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Mindtree Reports 53% YoY Rise in Net Profit in Q4 – Top Indian Market News

Mindtree Q4 Results: Net profit rises 53% YoY to Rs 317 crore

Mindtree Limited reported a 53.4% year-on-year (YoY) increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 317.3 crore for the quarter ended March (Q4). On a quarterly basis, net profit has declined by 2.9%. The IT firm’s revenue from operations rose 3% YoY to Rs 2,109.3 crore during the same period. Its order book grew 12.3% YoY to $1,382 million in FY21. Mindtree has announced a final dividend of Rs 17.5 per share.

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NALCO receives mining lease for Utkal-E coal block in Odisha

The Department of Steel & Mines, Government of Odisha, has granted the mining lease of Utkal-E coal block to National Aluminium Company (NALCO) Limited. The initial capacity of the Utkal-E coal block is 2 million tonnes per year, with a total mineable reserve of ~70 million tonnes. With the grant of Utkal D & E coal blocks, NALCO’s total mineable coal reserve will increase to 175 million tonnes.

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Ashok Leyland delivers light bulletproof vehicles to Indian Air Force

Ashok Leyland said it has delivered the first lot of Light Bulletproof Vehicles (LBPV) to the Indian Air Force. The LBPV is an adopted version of Lockheed Martin’s Common Vehicle Next-Gen (CVNG). It was developed under a transfer of technology (TOT) agreement between Ashok Leyland and Lockheed Martin. The LBPV has high off-road mobility in mud, sand, rocks, and shallow water. It can accommodate a crew of six people, with ample cargo space to carry substantial mission equipment.

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L&T secures significant orders across business segments

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) said its construction arm has received significant orders (in the range of Rs 1,000-2,500 crore) across business segments in the domestic and international markets. Its power transmission and distribution business has won orders to construct two 132/11kV substations in Dubai. L&T’s building and factories business has secured an order from a leading cement manufacturer to construct a 3.5 MTPA cement plant in Rajasthan.

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Maruti Suzuki hikes prices of select models by up to Rs 22,500

Maruti Suzuki India said it has hiked prices of select car models by up to Rs 22,500 to partially offset the impact of rising input costs. The weighted average price increase of ex-showroom prices (Delhi) across models is 1.6%. The price hike will be applicable to all car models, except Celerio and Swift. In January 2021, the automaker had announced a price hike of select models by Rs 34,000 due to a rise in input costs.

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Quess Corp to acquire remaining 30% stake in Conneqt from Tata Sons for Rs 208 crore

Quess Corp Limited said it will acquire the remaining 30% equity stake in Conneqt Business Solutions Ltd from Tata Sons for Rs 208 crore. With this transaction, Conneqt will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Quess Corp. This will allow the company to realise synergies between its various divisions (including Conneqt and Allsec Technologies). It will also strengthen Quess’ position to accelerate growth in the IT/ITeS space.

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GTPL Hathway Q4 Results: Net profit at Rs 56.89 crore

GTPL Hathway Ltd reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 56.89 crore for the quarter ended March (Q4). It had posted a net loss of Rs 13.62 crore in the corresponding period last year. The company’s revenue from operations rose 17.82% YoY to Rs 748.72 crore in Q4 FY21. Its board has recommended a dividend of Rs 4 per share. GTPL Hathway is a leading digital cable TV and broadband service provider.

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RITES-led consortium emerges lowest bidder for railway project in Bangladesh

A consortium led by RITES Limited has emerged as the lowest (L1) bidder for a tender floated by Bangladesh Railways. The order consists of the construction of a dual gauge railway line from Bogura to Shahid M. Mansur Ali station in Bangladesh. The project is funded by Exim Bank of India under the Line of Credit (LOC) scheme. RITES stated that the total fee income would be ~Rs 63 crore.

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NTPC to raise Rs 3,996 crore via bonds

NTPC Limited said it will raise Rs 3,996 crore through the issuance of non-convertible bonds on April 20, 2021 (Tuesday). The bonds will be issued on a private placement basis at a coupon rate of 6.87% per annum. The proceeds from this issue will be utilised for funding capital expenditure, refinancing of existing loans, and other general corporate purposes. The bonds are proposed to be listed on NSE.

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Vivimed Labs receives approval for 3 products

Vivimed Labs Limited has received approvals for 3 products from its state-of-the-art manufacturing site in Hyderabad. The approved products include Bilastine tablets 20mg under the brand name- FLUSTIN. It is used in the treatment of allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis and Urticaria (hives). The second product is Ornidazole and Otloxacin tablets, used in the treatment of bacterial and parasitic infections. The third product is Paracetamol 12 Smg/Sml and Chlorpheniramine Maleate Syrup (used to treat symptoms of allergic conditions).

IndiGo to waive-off change fees on domestic bookings made from April 17-30

InterGlobe Aviation Ltd (IndiGo) announced that it will not charge any fees to change the time or date on domestic tickets that are booked between April 17-30. The airline said passengers can make unlimited changes on domestic tickets booked between this period. However, there will be no change in cancellation fees.

