Nevin John

Stories by Nevin John

Boeing to replicate US biz structure in India

Boeing to replicate US biz structure in India

Rediff.com   10 Aug 2009

The US-based aircraft manufacturing giant will expand its manufacturing presence, launch subsidiaries and strengthen research and development (R&D) programmes in the country. Jeppesen, a subsidiary of Boeing, is close to setting up an office in Hyderabad, while another, Aviall, the company's spare parts subsidiary, already has operations from Noida.

Harbinger backs Sterlite in Asarco acquisition

Harbinger backs Sterlite in Asarco acquisition

Rediff.com   5 Aug 2009

Sterlite Industries, the flagship firm of London-listed Vedanta, may get the support of rival bidder Harbinger Capital Partners in its takeover plan for the bankrupt US copper mining firm, Asarco. Harbinger has decided to withdraw from the race, informing the bankruptcy court that its plan to restructure Asarco should not be considered.

Tata Steel to produce half of Corus' raw materials

Tata Steel to produce half of Corus' raw materials

Rediff.com   3 Aug 2009

Ore and coking coal to come from Tata mines in Canada, Africa.

Jet set to focus on cutting debt

Jet set to focus on cutting debt

Rediff.com   28 Jul 2009

The company has a debt burden of Rs 14,500 crore.

Vedanta to invest Rs 43,000 cr in expansion

Vedanta to invest Rs 43,000 cr in expansion

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2009

The group also has plans to spend Rs 50,000 crore (Rs 500 billion) on power generation. The London-listed giant will spend Rs 43,000 crore (Rs 430 billion) to enhance its capacity, in addition to its Rs 50,000-crore (Rs 500-billion) plan in power generation.

ArcelorMittal's Rs 40,000-cr project put on hold

ArcelorMittal's Rs 40,000-cr project put on hold

Rediff.com   15 Jul 2009

However, the company will go ahead with its plans in Jharkhand, and has secured iron ore mines and coal linkages to the project, company sources told Business Standard. An e-mail reply from the steel major said it was not expecting its projects in India to start before 2014.

5 Indian firms in shortlist to exploit Afghan iron

5 Indian firms in shortlist to exploit Afghan iron

Rediff.com   4 Jul 2009

Five Indian metals and mining companies are in the race for acquiring mining rights for the largest iron ore deposit in war-torn Afghanistan. The government has shortlisted Vedanta group's Sesa Goa, Essar Minerals, Ispat Industries, JSW Steel and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam for a bid for the 1.8 billion tonne Hajigak iron ore deposit.

Hindalco closes Novelis plant in UK

Hindalco closes Novelis plant in UK

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2009

Aditya Birla group flagship firm Hindalco Industries has decided to trim its overseas operations and is restructuring its capital expenditure in India in an effort to stabilise operations. As part of this overall plan, Novelis, which Hindalco acquired for $6 billion in 2007, is closing its sheet mill at Rogerstone in the UK, involving 440 job losses.

Reliance Infrastructure looks at domestic banks

Reliance Infrastructure looks at domestic banks

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2009

The Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group company hasn't yet got the contract for executing the second phase of the Mumbai Metro, but Jalan's team has already started negotiating with domestic banks to tie up funds for the estimated Rs 11,000-crore (Rs 110-billion) project.

Ambani brothers directed to take mother's help

Ambani brothers directed to take mother's help

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2009

The Bombay high court, while pronouncing the verdict on the gas dispute on Monday, advised the Ambani brothers for the second time to settle their row in consultation with their mother.

PE activity increases: Markets gain

PE activity increases: Markets gain

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2009

While a number of players invested more in Indian companies, another set exited the market, making profits after March. The companies that invested included Saif Partners, which made a $24 million investment in Network18, and Times Private Treaties, which acquired 12 per cent in Jiny & Jony (for an undisclosed sum), according to data with analysts and brokerage firms.

Vice-chairmen: Lynchpin in Tata group management

Vice-chairmen: Lynchpin in Tata group management

Rediff.com   4 Jun 2009

The Tata group is strengthening the management super-structure within its group companies by extending the post of vice-chairman to three more companies - Tata Motors, Tata Steel and Tata Consultancy Services.

Bharti's balance sheet may stagger a bit

Bharti's balance sheet may stagger a bit

Rediff.com   27 May 2009

Sunil Mittal's plan to merge his Bharti Airtel - India's biggest mobile-phone operator -with South Africa's MTN, coupled with the company's 3G foray, is likely to put pressure on its balance sheet, as the estimated cash requirement would be Rs 40,475 crore (Rs 404.75 billion) in this fiscal.

Reliance Industries may repay Rs 15,000 crore

Reliance Industries may repay Rs 15,000 crore

Rediff.com   13 May 2009

A company executive, who did not want to be identified, said the combined debt of RIL and its subsidiary, Reliance Petroleum, which is being merged with it, would be brought down to around Rs 57,000 crore this year from Rs 72,000 crore at present.

Aditya Birla Nuvo plans 150 new stores

Aditya Birla Nuvo plans 150 new stores

Rediff.com   1 May 2009

It will also close 30 unviable stores. The company's move comes after its net loss widened to Rs 141.2 crore in the March-ended quarter, owing to mounting losses in apparels. The loss was Rs 82.2 crore in the apparel business, against a loss of Rs 4.44 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.

US fund puts Rs 2,000 crore in RIL

US fund puts Rs 2,000 crore in RIL

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2009

EGF, managed by the Capital Group, bought 16.13 million shares, or a 1.02 per cent stake, in RIL from the open market in the March-ended quarter. When share prices were down in the fourth quarter, Life Insurance Corporation added 2.4 million shares of RIL to its kitty, taking its stake to 5.52 per cent. The purchase would have cost LIC over Rs 250 crore. LIC had also bought over six million shares of RIL in the third quarter, at an investment of around Rs 800 crore.

Grupo Mexico counters Sterlite, again

Grupo Mexico counters Sterlite, again

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2009

The takeover battle for United States copper miner Asarco continues to rage, as its estranged parent Grupo Mexico has offered $1.3 billion to counter Sterlite Industries' offer for the second time.

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.

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."

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.