problem. In this segment, HySiLabs has developed HydroSil, a promising silicon-based LHC. This article highlights the implications of HydroSil on current and future hydrogen economy, as expressed by Vincent Lôme, Ph.D., CSO and co-founder of HySiLabs.

• Multivariate Model - An Optimal Method for Valuing Football Clubs?

  The Multivariate Model is a well-known method to carry out the valuation of football clubs. Its main components are revenues, transaction fees cost, assets owned by clubs. While a more optimal approach compared to DCF and Relative Valuation, it also suffers from certain limitations.

• Yes Bank Fiasco: End of AT1 bond issuance in India?

  Yes Bank had been under stress for some time, marred by low capital adequacy and asset quality issues. RBI, which had been monitoring the situation closely, has now decided to step in and act decisively. Its sudden decision to impose a moratorium and announce restructuring has caught markets and investors unaware. One of the casualties of the proposed restructuring are the AT1 bondholders, whose entire investments would be written down and rendered worthless. This then raises the question: is the solution viable? Is this the first time that bonds are being written down, while equity investors are being compensated?

• How businesses can profit from reverse innovation

  Reverse innovation has gained popularity over the past few years. Due to its growing relevance, conglomerates are looking to enter emerging markets. They believe leveraging the disruptive approach will not only facilitate entry but also help them increase profits. In developing countries, it is not easy to identify the needs and then plug the gap correctly; however, certain well-known companies have managed to accomplish this using reverse innovation.

• Medtech companies to play larger role in emerging telemedicine space

  The current pandemic is a grim reminder of the significance of virtual healthcare advisory. While telemedicine has been in practice for decades, the COVID-19 outbreak has catapulted its adoption to a completely different scale. It is on the way to becoming mainstream as the urgency of meeting medical needs during this period of social isolation increases. Medtech companies are expected to play a big role in facilitating this by coming up with relevant solutions that will enable physicians and patients to connect in no time and irrespective of location.

• COVID-19: The Worst Time to be a B2B Salesperson. Or is there a Way Out?

  It was the best of times and then suddenly it was over. As coronavirus continues to dominate news and change priorities for virtually everyone, many of us in B2B Sales are likewise gasping in search of ideas that will bring back customers and revive demand for our products and services. What to do?

• Parked Cars - A Hidden Potential Resource

  The automobile industry landscape is witnessing a major shift as innovative models, such as electric and autonomous cars, get ready to enter the market. The increase in production will lead to billions of car going on the road by 2040. According to research, private cars are parked 95% of the time and hence under-utilized. Industry players are currently looking for opportunities to use parked cars in a sustainable and effective manner while positively impacting the environment and the society.

• AI To Aid in Decision-making During Pandemic

  In today’s technology-driven world, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled devices are more of a necessity than luxury. With more enterprises going online, AI is increasingly becoming relevant. It is also playing a significant role in fighting the global pandemic at various levels. While there are challenges in the adoption of AI, implementing the technology will only ensure organizations are better prepared for similar crises in future.

• Will Saudi Arabia and Russia agree on production cuts to save oil market?

  Oil prices are gyrating due to the delay in Saudi Arabia and Russia reaching an agreement on cutting production. In a hostile environment, amid oversupply and falling demand, oil prices have become extremely volatile. Due to the pandemic and resultant shutdowns, demand has taken a hit, but market conditions for oil were challenging even in pre-COVID-19 days. With no respite from lockdowns in near future, oil storage facilities may reach capacity soon and logistics would become expensive for producers. Prospects, therefore, hinge on Russia and Saudi Arabia reaching an agreement soon. Expect prices to remain skewed downwards for some more time.

• Tech Sector Untouched by COVID-19 Slowdown; Over USD 5.8 bn Invested in March

  The spread of COVID-19 has brought several economies closer to recession. As forced shutdowns and isolation continue, industries struggle against falling demand, supply-chain disruptions and liquidity crunch. However, is the scenario bleak for all sectors, or are some sectors ironically benefitting from the crisis?

• Is 'Emergency Innovation' Helping Emerging Nations in Their Fight Against the Virus?

  Coronavirus is extremely contagious and has spread to over 150 countries across the world within a span of two months. Countries are adopting various macro-strategies to deal with the pandemic. Data shows that emerging countries have managed to deal with the epidemic more effectively than developed nations. While developed countries are using hi-tech technologies, emerging nations are taking recourse to ‘emergency innovations’.

• Effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on the global theatrical release business and OTT platforms

  The global economy, initially unaffected by the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in China in December 2019, could not surmount the successive fallout of the pandemic, that began spreading to other countries by early February 2020 and warranting a near-global lockdown. Although manufacturing, transportation and logistics have weathered the lion’s share of the associated economic impact, the effect on the global film production and distribution business is believed to extend to as far as mid-2021.

• 2020 Stimulus Plans and Their Impact – Will These Be Enough?

  The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted supply chains globally and international trade, nearly shutting down the world economy. Looking at the current scenario, many renowned economists have predicted zero economic growth for 2020. Federal governments across nations are announcing unprecedented stimulus packages to deal with the downturn. While this will have a positive impact, the question is will it be enough, considering that two crises – economic and health – have fused into one, compounding the magnitude.

• Gap in demand–supply of masks: Is there a solution?

  As countries fight the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for protective gears is soaring. Masks, especially, have seen unprecedented growth in demand. As the number of cases rises and the acute supply shortage continues, companies and governments are taking steps to bridge the demand-supply gap. The big question is: will demand for masks remain high even after the pandemic is over, or will companies be holding large unused stocks?

• Impact of COVID-19 on global supply chains

  Supply chain is a highly competitive domain, where optimization is important to reduce costs and inventories. However, the flip side is that this has reduced the buffers and flexibility to accommodate delays and disruptions. Therefore, companies should work toward making their supply chains flexible and resilient in order to effectively offset risks.

• Data sourcing: Key to decision-making

  Data sourcing is an essential step in developing robust data-backed strategies. Gleaning relevant and accurate information entails verifying the authenticity of data and its source. Skipping this could lead to inaccuracy in data compilation, which would affect analysis. Hence, companies must understand the importance of data sourcing and plan it accordingly.

• Investment opportunities in distressed assets amidst Covid pandemic

  In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, nations are deploying various measures to limit causalities. The crude price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia isn’t helping either. The negative impact of the outbreak is felt across sectors. The distressed debt industry will now go into an overdrive as businesses face shutdowns and unemployment rises. Which sectors get affected? How severe will be the impact? 2020 will be the crucial year…

• Indian Banking Industry: Governance Reforms Imperative to Regain Confidence of Stakeholder

  Yes Bank is among the latest to be added to the list of Indian banks that have been in trouble recently. The string of bank failures has raised questions about the industry’s otherwise strong regulatory framework. Is there a way to prevent more such episodes?

• Surge in GCC sovereign bond issuances at attractive yields: Buyers underpricing risk?

  Multibillion-dollar bond issuances in April 2020 by three Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries – Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia – have galvanized the fixed income market, especially the emerging economies segment. The attractive yields offered prompted fixed income investors to submit bids exceeding the issue size. However, the region is reeling under the impact of the slump in oil market, besides the economic fallout of COVID-19-induced lockdowns. Therefore, the question arises would the yields adequately compensate for the risks.

• COVID-19: Impact on US M&A Market

  The ongoing health crisis, coupled with the resultant economic slowdown, has severely impacted the US M&A market. Numerous deals were either put on hold or cancelled in the last one month. Though in the medium term the recovery of the market would be sluggish, going by past economic downturns, this could be the right time to sign M&A deals. During downturns, quality companies are available at 13–21% valuation multiple discount, while previous cases show that deals carried out during this period generated almost 10% higher returns for shareholders.

• Top sectors to watch out for as life changes due to Covid-19

  The COVID-19 pandemic has created ripples in the already volatile global stock market. Several major global indexes fell more than 30% from their recent highs within a couple of months, and then recovered marginally. Companies associated with the travel and tourism sector witnessed a drastic drop (40–50%) in share prices at an accelerating pace. A few other sectors also bore the brunt of this steep decline. Ironically, there are some sectors that stand to benefit from this scenario and present attractive investment opportunities.

• Social Distancing: Trigger to the new age Robotic Revolution?

  The COVID-19 pandemic has turned out to be like an apocalyptic movie, complete with the threat of large-scale, global annihilation from the viral spread. It has nearly extinguished economic activity and confined scores of people to their homes. In this scenario, robotics/automation could come to our rescue, saving human lives by enabling continued social distancing. Can robots save the global economy from collapse and help improve productivity? Will robots become the new normal?

• Will COVID-19 be a game changer for retail fashion?

  Stephen Covey once said, "If there's one thing that's uncertain in business, it's uncertainty."
  This holds true especially in current times, given the scale of the COVID-19 crisis and uncertainty surrounding its impact on the society and economy. Despite the challenges posed by epidemics, they often pave the way for innovation and bigger opportunities. This article explores how fashion retailers are coping with the crisis and looking at alternative avenues.

• How SHIELD Framework Can Help PE Firms Benefit From COVID-19 Downturn

  The global economy is heading toward the worst recession in recent decades, and it is well known that inaction is the riskiest response in such a situation for businesses. However, random and unthoughtful action can be as damaging as inaction. PE firms are no different, and they need to act quickly to reduce the impact on their existing investments. Aranca’s comprehensive SHIELD framework can act as a catalyst for PE firms to take well-informed and effective action(s) minimizing the COVID-19 impact and even reaping benefits from this downturn.

• Gaming: A Long-Term Investment Play?

  More than a third of the global population is now confined to homes, compelled to follow social distancing to limit the spread of the deadly coronavirus. The unprecedented scale of the pandemic has, however, blessed the gaming industry, which is buzzing with a sudden surge in sales of video games and gaming consoles as people seek ways to deal with the lockdown. The ‘new normal’ is here to stay for a long time and would definitely benefit the gaming industry, making it a profitable investment in the long term.

• Transformational Technologies During and After COVID-19 Lockdown

  COVID-19 is changing the world around us. While technological transformation was already underway in most industries, the pandemic has quickened its pace, making its adoption necessary. Due to social distancing and restricted movement, various sectors across the globe are facing disruption. However, technological advancements in transportation and logistics, factories, and healthcare can help automate the most essential tasks. What are the emerging technologies that can help us navigate through these difficult times?

• How has COVID-19 Impacted the GCC Auto Sector

  Historically low oil prices and decreased demand in the aftermath of COVID-19 – a double whammy for the GCC economy – have severely impacted all sectors in the region, including auto industry. Along with low unit sales, traffic on roads has decreased amid the crisis. However, certain growth opportunities are emerging even during the tough times. Additionally, some countermeasures can be taken to help the sector ride out the challenging environment.

• Has COVID-19 Hit Growth of Renewable Energy Sector?

  COVID-19 has impacted almost all the economies globally. Industries worldwide are adversely affected and racing to dodge the impending recession. The power generation industry, including the renewable energy sector, is also facing the fallout of the pandemic. Though the effects on the sector are vague now, these will become prominent in the upcoming months. In fact, the repercussions could be so vast that the renewable energy sector may take few years to regain normalcy.

• The Chemicals Industry: Resilient During the COVID – 19 Pandemic

  The COVID-19 outbreak has significantly impacted the global economy thereby altering the growth trajectories of most key sectors. However, the chemicals sector seems to have remained largely unscathed and is in fact poised to benefit from new opportunities that this pandemic has presented.

• Branchless Banking: Clicks to Replace Bricks

  The fear of contracting COVID-19 and the associated quarantine measures have been keeping customers away from bank branches, and this trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. The lockdown scenario worldwide is pushing customers more towards online banking and to becoming net savvy. As customers become more comfortable in managing finances digitally, are bank branches doomed to become altogether redundant when the pandemic ends? Will bank branches be a thing of the past? 
  We think YES!

• Crude Oil Solidification – Unexplored Opportunities

  Crude oil prices have plunged to a 22-year low. Oil importers are trying to leverage this situation by buying more oil and storing in the available facilities. However, due to high demand, these facilities have reached their limit and become expensive. The stockpile continues to build owing to the crash in demand caused by the worldwide lockdown. A few technologies have been ideally developed for easy transport of bitumen through solidification. These emerging technologies must be explored and commercialized to find a solution to the oil storage issue.

• Contactless Delivery – Saving Lives Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

  As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, measures are being taken across the world to practice social distancing and limit human contact. In such a scenario, emerging technologies such as drones, robots, and autonomous vehicles have come to the rescue and are being deployed to perform various functions. Their usage has helped hospital staff, security personnel, and retailers. Will these technologies continue to be deployed even when the crisis is overcome, or are they only being used as a temporary arrangement?

