FinXpress - March 15, 2015

Page 1

The finance club at IMT Ghaziabad is engaged in a constant endeavor to provide you with a practical exposure to the world of finance and the latest emerging trends in the related fields of Risk Management, Banking, Investments and non-finance topics.

MARCH 15, 2015 | A FINNICHE INITIATIVE

In Focus

Do write to us at: finniche.imt@gmail.com

Reducing Import Duty

On Gold | 2

Opinion Investor Activism | 4

Term of Week Hedge Funds | 7

Tech World Personality Rajeev Chandrasekhar |12

FlashBattery |13


March 15, 2015 | Volume 38

With the whole IMT is preparing for Convocation 2015 which is scheduled on 18th of this month, the students are also eagerly waiting to listen to Mr. Rahul Bajaj who would be chief person for this years’ convocation.

Reducing Import Duty on Gold

Club FinNiche releases its weekly magazine FinXpress, with the In Focus talking about the ‘Reducing Import Duty on Gold’. The Opinion gives an overview of ‘Investor Activism’.

Investor Activism

The term of the week describes ‘Hedge Fund’, a process to decide which long term investment to make. Do have a look at the market section, Tech world which brings to you about Flash Battery and Personality of the week, Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Hedge Funds

Club FinNiche welcomes any comments, suggestions or criticism regarding the magazine. Please do write to us and share your ideas.

Happy Reading!

Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Regards The Editorial Team Club FinNiche

Flash Battery

Disclaimer: FinXpress takes no responsibility for the opinions expressed in the magazine.


- By Shikha Sharma

As per data released by the Commerce Ministry this month,

 The

Government cuts import levy on gold and

impossible to USD 15.64 every ounce. In

amid the first fortnight of the month, the tax

February, gold imports had bounced by 49

esteem on transported in gold was altered at

percent to USD 1.98 billion when contrasted

USD 393 every 10 grams and on silver at USD

with the year-back period, while silver

549 every kg. The import levy quality is the

shipments shrunk by 60.47 percent to USD

base cost at which traditions obligation is

121.42 million in the same period.

resolved to counteract under-invoicing. Gold is the second-biggest import thing for

in

India after petroleum. Higher gold import bill

48.78

unfavorably influences the nation's present

percent on a year-on-year

record shortage (CAD). The legislature has

gold

February

shipments jumped

been more than once asking individuals to

basis.

stop from purchasing gold and rather put

 India is the largest importer

resources into other sparing instruments. In

of gold, which is mainly

spite of facilitating in gold import standards,

utilised to meet the demand

the shipments had dropped strongly in

of the jewellery industry.

December 2014. The December import figure remained at USD 1.34 billion, around oneThe administration has sliced import tax

fourth of the amount in November. According

esteem on gold to USD 375 every 10 grams

to information discharged by the Commerce

and silver to USD 512 every kg taking after

Ministry not long from now, the gold

powerless worldwide value patterns. Amid

shipments in February bounced 48.78 percent

the first fortnight of the month, the duty

on a year-on-year premise. India is the biggest

esteem on foreign gold was altered at USD

shipper of gold, which is basically used to

393 every 10 grams and on silver at USD 549

take care of the demand of the adornments

every kg. The import tax worth is the base

business.

cost at which traditions obligation is resolved

to anticipate under-invoicing. It is modified

In November 2014, the RBI had facilitated

on

considering

confinements on gold imports by scrapping

worldwide costs. The abatement in duty

the dubious 80:20 plan. Under the 80:20

esteem on transported in gold has been

standard, put set up in August 2013 to check

advised by the Central Board of Excise and

high gold inflows that was augmenting the

Customs, as per an authority proclamation

current record shortfall, no less than 20

discharged toward the end of last night. Gold

percent

in New York, which regularly sets value

obligatorily sent out before getting new parts.

a

fortnightly

premise

of

the

foreign

gold

must

be

incline on the residential front, declined from a high of USD 1,162 every ounce and is as of

Government has been more than once asking

now controlling at USD 1,158.60 every ounce.

individuals to halt from purchasing gold and

Silver excessively has dropped, making it

rather put resources into other sparing


instruments.

