Automakers focus on exports to increase sales, reduce inventory

Agencies
December 12, 2019

New Delhi, Dec 12: Even as Indian automobile industry's domestic sales performance continues to decline, increased shipments of BS-IV vehicles at attractive prices along with low base effect lifted auto exports to over 17% in November, the third straight month of rise in overseas shipments on a year-on-year (YoY) basis.

Industry insiders and market watchers predict the trend to continue in the coming months to reduce the BS-IV inventory levels.

As per the data furnished by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the sector's exports across categories was higher by 17.60% at 411,470 units from 349,893 units shipped abroad in November of 2018.

In October, overall exports had grown by 2.72%.

On the other hand, SIAM data showed the sector's total sales declined by 12.05% to 17,92,415 units in November from 20,38,007 units sold during the corresponding month of the previous year.

At present, the domestic market suffers from an economic slowdown which is a culmination of several factors such as high GST tax rates, stagnant wages and a distressed farm sector.

"Exports have improved in both two-wheeler and passenger vehicle segment reporting positive traction in markets outside India. The two segments have shown growth of almost 20% each," said Sridhar V., Partner, Grant Thornton India LLP.

"This healthy traction in exports is a consequence of some of the OEM focus on turning India into a supply hub for markets other than India and have seen acceptability specifically in Middle East, Africa and SAARC regions. It could also be that many are still in BS-IV equivalent and a push in that market is seeing positive results."

According to Suman Chowdhury, President-ratings at Acuite Ratings and Research: "Many of the OEMs have set up manufacturing plants in India to cater to the demand in South Asian and African nations."

"With the significant slowdown in the domestic demand, the focus on exports has increased further. Hyundai, Nissan and Kia Motors have seen a jump in their PV exports in November though the volumes are still insignificant as compared to the domestic volumes."

Furthermore, the data disclosed that passenger vehicles' overseas sales during the month under review rose by 20.37% to 58,562 units this November, on a year-on-year basis.

In terms of passenger cars, exports edged higher by 13.60% to 39,390 units, while utility vehicle' overseas sales grew by 38.16% to 18,909 units.

Conversely, exports of the key indicator of economic activity -- commercial vehicles -- went down by 29.03% to 5,694 units.

The overseas sales of three-wheelers in November rose by 2.04% to 47,827 units.

In the case of two-wheelers, which include scooters, motorcycles and mopeds, exports stood higher by 21.57% to 299,147 units.

The period from April to November 2019 saw the overall automobile exports grow by 3.28%. During the period passenger vehicles and two wheelers exports grew by 5.36% and 6.50%, respectively.

"The growth in two-wheeler exports can be attributed to demand recovery in some key export destinations in African continent as well as Latin America following some stabilisation of macro-economic challenges," said Shamsher Dewan, Vice President, Corporate Sector Ratings, ICRA.

"Apart from two-wheelers, passenger vehicle exports have also grown by 5.3% during FY2020, supported by OEM specific initiative to leverage on manufacturing capacities available in India."

Besides, Dewan said that India's automobile exports are primarily concentrated on nearby markets and developing countries in Africa, Latin America and southeast Asia.

"Accordingly, it is not a reflection of demand recovery in major automobile markets of China, Western Europe etc," Dewan said.

Nonetheless, Fitch Ratings Associate Director Snehdeep Bohra told IANS: "The trend in November coincides with the fact that OEMs are trying to reduce the BS-IV inventory levels to a manageable limit. In this context they seem to have focused on exports."

"However, with some automakers expecting a stable domestic market from next year onwards this may not represent a sustained shift towards exports."

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Agencies
July 6,2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has made an unprecedented impact on the Indian businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups. According to a joint survey by FICCI and Indian Angel Network (IAN), the pandemic has hit the businesses of around 70% startups.

With uncertainty in the business environment and an unexpected shift in priorities of the government as well as corporates, many startups are struggling to survive, it says.

In a nationwide survey on the 'Impact of Covid-19 on Indian Startups' involving 250 startups, 70% participants said their businesses had been impacted by Covid-19 and around 12% had shut operations.

The survey shows only 22% startups have cash reserves to meet the fixed cost expenses over the next 3-6 months, and 68% are reducing operational and administrative expenses.

Around 30% of the companies said they would retrench employees if the lockdown was extended too long. The 43% startups have already started 20-40% salary cuts over April-June.