• COVID-19 Impact on Global Oil Industry

  The oil industry is experiencing a dual supply and demand shock due to COVID-19-led lockdown measures across the world. In 2020, global oil demand is expected to decline by 9.3 mbd compared to last year, posing severe economic threats in oil producing countries.

• Solar Power Sector: Would the COVID-19 Pandemic Restrict Growth?

  Prior to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the solar energy sector had been witnessing an upward trend and growth across various geographies owing to project launches and increase in capacities. However, the pandemic has drastically changed the scenario; companies are currently witnessing decline in demand and disruptions in supply chains and will have to bear the long-term effect even after the risk of the pandemic is mitigated. How will the solar power sector respond to this impending threat?

• Global Dollar Shortage: Back and Here to Stay

  Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for dollar – the global reserve currency – has increased. The recent turmoil in financial markets, a lack of liquidity and falling global trade has led to the strengthening of the US dollar vis-à-vis other currencies. The Federal Reserve has responded aggressively with interest rate cuts, quantitative easing and establishment of swap lines with major central banks to ensure liquidity and that the foreign exchange market functions smoothly. However, the measures proved inept in preventing the dollar index from touching an 18-year high. Is the dollar shortage a long-term scenario or a kneejerk reaction? Read on to find out.

• Business Continuity After COVID-19 - Can Consultants Design the Blueprint?

  The COVID-19 outbreak has thrown political, economic and social orders in disarray across countries. Businesses and industries are struggling with taking the steps that will help them navigate through the expected economic recession, likely to be similar in scale to the Great Depression after the Second World War. It is a challenging time for businesses as they try to stay relevant and survive the crisis. Can consultants help business leaders take correct decisions? This article elaborates on why it would be a strategically judicious move to have consultants on board in these troubled times.

• All that Glitters is Gold

  Gold remains a haven for investors as it is not adversely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. The rising gold prices of 2019 are continuing their upward trend in 2020, reaching new highs. The demand pattern of this precious metal is shifting, and the supply side is now facing constraints. Yet, gold could well be the savior that investors need to safeguard their money.

• Zeroing in on the Right Approach to Innovation

  Innovation is the crux on which growth depends in every domain. In business, companies can take recourse to different means of innovation. However, it has to be planned—identify the problem and then come up with a solution.

• Shift in Work Culture in Post-COVID–19 World

  The fear of COVID-19 has led to the need for social distancing and lockdowns across nations. Most corporates have introduced WFH policy to ensure business continuity. However, this policy can be sustainable only if it has a strong technological support that enables smooth connectivity and easy collaboration. Will it be feasible for companies to make WFH a permanent feature or will the technology infrastructure cost be too high?

• COVID-19 Lockdown Plays Well for Gaming Industry

  Natural disasters, recessions, and other such devastating events tend to catalyze industry-wide trends and shift the power balance between sectors. COVID-19’s effect on various sectors, particularly gaming, will be in line with this notion.

• Aftermath of COVID-19: Revisiting R&D Strategies to Stay Relevant

  The outbreak of COVID-19 has triggered a global economic meltdown. Amidst this economic adversity, should companies stick to their defined R&D strategies or consider re-visiting these, especially in R&D? In the current scenario, redefining R&D strategies is crucial for companies intending to stay ahead of the competition. For corporations re-strategizing their R&D plans, or considering a change in these plans, or even waiting for stronger signals, this article provides an answer to the questions about how to approach this change.

• COVID-19 Vaccines Under Clinical Development

  SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is an enveloped, positive, single-strand RNA virus. Currently, there are no approved vaccines to safeguard people from this virus. More than 100 projects worldwide are centred on developing a potential vaccine for the coronavirus. Vaccines under clinical development vary in type and platforms used; the types of vaccines that are mainly developed are DNA, RNA, VLP, inactivated, live attenuated, and protein subunit vaccines. The list provides details on the vaccines under clinical trial and is a ready reference for all trials in clinical and pre-clinical phases.

• Long-Term Trends Likely to Emerge in TMT Sector as an Aftermath of COVID-19

  COVID-19 has led to increased usage of internet as well as technology, media, and telecom (TMT). As the virus continues to force nations to remain under lockdown, these trends will be long-term and may become part of the “new normal.” While the developed countries already had a large base of online users, they still saw a surge in numbers. The emerging nations are continuing to see a rise and yet have unexplored potential that could lead to further growth.

• COVID-19 Vaccines Under Pre-Clinical Development

  SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is an enveloped, positive, single-strand RNA virus. Currently, there are no approved vaccines to safeguard people from this virus. More than 100 projects worldwide are centred on developing a potential vaccine for the coronavirus. Vaccines under clinical development vary in type and platforms used; the types of vaccines that are mainly developed are DNA, RNA, VLP, inactivated, live attenuated, and protein subunit vaccines. The list provides details on the vaccines under clinical trial and is a ready reference for all trials in clinical and pre-clinical phases.

• Chinese Industries Adversely Affected by COVID-19

  The COVID-19 pandemic has created an economic turmoil. Industries across sectors are impacted as a result, and nations are preparing for the worst recession of the century. As the virus originated in China, it was the first country to feel the economic repercussions of the outbreak. Some sectors in the country were badly hit and may have to face the cascading effect of the virus as well. It seems that the worst is yet to come.

• Will Private Equity Firms Emerge Unscathed from the COVID-19 Crisis?

  COVID-19 has negatively affected almost all sectors of industry. Many bore the brunt of the pandemic, with lockdowns and restricted travel ringing up losses. The private equity business is no exception; many ongoing deals, and several more in the pipeline, are now paused. The business, which was on the upswing, will now be hit due to this turmoil. However, there are some factors favoring the PE space. If participants can take steps in the right direction, they may be able to emerge from this crisis with minimal damage.

• Vaccines under clinical and pre-clinical development to combat COVID -19 pandemic

  SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is an enveloped, positive, single-strand RNA virus. Currently, there are no approved vaccines to safeguard people from this virus. More than 100 projects worldwide are centred on developing a potential vaccine for the coronavirus. Vaccines under clinical development vary in type and platforms used; the types of vaccines that are mainly developed are DNA, RNA, VLP, inactivated, live attenuated, and protein subunit vaccines. The list provides details on the vaccines under clinical trial and is a ready reference for all trials in clinical and pre-clinical phases.

• Adoption of Online Education Tools: A Short-term Measure or Long-term Trend?

  The ongoing lockdowns worldwide as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the schedules of schools and colleges. The virus attacked when most schools were already closing for a summer break. Post the break, academic institutions started using online video conference and education apps to continue tutoring, thereby ensuring that the academic year is not negatively impacted. Could this short-term measure become a long-term trend?

• Workplace 2.0: Balancing Business Continuity and Employee Safety

  The COVID-19 pandemic is showing no signs of letting up. With the global economy sliding into recession, businesses must restart operations to survive. While this step is imperative to save the economy, it also means compromising on employees’ health and safety. Can workplaces maintain the delicate balance between business continuity and employee safety?

• Consumer Non-durables in US Brace for Tougher Times as Economic Rampage Continues

  The COVID-19 crisis is not likely to get over anytime soon. Several countries have already declared their economies are in recession. Sectors like consumer non-durables have been adversely impacted as the purchase of non-essential items has completely stopped. With lockdowns disrupting supply and demand declining, there seems to be no respite for the sector in the near term.

• Can UV-C lighting Help Reopen the World?

  COVID-19 cases are still increasing in some countries. However, the huge downturn suffered by the global economy has forced industries across the world to open while effective solutions to deal with the deadly virus are underway. This has brought UV lighting in focus. UV lighting has been incorporated in medical tools for the past 40 years. Currently, lighting companies are exploring its efficacy during the pandemic. The concept has strong potential in the present scenario, and innovative solutions are being studied by lighting companies for its applications in various industries.

• Zero Trust Security: An Ideal Cybersecurity Solution in the "Work from Home" Culture?

  The outbreak of COVID-19 and the consequent need for social distancing have made “work from home” (WFH) a norm across the globe. Although currently being viewed as a short-term measure, this concept may soon become a culture. The future may see employees not being constrained within a brick and mortar structure. Access to information on cloud from anywhere ensures business continuity, and WFH or “Work from Anywhere” will soon be the new mantra. However, in such a scenario, robust and reliable cybersecurity solutions would be required to combat the increasing exposure to cyberattacks.

• Are European Airlines on the Path to Recovery Post the COVID-19 Pandemic?

  The global airline industry was considerably affected due to COVID-19, owing to complete shutdown on travel. However, as the ferocity of the pandemic gradually mitigates in European countries, air travel has resumed. Various technological innovations have been proposed to help airlines and airports eliminate the spread of infection. Governments are also taking initiatives to help revive the industry. Will the European airlines be able to emerge from this crisis unscathed?

• Existential Risk Management – Managing the Risk of Extinction

  The global pandemic has once again bought fore the need to have risk management and business continuity plans to deal with crises. As COVID – 19 spread across the world, it spelled doom for the global economy and many companies were forced to declare bankruptcy. Could this have been avoided if there was a blueprint for disaster management, readying them to face unprecedented challenges?

• Way Towards a Smarter Power Network

  Smart Grid is a power network that uses advance technology to monitor, communicate and control the flow of electricity in the network. It improves the efficiency of the power network, helps reduce the overall cost of operation and enables consumers to monitor their power usage. Digitisation of the power sector is an ongoing process, and in the coming years, the sector will embrace transformational technologies to develop and thrive.

• Facility Management: Increasing Efficiency Through Adoption of Emerging Technologies

  Facility management is widely regarded as an essential service that helps maintain the health and safety of people as well as increase the lifespan of buildings and the assets within. Emerging technologies have been assisting facility managers to achieve these objectives. The industry’s reliance on technologies is expected to grow and play a crucial role in containing the spread of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

• Hospital M&A Activity is on life support, but recovery is imminent

  The number of hospital deals declined in H1 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic spooked investors, making them conserve cash. With the pandemic adversely affecting many healthcare providers, many small players without a financial cushion are either forced into an M&A deal or have to declare bankruptcy. However, studies on the actual benefits of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) have made such deals less palatable for state governments, regulators, and other healthcare stakeholders. Deal makers will need to be more strategic in their deals going forward to ensure they pass through federal regulators and can survive a weakened health system

• Digital – the Future of Pharmacy in the US

  Technology has permeated every industry worldwide today, including healthcare. Within this space, the digitalization of pharmacies has surged over the past few years, especially in developed markets. In the US, many start-ups have entered the online pharmacy space and received robust venture capital support. Traditional brick-and-mortar shops have seen the light and moved online while e-commerce giants like Amazon are entering this space via partnerships. Will physical pharmacies eventually give way to digital-only presences in the US? This remains to be seen.

• Can Antimicrobial, Antiviral Surface Coatings Curb the Spread of COVID-19?

  An antimicrobial surface coating is widely used to control the growth of pathogens on surfaces and in building facilities. Currently, scientists and researchers are working closely with the paint and coatings industry players across the globe to develop antimicrobial, antiviral coating solutions that would prevent the spread of COVID-19 through surface contamination.

• Has COVID-19 Disrupted the Future of the Belt and Road Initiative?

  While China is gradually reopening its economy after successfully containing the spread of COVID-19, it is facing multiple challenges on the economic and political fronts. The lockdowns disrupted China’s manufacturing industry, adversely impacting its economy; at the same time, its standing in the global community has been weakened due to its alleged mismanagement of the virus outbreak. The country has been criticized for originating the pandemic, delaying the response, and not disseminating timely accurate information to the World Health Organization. China worsened the situation by engaging in a violent conflict with Indian troops along its shared border region and exhibiting aggressive behavior in the South China Sea. These developments are expected to impede the progress of China’s golden project – The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

• 5G: Did COVID–19 Mar the Grand Rollout?

  The rollout of 5G, expected globally in 2020, took a beating as COVID–19 struck with all its might, taking one country after another. To deal with the highly contagious virus, lockdowns were imposed across the globe that completely derailed the rollout of 5G. While spectrum auctions and implementation have resumed, the tempo has slowed significantly compared to the speed with which 5G was being rolled out; however, there is hope that the delay will not have a long-term impact.

• How to efficiently transfer wealth to successive generations

  Estate planning is a crucial aspect of wealth management and enables an efficient transfer of wealth to subsequent generations and other beneficiaries. The taxation of estate planning is tricky; hence, expert help is needed to carry out this task in a manner which can ensure that the beneficiaries are able to access their inheritance with the least possible tax liabilities.