Higher

gold

import

bill

13.5% in 2014 to 842.7 ton as gold venture

antagonistically influences the nation's present

interest dove by more than half, as indicated

record shortfall (CAD).

by the World Gold Council. Gold adornments request in the nation climbed 8% last year to

The information further uncovered import of

662 ton from 612.7 ton in 2013. Speculation

silver shrunk by 60.47 every penny in

request, then again, drooped to 180.6 ton from

February to USD 121.42 million. Imports of

362.1 ton amid the same period, in sharp

petroleum, unrefined and its items shrank

complexity to the worldwide pattern of 2%

55.49 percent. Gold request in the nation is

general development. Bamalwa of All India

relied upon to ascend to 10% this wedding

Gem & Jewelry Trade Federation said the

season, which commences not long from now

speculation

and proceeds till ahead of schedule June

universally

contrasted with a year-back period, helped by

Monday,

a critical fall in its costs, exchange insiders say.

worldwide markets, yet it stayed close to a

Bachhraj Bamalwa, executive at All India Gem

three-month low as the US dollar hit a 11-year

& Jewelry Trade Federation, said the business

high after solid US employments report

expects gold request in the gems portion to

helped desires that the Federal Reserve would

climb 5-10% over a year ago. "Value fall will

soon build premium rates.

interest gold

will

costs

however,

stay

have

gold

less

as

fallen.

On

edged

up

in

unquestionably be a driver for adornments deals," he told ET.

Somasundaram PR, MD (India) at World Gold Council, said the basic driver of gold request

Costs of the yellow metal fell by Rs 1,000

in India is the social fondness towards gold

every 10 gm in the previous one week to

coupled with a rich local shrewdness about

around Rs 26,400 on March 9. Goldsmiths feel

the financial aspects of gold in a family unit

Indian buyers have ended up flexible to high

portfolio. Social changes and new resource

import obligation administration and are no

classes have on a very basic level strengthened

more sitting tight for a cut in obligations.

the part of gold as a key diversifier and as a

Diamond setters began restocking for the

long haul support against expansion. "Interest

wedding season after a fall in imports in

of this nature can't be reshaped by supply

February as the exchange was expecting a

checks and higher duties. While India can't

drop in import obligation from 10% to no less

expand its nearby supply through mining, it

than 4% in the Union Budget. The exchange

unquestionably can build supply through

now expects this repressed interest to be

reusing," said Somasundaram. "Presently just

unleashed as buyers no more expect a

0.5% of aggregate stocks are reused in India,

diminishment in the import obligation soon.

yet the late strategy declaration presenting a

In spite of the fact that figures are yet to be

standard India gold coin, securities and

declared, exchange appraisals gold imports of

another monetisation conspire rightly try to

40 ton in February, down from around 60 ton

address

in January. Strict import controls and high

connected to gold, which are likewise liable to

obligations cut down India's gold request by

effect reusing," he said.

fluctuated

purchaser

inclination


- By Mukul Gupta

An activist shareholder uses

"We believe the best way to ensure improved

acceptance of the many policy changes that

performance at PepsiCo is to separate global

the activists are seeking to effect. Post the

snacks and beverages, putting the future of

financial crisis of 2008, activist activity has

each business in the hands of empowered and

increased, and new money is beginning to

focused management". This was written in the

flow into activist funds mostly in search of

in

letter posted to the management of Pepsico by

returns which are uncorrelated with other

a corporation to put public

Trian Partners headed by the Activist Investor

asset classes. The Assets Under Management

pressure on its management.

Nelson Peltz. Investor activism, which started

(AUM) of this asset class are quickly growing

in 1980s - then called ‘Corporate Crusaders' -

and returns are consistently outperforming

has grown in importance with more and more

the average hedge fund. In 2013, according to

companies targeted every year, be it Bill

Schulte Roth & Zabel, public actions of

Ackman’s public failure at JC Penney, or Carl

activism were launched at a total 237

Icahn’s argument for a buyback at Apple, one

companies worldwide including giants like

of America’s most loved and successful

Apple, Hess and Proctor & Gamble.

an

equity

stake

 Financial Goals (increase of shareholder value through changes in corporate policy, financing

structure,

cost

companies.

cutting, etc.)

 Non

-

financial

(disinvestment

Goals

An activist shareholder uses equity stake in a

What Attracts Activist Shareholders? Not unexpectedly, fundamental

from

company to put pressure on its management.

underperformance

The trick is simple. Buy upto 5% stake in the

weakness that triggers an activist investor

company and get a seat at the Board. Once

campaign. Activists most often focus on

comfortable, make demands that would in all

underperformance relative to competitors,

belief increase shareholder value. In case the

rather than absolute declines in performance.

