Latest news with #Sampath
Canada News.Net
5 days ago
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
ECO FAWN CEO raises voice at 59th UNHRC against Pahalgam terror attack, urges global solidarity
Geneva [Switzerland], June 24 (ANI): In a video intervention at the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Mettu Sai Sampath, Chief Executive Officer of ECO FAWN Society, brought global attention to the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, that occurred on 22 April 2025. Speaking under the agenda item 'Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on International Solidarity,' Sampath called for urgent international condemnation and cooperative action against cross-border terrorism that violates the very essence of peace, dignity, and human rights. According to the press release of ECO FAWN Society, Sampath emphasised that the Pahalgam massacre, in which 26 innocent Indian civilians--all male tourists, including workers and small business owners--were brutally killed, was not an act of war or an isolated conflict. He stressed that it was a deliberate act of terror against peaceful civilians, perpetrated in a region internationally known for its ecological beauty and sustainable tourism. 'This was not a conflict-related encounter. These were civilians targeted deliberately during a peaceful excursion. The right to life, freedom of movement, and human dignity were attacked in the most barbaric manner. The victims were not combatants; they were ordinary citizens exercising their right to travel and coexist in peace,' Sampath stated in his address. The press release stated that ECO FAWN Society, a recognised voice in environmental and human rights advocacy, used the platform of the UNHRC not only to mourn the loss but also to urge the international community to act with resolve. Sampath called upon the Council to recognise the Pahalgam attack as a gross violation of international solidarity and human rights; unequivocally condemn all forms of terrorism, especially those targeting innocent civilians; encourage global cooperation in identifying and bringing to justice the perpetrators and their supporters; and strengthen solidarity with States combating terrorism, while ensuring full compliance with human rights norms. Sampath warned that terrorism thrives when the global conscience remains silent and that genuine solidarity must extend beyond rhetoric into meaningful international collaboration. 'Let our solidarity be meaningful, just, and unwavering,' he concluded. (ANI)
CNET
6 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Verizon Is Enlisting Google's AI to Resolve Support Calls on the First Try
Verizon's cryptic Project 624 flew under the radar until this week, when the carrier announced a new customer service program built on Google Gemini AI technology that's intended to resolve issues on first contact. If it works as intended, subscribers should be able to avoid the time-sucking support slog that is often a hallmark of modern troubleshooting. Sowmyanarayan Sampath, CEO of Verizon's consumer group, laid out changes to the customer experience that went live Tuesday, which include a team dedicated to satisfying customers in their first call (called the Customer Champion team) and improvements to the My Verizon app that leverage Google Gemini AI technology. There's also expanded live customer agent hours and 24/7 live chat and a larger footprint of physical Verizon stores. The company will also offer more perks and giveaways. In an open letter laying out the carrier's new customer service initiative, the consumer group CEO also included a direct email address, for customers to contact him. 5% [of customers with issues] go into a doom loop, and they are the most dissatisfied. It's a very rough journey for them. We see it, and it's not fair on them. Sowmyanarayan Sampath, Verizon consumer group CEO But before we get into the specifics of what's new, I wondered if the announcements were a direct reaction to the most recent quarter in which the company lost nearly 300,000 customers in the first quarter of 2025. Is the carrier boosting customer service to win back more subscribers? "That's a very fair question," Sampath said. "The answer is quite straight: Every first quarter we lose customers, that's the seasonality of the business. So this has nothing to do with our first quarter of business. This has to do with the two, three year transformation that we are in the middle of." He explained that improving customer experience is the next step after his prior efforts to revamp Verizon's sales infrastructure and price plans. Verizon may be the first carrier to get AI in its customer service platforms, but it's not the only one thinking of including it. Last September, T-Mobile announced that it was partnering with OpenAI to include a new artificial intelligence offering to help customers, which would launch sometime in 2025. Whether Verizon's system will get a leg up depends on what it's got in store for helping subscribers get their essential questions