23 August 2010

Anil Agarwal set to pip Mukesh Ambani as richest Indian

Anil Agarwal set to pip Mukesh Ambani as richest Indian
 
 
NEW DELHI: The proposed takeover of Cairn Energy's India business could see NRI billionaire Anil Agarwal emerging as the richest promoter of a corporate house ahead of Mukesh Ambani, who has ruled the list for long.

After the acquisition of Cairn India and a proposed IPO of group firm Sterlite Energy, Anil Agarwal, as head of the promoter family, would command an estimated networth of close to Rs 1,67,000 crore, ahead of Mukesh Ambani at Rs 1,45,275 crore, a comparison of promoter family holding valuations for leading groups reveals.

However, Mukesh-led RIL is a wealthier group than Agarwal's Vedanta, although both are behind the Tatas, whose market capitalisation in terms of listed entities is over Rs 3,70,000 crore.

However, in terms of promoters' wealth, Tata group chief Ratan Tata hardly compares to either Mukesh or Agarwal.

In their own respective fields of business, Agarwal is a global leader in the metals and mining, while Mukesh is among the top-ranked international players in the fields of petrochemicals and largest private sector oil group in India.

Agarwal is now entering oil business through the Cairn India acquisition and his capacity to play to the size could now make competition intense in oil sector.

At the same time, the acquisition would give the Agarwal family double the size of Anil Ambani group (whose promoter wealth currently stands at less than Rs 80,000 crore).

The USD 9.6 billion takeover of Cairn India has already pushed Vedanta group head Anil Agarwal to the second position after Mukesh Ambani in terms of family net worth, measured in terms of value of shares held as promoters in five listed group companies.

Add to this, the value of shares he holds in aluminium major Balco and IPO-bound group firm Sterlite Energy, the promoter family wealth of Anil Agarwal group could rise to nearly Rs 1,66,938 crore.

In comparison, the promoter family wealth of Mukesh Ambani group currently stands at Rs 1,45,276 crore, based on the value of promoter holdings in two listed group firms Reliance Industries and Reliance Industrial Infrastructure.  
 
 
 
 
 
Project stake sale buzz puts BF Utilities on fast track

BF Utilities has been in the thick of action, of late, on talk that the company is selling a stake in its Bengaluru-Mysore expressway project to a private equity investor. The buzz is that the project, which has been stuck due to political hurdles, has been valued at Rs 1,200-1,500 crore.

Late July, the stock was speculated to be accumulated by the Silent Operator and the Rar(e)ing Bull on talk that the Supreme Court ruling on the project was expected in August. The Karnataka government filed an affidavit rejecting the demand of BF’s arm, Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), for an additional land of 776 acres within the Bengaluru municipal limit.

Now, the fresh bit of rumours doing the round is that BF Utilities is in advance talks with Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) and IDFC PE to sell similar stake in the second-and-third phase of the corridor project. Senior company officials denied any such development.

“We don’t want to comment on market speculation. For the record, we’ve not decided anything on stake sale in the Nandi Corridor project,” said Ashok Kheny, managing director, NICE. Shares of BF Utilities ended 8% higher at Rs 1,087 on the BSE on Friday.

Bilcare rises over 4% as Q1 earnings lift sentiment

Shares of Bilcare rose 4.3% to Rs 536.15 on Friday amid talk the Rar(e)ing Bull and associates are accumulating the stock. Analysts said better-than-expected first quarter earnings have boosted sentiment in the stock.

Broking firm Jaypee Research has maintained its ‘buy’ rating on Bilcare with a target price of Rs 663, post results.

Contributed by Shailesh Menon & Harish Rao
 
Src: ET

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