Wednesday, 4 March 2015
No penalty alleging default in submission of TP docs when assessee had filed such docs within extend
Software development Co. can't be chosen as comparable for captive service provider
Mumbai customs had no jurisdiction to raise demand alleging misdeclaration when imports took place a
ITAT condoned delay in filing appeal as assesse was prosecuting case before the wrong forum under bo
SEBI simplifies account opening process for individual investors trading in cash segment
HC directs AO to re-determine levy of penalty after considering ruling of Apex Court on similar issu
TPO couldn’t determine ALP of services as Nil without examining docs showing rendition of services b
No penalty under sections 76 and 77 when assessee had paid entire ST with interest before issuance o
ITAT condoned delay of 6 years in filing appeal as delay was due to prosecution of proceedings befor
Income from letting out of warehouse alongwith incidental facilities was taxable as income from hous
Adani Ports In Talks With Essar Group To Acquire Its Ports Business
Gautam Adani led Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) is said to be in talks with Essar Group to acquire its ports business. According to multiple sources in the know, early stage discussions have been ongoing between both sides and may soon progress to a formal diligence.
Essar Ports, one of the largest private sector player by capacity and throughput, has an operational footprint on both western and eastern coast of the country and can handle liquid (mainly oil), dry bulk (mainly coal), general cargo and small volumes of container crago for specialized project equipment. Its existing aggregate capacity stands at 104 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) across its facilities in Vadinar and Hazira in Gujarat and Paradip in Orissa. The company is looking to expand capacity to 194 MMTPA by 2017. However, officials close to Essar said, the steel-to-mobile retail conglomerate, has identified two of its businesses - power and ports - and is open to divesting either one of them fully to reduce its high group level debts.
On the other hand, Adanis, in June 2014, took over Dharma Port - an equal JV between L&T and Tata Steel - for Rs 5500 crore, in what was the largest deal among private port operators in the country. APSEZ, whose market value has doubled in the last one year, is today the largest multi-port operator of India. From being a single port operator in Mundra, Gujarat, it has spread its presence across 8 ports in India. The company has an aggressive expansion blueprint to increase its annual cargo handling capacity from 108 million tonnes (as on Dec 31st) to 200 million tonnes by 2020.
Sources said, the promoters of Essar, the Ruia family, are expecting an enterprise value of over Rs 15,000 crore for the business which is inclusive of its debt of Rs 5836 crore debt, as of end-FY14. However, post its expansions in Orissa and Gujarat, analysts expect debt levels to go up to Rs 7000 crore. The current market cap of Essar Ports is Rs 5070 crore, with the stock seeing a sudden spurt of 7% in the last 24 hours of trading.
Source:- economictimes.indiatimes.com
RBI further cuts bank rate by 25 bps wef March 4, 2015
India Coal Imports In February Jump From Year Ago, But Drop M-O-M
India's imports of thermal and coking coal jumped 31 perc ent in February from a year ago, as new power plants ramped up output, preliminary data from online trader mjunction showed, though purchases sank month-on-month on rising prices.
Shipments through the 31 coal-handling ports in India, which is about to unseat Japan as the world's second biggest coal importer after China, stood at 17.94 million tonnes in February compared with 13.72 million tonnes a year ago.
Imports in January this year, however, were much higher at 20.29 million tonnes, compared with initial estimates of 15.79 million tonnes, according to the data based on monitoring of vessels and information from shipping companies.
"Spot steam (thermal) coal prices remained volatile in the international markets during February while showing an increasing trend over the previous month," mjunction Chief Executive Officer Viresh Oberoi said in an email.
Prices of thermal coal for export from Australia's Newcastle port, Asia's benchmark, soared 30 per cent in January and February to over $80 a tonne at the end of last month as major miners cut production, although prices have since fallen below $70 a tonne.
India imported 13.61 million tonnes of thermal coal in February this year, 3.54 million tonnes of coking coal and 138,499 tonnes of metallurgical coke among other varieties.
Thermal coal is used for electricity generation in power plants while coking coal and metallurgical coke find use in steel making.
Source:- economictimes.indiatimes.com
Seafood Exporters See Achhe Din
Indian seafood exports are poised to cross the $5-billion-mark achieved last year with figures for 10 months to January 2015 showing a 12% rise, helped by a rise in demand in the US and Southeast Asia.
However, a slowdown in the global market may cause it to fall short of $6 billion at the end of 2015-16.Exporters say prices have slackened in recent months which could put the brakes on revenue in the next two months.
According to figures provided by the Marine Products Export Development Authority, marine product exports stood at 8,75,791 tonne valued at `28,084 crore ($4.7 billion) till the end of January this year.While the quantity increased around 5%, the value in rupee terms went up by 11% compared with the same period of the previous year. The jump is attributed to increased production and export of vannamei shrimps, frozen cuttle fish, both live and chilled.
About 85% of vannamei shrimps production is from Andhra Pradesh, where most of the farms are located.In value terms, the frozen shrimp accounts for over 68% of the total marine product exports from the country .
"Exports will definitely cross $5 billion, but it will be difficult to reach $6 billion as prices have fallen in Europe and the US markets. Movement is slow and buyers are adopting a waitand-watch policy ," said AJ Tharakan, president of the Seafood Exporters Association of India.
In 2013-14, seafood exports from the country reached a record high of `30,213 crore.Southeast Asia, which bought large amounts of shrimps from India because of a shortage following a disease affecting the farms, has recovered a bit, he added. This has led to the region to go slow on purchases.But it is still the second largest buyer of Indian seafood with a share of 26.22%, marginally below the US which accounts for 26.81%.
With vannamei shrimps becoming a money spinner in the Indian seafood exports, the focus has shifted to far med seafood products. The share of sea catch has come down in the total seafood export basket.
"The catch from the sea has also gone down due to a delayed monsoon last year. The price of fishes like tuna has slumped. On top of it, increase in diesel prices has raised the cost of running the boats," said George Joseph, CEO of Starfish Exports.A rise in export of farmed shrimp has made Visakhapatnam the top seafood exporting port of the country.
Source:- economictimes.indiatimes.com