answered. Harnessing AI to create Customer Champions Customer service for any industry is difficult, but that's compounded for large mobile players like Verizon that provide connectivity for millions of customers across large swathes of area and technological hardware. And because phones have gained outsized importance in our lives, having something go wrong with one's link to the outside world can ratchet up frustration. "I get a lot of emails from customers every day, and they're not pretty," said Sampath. He estimates that 80% of the time, customers get their issue resolved on the first call. About 15% have to call again, maybe twice. "The last 5% go into a doom loop, and they are the most dissatisfied. It's a very rough journey for them. We see it, and it's not fair on them." To try to avoid that loop, Verizon is launching its so-called Customer Champion team that uses Verizon-customized Google Gemini 2.0 models to process calls, identify solutions and keep the customer updated throughout the resolution process. It's an approach inherited from systems Verizon has been using for its enterprise customers. "We've been doing that for a few months now in pilot [programs], and 90% of the time we solve issues the first time around," he said. As the program proceeds, he hopes to get that number up to 95 or 96%. A new version of the My Verizon app includes AI-based support improvements. Verizon Google Gemini is also an important part of an update to the My Verizon app. The AI-powered Verizon Assistant has been built with input from Google engineers and embedded with Verizon-specific context. As a practical example, the technology can enable Verizon to deal with problems proactively. "If your phone is lost in transit, I know it because FedEx told me it didn't get delivered," he said. "Why do I need you to call me and let me know your phone got lost?" In such a case, Verizon uses AI to identify the problem, automatically open a case and get back to the customer with a plan to resolve it. Sampath explained that Verizon essentially creates a small language model for each case, and compared that to the large language models (LLMs) that have more visibility in the industry right now. The small, bespoke models don't have general knowledge around life. "I don't need to know what the Romans did," he said. "I need to know why my bill went up. And we go ahead and do exactly that." LLMs, however, are not always known for their accuracy. Sampath said that a year and a half ago they were seeing a 30%-40% error rate, but that has now improved to "well north of 90% accuracy. And when it's inaccurate, it's only mildly inaccurate because of the way we do it. We don't get crazy answers on [it]." Expanding live customer support and store footprint With this surge in using AI to handle customer issues, I naturally wanted to know if that would negatively affect Verizon staffing. If Verizon's Gemini model can deal with most requests, does that take humans out of the loop and off the payroll? "We've used AI to basically take cognitive workload off our employees so that they can focus their bandwidth and headspace on listening to customers better," Sampath said. "That's the right way for us to go. Look, if I need to take out costs, there are simpler ways for me to do it. I don't need to deploy AI and all the complexity that goes with it. And for us, AI is all about problem solving." As part of this new customer support initiative, Verizon is expanding its live support options in several ways. Representatives will be available from 9 a.m. until midnight (local times) via phone calls, expanded from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., and during the rest of the clock via live chat. "[Stuff] happens when you least expect it, and I don't want you to have to wait until the morning, because things can change," he said. Verizon store in New York Richard Levine The network of physical Verizon stores also plays a part, because "we want to be in your community," Sampath said. He noted that Verizon is recommitting to the retail experience, having added around 400 new stores in the last couple years and plans to keep expanding the company's brick-and-mortar footprint. Verizon Access rewards platform In today's mobile provider environment, perks have become powerful incentives, with carriers offering extras from conventional add-ons like streaming services and in-flight Wi-Fi to the assortment of giveaways in T-Mobile Tuesdays. On this front, Sampath made a point of differentiating Verizon's offerings from the competition. "Look, we don't give you $3 off your Little Caesars Pizza… you don't get a large popcorn versus a medium popcorn. I'm sure there's good value in that," he said. "We give you bucket-list things you can do," citing examples such as tickets to NFL games, Katy Perry and Beyoncé concerts. Starting today through June 30, Verizon is giving away 35,000 free prizes in drops from its Verizon Access program, "anything from tickets to devices and a bunch of other things to keep our loyalty going."
