India’s telecom minister has put a hold on Vodafone Idea’s massive AGR dues, giving the struggling carrier a chance to get new bank money.
The Department of Telecommunications froze Vi’s adjusted gross revenue (AGR) liability of about ₹87,695 crore for the years 2006‑07 to 2018‑19. The dues will be paid back in small, staggered instalments over the next 16 years, ending in 2041. This means roughly 95% of the AGR amount is effectively paused for a decade.
Banks have been reluctant to lend to Vi because the company carries huge statutory liabilities, including deferred spectrum payments and the AGR debt. Cash flow is tight and there are doubts about Vi’s ability to service additional loans.
With the AGR burden eased, banks say they will review how much fresh capital Vi really needs. Earlier, Vi said it required around ₹35,000 crore. Lenders will look at current cash flows and decide how much they can safely provide, likely as a consortium of banks.
This schedule eases the immediate cash pressure, which was expected to hit ₹16,400 crore in March 2026.
The telco still carries a total debt load close to ₹2 lakh crore, mostly statutory dues like ₹1.2 lakh crore in spectrum payments. An equity raise of more than ₹20,000 crore in April 2024 has already been used, so fresh funding—either debt or equity—is essential for network investments.
Besides bank loans, Vi could look to the equity markets. The government is also scouting a strategic investor to inject about $1 billion for an 11‑13% stake. Reports suggest US private‑equity firm Tillman Global Holdings is in talks.
If banks agree to lend, Vi may stabilize its operations and continue expanding its network, which could benefit shareholders and the broader telecom sector.
Remember, this is perspective, not a prediction. Do your own research and consider your risk tolerance before making any investment decisions.
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Join TelegramIndia's biggest coking coal producer, Bharat Coking Coal, attracted strong institutional interest by raising Rs 273 crore from anchor investors just a day before its public IPO launch. Anchor round details The company offered 11.88 crore equity shares to anchor investors at Rs 23 per share, the top of the Rs 21‑23 price band. The anchor book was fully subscribed, setting a positive tone for the public issue that opens on January 9. Who joined the anchor round? Global and domestic institutions: Life Insurance Corporation, Societe Generale, Copthall Mauritius Investment Ltd, Citrine Fund, M7 Global Fund PCC – ASAS Global Opportunities Fund, Maybank Securities, Rajasthan Global Securities. Domestic mutual funds: About 7.17 crore shares went to three Indian mutual funds across eight schemes, including UTI Dividend Yield Fund, other UTI schemes, Nippon India’s small‑cap fund, and Bandhan Mutual Fund’s small‑cap scheme. Why the anchor success matters Fully subscribed anchor allocations suggest solid demand for the upcoming public issue. With the anchor round priced at the top of the band, the market may anticipate a strong subscription window for retail investors. Upcoming public IPO Subscription period: January 9 – January 13 Issue size: ~Rs 1,071 crore Price band: Rs 21–23 per share Listing: NSE and BSE Shareholding after listing: Coal India retains 90%, the IPO sells a 10% stake. About Bharat Coking Coal As a wholly‑owned subsidiary of Coal India, Bharat Coking Coal produces about 58.5% of India's domestic coking coal. It holds roughly 7.91 billion tonnes of reserves—the only sizable domestic source of prime coking coal, essential for steel making. The company runs 34 mines in Jharkhand’s Jharia and West Bengal’s Raniganj coalfields and is expanding its coal‑washing capacity to improve quality and revenue. Bottom line for investors Strong anchor demand and a fully‑subscribed book could signal a healthy retail response. However, investors should weigh the company’s operational risks, the overall steel sector outlook, and the pricing of the IPO before committing funds. Remember, this is perspective, not a prediction. Do your own research and consider your risk tolerance before investing.
