Latest news with #Let'sGetReal
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Limelight Lab Grown Diamonds plans to double store network by 2026
Limelight Lab Grown Diamonds is planning to double its store network from 50 currently to 100 by 2026. The firm said it has onboarded actor Shilpa Shetty as an investor brand ambassador. The company has presence in over 45 cities with 50 stores. 'We are not just participating in the lab-grown diamond category, we are building it,' said Pooja Sheth Madhavan, Founder and Managing Director, Limelight Lab Grown Diamonds. 'As a first mover, we carry the responsibility to lead the shift in how lab grown diamonds are perceived. With an aggressive roadmap to open 100 stores by 2026, we are scaling both reach and relevance,' she said. 'Our campaign 'Let's Get Real' calls out traditional myths about luxury and offers a compelling promise of diamonds that shine boldly with a purpose,' she added. 'What drew me to Limelight was the honesty of their story,' said Shilpa Shetty. 'Lab-grown diamonds are a smart and a responsible choice,' she added.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Shilpa Shetty gets real in Limelight Lab Grown Diamonds' new ad
Limelight Lab Grown Diamonds , India's fastest-scaling lab-grown diamond jewellery brand, has unveiled its new brand campaign 'Let's Get Real' a powerful call to reimagine luxury through the lens of innovation, ethics and conscious consumption . At the heart of this movement is actor, entrepreneur and wellness icon Shilpa Shetty , who joins the brand also as a strategic investor. The campaign signifies a defining moment in the evolution of India's luxury jewellery landscape. With 'Let's Get Real', Limelight takes a firm stance against outdated narratives and legacy perceptions, positioning itself as the torchbearer of new-age luxury in India. 'Limelight isn't just participating in the lab-grown diamond category, we're building it,' said Pooja Sheth Madhavan, founder and managing director, Limelight Lab Grown Diamonds . 'As a first mover, we carry the responsibility to lead the shift in how lab grown diamonds are perceived. With an aggressive roadmap to open 100 stores by 2026, we're scaling both reach and relevance. 'Let's Get Real' calls out traditional myths about luxury and offers a compelling promise of diamonds that shine boldly with a purpose. This campaign is more than marketing; it's a cultural reset.' Shetty, as the brand ambassador, lends her voice and credibility to a campaign grounded in mindful luxury. Her entrepreneurial mindset, public commitment to conscious living and aspirational appeal make her a strategic fit and a firm believer of the movement. 'What drew me to Limelight was the honesty of their story,' said Shetty. 'Lab-grown diamonds are a smart and responsible choice. As someone who values authenticity and mindful choices, investing in Limelight felt natural. With 'Let's Get Real', you can wear something stunning yet meaningful without any compromise. That's the future of luxury, and I'm proud to help shape it.' The campaign taps into a powerful consumer truth that the modern Indian woman is increasingly value-driven, informed, and conscious. With sustainability, innovation, and transparency rising as critical purchase factors, lab-grown diamonds are fast becoming the preferred choice for a new generation of luxury consumers. ''Let's Get Real' is not a cosmetic line, it's our core positioning,' said Rupali Shrivastava, chief marketing officer, Limelight Lab Grown Diamonds. 'Luxury today is about meaning, not legacy. Our integrated 360° campaign spans TV, digital, print, OOH, multiplex cinema, influencers, and in-store experiences. It's backed by deep consumer insight showing strong traction for labgrown diamonds among young, independent women across India. This is not meant to sit in lockers or wait for occasions. It's made to be worn every day, everywhere by women who want their diamonds to reflect their values and lifestyle. We are not just responding to this shift, we're driving it.' With its vision and a brand ambassador who puts belief into action through investment, Limelight is redefining what it means to lead a category. 'Let's Get Real' is not just a campaign, it's a blueprint for the future of luxury in India, the press note shared with ETBrandEquity stated.
Hindustan Times
30-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Should You Invest in India's Biggest Office REIT IPO – Knowledge Realty Trust?