Board refuses, fight a proxy battle. If the

Other factors include poor revenue growth,

demands

other

lagging shareholder returns vis-a-vis the

shareholders, chances of winning are high

industry peers in the previous two years, and

post which a new 'friendly' Board would be

an increasing gap in margins relative to

appointed. In case the proxy fight is lost,

competitors. Recurring restructuring charges

nevermind. Liquidate and look for another

and large cash balances are also strong

target. This is the standard way an investor

indicators of looming activism. According to

activism exercise works.

McKinsey & Company however, company’s

particular countries, adoption of

environmentally

friendly policies, etc.).

seem

legitimate

to

is

the

most

likely

gap in consensus earnings and executive While much of investor activism is practiced

compensation are not significant indicators of

outside the public eye, there has been a

activist interest. In certain sectors, it has also

consistent increase in public actions, whereby

been observed that those companies where

activists' play a key role in changing either the

the breadth of the corporate portfolio has a

strategy or the governance of companies they

market value which is lower than the sum of

have invested in. This has resulted in growing

independent businesses are attractive targets.


Major Activist Trends in FY 2013 According to Schulte Roth & Zabel, the year 2013 saw an increase in activism activity with 237 companies being targeted worldwide as compared to 218 in 2012. Out of these, more than 70% of the total cases were observed in the United States, followed by 18% in Europe and

only

6%

in

Canada.

Sectors

like

Technology, Services and Basic Materials were the most preferred and comprised of around 75% of the total investor focus. Also, 2013 saw

points in the period of bullish growth.

twice the number of companies targeted with

According to Activist Insight’s Activist Index, which is made up of 30 activist funds, a return average of 21.7% was achieved over the first three quarters of 2013, which compared favourably to S&P 500 Index’s 17.9% and MSCI’s 16.3%. Therefore, there is plenty of

evidence to suggest that with investors closely watching the performance of activists, money will continue to increasingly flow into activist funds in FY 2014. Gregg Feinstein of Houlihan Lokey believes that activism has been grossly a market capitalisation of more than $10

undervalued by the

market in general.

billion than the previous year. A total of 42

According to him it has been proven to

such big size investments including UBS and

increase value for shareholders.

Celesio were made in 2013 compared to only 23 a year ago. This is leading to an increased perception that size no longer matters for

Defence Techniques to Counter Activism Accompanying the rise in activism has been a

activism.

burgeoning defence industry in the US which is experimentation with new bylaws designed

According to consultancy firm McKinsey &

to frustrate activists. Although bylaws vary

Company, three out of every four activism

widely from organization to organization,

campaigns start collaboratively, but half of

they generally cover topics such as how the

those eventually turn hostile. This suggests

Board is elected, how the meetings of

that management teams should focus not just

Directors

on whether to accept activist proposals but

organization will have and description of their

also on how they engage with an activist.

roles and responsibilities. However, it remains

On the performance side, activist hedge funds

to be seen how long lasting their impact will

enjoyed a strong year in 2013. They beat the

be. Some of these defence mechanisms include

MSCI World Index by over five percentage

the following:

are

conducted,

officers

the


13D Pills: In US, an investor is required to file either form 13D or 13G when an ownership

The Road Ahead In 2013, many big name activist funds

threshold of 5% shares in a publicly traded

including

corporation is reached. An activist investor

Clinton Group and ValueAct saw their stock

files a 13D whereas a passive investor who

picks work well for them. All saw their stock

does not intend to influence the management

choices increase by an average annualized

or wage a proxy contest is required to file 13G.

value of 75% or more. Analyst forecasts

However, many companies now include a

suggest strong growth in activism activity in

special clause with filing a 13D which

the US, but a continuing weakness in Japanese

prevents activist investors from increasing

and eurozone equity markets. Activists are

their

same

testing these markets with certain optimism

threshold is 20% for passive investors who file

and also because of the growing acceptance of

13G. This clause prevented Bill Ackman from

increase in shareholder value via this asset

taking a significant ownership position at Air

class. In case these regions enjoy an upswing

Product & Chemicals.

in growth, the activists will be the first to

holdings

beyond

10%.

The

Pershing

Square,

Third

Point,

enjoy the benefits. In India also, anecdotal Tax Pills: This is a slightly more obscure use

evidence suggests that activism by both

of poison pills. It takes advantage of tax

foreign and domestic investors is on the rise.

regulations and helps companies keep activist

However, so long as the Government has

ownership below the 5% threshold. These tax

large interests in companies and the legal

pills trigger increased burdens for investors at

system is slow and onerous, activism would

this level, rather than the traditional 10%. This

continue to remain hindered in India.

is because a change of ownership would mean tax-beneficial operating losses are abandoned.