In other news, IndiGo said it had transported a total of 81,437 kg of Covid-19 vaccines between January 12 and April 12. The airline had a leading market share of 36.56% in Covid-19 vaccine transportation during this period.

Read more here.

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WPI Inflation Rises to 8-Year High of 7.39% in March – Top Indian Market News

WPI Inflation rises to 8-year high of 7.39% in March

According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, wholesale inflation in India rose to an 8-year high of 7.39% in March. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) stood at 4.17% in February and 2.51% in January. The prices of crude oil, petroleum products, and basic metals increased substantially in March, as compared to the corresponding month last year. The food articles segment witnessed a 3.24% rise last month. 

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Wipro Q4 Results: Net profit rises 28% YoY to Rs 2,972.3 crore

Wipro Limited reported a 27.78% year-on-year (YoY) increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 2,972.3 crore for the quarter ended March (Q4). On a quarterly basis, net profit has increased marginally by 0.14%. The IT company’s revenue from operations rose 3.4% YoY to Rs 16,245.4 crore during the same period. The firm had closed 12 large deals during the quarter with a total contract value of $1.4 billion (~Rs 10,511 crore). Wipro expects revenues from its IT services to grow 2-4% on a sequential basis in the June quarter (Q1).

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L&T secures contracts worth upto Rs 2,500 crore in Q4

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Limited said it has bagged significant orders (in the range of Rs 1,000-2,500 crore) in the quarter ended March (Q4). L&T Heavy Engineering secured an order for 12 steam generators for a 3×700 megawatt electrical (MWe) pressurised heavy water reactor. In the area of refinery, petrochemicals, and oil & gas, L&T Heavy Engineering received a critical reactor system package order for Indian Oil Corporation’s petrochemical project.

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Tata Steel unveils multi-million-pound plan for tube making site in UK

Tata Steel Limited unveiled its transformation plans for a steel tube-making site in East Midlands, United Kingdom. Work has commenced at the 150-acre site at Corby, which produces vital steel tube products for sports stadiums, skyscrapers, hospitals, and renewable green energy schemes around the world. Under the transformation plans, manufacturing processes on the site will be brought closer together as part of a 25-million pound scheme.

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Tinplate Company Q4 Results: Net profit rises 107% YoY to Rs 56 crore

Tinplate Company of India reported a 107.04% YoY jump in standalone net profit to Rs 56.15 crore for the quarter ended March (Q4). Its revenue from operations rose 59.82% YoY to Rs 754.97 crore during the same period. The company’s board has recommended a dividend of Rs 2 per share. Tinplate Company manufactures various grades of electrolytic tinplates, tin-free steel sheets, and full hard cold rolled sheets used for metal packaging. It is a subsidiary of Tata Steel.

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Mahindra fails to find buyer for SsangYong Motor; falls in court receivership

The Seoul Bankruptcy Court has put SsangYong Motor under court receivership after its parent company, Mahindra & Mahindra, failed to find a buyer for the insolvent firm. SsangYong had defaulted on a loan payment worth ~Rs 680 crore on December 21, 2020, following which it applied for court receivership. However, the company was given three months to secure funds after saying it was in talks with US-based HAAH Automotive. SsangYong is expected to submit a rehabilitation plan to the court in June 2021.

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NMDC raises lump ore price by Rs 1,100 per tonne

NMDC Limited said it has hiked prices of iron ore with effect from April 14, 2021. The prices of lump ore were increased by 18.80% (or Rs 1,100) to Rs 6,950 per tonne. The prices of iron ore fines jumped 10.96% to Rs 5,060 per tonne. State-owned NMDC is the largest iron ore producer in India. The company presently produces around 35 million tonnes of iron ore from 3 mechanised mines.

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GE Power India to acquire 50% stake in NTPC GE Power Services

The Board of Directors of GE Power India Ltd has approved the acquisition of a 50% stake in NTPC GE Power Services Pvt Limited. The cost of the acquisition is Rs 7.2 crore. GE Power would enter into renovation and modernization of thermal power plants and partner with state-owned NTPC Limited. This investment and joint venture (JV) with NTPC is expected to strengthen GE Power’s portfolio and open avenues for expanded scope of business for future projects.

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RBL Bank partners with Mastercard to offer first-of-a-kind payment functionality

RBL Bank has entered into a partnership with Mastercard to launch a mobile-based consumer-friendly payment solution— the Pay by Bank App, a first-of-its-kind payment functionality in India. The bank’s account holders can enjoy contactless transactions across the world through their mobile banking application both in-store and online. This functionality will be available at all Mastercard accepting merchants that accept contactless and online payments.

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IL&FS addresses debt of Rs 43,000 crore so far

IL&FS said it has addressed aggregate group debt of Rs 43,000 crore till date through the sale of assets and other cash receivables. The crisis-ridden company has also increased the debt recovery target to Rs 61,000 crore. The increased estimate represents the resolution of nearly 62% of overall fund-based and non-fund-based group debt of ~Rs 99,000 crore as of October 2018. IL&FS collapsed around August 2018 when it started defaulting on bonds that came due to investors. 

Read more here.

