Raghavendra Kamath And Neeraj Thakur In Mumbai, New Delhi

Stories by Raghavendra Kamath And Neeraj Thakur In Mumbai, New Delhi

Meet the man behind Tatas' nano housing plan

Meet the man behind Tatas' nano housing plan

Rediff.com   11 May 2009

Jamshedpur gave birth to Telco (now Tata Motors) which has just launched the low-cost Nano; Jamshedpur, according to the 35-year old Tata Housing Development Company managing director Brotin Banerjee, is what inspired Tata Housing to launch its Shubh Griha low-cost housing project in Mumbai.

Tata Housing eyes Rs 700 cr from low-cost projects

Tata Housing eyes Rs 700 cr from low-cost projects

Rediff.com   11 May 2009

Tata Housing Development Company, a unit of Tata Sons, expects to earn Rs 700 crore (Rs 7 billion) in revenue from low-cost housing in the next four years, a top company official has said.

Peninsula defers hospitality, new ventures to save

Peninsula defers hospitality, new ventures to save

Rediff.com   11 May 2009

In May last year, Peninsula forayed into the hospitality sector with a joint venture with textile maker and real estate developer, Arrow Webtex. The JV planned to build hotels in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nasik and Kolhapur in Maharashtra. There were also plans to develop hotels in Ahmedabad, Surat, Jamnagar, Mundra port, Goa and Kerala.

Will Obama's new tax proposal affect India?

Will Obama's new tax proposal affect India?

Rediff.com   6 May 2009

Most large American companies earn more than 50 per cent of their revenue from markets outside the US and will be affected by the proposed tax reforms. Business groups in the US had assailed the proposal, arguing it would subject them to far higher taxes than their foreign competitors must pay and ultimately endanger US jobs. Global companies that earn profits in India are subject to a tax rate of 33.9 per cent and the impact of the proposed reforms on them would be marginal.

DLF targets Rs 55 billion from asset sale

DLF targets Rs 55 billion from asset sale

Rediff.com   4 May 2009

In addition, it is banking on Rs 20 billion of additional inflows from group company DLF Assets. The move follows 33 per cent growth in DLF's gross debt to Rs 163.58 billion at the end of March 2009 from Rs 122.77 billion a year ago. In addition, DLF's revenues fell 28 per cent to Rs 105.41 billion as home buyers deferred purchases and it offered discounts to lure buyers. As a result, its revenues were hit to the tune of Rs 6.88 billion.

Store 99 plans six-fold increase in outlets

Store 99 plans six-fold increase in outlets

Rediff.com   4 May 2009

Store 99, which sells apparels, accessories, cutlery and other items for Rs 99 or below in its 14 stores in North India, is buying merchandise from firms that went into liquidation in the US and Europe to keep prices low, said Shiraz M Javed, a director of the group.

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.

Swine flu: Travel, hospitality industry jittery

Swine flu: Travel, hospitality industry jittery

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2009

After a dismal 2008, the travel and hospitality industry is set to receive yet another setback, this time due to the outbreak of swine flu, which may curb inbound and outbound tourist movement. The flu spreads among humans through contact with infected pigs.

April heat is godsend for AC manufacturers

April heat is godsend for AC manufacturers

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2009

Among the minority who are relieved at the rising heat are consumer durables' companies and retailers. Air conditioner (AC) sales are picking up in anticipation of a hot summer.

DLF, mall retailers still poles apart on rentals

DLF, mall retailers still poles apart on rentals

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2009

DLF, the country's largest property developer, might offer another three rent-free months to retailers at its malls in South Delhi, who have begun an agitation against the company.

Satyam transition may be discussed today

Satyam transition may be discussed today

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2009

"Other than the induction of the new board members, Tech Mahindra will have discussions with the management to articulate the growth of the company, strengthen the governance part and also focus on cash-flow issues. The current management members, including CEO A S Murty, will continue for some time," said a source close to the development. Tech Mahindra members are also expected to take stock of operations at Satyam.

Airtel to launch DTH for cars

Airtel to launch DTH for cars

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2009

With the start of general elections as a source of revenue Bharti Airtel's direct-to-home arm is ready to launch its mobile DTH units for cars.

DLF mulls apartment resale to refund buyers

DLF mulls apartment resale to refund buyers

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2009

"The customers had entered into a three-year contract with us. If we have to sell the apartments at a discounted rate, the customers who are backing out should make up for it," an official said. "If DFL tries to re-sell its apartments in the open market, it will have to reduce prices by a further 10-15 per cent. The new buyers know the expected supply is more than demand," said Rupesh Sankhe, equity analyst, Centrum Broking.

DLF mulls resale of flats to refund buyers

DLF mulls resale of flats to refund buyers

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2009

DLF, the country's largest property developer, may retrade its apartments at New Town Heights, Gurgaon, and Garden City, Chennai, at a discount. This is to refund buyers who want to exit the projects, according to a senior company official.

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.

High-end Nano more popular

High-end Nano more popular

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2009

Nearly 80 per cent of the buyers opting for the more expensive variants instead of the base-level car which is priced at Rs 1.23 lakh (ex showroom, Delhi). The trend is based on responses from dealers and banks that took bookings in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chandigarh and Kolkata on Thursday. The Nano CX costs Rs 1.48 lakh and the top-end LX Rs 1.72 lakh.

Satyam: IBM, WL Ross tie-up buzz gets stronger

Satyam: IBM, WL Ross tie-up buzz gets stronger

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2009

The buzz refuses to die down even though other PE players, investment bankers and analysts say such an alliance is highly unlikely. Wilbur Ross, meanwhile, is understood to have completed the due diligence of the scam-tainted IT company. When contacted, a company official declined comment.

Bharti, AXA likely to end mutual fund tie-up

Bharti, AXA likely to end mutual fund tie-up

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2009

While a company spokesperson said Bharti would either dilute its stake or exit the venture, the fund house is trying to rope in a bank to strengthen its distribution network. In addition, an asset management venture is seen to have closer links with banks, which are looking to offer a wide range of financial products.

Fiscal lesson: Money scarce, use it wisely

Fiscal lesson: Money scarce, use it wisely

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2009

The aggression shown by corporate houses till not a long ago has given way for consolidation in the backdrop of current economic downturn and the companies in the next fiscal, beginning tomorrow, would need to focus on growing their core businesses and conserving the resources, global consultancy firm PwC executive director Sanjeev Krishnan told PTI.