• Data Segmentation - A Route to Happy Customers, Increased Revenue

  Data segmentation is a vital process that allows organizations to derive benefits from the vast repository of data they collect. Correct evaluation of data starts with accurate data segmentation, which should be error-free and relevant. The segmented data provides relevant actionable information to the different teams in a company, based on which they can develop strategies to increase revenue. Thus, the process is undoubtedly crucial for the growth of a company.

• India’s Ban on Chinese Apps – An Opportunity for Indian Tech Start-ups

  The political strain between India and China in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and the more recent Galwan Valley skirmish has prompted the Indian government to ban certain vulnerable apps that have a Chinese hand. Indian citizens are also favoring home-grown products in their attempt to boycott Chinese products and to support the government’s edict. With the pervasive presence of Chinese apps in almost all segments – from financial services to entertainment and gaming – the current ban opens up vast opportunities for Indian players. Can Indian start-ups rise to this challenge to meet technological demands and emerge as winners?

• Plastic Circular Economy - A Hopeless Dream Post COVID-19?

  Plastic emerged as a savior during the pandemic; it is the core ingredient of most of the protective gear, due to which its demand has increased. Fear of infection also led to a rise in the use of single-use plastic. Moreover, companies which had pledged to reduce their carbon footprint and recycle plastic are unable to follow through, as its expensive for those impacted by the current economic crisis. Hence, would the dream of a plastic circular economy be dashed to the ground?

• New safety norms: Creating opportunities for the Facilities Management (FM) industry

  Facilities management consists of two important services: technical/hard and soft services. Over the years, the demand for outsourcing of technical services has been rising as these are deemed to be more complex. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has renewed industry focus on soft services. As governments worldwide slowly reopen and daily activities resume with the required safety protocols, the need for soft services within the facilities management market is expected to increase. The new normal, which includes cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitization, has created several opportunities for the global facilities management industry.

• Alternative Funding Options for Start-ups During the Current Recessionary Times

  Due to the current recessionary times, investor sentiment is at an all-time low. This has hit start-ups seeking funding from venture capitalists and the investor community. However, entrepreneurs can currently explore alternative funding options. Benefits of these options could increase their prominence in the future.

• What will be the “New Normal” for Physical Retail?

  As the lockdowns ease and the world restarts, one of the worst-hit sectors, physical retail stores, have also opened their doors. While various countries are working on or introducing vaccines, the fear of COVID-19 will not be erased soon. To combat this, the retail sector will have to redesign the shopping experience and introduce new ideas to ensure that all safety regulations are met and business continuity is maintained.

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Blogs

26 blog posts found for :

• Secondary Sale — How Not to Turn it Into a 409A Nightmare

  A Founders’ Stock sale can have serious and far reaching implications on the pricing of stock options due to 409A provisions.
  While the extent of the impact can vary significantly, it’s important to understand when this affects companies the most as well as how they can structure such transactions to mitigate these effects.

• 409A Valuations — Are You Pricing Your Options Too High?

  Start-up CFOs are fast realizing how early stage 409A valuations completed by quick cookie cutter, ‘textbook’ approach often result in inflated option prices and disgruntled employees. Naturally, a 409A valuation has to be more than just compliant; it has to be fair for your employees.

• Uber to operate Careem independently

  Uber acquired ride hailing service provider Careem in January 2020. It has decided to operate the brand independently and not merge it under a universal brand name. Several factors may have prompted the company to pursue this strategy, but there may be two main reasons: Careem’s strong brand loyalty and expert management team. Uber is rather looking to judiciously tap factors that have led to Careem’s emergence as a leader in the industry across certain geographies.

• IP Licensing - Strategy to ensure growth in adversities

  The ongoing global economic scenario, which includes the US-China trade tensions, upcoming US 2020 presidential elections, weakening GDP growth, and negative outlook for leading economies, has had far-reaching effects on growth of businesses worldwide. As businesses are adapting to these uncertainties, business leaders should consider diversification-based IP monetization strategies, which, though less discussed, are in fact critical to survival as well as to ensure growth in adversities. With steadily increasing revenue from IP licensing, which surpassed 2% of the global trade value, IP licensing remains an alternative revenue stream in the age of digital and intangible asset-driven business models. This article highlights various benefits while monetizing IP assets using licensing approaches. It also emphasizes the requirement for due diligence in risk mitigation.

• R&D: Profit Driver for Pharma Companies During Epidemics

  As coronavirus strikes countries with ferocity, medical scientists, doctors and pharma companies are in a frenzy to find a cure and develop a vaccine. While the cure would diffuse the pandemic situation, it will also be a major source of profit for the pharmaceutical company which manufactures it.

• Climate Change Investing – Does COVID-19 Warrant Greater Risk Assessment for Investors?

  The COVID-19 outbreak is sparking another debate on the side-lines – societal and economic preparedness to face Black Swan events such as these and the catastrophes they lead to. Also, whether a far greater assessment is necessary to evaluate the risks they present. One such ongoing event with the potential for major disastrous consequences is climate change.

• Five Rules to Successfully Innovate During a Downturn

  Companies should focus on saving cost and treading cautiously amid downturns, right? Yes, but this is also the time to re-strategize and re-invent. Innovations and investment in R&D (where possible) should become an important consideration during these tough times. This would help in being cost-effective, increase efficiency, and realize long-term benefits. Here are a few tips for companies in this regard.

• Genetic Engineering – A Potential Solution to Eradicate Epidemics?

  Genetic engineering/gene editing, while around for a long time, is not viewed with much trust. As it entails modification of cells and altering the natural order of things, the technology is always under the scanner of regulatory and ethical groups. However, it could be holding the solution to the current epidemic. Using it to develop the required immunity to fight the disease, the technology may well emerge as the savior of mankind.

• COVID-19 Crisis, Stock Options & 409A Valuation: An opportunity to realign the sharing of long-term value?

  The COVID-19 pandemic continues to send financial markets globally in a tailspin. The economic slowdown will undoubtedly affect the technology startup and venture capital ecosystem. As per IRC 409A provisions, a valuation report is valid up to 12 months from the valuation date or the date of any significant event that can impact the valuation materially, whichever is earlier. Can COVID-19 be identified as one such event?

• COVID-19 - Did the WHO fail in controlling the global pandemic?

  As the world combats COVID-19, questions are being raised on the competence of the World Health Organization (WHO) to issue safety guidelines that could have saved lives. The WHO declared coronavirus a pandemic on January 30, 2020 and followed this with measures such as social distancing and self-isolation aimed at containing its spread; however, this proved too late and too little. Moreover, it did not emphasize on the criticality of testing, crucial to controlling the pandemic.

• COVID–19: Making Case for Digitalization in Procurement

  Procurement, a key process, if affected adversely could result in a huge loss for the organization, especially in manufacturing. The current pandemic has unveiled the threats facing supply chain and how vulnerable it can be rendered. However, digitalization in procurement could help organizations to be better prepared.

• Hotels: Can the Industry Ride Out the Downturn?

  COVID-19 has affected all industries, hospitality being the worst hit. The complete ban on travel is costing the tourism sector billions of dollars. Challenges notwithstanding, the point is can hotels use this time effectively to prepare for the new reality likely to emerge in the post-pandemic period?

• Dealing with Inorganic Growth in Valuations Based on Market Approach

  It is a challenge to apply the market-based approach while valuing companies showcasing high inorganic growth or participating in an acquisitive industry. Analysts should be mindful of the accuracy of market information, fairness of precedent transactions, projections of the subject company, and transaction economics of the acquisition pipeline.

• Back to Work – What Will Be the New Normal at Workplaces After COVID–19?

  The pandemic led to months of lockdown, restrictions on movement, and sealing of borders, pushing the global economy to the verge of collapse. Now, workplaces and offices are reopening. However, safety rules and regulations will need to be incorporated to ensure there is no resurgence. What lies ahead is a ‘new normal’, which we must accept and adapt to.

• New Category Creation: A Decisive Growth Strategy

  New category creation is a well-established and successful route to tap new markets. It refers to upgrading an existing class of product or service to a new level by modifying or adding features. While usually associated with disruptive technologies and innovations, it can also be a part of regular strategy to yield more benefits. However, despite the advantages, category creation is not as widely adopted as it should be.

• Miracle Drugs - Promising Hope

  Advancements in medical research have led to the discovery of drugs that cure diseases earlier considered fatal, thereby increasing the lifespans of those suffering as well as improving their quality of life. Currently, pharmaceutical companies are racing to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, and going by previous track records, may soon be able to help the world win this battle as well.

• Global Healthcare: Five Emerging Technologies Changing the Landscape

  The healthcare sector of today benefits immensely from technological advancements. Emerging technologies are helping develop newer, better treatments while alleviating cost burdens. Some technologies are yet to be explored to their full potential, but have still brought about a massive shift in the sector. Innovations such as artificial intelligence and robotics are completely changing the landscape, ushering in a new future for healthcare.

• Technology Disruption in the Media Industry

  The world of entertainment has undergone a massive change in the past decade due to the advent of new technologies. Innovations in the platform, content, and the entire delivery process have ensured that our entertainment is engaging, exciting, and accessible anywhere, anytime. Such technologies are still evolving and will continue to enhance our viewing experience.

• Data Monetization - A Potential Revenue Stream

  Due to technological advancements and IoT-connected enterprises, organizations have access to massive amounts of data generated on a daily basis. While companies primarily use data internally to improve their products, services, and processes, data can also become a potential revenue stream. Many companies have already recognized data as an invaluable asset, and they are devising strategies to use data for commercial purposes. However, successful implementation of such strategies requires cultivation of “data culture”.

• Social Enterprises: A Business Model for Change

  As the world slowly starts to emerge from the shadow of the pandemic, it needs to change its ways. As businesses move on, they realize they cannot work with the sole objective of ‘maximum profit’. They also need to contribute to society and the environment they thrive in. Hence, the concept of social enterprises will gain prominence as more incumbents and new businesses adopt this model and design strategies around it.

• Founder’s Stock Sale — How Not to Turn it Into a 409A Nightmare

  A Founders’ Stock sale can have serious and far reaching implications on the pricing of stock options due to 409A provisions.
  While the extent of the impact can vary significantly, it’s important to understand when this affects companies the most as well as how they can structure such transactions to mitigate these effects.

• Need for Digital Innovations in the Infrastructure Industry

  Innovative technologies are disrupting every industry including infrastructure. Digitization would soon change the style of development and operation of infrastructure. Such innovations would ensure that labor-intensive activities involved in the construction of infrastructure become increasingly mechanized, facilitating the reduction in both cost and time taken to have these essential structures up and running.

• Can Blockchain Revolutionize the Procurement Process?

  Technology continues to change the way businesses operate, bringing in efficiency, improving productivity, and reducing errors. Among several technologies, blockchain has seen acceptance in various aspects of a business, including the procurement process. Due to its many advantages, organizations across the world are now adopting blockchain to streamline their supply chain. Blockchain has many benefits, such as creation of smart contracts and removal of middlemen, due to which it can add immense value to the procurement process.

• Business Models for Cloud Kitchens

  Cloud kitchens, or virtual/ghost kitchens, are eateries that operate only on the delivery model and do not have a dining area. With the expansion of e-commerce and the preference to have everything, including food delivered to your doorsteps, this concept in now catching up. Multiple benefits and flexible business models are attracting an increasing number of food entrepreneurs and startups to this sector, which is poised to grow exponentially.

• Healthtech Startups - Driving Innovations in Healthcare

  Technology enabled vertical of healthcare is known as healthtech. This sector has recently seen many startups offering innovative products or services that improve the distribution of healthcare or support it in other ways. While developed countries have seen its quick adoption, emerging nations are also increasingly accepting it and implementing these products to make their healthcare more efficient. The venture capitalist and investment companies have taken notice of the growth in this sector and have been investing in promising startups.

• Virtual Healthcare – Relevance Post the Pandemic

  The pandemic brought fore the need for and importance of virtual care. Apart from eliminating distance, virtual health can support in-person care as part of an integrated healthcare strategy. It addresses underserved and under resourced patient populations. By enhancing accessibility, convenience, and the experience of receiving and providing treatment, it has the potential to be advantageous for both patients and doctors. But will it continue to see robust growth post the pandemic?

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Infographics

1 infographics found for :

• Packaging Companies: Coming to Rescue Amid Covid-19

  The COVID-19 outbreak and consequent lockdown have impacted industries worldwide and packaging producers are no exception. The pandemic spurred the demand for some products (hygiene products, medical supply packaging, food packaging) while throwing up an uncertain outlook for others (cardboard packaging, consumer electronics packaging, etc.). With such uncertainty, packaging companies are identifying opportunities and contributing their bit in the fight against COVID-19 by re-purposing their facilities to produce face masks, face shields, and other essential consumables.

