Larsen & Toubro has forecast its FY’10 order inflow to grow by 25%-35%
Engineering company Larsen & Toubro’s order inflow in FY’09 increased by 24% to Rs 52,000 crore. In the fourth quarter ended March 2009, its order inflows were Rs 12,900 crore, flat compared to last year. The order book is a key measure used to evaluate how much an engineering company’s revenues will grow in the near to medium term.
Continue ReadingInfosys Technologies Q4 revenues down 1.8%, profit up 2.6%
The software bellwether Infosys Technologies’s business took a hit in FY’09. In the fourth quarter, its revenues fell by 1.8% to $1.1bn while its net profit grew by 2.6% to $321mn. These are figures compiled under IFRS accounting norms. But the company’s figures are much better under Indian accounting norms, due to the rupee’s sharp depreciation against the dollar.
Continue ReadingGrupo Mexico makes an all cash $1.3bn bid for Asarco
Grupo Mexico and Vedanta Resources are slugging it out for control over US copper company Asarco LLC. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Grupo Mexico has offered $1.3bn in cash to a court, which is hearing the bankruptcy proceedings against Asarco. Vedanta Resources, which is the holding company for the Sterlite group, has bid higher at $1.7bn but this is a combination of $1.1bn in cash and the rest in notes (fixed income instruments.
Continue ReadingPfizer to raise stake in Pfizer India to 75%; is delisting on the cards?
Pfizer Investment Netherlands BV, a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc, will pay Rs 675 a share to acquire a 33.77% stake in Pfizer India. At this price, the total consideration is Rs 680 crore and Pfizer’s stake will go up to 75%. It will take regulatory approvals for the open offer. Pfizer will have to revise its offer price for the open offer to succeed, as the current market price is already Rs 685. It would have known it may not get many buyers at this price. But it expects the offer to open only in June 2009, so it has used the prevailing price to arrive at a floor.
Continue ReadingSatyam Computer sold to Tech Mahindra
Satyam Computer Services has found a new home in Tech Mahindra. It will pay Rs 58 a share, or a premium 23% premium over Friday’s close, to acquire a 31% stake in Satyam. That speaks for Satyam’s value even after all the fudging of books or for Tech Mahindra’s desire to acquire Satyam. Either way, it’s an outcome that will please Satyam’s shareholders, board and the government itself. The shareholders got a good price, the board has managed the sale process without any glitches and the government would be happy that it remains in Indian hands.
Continue ReadingSatyam sale enters final stage today
The board is expected to open financial bids on Monday submitted by a few bidders remaining at the last stage. Among them are believed to be Tech Mahindra, L&T, Cognizant Technologies and some private equity funds. If the gap between the first and losing bids is less than 10%, then there will be open auction. The highest bidder in the auction will be declared the new owner.
Will Pfizer India make an open offer to Wyeth’s shareholders or will the two merge?
Pfizer is acquiring Wyeth for $68bn in a cash and stock transaction. Both companies have listed subsidiaries in India, Pfizer Limited and Wyeth Limited. The first point of interest for Indian shareholders will be whether this will result in an open offer for Wyeth. It will not, because the transaction has been styled as a merger agreement, in which Pfizer will pay the consideration in cash and stock. Under the Sebi Takeover regulations, an acquisition by way of merger will be exempt from the compulsory open offer clause.
Continue ReadingOil PSUs get Rs 21,942 crore bonds
The government yesterday issued bonds worth Rs 21,942 crore to the oil marketing companies to compensate for the losses incurred by them. IOC got about 54% of the total bonds while BPCL was issued nearly a fourth and HPCL the rest. These bonds have a coupon of 6.9% and mature in 2026. Since the oil marketing companies have little leeway in fixing prices of petroleum products resulting in losses, especially on the sale of kerosene and LPG.
Oil PSUs to spend 2% of net profit on CSR
The petroleum ministry announced that public sector units in the oil sector –like Gail, HPCL, ONGC, BPCL and IndianOil- have resolved to spend at least 2% of their net profits on corporate social responsibility projects. There was a joint meeting of the Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Murli Deora, chairmen of oil PSUs and the petroleum secretary, RS Pandey.
RBI’s credit policy stands still
The Reserve Bank of India announced its third quarter review of the monetary policy today, disappointing the rate-cut hopefuls by leaving all key benchmarks unchanged. In the past few months, the central bank has provided enough leeway, by reducing interest rates and adding to cash in the banking system, for banks to start lending again.