P B Jayakumar &Amp; Raghavendra Kamath In Mumbai

Stories by P B Jayakumar &Amp; Raghavendra Kamath In Mumbai

Novartis' Voveran regains top position

Novartis' Voveran regains top position

Rediff.com   5 May 2008

Voveran, Novartis India's flagship pain killer medicine, has become the largest selling domestic drug with sales of more than Rs 11 crore (Rs 110 million) in March 2008, displacing Pfizer India's cough and cold syrup Corex, which had sales of Rs 10 crore (Rs 100 million). Cipla, on the other hand, maintained its leadership position as the largest domestic pharmaceutical company edging out Ranbaxy Laboratories with a market share of 5.24 per cent.

Bad times for pharmacy chains in India

Bad times for pharmacy chains in India

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2008

Even as a heated debate goes on in the corridors of power and academic circles on the impact of large retail chains on small shops, in one sector it is clear that the big players are close to biting dust. At least two large pharmacy chains are up for sale, industry sources said. Some others have shaken up their top management, while a few have cut back on their expansions. One is trying to rediscover its business model by looking at rural markets. And all are woefully short o

R-Power's Butibori project to begin soon

R-Power's Butibori project to begin soon

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2008

The 300 mw Group Captive Power Project (GCPP) being set up by Vidarbha Industries Power (VIPL), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed by Reliance Power, at Butibori near Nagpur in Maharashtra, will soon enter the construction phase. Sources said the required land has been acquired and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has given the green signal for setting up the project. Reliance Power will soon award the EPC contract for the Rs 1500 crore project.

M&S banks on Reliance to up retail biz

M&S banks on Reliance to up retail biz

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2008

The UK's Marks & Spencer (M&S) has plans to position itself as a mid-market mass retailer in India and is eyeing a chunk of its revenues from India in the next few years. M&S has severed its partnership with Planet Retail and has entered into a deal with Reliance Retail. Its existing stores will be absorbed in the current partnership eventually. M&S will be positioned as a mid-market retailer in India. It chose Reliance as it moves quickly in its line of businesses.

'Ranbaxy will gain from Orchid's R&D'

'Ranbaxy will gain from Orchid's R&D'

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2008

Ranbaxy Laboratories on Tuesday announced a business alliance with Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals across multiple geographies and therapies, for finished dosage formulations and bulk drugs. The new alliance will explore new products and markets without disturbing the existing alliances. The deal is independent of any commitment related to management control and is a pure arm's length, independent strategic biz alliance. Ranbaxy will benefit from Orchid's future products

The man behind Indiabulls' success

The man behind Indiabulls' success

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2008

Gagan Banga talks about how one of India's largest NBFCs still retains the financial discipline of a start-up.

Tatas to set up ayurveda centre

Tatas to set up ayurveda centre

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2008

In a move to catapult ayurveda to the main stream of healthcare in the country, the Tata Group is setting up the Indian Institute of Ayurveda Integrated Medicine in Bangalore. The institute will function in association with the Department of Science and Technology, and the Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, a Bangalore-based NGO that supports traditional healing methods.

Reliance ropes in E&Y for Sasan upgrade

Reliance ropes in E&Y for Sasan upgrade

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2008

Anil Ambani-promoted Reliance Power (R-Power) has roped in international consultancy firm Ernst & Young (E&Y) to upgrade its Sasan ultra-mega power project (UMPP) in Madhya Pradesh to conform to the norms for receiving carbon credits.

Buy a flat, get a luxury car free!

Buy a flat, get a luxury car free!

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2008

Goodies and early bird discounts are not a new feature of India's real estate story, but the timing is significant. Real estate prices have climbed off their historic highs in the last six months on account of tighter liquidity and an overall decline in sentiment.

Realty slowdown: Are the numbers right?

Realty slowdown: Are the numbers right?

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2008

The real estate industry is witnessing a slowdown. In anticipation of rates to fall, consumers are postponing their purchase plans. Developers, for their part, are finding it difficult to access cheap credit with banks reluctant to lend to them. Both residential and retail demand has moderated though the demand for office space remains strong. Inspite of this, most property cos are expected to post reasonably good Q4 results. Builders are banking on mid-income projects.

Dr Reddy's, Strides exposed to raiders?

Dr Reddy's, Strides exposed to raiders?