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Special Reports

100 special reports found for :

• Why Large Organisations Depend on External Innovation for Growth

  Today, organizations across the world are tracking technological transformations and pursuing innovations. As new technologies usher in changes in every aspect of life, it is imperative for companies to embrace them.

• Business valuations using the Backsolve Method

  Valuation of startups is a tricky business due to lack of quantifiable metrics. However, the Backsolve method is widely accepted and increasingly used by appraisers.  The formulas and ways to analyze under this method are mathematical, rendering it fairly reliable and accurate.

• Investment in Gaming Industry – Not a Child’s Play

  Since the 70s gaming has been a popular activity among adolescents. With new technologies and innovations, games have only become more sophisticated. Easy availability of mobile phones and internet has added to their widespread usage. Pegged at an estimated USD148.8bn in 2019, the industry is expected to reach USD196bn until 2022, recording a CAGR of 9.6%. The sector is driven by changing demographics and increasing focus on other avenues such as mobile gaming. Although investing in individual stocks of conglomerates in the gaming space (Sony, Microsoft) or focused gaming companies (EA, Activision, NVIDIA) promises higher returns, it is accompanied with higher risks.

• Charging the world through lithium battery recycling

  Lithium ion batteries provide added advantages over conventional batteries making them more appropriate in a world of portable electronic devices and electric vehicles. Their ability to sustain temperature variations, compact structure, rapid charging facility, and use of lightweight material like graphite and lithium make them a popular choice. Lithium ion batteries have about 70% market share traditional batteries are fast losing their space. This market is estimated to grow up to $26.45 million by the year 2025.

• Biofuels at Inflection Point: Opportunities for Technology Developers

  This report deals with the current status of biofuel production, developments in this space, and prospects. The present focus of research and development (R&D) is on the production of biofuels, such as bioethanol, biodiesel, and biogas, from waste matter. The successful application of newly developed technologies combined with economic feasibility can significantly increase the production of biofuels and help reduce the menace of green house gas emissions (GHG).

• Supremacy of Netflix, Amazon and Hulu Set to Weaken in 2020?

  Introduced just a decade ago, video streaming is set to replace conventional cable TV, which has existed for almost seven decades in the US. Over the past years, early entrants such as Netflix, Amazon (Prime Video) and Hulu have acquired significant market share in the online streaming universe in the US. To tap into this revolutionary growth, giants from tech and media world, such as Disney, Apple, Comcast and AT&T, are entering the market, launching a streaming war of sorts.

• Surge In Non-pharmacological Interventions For Treatment Of High-burden Diseases

  Nonpharmacological treatment is gaining research interest and investment. It is noninvasive or minimally invasive, has few side-effects and is recognized by medical insurance companies. A few well-known therapies have been discussed in this article.

• COVID-19 Equity Market Impact – Does History Suggest We Stick to Classic Defensives?

  Whenever any equity market collapses, downside protection and relative outperformance become crucial. Healthcare, staples and utilities, by their very nature, are often termed classic defensives in such times.

• US Bankruptcy Dashboard – March, 2020

  Q1 2020 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings in the US were at par with the trend seen in 2019. That said, almost all leading indicators are currently suggesting Q2 and Q3 could see a major spike. Some of the most vulnerable sectors are retail, consumer discretionary, wholesale traders & manufacturers as well as energy.

• Fintech Decoded

  FinTech funding activity remained robust in in 2019. The most attractive segments in the second half of the year were payments, lending, and financial markets in terms of number of deals signed. The payments sector continued to attract the highest VC funds.

• Fintech Decoded

  The impact of COVID-19 will reverberate across all sectors of the economy, fintech being no exception to the trend. In the sector, challenges are expected to surface on multiple fronts, but so would opportunities, as companies look to beat the odds and thrive.

• Will COVID-19 Slow Down Electric Vehicle Revolution?

  While 2020 was supposed to fast-track the decade of EV revolution, the pandemic has slowed down its pace, at least for the near term. Delayed production and damping consumer confidence coupled with low oil prices are clearly going to be deterrents for EV uptake. OEMs are clearly in trouble as stock prices crash, supply chain disrupts and raw material price increase.

• Can Smart Factories Ensure Continuity of Business Even Amid Crisis?

  COVID-19 has adversely impacted economies across the globe. One of the worst-hit sectors is manufacturing, crippled by poor availability of manpower and implications of social distancing. While several auto manufacturers, smartphone makers, consumer electronic firms, and appliance majors have shut down production completely, others, such as producers of essentials (food, daily consumables, medical supplies) are struggling to maintain production. Managing production amid such a crisis, while ensuring safety of employees, is quite challenging for all manufacturers.

• White Paper on Segregating Contingent Consideration

  In the case of a merger or acquisition, financial reporting requires the acquirer to report a purchase price allocation (PPA) in the financial statement. PPA requires payment to be separated into components. With a growing number of transactions being based on contingent consideration, it is vital to determine whether the additional payment is consideration or compensation, to conclude a PPA for the transaction.

• Goodwill Impairment Analysis

  According to Ind AS 36, a company must conduct a goodwill impairment analysis annually or more frequently when a triggering event such as COVID-19 occurs. While COVID-19 has affected the operations of most businesses across majority of sectors, each company needs to be holistically evaluated to determine the extent of applicability of a trigger event.

• KSA Fintech Report

  Fintech has been one of the hottest sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), as reflected by deal volume during 2018 and 2019. The increase in deal activity is not only due to innovative financial solutions but is also a result of customer demand for simpler products and services.

• Global Private Equity Factbook

  Private equity deal activity has been resilient even in these turbulent times. The global pandemic and the resultant economic slowdown could test the competence of management and appraisal techniques of global PE firms.

• Amazon India’s M&A Strategy

  Amazon India has been through a remarkable growth journey over the past few years, but the road ahead might be challenging for this e-commerce giant. The company has been making the right investments across sectors to support growth over the foreseeable future. Amazon India’s acquisitions, investments, and strategic partnerships are indicative of its long-term plan to become a market leader in India.

• Fintech Decoded

  Deal activity in the fintech space in 1H-2020 suggests that fintech companies have escaped the funding freeze that followed the COVID-19 outbreak.

• M&A and Equity Offerings Quarterly Market Report - Q2’20 Review

  A lack of big-ticket transactions due to the ongoing pandemic suppressed M&A transaction value in Q2’20. However, US issuance market rebounded strongly in Q2’20 driven by surge in issuances from companies raising capital to stabilize business, invest in growth.

• US Special Purpose Acquisition Companies: IPO Market Overview

  The SPAC market is expected to gain momentum in the near future driven by big ticket deals, high-profile mergers, and growing investor interest. The significant growth in the market has made it a mainstream alternative to traditional IPOs, leading to a surge in SPAC IPOs as well as a 1.7 times rise in their average size in 2020 compared with 2019.

• Global Private Equity Fact Book

  Private equity (PE) investment activity rebounded in Q3 2020, as economies reopened and edged toward the path of recovery. The PE sector has been resilient even amid the current turbulent environment and is expected to pick up further with the opening of markets and uptick in economic activity.

• HealthTech Decoded

  As the world fights through COVID-19, Healthcare technology (or HealthTech) have been in the spotlight for the past few months and have also garnered substantial investor interest. HealthTech companies primarily include startups harnessing digital solutions to solve real-world problems in the broader healthcare domain. At a time when the healthcare infrastructure is being tested for its resolve, these digital solutions have been instrumental in addressing customer needs. As the interest and adoption of HealthTech grows, the sector is poised for a supernormal growth curve and is on track to create new Unicorns. As expected, the sector continues to attract funding at modest pace despite the ongoing crisis, and it is expected to thrive over the foreseeable future.

• US Pharma Sector M&A – 2Q & 3Q 2020 Dashboard: Trends, Transactions and Takeaways

  Deal volumes and average ticket size significantly off from last year. Oncology remained the preferred area for buyers, with cannabis being an interesting second, albeit in much smaller deals. Expect slow and measured M&A activity within the US pharma sector, at least for a few more quarters.

• Green Bonds: An Emerging Asset Class

  The growing significance of environmentally sustainable projects has increased the importance of the green bond as an asset class in funding these projects. This reports discusses the emerging trends in the green bond domain and the factors that are driving its growth.

• Diversification – A Shield for Big Miners in a Challenging Environment

  Over the past decades, the mining industry has successfully implemented diversification to generate stable earnings. This strategy worked in its favor when most of the sectors and industries were hit by the global pandemic. Owing to their wide product range and geographical presence, key players in the industry were able to bounce back quickly on their feet. Majority of mining companies have iron ore in their product portfolio. The rally seen in iron ore prices this year provided a cushion to big miners’ financials amid a challenging market environment.

• M&A and Equity Offerings Quarterly Market Report – Q3’20 Review

  M&A announcements surged in the US, driven by pent-up demand caused by the screeching halt in M&A deal-making in 2Q’20; the multi-fold increase in IPO activity in the US indicates post-COVID-19 recovery.

• Global Private Equity Fact Book

  The global private equity (PE) segment was characterized by an increase in deal sizes and a significant increase in exits in Q4 2020. The rapid recovery in investment activity is expected to continue in 2021.

• Global M&A Flash Note: Surge in Deals in Q4 2020 a Prelude to Strong 2021

  Deal announcements strongly surged in the last two weeks of December 2020, not only surpassing the number struck during the same period in a strong 2019, but also beating the 20-year average by more than 60%. While H1 2020 was impacted by the onset of the pandemic, deal announcements picked up in H2 2020. Announcements further picked up towards the end of the year based on positive news such as the rollout of the vaccine in several countries and the conclusion of Brexit and the US elections. With the worse of the pandemic behind them, dealmakers have a fertile environment in 2021 with easy financing, political certainty, and high valuations. SPACs that raised funds in 2020 as well as PE firms sitting on significant dry powder are expected to be active in the new year.

• Financial Data Management – A Detailed Step-by-Step Approach

  The saying “data is the new oil” is quite apt in the current age. In the digital world, data collection has become much simpler. However, data structuring and analysis remains complex. Digital transformation facilitates this process, yet obtaining relevant information requires expert knowledge and handling.

• US Special Purpose Acquisition Companies: Market 2020 Review

  SPAC IPOs surged in 2020, with the number of deals growing by 320% YoY and the capital raised growing by 513% YoY since 2019.SPACs have managed to raise more capital in 2020 than the cumulative amount between 2010–19.

• Testing Times Ahead for Global Banks

  Regulatory reforms that followed the global financial crisis have boosted capital buffers substantially and improved the liquidity of global banks. As 2021 progresses, the years ahead would test the ability of global banks to withstand post-pandemic asset quality deterioration and eroding profitability due to prolonged low interest rates globally.

• Global Structural Bio-polymers Market

  Recyclability and sustainability initiatives, coupled with regulatory developments, are driving increased adoption of bio-polymers globally. Aranca’s special report on the structural bio-polymers market assesses the current market dynamics, recent developments and outlines the key tailwinds and challenges that are likely to shape the outlook going forward.

• Shopping for Digital Capabilities – What’s Driving M&A Activity in Global Insurance?

  For several years, the financial services industry has led technological adoption to streamline business operations. Following its suit, the insurance ecosystem is also looking to shift from conventional methods and acquire technologies focusing on risk management, data analytics, and digital marketplaces.

• Pharmaceutical & MedTech: Edging Toward Normalcy

  Healthcare, like other sectors, was hit by COVID-19 in 2020. This especially holds true for the pharmaceutical and MedTech sub-sectors in healthcare that were impacted in 2Q20, reflected in the weak performance of companies in these domains. However, both sub-sectors recovered in 3Q20, with the relaxation of social restrictions and strong pick-up in demand for COVID-19-related antibodies and products. The outlook for both sub-sectors is positive; however, continuation of the pandemic and policy changes in countries of operation could pose risks.

• Sectoral Breakdown of Union Budget 2021: Where Health Really is Wealth

  The Union Budget has been structured on the general theme of Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat: Self- reliant India. The government aims to achieve this through a string of reforms such as farmer-friendly initiatives, emphasis on healthcare, significant infrastructure announcements, implementation of women and child welfare schemes, and promoting of skill development and educational policies. The finance minister proposed to double the spend on healthcare and sanitization as well as various large-scale infrastructure projects. To fund these, the government has mostly banked on measures such as asset monetization and borrowings. However, the actual revenue generation and collection during the next fiscal year, by means of tax and non-tax receipts, would be pivotal in disbursing the funds and managing the country’s deteriorating fiscal situation.

