The rising credit costs in tight financial markets have hit India Inc's plans to raise funds through external commercial borrowings (ECBs) and foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs). The borrowings through this route dipped to $ 862 million in February 2008. Indian companies raised $ 2.24 billion in November 2007, $ 2.26 billion in December 2007 and $ 1.88 billion in January 2008, according to the Reserve Bank of India data. The total ECB flow in Apr-Dec 07 was $ 16.3 bn.
With the hardening of global interest rates, India Inc appears to be less attracted to foreign currency convertible bonds and is instead looking to public issues in global and domestic markets to raise funds.
The finance ministry is not in favour of revising norms for external commercial borrowing or hiking the limits beyond $500 million in the near future, but will allow micro-finance institutions to tap overseas markets to raise up to $5 million.
Debt-ridden telecom operator Vodafone Idea on Thursday said its board has approved raising of up to Rs 14,500 crore, including Rs 4,500 crore from promoter entities. An amount of Rs 10,000 crore would be raised by way of sale of equity or through debt instruments such as ADR, GDR and FCCBs. In a regulatory filing, the company said the board has cleared issuance of up to 338.3 crore equity shares of face value of Rs 10 each at an issue price of Rs 13.30 per equity share for an aggregate consideration of up to Rs 4,500 crore.
Reliance Communications, which is eyeing to acquire the country's fourth-largest mobile firm Hutch Essar, said on Wednesday it plans to raise funds through issue of securities in the international market.
India's largest paper company Ballarpur Industries Ltd on Thursday announced a global depository receipts public issue to raise $30 million in the international market.
After the rechristening of Telco to Tata Motors in 2003, one of the auto-maker's earliest decision was to settle its high-cost debts of around Rs 500 crore with the proceeds from foreign currency convertible bonds, or FCCBs. The company had raised $100 million and repaid the debt.
Following the announcement, share prices of Wockhardt rose 3.02 per cent on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) from Rs 104.20 to close at Rs 107.35 on Friday. An extraordinary general meeting of the members of the company has been convened on January 19, to consider and approve the plan.
Petronet LNG Ltd, India's largest liquefied natural gas importer, will raise $100 million through foreign currency convertible bonds in June-July, which would result in its promoters ONGC, GAIL IOC and BPCL shareholding falling by 7.5 per cent.
Armed with Rs 650 crore (Rs 6.50 billion) fund for acquisitions, Tata Group firm Indian Hotels Company said on Wednesday that it would open one Taj exotica resort in Mauritius.
Subex Azure, the Rs 250 crore software developer and vendor of revenue maximisation solutions
Low-cost carrier SpiceJet will receive about $65 million within a week as the second tranche of investment by US private equity firm WL Ross and Co and by Goldman Sachs.
Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Communication Ventures Ltd has become an over Rs 90,000 crore (Rs 900 billion) company going by the conversion price of its just concluded Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds.
In its first acquisition in Europe, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd today said it has acquired UK-based Milpharm Ltd, in an all cash deal, from Whyte Group and Iracot Ltd.
In November they had raised $2.19 billion from abroad, according to the Reserve Bank data released on Friday.
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has raised $100 million through the issuance of foreign currency convertible bonds with participation from European and Asian investors.
Reliance Infrastructure Ltd on Wednesday said its shareholders have approved raising funds up to Rs 550.56 crore through issuance of shares on a preferential basis. The funds raised would be utilised for long-term resources, for general corporate purposes and to fund future growth, the company said in a regulatory filing.
As many as 58 companies raised money from automatic route and 8 firms raised via approval route.
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