Nevin John, P B Jayakumar In Mumbai

Stories by Nevin John, P B Jayakumar In Mumbai

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.

GSK Pharma scouts for domestic buys

GSK Pharma scouts for domestic buys

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2009

"We have a cash balance of close to Rs 1,500 crore. A majority of this balance can be used for acquisitions as our annual working capital requirement is only Rs 25-30 crore. I will not rule out a buyout of companies to expand our domestic business," said Mernosh Kapadia, senior executive director, GSK India. It is speculated that GlaxoSmithKline Plc is in talks to acquire leading Indian drug major Piramal Healthcare, in a deal valued over $1.5 billion.

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.

Global drug majors slow R&D offshoring to India

Global drug majors slow R&D offshoring to India

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2009

New drug discovery and contract research have taken a back seat as global drug majors have slowed down their research and development offshoring to India.

Taro faces ban on products in US market

Taro faces ban on products in US market

Rediff.com   11 Feb 2009

If Taro fails to address the issues raised by the US Food and Drug Administration, it may face ban on many of its products in the US market, made from the facility at Ontorio, Canada. If Taro fails to address the issues raised by the US Food and Drug Administration, it may face ban on many of its products in the US market, made from the facility at Ontorio, Canada. If Taro fails to address the issues raised by the US FDA, it may face ban on many of its products.

Tata Motors vendors deny payment issues

Tata Motors vendors deny payment issues

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2009

Surinder Kapur, president of the company's 'vendor council,' said it has about a dozen representatives from Tata Motors and an equal number from the vendors. "We supply for about 4-5 per cent of our revenues to Tata Motors and we do not have payment issues," he said. Lumax, which derives about 15 per cent of its turnover by supplying almost half of the lighting solutions for Tata Motors worth about Rs 60 crore a year, said they had not experienced any payment issues.

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.

Wockhardt takes a hit on expansion

Wockhardt takes a hit on expansion

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2009

Wockhardt, the Mumbai-based leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology company that is struggling to repay its nearly Rs 900-crore

Merck eyes Indian drug biggie, brands

Merck eyes Indian drug biggie, brands

Rediff.com   30 Jan 2009

Germany-based Merck KGaA, the world's oldest multinational pharmaceutical company, is eyeing to acquire a prominent Indian pharmaceutical company and established drug brands.

Pfizer-Wyeth may climb to No 2 spot

Pfizer-Wyeth may climb to No 2 spot

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2009

The merger of Pfizer and Wyeth is expected to create the second-biggest drug maker among multinational companies in India. The world's largest drug maker Pfizer yesterday announced a $68-billion acquisition of US-based Wyeth.

R-Power fast-tracks Dadri project

R-Power fast-tracks Dadri project

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2009

The 7,480 MW project will be the largest gas-fired power project at a single location in the world and will cost about Rs 20,000-25,000 crore (Rs 200-250 billion). Mukesh Ambani-controlled RIL for the supply of gas from the Krishna Godavari basin, where RIL is developing the largest gas reserves in the world. The matter is currently under litigation in the Bombay HC and a decision is expected soon.

Punj Lloyd-Thorium JV to pump in $1 bn

Punj Lloyd-Thorium JV to pump in $1 bn

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2009

"We are looking at an investment of several million dollars or up to a billion in the coming years, depending on how India's government allows commercialisation of the nuclear power sector," said Dennis Hays, vice-president of Thorium Power. The investments and areas of operation can be in various technologies, manpower training, fuel processing, and operation & maintenance of power plants in the nuclear sector, he added.

Sasan mega project closure in a few weeks

Sasan mega project closure in a few weeks

Rediff.com   13 Jan 2009

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.

Reliance stops gasoline supply to Iran

Reliance stops gasoline supply to Iran

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2009

This follows a letter written by eight US Congressmen to that country's Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank) asking it to immediately suspend all financial assistance to RIL until the company agrees to stop selling gasoline to Iran.

Tata Power may divest stake in 2 group firms

Tata Power may divest stake in 2 group firms

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2009

Tata Power Company, the largest private sector power player in the country, plans to divest part of its stake in group companies Tata Teleservices and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) to raise about Rs 2,000 crore for funding its ongoing projects, said informed sources.

Glaxo's strategy may limit gains for Indian firms

Glaxo's strategy may limit gains for Indian firms

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2009

Dr Reddy's has reached an out-of-court settlement to launch the Glaxo-patented Imitrex, a migraine drug that had annual sales of $878 million as of March 31, 2006, in the US. Experts estimate Dr Reddy's may not get more than $8-$15 million sales in 2009 since majority of sales revenue has to be given to GSK, for allowing the launch the authorised generic version.

Indian retail drug sales jump 10% amid slowdown

Indian retail drug sales jump 10% amid slowdown

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2008

Retail sales of Ranbaxy Laboratories, Cipla, Nicholas Piramal, Lupin and other drug makers have jumped by over 10 per cent in the domestic market despite the sales of generics or copycat versions of patented drugs falling in leading global markets such as the US and Europe.

Wadias plan to revisit Danone stake price

Wadias plan to revisit Danone stake price

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2008

The Wadia group is looking to renegotiate the price of Groupe Danone's stake in Britannia Industries following the market slump and the credit squeeze in the global markets.

Rivals to counter Sterlite's revised bid

Rivals to counter Sterlite's revised bid

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2008

Sterlite's revised offer to acquire Asarco may see fresh rival bids as the valuation of the bankrupt US copper miner fell in line with the commodity prices.