• Global Chemical Industry - M&A and Valuation Insights

  M&A activity in early 2020 had been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the deal count dwindled. However, as the year progressed, the number of deals surged, along with the increase in the deal value, driven by a number of factors. In the beginning of 2020, mega deals and cross-border deals sharply declined, but carve out intensity had increased, driven by portfolio adjustments in the second half of the year.

• Pipeline Assessment – Immuno-oncology and Gene Therapies

  Immuno-oncology (I-O) and gene therapy, given their therapeutic significance, have attracted substantial commercial interest recently. The US NIH and 11 pharmaceutical companies formed the Partnership for Accelerating Cancer Therapies (PACT), focused on advancement of treatments in the I-O space. Innovation in gene therapy has the potential to transform patient care by replacing long-term therapy with a single treatment. Increasing investment in R&D activities, coupled with the growing prevalence and diagnosis of target diseases such as cancer and neurological conditions, is expected to drive growth in these markets.

• What's Behind Japan's M&A Boom

  Japan's M&A activity has remained resilient despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with Japanese firms investing around USD115 Bn to acquire domestic and international companies. The M&A activity has been primarily driven by focus on global expansion and diversification strategies.

• US Junk Bond Market 2020: The Issuance Frenzy and What Lies Ahead

  The year 2020 kicked off with equity markets soaring and high yield (HY) spreads at historic tights. However, the coronavirus pandemic spread globally, sending out one of the strongest exogenous shocks in history. Companies, hit by the lockdown, initially tapped the HY market to shore up cash reserves, extend maturities and preserve liquidity. However, strong support from governments and central banks turned the HY market in favor of issuers. As the market started to stabilize and the economy began to recover, companies took advantage of low interest rates and refinanced outstanding shorter-term and variable-rate debt on better terms. Consequently, HY issuance surged to record highs, which increased the leverage on balance sheets. Therefore, it is critical that the operating performance and cash flows of highly leveraged companies improve, as they need to service their debt obligations. If recovery is non-secular and patchy, default rates may be high in the near term.

• Fintech Decoded: 2020

  Mirroring 2019’s trend, VC deal activity in the fintech space continued in an upward trajectory in terms of both volume and value.

• US to Reignite Growth with Infrastructure Push

  The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is staggering and long-lasting, with every sector feeling the brunt. To address this, the Democrats and Republicans have proposed stimulus packages, in the form of an infrastructure bill. The infrastructure sector in the US has been largely underfunded and closing the funding gap is essential to jump-starting the economy. We believe infrastructure investments could help rebuild the US economy, making it resilient to such shocks, and boost growth after this unprecedented economic fallout.

• Global Infrastructure Fact Book with Focus on APAC - Q4 2020

  In the post-lockdown phase, countries are implementing measures to reignite their economies. Policymakers view infrastructure development as a critical tool to boost employment and support economic recovery. This report evaluates the impact of COVID-19 on some key economies in the APAC region, the major ongoing projects there, and the recovery trajectory expected by these economies to revert to their pre-COVID-19 construction levels.

• Unlocking Private 5G Network Opportunities – Where is the Money?

  With spending on private 5G networks expected to cross USD4.5 billion by 2025, this is too important an opportunity to be missed by vendors and service providers. Download our report to get more details on the markets and use cases driving this market and the critical questions one must answer to capitalize on this growth.

• Global Private Equity Fact Book (Special Edition)

  The traditional sectors such as TMT, manufacturing, and industrials have been dominating the global private equity investments over the years. However, over the last few years, investment in new age sectors such as FinTech, enterprise applications and infrastructure, and HealthTech are gaining interest, which has been further accelerated by the COVID-19 outbreak.

• Single-Use Plastics Directive (A Shift Towards Sustainable Food Packaging)

  Europe accounts for 1/5th of the world’s plastic production. Europe’s share in global plastic production dropped from ~25% at the start of the decade to ~20% in 2019. In recent years, Europe has witnessed a fall in plastic demand due to awareness about sustainable economy. Waste collection and treatment processes in the region have been significantly modified to increase recycling and decrease landfill.

• M&A Quarterly Market Report: Q1’21 Review – Sports Technology

  The sport technology market witnessed strong M&A activity in 2020. The trend continued in Q1’21, with an approximately 40% increase in transaction volume compared to the last quarter. The market is highly fragmented. This creates opportunities for consolidation as bigger players look to acquire small to mid-size companies that lack cash flows or leadership. SPACs are also evolving and looking to merge with companies in the sports technology sector.

• Global Specialty Chemicals - M&A Quarterly Market Report

  The year 2020 was meant to be a year of transition for the chemical industry towards a recovery phase but then the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted it. The supply chain collapsed, production stopped, borders closed, and lengthy lockdowns led to a global economic slump.
  Although the second wave of coronavirus is still in the picture, the introduction of the vaccines in the markets have raised hopes for a recovery on a global scale. However, the other challenges Chemical and Specialty Chemical Sector faced prior to the pandemic remain unchanged. Hence, 2021 will be a year of re-adjustments of company portfolios with business models being put to the test and adapted to the new environment.

• Global Clean Energy Industry Outlook Special Report

  The renewable energy sector recorded significant growth over the last decade driven by technological innovation, reduction in cost and government support. Solar and wind are the key segments of renewable energy witnessing higher adoption, especially in Europe, the US and APAC countries. During the first half of 2020, both segments recorded sluggish growth principally due to COVID-19-triggered lockdowns. Consequently, the entire renewable energy supply chain took a hit, resulting in project delays. However, recovery in the sector is expected to be fast as countries have increased focus on sustainable sources of energy in the post-COVID-19 lockdown period.

• Emerging Trends Shaping the Collision Repair Industry

  With the COVID-19 pandemic slowing mobility in most countries, VMT and collision levels have fallen to an all-time low. Multiple waves and newer variants are further dragging recovery down. Despite the chaos, certain mega trends in the industry and changing customer demand continue to attract stakeholders worldwide. Players are focusing on improving shop performance and building a stronger technical infrastructure to gain competitive advantage in this space. Here is a sneak peek into the emerging trends and their likely impact on the prospects of the collision repair industry.

• M&A Quarterly Market Report: Q1'21 Review and 2021 Outlook – Artificial Intelligence

  The outbreak of COVID-19 has severely impacted every industry directly or indirectly. The crisis has forced the organizations to fast-track technological upgradation and expand their scope of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to ensure business continuity. In 2020, there has been significant increase in AI adoption with more and more organization accepting AI and using it to their advantage rather than viewing it as a threat. In 2021, rapid growth in the AI investments across industries is expected. Not only the mainstream industries such as retail and manufacturing but industries like energy and agriculture will also show growth in the adoption of AI applications. With the correct approach for AI adoption and awareness about proper data security measures, organizations can leverage AI to stimulate economic growth.

• Microbiome Based Therapies - Emerging Therapy Area

  Microbiome-based therapeutics is a promising field with applications in various therapeutic areas. It has attracted significant commercial interest, especially in the oncology and immunology spaces. Around 575 clinical trials were launched and over 640 microbiome-related patents granted in 2020. Entry of major pharmaceutical players, government initiatives, product development in multiple therapy areas, rapid scientific innovations and newer technologies are some of the key drivers for the microbiome market. MSD, Takeda, and AstraZeneca are among the major pharmaceutical players investing in the microbiome space through partnerships/collaborations with key emerging biotech players.

• Surge in Bankruptcies Amid Rising Debt and Volatility Across US Sectors in 2020

  The coronavirus pandemic has not just created a humanitarian crisis but is also the harbinger of an economic crisis. At its peak, it forced thriving sectors into losses, compelling businesses to shut shop. Even a developed country like the US struggled as large companies collapsed. This triggered a frenzy in bond markets with companies taking additional debt to stay afloat. While the economic scenario can be likened to the global financial crisis of 2009, recovery has been rather quick. However, it is too early to predict which direction the US economy will go in the next few years.

• Global Banking Social Media Index

  Social media is no longer a novel concept but is being widely used by billions of users around the world. For the last few years, a number of corporates and financial institutions have been employing social media as the means of primary digital communication between them and their customers. This approach has enabled many global banking firms to broaden their reach to customers and address them at large. However, are all banks doing everything right to make their social media usage impactful? Are the strategies for every bank in place to get the best out of social media platforms? This report looks at how banking giants across the world are performing on social media metrics by assessing them on certain parameters. The report also identifies top banks that stand out as effective users of social media channels and what are they doing right in terms of strategies.

• Fintech Decoded

  Fintech deal activity in 1H21 witnesses a strong comeback from the COVID-19 volatility, with emerging subsectors drawing attention because of the “new normal” consumer lifestyle.

• HealthTech Decoded

  HealthTech Deal activity in 1H21 has soared promoting new subsectors with innovative solutions with healthcare proving its importance over the last 15 months.

• Global Private Equity Fact Book – Q2 2021

  Private equity (PE) activity across the globe grew significantly with a rise in capital invested, despite the decline in deal volume in Q2 2021. Deal activity is expected to remain robust due to abundant dry powder and strong valuation.

• Growing Popularity of Celebrity-Led SPACs

  The SPAC boom continued in 2021, with SPACs raising USD109 bn in funds in H1 2021 breaking the 2020 funding record, and once again raising more money and issuing more IPOs than companies going the traditional route.

• Why Banks are Filing Patents Aggressively

  US banks are racing to file patents as they feel compelled to improve technical infrastructure, develop robust security measures, and enhance customer experience, leading to the emergence of many fintech products and services. Banks are filing patents for their new technologies and have various reasons to continue the development path. However, why are they filing patents, how do they plan to use these patents, and what is their future strategy in patent filing? These are some of the questions this report attempts to answer.

• Small Is Powerful – Micro M&A in the US and Europe

  Micro M&A are deals having a transaction size of less than USD100 mn. In the last five years, there has been considerable activity (~38,400 announced deals) in the micro M&A market in the US and Europe across well-established traditional as well as technology-focused sectors. Interestingly, large companies (revenue >USD500 million) are also very active in this space, creating significant value for their shareholders.

• Expected Impact of U.S. Monetary Policy Tightening on GCC Banks

  The US Federal Reserve is on track to change its monetary policy stance with start of asset purchase taper expected in Q4 2021 and rate hikes starting in 2022/2023. The central banks of GCC countries mostly follow changes in the US Federal Reserve Rate, considering the pegged exchange rate regimes. The last time such rate hike cycle was followed (2015-2019), there were specific set of winners in terms of GCC banks, who witnessed substantial rise in their market capitalization. We conducted a detailed analysis to study how changes in the US monetary policy affects the profitability of GCC banks over the past 13 years (quarterly intervals). The study, conducted using statistical tools such as correlation between policy rates and net interest margins (NIMs) revealed interesting findings. The US Fed is clearly on track to start raising rates sooner rather than later, and we expect GCC central banks to follow suit, thus creating the grounds for changes in GCC banks' profitability trends, with Saudi Arabian banks likely to emerge winners among GCC banks.

• Build America Bonds

  Federally subsidised BABs were launched more than a decade ago to fund infrastructure projects amid the liquidity crunch during the 2008 global financial crisis. Some features of BABs are still suitable for large infrastructure financing requirements. Thus, BABs may be reinstated as a financing option for Biden’s USD2.3 trillion infrastructure plan.

• Global Private Equity Fact Book - Q3 2021

  The global private equity (PE) activity was characterized by an increase in capital invested and a decline in deal volume in Q3 2021. Deal activity is anticipated to remain buoyant in the upcoming quarters, primarily attributed to big-ticket investments.

• Global Travel and Tourism Sector – From Survival to Revival

  Among sectors affected by COVID-19, travel and tourism has been the worst hit. The sector bore the brunt of the pandemic as governments across the globe imposed strict lockdowns and travel bans. More than one and a half years after the pandemic outbreak, the sector is gradually recovering, supported by vaccination drives as well as decline in COVID-19 infections in several parts of the world. Although new cases have been emerging in some parts of the world and fear of a new wave of coronavirus looms large, significant pent-up demand is expected to drive growth in this sector.

• Catastrophe Bonds: Demonstrating Resilience in Tough Times

  The global pandemic had a catastrophic impact on human civilization and on the growing but little known area of capital markets - catastrophe (CAT) bonds. Countries around the world are taking measures to curb the financial losses due to COVID-19. The benefits of CAT bonds in pandemic have been proved, as noted with the World Bank’s pandemic bond, which paid out $100 million after being triggered by COVID-19. Moreover, the growing intensity of natural disasters in different parts of the world pushes the need to leverage financial markets for improved risk mitigation. The rising popularity of CAT bonds appears to be a potentially viable innovative solution to channel private market contingent capital to be used in delivering pandemic response funding. The ability of CAT bonds to perform independent of financial market behavior makes them a useful source of alternative beta.

