Assignment

on
Public Speaking on News Articles

Course Name: Business English and Communication

Course Code: F-101

Submitted to:
Md. Saimum Hossain, CFA
Assistant Professor
Department of Finance
Faculty of Business Studies (FBS)
University of Dhaka

Submitted by:
Ashraful Islam Showrov
Roll No: 25-074(Section: C)
Department of Finance
Faculty of Business Studies (FBS)
University of Dhaka

Date of Submission: April 11, 2019

 News Articles Summary
1. The Daily Star- “Transcom brings Tropicana Frutz”

PepsiCo has brought in Tropicana Frutz- a product of the world”s number one packaged juice brand- for
the Bangladesh market as part of effort to widen its presence in the beverage category. Tropicana is
known for offering high quality, refreshing juices and fruit beverages which was launched last
week and it will be made and distributed nationwide Transcom Beverages Ltd.
2.The Daily Sun-“ NBR to continue support for local industries in next budget”
The National Board of Revenue will continue its support for local industries in the next budget to
encourage investment in private sector. In the upcoming budget focus will be made on social
development, safety net, poverty reduction, boosting of GDP and genertion of employment. NBR
also plans to adopt a business friendly fiscal policy in the next budget so that the business people
can submit their tax returns in aproper way.
3.The Financial Express- “Rise of food prices pushes up inflation”
The general inflation marked a 0.08 percent point rise in March of the current calendar year due
to price hike of different food items. Food inflation increased to 5.72 percent in March from 5.44
percent in February. But non-food inflation declined to 5.29 percent in March which was 5.51
percent in February.
4.Bloomberg-“ Uber Seeks About $10 Billion in Year’s Biggest IPO”
Uber Technologies Inc gears up to publicly file for an iniyial public offering. The company will
kick-off a road show to market shares to potential investors this month and would begin trading
publicly in May. Uber is seek to raise about $10 billion. The offering is expected to be largest US
IPO this year among the 10 largest of all time.
5.Reuters- “Exclusive: U.S. bill to boost electric car tax credits could rev GM, Tesla”
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation on Wednesday to expand the electric vehicle
tax credit by 400,000 vehicles per manufacturer, a provision that would give a boost to Tesla Inc and
General Motors Co before the existing credit comes to an end for them. The bill could lift electric vehicle
sales in a boost for automakers that have committed tens of billions of dollars toward meeting global
emissions requirements.