Over 33% startups said investors had put the investment decision on hold and 10% said the deals had been scrapped. Only 8% startups had received funds as per the deals signed before Covid-19 outbreak, the survey revealed.

The reduced funding has forced startups to put a hold on business development and manufacturing activities, which has resulted in loss of projected orders.

The survey highlights the need of an urgent relief package for startups, including possible purchase orders from the government, tax relief and swifter tax refunds, and immediate fiscal support measures, including grants, soft loans and payroll grants.

Besides 250 startups, 61 incubators and investors also participated in the survey.

While 96% of investors accepted that their investments in startups had been impacted by Covid-19, 92% said their investments in startups would continue to be low over the next six months.

Around 59% investors said they would prefer to work with the existing portfolio firms in the coming months. Only 41% said they would consider new deals.

"A comparison of priority investment sectors before and during Covid-19 shows 35% investors are now looking at investments in healthcare startups, followed by EdTech, AI/Deep Tech, FinTech and Agri," said the survey.

Around 44% incubators surveyed said their day-to-day operations had been considerably hit by Covid-19. Most incubators are now supporting their portfolio firms by providing them virtual platforms to interact with mentors, investors and industries.

Dilip Chenoy, FICCI Secretary General, said, "The startup sector is stressed for survival at the moment. The investment sentiment is also subdued and is expected to remain so in the coming months. Lack of working capital and cash flows may lead to major layoffs over the next 3-6 months."

Indian startups needed an enabling ecosystem and flow of funds to continue operations, the survey said.

Padmaja Ruparel, President, Indian Angel Network & Co-Chair of FICCI Startup Committee, said, "In these uncertain times, as investors, we must play an important role to provide the Indian startups funding, mentoring and hand-holding support to stay afloat and come out at the other end of this crisis."

To that end, IAN recently announced a debt fund to help IAN portfolio companies raise working capital and ensure business continuity by partnering with debt providers.

This must be replicated on a wider scale, so a larger number of startups are provided the capital support to make it during these tough times, Ruparel said.

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Agencies
June 12,2020

Mumbai, Jun 12: Following an overwhelming response for the mega rights issue of Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries, the partly paid-up rights shares are set to debut on stock exchanges on June 15.

The biggest ever Rs 53,124 crore rights issue was subscribed 1.59 times and received bids worth Rs 84,000 crore on June 3.

Reliance said the rights issue saw a huge investor interest, including from lakhs of small investors and thousands of institutional investors, both Indian and foreign.

In 2019, Ambani said in the Reliance's annual general meeting that the company will be net zero debt by March 2021. The company is on course to achieve its target ahead of the deadline.

"In spite of the COVID-19 crisis and the lockdowns, the due-diligence by Saudi Aramco for the planned investment in the O2C business is on track as both the parties are committed and actively engaged," he said recently.

"With a strong visibility to these equity infusions, Reliance is set to achieve net zero debt status ahead of its own aggressive timeline. We believe rights issue was a part of the company's strategy of deleveraging its balance sheet," said Ambani. 

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News Network
March 13,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 13: In the wake of fresh cases of Covid-19 reported in Karnataka, Infosys Foundation chairperson Sudha Murty has urged the Karnataka government to take steps to shut malls and theatres, saying the coronavirus multiplies in air-conditioned areas.

In a letter to the government, she said preventive measures should be taken to control the spread of coronovirus before it gets worse.

Murty, who also leads the State government-constituted Karnataka Tourism Task Force, said she has discussed the current situation with Chairman and Executive Director of Narayana Health, Devi Prasad Shetty.

She suggested closure of all schools and colleges with immediate effect, malls, theatres and “all air-conditioned areas where the virus multiplies”, and allow only essential services like pharmacy, grocery and petrol bunks.

“It is not scientifically proven that the virus dies in high temperature,” she said pointing to spread of the virus -- despite heat -- in peak summer in Australia and Singapore, which have “summer all 12 months”.

“I request you to vacate one government hospital with at least 500 - 700 beds for this purpose (to deal with coronavirus cases), which requires oxygen lines and pipes,” she said.

“Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic and CSR arm of software major Infosys, would do the civil work and Devi Shetty has agreed to share resources like medical equipment,” she added.

“We would like to work with the government proactively so that we can prevent this as early as possible,” Sudha Murty said.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus positive cases in Karnataka is five, including the 76-year old man from Kalaburagi who died on Tuesday night.

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