Mint
20-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Kaynes Technology shares surge 4% as QIP launch aims to raise ₹1,600 crore
Shares of Kaynes Technology rose 4 percent in intra-day trading on Friday, June 20, following the launch of its Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) issue to raise up to ₹ 1,600 crore. The semiconductor and electronics systems design and manufacturing company opened its QIP on Thursday, setting a floor price of ₹ 5,625.75 per share, a marginal 0.3 percent premium over Thursday's closing price. The fundraising is being managed by Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors, Nomura, and Axis Capital. Kaynes Technology India has projected revenue of ₹ 4,525 crore for FY26, with EBITDA margins expected to improve by 50 basis points to reach 15.6 percent. The company's confidence is backed by a strong order book and expansion into new business areas. Jairam Sampath, Whole-Time Director and CFO, underlined the export growth opportunity. 'We will have some US major company orders getting executed. We will start doing additionally about ₹ 200–300 crore of exports. These are US- and Europe-based companies in both aerospace and automotive segments,' Sampath said. Adding to its global footprint, Kaynes' subsidiary, Kaynes Semicon Pvt Ltd, recently signed an asset purchase agreement with Japan's Fujitsu General Electronics Ltd. The deal, valued at 1.59 billion Japanese yen, includes the acquisition of production lines for power modules, further solidifying the company's expansion into semiconductor manufacturing. Despite Kaynes' bullish outlook, brokerage CLSA issued a cautionary note last month. While it raised its price target to ₹ 6,230 from ₹ 5,400, it downgraded the stock to 'Hold' from 'Outperform'. The rating adjustment followed the company's strong Q4 results, marked by improved margins, though the growth figures came in slightly below CLSA's expectations. CLSA pointed to increased working capital requirements as a drag on operating cash flow (OCF), though it anticipates this issue will normalise in the coming quarters. The brokerage also noted Kaynes' strategic focus on emerging segments such as Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) services and bare board manufacturing, which are expected to contribute meaningfully to revenues from the end of FY26. While CLSA acknowledged the timely execution of these projects could act as catalysts for stock performance, it flagged that the recent sharp rise in stock price warranted some caution, hence the downgrade. On Friday, Kaynes Technology's stock climbed as much as 3.9 percent to ₹ 5,825.50. The stock remains over 25 percent below its 52-week high of ₹ 7,824.95, touched in January 2025, and well above its 52-week low of ₹ 3,729.70, seen in July 2024. Over the last one year, the stock has advanced more than 45 percent. However, it has lost 5 percent in June so far, following three consecutive months of gains—up 4 percent in May, 21 percent in April, and 14.5 percent in March. Before that, it saw a 13.5 percent decline in February and a steep 35 percent correction in January.
Mint
20-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Kaynes Technology shares surge 4% as QIP launch aims to raise ₹1,600 crore
Shares of Kaynes Technology rose 4 percent in intra-day trading on Friday, June 20, following the launch of its Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) issue to raise up to ₹ 1,600 crore. The semiconductor and electronics systems design and manufacturing company opened its QIP on Thursday, setting a floor price of ₹ 5,625.75 per share, a marginal 0.3 percent premium over Thursday's closing price. The fundraising is being managed by Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors, Nomura, and Axis Capital. Kaynes Technology India has projected revenue of ₹ 4,525 crore for FY26, with EBITDA margins expected to improve by 50 basis points to reach 15.6 percent. The company's confidence is backed by a strong order book and expansion into new business areas. Jairam Sampath, Whole-Time Director and CFO, underlined the export growth opportunity. 'We will have some US major company orders getting executed. We will start doing additionally about ₹ 200–300 crore of exports. These are US- and Europe-based companies in both aerospace and automotive segments,' Sampath said. Adding to its global footprint, Kaynes' subsidiary, Kaynes Semicon Pvt Ltd, recently signed an asset purchase agreement with Japan's Fujitsu General Electronics Ltd. The deal, valued at 1.59 billion Japanese yen, includes the acquisition of production lines for power modules, further solidifying the company's expansion into semiconductor manufacturing. Despite Kaynes' bullish outlook, brokerage CLSA issued a cautionary note last month. While it raised its price target to ₹ 6,230 from ₹ 5,400, it downgraded the stock to 'Hold' from 'Outperform'. The rating