Dev Chatterjee, Abhijit Lele

Stories by Dev Chatterjee, Abhijit Lele

With SC's strict order, is it all over for Voda-Idea?

With SC's strict order, is it all over for Voda-Idea?

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2020

Vodafone Idea's net worth (or shareholders' equity) was down 73 per cent year-on-year to around Rs 17,600 crore at the end of the December 2019 quarter after the company reported a net loss of around Rs 6,400 crore during the quarter. Cumulatively, the company has lost nearly Rs 45,000 crore in the last four quarters, eroding its net worth to its lowest level in three-year. Analysts said a such a low level of net worth, coupled with continuing losses in operations, ruled out the possibility of the company getting fresh loans from lenders to fund its adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues of Rs 54,000 crore.

For LIC, road to bourses won't be easy

For LIC, road to bourses won't be easy

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2020

Amendment to the Act, sovereign guarantees, investment portfolio, realty holdings, and governance issues to shape valuation.

Corporate tax growth of 12% for FY21 'unrealistic'

Corporate tax growth of 12% for FY21 'unrealistic'

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2020

The increased tax target comes at a time when consumer spending and sales growth are slowing down and most companies are not investing in new capacities.

The little-known company that's buying up distressed telcos

The little-known company that's buying up distressed telcos

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2020

UV Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd has made the highest bid of Rs 16,000 crore to buy Anil Ambani group's Reliance Communications and Reliance Telecom, which are in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Last year it was the highest bidder for taking over Aircel's assets for an upfront payment of Rs 150 crore. Surajeet Das Gupta and Dev Chatterjee dig deeper to find out more about this little known company.

Bad debts: Banks may have to make provision for Rs 2.2 trn

Bad debts: Banks may have to make provision for Rs 2.2 trn

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2020

Bankers said they are looking outside the bankruptcy courts and will be able to resolve a few debts in the power sector before January-end.

Globalisation is making way for 'slowbalisation': Birla

Globalisation is making way for 'slowbalisation': Birla

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2020

'While the march of globalisation is perhaps inevitable, what is certain is that the world is no longer flat as, the emerging pattern of trade is more regional. 'This new trend of 'slowbalisation' raises some questions that challenge conventional wisdom on how businesses should distribute their capacities,' Birla said.

Airtel launches $2-bn share sale to pay AGR dues

Airtel launches $2-bn share sale to pay AGR dues

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2020

This is the biggest equity-raising exercise by an Indian corporate within a financial year. The fundraising - led by Citibank, Goldman, Kotak and Axis Capital as bankers - will see participation by foreign and domestic institutional investors.

PSBs need to build buffers to absorb shocks: Report

PSBs need to build buffers to absorb shocks: Report

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2019

Among the bank groups, under the baseline scenario, public sector banks' gross NPA ratios may increase to 13.2 per cent by September 2020 from 12.7 per cent in September 2019.

Slowdown blues: Bank credit growth will be lowest in 58 years

Slowdown blues: Bank credit growth will be lowest in 58 years

Rediff.com   27 Dec 2019

According to ICRA, even in a high-growth scenario, wherein the second half of FY20 sees the incremental bank credit rise to Rs 6.5-7 trn, there will still be a 40-45% year-on-year decline.

SBI, other PSBs to lend Rs 4,000 cr to Patanjali for Ruchi Soya acquisition

SBI, other PSBs to lend Rs 4,000 cr to Patanjali for Ruchi Soya acquisition

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2019

SBI and other public sector banks have decided to lend Rs 4,000 crore to Patanjali Ayurved for the acquisition of Ruchi Soya, which was facing bankruptcy proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. The money lent by banks will help the PSBs to settle their exposure to Ruchi Soya with a haircut of 65 per cent. Banks led by SBI and others had earlier made claims of over Rs 12,146 crore against Ruchi Soya after the company failed to repay its loans.

Large co-op banks may come under Banking Act

Large co-op banks may come under Banking Act

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2019

Large urban co-operative banks may come to be solely under the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, even as the smaller among them are to remain within the exclusive fold of the Registrar of Co-operative Societies. The upcoming changes will bring the curtains down on the vexed issue of dual control of UCBs, which has been in vogue for 54 years. The new framework will affect 1,551 UCBs in the country, which had a total business of Rs 7.36 trillion.

If Voda-Idea goes belly-up, shareholders will lose Rs 1.68 trillion

If Voda-Idea goes belly-up, shareholders will lose Rs 1.68 trillion

Rediff.com   21 Nov 2019

Collapse of the mobile operator could translate into total loss of nearly Rs 44,000 crore for the AV Birla group.

Patanjali's Rs 4,000-cr loan: Another big headache for banks

Patanjali's Rs 4,000-cr loan: Another big headache for banks

Rediff.com   6 Nov 2019

Despite sanctioning the loans, bankers are worried whether to disburse the loan because of absence of an investment grade rating.

'People should feel like spending more'

'People should feel like spending more'

Rediff.com   5 Nov 2019

'One of the ways to do that is to ensure that NBFCs have got liquidity.' 'If we don't do that, this mood of gloom will continue.' NBFCs need to be provided with liquidity if they have to start lending.

India's economic slowdown will reverse in coming quarters: Mukesh Ambani

India's economic slowdown will reverse in coming quarters: Mukesh Ambani

Rediff.com   30 Oct 2019

Mukesh Ambani, who is in talks with Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco to sell one-fifth of his oil-to-chemicals business in India for $ 15 billion, said the two countries have all factors to drive growth - technology, young demography, and leadership.

India's banking system brutally unfair: Deepak Parekh

India's banking system brutally unfair: Deepak Parekh

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2019

He said trust and confidence were the backbone of any financial system and one should never underestimate the power of ethics and values.

PMC Bank chairman's HDIL link runs really deep

PMC Bank chairman's HDIL link runs really deep

Rediff.com   4 Oct 2019

While Waryam Singh was a non-executive director at HDIL, he is listed as one of the promoters of the company and had relations, including shareholding, with several other entities controlled by the Wadhawans, the HDIL founders.

Why linking loans to external benchmark won't be easy for banks

Why linking loans to external benchmark won't be easy for banks

Rediff.com   3 Oct 2019

Senior bankers are trying to impress upon the central bank that the shift to external benchmark-linked lending be postponed to April 1, 2020.

Should BMW buy JLR from Tata Motors?

Should BMW buy JLR from Tata Motors?

Rediff.com   19 Sep 2019

BMW is over-capitalised and is awash with cash and it could quickly lower JLR's investment costs and raise margins by leveraging its own platforms, powertrains, purchasing scale and quality control.

Yet another sign that economy is in bad shape

Yet another sign that economy is in bad shape

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2019

India Inc's investment project announcement falls to Rs 11.3 trillion. In the coming months, the pace of investments would depend on how soon consumption demand picks up and private sector investment ramps up investment in infrastructure.