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CARE Ratings places NDTV’s bank facilities on ‘credit watch’, shares gallop

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The shares of Adani group’s takeover target satellite channel company New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) continued to hit the upward circuit on Monday with the price touching Rs 540.85.

The 52-week low price for the scrip was Rs 72.

Meanwhile, credit rating agency CARE Ratings has placed ratings assigned to NDTV’s bank facilities on credit watch with developing implications following takeover decision by the Adani group.

NDTV, which had postponed its 34th annual general meeting (AGM)to September 27 from the earlier fixed date of September 20, said it has completed the dispatch of notice for the shareholders meeting on September 3, 2022.

Due to change in the date of the AGM, the Register of Members and the Share Transfer Book of the Company will now remain closed September 20-27 (both days inclusive), NDTV had said.

The scrip has been on the upswing since August 23, the day on which the Adani group’s AMG Media Networks announced its subsidiary Vishvapradhan Commercial Private Ltd’s (VCPL) decision to exercise its rights to acquire 99.5 per cent of equity shares of RRPR Holding Private Ltd, the investment company of NDTV promoters – Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy.

The VCPL holds 1,990,000 warrants of RRPR Holding entitling it to convert them into 99.99 per cent stake in the latter.

The VCPL has exercised its option in part, resulting in acquisition control of RRPR Holding — 1,990,000 equity shares or 99.50 per cent.

RRPR Holding holds 29.18 per cent stake in NDTV that has three national television channels.

This triggered the issue of open offer to acquire shares of NDTV from the public as per SEBI’s (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011.

Placing the credit ratings of NDTV’s bank facilities on credit watch with developing implication, CARE Ratings said it will continue to monitor the developments in this regard and will take a view on the ratings once the exact implications of the acquisition on the credit risk profile of the company are clear.

According to CARE Ratings, the ratings continue to remain constrained by high exposure towards group companies and revenue concentration risk as the company majorly generates revenue from advertisement which in turn exposes the company’s revenue profile to the business cycle of the advertisers.

“The ratings are also constrained on account of uncertainty over ongoing litigations against the company and its promoters especially pertaining to tax demand, hence the impact of the same on operational and financial risk profile of the company is not clear,” CARE Rating said.

According to CARE Ratings, NDTV had a total investment of Rs 335.13 crore in its subsidiaries/joint ventures/associates as on March 31, 2022 (Rs 325.03 crore as on March 31, 2021) as against its tangible net worth of Rs 345.09 crore as on March 31, 2022, majority of which are in NDTV Networks Limited, having an investment of Rs 315.70 crore as on March 31, 2022 (NDTV Networks Limited have a negative net worth of Rs 28.48 crore as on March 31, 2022).

“There are a number of ongoing litigations against the company especially pertaining to tax demand, the outcome of which will be crucial, particularly in the matter pertaining to transaction with Universal Studios International BV (a General Electric company) wherein a tax demand of

Rs 450 crore had been raised against the company for AY 2009-10,” CARE Ratings said.

“Further, the company had also received demand notice from SEBI for alleged non-disclosure of tax demand dated November 22, 2019, against which the company filed an appeal and matter is likely to be listed on September 12, 2022. Company also received show cause notice from the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) for the alleged contraventions under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (“FEMA”),” the credit rating agency said.

The CARE Ratings said the company also received notice dated August 20, 2018, from SEBI in regard to alleged violation of Clause 36 of erstwhile Listing Agreement for non-disclosure of loan agreements entered into by Prannoy Roy, Radhika Roy and RPRR Holding with VCPL in 2009-10.

“Further, the investigation by CBI is also pending with respect to the FIR registered against the company, promoters and other officials on August 19, 2019, in a case of alleged violation of foreign direct investment rules in one of their companies under section of Indian Penal Code, 1980 and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. In addition to this, there are few other investigations also pending w.r.t. income tax demand. Any adverse developments in relation to these ongoing legal cases having a material impact on the operational or financial risk profile of the company shall remain negative from the credit perspective,” CARE Ratings said.

Crime

UP Shocker: Cop Tied To Pole Naked, Thrashed After Being Caught Molesting Girl In Agra; Suspended After Video Goes Viral

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Agra: In a shocking incident, a police sub-inspector was tied to pole and beaten in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra. The video of the incident is doing rounds on social media. It can be seen in the video that a Uttar Pradesh Police officer is being beaten after being tied naked to a pole in the village. The police sub-inspector was allegedly beaten by the villagers after he was caught in a compromising position with a woman. The family of the woman alleged that the police officer was molesting the woman.

