Nevin John And Raghavendra Kamath In Mumbai

Stories by Nevin John And Raghavendra Kamath In Mumbai

How Larsen & Toubro got it wrong

How Larsen & Toubro got it wrong

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2009

"The price quoted by L&T (Rs 45.90) in the financial bid is fairly decent, compared with the share price of Satyam in the last three months. The team of (L&T chairman) A M Naik never expected that anybody could quote 10 per cent above their price, as there was no clarity on Satyam's liabilities. Even if somebody had quoted less than 10 per cent of what L&T quoted, the company could have raised the bid in the open bidding round," said a source in L&T.

Home buyers still wary

Home buyers still wary

Rediff.com   13 Apr 2009

Developers remain cautious on property deals as customers expect further price cuts.

Home buyers wary, bankers uncertain

Home buyers wary, bankers uncertain

Rediff.com   13 Apr 2009

Developers remain cautious on property deals as customers expect further price cuts.

RIL to sell fuel in US, Europe

RIL to sell fuel in US, Europe

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2009

A company executive said unlike India, the price of petrol changed on a daily basis in the US. "In India, we don't have a level playing field, since the government gives public sector oil marketing companies subsidies. Since the RIL refineries operate on better refining margins, we could earn more revenue from free markets," he said. "We have better understanding beyond a theoretical knowledge about the US and European markets after our long experience in these markets."

DLF's retail arm plans 500 luxury lifestyle stores

DLF's retail arm plans 500 luxury lifestyle stores

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2009

Already partnering seven international brands such as Giorgio Armani and Salvatore Ferragamo, it also plans to tie up with 12-15 global brands in the next five years. The company plans to fund its expansion through a mix of equity and debt and go in for tie-ups through joint ventures and franchise routes. The focus of expansion would be in metros such as Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai in the initial phase, the official said.

Retailers put cash & carry on backburner

Retailers put cash & carry on backburner

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2009

Indian retailers put cash & carry on backburner

DLF to book Rs 2,000 crore from group firm by Apri

DLF to book Rs 2,000 crore from group firm by Apri

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2009

The company has already booked Rs 5,450 crore (Rs 54.5 billion) revenue from sale of 5 million sq ft it has sold to DAL. DLF on Tuesday clarified to the exchanges that it had been looking at various options from time to time but no definite option had been presented to the board so far for its consideration.

A shot in the arm for India's auto industry

A shot in the arm for India's auto industry

Rediff.com   13 Mar 2009

Part of government strategy to push demand.

Redeveloping Dharavi is not viable for us: HDIL

Redeveloping Dharavi is not viable for us: HDIL

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2009

Developer to bid for work from those who win the final contract.

Contractors shift from realty to govt projects

Contractors shift from realty to govt projects

Rediff.com   2 Mar 2009

Companies are either taking small government projects alone or bidding for larger ones with consortium partners. The companies, which had 18-75 per cent of their order books in property development, say they are facing payment delays of 20-90 days from some of the private developers, blocking their working capital requirements. Some of them take a week's advance payment from developers to execute their projects.

Tata group faces FCCB problems

Tata group faces FCCB problems

Rediff.com   27 Feb 2009

After the rechristening of Telco to Tata Motors in 2003, one of the auto-maker's earliest decision was to settle its high-cost debts of around Rs 500 crore with the proceeds from foreign currency convertible bonds, or FCCBs. The company had raised $100 million and repaid the debt.

Reliance Retail struggles to beat slowdown blues

Reliance Retail struggles to beat slowdown blues

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2009

Reliance Retail has added 485 stores in the last one year, taking the total count to 950 and the footprint is now spread across 77 cities (58 in the last one year) across India. While his critics say Ambani may have lost the plot as the progress of his retail plans are nowhere near what he had sought to achieve, others feel the Reliance chief is just being pragmatic given the not-so-conducive environment for expansion in retail.

Apparel retailers may cut summer buys by 20%

Apparel retailers may cut summer buys by 20%

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2009

After a lacklustre winter season sale, apparel retailers are now planning to cut their summer purchases by as much as 20 per cent to save holding cost and reduce pressure on working capital.

Anil Ambani puts channel plans on hold

Anil Ambani puts channel plans on hold

Rediff.com   18 Feb 2009

A company executive said that the Anil Ambani group is still keen on foraying into television broadcasting business. The top-line of broadcasters was shrinking in the December-ended quarter on the back of economic slowdown and the consequent slowdown in advertising revenues, said the latest Ficci & KPMG report.

Retailers mull alliance with foreign cos

Retailers mull alliance with foreign cos

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2009

According to sources in the Future Group, it plans to tie up with international retailers in different segments. "We can certainly look at bringing in foreign capital to our subsidiaries now," said a group official, who did not wish to be quoted. Under the new guidelines, downstream investments by an Indian company that has foreign investment but is owned and controlled by Indians will not be considered as FDI.

Apparel retailers offer up to 80% discount

Apparel retailers offer up to 80% discount

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2009

Though end-of-season sale is common in the first week of February, what is interesting this time around is the quantum and timing of the offers. Retailers are giving away 20-25 per cent additional discounts, compared to the last year. Also, they began giving discounts at least three weeks before the ususal timing.

Birla Retail eyes 18-fold sales growth

Birla Retail eyes 18-fold sales growth

Rediff.com   11 Feb 2009

The retailer, which runs a supermarket chain under the More brand, is targeting annual sales of $4.5 billion (Rs 22,000 crore or Rs 220 billion) by March 2014 from Rs 1,200 crore (Rs 12 billion) in the current financial year. The retailer clocked sales of Rs 500 in the previous year. In 2007, the company had talked about a Rs 9,000 crore (Rs 90 billion) investment plan.

Low interest in Harshad Mehta's apartment auction

Low interest in Harshad Mehta's apartment auction

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2009

Less than half-a-dozen people have evinced interest in buying the eight apartments owned by the late Harshad Mehta and his family, partly due to a last-minute case filed by the stockbroker's mother, Rasila S Mehta.

Chevron may exit Reliance Petro

Chevron may exit Reliance Petro

Rediff.com   4 Feb 2009

Chevron CEO David O'Reilly told analysts the company has pulled out of some unprofitable refining markets, and will continue to do so. However, he had said that Chevron is continuing talks with its refining joint venture partner RIL that would determine whether it keeps a foothold in Indian refining. Chevron has not yet signed a crude supply and product off-take agreement with RIL to take forward its plans to increase its stake in RPL beyond the existing 5 per cent.

The curious case of Jaybharat Textiles

The curious case of Jaybharat Textiles

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2009

Jaybharat Textiles & Real Estate, a textile company that forayed into real estate three years back, today has a market capitalisation higher than Grasim Industries or Tata Motors.