Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

UK court rejects Chinese lenders’ £509m claim against Ambani

THE UK high court has rejected a £509 million or $680m claim petition filed by Chinese lenders against an Indian business tycoon.

The court hearing on the petition was held last month. However, the ruling was passed on Monday (16), favouring the debt-ridden Indian business Reliance Communications (RCom) Chairman Anil Ambani.


A spokesperson for the Indian company said the UK high court has rejected "summary judgement application of Chinese banks against Anil Ambani" in which the "Chinese banks had claimed $680 million from Mr Ambani against Chinese banks’ corporate loans to RCom".

"Mr Ambani's position that the claim made by Chinese banks in relation to his alleged guarantee for corporate loans availed by Reliance Communications Limited (RCom) could not be granted by way of a summary judgement has been duly upheld by the UK high court”.

The evidence of the personnel of RCom who were dealing with the personnel of the Chinese banks could not be placed.

The failure led to some of the doubts being expressed in the judgement on account of the evidence being incomplete and thus appearing unconvincing.

Ambani contested the proceedings and put up a strong legal defence.

According to Ambani’s company, he will continue to contest the proceedings and seek leave to defend, without any conditions as to making of deposits or payments being imposed, the statement said.

The spokesperson noted that the younger brother of Indian business tycoon Mukesh Ambani is confident that his position would be fully vindicated once all the facts and the entire evidence is before the court.

The statement further said, "Mr Ambani is confident that he will have an opportunity to place the necessary evidence before the UK high court, in the course of the trial to establish that the Chinese banks' claims are without any merit.”

RCom is currently undergoing insolvency proceedings following a plea filed by Swedish telecom gear maker Ericsson after the company failed to clear its dues.

RCom's secured debt is estimated to be around Rs 330 billion or £3.49bn.

Lenders have submitted claims of around Rs 490bn or £5.18bn in August.

Indian telecommunication companies, including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and UV Asset Reconstruction Company, have filed their bids to purchase the properties of debt-ridden RCom.

More For You

Essar-Oil-UK-Getty

Essar Oil UK is advancing decarbonization at its Stanlow Refinery with two key projects supported by Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) grants. (Photo: Getty Images)

Essar, 24 other firms get £51.9m to cut industrial carbon emissions

THE GOVERNMENT has allocated £51.9 million to support 25 businesses in reducing carbon emissions as part of the Plan for Change aimed at driving economic growth and rebuilding Britain.

The funding covers projects across various industries, including food manufacturing, cement production, and glass processing.
Companies receiving funding include Essar Oil UK, Nestlé's coffee processing site in Staffordshire, Heinz's baked bean factory in Wigan, and Hanson Cement in North Wales.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tesla-Getty

Tesla has faced challenges in 2024, reporting its first annual decline in deliveries as incentives failed to increase demand for its ageing vehicle lineup. (Photo: Getty Images)

Tesla received nearly £200m in UK government grants since 2016: Report

ELON MUSK’s electric vehicle company Tesla has received £191 million in grants from the UK government since 2016, according to an analysis by Tussell.

The majority of the funding, £188m, was provided by the Department for Transport (DfT) through the plug-in car grant scheme, which aimed to promote the adoption of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, The Guardian reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
CES-2025

CES 2025, organised by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), will be held from 7 to 10 January.

Indian tech innovations to shine at CES 2025, says top executive

THE INDIAN technology sector continues to capture attention, with several startups and entrepreneurs showcasing their innovations at CES 2025, the world's largest tech event.

John Kelley, vice president and show director of CES, described the Indian tech story as “fascinating” and highlighted its growing global significance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Anil Agarwal acquires London's historic Riverside Studios

Anil Agarwal

Anil Agarwal acquires London's historic Riverside Studios

THE founder and chairman of Vedanta group Anil Agarwal is the new owner of the iconic Riverside Studio in London, a statement said on Wednesday (8).

The 100-year-old studio, which is a renowned global centre for arts and located on the north bank of the river Thames in the centre of London, will now operate under the name ‘Anil Agarwal Riverside Studios Trust’, it informed.

Keep ReadingShow less
india-gdp-iStock

India's GDP growth was 9.7 per cent in 2021-22, 7 per cent in 2022-23, and 8.2 per cent in 2023-24. )Representational image: iStock)

India's GDP growth projected to fall to 6.4 per cent in FY25

INDIA's gross domestic product (GDP) growth is projected to decline to 6.4 per cent in the financial year 2024-25, marking its lowest rate in four years, according to government data released on Tuesday. The slowdown is attributed to weaker performance in the manufacturing and services sectors.

The growth rate of 6.4 per cent, estimated by the national statistics office (NSO), is the lowest since the contraction of 5.8 per cent recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-21. GDP growth was 9.7 per cent in 2021-22, 7 per cent in 2022-23, and 8.2 per cent in 2023-24.

Keep ReadingShow less