He jumped through the roof and sneaked into the house in an inebriated condition

As per reports, the UP Police sub-inspector who was beaten by the villagers has been identified as Sandeep Kumar. Sandeep Kumar allegedly jumped through the roof and sneaked into the house in an inebriated condition and started to molest the girl present in the house.

The girl raised an alarm after which the family of the girl came

The girl raised an alarm after which the family of the girl came and caught the police officer red-handed in an objectionable position inside their house in Tihaiya village in Barhan Police Station limits. They then called the villagers and the angry villagers then stripped Sandeep Kumar naked and tied him to a pole. The villagers also thrashed the police officer for his act. The accused was rescued by the police that reached the spot and took the culprit with them.

Sandeep Kumar has been suspended

Uttar Pradesh Police Sub-Inspector Sandeep Kumar has been suspended and a departmental inquiry has been initiated against him after the video of the locals beating the police officer after tying him naked to the pole has gone viral on social media. A case of rape has been registered against the police officer. The incident occurred late night on Sunday (September 17) when the police officer sneaked into the house of the woman and was caught by her family in a compromising position with the woman.

The police have initiated an inquiry in connection with the matter

The police have initiated an inquiry in connection with the matter. They are also scanning the video that is going viral on social media. Etmadpur ACP said, “In the case of a sub-inspector being caught with a girl under police station Barhan area, the sub-inspector is being suspended with immediate effect, strictest departmental action is being taken and after receiving the complaint, legal action will be taken against the SI.”

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National

Karnataka: Woman Dies By Suicide Alleging Harassment By Police In Ramanagara, Says ‘After Death She Will Get Justice’

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Bengaluru, September 4: An incident of a homemaker ending her life allegedly due to harassment by police has come to light in the limits of Channapatna town police station in Ramanagara district on Monday. The deceased woman is identified as 31-year-old Madhuri, a resident of Kote Layout in Channapatna city. Madhuri consumed sleeping pills on Saturday and succumbed at the hospital on Sunday. She had stated in the video that she is not able to take torture and harassment by the police she is ending her life.

The cops had not lodged her complaint

It is alleged that when Madhuri went to file a complaint to the Channapatna Rural police station regarding a financial dispute, the cops had not lodged her complaint. The victim had alleged that the cops insulted her at the police station.

Victim has many cheating cases against her

She was allegedly sent back by the police and cops told her that the victim has many cheating cases against her. The woman had stated in her video before committing suicide that at least after her death she will get justice. The relatives and family members have met Ramanagara SP in this regard.

The family have made allegations against Channapatna Town Inspector

The family have made allegations against Channapatna Town Inspector Shobha and other staff. The police department is yet to make an official statement regarding the case.

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Business

Petrol, Diesel Prices Remain Unchanged On August 31: Check Rates In Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai And Other Cities

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According to the most recent price notification by fuel retailers, petrol and diesel prices have been unchanged on August 31 in major cities, and costs have been steady for a year now.

However, the prices of petrol and diesel change state by state, depending upon various criteria such as Value Added Tax (VAT), freight charges, the local taxes, etc.

Public sector OMCs including Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) revise their prices daily in line with international benchmark prices and forex rates.

Citywide breakdown

In Delhi, petrol and diesel cost Rs 96.72/litre and Rs 89.62/litre, respectively.

In Mumbai, petrol is being sold for Rs 106.31/litre and diesel for Rs 94.27/litre.

Petrol and diesel are priced at Rs 102.86/litre and Rs 94.46/litre in Chennai and at Rs 106.03/litre and Rs 92.76/litre in Kolkata, respectively.

The last country-wide change in fuel rates was on 21 May last year, when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman slashed excise duty on petrol by Rs 8 per litre and Rs 6 per litre on diesel.

You can check petrol and diesel prices from the comfort of your own home. All you need to do is send a message from your phone to 9224992249 with your city code. City codes are available on Indian Oil’s website.

Oil prices

Oil prices were trading higher on Thursday morning amid tightening US supply with investors waiting on China factory activity data to be released later today. Brent crude futures for October that expires on Thursday gained 14 cents at $86 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude fell to $81.74 per barrel with a gain of 10 cents.

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