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Centre’s Net Indirect Tax Collections Rise 12% in FY21 – Top Indian Market News

Centre’s net indirect tax collections rise 12% in FY21

The Centre’s net revenue collections from indirect taxes witnessed a 12.3% year-on-year (YoY) rise to 10.71 lakh crore in the financial year 2020-21. This was supported by robust growth in receipts from customs duty and central excise (mostly from petrol and diesel). This figure has surpassed both the original as well as upwardly revised estimates for FY21 in the case of customs duty, central excise, and service tax taken together. The Centre collected Rs 1.32 lakh crore in customs duty receipts in FY21, an increase of 21% YoY. 

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BPCL partners with Accenture to transform its sales, distribution network

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has partnered with Accenture to transform its extensive sales and distribution network. Accenture will use its capabilities in data, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud technologies to build, design, and implement a digital platform, called IRIS. This platform will integrate real-time data from across BPCL’s countrywide network to provide a consolidated view of its extensive operations.

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S&P Dow Jones Indices removes Adani Ports from sustainability index

S&P Dow Jones Indices said it is removing Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) from its sustainability index due to the company’s business ties with Myanmar’s military, which is accused of human rights violations after a coup in February. APSEZ had earlier announced plans of building a $290 million port in Yangon on land leased from the military-backed Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC). The stock will be removed from the index prior to the open on April 15.

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L&T begins construction of 300-MW solar power plant in Saudi Arabia

The renewables arm of Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) Power Transmission & Distribution Business has secured the go-ahead to begin construction of a 300 MW solar power plant in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) order was received from a consortium of Masdar, EDF Renewables, and Nesma Company. Earlier, L&T said it had secured a major EPC order for establishing a 1.5 gigawatt (GW) Sudair solar PV project in Saudi Arabia.

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Adani Green Energy’s subsidiary commissions 50-MW solar plant in Chitrakoot

Adani Solar Energy Chitrakoot One Ltd (ASECOL), a subsidiary of Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), has commissioned a 50 megawatt (MW) solar power plant in Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh. The plant has a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd at Rs 3.07 per kilowatt-hour for a period of 25 years. This takes AGEL’s total operational renewable capacity to 3,520 MW.

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JLR will report significant cash flow in Q4: Tata Motors

Tata Motors Limited said Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is confident of reporting significant cash flows for the quarter ended March (Q4) and break-even on a cash flow basis for the financial year ended March 31. JLR posted a 12.4% year-on-year (YoY) increase in retail sales to 123,483 units in Q4. Sales of Jaguar declined by 17.1%YoY to 23,463 units, while sales of Land Rover jumped 22.6% YoY to 100,020 units during the same period.

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Ashoka Buildcon declared lowest bidder for Gujarat Rail project

Ashoka Buildcon Limited has emerged as the lowest (L1) bidder for a tender floated by Gujarat Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation. The project consists of Gauge Conversion of Bechraji-Ranuj section to Broad Gauge with 25 kilovolt (kV) AC electrification in Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway. The total project cost is Rs 333.26 crore.

Cipla doubles remdesivir production amid unprecedented demand

Cipla Limited said it has doubled production of Covid-19 medication remdesivir to help meet “unprecedented demand” as India battles the second wave of infections. Recently, the Centre banned the export of the antiviral drug and its Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) to deal with shortages of the medication. The drugmaker is working with authorities to restrict remdesivir supply just to hospitals and areas with a high burden of severe Covid-19 cases.

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NBCC secures order to construct office building in Noida

NBCC (India) Limited has been awarded a work order for engagement as Project Management Consultant (PMC) for the construction of a Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL) office building at Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The total value of the project is Rs 65.10 crore at a PMC fee of 7%. NBCC (India) is a Government of India enterprise that provides civil engineering construction services.

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Ramco Systems partners with EXSYN Aviation Solutions

Ramco Systems Limited has partnered with EXSYN Aviation Solutions to jointly offer aircraft data migration solutions to new clients. This partnership will enable new clients that are onboarding Ramco Aviation M&E MRO Suite to trust and rely on the expertise and technology of EXSYN. This will help clients to smoothly migrate their data from existing systems into Ramco applications.

Read more here.

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Tata Power to Develop 60 MW Solar Project in Gujarat – Top Indian Market News

Tata Power receives order to develop 60 MW solar project in Gujarat

Tata Power Limited has secured an order to develop a 60 megawatt (MW) solar project for Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL). The energy will be supplied to GUVNL under a power purchase agreement (PPA), which is valid for 25 years from the scheduled date of commercial operation. With this order, Tata Power’s renewable energy capacity will increase to 4,007 MW.

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L&T secures orders worth Rs 1,000-2,000 crore across various business segments

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) said its construction arm has secured significant orders (in the range of Rs 1,000-2,000 crore) across various business segments. Its heavy civil infrastructure business has secured an EPC order to construct a four-lane bridge across river Ganga on the newly declared NH-131B in Bihar. L&T Construction’s water & effluent treatment business has received a design, build, and operate order from the Municipal Corporation of Amritsar for setting up a bulk water supply system.