Rediff.com   11 Apr 2008

Dr Reddy's Laboratories & Strides Arcolabs are at a risk of raiders as their promoter holdings are less than 26%. Promoters of Dr Reddy's have 25.15% stake as on Dec 31, 2007 and the share value of the company has dipped 19.9 per cent since January 1 this year. The Bangalore-based Strides Arcolab had only 18.82% promoter-holding as on Dec 31, 2007. The stock price of the company has gone down 34% in the same period. The promoters are taking steps to correct the situation.

Lehman picks up 40 % in Peninsula Hyderabad Park

Lehman picks up 40 % in Peninsula Hyderabad Park

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2008

The initial cost of the project, including land, is Rs 125 crore (Rs 1.25 billion) and the development cost is nearly Rs 1,400 crore (Rs 14 billion). The company is planning to fund the project through debt and draw more funds from Lehman if required, sources said. Recently, PLL and Lehman tied up to invest in the realty projects of Peninsula. In the Rs 700-crore (Rs 7 billion) joint venture, Lehman invested Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion).

Saffron plans bouquet of PE funds

Saffron plans bouquet of PE funds

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2008

Saffron Asset Advisors, which manages the real estate investments of NYSE Euronext-listed Yatra Capital, is now planning to launch a bouquet of funds focusing on India. The company is aiming at a total corpus of Rs 4,000 crore (Rs 40 billion) in the next couple of years.Starting from real estate, the company will launch sector-specific funds such as healthcare, logistics, infrastructure, hospitality.

German baby foodmaker to enter India in a big way

German baby foodmaker to enter India in a big way

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2008

Germany-based Humana Milchunion eG, one of the largest baby food products and therapeutic multivitamins manufacturers, will soon foray into India and neighbouring markets in a big way.

Indian pharmaceutical M&As see unhealthy decline

Indian pharmaceutical M&As see unhealthy decline

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2008

While the April to September period (H1) saw as many as eight major deals worth over Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 billion), the second half of the year saw a sharp drop in the value of such deals to about Rs 1,500 crore (Rs 15 billion). Though the number of deals in H1 and H2 is almost the same, the sharp decline in value in the second half indicates a clear change in outlook and strategy of companies, say industry experts.

DHFL to open London office, provide loans to NRIs

DHFL to open London office, provide loans to NRIs

Rediff.com   3 Apr 2008

The company has plans to open offices in the US, Singapore and other parts of West Asia such, such as Oman and Qatar in the next couple of years. "The NRI community is totally underserved. We want to tap the vast business potential arising from 2.5 crore (Rs 25 million) NRIs working abroad,'' said Kapil Wadhawan, vice chairman and managing director, DHFL.

Retailers try new ways to counter soaring rentals

Retailers try new ways to counter soaring rentals

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2008

Sky-high rentals are forcing retailers to explore new ways to stay afloat. Many have done the obvious thing by shifting to cheaper locations or simply downing their shutters. But others are renegotiating deals with developers to ensure business sustainability. New deals like longer "rent-free" periods, no "lock-in" clauses in agreements and revenue-sharing deals with developers are becoming common.

R-Power to spend Rs 3,000 cr to fuel Sasan project

R-Power to spend Rs 3,000 cr to fuel Sasan project

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2008

Reliance Power Limited, the flagship company of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), plans to invest about Rs 2,500-3,000 crore (Rs 25-30 billion) over a period of three years, to develop three coal mines to fuel its Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project in Madhya Pradesh. Reliance Power currently has access to coal reserves of about one billion tonnes in India and abroad, including a coal mine in Indonesia, which it acquired recently.

Sun Pharma US arm told to recall diabetes drug

Sun Pharma US arm told to recall diabetes drug

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2008

The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has asked Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, the US subsidiary of Mumbai-based Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries, to withdraw many batches of its generic Metformin Hydrochloride tablets used for treating diabetes, citing efficacy and quality issues. According to a USFDA Class II withdrawal announced on March 19, Caraco will have to withdraw seven lots of Metformin Hydrochloride in bottles of 100, 500 and 1000 tablets each.

Unitech, Indiabulls defer REITs listing

Unitech, Indiabulls defer REITs listing

Rediff.com   14 Mar 2008

Unitech and Indiabulls Real Estate Ltd (IBREL) have deferred the listing of their respective real estate investment trusts (REITs) on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX)owing to the liquidity crunch in the global markets. Both Unitech and IBREL have received approval from the SGX for the initial public offers (IPOs) of their trusts.