The

fundamental

question

however

still

remains – do activist investors save companies In order to avoid an activist campaign,

by influencing incompetent management and

company executives should run a pre-emptive

increasing shareholder value or do they play

audit

company’s

corporate crusaders who intend to make short

performance and review their strategic and

to

evaluate

their

term gains by shaking things and finally

operating plans in that light.

exiting at attractive multiples. As a follow up to the discussion however, it certainly seems

An unbiased and rigorous pre-emptive audit

the trend is moving from the latter to the

that helps in identifying weak spots and

former. It also seems highly likely that this

evaluates all alternatives can help in keeping

year will prove to be ‘the end of the

activists at bay and bring forth many

beginning’ phase of an invigorated age of

opportunities for value creation.

investor activism.


- By Shreyans Dhariwal

A

fund,

usually

used

by

Hedge Funds are the alternative investments

neutralizing portfolio’s exposure to

consisting of pools of underlying assets that

market risk by undertaking short and

are

long positions.

used

for

hedging,

speculation

and

arbitrage. They use derivatives of high

 Convertible Arbitrage

leverage in International as well as domestic

Exploitation

market to earn active returns or alpha for

convertible securities.

of

mis-pricings

wealthy

individuals

their investors. They are setup as private

and

which

is

investment limited partnerships and are

Identification

aggressive

mainly applicable for sophisticated investors

undervalued FI bonds.

institutions,

allowed

to

use

strategies hat are unavailable

like

to

funds,

significant assets and are not offered to general public.

mutual

including

selling

short,

leverage,

program

trading,

swaps,

arbitrage

and

derivatives.

institutions

or

individuals

with

compared

to

Mutual

of

overvalued

and

 Distressed Securities They are applicable to companies tending towards bankruptcy.

Hedge funds are similar to mutual funds on

Takes advantage between the current

the grounds of possessing similar kind of

market price and price after merger of

Funds, they are relatively unregulated and

as

 Fixed Income Arbitrage

 Merger Arbitrage

pools of underlying assets. But unlike Mutual

 They have low regulations

in

the security.  Hedge Equity

can be invested on a wider scale of securities.

They are mainly used for assets under

They can be considered as mutual funds for

management.  Global Macro

super rich.

funds

Trades in currencies, futures, options

 Have

wider

range

of

Hedge Fund managers tries to invest on securities that have a higher rate of return and

securities for investment.

in line with global market  Emerging Markets

that mitigates or hedges maximum amount of

Focuses on emerging and less mature

risk, but they have to also foresee the risk

markets.

motive to gain higher rate of

whether the security will be able to perform

 Funds of Funds

return

as per expectation, failing to which may cause

Is a fund invested in number of

huge losses. Fees charged by managers is 1 to

underlying hedge funds.

 Investment done with prime with

mitigation

of

maximum amount of risk.

 Different

hedge

strategies are used.

fund

2% of the amount invested, plus 20% of the profit earned.

Once the Investment strategy is formulated by the Hedge fund manager, he generally

Some of the Hedge Fund strategies are—

tries to measure the risk to which the fund is exposed. Based on this, he decides which of

 Equity Market Neutral Identification undervalued

of

the risks are acceptable and which needs to be overvalued

stocks,

in

and turn

hedged. On a later stage he uses derivatives to mitigate the unacceptable risks.


INDIAN MARKETS With the selling pressure intensifying during the closing stages, indices in the Indian equity markets went further down and closed the day deep in the red. Thus, the BSESensex ended lower by around 427 points (down 1.5%). Similarly,

NSE-

Nifty succumbed to all round selling and was quoting lower by 128 points at closing, or

1.55 %. S&P BSE Midcap and S&P BSE. Small cap indices were hurt relatively lesser but still closed 1.3% and 1.6% lower respectively. Prominent losers that dragged down the key indices were FMCG, banking and capital goods sector. Open