On August 5th, 2025, Indian investors will be offered a front-row seat to some of the country's most iconic office buildings—without ever needing to own one. The Knowledge Realty Trust REIT, or KRT REIT, opens its ₹6,200 crore initial public offering (IPO) this week, with ₹900 crore reserved for retail investors, at a price band of ₹95-100. In her column "Let's Get Real," Manisha Natarajan writes about The Knowledge Realty Trust REIT, or KRT REIT, that opens its ₹ 6,200 crore initial public offering (IPO) this week, with ₹ 900 crore reserved for retail investors And if the names behind it — Blackstone and Sattva Group weren't enough to stir investor excitement, the assets on offer might do the trick. We're talking about trophy addresses like One BKC and One World Centre in Mumbai, and Knowledge City in Hyderabad. Big, brand-name tenants like Amazon, Google, Cisco, and Goldman Sachs are already paying rent here. On paper, it feels like a great opportunity: owning a slice of India's finest commercial real estate and earning regular rental income. Big Question: Should You Invest? But is it really that simple? Or more importantly, is it worth your money? Before we dive into KRT's specifics, let me first take a step back, especially for readers new to REITs. Real Estate Investment Trusts, or REITs, allow regular investors to buy into high-quality commercial real estate such as offices, malls, and industrial parks — that you and I can't even afford to buy! You earn through dividends (a share of the rent collected) and, hopefully, from an increase in the REIT's unit price. In essence, it's a hybrid: part-debt, part-equity. SEBI regulates REITs, and you can buy or sell them just like any stock on NSE or BSE. India's REIT market is young but maturing fast. So far, we've had three listed office REITs — Embassy Office Parks, Mindspace Business Parks, and Brookfield India REIT. Knowledge Realty Trust is the fourth, and it comes in as the biggest yet, by Gross Asset Value ( ₹62,000 crore) and Net Operating Income ( ₹3,432 crore in FY25). It also promises a unique proposition — a highly diversified portfolio across six cities, with a sharp focus on India's three strongest office markets: Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Nearly 96% of KRT's assets are in these three cities, which continue to lead the country in office demand and rental growth. So far, so good. But let's not gloss over the fact that REITs, like stocks, demand careful timing and entry. While they offer regular income, returns across the current 3 listed REITs have been varied — some as low as 8%, others closer to 13-14%. Just like a stock, buying a REIT at the right price and fair valuation matters. Also Read: Are REITs the stability your stock portfolio needs now? KRT's management claims their IPO is being offered at a discount. According to Ashish Mohta, Senior Managing Director, Blackstone, the NAV (Net Asset Value) is around 10% lower than current market value. In some cases, such as their One BKC property in Mumbai, the discount he insists is even deeper — nearly 30-35% lower than comparable strata sales in the area. If these numbers hold true, there's potentially value left on the table for new investors. One of the compelling features of KRT IPO is what's known as 'mark-to-market' potential. Many tenants have been in these buildings for years, paying rents negotiated five to ten years ago. As leases expire and are renewed at today's market rates, there's a chance to lift overall income significantly — as much as 20% according to management's estimates. Also Read: Sattva Group, Blackstone sponsored REIT raises ₹1,400 cr in pre-IPO round What About REITs' Performance? But here's where we have to get real. Historically, REITs in India haven't always passed on their full income growth to investors. Net Operating Income (NOI) may grow 8-10%, but dividend distributions — the money that actually lands in your bank account, have often grown just 2-3%. Why the disconnect? Shirish Godbole, CEO of KRT REIT, addressed this head-on in my conversation with the management. He insists that KRT will not only distribute 100% of available cash flows, but most of their projected growth is also already contracted, not speculative. 'We're confident that the 13% CAGR on net operating income, will be delivered,' he said, adding that over 60% of that growth is already locked in through signed deals. The REIT is projecting a starting yield of 7.2%, which it expects to rise to 7.7% or higher in the years ahead. Combine that with targeted annual growth of 13% in cash flows, and you're looking at a potential total return of 14–15%. That's what makes the proposition tempting, especially in this market where safe, predictable returns are hard to come by. Another point worth noting is KRT's relatively low debt level. With a Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio of just 19%, the REIT has significant headroom to raise capital and acquire new assets — without diluting returns. This could be a real advantage in a competitive market where prime office properties are becoming harder to come by. Interestingly, KRT is positioning itself as India's first brand-agnostic REIT, open to acquiring high-quality assets from smaller developers and HNIs looking to monetise commercial properties without giving up their own branding. Sattva Group, the equal partner in Knowledge Realty Trust has already moved nearly 50% of its portfolio into the REIT and committed four additional buildings under ROFO (right of first refusal) agreements. But the real momentum, it appears, will come from this inclusive strategy. As Bijay Agarwal, Managing Director of Sattva Group puts it: 'This is strategy is designed to unlock value for developers and HNIs who've built commercial assets but lacked a clear, tax-efficient exit. It allows them to retain their own branding while benefiting from the institutional structure, stability, and yield of a REIT. That's the real differentiator.' That said, if Sattva and Blackstone were to move their own assets into KRT: will valuations be fair and add value for unitholders? Here too, the management's answer is measured. Godbole insists that the REIT will be disciplined in acquisitions, use third-party valuers, and ensure every deal adds to distributions per unit (DPU). With both Sattva Group and Blackstone holding substantial stakes, there is a system of checks and balances. 'We're here for the long run,' Ashish Mota said, emphasising Blackstone's decade-plus belief in India's office story. And that story is indeed powerful. India is now the GCC capital of the world, with a 58% global share. What began as back-end support has evolved into high-value functions in AI, robotics, design and digital transformation, with its vast English-speaking STEM qualified workforce. Office demand continues to be driven by this shift. Add to that India's unbeatable cost advantage: top-grade office rents in cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai average $1–3 per square foot per month — versus $7–9 in London or $10–14 in midtown Manhattan. So yes, there's momentum behind India's office REITs. And on paper, KRT has the right ingredients to do well by your investment. If you're after long-term, stable income go ahead, apply to the IPO.