• Semiconductor Industry: Strong Growth Prospects Justify Premium Valuation

  Semiconductor, a critical component in electronic devices and an essential part of the value chain for many industries, has been in short supply over the last few years. Amid higher demand from end-user industries and tight supply conditions, industry players fared well despite the sharp economic decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the current valuation of the sector commands a premium over its past performance, strong growth prospects amid geopolitical tensions and slow capacity expansion justify the lofty valuation. In the industry, fabless ICs continue to dominate the chips segment and fabless IC manufacturers command higher valuation than other players in the sector.

• General Electric Company: Transition From Diversified Business Model

  After 130 years of operating as a conglomerate, GE plans to split its business into three independent companies – Aviation, Healthcare, and Energy – to simplify operations and reduce debt. After the anticipated completion of the spin-off in 2024, the aviation business is expected to be the most debt-heavy among the entities, as it will have to bear GE Capital's legacy liabilities, including the run-off insurance business.

• M&A Quarterly Market Report: Q3' 21 Review – Utilities

  The utilities industry is undergoing consolidation with multiple large players, which is driving mergers and acquisitions. The gross transaction value in 2021 (until the end of September) was the highest in the last five years. SPAC activities shaped out well in 2021 in technology-centric energy transition assets, particularly in the space of EV and batteries. Global transformation to achieve net zero emission and focus on ESG will encourage M&A deals and other project investment decisions in utilities.

• Aviation Industry: A Long Road to Recovery

  The global aviation industry was hit harder by the COVID-19 crisis than the catastrophic events of 2008 financial crisis and 9/11 combined. However, the industry sees signs of recovery from the pandemic in 2021 on rising vaccine coverage and easing of border restrictions. That said, the sector is unlikely to fully recover before 2024.

• Rising Interest in Carbon Credits: A Compelling Investment Opportunity?

  With the Paris Agreement reinforced at the COP26 and the push to curb global warming picking up pace, global carbon credit markets have gained huge traction lately. Several large greenhouse gas emitting nations have announced intentions to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 making the role of carbon markets increasingly fundamental. 

  The heightened demand for the carbon credit asset class has led EUA Futures (with European Union carbon allowances as the underlying asset) to outperform several major asset classes such as Bitcoin (Cryptocurrencies), Gold (Commodities) as well as S&P500 and Nasdaq Composite (US Equities) in 2021. 

  However, with expectations of tightening of emission limits and as global economies work towards improving governance and infrastructure of the carbon markets, the performance recorded in 2021 could just be the tip of the iceberg.

• Global Private Equity Factbook – Q4 2021

  Global PE activity increased in Q4 2021, led by a surge in capital investment and big-ticket investments. Deal activity is anticipated to remain strong in the coming quarters, given the amount of dry powder available.
  

  In Q4 2021, PE firms continued to invest in big-ticket deals, driven by IT and healthcare sector deals. Exits slowed down; however, exit valuation remained robust.

  The momentum of investment activity is projected to continue in the coming quarters due to the availability of dry powder and opportunities. Investment focus on technology and ESG is anticipated to drive PE activity. The evolving COVID situation across the globe is likely to provide challenges as well as attractive investment opportunities for PE firms.

  This edition of the Global Private Equity Factbook offers insights on global PE investment activity, features the key sectors targeted, and provides an outlook for this industry in the coming quarters.

• Small Is Powerful - Micro M&A in the US and Europe (Second Edition)

  Since 2016, over 40,000 deals have been announced in the US and Europe across well-established traditional and technology-focused sectors, and ~5,000 new deals were announced in 2021. Interestingly, large companies (with revenue of >USD500Mn) are also highly active in this space, creating significant value for their shareholders. 

  In the last six years, 40,391 deals were announced, with the US and the UK dominating the micro M&A segment and nearly 57% of the M&A deals being led by US-based entities. Micro M&A deals in the IT, industrials, and healthcare sectors increased in 2021, primarily driven by rise in the use of automation tools, growing importance of healthcare, and need to control manufacturing costs.

  Investors remain cautious of economic recovery, with deal activity likely to increase in the coming quarters as businesses across the globe approach pre-COVID-19 levels.

  This second edition of the report provides insights on micro M&A activity in the US and Europe (deals of <USD100Mn) and deal activity of large companies (revenue of >USD500Mn).

• M&A Quarterly Market Report: Q4' 21 Review – Renewable Energy

  The renewable energy industry is undergoing consolidation with large players present in the same ecosystem and other oil and gas giants. The sector recovered from the pandemic and recorded maximum deals in the second half of 2020. Solar and wind energy account for ~75% of transactions in this sector. SPACs are increasingly looking for green companies, which led to growth in SPAC activities in 2021. Global transition to net zero emission, driven by focus on ESG norms, will encourage M&A activities and motivate other investment decisions in the space.
  

• GCC - Equity Market Quarterly Fact Book

  Most GCC equity markets continued to log gains during Q4 2021 despite the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The UAE markets were the most noteworthy gainers during the quarter, while the Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar benchmarks also ended higher in the quarter. The gains recorded during the quarter were largely due to the markets overlooking the quickly spreading but less deadly variant of the virus and consistent efforts by GCC markets to reduce dependency on the oil and gas sector.

• Navigating the Russia-Ukraine crisis

  The Russia-Ukraine Crisis has shaken global markets and fired up commodity prices. The barrage of sanctions imposed on Russia will have far-reaching effects on the Russian economy as well as global trade and finance. Historically, wars have always been followed by periods of economic boom and certain sectors have been impacted more than the others. We discuss the sanctions imposed by developed countries and their impact on key sectors such as Oil & Gas, Aerospace & Defense, Metals & Mining, Agriculture, Auto, Semiconductors, Chemicals, Banks and Commercial Aviation. We also analyze in detail the impact on sectors including Banking, Oil & Gas, and Global Auto Sectors that have significant operations in Russia/Ukraine. 

• Asset Quality Trends and Risks across European Banks

  Since the onset of COVID-19, European banks’ exposure to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and mortgages increased materially, supported by highly accommodative fiscal and monetary policies. Asset quality remained resilient throughout the pandemic, with the NPL ratio trending down, supported by government measures. On the flip side, at risk/stage 2 loans remain elevated even as support schemes are gradually rolled back. Additionally, housing prices peaked and are likely to see some correction. However, we believe economic turnaround and high employment rates will continue to support asset quality. Furthermore, provisions for loan losses and capitalisation remain high compared with the pre-pandemic levels, which should create a sufficient cushion against potential challenges.

• Neobanks - The Future of Banking

  Neobank is the new buzzword in finance and is being touted as the future of banking. Neobanks thrive by disrupting banking system with their customer-centric digital offerings. The neobanking industry has witnessed strong growth across the globe. The first set of neobanks emerged from Europe. Now, it has become a global phenomenon, with one neobank being launched every five days over the last two years worldwide. Outlook remains bright, with incredible promise for future. Neobanks are expected to become mainstream with increased adoption in the times to come as the wave of digitization is here to stay.

• Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Multidimensional Global Economic Impact

  The current geopolitical conflict between Russia and Ukraine is creating a ripple effect across the globe. The conflict is weighing on global economies, with adverse ramifications for energy, commodities, and more. The longer the war lasts, the more unfavorable conditions would become for countries dependent on Russia and Ukraine for import of oil, commodities, and grains for consumption. Global inflation is inching higher, and there is a direct drag on growth from higher commodity prices and possibly a further drag from uncertainty.

• Fintech Decoded: Special Edition

  Fintech deal activity in 2021 reached new heights due to the pandemic-induced tailwinds, with subsectors such as Payments+ drawing attention because of the “new normal” consumer lifestyle.

• ESG: A Bumpy Road to Net Zero

  Achieving net zero by 2050 involves a complete change in how energy is produced, transported, and consumed. The green transition hinges on unprecedented deployment of available clean and efficient technologies by 2030. This would require a significant front-loaded capital infusion into green technologies, especially in key sectors such as automobile, electric utilities, mining, and oil & gas. As demand for green projects and products reaches new highs, limited availability of mining capacities and growing emphasis on sustainable procurement of raw materials have led to significant volatility in the prices of critical metals used in green technologies. Moreover, the green transition could lead to job shifts in some sectors in the short term. Therefore, the initial road to net zero is expected to be rather bumpy instead of a smooth transition.

• HealthTech Decoded: 2021
  HealthTech deal activity reached new heights in 2021 as new subsectors with innovative solutions emerged. Connected care maintained its position as a hotbed of investment activity, as consumers continued to seek virtual healthcare advice rather than in-person visits.  As the pandemic prompted healthcare providers to modernize tech stacks, companies providing data management solutions saw a significant rise in demand. Similarly, the increase in corporate wellness initiatives encouraged investments in enterprise HealthTech solutions. As overall liquidity in the market remained high, 2021 also saw the number of megadeals surge 2x vis-à-vis 2020. In this edition of HealthTech Decoded, we bring you insights into the sector’s performance after the extended pandemic outbreak as well as notable funding trends across the globe in the HealthTech space in 2021.

• ESG Investing

  ESG remains a fast-evolving topic. With more than a decade under the spotlight, investors and customers are now demanding clear commitments from corporations on ESG plans. The private equity space, in particular, is focused on ESG as a theme, given the changing investment landscape on long-term investments, risk management and disclosures. This is driving demand for ESG-focused investments and has resulted in greater access to capital. Recent surveys show that the COVID-19 outbreak has further boosted the interest in ESG, with a range of ESG funds somewhat outperforming country or regional indices.

• Global Private Equity Factbook – Q1 2022

  Global PE activity weakened in Q1 2022 due to the uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical factors. Deal activity is expected to remain slow in the short run and likely to pick up as the global economy recovers in H2 2022.

  In Q1 2022, PE deal volume fell as PE investors remained cautious and invested in big-ticket deals, driven by IT, financial services, and energy sector. Exits declined significantly as macroeconomic factors such as inflation, rising interest rates, and Russian–Ukraine war impacted valuations. 

  The momentum of investment activity is anticipated to remain slow in the coming quarter and pick up by the end of 2022 as the global economy stabilizes.

  This edition of the Global Private Equity Factbook offers insights on global PE investment activity, features the key sectors targeted, and provides an outlook for this industry in the coming quarters.

  
  

• Semiconductor Supply Chain Analysis

  Heavy dependence on Asia for semiconductor manufacturing has put undue stress on the whole supply chain in recent years. Demand–supply imbalance across the world has led to chip shortages, compelling various governments and corporates to take immediate steps to address the supply shocks. While policy makers are focusing on promoting localization, various semiconductor companies are ramping up investments to expand capacity. Notwithstanding the heightened efforts on the policy as well as investment front, supply constraints are expected to prevail in the near term.

• Portfolio Transformation in Chemicals Industry

  Over the recent past, chemical manufacturers have faced significant headwinds in the form of volatility in feedstock prices, changing needs across end-use markets, tightening of regulations, etc. To counter these headwinds, market leaders have been proactively reviewing their portfolios. Players who have successfully transitioned to more specialized/focused portfolios have demonstrated significant resilience to the headwinds and often delivered relatively high shareholder value over the long term. This special report gives detailed insights into the emergence of portfolio restructuring as a preferred strategic option for market leaders in the chemicals industry.

• Changing Energy Dynamics Amid Russia-Ukraine Conflict

  In line with the Paris Agreement, countries across the globe have implemented net-zero emission (NZE) initiatives to decarbonize electricity generation by 2050. However, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has put pressure on countries to reuse various energy sources to meet the energy requirement. In this scenario, the green power transition hinges on surge in usage of coal and acceptance of nuclear as the future source for energy generation. Moreover, solar energy is anticipated to benefit significantly from the Russia–Ukraine war as several developed nations have increased solar installations by quickly approving these projects. However, we see an immediate risk related to the installation of solar modules due to increase in photovoltaic prices and imposition of tariffs.

• Impact of Russia–Ukraine War on Global Commodity Markets

  The Russia-Ukraine conflict has had rapid and extensive effects on global commodity markets. Both nations stand amongst the world's largest commodity exporters, with global influence over critical commodities such as natural gas, oil, metals, wheat, etc. Whereas Russia is a key supplier of oil, natural gas, coal, aluminum and wheat, Ukraine is a key exporter of wheat and oilseeds

  The ongoing conflict and unprecedented sanctions towards Russia have resulted in record-high inflation levels across developed and developing regions, disrupted supply chain, and severely impacted global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, prices of many essential and industrial commodities have been skyrocketing since February 2022, surpassing the peak in 2008 during the global financial crisis.