High

Low

Close

SENSEX

29134.93

29,183.76

28,448.48

28503.30

NIFTY

8,844.05

8,849.75

8,631.75

8647.75

BSE SENSEX

CNX NIFTY


COMMODITIES Commodity

Unit

Rs / Unit

% Change

Gold

10 grams

25890

0.91

Silver

1 kg

35533

0.59

Crude Oil

1 bbl

2866

-4.05

EXCHANGE RATES INR/ 1 USD

62.67

INR /1 EURO

66.42

INR/ 100 JAPAN YEN

51.60

INR / 1 POUND STERLING

93.16

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS Open

High

Low

Close

NYSE Comp

10,784.09

10,784.09

10,677.59

10751.02

NASDAQ

4,885.54

4,904.47

4,842.80

4871.76

S&P 500

2,064.56

2,064.56

2,041.17

2053.40

FTSE 100

6,761.07

6,777.77

6,713.50

6740.58

CAC

4,997.94

5,010.80

4,969.47

5010.46

DAX

11,845.90

11,903.33

11,744.93

11901.61

NIKKEI 225

19,119.58

19,335.80

19,042.25

19254.25

SSE 50

2,494.34

2,532.15

2,477.40

2495.28

Hang Seng

23,808.97

23,918.71

23,790.83

23823.21


Land Acquisition Bill passed in Lok Sabha; faces sterner test in Rajya Sabha The contentious bill was passed by the lower house of Indian Parliament on Tuesday. There were nine official amendments made to the original bill that was proposed by the ruling government( BJP). This was done in order in to win over allies such as Akali Dal and Shiv

Sena. The opposition which is led by the congress party staged a walk out when their proposed amendments were not accepted by the BJP. The bill has been labelled as “Anti Shiv

sena

abstained

from

Farmer” by the opposition. How the industry reacts to the nine amendments which have

voting while TRS and BJP

been made, remains to be seen.

staged a walkout. Government

The government agreed to include mandatory employment to at least one member from the

does not have a majority in

affected families of a “farm labourer”, which was one of the proposals by the opposition. The

Rajya

of

government rejected amendments to consent clause and social impact assessment. Rural

Industrialists

Development Minister, Birender Singh, dismissed allegations made by the opposition and

Sabha.

Analysts

and

Reaction

remains to be seen.

said that “ By bringing the bill, my party and our government want to make sure that the farmers get a chance to progress and be a part of the overall development of the country.”

Previously IMF had predicted a

IMF revises India’s growth forecast to 7.2% for current fiscal year

growth of 5.6% for the current

The International Monetary Fund labelled Indian Economy a “bright spot” on the

year.

international economic landscape. It asked India to take steps to revive the investment cycle and accelerate the structural reforms promised in order to achieve 7.2% growth. The new forecasts have been made on the basis of revised methodology adopted by India earlier in the year. The new method was termed as “Puzzling” by RBI governor, Raghuram Rajan, who has worked with IMF in the past. The IMF believes that the revival of Indian Economy has been helped by positive policy actions of the government and lower prices of oil in the global market. IMF also said that the country is well equipped to cope with volatility of international markets( External Shocks).

RBI Issues new norms for NPA sales In a move that would give boost to banks which are facing issue of rising NPA’s, the central bank has allowed such lenders to reverse the extra provision on sale of bad debts to their P&L account. This is valid only for transactions that took place before 26 February,2014. Most of the banks, including private players, have been dealing with non-performing assets and lower profits since they have to make space for bad loans. This move by the RBI would look to give incentives to the bank to recover fair value in respect to non-performing assets. The notification also said that “ The quantum of excess provision reversed to profit and loss

account will be limited to the extent to which cash received exceeds NBV of the NPA’s sold.


Government Expenditure on Aadhaar project is Rs 5630 crore The parliament was informed on Friday that the public expenditure on the UID project currently stands Rs 5630 crore. In total 78.65 crore Aadhar numbers have been generated till date under the scheme. The approved budget for the UID scheme for the period 2009-2017 is

Rs 13,633.22 crore. The UID project came into existence in January 2009. One of the main objectives of the project was to eliminate fake and duplicate ID’s. Planning minitser, Rao Inderjit Singh, also said that people can register their complain on the official website of UIADAI and there is also the facility of downloading E-Aadhar from the website. The planning minister also said that a bill ,introduced on December 2010, regarding providing legal status to UIDAI project is pending in Rajya Sabha.

Foreign Firms producing in India might get to sell online Foreign companies who decide to set up manufacturing facilities in India, would be given access to the fast growing online market in India. This initiative is a part of government’s plan to attract foreign capital in the manufacturing sector. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, has floated a cabinet note to implement the policy announced by the government in it’s first full budget. The cabinet note that has been floated explicitly defines manufacturing in order to prevent any misuse of the policy. To ensure consistency and to avoid tax issues in future, government would use the same definition of manufacturing as given in the income tax law. Once this policy is implemented, manufacturers would be able to sell directly to the customers through the online platform. This will be provide a significant incentive to foreign players to invest in India. The policy is in line with government’s vision that a manufacturer should be able to sell his goods to the customer in whatever way he wants. This move will help players like FabIndia, which manufactures 70-80% of the merchandise it sells to the local

Indian local market but it is registered as a single brand retailer. Though 100% FDI is allowed in B2B E– Commerce, foreign direct investment is not allowed in companies selling directly to the consumers.

