Ruchika Chitravanshi, Dev Chatterjee

Stories by Ruchika Chitravanshi, Dev Chatterjee

Asset divestment needed to resolve Vedanta's debt crisis: Analysts

Asset divestment needed to resolve Vedanta's debt crisis: Analysts

Rediff.com   10 Oct 2023

Analysts assert that Vedanta Group's plan to demerge India-listed Vedanta Limited into six listed entities will not resolve the debt problem of its promoter entity, Vedanta Resources (VRL). They suggest that additional asset sales or stake sales by promoters will be necessary to repay the debt. Vedanta is already considering the divestment of its iron-steel division and its copper plant.

Reliance General Insurance gets Rs 922 crore GST notices from DGGI

Reliance General Insurance gets Rs 922 crore GST notices from DGGI

Rediff.com   9 Oct 2023

Reliance General Insurance Company (RGIC), a subsidiary of Reliance Capital, finds itself in a bind as the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) has issued multiple Show Cause Notices (SCNs) amounting to Rs 922.6 crore. This development comes at a time when Reliance Capital is currently undergoing a debt resolution under the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) process in which the Hinduja group has emerged the winner. The Hinduja acquisition is currently awaiting the Supreme Court's approval after the Torrent group, the winner of the first round, challenged the second auction conducted by the lenders of Reliance Capital.

Regulatory framework for large unlisted firms by MCA in the works

Regulatory framework for large unlisted firms by MCA in the works

Rediff.com   4 Oct 2023

The ministry is of the opinion that there is a need for a rigorous regime for large unlisted companies, in contrast with the current "light-touch" regulation. "There is a defined regime for listed companies, by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). "There is a view in the ministry that it needs to look at a framework for large unlisted companies," the senior official said.

Nirma to tap into own funds, debt to buy Glenmark Life Sciences

Nirma to tap into own funds, debt to buy Glenmark Life Sciences

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2023

Nirma has roped in BCG and KPMG to advise it on the fundraising options for the acquisition. The company had earlier informed banks that it would raise Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 7,000 crore in the current financial year for the acquisition. Bankers said the company will rely on its funds and future GLS dividend to repay its debt for acquisition.

Household savings report: There is no distress, says finance ministry

Household savings report: There is no distress, says finance ministry

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2023

The finance ministry on Thursday sought to clarify that there was no distress in household savings and the data indicated that changing consumer preference for different financial products was the real reason for the change in the pattern of household savings. The clarification comes in the backdrop of Reserve Bank of India data showing that household net financial savings rate is at its lowest in decades, at 5.1 per cent of GDP in FY23 compared to 7.2 per cent of GDP in FY22. The divergence in the data for household gross financial assets and liabilities is not a cause for concern for the government, as the loans have largely been taken to buy real assets or automobiles, the finance ministry said.

'India's done magical work'

'India's done magical work'

Rediff.com   21 Sep 2023

'To get a 100 per cent consensus document without any reservation, any bracket, any chair summary is unprecedented in the history of multilateral forums.'

Why Auditors Quitting Big Clients Is Complicated

Why Auditors Quitting Big Clients Is Complicated

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2023

Auditors seem to have developed a heightened sense of risk and are not content to tick the boxes and sign the papers.

'We are not going back to licence raj'

'We are not going back to licence raj'

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2023

'I'm pitching India for the strengths we offer, including the English language, engineers, doctors, nurses, professionals, innovative talent of startups.'

Crypto can't be legal tender; blanket ban not easy: IMF-FSB paper

Crypto can't be legal tender; blanket ban not easy: IMF-FSB paper

Rediff.com   8 Sep 2023

Crypto assets should not be granted official currency or legal tender status, the much-awaited synthesis paper by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Financial Stability Board (FSB) has said ahead of the G20 leadership summit under India's presidency. However, the report has argued against a blanket ban on activities linked to crypto assets, explaining that such a move can be costly as well as technically demanding to enforce. Central banks should avoid holding crypto assets in their official reserve as they pose a risk to monetary and global financial stability, according to the synthesis paper.

JSW group keen to launch car in EV segment at Rs 15-20 lakh price tag

JSW group keen to launch car in EV segment at Rs 15-20 lakh price tag

Rediff.com   7 Sep 2023

The promoter entities of JSW Group are in talks with several electric-car manufacturers in China to launch an electric car for the Indian market at Rs 15-20 lakh, a source close to the development said.

Draft merger rules: Mega global deals likely to come within CCI ambit

Draft merger rules: Mega global deals likely to come within CCI ambit

Rediff.com   6 Sep 2023

The Competition Commission of India has introduced draft regulations for combinations or mergers, under the new competition Act, to bring global deals in the digital space, including those involving Big Tech companies, under its scanner. The draft regulations would provide guidance on the valuation of merger transactions and the criteria for assessing sustainable operations in India for companies. The proposed rules mention that if the number of users and subscribers, or the turnover or gross merchandise value in India is over 10 per cent of the global figure, the company would be considered to have substantial business operation in India and would need CCI approval for the merger.

