Anindita Dey &Amp; Nevin John

Stories by Anindita Dey &Amp; Nevin John

Advance tax collections send early warning signals

Advance tax collections send early warning signals

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2008

Most private firms see lower pay-outs; govt banks save the day.

Newspaper fax edititions: Lowering FDI cap mulled

Newspaper fax edititions: Lowering FDI cap mulled

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2008

Ministry officials said the matter is being reviewed with the objective of bringing down the FDI cap from 100 per cent to 26 per cent in line with the limit for news media. This decision for the review was taken while discussing the proposal of US-based Dow Jones and Company for setting up a wholly-owned subsidiary to carry out publishing the facsimile edition of Wall Street Journal in India.

RBI cautions banks over realty loans

RBI cautions banks over realty loans

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2008

Asks lenders to make sure that end use of advances to commercial real estate.

CBDT to reopen cases on group investments

CBDT to reopen cases on group investments

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2008

Field formations may re-examine cases from 1997.

Reliance Retail to hasten expansion in six months

Reliance Retail to hasten expansion in six months

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2008

The retail arm of the Mukesh Ambani-led group had almost halted its expansion plans as a credit crunch roiled markets across the globe forcing companies to withhold new projects. The company also froze fresh recruitment.

R-Com to buy back FCCBs

R-Com to buy back FCCBs

Rediff.com   10 Dec 2008

To be the first firm to take advantage of new RBI ruling.

Rel to downsize staff in jet fuel division

Rel to downsize staff in jet fuel division

Rediff.com   4 Dec 2008

In the termination letters, RIL mentioned that the business has been impacted by the slowdown and the company was not in a position to continue with their employment. Employees who would resign will get one month's salary as compensation. When contacted, an RIL spokesperson declined to comment on the development.

Reserve Bank likely to lose financial independence

Reserve Bank likely to lose financial independence

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2008

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may be brought under the category of other regulators, who might have to park their funds with the government. Banking sources said the move would deal a final blow to the financial autonomy of regulatory bodies.

Power cos scout for Indonesian coal assets

Power cos scout for Indonesian coal assets

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2008

Leading power players Reliance Infrastructure and GMR Energy believe this will help ensure coal availability for their mega projects in the pipeline. "They have various proposals on their table, which are relatively cheaper when compared to the scene before the beginning of the financial crisis. However, the acquisitions will depend on the ability of the acquirers to raise funds as the banks have stopped lending at cheaper rates," said a source.

Aviation assets: Banks may get RBI succour

Aviation assets: Banks may get RBI succour

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2008

With banks apprehending large-scale defaults in the aviation sector, RBI is examining data from all lenders regarding their exposure to it. One of the options under consideration of the regulator is to extend the number of days for the banks to classify an asset as default.

Red tape may be cut for FIIs

Red tape may be cut for FIIs

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2008

Sebi likely to come out with a policy paper soon.

FCCB issuers may be given buyback option

FCCB issuers may be given buyback option

Rediff.com   15 Nov 2008

Promoters or issuers of foreign currency convertible bonds may be allowed to buy back the bonds if they go in for prepayment.

Mittal kin's Bulgarian steel unit faces closure

Mittal kin's Bulgarian steel unit faces closure

Rediff.com   5 Nov 2008

The steel plant will be closed down in 25 days unless an investor takes it over, operative executive director of the Bulgarian metallurgic enterprise Plamen Stoyanov told the Bulgarian media. Bulgaria's biggest steel plant has already shut down some of its production facilities, including two of its blast furnaces, and plans to stop operations completely by the end of this month.

RIL shuts five polyester units

RIL shuts five polyester units

Rediff.com   5 Nov 2008

The move, which comes in the backdrop of a global slowdown, aims to improve profit margin amid falling demand for polyester products worldwide. "The company has shut down plants for manufacturing polyester filament yarn, polyester staple fibre, paraxylene, purified terephthalic acid and linear alkyl benzene. However, it is yet to close down the second units of PSF and PFY," sources said.

Convertible debentures: Interest paid to be taxed

Convertible debentures: Interest paid to be taxed

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2008

While ECBs are pure loans, FCCBs have an in-built option for the lender to convert them into equity of the companies on maturity. Both in ECB and FCCB, till maturity, the borrower is expected to make interest payments on the amount borrowed. Incidentally, the AAR ruling of October 10 had been sought by a non-banking finance company. Till October 31, NBFCs were not allowed to borrow funds from overseas in foreign currency.

Anil Ambani plans to increase stake in R-Infra

Anil Ambani plans to increase stake in R-Infra

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2008

The promoter group companies controlled by Anil Ambani are expected to buy R-Infra shares from the open market. "The promoters want to control the majority stake in the company to ward off any hostile attack, when corporate rivalry heightens in the country. As the share price of R-Infra is cheaper around Rs 400, the promoters feel that the purchase of shares from the open market would be profitable, boosting the confidence of the shareholders in turn," said sources.

ECB, FDI norms may be eased

ECB, FDI norms may be eased

Rediff.com   22 Oct 2008

ECBs may be allowed to put loans upto $ 500 million for rupee expenditure by Indian infrastructure companies under the automatic approval route. At present, such loans need RBI approval. The government may also raise the limit for dollar borrowings for rupee expenditure, which would need RBI approval. So, if a company is borrowing say $ 750 million, it can immediately access foreign funds up to $500 million without prior permission, but will need approval for the rest.

RBI keeps keen eye on banks' overseas deals

RBI keeps keen eye on banks' overseas deals

Rediff.com   20 Oct 2008

The screening of data is more intense in the case of foreign and some private banks which act as custodians for foreign institutional investors, according to sources close to the development. Indian banks, both public and private, send capital to their foreign offices for everyday requirements in the inter-bank market and for client commitments.

Govt may raise bank exposure limits to equity

Govt may raise bank exposure limits to equity

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2008

The government has sought data from the Reserve Bank of India to consider a proposal to enhance the investment limit for bank exposure to equity markets. This will be part of several measures to boost domestic institutional participation in the markets at a time when foreign institutional investors are exiting.

Bloggers trashing your company? Here's help

Bloggers trashing your company? Here's help

Rediff.com   3 Oct 2008

Apart from the embarrassment, these "crazy blogs" - as companies term them - force India Inc to spend crores of rupees to repair the damage.