  With expectations of these geopolitical tensions to continue, energy and food prices are forecasted to stay elevated in short to medium term period. This is evident as global growth forecasts have been cut and economic indicators suggest a drop in activity as nations grapple with tightening markets.

• GCC - Equity Market Quarterly Fact Book

  In 2Q22, all the GCC benchmarks ended lower, largely reflecting the trend in the global markets, which are facing negative bias due to inflation and recession concerns. 

  The MSCI GCC index, which captures the performance of indices across the region, fell 14.2% Q-o-Q. The KSA and Qatar equity indices decreased the most among the GCC markets, declining 12.0% and 9.9%, respectively.

• Metaverse – Mapping Investment Opportunities

  The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in consumers’ expectations and need for more fulfilling and immersive communication methods. Numerous consumers are seeking ways to adopt the metaverse. Metaverse is considered the next generation of the Internet, ready to penetrate every sphere of human activity. Tech companies worldwide are gearing up to adopt the new technology by including it in their core business activities. Metaverse-specific investments have risen in the past few years. Several tech companies are looking to gain the first-mover advantage through large-scale acquisitions in this space. Metaverse-related ETFs have hit the market over the last 12 months, and many are in the pipeline. Globally, investors have been very bullish about the theme, and prominent institutional investors consider it a game changer. The metaverse also opens doors to key investment areas such as hardware, infrastructure, virtual platforms, payments, content, and assets

• High Yield – US Spotlight

  Rising Inflation, supply-chain disruptions, and tightening financial conditions have created a negative sentiment amongst the investors. In Year-To-Date 2022, the US High Yield funds witnessed net outflows of $33.8 billion. Year-To-Date July 2022 returns of major asset classes, including HY, were significantly negative. Equities and Emerging Markets have underperformed, compared to debt and developed markets, respectively, while oil markets are a clear winner. On the risk front, spreads have widened highlighting the rising credit risk. The spreads of CCC & lower rated bonds are trending over 1,200 bps. As cost of borrowing increases, corporates have struggled to refinance and/or issue new debt resulting in a substantial decline in high yield issuances in YTD 2022. Furthermore, Federal Reserves’ aggressive stance to hike rates and abate inflation, could have negative implications on growth. The most widely tracked 10Y-2Y US Treasury spread has entered negative territory in July as fears of recessions grip the market. High financing costs and weak cash flows could lead to increased number of companies filing for relief under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The high-risk scenario, however, represents high return opportunities. Investors might stay away from riskier CCC & lower rated bonds and diligently look towards BB / B rated bond for higher yields.

• Hurricanes 2022- Facing Supply Chain Adversities with Resilience
  In the US, besides global disruptions (COVID-19-led volatilities, geopolitical instabilities, etc.), natural disasters such as hurricanes have exacerbated supply chain issues. Over 300 hurricanes made landfall in the US during 1851–2021, causing damage worth more than USD1 trillion across supply chains of key industries. Such events are expected to intensify in the coming years, leading to a sustained negative impact on supply chains. Is your supply chain ready to navigate the potential risks of the hurricane season 2022? Our special report can help you quickly understand the value chain of key industries susceptible to hurricane risks, the potential impact, and risks of hurricanes across supply chains, and the best practices for effective risk mitigation.

• Global Private Equity Factbook – Emerging Tech Edition

  Global PE deal volume declined in Q2 2022 due to the uncertain macro environment. Deal volume is expected to be impacted by economic slowdown, and PE investors are likely to focus on driving value in their current portfolio.

  In Q2 2022, PE deal volume declined as PE investors remained cautious of high valuations led by inflation and a recessionary outlook. However, average deal size doubled due to megadeals. PE investors continue to focus on emerging technologies, such as SaaS, CleanTech, and FinTech, which represented 33% of total deals completed in Q2 2022.

  Investment activity is anticipated to remain slow in the next few quarters, as PE investors are likely to focus on driving value in their current portfolio companies amid fears of recession in several economies.

  This special edition of the Global Private Equity Factbook offers insights on global PE investment activity focusing on emerging technologies, and provides an outlook for this industry in the upcoming quarters.

• EV Trends in India

  With increasing global awareness and targets to reduce carbon emissions, the government has been supporting the adoption of electric modes of transport in India. Several state-wide measures have been initiated to ensure faster transfer to environment-friendly mobility solutions. The Indian government has also introduced incentivized policies for EV original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to cut down the costs of manufacturing and in turn, help lower the cost of ownership for consumers. However, lack of appropriate infrastructure and higher dependency on imports pose a challenge for the fast-growing EV market in India.

• High Yield - Europe Spotlight

  European HY bond market returns declined in YTD 2022, owing to heightened geopolitical tensions and rising interest rate risks. Issuers largely stayed on the sidelines in 2022 due to higher refinancing costs. Despite recession fears, the 10-year–2-year European spread steepened in 2022, in contrast to the US curve inversion. That said, the Eurozone recession is likely to stem from energy supply concerns owing to the Russia-Ukraine crisis and not from ECB tightening its monetary policy. Notably, S&P expects the European high yield corporate default rate to rise to 3.0% by March 2023 from 0.7% as of March 2022. 

• Big Four US Banks - Who Has Better Deposit Beta and NIM?

  The Fed delivered its first rate hike since 2018 in March 2022 against the backdrop of high inflation and rising house prices led by quantitative easing during the coronavirus pandemic and soaring energy prices. However, the magnitude of current rate hikes is much higher compared to the previous rate hike cycle of 2016-18 where rate hikes were smaller and evenly spread across multiple quarters. In the report we a) decode the Net Interest Margin of US Big 4 Banks by analyzing deposit beta, and composition of interest-earning assets, b) answer whether strong deposit beta can lead to better NIM, and c) interpret the likely trend of deposit beta and NIM to determine which bank would benefit the most in the current rate hike cycle. 

• HealthTech Decoded 1H22

  HealthTech funding cools down in 1H22, while the number of investments reached new heights as new subsectors with innovative solutions emerged.

  Investment momentum in connected care continues to be on the lead for VC investors, as telehealth and patient monitoring are among the top trends of 2022. COVID-19 forced healthcare professionals to deliver care to patients from the remotest corners of the world.

  Big software and tech giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Oracle make a concerted push toward healthcare. On June 8, 2022, Oracle (NYS: ORCL) acquired Cerner for approximately USD 28.3 billion, the largest M&A deal in the history of HealthTech. The acquisition may be enable Oracle to capitalize on the emerging cloud opportunity in the healthcare sector.

  Global M&A deals decreased in the first six months of 2022 as the world’s major economies raised interest rate to tame runaway inflation, grappled with the conflict in Ukraine, and faced a bearish stock market. 2Q22 has recorded the lowest quarterly number of deals in the last four years as dealmakers fretted about the growing probability of a recession.

  In this edition of HealthTech Decoded, we bring you insights into the sector’s performance after the extended pandemic outbreak as well as notable funding trends across the globe in the HealthTech space in 1H22.

• Extension Risk for US Bank Preferred Securities

  Fed’s 300 basis point rate hike this year has sent shock waves across the global stock and bond markets. Wall Street banks recently warned of revenue contraction amid the weakening market environment. However, US banks’ balance sheets remain strong, which could be attributed to higher capitalization following the global financial crisis (2007–08). In the backdrop of sticky inflation and expectations of “higher for longer” interest rates, we see extension risk rising for preferred securities issued by US banks. This report focuses on the factors driving extension risk and highlights the preferreds that are most at risk.

  
  

• Islamic Finance

  The global Islamic finance industry is worth over USD2 trillion and is projected to grow to ~USD5 trillion by 2025. However, the global economy has been severely impacted by the pandemic, volatility in oil prices, and uncertain macroeconomic environment (Russia-Ukraine war, possibility of another recession). Thus, the Islamic finance industry's development and expansion will be challenging over the next few years. Most of the sustainability efforts are led by governments globally. However, environmental preservation and social development targets are shared responsibilities of public and private sectors. Accordingly, the scope of Islamic finance is not limited to raising debt. Islamic finance now contributes to building a greener planet via funding sustainable businesses, which will benefit from perks such as lower interest rates compared with those for conventional debt.

  
  

• Fintech Decoded: 1H22

  Fintech deal activity in 1H22 slowed down due to the macroeconomic headwinds, with subsectors such as Blockchain/Crypto gaining importance over Payments+ owing to increased investor appetite for BNPL, DeFi & NFTs.

  The transition to cashless payments and online banking behavior, developed during the pandemic and has been growing ever since. It is expected to boost investment in neo and digital banks, promoting financial inclusion in 1H22.

  The year 2022 is witnessing a continued focus on blockchain in terms of investment and retail adoption, as investors begin to recognize its potential.

  Deal activity in 1H22 was in-line with the pre-COVID level of 2019. VC funding in fintech contracted significantly by 86% in 1H22 from a sharp rise in 2021. Meanwhile, the PE and M&A space recorded a decline in financing in 1H22 of about 55% and 58%, respectively, compared to 2021.

  In this edition of Fintech Decoded, we bring you insights into the sector’s performance following the pandemic, along with notable funding trends across the globe in 1H22.

• Impact of China–Taiwan Geopolitical Risks on Semiconductor Sector

  Geopolitical risks on the global semiconductor industry increased after a recent visit by US diplomats to Taiwan, which triggered stark political opposition and military responses by China. In this report, we discuss the possible impact on the global supply chain of semiconductors if the geopolitical tensions between China and Taiwan increase. We focus on (a) the global importance of the semiconductor industry of Taiwan, as the region is home to the world’s largest foundry operations; (b) possible risks from the disruptions of the world’s leading and Taiwan’s largest semiconductor foundry company – TSMC; and (c) potential winners and losers from the disruption of TSMC’s operations. 

  
  

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Business Research

42 pages found for :

• Overview

  Aranca provides a full suite of business research services including market intelligence, business risk assessment, and qualitative and quantitative market research solutions across geographies.

• Aerospace and Defense

  Aranca's business research and market intelligence solutions covers every major segment of the Aerospace and Defense sector. Learn more on how we can help.

• Animal Health

  Aranca has delivered over 75 projects in 20+ countries, covering different segments of the animal health sector like JV partner selection for aquaculture business in Indonesia. Read on to know more.

• Alternate Energy

  Aranca provides insightful Market Research and Analysis for companies, investors and research institutions in the alternate energy / renewable energy segment to help decision makers define strategy.

• Automotives & Parts

  Aranca's automobile and auto parts business research service clients are leading global OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers and other firms, seeking automotive market research and analysis support on strategic initiatives.

• Education

  Aranca has executed several assignments in the education sector market to offer key analysis and market research needs with reference to understanding student demographics, developing international programs, identifying latest trends, global standards.

• Real Estate and Construction Experience

  Aranca has delivered over 200 market research and competitive intelligence projects, covering different segments of the Real Estate & Construction sector in 30+ countries. Read on to know more about Aranca's expertise.

• Commercial Banking

  Aranca business research and and market intelligence solutions for the banking and financial services sector include market segment studies, market sizing and benchmarking analysis.

• Aluminium

  Aranca has delivered over 80 market research and competitive intelligence projects, covering different segments of the Real Estate & Construction sector in 30+ countries. Read on to know more about Aranca's expertise.

• Building Materials

  Aranca has delivered over 120 projects, covering different segments of the Building Material sector in 20+ countries. Read on to know more about Aranca's expertise.

• Consumer Appliances

  Aranca has delivered over 200 market research, feasibility studies and competitive intelligence projects, covering different segments of the Consumer Appliance sector in 30+ countries. Read on to know more about Aranca's expertise.

• Life & Non Life Insurance

  Aranca has delivered over 300 projects on market research, competitive intelligence and feasibility studies, covering different segments of the Life & Non Life Insurance sector in 25+ countries. Read on to know more about Aranca's expertise.

• Iron and Steel

  Aranca has delivered over 100 feasibility analysis, market research and competitive intelligence projects, covering different segments of the Iron and Steel sector in 30+ countries. Read on to know more about Aranca's expertise.

• IT Hardware

  Aranca has delivered over 120 market intelligence, feasibility study and competitive analysis projects, covering different segments of the Iron and Steel sector in 20+ countries. Read on to know more about Aranca's expertise.

• Machinery & Instrument

  Aranca has delivered over 500 market research, competitive intelligence and feasibility analysis projects, covering different segments of the Machinery/ Instrument sector in 40+ countries. Read on to know more about Aranca's expertise.

• Personal & Home Care

  Aranca has delivered over 200 feasibility analysis, market research and competitive intelligence projects, covering different segments of the Personal & Home Care sector in 30+ countries. Read on to know more about Aranca's expertise.