M&As likely to witness a strong comeback as PEs bet more cash in India

M&As likely to witness a strong comeback as PEs bet more cash in India

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2023

Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in India are expected to stay buoyant, seen over the last three-four years, despite a slowdown in the first seven months of the calendar year. "M&A is a lumpy business activity, and we may suddenly see large deals taking place during the next two quarters of the calendar year. "This would help maintain the streak of strong M&A activity.

Confident of meeting fiscal deficit, nominal GDP targets: DEA secy

Confident of meeting fiscal deficit, nominal GDP targets: DEA secy

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2023

The government is confident of meeting the fiscal deficit target of 5.9 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and the nominal GDP target of 10.5 per cent despite pressure in the initial months of FY24, Economic Affairs secretary Ajay Seth told Business Standard. Normally the initial months of any financial year see proportionally a higher fiscal deficit because the expenditure is evenly paced while revenue picks up in the later months, he said. "This year the proportional fiscal deficit so far is much closer to the target than in most other years.

The take-off and crash-landing of Jet's Naresh Goyal

The take-off and crash-landing of Jet's Naresh Goyal

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2023

In a dramatic turn of events in May 2019, an Emirates aircraft en-route to Dubai was asked to stop while it was taxiing for a take off in Mumbai. The pilot was given no reason and ordered to immediately return to the parking bay. As the aircraft returned to the terminal, two passengers from the first class - Naresh Goyal and his wife Anita - were offloaded by the immigration authorities, who said the duo cannot leave the country. Goyal, founder of Jet Airways, was stunned. The man, who ruled the aviation sector for two and a half decades with an iron hand, did not expect to be offloaded in this fashion.

Moody's report on India's economic outlook 'extremely disappoints' govt

Moody's report on India's economic outlook 'extremely disappoints' govt

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2023

The government is "extremely disappointed" with the latest report of the Moody's rating agency on India's economic outlook. The report, a senior government official said, was highly contradictory and called the rating agency's credibility into question. Referring to the Moody's statement that "India's fiscal strength remains a key weakness in the sovereign credit profile...", the official remarked: "How can my strength be my weakness? Moreover, they are unwilling to have a like-to-like comparison with India."

The Unholy Rift Between Companies And Auditors

The Unholy Rift Between Companies And Auditors

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2023

38 auditors resigned in 2022-23, compared with 46 the previous year.

Adani shares lose Rs 55K cr in market cap even after record quarterly profit

Adani shares lose Rs 55K cr in market cap even after record quarterly profit

Rediff.com   24 Aug 2023

The combined market capitalisation of Adani Group companies fell by Rs 54,876 crore, to Rs 10.92 trillion, as investor sentiment turned bearish on Wednesday. Shares of Adani Transmission fell by 7.7 per cent to close at Rs 886 while those of Adani Power lost 7.1 per cent to end the day at Rs 323. The stock of Adani Enterprises, the flagship company of the group, lost 6.2 per cent to finish at Rs 2,530.

Inflation may stay elevated in coming months: FinMin

Inflation may stay elevated in coming months: FinMin

Rediff.com   23 Aug 2023

The finance ministry has cautioned that global and regional uncertainties and domestic disruptions may keep inflationary pressures elevated in the coming months, warranting "greater vigilance" by the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). "Russia's decision to terminate the Black Sea grain deal, along with dry conditions in major wheat-growing areas, caused a price spike in cereals. Domestic factors like white fly disease and an uneven distribution of monsoon exerted pressure on vegetable prices in India," the ministry said in its latest Monthly Economic Report for July, released on Tuesday. However, the report maintained, the recent price surge in certain food items "is expected to be transitory". "Tomato prices are likely to decline with the arrival of fresh stocks by the end of August or early September.

Corporate affairs ministry assessing need to ramp up bench strength of NCLT

Corporate affairs ministry assessing need to ramp up bench strength of NCLT

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2023

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is contemplating an increase to the existing strength of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) benches to handle the growing case load. The ministry is currently analysing the time taken by each bench to dispose of matters and the total number of cases being handled by each bench. "We need to first determine our requirement, given that the NCLT handles both Company Act and insolvency and bankruptcy matters. "The latter constitutes the majority of the case burden.

Centre pushes for faster admission of corporate insolvency cases at NCLT

Centre pushes for faster admission of corporate insolvency cases at NCLT

Rediff.com   21 Aug 2023

Benches of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) should not get into questioning a company's default once it is established by the creditors, particularly financial creditors, for admission to the corporate insolvency process. This is one of the key themes of the draft guidelines for the NCLT, which are being finalised by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), a senior official said. According to the official, while the company law matters could involve the "principle of natural justice" and justify extended proceedings to hear all parties concerned, the same does not apply to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) proceedings.