Ranbaxy + Cadila US FDA Nod for Carvedilol

Ranbaxy Laboratories has announced that the company has received approval from the U.S. FDA to manufacture and market carvedilol tablets, 3.125 mg, 6.25 mg, 12.5, and 25 mg. The office of generic drugs, U.S. FDA, has determined the Ranbaxy formulations to be bioequivalent and have the same therapeutic effect as that of the reference listed drug coreg tablets, 3.125 mg, 6.25 mg, 12.5 mg, and 25 mg, respectively, of GlaxoSmithKline. Total annual market sales for carvedilol tablets were $ 1.6 billion.

Carvedilol is indicated for the treatment of mild-to-severe heart failure of ischemic or cardiomyopathic origin, usually in addition to diuretics, ACE inhibitor, and digitalis. Carvedilol is also indicated to reduce cardiovascular mortality in clinically stable patients who have survived the acute phase of a myocardial infarction, as well as in the management of essential hypertension, alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.

Cadila Healthcare has also received an approval from the US FDA to market carvedilol tablets 3.125 mg, 6.25 mg, 12.5 mg. and 25 mg, in the US market. The drug falls in the cardiovascular segment.

Hindustan Dorr Oliver + Sical Logistics

Hindustan Dorr Oliver has been awarded contract for design, residual basic engineering, detailed engineering, procurement, erection, construction and commissioning of HRDs & DCWs including flocculant preparation unit and cauticisation unit along with associated facilities and auxiliaries for Rs 770 million as a part of National Aluminium Company (NALCO) process of expansion of their alumina refinery at Damanjodi, Orissa from 1.575 million TPY to 2.1 million TPY capacity, by adding one more production line of 525 KTPY capacity. This expansion project is designated as NALCO phase — 2 expansion.

NALCO has appointed Engineers India, New Delhi (EIL) as their consultant and HDO will be executing the above mentioned HRD & DCW package — II on lumpsum turnkey basis in 16 months.

Sical Infra Assets was formed to park the Sical Logistics’ asset-heavy, capital-intensive, longer gestation infrastructure-based business. These capital-intensive business include the logistics hub at Nagpur, the iron ore terminal at Ennore port, the company’s container rail project, and the business of container terminals at Tuticorn and Chennai ports.

Old Lane Mauritius IV, a vehicle of Old Lane Opportunities Funds, has invested $26 million (Rs 107 crore) for a 26% stake in Sical Infra Assets, a new unit of Sical Logistics.

Reportedly, Sical Logistics also plans to list its new subsidiary on the stock exchanges to raise funds to finance the company’s growing infrastructure business.

Here is our report on Logistics Scenario in India.

Midcap Buy International Travel House – ICICI

International Travel House (ITH) continued to benefit from the huge growth in the travel and tourism Industry. The business growth was on account of higher commissions in the travel segment and increased fleet of cars in the transport segment. ITH’s car rental business is also doing extremely well. ITH is considering foray into online Travel Booking space.

Net sales grew 16.42% to Rs 18.93 crore in the quarter ended June 2007 as against Rs 16.26 crore during the previous quarter last fiscal, while net profit jumped 49.13% to Rs 2.58 crore as against Rs 1.73 crore.

At the current price of Rs 152, the stock trades at a P/E of 10.31x its FY08E EPS of Rs 14.75. On an EV/ EBIDTA basis, the stock is available at 3.65x FY08E earnings. ICICI values the stock at a P/E multiple of 15x its FY08E earnings with a price target of Rs 221 and maintain OUTPERFORMER rating on the stock.

Punj Lloyd ventures into Defence Equipment

Punj Lloyd has applied for an industrial licence to make guns, rockets and missile artillery systems in a bid to expand its businesses. The Indian defence equipment market is worth Rs 1,00,000 crore.

Reportedly, the licensing committee of the ministry of commerce is expected to take a decision on this soon. Leading companies such as Larsen & Toubro, Tata Group, Mahindra & Mahindra, and others have already secured licenses from the government to produce defense equipment, reports suggest.

Citigroup has a BUY recommendation on Punj Lloyd with a target price of Rs 350.

Buy Salzer Electronics – HDFC Sec

HDFC Securities has put a BUY recommendation on Salzer Electronics Ltd [SZEL] with a price Target of Rs 150. CMP Rs 114.

Electrical equipment industry has been growing at a very rapid pace. SZEL’s products are mainly electrical panel accessories & mostly generate revenues from power segment. L&T Capital, an investment arm of engineering giant L&T recently acquired 14.95% stake in SZEL. Collaborations with German & Canadian companies have helped SZEL to establish a niche position in rotary switches & toroidal transformer business respectively. SZEL has increased focus on its modular switches business, which has a huge potential & has set up a unit at Himachal Pradesh for manufacturing these switches.

SZEL’s revenue & net profits to grow at a CAGR of 38% & 58.3% respectively over the next two years. The EBITDA margins are likely to increase to 16.2% in FY08 & 16.6% in FY09 from 15.2% in FY07. Its PAT margins are expected to improve significantly to 6.7% in FY08 & 7.3% in FY09 from 5.5% in FY07. At the current price, the scrip trades at 13.1xFY08E EPS & 9xFY09E EPS. Investors could look at making a small entry at the current levels & add on dips to Rs.95 with a one-year price target of Rs 150.

Blackstone + Warburg + General Atlantic interested in Infomedia India

Private equity funds General Atlantic, Blackstone and Warburg Pincus have shown interest in ICICI Venture’s 63% stake in Infomedia India. Infomedia India is Google’s authorized Adwords resellers in India.

Reportedly, the firm buying the stake will have to make an open offer and also pay a controlling premium. The buyer will have to put in more than Rs 400 crore for the acquisition.

Infomedia’s market capitalisation is Rs 505.98 crore, based on its current price of Rs 256.45 at the BSE.