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Indiamart Intermesh to acquire 11% stake in Legistify Services

Indiamart Intermesh Ltd, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Tradezeal Online, will acquire an 11.01% stake in Legistify Services for Rs 1.30 crore. Legistify offers a SaaS (software as a service)-based ERP tool that allows enterprises to manage their legal workflows. Indiamart said this investment is in line with its long-term objective of offering various SaaS-based solutions for businesses.

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BHEL secures order worth Rs 400 crore from Indian Oil Corp

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has received an order worth Rs 400 crore for setting up a sulphur recovery unit at Indian Oil Corporation’s (IOCL) Paradip Refinery in Odisha. With this order, BHEL has made its entry into the downstream oil & gas process package business. The company’s scope in the contract includes project management, residual process design, testing, construction, commissioning, and performance guarantee test run of the 525 TPD (tonnes per day) sulphur recovery unit.

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Dilip Buildcon wins order worth Rs 1,137 crore from NHAI

Dilip Buildcon Limited (DBL) has secured an order worth Rs 1,137 crore from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for a road project in Karnataka. The project consists of four-laning the Sannur-Bikarnakatte section of NH-169 on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM). The completion period for the 45-km project is 24 months.

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TCS unveils new brand statement- ‘Building on Belief’

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has unveiled a new brand statement— ‘Building on Belief’, as it embarks on its next decade of transformation-led growth. It expresses the active and collaborative role that TCS plays in partnering customers over the long term, leveraging its contextual knowledge, investments in research and innovation, and technology expertise to help them grow and achieve their transformational goals. TCS will launch an integrated 360-degree campaign across media platforms to highlight the new brand statement.

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Alkem Labs to invest Rs 40 crore in ABCD Technologies

Alkem Laboratories said it has agreed to subscribe to a partnership interest in healthcare services firm ABCD Technologies LLP. The pharma company will invest Rs 40 crore in ABCD Tech. The objective of this acquisition is to digitise healthcare infrastructure in India towards facilitating better distribution practices. Last week, Sun Pharma, Lupin, Cadila Healthcare, and Torrent Pharma said they have subscribed to the partnership interest in the same firm.

SJVN to develop 70 MW grid-connected solar project in Gujarat

SJVN Limited has received a Letter of Award (LoA) from the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) to develop a 70 MW grid-controlled solar power project in Gujarat. The company will supply electricity from this project to GUVNL at a rate of Rs 2.21 per kilowatt-hour for a period of 25 years. SJVN said this project will support in achieving its vision of increasing its electricity generation capacity to 5,000 MW by 2023.

Tamilnadu Petro to invest Rs 435 crore for capacity expansion

The Board of Directors of Tamilnadu Petroproducts has approved an investment of Rs 435 crore for capacity expansion and revamping its manufacturing plants. The capacity of its linear alkyl benzene (LAB) plant will be increased from 120 kilo-tonnes per annum (KTA) to 145 KTA at an estimated cost of Rs 240 crore. The company’s heavy chemicals division (HCD) plant will be modernised at an estimated cost of Rs 165 crore.

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RBL Bank partners with Tide to serve banking needs of Indian SMEs

RBL Bank said it will provide banking infrastructure to UK-based fintech Tide’s India platform, which is focused on the small & medium enterprises (SME) segment. SMEs will have an option to open current and savings accounts at RBL Bank through Tide’s business platform. The bank can also integrate its payment APIs to enable Tide users to make seamless transactions through the platform.

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Goldiam International receives export orders worth Rs 80 crore

Goldiam International Ltd said it has secured export orders from prominent international clients. It has won an order for manufacturing diamond-studded designed gold jewellery worth Rs 80 crore. The company will deliver the export orders within 3 months. Mumbai-based Goldiam International is a leading global exporter of luxurious diamond jewellery.

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Barbeque Nation IPO Subscribed 1.33 Times on Day 1 – Top Indian Market News

Barbeque Nation IPO subscribed 1.33 times on first day of bidding

The Rs 452.87-crore initial public offering (IPO) of Barbeque Nation Hospitality Limited was subscribed 1.33 times on the first day of bidding. The IPO has received bids for 66.46 lakh equity shares against an offer size of 49.99 lakh shares. The portion reserved for retail investors was subscribed 6.14 times. The portion set aside for non-institutional investors (NIIs) saw a subscription of 7% and that of qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) 37%.

To know more about the IPO, click here.

Adani Green to acquire 75-MW solar projects from Sterling & Wilson

Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) said it will acquire 75 megawatt (MW) operating solar projects of Sterling & Wilson for Rs 446 crore. The company has signed definitive agreements with Sterling & Wilson for acquiring a 100% stake in two special purpose vehicles (SPVs) that own the 75 MW solar projects in Telangana. With this acquisition, AGEL’s operating renewable capacity will increase to 3,470 MW, with a total renewable portfolio of 15,240 MW.

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Rajya Sabha returns Finance Bill 2021; Parliamentary approval for Budget completed

The Rajya Sabha, on Wednesday, returned the Finance Bill 2021 without any new amendment. This marks the completion of the Parliamentary approval for Union Budget 2021-22. The Upper House debated and amended Finance Bill 2021 that was approved by the Lok Sabha (Lower House) on Tuesday. The two houses of Parliament had previously approved the Appropriation Bill, which authorizes the spending (or expenditure) of government funds.