The Rs 1,071 crore Bharat Coking Coal IPO sold out in just 30 minutes, thanks to strong interest from retail investors. Quick Overview The offer opened on Friday and was booked 1.12 times by 10:30 AM. Investors wanted 38.9 crore shares while only 34.69 crore were on offer. Retail investors subscribed 1.5 times their quota. Non‑institutional investors subscribed 1.99 times. Shareholder allocation (4.65 crore shares) was taken up 1.29 times. Qualified Institutional Buyers showed very little interest (0.01 times). Grey‑Market Sentiment In the unofficial market, the shares are trading at about a 50% premium over the IPO price, suggesting investors expect a strong first‑day performance. Remember, grey‑market premiums can change quickly with market moves. IPO Details Issue size: Rs 1,071 crore (offer for sale by Coal India). Price band: Rs 21‑23 per share (face value Rs 10). Minimum lot: 600 shares. Closing date: 13 January. Listing: NSE and BSE. About Bharat Coking Coal Bharat Coking Coal (BCCL) is India’s biggest producer of coking coal, a key ingredient for steel. It holds about 7.9 billion tonnes of reserves – roughly 21.5 % of the country’s total coking coal – and supplied 58.5 % of domestic production in FY 2025. Operates 34 mines in Jharkhand (Jharia) and West Bengal (Raniganj). Close to steel plants and linked to good transport networks. Investing in coal washeries to produce higher‑quality washed coal. BCCL is a wholly‑owned subsidiary of Coal India, the world’s largest coal producer, giving it strong technical and financial backing. Valuation and Financial Snapshot Price band values the company at about 8.6 times FY 2025 earnings (upper band). FY 2025 revenue: Rs 13,803 million. Consolidated profit: Rs 1,564 million. Business is cash‑generative and debt‑free. Analyst View Research house Anand Rathi gave the IPO a “Subscribe” rating, mainly for potential short‑term listing gains. They note the company’s strong market position and reserve base, but also point out that most of the upside is already priced in, limiting long‑term re‑rating prospects. Overall, analysts see the IPO as a tactical play rather than a long‑term growth story. The scarcity of prime coking coal and interest in PSU divestments could push the share price higher on debut, but the business remains tied to the cyclical steel sector. Key Risks Revenue depends heavily on raw coking coal demand and price parity with imports. Operations are concentrated in the Jharia and Raniganj regions, making them vulnerable to regulatory or environmental issues. Steel demand cycles can affect earnings. Bottom Line For short‑term traders, the Bharat Coking Coal IPO offers a chance to capture listing gains, especially given the high retail participation and strong grey‑market premium. Long‑term investors should weigh the company’s strategic importance against its exposure to steel‑demand cycles and limited growth catalysts after the listing. Remember, this is my perspective, not a prediction. Do your own research before making any investment decisions.
Defrail Technologies, a maker of rubber parts for automotive, rail and defence, is launching its IPO on the BSE SME platform. Key Subscription Details Issue size: Rs 13.77 crore (18.6 lakh shares) Price band: Rs 70–74 per share (face value Rs 10) Opening date: Friday (subscription closes Jan 13) Listing date: Jan 16 on BSE SME No offer‑for‑sale; all proceeds go to the company Minimum retail lot: 3,200 shares (about Rs 2.36 lakh at the top of the band) Grey Market Premium In the unofficial grey market, the shares are trading about 8% above the top of the price band. This suggests investors expect a modest rise after listing, but remember grey market prices can change quickly, especially for SME issues with limited liquidity. What Defrail Technologies Does The company manufactures custom rubber hoses, assemblies, profiles, beadings and molded products. Its customers include auto manufacturers, Indian Railways and defence organisations. It operates two factories in Faridabad, Haryana. Recent Financial Performance Revenue (6‑month to Sep 2025): Rs 39.08 crore Profit after tax (6‑month): Rs 1.51 crore Full‑year FY 2025 revenue: Rs 62.22 crore Full‑year FY 2025 net profit: Rs 3.42 crore Total borrowings (Sep 2025): Rs 11.78 crore Lead Managers Book‑running lead manager: NEXGEN Financial Solutions.Registrar: Maashitla Securities. Disclaimer Remember, this is perspective, not prediction. Do your own research before making any investment decisions.