Mint
23-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
REALITY Of Gurugram's Real Estate Market Decoded: Is It A House Of Cards?
Updated: 23 Jul 2025, 02:52 PM IST Livemint Is Gurugram's property market a house of cards, ready to collapse with a small push? Is the price rise of 300% since 2021 that Gurgaon has seen too much, too soon? Most importantly, should YOU stay away from this overheated market? It can be confusing, especially because influencers are giving opinions and there is fear gripping the market. However, does this fear have a solid base or is it just a theory? What are the numbers saying? In this video, we analyse EXACTLY that for you - the hard numbers and data. Tune in to watch Manisha Natarajan's conversation with PropEquity founder Samir Jasuja on this episode of Let's Get Real! Copyright © 2025 HT Digital Streams Ltd All Right Reserved
Hindustan Times
02-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
RERA reality check: Has the regulator failed to protect homebuyers and deliver on its promises?
RERA, once hailed as a solution to safeguard homebuyers, is facing growing criticism for failing to live up to its promises. When a Supreme Court judge calls it a 'rehab centre for ex-bureaucrats,' it's a clear sign that the system needs reform, an article published in Mint has said. Now, a new initiative promises a unified digital platform for all state RERAs, claiming to offer more transparency, easier access to project details, and a central database. While this sounds promising, the real issue was never about access to information, writes Manisha Natarajan, content strategist and host of Let's Get Real, in an article in Mint. She says that the true problem is that RERA is failing to deliver the protection it was created to provide. When RERA was launched in 2016, it offered hope to homebuyers trapped in stalled or delayed projects, promising accountability and compensation. Nearly a decade later, many of those promises remain unmet, she writes. Transparency, a key RERA promise, remains elusive. Key provisions—like builders depositing 70% of project funds in escrow accounts, providing compensation for delays, offering refunds for cancelled projects, and posting regular updates—are largely ignored, she writes. RERA's safeguards are ineffective due to a lack of enforcement. State RERAs rarely audit escrow compliance, scrutinize project updates, or enforce compensation clauses. Without proper oversight, RERA's transparency mandate remains largely unfulfilled, Natarajan writes. The article cites a recent report by Square Yards that said that out of 265 cases it filed on behalf of homebuyers, only 28% saw successful recovery from builders. Over 50 cases have been stuck in 'reserved orders' for 7–8 months, and more than 30 remain unexecuted despite final rulings. In at least 15 cases, homebuyers were forced to move high courts due to non-compliance with RERA orders. Even MahaRERA—once a model for other states—often begins with mediation, which can drag on for six months. If unresolved, the case moves to an adjudicating officer, with first hearings taking 12–18 months and multiple rounds lasting up to two years. Yet, enforcing orders remains a major challenge, she writes. The core issue is not just delays—it's the lack of enforcement. There's no fixed timeline for recovery, and RERA depends on state agencies like police and district officials for execution. When these bodies delay or ignore orders, homebuyers are left stranded. Maharashtra alone has hundreds of pending recovery warrants, she writes. Adding to the problem is the limited capacity of most RERA offices, often overwhelmed and staffed by retired bureaucrats lacking legal or real estate expertise. Builders, meanwhile, exploit legal loopholes to prolong proceedings, turning RERA into a frustrating maze for homebuyers. Worse still, automatic safeguards like compensation for delays are increasingly treated as disputes, further weakening buyer protection. Compared to efficient regulatory systems like Singapore's, RERA's flaws in adjudication, enforcement, and accountability raise serious concerns about its effectiveness, she writes. First, RERA must function as a true regulator—monitoring builder disclosures and industry practices proactively, not reactively. This demands trained, committed, and adequately staffed officials. Second, RERA orders shouldn't depend on state machinery. Penalties must have real impact, and recovery processes need to be swift and enforceable. But all this hinges on political will and legislative reform. Until then, homebuyers should remain cautious—even if a project boasts a 'RERA-registered' tag, Natarajan adds.