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Prestige to take over $1.4 billion Mumbai housing project from bankrupt Ariisto Developers

Prestige Estates Projects Ltd will take over a Mumbai housing project from bankrupt Ariisto Developers Pvt Ltd, following a court decision on Tuesday. The company estimates revenues of more than $1.4 billion (~Rs 10,162 crore) from the 7.5 million square feet under development. Prestige Estates plans to launch the first phase of the project by May and the second phase towards the end of the year. It will be the developer’s largest project in Mumbai.

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Adani Enterprises’ subsidiary secures Rs 1,040 crore road project from NHAI

Adani Road Transport Ltd (ARTL) has received a Letter of Award (LoA) from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for a road project in Telangana. The project consists of four-laning the Kodad-Khammam section of NH-365A in Telangana on a Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM). The company’s bid project cost is Rs 1,039.90 crore. ARTL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited.

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IndiGo pays Rs 1,030 crore as refund for flight cancellations during lockdown

InterGlobe Aviation Ltd (IndiGo) said it has paid out refunds worth Rs 1,030 crore to customers, following a Supreme Court order that asked airlines to refund fares for flight bookings made during the government-imposed lockdown last year. The airline has processed 99.95% of the total money owed to its customers.

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L&T-built offshore patrol vessel ICGS Vajra commissioned into Indian Coast Guard

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) announced the commissioning of ICGS Vajra, its sixth vessel in the series of seven offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) being built by the company under a contract with the Defence Ministry. ICGS Vajra was delivered by L&T ahead of schedule. The seventh vessel, ICGS Vigraha, was launched in October 2020 and will soon undergo sea trials.

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Escorts to hike prices of tractors from April 1

The Agri Machinery division of Escorts Limited has announced a hike in prices of all its tractors with effect from April 1, 2021. The increase in prices would vary across models and variants. Escorts stated that the rising commodity prices necessitate a price hike to offset the impact of inflation. 

On Tuesday, two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp said it will increase the prices of its motorcycles and scooters by up to Rs 2,500 from next month. 

Read more here.

Infibeam Avenues’ board approves allotment of 66.55 crore bonus shares

The Board of Directors of Infibeam Avenues has approved the allotment of 66.55 crore equity shares by way of a bonus issue in the ratio of 1:1. The company’s total paid-up equity share capital after the bonus issue will increase to 133.10 crore shares of Re 1 each. [A bonus issue of 1:1 means that existing shareholders will get one extra share for every one share held]

RBI entends validity of authorization issued to Vakrangee for setting up White Label ATMs

Vakrangee Ltd said that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the validity of authorization issued to the company to set up, own, and operate White Label ATMs (WLAs) in India. The validity has been extended till March 31, 2022. The central bank had assigned a target of a minimum of 1,000 ATMs to be deployed by Vakrangee for every calendar year starting 2020 for an initial period of three years. [WLAs are ATMs owned and operated by non-banking firms]

ICICI Bank launches instant EMI facility on its internet banking platform

ICICI Bank has announced the launch of an instant EMI (Equated Monthly Instalments) facility on its internet banking platform. The bank’s “EMI @ Internet Banking” facility aims to offer increased affordability to millions of pre-approved customers. It enables customers to convert their high-value transactions up to Rs 5 lakh into easy monthly installments. The facility has been enabled for over 1,000 merchants in categories like online shopping portals, insurance, travel, etc.

Read more here.

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Editorial

Highway Infra Construction Firms: An Analysis

As we know, the infrastructure sector has received a significant boost through the provisions of the Union Budget 2021-22. The Finance Ministry has allocated a whopping Rs 1.18 lakh crore towards the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. This fund would be utilised for the launch of mega national highway projects across the states of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, and Kerala. This would strengthen the existing transportation networks in India and ensure more connectivity.

This is clearly great news for large infrastructure companies that constantly receive contracts from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Over the years, these firms have built and maintained some of the best roads and highways in our country. Let us take a closer look at some of the prominent companies that excel in the construction of highways in India. 

Larsen & Toubro

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Limited is engaged in engineering, construction, and manufacturing operations worldwide. The company’s infrastructure segment constructs buildings and factories, transportation infrastructure, heavy civil infrastructure, power transmission and distribution, etc. L&T Infrastructure Development Projects Limited (L&T IDPL) is a pioneer of the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model of development in India. IDPL’s portfolio of road projects includes some of the most economically significant and high-traffic corridors connecting key industrial cities and ports. The company’s total portfolio consists of 17 projects, comprising 7,800 lane kilometers of roads and highways. 

L&T has invested heavily in research and development (R&D) activities to improve efficiency and accuracy. Thus, they have been able to complete and deliver projects within the stipulated time.

Financial Performance:

L&T’s revenues and profits have shown consistent growth over the years. This is primarily due to the large number of contracts they receive from Central and state government agencies. The company reported a 4.8% year-on-year (YoY) increase in net profit to Rs 2,446.7 crore for the quarter ended December (Q3). L&T’s revenue from operations declined 1.78% YoY to Rs 35,596 crore during the same period. The company’s order inflow in Q3 was the highest-ever in any quarter. It received fresh orders worth a new record of Rs 73,233 crore. 

