TERI University has appointed Prof. Bhavik R Bakshi, a preeminent scientist and proven campus leader as its Vice Chancellor, overseeing all academic and research enterprises at the university. Prof Bakshi has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and a Masters in Chemical Engineering Practice (MSCEP) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (B. Chem. Eng), Department of Chemical Technology University of Bombay.

Prior to joining TERI University, Prof. Bakshi was at the Ohio State University, in the US, as Professor of Chemical and Bio-molecular Engineering. He has also been Visiting Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai.

Prof. Bakshi has a distinguished record of teaching and research extending over two decades in India and the US. In addition, he also has over 100 peer reviewed publications and research papers to his credit in the areas of Sustainability Science and Engineering, Process Systems Engineering, Complex and Multiscale Systems, Industrial Ecology, and Applied Statistics and has been speaking regularly at international conferences. He has distinguished himself throughout his career with several accomplishments and a high level of professional recognition. He was conferred the NSF Faculty Early Career Enhancement Award (CAREER) in the year 1998.

Some of the major accomplishments of Prof Bakshi?s work include pioneering research in the areas of:

1. Multiscale data analysis and empirical modeling using wavelets, with applications to efficient process operation

2. Bayesian data analysis and modeling that helped in bridging the gap between the latest theoretical advances in statistics and practical methods for solving engineering problems

3. Ecologically and economically conscious decision making – combining methods from systems ecology and systems engineering via the common language of thermodynamics

4. Accounting for ecosystem services in industrial decision making

5. Life cycle evaluation of existing and emerging technologies ? applying to products such as transportation fuels and products from nanotechnology and green chemistry.

Welcoming this appointment, Dr RK Pachauri Chancellor TERI University and Director-General TERI, said ?I am delighted to welcome Professor Bakshi to this exciting position of leadership in our research-based institution of higher learning. He is a dynamic and forward thinking individual with a wealth of experience. His dedication and commitment to education and research on sustainability science at the national and international levels is a great asset to our University, taking it closer to realising our vision of a university of excellence for this entire region. Professor Bakshi’s return to India also demonstrates significantly that we can now attract talent back to India from the best institutions in the world.?

Jubilant board approves scheme of amalgamation and demerger

Noida

Jubilant Organosys Limited, (Jubilant Organosys) an integrated pharmaceutical industry player and the largest Custom Research and Manufacturing Services Company in India, today announced that the Board has approved the scheme of amalgamation and demerger. This is to enable focused growth and value realization across operating entities. The amalgamation is in the nature of merger of Speciality Molecules Limited (SML), a wholly owned subsidiary of Jubilant Organosys and Pace Marketing Specialities Limited (PMSL), an exclusive contract manufacturer for adhesives of Consumer Products Division of Jubilant Organosys. The demerger is of its Agri and Performance Polymer business (APP).

The demerged entity will be referred to as Jubilant Industries Ltd. (Jubilant Industries) where as the name of Jubilant Organosys Ltd. will be changed to Jubilant Life Sciences Ltd.

The scheme of arrangement will be filed with the Court for its approval which will be followed by listing of Jubilant Industries share on the BSE and NSE. 1 additional share of Rs. 10 each of Jubilant Industries will be issued for every 20 shares held in Jubilant Organosys of Re. 1 each.

Commenting on the development, Shyam S Bhartia, Chairman & Managing Director and Hari S Bhartia, Co-Chairman & Managing Director of Jubilant Organosys said:

?The merger of SML & PMSL will be a synergistic integration of business and will improve the managerial & operational efficiencies. In order to create a focused Life Science entity of Jubilant Organosys, our APP business is being demerged. This strategic move will enable us to pursue growth opportunities for both the businesses independently through two separate listed entities to create greater value for all our stakeholders.?

SML, acquired by Jubilant Organosys in June 2008, is engaged in the business of developing, manufacturing and selling primarily pyridine derivatives used in Pharma & Life Sciences, located in Ambernath (near Mumbai). Consequent to amalgamation, the shares held by Jubilant Organosys in SML will be cancelled and no fresh shares shall be issued by Jubilant Organosys.

PMSL is an exclusive contract manufacturer for adhesives of Consumer Product Division of Jubilant Organosys. In consideration of the amalgamation, 501,364 shares of Jubilant Organosys will be issued to the shareholders of PMSL. The share exchange ratio is based on the valuation by PWC and fairness opinion by Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Ltd.

The key objectives of the merger of SML and PMSL are as follows:

SML

* SML was acquired with the rationale of strengthening product portfolio of pyridine derivatives and customer relationships

* To increase managerial and operational efficiencies, synergistic integration of business and to further expand the capacity in order to meet the growing demands of the customers, the merger therefore is imperative.

PMSL

* Creating an asset base and securing conversion capacity

* Integrating operations to provide higher value addition

* No cash outlay for asset augmentation; only shares in Jubilant Organosys to be issued

The key objectives of the scheme of demerger of APP business are as follows:

* To further sharpen Jubilant Organosys as a Pharma and Life Sciences entity

* To create two independent listed and focused companies to pursue rapid growth opportunities

* To enable each business to independently pursue and efficiently realise its operating objectives

* Each company will be able to adopt a capital structure and investment policy more tailored to its specific needs, to enable greater stakeholder value recognition