Ranbaxy's investment in the six-year-old joint venture for the 50 per cent stake is estimated at Rs 30.5 crore (Rs 305 million). Industry sources said the deal was unlikely to impact Ranbaxy's financials as revenues and investment in the joint venture was not significant. Sources said revenues from NPI were only $25 million in 2007 through the sale of four generic products.
According to a decision taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, the Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices will consider the above elements while recommending the MSP. The CACP, an advisory body under the agriculture ministry, recommends MSPs of over 20 crops, including wheat and rice.
TCL wants to raise around Rs 10 billion through a rights issue, sources familiar with the developments said. This means the government will have to invest Rs 2.6 billion to retain its stake in the company, in case it approves the issue. The company needs to raise fresh equity for any fresh borrowing, as it has already reached the maximum limit of debt vis-a-vis its net worth, as stipulated under the shareholder agreement.
The Mumbai police, along with a group of enthusiastic citizens including Mumbai Sheriff Indu Shani, combed commercial complexes, malls, office buildings and residential premises in south and south-central Mumbai to identify and get rid of unsecured Wi-Fi connections in the city, following terrorist attacks last year.Terror mails were sent via unsecured Wi-Fi connections before the Delhi and Ahmedabad serial blasts also.
Anil Ambani-promoted Reliance Power is likely to announce the financial closure of its 3,960-Mw Sasan ultra mega power project (UMPP) in a few weeks.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy said on Sunday public projects being implemented by Maytas Infra in the state, individually or as part of consortia, were being closely reviewed. Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy said on Sunday. The total value of the projects awarded to Maytas and its joint venture partners amounts to Rs 3,800 crore (Rs 38 billion).
According to industry leaders, the ongoing strike is also going to dampen production and also hit the timely delivery of goods to the customers. The transporters are mainly demanding that diesel prices be reduced by at least Rs 10 per litre, a uniform VAT of 4 per cent on the fuel, withdrawal of service tax on truck operators and rationalisation of tyre prices.
The government has given clear instructions to the state governments to take necessary steps to ensure smooth transportation of essential commodities. "If the situation demands, the law of the land will prevail. The law of the land says the permit of truck operators could be revoked if the situation demands. The government is committed to provide full support to the state governments," said Brahm Dutt, secretary, ministry of road transport and highways.
With the stock markets yet to recover and banks lowering fixed deposit rates, companies accessing public deposits are seeing investors parking funds.
A majority of Indian CEOs do not expect economic prospects to improve in 2009 and feel growth is constrained by the liquidity crunch, negative sentiment and demand recession in the economy.
The government is expected to announce the second stimulus package in the next three days.
Permitting realty firms to tap ECBs, relaxing borrowing norms for non-banking finance companies, increasing the ECB limit 50 per cent to $750 million under the automatic route (that is, without central bank permission) and raising the price ceiling at which overseas loans can be raised are among proposals the committee is considering. For realty, the committee may relax norms only for integrated township projects, said a top finance ministry official.
The decisions come within 24 hours of the home loan package offered by public sector banks. Chennai-based Indian Bank reduced interest rates of domestic term deposits of Rs 1-5 crore (Rs 10-50 million) by 150-25 basis points across various maturities.
In addition to that, an increasing number of airlines like SpiceJet, national carrier Air India and GoAir are either getting into hedging of aviation turbine fuel or increasing the quantum of ATF hedged on the MCX. Last month, state-run Indian Oil Corporation approached MCX to provide it with a platform to hedge its refinery margins and end products from crude oil.
The government on Sunday announced a package of Rs 1,400 crore (Rs 14 billion) under the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme and 2 per cent interest subsidy up to March 31 next year. But the textile industry had demanded 4 per cent interest subsidy along with reintroduction of the duty drawback scheme.
The infrastructure sector, however, felt the package was insufficient and wanted additional measures. "The government's package is inadequate. We expected at least $20 billion relief package, giving emphasis to the infrastructure sector.
Investors, at a recent property exhibition concluded by magicbricks.com, were seen selling flats at 30 per cent discount to the market rate compared with the builders' offer of 15-20 per cent, according to reports. Investors normally comprise about 30 per cent of the property markets.
Roche expects to start selling Actemra by April 2009, company sources said. India will be the second country to launch the drug, Japan being the first. The Indian drug regulator Drug Controller General of India usually approves a new drug marketing application based on safety and efficacy data cleared by regulators in the US, EU and other developed countries.
The Mumbai terror attacks have once again put Indian IT and business process outsourcing firms on high alert. Over the next four to five weeks, many of these firms plan to meet or video-conference with their clients to update them of the country's security scenario.
The government is likely to announce early next week a series of measures to boost economic activity in the country.