Ratan Tata picks up stake in Paytm Paytm revealed this week that Ratan Tata has invested an undisclosed amount in the mobile commerce company. The investment in the firm is in his personal capacity. Analysts have said that though Ratan Tata’s investment in companies like Paytm, Snapdeal and Urban Ladder is not substantial but it shows the perspective which the investors have towards the

growing E-commerce market of India.


Mr. Rajeev Chandrasekhar was also awarded an

1964

honorary

doctorate

Visveswaraya

degree

Technological

by

University,

Belgaum, Karnatka. Manipal Institute of Technology

Member of Parliament In April 2012, he was re-elected to the Rajya

Illinois Institute of Technology

Sabha for a second six year term as an Independent

Indian

Parliamentarian

representing

Karnataka. He has advocated for governance reforms,

institution

building,

Internet

freedom, national security, welfare of the 1994: Founded BPL Mobile

An engineering graduate, Mr. Chandrasekhar

Armed Forces Personnel and sustainable city

2005: Founded Jupiter Capital

is

of

building of Bangalore and Karnataka. He has

2007: President of FiICCI

Engineering, he has done his masters from

also served as the President of FICCI in 2007.

2013: Awarded the honorary

Illinois Institute of technology, United States.

He

doctorate by VTU.

He is currently the member of parliament

Governance reforms including a Conference

from Karnatka.

on Administrative Reforms and Ethics in

a

product

of

Manipal

College

initiated

a

series

of

seminars

on

Governance which brought the Government Entrepreneur He is first and foremost a Venture Capitalist,

and industry together.

being an engineering graduate, he pioneered

proposal to the UN for control of the internet

a startup in college called Softtech. He then

through a 50 member inter-governmental

developed his own venture capitalist reform

body.

He is an outspoken critic of the recent

called Jupiter Capital which has more than $600m of investments in diverse fields such as media, infrastructure and aviation. In terms

Personal Life He was born

of investment in the relative investment

to Indian Air Force Officer, Air Commodore

scenario in the current venture capitalism

M.

scenario, Jupiter Capital stands out and is one

Chandrasekhar. He is married to Anju

of the poles in the industry. His own venture

Cha ndra sekhar,

which he founded in 1991 is called BPL

Group patriarch TPG Nambiar. They have a

Mobile, which was valued at $1.1billion in

son, Ved, and a daughter Devika.

2005.

K.

in

Ahmedabad,

Chandrasekhar

and

daughter

Gujarat,

Mrs. of

Valli B PL


- By Mohana Krishna Kummara

According to StoreDot’s CEO and

founder

Dr

Doron

Myersdorf, the fully functioning prototype that fits inside the phone for commercialization will be ready the second half of 2016 and by early 2017, it will be on the market.

Every person using a smartphone should

phone to give a demo on their new battery

have experienced how their phone’s battery

technology, Samsung Galaxy S4. Galaxy S4’s

have troubled them. In fact the biggest

battery was charged on 30 seconds—an

bottleneck the technology wasn’t able to solve

exceedingly brief time in a world dominated

till today is smartphone’s battery. Israel-based

by chargers that can take hours to replenish

start-up Storedot is saying that they can battery life. change this. No, they did not create another battery which will last for a week or so.

It uses the technology called super capacitor

Strictly speaking they are not at all working to

technology, it charges faster than any other

increase the battery life. They are working on

traditional Li-Ion battery (LiB) battery. This

the other side of the problem i.e. the charging

combination of fast charging and high power

time. The battery life of these batteries is

has paved the way for the new-generation

similar to old batteries but the changing time

FlashBattery.

i.e. the time taken by the battery to charge fully in drastically reduced. It just takes 30

Despite the technology's seeming promise, it

seconds now.

won't

be

available

anytime

soon..

The

company hopes to start producing consumer At Microsoft’s Think Next Conference in Tel

ready chargers in late 2016.

Aviv, StoreDot unveiled its battery charging

It's not clear when the devices might actually

prototype. StoreDot used a very popular

hit store shelves.


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