Over the last 5 years, L&T’s revenue has grown at a yearly rate of 9.71%, whereas the industry average stood at 5.44%. The company has continued to show its dominance in the infrastructure sector by securing a large number of “significant contracts” over the past year. It has been able to obtain a market share of 50.04%. L&T offers very attractive dividends as well.

The share price of L&T has surged by more than 82% since April 2020.

Dilip Buildcon

Dilip Buildcon Limited (DBL) is one of the leading infrastructure companies that is engaged in the construction of roads, bridges, dams, and commercial & residential buildings. It operates in two segments- EPC Projects and Toll Operations. The company undertakes state and national highway projects, city road projects, and bridge operation and maintenance projects. The company also develops irrigation projects, urban development projects, dams, canals, metro rail viaducts, and much more. It is involved in the maintenance of road infrastructure facilities and toll operations. DBL has established its presence in more than 19 states.

Dilip Buildcon’s revenue has grown at a yearly rate of 28.85% over the past 5 years, whereas the industry average stood at 5.44%.  The company posted a 107% YoY jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 181.91 crore for the quarter ended December (Q3). Revenue had increased by 7.1% YoY to  Rs 2,746.19 crore in Q3. These are strong figures indeed. It has been able to secure a market share of 3.31%.

Since April 2020, the shares of Dilip Buildcon have rallied by more than 187%.

IRB Infrastructure Developers

IRB Infrastructure Developers Limited is engaged in the construction, development, and maintenance of roads and highways on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. The company operates in two segments- Toll Operate & Transfer Projects and Construction. IRB is also involved in real estate development, generation and sale of electricity through windmills, and airport infrastructure activities. The company has 21 projects with 12,317 lane kilometers of roads and highways. 

Recently, the company emerged as the successful bidder for the construction of eight lanes of the Gandeva-Ena stretch of the upcoming Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway in Gujarat. The length of the stretch is 27.5 kilometers. The cost of the project is Rs.1,755 crore.

Financial Performance:

IRB Infra Developers have shown a consistent increase in profits and revenues over the years. The company reported a 56% YoY decline in net profit to Rs 69.48 crore for the quarter ended December (Q3). Its total revenue fell to Rs 1,594.80 crore in Q3, compared to Rs 1,790 crore during the July-September quarter (Q2). However, the company said its construction segment has seen a robust recovery and continues to strengthen further.

Over the past 5 years, the revenue of IRB Infrastructure Developers has grown at a yearly rate of 12.39%, whereas the industry average stood at 5.44%. The company has been able to obtain a market share of 2.39%. 

The stock price of IRB Infrastructure Developers has surged by 116% since April 2020.

PNC Infratech

PNC Infratech Limited is a construction, development, and management company based in Agra. The company undertakes various infrastructure projects, including highways, bridges, flyovers, power transmission lines, airport runways and pavements, and track construction. It also provides end-to-end infrastructure implementation solutions such as engineering, procurement, and construction services (EPC) on a fixed-sum turnkey basis. 

Recently, the company’s subsidiary -PNC Unnao Highways- received an order worth Rs 1,602 crore from the NHAI. The project consists of four-laning of the Unnao-Lalganj section of NH 232-A in Uttar Pradesh. Two of its other subsidiaries have won orders aggregating to ~Rs 3,500 crore in Uttar Pradesh.

Financial Performance:

The revenues and profits of PNC Infratech have seen a sharp uptrend over the years. The company reported a 163% YoY jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 176.14 crore for the quarter ended December (Q3). Its revenue from operations increased by 13.78% YoY to Rs 1,582.02 crore during the same period. The company recorded substantial growth in both bottom-line and top-line segments in Q3.

Over the last 5 years, PNC Infratech’s revenue has grown at a yearly rate of 25.3%, whereas the industry average stood at 5.44%. The company has been able to secure a market share of 1.95%.

The shares of PNC Infratech have surged by 154% since April 2020.

KNR Constructions Limited

KNR Constructions Limited operates as an infrastructure development company in India. It provides engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for roads and highways, irrigation, and urban water infrastructure management sectors. It undertakes various infrastructure projects, such as expressways, national highways, flyovers, bridges and viaducts, irrigation projects, and much more.

Several financial analysts suggest that KNR Constructions’ strong balance sheet gives it a key competitive advantage over its peers in bidding for newer projects. It has time and again completed and executed projects ahead of schedule. Over the last 5 years, KNR Constructions’ revenue has grown at a yearly rate of 21.76%, whereas the industry average stood at 5.44%. However, the company has been only able to obtain a market share of 0.85%. 

The share price of KNR Constructions has surged by 109% since April 2020.

Conclusion

We have only mentioned five major companies that could benefit from the new highway projects announced by the Finance Minister. Other listed firms involved in the construction and maintenance of highways include HG Infra Engineering, Bharat Road Network, Ashoka Buildcon, Sadbhav Engineering, MEP Infrastructure, etc. 