6. The New York Times- “New bill to legalize marijuana nationwide sparks major
investment opportunities”
As support for marijuana legislation grows across the United States, the canabis industry is on the burge
of a huge boom. 33 states have already legalized medical marjuana and many others will be voting on it in
the next few months. As states contonue to legalize cannabis, major alcohol and tobacco companies have
started investing in marijuana startups.
 The Daily Star
Transcom brings Tropicana Frutz
PepsiCo has brought in Tropicana Frutz—a product of the world's number one packaged juice brand—for
the Bangladesh market as part of efforts to widen its presence in the beverage category.Tropicana is
known for offering high quality, refreshing juices and fruit beverages, the company said in a statement
yesterday. Tropicana Frutz, which was launched last week, will be made and distributed nationwide by
Transcom Beverages Ltd, PepsiCo's exclusive bottling partner in Bangladesh.
The beverage will be available in mango, orange and apple flavours, according to the
statement. Tropicana Frutz Mango offers an indulgent mango experience made from ashina mangoes
grown by farmers in Bangladesh.Tropicana Frutz Apple gives the taste buds the perfect burst of apple,
while Tropicana Frutz Orange with orange pulp offers a unique sensory experience in every sip, the
company said.
“Bangladesh is a very important market for us, and we are delighted to introduce the world's no. 1
packaged juice brand Tropicana here,” Debasish Deb, country manager of PepsiCo Bangladesh, said at its
launch.He said Tropicana Frutz has been launched specifically keeping in mind the taste preferences and
demand from Bangladeshi consumers.“Our Tropicana fruit beverages are loved worldwide, and we hope
that the refreshing range of Tropicana Frutz will be the perfect fit for consumers seeking everyday
refreshment in a convenient on-the-go format.”
Tropicana Frutz Mango is priced at Tk 25 for 250ml and Tk 35 for 350ml, while Tropicana Frutz Orange
and Apple are both available at Tk 40 for 350ml.“Tropicana Frutz is a great addition to PepsiCo's diverse
portfolio in Bangladesh, as we look to widen our presence in the beverage category,” said Vishal Kaul,
vice president for beverage category at PepsiCo.“As we delved into taste preferences of our consumers in
Bangladesh, we explored their love for fruit-based blends. Introducing juice drinks with the fruit expertise
of a premium brand like Tropicana is, therefore, a natural direction for us.”Khurshid Irfan Chowdhury,
managing director and CEO of Transcom Beverages, said, “Our partnership with PepsiCo has brought
iconic global brands like 7UP, Pepsi, Mirinda, Aquafina and Mountain Dew, that have all captured the
hearts of our consumers in Bangladesh.
“We are delighted to bring the international brand experience of Tropicana to our consumers.”“At the
same time, we are proud to be sourcing the best of our country's own popular ashina mango pulp for
making the perfect tasting mango fruit drink,” he said.Chowdhury said the move to launch a premium
brand like Tropicana is part of a strategic roadmap for expanding “our liquid refreshment portfolio with
relevant offerings”.Transcom Beverages Ltd is the sole franchisee of globally renowned PepsiCo in
Bangladesh.
 The Daily Sun
NBR to continue support for local industries in next budget
Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said on
Thursday that the NBR will continue its support for local industries in the next budget to encourage
investment in private sector.“The upcoming budget will be a people-friendly one and the NBR will
continue its support for local industries to encourage entrepreneurs to increase their investments in the
country,” said the NBR chairman while speaking at a pre-budget discussion with the leaders of
Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) at Bangabandhu Conference Hall of the World
Trade Center here.

In the upcoming budget, he said focus will be made on social development, safety net, poverty reduction,
boosting of GDP and generation of employment.
NBR also plans to adopt a business-friendly fiscal policy in the next budget so that the businesspeople can
submit their tax returns in a proper way, the NBR chairman added.
Mosharraf Bhuiyan said the government has been giving tax exemption facilities at different rates on the
import of capital machineries for last one decade to boost investment in the country.
He said human resource development will get priority in the next budget like the previous year’s followed
by education, health and water supply.
During the meeting CCCI President Mahbubul Alam placed 148 proposals especially on Bond and VAT,
44 proposals on taxes which include raising of tax-free individual tax limit to Tk 3.5 lakh in the budget
for fiscal year 2019-20.Mahbubul Alam presided over the discussion while NBR members Feroz Shah
Alam, Kanon Kumar Roy and Sayed Golam Kibria, Vice President of CCCI Nur Newas Selim, among
others, took part in the discussion.