• Animal Husbandry

  Aranca has carried out many assessments in animal husbandry sector like opportunity assessment on dairy farming in India, market study on wool production in New Zealand. Read on to know more.

• Aquaculture

  Aranca's assignments in aquaculture sector include market study on freshwater aquaculture in China and deep-dive analysis of fish farming market in Indonesia. Read on to know more.

• Crop Production

  Aranca has extensive crop production sector experience with over 60 projects delivered in 20+ countries. Read on to know more.

• Cu/Zn/Pb (Copper/Zinc/ Lead) Alloys

  Aranca's market assesment for alloy sector includes identification of product application, current market size, future demand and supply analysis. Read on to know more.

• Engineering Plastics

  Aranca's assignments for enginerring plastic sector include assessing distribution opportunities for polyamides in S.E.Asia and market opportunity for aramid fibres in coal-based power plants in Indonesia

• Farm Equipment

  Aranca's farm equipment global assignments include Market assessment for sprinkler irrigation in Bangladesh and Competition assessment of harvesters manufacturers in India. Read on to know more.

• Fine & Specialty Chemicals

  Aranca's successful assignments for fine & specialty chemicals include opportunity assessment for polymer additives in Vietnam and competitor intelligence on electronic chemicals suppliers in China and Taiwan. Read on to know more.

• Food and Beverage

  Aranca's food sector experience is in 40+ food product categories including fresh food, ingredients, dairy & soya products, baked food, processed food, confectionery & desserts etc. Read on to know more.

• Healthcare Delivery

  Aranca's Heathcare delivery assignments include Cost benchmarking study in emerging market hospitals in South Asia and white space analysis for setting up dental clinics in India. Read on to know more.

• Internet

  Aranca has successfully delivered over 200 projects covering different segments of the internet sector in 30+ countries. Read on to know more.

• ITeS

  Aranca's extensive experience in the IT sector is due to its successful execution of 100+ assignments Globally. Read on to know more about Aranca's expertise in ITeS sector.

• Leasing

  With over 100 projects delivered, Aranca's assignments also include Strategic analysis of the leading Japanese leasing companies & Opportunity assessment for a financial leasing company in Qatar. Read on to know more.

• Logistics

  Aranca's South American assignments in logistic sector include Market study for setting up liquid bulk storage facility in Brazil and Study on Inland Water Transport sector in Brazil. Read on to know more.

• Media & Entertainment

  Aranca has successfully delivered over 400 projects covering different segments of the media/ entertainment sector in 40+ countries. Read on to know more.

• Medical Devices

  Aranca's Africa assignments in Medical Device sector include opportunity assessment of wound care devices in South Africa and demand assessment for pain management products in Sudan. Read on to know more.

• Ores (Metallic & Non-Metallic)

  Aranca's extensive experience in Metallic and Non-metallic Ores Sector comes from the 100+ projects delivered in over 20 countries globally. Read on to know more.

• Packaging

  Aranca has successfully delivered hundreds of projects covering different segments of the packaging sector in many countries. Read on to know more.

• Petrochemicals

  Aranca's global assignments in petrochemical industry include Business plan for aromatics and olefins market in Italy and Profit pool analysis for distribution of carbamide and styrene in Argentina . Read on to know more.

• Pharmaceutical Sector

  Aranca has successfully delivered over 350 projects covering different therapeutic areas of the pharmaceutical sector in 45+ countries. Read on to know more.

• Retail Banking

  Aranca's 250+ global projects in retail banking sector includes studying innovative product launches in the retail banking space in APAC region and Evaluating the impact of FATCA implementation on Mexican banks. Read on to know more.

• Retail Sector

  Aranca has delivered over 300 projects covering different segments of the retail sector in 30+ countries globally. Read on to know more.

• Telecommunication Sector

  Aranca has successfully delivered over 200 projects covering different segments of telecommunication sector in 30+ countries. Read on to know more.

• Travel & Tourism

  Aranca has successfully delivered over 150 projects covering different segments of travel & tourism sector in 40+ countries. Read on to know more.

• Utilities

  Aranca has executed Projects across the entire utilities sectovalur e chain covering over 15+ countries globally. Read on to know more.

• Competitive Intelligence

• Chemicals

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Investment Research

15 pages found for :

• Overview

  Aranca offers high quality investment & equity research outsourcing support along with business forecasting, fixed income research & credit research services to analysts, asset managers & bankers. Our flexible engagement models ensure customized, cost-effective research solutions.

• Private Equity, Venture Capital

  Aranca provides investment research & analytics services to Private Equity & Venture Capital firms, helping them with their investment decisions. Our private equity research / venture capital research services span all stages of an investment life cycle.

• Equities – Global and Regional

  Aranca provides a wide range of customized equity research services & support to both sell-side and buy-side firms. Our outsourced investment research solutions help our clients have in-depth research coverage and control their costs.

• Multi-Asset Strategies

  Aranca provides insightful & in-depth outsourced investment, equity, credit, fixed income and economic research services & analysis support to help asset managers & fund managers evaluate new investment ideas across markets and asset classes.

• Brokerage and IRP

  Aranca provides a range of outsourced investment & equity research, fixed income & credit research & other financial research solutions & analytics support to brokerage firms & independent research providers globally, helping them increase their research output while also reducing costs.

• IB BIS/ Library Services

  Aranca provides investment research & analytics services to IB BIS/ Library, helping them with their investment decisions. Our IB BIS/ Library Services span all stages of an investment life cycle.

• Debt Capital Markets (DCM)

  Aranca provides end-to-end DCM services ranging from execution support to market intelligence and credentials deck, to investment bankers.

• Equity Capital Markets (ECM)

  Aranca provides end-to-end equity capital markets research services that support everything from Initial Public Offerings (IPO), Follow-on Public Offerings (FPO), as well as convertibles and derivatives tailored to Investment Bankers.

• M&A Transaction Advisory

  Aranca provides comprehensive suite of services to support investment bankers across the entire MandA transaction life cycle. Read on to know more.

• Fund Marketing

  Aranca provides end-to-end fund marketing and investor communication support services including generation of fund fact sheets and periodic communications materials, to asset managers.

• Technical Analysis

  Aranca is well versed with all the key technical analysis techniques to generate trading ideas with better Risk Rewards ratios. Read on to know more.

• Credit Research

  Aranca provides complete credit research services, including detailed research coverage & maintenance support across capital structure, regions, and sectors, for brokerage and investment advisory forms, allowing them to focus on investment opportunities and control their costs.

• Fixed Income & Credit Research

  Aranca provides a wide range of fixed income and credit research and analytics outsourcing solutions to both buy-side and sell-side clients, helping them identify & evaluate potential investment opportunities & control their costs.

• Research Publication Support

  Aranca's investment research and analytics team provides extensive edit and designing support for financial institutions keen on publishing research papers. Read on to know more.

• Private Banks & Wealth Managers

  Aranca provides research and analytics across asset classes to enable private banks and wealth managers focus on generating investment ideas and other high impact areas. Read on to know more.

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Intellectual Property Research

25 pages found for :

• Overview

  Aranca provides comprehensive intellectual property (IP) research services like patent research, analytics, valuations, patent litigation solutions, document review, validity search, technology landscape analysis, out-licensing and IP monetization support services to innovation-led enterprises, law-firms, universities and R&D institutions.

• Automotive

  Aranca has executed several hundred intellectual property research assignments in the automobile sector for global OEMs, component manufacturers & design firms on technologies related to hybrid vehicles, electronic control systems, HVAC, safety, transmission & exhaust systems, engines & infotainment.Contact us to know how our IP research services can help you.

• Chemicals

  Aranca has executed several patent research assignments across different segments of the chemical industry & is among the few intellectual property research service providers with significant experience in niche areas such as chemical structure search, traditional knowledge search & analytical reports for REACH. Read on to know more about our IP research services in chemicals sector.

• Communication & Network

  Aranca's clients for intellectual property & patent research in the Communication & Network Technology Sector include some of the fastest growing software & hardware companies. Read on to know more about our IP research services in Network & Communication industry space.

• Diagnostics

  Aranca has executed several intellectual property research and analysis projects in the medical diagnostic industry space, helping decision makers answer strategic and tactical questions related to their IPs and patents. Read on to know more about patent research services that you can leverage.

• Engineering Plastics and Polymers

  Aranca has executed over 300 IP research projects in the Plastics and Polymers Engineering industry space. Our research has helped decision makers answer strategic and tactical questions related to their intellectual property in the Engineering Plastics and Polymer Industry. Read on to learn more.

• Medical Devices

  Aranca has executed several IP research projects in the medical devices industry space, helping decision makers answer strategic and tactical questions related to their intellectual property. Contact us to know more about our patent research services that you can leverage.

• Molecular diagnostics

  Aranca has significant technology intelligence and patent research experience in molecular applications in gene detection devices and techniques, having executed multiple IP research projects for manufacturers, research and development firms and other entities. Contact us to know more about our patent research and analysis services.

• Oil & Gas

  Aranca has conducted over 200 IP research and analysis projects in oil and gas industry covering over 70 Oil and Gas Technologies with more than 150,000+ hours of IP research experience. Know more about how our patent research services can help you leverage your intellectual properties in this sector.

• Packaging

  Aranca has significant breadth and depth of experience in technology intelligence and intellectual property over the packaging sector. Read on to know more.

• Personal care & Hygiene

  Aranca has provided patent & intellectual property research services to several clients in the Personal Care & Hygiene industry across various technology domains. Read on to know more.

• Pharmaceutical

  Aranca's intellectual property (IP) research experience in the pharmaceutical sector spans several segments, having executed patent research assignments in sectors like pharmacology, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacognosy (herbal drugs), biochemistry, bio-pharmaceutics & veterinary medicines.

• Power Systems

  Aranca has executed various IP research projects for prior art searches, landscape studies & other intellectual property research services in the power and energy sector across different technology segments like power plant equipment, energy transmission & distribution, alternate energy & remote monitoring solutions, among others.

• Semiconductor

  Aranca’s team of electronic engineers has executed several patent searches, IP valuation, litigation support projects, technology landscape analysis, patent drafting & other intellectual property research assignments in the semiconductor sector (electronics industry) for global entities - ranging from large companies to start-ups, Universities or design houses.

• Software and Mobile Applications

  Maximize the potential of your software and mobile applications related patents and other intellectual properties, across the complete Patent Lifecycle by levraging our IP research and analysis services. Our IP research services are tuned to provide you with thorough analysis and impactful insights, helping you to take informed business decisions.

• Industrial Manufacturing

  Aranca’s team of domain experts have executed high-end intellectual property / patent research projects including technology landcape analysis, prior art searches, patent analysis, litigation support and IP monetization for industrial manufacturing sector. Read on to know more.

• Biotechnology

  Aranca has significant breadth and depth of experience in IP research of various technologies for the Biotechnology industry. Read on to know how our intellectual property research services can help you maximize your boitech sector patents.

• Food & Beverage

  Leveraging the deep technical knowledge of its qualified & experienced team of food technologists, Aranca has executed several patent related assignments across the ecosystem including emerging areas nutraceuticals, dietary fibers, supplements & nutritional genomics.

• Electronics

  Aranca’s team of electronic engineers has executed over 250 projects that include patent searches, technology landscape analysis, patent drafting & other intellectual property research assignments in the electronics industry for 30+ companies - ranging from large semiconductor companies to start-ups, Universities or design houses.

• Home Care

  Aranca has executed several patent research assignments for Home Care industry across different segments like smart home appliances, kitchen appliances, general appliances, air care, fabric care, cleaning solutions etc. Read more here.

• Renewable Energy

  Aranca has executed multiple intellectual property (IP) research projects in the renewable energy sector, right from prior art searches, patent searches, technology landscape analysis and IP valuation among others.

• IP Strategy

  Get more out of your IP Portfolio across Patent Lifecycle with in-depth technical analysis to answer critical questions relating to IP strategy. Read on to know more about how we help organizations leverage their patents and other intellectual properties.

• Litigation Support

  Aranca offers patent prosecution & litigation support through services like patent infringement analysis, novelty search, invalidity search, patent drafting, patent filing, patent licensing, office action response, accelerated examination (USPTO) & patent proof reading, helping clients manage their patent portfolio.

• Technology Intelligence

  Aranca’s IP Research team provides patent research support for a range of tech intelligence need such as tech landcape analysis, technology scouting and acquisition, wgite space analysis, IP research support for product design, technology transfer & outlicensing for IP monetization and more. Contact us to for your patent research and development strategy roadmaps to create sustainable value from your patents portfolio.

• Technology Watch

  Aranca's Technology Watch Program offers periodic tech-insights on your chosen domain so you can identify new opportunities. To get customized technology watch reports from Aranca, sign up here.

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