Shyamal Majumdar &Amp;Amp; Abhineet Kumar

Stories by Shyamal Majumdar &Amp;Amp; Abhineet Kumar

Tata Motors may seek rollover of JLR debt

Tata Motors may seek rollover of JLR debt

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2009

The company is still short of over Rs 4500 crore (Rs 45 billion) to refinance the debt which is due before June 2 this year. The company had planned to raise the fund for refinancing through three routes. It planned to raise about Rs 4200 crore through rights issues which it managed after the issue devolved on underwriters in October as the stock prices were tumbling globally following the economic crisis.

Tata, Birla target mid-size PE deals

Tata, Birla target mid-size PE deals

Rediff.com   14 Jan 2009

While the Tatas are looking for PE deals of about $50 million or less, the A V Birla Group is eyeing deals worth not more than $25 million. Tata Capital is banking on its ability to source deals by exploiting the existing Tata ecosystem of suppliers and customers. The Birla group, which has committed 40 per cent of the $250-million corpus it planned to raise for its PE fund, is looking to leverage its strength to source and evaluate deals.

India's Enron

India's Enron

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2009

The fact that Satyam's reputed auditors kept quiet while it cooked its books is reminiscent of the Enron-Andersen days.

Meltdown: SCI, GE Shipping likely to take a hit

Meltdown: SCI, GE Shipping likely to take a hit

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2009

The freight rate for the very large crude carriers in the spot market has declined to an average $46,426 a day for the quarter ending December 31, about 21 per cent lower than the corresponding period of the previous year. In the same period, smaller crude carriers such as Suezmax rose by about 9 per cent to an average of $42,801 a day. Freight rate for Aframax, a carrier smaller than Suezmax, rose by 25 per cent to an average of $28,628 a day.

Bajaj brothers withdraw petition from CLB

Bajaj brothers withdraw petition from CLB

Rediff.com   1 Jan 2009

After signing the agreement documents on Tuesday night, the Shishir and Rahul Bajaj factions submitted the consent terms of the settlement to the Company Law Board on Wednesday and withdrew the petition.

Rahul and Shishir Bajaj swap shares, end dispute

Rahul and Shishir Bajaj swap shares, end dispute

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2008

The Bajaj family dispute is set to end, finally. Shishir Bajaj today sold his 25 per cent holding in the primary group investment firm Bajaj Sevashram to his brother Rahul Bajaj in an off-market deal. This was after Rahul Bajaj transferred his group's entire 29.62 per cent shareholding in Bajaj Hindusthan.

Bajaj told to compensate minority shareholders

Bajaj told to compensate minority shareholders

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2008

A day before the settlement of the six-year-old Bajaj family dispute, the Bombay High Court has asked Rahul Bajaj, the family patriarch and chairman of Bajaj Auto, to compensate the Pittie family, a minority shareholder in group investment firm Bachhraj & Company.

'Nodders' in the boardroom

'Nodders' in the boardroom

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2008

Most independent directors have mastered the art of nodding whenever the chairman says anything.

Mumbai-based cos shying away from terror victims

Mumbai-based cos shying away from terror victims

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2008

In the two weeks since the terror attacks in Mumbai, most of the large Indian business groups in the city have been conspicuous by their absence in offering help to terror victims.

GE Shipping cuts its dry bulk fleet

GE Shipping cuts its dry bulk fleet

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2008

GE Shipping, the country's largest private sector shipping company, is bringing down its exposure to the dry bulk segment to withstand the 93 per cent downfall in freight rate for such vessels.

The success of BPOs in rural India

The success of BPOs in rural India

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2008

BPOs can transform the face of rural India if they can retain even a small proportion of educated youth in villages.

The secret of Marico's success

The secret of Marico's success

Rediff.com   9 Dec 2008

FMCG firm Marico's success lies in its ability to pick its fights, exiting areas where MNC competition is high and concentrating on creating niche segments instead.

Choppy trade: Shipping biz strives to float

Choppy trade: Shipping biz strives to float

Rediff.com   5 Dec 2008

In a wide-ranging interview with Abhineet Kumar, SCI chairman and managing director S Hajara discusses the problems facing the shipping industry.

Ship owners avoid ransom insurance, seek naval hel

Ship owners avoid ransom insurance, seek naval hel

Rediff.com   21 Nov 2008

Indian shipping companies' reluctance to take piracy insurance is probably linked to sky-rocketing costs. According to the site of London-based corporate security firm BGN Risk, piracy in the Gulf of Aden could increase insurance and transport costs by $400 million. Special risk insurance for crossing the Gulf has soared from $500 a voyage last year to $20,000 now, the company said.

Firms may rethink land row-hit projects

Firms may rethink land row-hit projects

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2008

With recession threat looming large, Indian corporate houses may be forced to rethink their projects, which have been stalled following problems in land acquisitions, industry analysts said.

Raymond puts denim business on the block

Raymond puts denim business on the block

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2008

The company has appointed an investment banker to find a buyer for its equity in its joint venture company, Raymond UCO Denim, whose loss doubled to Rs 120 crore (Rs 1.2 billion) in the last financial year. Europe's UCO Denim holds 50 per cent stake in the denim company, which was formed in August 2006. The turnover of the denim business is estimated at Rs 600-800 crore (Rs 6 to Rs 8 billion).

Ambit plans stressed assets biz, NBFC

Ambit plans stressed assets biz, NBFC

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2008

The stressed asset business will be a mix of an ARC and a distressed asset fund. Ambit has already started insurance brokerage and equity research and sales businesses this year. It closed a $100-million private equity fund called Ambit Pragma Ventures recently. It is also keen on starting proprietary trading.

Wipro, Copal mull Lehman BPO buyout

Wipro, Copal mull Lehman BPO buyout

Rediff.com   17 Sep 2008

IT major Wipro Technologies and Gurgaon-based knowledge process outsourcing firm Copal Partners have expressed interest in bidding for the Indian back office business of Lehman Brothers Holdings, the US-based investment banking firm that filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday.

Balco residual stake sale headed for arbitration

Balco residual stake sale headed for arbitration

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2008

This comes after both parties failed to arrive at an agreement on an appropriate valuation of the stake, a company executive said. Sterlite bought 51 per cent stake in Balco in March 2001 for Rs 552 crore (Rs 5.52 billion) when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government decided to divest the government stake in the public sector company.

A question most CEOs dread

A question most CEOs dread

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2008

CEOs must answer this question from employees if change initiatives have to be successful.