The development of a strong transportation network plays an important role in the overall economic growth of our country. These companies have time and again contributed their expertise and resources to the construction of our national highways and city roads. They are likely to receive more orders from the NHAI in the months to come. The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and a Development Finance Institution (DFI) will be set up in our country to provide an extra and essential boost to the sector. Due to positive sentiments surrounding their financial results, fresh orders from NHAI, and provisions of the Budget, we could see a further rally in the shares of these infrastructure firms.

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Cabinet Approves Proposal to Set Up Development Finance Institution – Top Indian Market News

Cabinet approves proposal to set up Development Finance Institution

The Union Cabinet, on Tuesday, approved the creation of a Development Finance Institution (DFI) for funding infrastructure and development activities in the country. The government will initially infuse Rs 20,000 crore into this institution. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the DFI is expected to raise up to Rs 3 lakh crore in the next few years. The DFI will start with 100% ownership of the Government of India. This figure will gradually be brought down to 26%.

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L&T secures multiple orders across business segments in domestic market

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Limited has received multiple orders across its business segments in the domestic market. The company’s water and effluent treatment business has secured EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) orders from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Odisha. L&T’s buildings and factories business has secured an order from a leading cement manufacturer to construct a 10,000 TPD (tonnes per day) Integrated Cement Plant in Pali, Rajasthan. The value of the orders ranges between Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 2,500 crore.

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Godrej Properties raises Rs 3,750 crore via QIP

Godrej Properties Ltd has raised Rs 3,750 crore through a qualified institutional placement (QIP). The company’s board has issued 2.59 crore equity shares (of the face value of Rs 5 each) to eligible qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) at Rs 1,513.39 per share. Godrej Properties will utilise the funds to buy land and expand its business.

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GMM Pfaudler acquires assets of HDO Technologies

GMM Pfaudler announced that it has participated in the e-auction process for the sale of assets owned by HDO Technologies, which is currently under liquidation. The company has been declared as the successful bidder for assets including factory land, building, plant & machinery, office equipment, etc. A consideration of Rs 58.46 crore will be paid for the proposed assets. The tentative date for the completion of the transaction is April 30, 2021.

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TCS launches SaaS-based platform to secure enterprises from cyber risks

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has launched a software-as-a-service (SaaS)-based automated vulnerability remediation platform to protect enterprises from cyber attacks. The platform will identify and prioritise vulnerabilities in the software libraries of enterprises and proactively fix them. It provides risk-based analytics that helps security and IT operations teams to mitigate known risks.

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BEML receives orders worth $23 million from Bangladesh, Cameroon

State-owned BEML Limited has received export orders from Cameroon and Bangladesh under the Government of India- Lines of Credit. The company will supply 71 units of construction equipment consisting of bulldozers, excavators, motor graders, etc to the Ministry of Economy-Planning & Regional Development, Cameroon. It will also supply equipment for road construction and infrastructure projects to the Ministry of Roads & Highways Department, Bangladesh. The total value of the orders is estimated at $23 million (~Rs 167 crore)  

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HG Infra Engineering secures order from NTPC

HG Infra Engineering Ltd has received an order worth Rs 122.38 crore from state-owned NTPC Limited. The order is for the transportation of 26.41 lakh cubic metres of pond ash from NTPC Ramagundam to the NHAI-PIU-Mancherial road construction project. The project has to be completed within 15 months.

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Gland Pharma to supply 252 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine

Gland Pharma Limited has entered into an agreement with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to supply up to 252 million doses of Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine. The company will utilise its Drug Substance and Drug Product facilities at its sites in Hyderabad. The production is expected to commence from the third quarter of 2021.

Read more here.

IPO Updates:

Kalyan Jewellers

The Rs 1,175-crore initial public offering (IPO) of Kalyan Jewellers was subscribed 60% on the first day of bidding. The portion reserved for retail investors was subscribed 1.10 times. The portion set aside for non-institutional investors (NIIs) saw a subscription of 20% and that of employees 1.15%. To know more about the IPO, click here.

Laxmi Organic Industries

The Rs 600-crore initial public offering (IPO) of Laxmi Organic Industries was subscribed 6.05 times on the second day of bidding. The portion reserved for retail investors was subscribed 10.38 times. The portion set aside for non-institutional investors (NIIs) saw a subscription of 2.48 times and that of qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) 1.15 times. You can learn more about the IPO here.

Craftsman Automation

The Rs 823.70-crore initial public offering (IPO) of Craftsman Automation was subscribed 1.26 times on the second day of bidding. The portion reserved for retail investors was subscribed 2.11 times. The portion set aside for non-institutional investors (NIIs) saw a subscription of 19% and that of QIBs 56%. To know more about the IPO, click here.

Anupam Rasayan India

The Rs 760-crore initial public offering (IPO) of Anupam Rasayan India was subscribed 44.06 times on the final day of bidding. The portion reserved for retail investors was subscribed 10.77 times and that of employees 1.71 times. The portion set aside for non-institutional investors (NIIs) saw a subscription of 97.42 times and that of QIBs 65.74 times. To know more about the IPO, click here.