adjustment followed the company's strong Q4 results, marked by improved margins, though the growth figures came in slightly below CLSA's expectations. CLSA pointed to increased working capital requirements as a drag on operating cash flow (OCF), though it anticipates this issue will normalise in the coming quarters. The brokerage also noted Kaynes' strategic focus on emerging segments such as Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) services and bare board manufacturing, which are expected to contribute meaningfully to revenues from the end of FY26. While CLSA acknowledged the timely execution of these projects could act as catalysts for stock performance, it flagged that the recent sharp rise in stock price warranted some caution, hence the downgrade. On Friday, Kaynes Technology's stock climbed as much as 3.9 percent to ₹ 5,825.50. The stock remains over 25 percent below its 52-week high of ₹ 7,824.95, touched in January 2025, and well above its 52-week low of ₹ 3,729.70, seen in July 2024. Over the last one year, the stock has advanced more than 45 percent. However, it has lost 5 percent in June so far, following three consecutive months of gains—up 4 percent in May, 21 percent in April, and 14.5 percent in March. Before that, it saw a 13.5 percent decline in February and a steep 35 percent correction in January. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Revealing Analyst Questions From Verizon's Q1 Earnings Call
Verizon's first quarter results met Wall Street's revenue expectations, with adjusted earnings per share exceeding consensus estimates. Management attributed this performance to the success of recent pricing actions, ongoing broadband growth, and disciplined cost control across the business. CEO Hans Vestberg highlighted the company's portfolio of targeted customer offerings, including myPlan and myHome, and noted positive momentum in gross additions toward the end of the quarter. The prepaid segment, in particular, achieved its best results since the TracFone acquisition, driven by revamped value propositions and expanded distribution. While higher churn was acknowledged—primarily among cohorts impacted by recent price increases—management described this as transitory and linked to specific pricing adjustments made earlier in the year. Is now the time to buy VZ? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $33.49 billion vs analyst estimates of $33.33 billion (1.5% year-on-year growth, in line) Adjusted EPS: $1.19 vs analyst estimates of $1.15 (3.6% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $12.56 billion vs analyst estimates of $12.34 billion (37.5% margin, 1.7% beat) Operating Margin: 23.8%, up from 22.8% in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $176.5 billion While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. John Hodulik (UBS) asked about the impact of tariffs on equipment and handsets. CEO Hans Vestberg explained that tariff exposure is limited on capital spending, and any significant handset tariff increases would likely be passed to consumers rather than absorbed by Verizon. Ben Swinburne (Morgan Stanley) questioned whether the improvement in gross additions was due to specific promotions or market share gains. Sowmyanarayan Sampath, Consumer Group CEO, attributed the momentum to the Verizon Value Guarantee offer, noting double-digit growth in April gross adds. Jim Schneider (Goldman Sachs) inquired about changes in consumer behavior and the sustainability of business margins. Sampath reported continued demand for premium plans, while CFO Tony Skiadas highlighted structural cost improvements and stable payment trends. Michael Rollins (Citi) asked about postpaid phone industry growth and the impact of immigration policy. Sampath stated that Verizon is performing well even as much of market growth is driven by prepaid-to-postpaid migration, a segment where Verizon participates primarily through partners. Peter Supino (Wolfe Research) asked how the company's multi-year fixed wireless access expansion could pressure capital expenditures. Vestberg responded that the rollout is incorporated into existing plans and should not create additional pressure through 2028. Looking ahead, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) adoption and retention trends following the rollout of the three-year price lock and free phone guarantee; (2) progress on the integration and broadband expansion linked to the pending Frontier acquisition; and (3) continued improvements in prepaid and converged customer segments. Execution on operational efficiency and network investments will also play a critical role in shaping future performance. Verizon currently trades at $41.94, down from $42.93 just before the earnings. Is the company at an inflection point that warrants a buy or sell? See for yourself in our full research report (it's free). Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
