Saturday 12 April 2014

Vehicle registration records marginal growth

Vehicle registrations during the first two months of this year recorded a marginal growth compared to last year according to motor traders.

The new and reconditioned motor car and heavy duty vehicle sales posted a three percent growth during January to February this year compared to the corresponding period last year.

The growth in vehicle sales has been marginal due to the high duty on many categories of vehicles which resulted in a drop in sales. The sale of many categories of reconditioned vehicles have outdone new vehicles.

The sale of dual purpose new vehicles dropped 18 percent to 139 units from 169 last year during the first two months of this year.

Dual purpose reconditioned vehicle sales slumped 50 percent to 333 from 668 last year. The number of new motor lorries declined 39 percent to 440 units from 721 last year.

The number of reconditioned motor lorries grew four percent to 139 from 134 last year. The sale of new buses increased 0.4 percent this year to 266 units from 265 last year. While reconditioned buses declined 34 percent to 23 units this year from 35 last year.

Reconditioned motor cycles recorded the highest growth during the first two months of this year with a 266 percent increase to 963 units from 263 last year. The number of new motor cycles increased by 13 percent to 29,015 this year from 25,590 last year. Reconditioned motor cars grew 98 percent to 2,482 from 1,256 last year. New vehicles of this segment rose 32 percent to 1,539 from 1,170 last year.

Ceylon Motor Traders Association, President Tilak Gunasekera said that the 10 percent tax on CIF value charged on any vehicle imported on permits and transferred at the time of registration is an additional tax and is not a healthy move.
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2014/04/13/fin03.asp

Sri Lanka US$50mn private equity fund gets IFC cash

Apr 12, 2014 (LBO) - International Finance Corporation, a World Bank arm said it will invest 10 million US dollars in Emerald Sri Lanka Fund I, a 50 million US dollar private equity fund focused on the island.

The fund will be run NDB Zephyr Partners, a joint venture between by New York based Zephyr Management and Colombo base NDB Bank group.

Emerald Sri Lanka Fund I Limited will invest in small and mid-sized businesses seeking growth.

"The Fund will take significant minority stakes in 10-12 well run companies," IFC said in a disclosure.

"The Fund will add value by providing support and expertise on capital structures, financial reporting, business development, management development, corporate governance, strategy etc. to the portfolio companies."

Sri Lanka Telecom to pay IT firm with interest

Apr 12, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka Telecom Plc, said it will pay Just In Time Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, which had supplied IPTV equipment, 673 million rupees, which includes legal costs and 171 million rupees in interest.

Sri Lanka Telecom will make an immediate payment of 502 million rupees for set top boxes and legal costs, as part of an out of court settlement involving a 2007/2008 contract, the firm said in a stock exchange filing.

Interest of 171.1 million rupees will be paid in six instalments.

Just in Time had won an arbitration award in their favour, but had also been involved in civil litigation. Following the out of court settlement, civil litigation would be withdrawn.

Related News:
http://www.cse.lk/cmt/upload_cse_announcements/5651397215420_.pdf

Sri Lanka's Bairaha, Crysbro in Rs.16bn feed mill

Apr 12, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's Bairaha Farms Plc, said it plans to take a 45 percent stake in Fortune Agro Industries (Pvt) Ltd, a 1.65 billion rupee feed mill venture with Farms Pride (Pvt) Ltd, another poultry group.

The project has received preliminary approval from Sri Lanka's Board of Investment for a 7-year tax holiday and to import or buy capital goods free of import duty, though the agreement has not yet been signed, the firm said in a stock exchange filing.

Farms Pride was already partnering Bairaha in Fortune G-P Farms (Lanka) Ltd, which has a 50 percent share in the country's broiler breeder parent chicks.

Farms Pride sells products under the 'Crybro' brand, according to its website, will have 45 percent of the company.

Fortune Agro Industries (Pvt) Ltd will have animal feed manufacturing and post harvest storage facilities.

Related News:
http://www.cse.lk/cmt/upload_cse_announcements/8551397196995_.pdf