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Reliance Jio Launches ‘JioBusiness’ to Digitally Transform MSMEs – Top Indian Market News

Reliance Jio launches ‘JioBusiness’ to digitally transform MSMEs

Reliance Jio has launched an integrated technology solution- JioBusiness to transform around 5 crore micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India. The company will provide enterprise-grade fiber connectivity that offers voice and data services. It will also provide digital solutions that help enterprises manage and grow their businesses. JioBusiness will offer devices to enable leading digital solutions for MSMEs. 

Read more here.

Vehicle registrations fell 13.43% YoY in February: FADA

As per data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), overall vehicle registrations declined by 13.43% year-on-year (YoY) to around 14.99 lakh in February 2021. The figure stood at over 17.31 lakh units in the corresponding period last year (Feb 2020). However, the data shows that registration of passenger vehicles grew by 10.59% YoY to 2.54 lakh units last month. 

Read more here.

Puravankara to invest Rs 450 crore to develop residential project in Mumbai

Puravankara Limited will invest Rs 450 crore to develop a mixed-use residential project in Chembur, Mumbai. The project, named ‘Purva Clermont’, will come under the developer’s luxury portfolio World Home Collection. The project will be built on a 2.25-acre land parcel and will have five towers— four residential buildings with 233 units and one commercial office building. Construction of the project will begin in 3 months and is expected to be completed by 2025.

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L&T delivers 700 MW steam generator ahead of schedule

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has despatched the first out of four 700 MWe (megawatt electrical) steam generators for the Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP) ahead of schedule. With this, the company has created a new global benchmark in the nuclear manufacturing industry. The hi-tech equipment was manufactured at L&T’s manufacturing facilities at Hazira and Vadodara Heavy Engineering Works (VHEW).

[GHAVP is a proposed 2,800 MW nuclear power plant that is being built on a 560-hectare area near Gorakhpur village in Haryana]

Read more here.

JMC Projects signs agreement with FDC to construct 2,000 social housing units in Maldives

JMC Projects (India) Limited has signed an agreement with Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation Ltd (FDC) for the design, finance, and construction of 2,000 social housing units in Hulhumale Island of Maldives. FDC is a state-owned company of the Government of Maldives. The total value for the project is estimated to be around $137 million (~Rs 1,000 crore). Mumbai-based JMC Projects is a leading construction company. It is also a subsidiary of Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited. 

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Inox Wind signs pact for 92 MW-projects with Integrum Energy

Inox Wind Limited has signed an agreement with Integrum Energy Infrastructure to supply, erect, and commission 92 megawatts (MW) of wind power projects. The projects comprise 2 MW turbines with a combination of total turnkey and limited scope supply services. The company will supply and commission wind turbines at Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu by the third quarter of the next financial year (FY 2021-22). 

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Aurionpro Solutions enters into partnership with UK-based Future-Tech

Aurionpro Solutions Ltd has entered into a strategic partnership with UK-based Future-Tech for data center design and consultancy projects in India & South Asia. In recent years, the company has ventured into data centre building, consulting, and hybrid cloud services. Aurionpro will provide consultancy and assistance for rolling out 100 MW data centres for one of its customers within the next few years. Mumbai-based Aurionpro Solutions is an IT services company. It is also engaged in the sale of equipment and software licenses.

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Easy Trip Planners IPO subscribed 7.20 times on second day of bidding

The Rs 510-crore initial public offering (IPO) of Easy Trip Planners was subscribed 7.20 times on the second day of bidding. The issue received bids for 10.85 crore equity shares against an offer size of 1.5 crore shares. The portion reserved for retail investors was subscribed 32.71 times. The portion set aside for non-institutional investors (NIIs) saw a subscription of 4.05 times and that of qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) 28%.

To know more about the IPO, click here.

Praj Industries secures order from HPCL for setting up biogas plant

Praj Industries has received an order from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) for setting up a compressed biogas (CBG) plant at Badaun, Uttar Pradesh. The company will offer its RenGas technology to produce CBG from rice straw. The project will have the capacity to process 35,000 metric tonnes (MT) of rice straw as feedstock to generate 5,250 MT of CBG annually. Praj Industries stated that this project will be completed and commissioned within 12 months.

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Indoco Remedies launches Brinzolamide Ophthalmic Suspension in the US

Indoco Remedies Limited has announced the launch of Brinzolamide Ophthalmic Suspension in the United States. The product is developed and manufactured by Indoco Remedies for TEVA Pharmaceuticals at its facility in Goa. It is used to treat high pressure inside the eye due to ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma. As per IQVIA data, the US market size of this product stood at $184 million (~Rs 1,343 crore) as of December 2020.

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Jubilant Foodworks completes acquisition of 100% stake in Fides Food

Jubilant Foodworks announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Jubilant Foodworks Netherlands B.V., has successfully completed the acquisition of 100% stake of Fides Food Systems Coöperatief U.A. Fides Food is the beneficial owner of 32.81% equity shares in DP Eurasia, which is the master franchisee of Domino’s Pizza in four countries— Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Georgia. The total value of the acquisiton was nearly Rs 252 crore.