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Citi may sell $2b stake in HDFC Bank

World's biggest lender Citigroup may sell its stake worth $2 billion in the country's leading mortgage lender HDFC, a media report said. “The bank's German operation has already been put up for sale… and it is understood Citi may also sell its $2 billion stake in Indian bank HDFC,” the report said. Battered by billions of dollars of losses from the sub-prime crisis, Citi has embarked on a major restructuring drive led by its India-born chief executive Vikram Pandit. Recently, various reports said the world's biggest bank is gearing up for an aggressive round of layoffs, with plans to cut 6,500 jobs from its investment banking business. […]

Pioneer Investments acquires 51% shareholding in BOB AMC

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued a no objection to the inclusion of Pioneer Global Asset Management SpA (Pioneer Investments) as a co-sponsor in BOB Mutual Fund. Consequently, Pioneer Investments has acquired a 51% shareholding in BOB Asset Management Company Limited. Pioneer Investments through this joint venture with Bank of Baroda is set to commence its asset management operations and mutual fund business in India. The new venture will now be named as “Baroda Pioneer Asset Management Company Limited”, with Pioneer Investments holding 51% stake with management control and Bank of Baroda holding 49% in the AMC. . The joint venture combines world class investment management skills of Pioneer Investments, gained over the last 80 years from various markets across the globe, with the very strong presence in India of Bank of Baroda’s wide network of branches. For Investors, this would result in newer opportunities for wealth creation combined with easy accessibility. […]

MTN may quit Reliance talks: Report

Caught in the middle of the Ambani siblings’ feud, South African telecom giant MTN is mulling walking away from talks for a possible amalgamation with Anil Ambani-led Reliance Communications (Rcom), a report said today. “South Africa’s MTN is considering walking away from a tie-up with Reliance Communications of India because it fears an acrimonious spat between the Indian telecom operator’s owner and his brother could leave the deal open to legal action,” UK daily Financial Times reported. While quoting an unnamed person familiar with the talks as saying MTN and RCom could extend their exclusive talks for another two to three weeks after the 45-day period expires tomorrow, the report said, “there is no indication that extra time alone would be sufficient to resolve the feud” between Anil and Mukesh Ambani. The deal, if fructifies, could create a combined entity worth about $70-80 billion, which would be one the world’s biggest emerging market telecom firm. […]

Talco denied reports of selling its stake to Nalco

Talco, the Tajik national aluminium plant, has denied earlier reports about possibly selling its general stake to Nalco, India’s second largest aluminium manufacturer, AsiaPlus reports. Despite media reports claiming Nalco would most likely acquire 51% of the Tajik plant, Saekhat Kadyrova, Talco’s press secretary, dismissed such reports as “absurd”, emphasizing that negotiations have never taken place. If Nalco sealed an agreement with the Tajik company, it would become the world’s third largest aluminium manufacturer. “Selling a company that provides 75% of the country’s total cash currency, and when world aluminium prices are soaring […]

US based distress fund may buy stake in SpiceJet

Wilbur Ross, a US-based distress fund may invest in SpiceJet, reports Business Standard. Last week, a media report stated that Kingfisher Airline is in negotiations with two majority shareholders of SpiceJet to buy the low-cost airline in all cash deals. Kingfisher is negotiating with Gulf based fund Istithmar and UK based Kansagra family. Together they hold 26.3% in SpiceJet; acquisition of more than 20% would lead to an open offer as per SEBI rules. If Kingfisher acquires the airliner it will hold more than 40% market share in SpiceJet and be able to control the pricing on key routes. SpiceJet is looking to raise USD 100 million from the markets. (My Iris) […]

Bangalore's Bearys group to raise funds from PEs

Bangalore-based Bearys Group is scouting for a partner to raise around USD 350 million to fund its two Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in Bangalore and Mangalore, besides a few other projects, a top official said. “We are holding talks with several private equity players in the overseas market to mop up USD 350 million to fund our SEZs and other projects. Talks are in advanced stages and we hope to finalise one partner in the next 3 to 4 months,” Bearys Amanah investment's CEO, Shariq Nisar, said. Bearys Amanah Investment is the real estate investment arm of the Rs 2,000-crore Bearys group. The UBS Group of Switzerland, Dubai Islamic Bank and Gulf Investment House are some of the entities the Bearys group is negotiating with, Nisar said. […]

IFC to acquire shares of Modern Dairies

World Bank's private sector financing arm International Finance Corporation will lend $8.5 million to Modern Dairies. The dairy company has entered into a 'Loan Agreement' with International Finance Corporation (IFC) for an External Commercial Borrowing of $8.5 million (about Rs 36 crore) subject to RBI approval, Modern Dairies said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. The dairy firm had announced that it has entered into a 'Subscription Agreement' and a 'Shareholder Agreement' with IFC, under which IFC would acquire 46.50 lakh shares of Modern Dairies for Rs 27.90 crore. Ernst & Young acted as financial advisor to Modern Dairies on the transaction. […]

CUMI agrees to acquire 51% stake in FZL, SA

Murugappa Group company, Carborundum Universal Ltd (CUMI) has entered into an agreement with Foskor (Proprietary) Ltd, South Africa to acquire 51 per cent equity stake in Foskor Zirconia (Proprietary) Ltd, Phalaborwa, South Africa, (FZL) for an undisclosed some. With a 4200 tonnes per annum installed capacity for Zirconia (mineral), FZL is the third largest producer of Zirconia in the world. Fumed silica is also produced as a by-product of the furnace operation. This investment will be a good platform for CUMI to address the growing minerals business. The sales of FZL in 2007-08 were $ 16 million. This will be reflected in CUMI balance sheet starting from the current year. CUMI on a standalone basis has a total revenue of Rs 600 crore. […]

ICICI Venture sells JV stake to Tishman

Private equity firm ICICI Venture, a unit of ICICI Bank , said on Friday it had reached a deal with Tishman Speyer to sell its stake in their Indian real estate joint venture to the U.S. firm. ICICI Venture said it will sell its 50 percent stake in TSI Ventures India Pvt Ltd, a real estate joint venture company, to Tishman Speyer, which will now become the sole owner. Tishman Speyer and ICICI Venture would remain equity partners in TSI's three current projects, the Indian firm said in a statement that did not give financial details of the transaction. “Both companies remain open to investing together in Indian real estate in the future,” it said. (Reuters) […]

Mallya eyes 26% stake in SpiceJet

Indian aviation could soon witness the next round of consolidation as Kingfisher Airline's 's move to acquire a stake in low-cost carrier SpiceJet has entered its final phase. UB Group chief Vijay Mallya is holding talks with SpiceJet's main promoter Bhupendra Kansagra in Europe for buying his 12.91% stake, along with a 13.42% stake held by Dubai-based investment firm Istithmar PJSC. Mallya, who is learnt to be looking for a total of 26%, stake, may have to shell out between Rs 145 to Rs 155 crore for the deal. At current stock prices, the SpiceJet's valuation is over Rs 600 crore. Its share closed at Rs 25 on Friday. SpiceJet is learnt to be losing up to Rs 70 lakh daily on account of high oil prices and looking for fresh infusion of funds to survive. […]