The Finamcial Express

Rise of food prices pushes up inflation
The general inflation marked a 0.08 percentage point rise in March of the current calendar year due to
price hike of different food items.
The inflation rate went up to 5.55 per cent in March 2019, which was 5.47 per cent in the previous month,
says a report on UNB agency.
Planning Minister MA Mannan revealed this to reporters on Tuesday while releasing the monthly
consumer price index at his office in the city's Sher-e Bangla Nagar.
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data show that food inflation increased to 5.72 per cent in March
from 5.44 per cent in February.
But the non-food inflation rate declined to 5.29 per cent in March, which was 5.51 per cent in February.
The prices of fish, meat, vegetables, edible oil, fruits and other food items increased in March, the BBS
data show.
 The Reuters
U.S. bill to boost electric car tax credits could rev GM, Tesla
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation on Wednesday to expand the electric vehicle
tax credit by 400,000 vehicles per manufacturer, a provision that would give a boost to Tesla Inc and
General Motors Co before the existing credit comes to an end for them.The bill is sponsored by
Democratic Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, Republican Senators Lamar Alexander and
Susan Collins and Democratic Representative Dan Kildee.
The bill could lift electric vehicle sales in a boost for automakers that have committed tens of billions of
dollars toward meeting global emissions requirements.GM and Tesla shares rose on Reuters report that
the bill would be introduced. Tesla shares recently traded up nearly 1 percent, while GM was up 0.2
percent.
Supporters hope to attach the proposal to tax legislation that could be considered in the next few
months.The existing $7,500 EV tax credit, which allows taxpayers to deduct part of the cost of buying an
electric car, phases out over 15 months once an automaker hits 200,000 cumulative EV sales. GM saw its
tax credit cut to $3,750 on April 1. Tesla's tax credit fell to $3,750 on Jan. 1 and will end entirely at year's
end.
The bill dubbed the "Driving America Forward Act" would grant each automaker a $7,000 tax credit for
an additional 400,000 vehicles on top of the existing 200,000 vehicles eligible for $7,500 tax credits. It
would shorten the phase-out schedule to nine months.
The bill would also extend the hydrogen fuel cell credit through 2028. The bill is estimated to cost $11.4
billion, with all but $91 million of that tally to extend the EV tax credit. "We have a cap that's got to go
up," Stabenow told a group of automakers at a dinner last week. "I want to get this done as soon as
possible."
The proposal has strong backing from automakers, environmental groups and others, but will face
opposition. Last month, the White House proposed immediately eliminating the $7,500 tax credit, a move
it said would save the U.S. government $2.5 billion over a decade.
Senator John Barrasso, a Republican who chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee, in
February proposed legislation to end the credit and impose a highway user fee on EVs to pay for road
repairs.The bill is backed by major automakers including GM, Tesla, Toyota Motor Corp, Ford Motor Co,
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, Honda Motor Co, BMW AG, Nissan Motor Co, Volkswagen AG and
utilities.GM President Mark Reuss said in a statement "the EV tax credit provides customers with a
proven incentive as we work to establish the U.S. as a leader in electrification."
Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, said "as we build and grow the clean energy
economy, we must continue to invest in tackling the sector that generates the most pollution:
transportation."Both GM and Tesla have been lobbying Congress for more than a year to extend or
expand the EV tax credit.
GM’s credit drops to $1,875 in October and will completely disappear by April 2020, while Tesla’s credit
falls to $1,875 in July and expires at the end of the year.
 The Bloomberg
Uber Seeks About $10 Billion in Year’s Biggest IPO
Investors could get their first look at hundreds of pages of detailed information about Uber Technologies
Inc. as soon as Thursday, as the ride-hailing giant gears up to publicly file for an initial public offering.

The global ride-hailing company will kick off a road show to market shares to potential investors this
month and would begin trading publicly in May, said people familiar with the matter, who asked not to
be identified because the information is private. Uber is seeking to raise about $10 billion, one of the
people said.

Uber Could Be Valued at $120 Billion in Year's Biggest IPOHow Uber’s road to the public market has not
been without some speed bumps.The offering is expected to be the largest U.S. IPO this year and among
the 10 largest of all time.

While Uber has released partial financial results for years, its IPO filing with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission will provide the first complete look at its numbers and operations. Prospective
investors are hungry for the minutiae, and they’re now armed with ride-hailing rival Lyft Inc.’s March
listing as a reference point for picking apart Uber’s business and value.

“The main thing is going to be the ride-sharing metrics versus Lyft,” said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan
Ives. “I think in the view of many investors Lyft is the little brother to Uber.”

Uber said in February that it generated $50 billion in gross bookings last year, up about 45 percent from
2017. But the figures show slowing growth. Of the $11.4 billion of net revenue in 2018, only $3 billion
came in the last three months of the year, up only 2 percent from the previous quarter. While that
number gave the San Francisco-based company a year-over-year quarterly growth rate of 25 percent --
high by most standards -- it fell well short of the 38 percent rate for the third quarter.

Shares of SoftBank Group Corp., a leading Uber shareholder, reversed losses and gained as much as 1.9
percent in Tokyo trading on Wednesday.