<p>Vodafone Group Plc said on Friday it had won an international arbitration case against the Indian government.</p>

<p>India had claimed a total of 279 billion rupees ($3.79 billion) including about $2 billion in tax, as well as interest and penalties.</p>

<p>According to Reuters, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled that India's imposition of a tax liability on Vodafone, as well as interest and penalties, were in a breach of an investment treaty agreement between India and the Netherlands.</p>

<p>The tribunal, in its ruling, said the government's demand is in breach of "fair and equitable treatment" and it must cease seeking the dues from Vodafone. It also directed India to pay 4.3 million pounds ($5.47 million or Rs 40 crore) to the company as compensation for its legal costs --&nbsp;and not Rs 20,000 crore, the sources in the Centre said on Friday.</p>

<p>Vodafone said in a statement the amount of the award was confidential. Shares in the company's India unit, Vodafone Idea, ended 13% higher on Friday.</p>

<p>"The tribunal held that any attempt by India to enforce the tax demand would be a violation of India's international law obligations," Vodafone said in its statement.</p>

<p>India's finance ministry said it will carefully study the award, together with its lawyers.</p>

<p>The government will consider all options and take a decision on further course of action including legal remedies, the ministry said in a statement.</p>

<p>The ruling brings an end to one of the most controversial disputes in India under international treaty agreements that it enters into with countries to protect foreign investments.</p>

<p>Vodafone's tax dispute stems from its $11 billion deal to buy the Indian mobile assets from Hutchison Whampoa in 2007. The government said Vodafone was liable to pay taxes on the acquisition, which the company contested.</p>

<p>In 2012, India's top court ruled in favour of the telecom provider but the government changed the rules to enable it to tax deals that had already been concluded.</p>

<p>In 2014, Vodafone initiated arbitration proceedings against India.</p>

<p><em><strong>(with inputs from agencies)</strong></em></p>


Vodafone Group Plc said on Friday it had won an international arbitration case against the Indian government. India had claimed a total of 279 billion rupees ($3.

Vodafone Group Plc said on Friday it had won an international arbitration case against the Indian government. India had claimed a total of 279 billion rupees ($3.79 billion) including about $2 billion in tax, as well as interest and penalties. According to Reuters, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled that India's imposition of a tax liability on Vodafone, as well as interest and penalties, were in a breach of an investment treaty agreement between India and the Netherlands. The tribunal, in its ruling, said the government's demand is in breach of "fair and equitable treatment" and it must cease seeking the dues from Vodafone. It also directed India to pay 4.3 million pounds ($5.47 million or Rs 40 crore) to the company as compensation for its legal costs -- and not Rs 20,000 crore, the sources in the Centre said on Friday. Vodafone said in a statement the amount of the award was confidential. Shares in the company's India unit, Vodafone Idea, ended 13% higher on Friday. "The tribunal held that any attempt by India to enforce the tax demand would be a violation of India's international law obligations," Vodafone said in its statement. India's finance ministry said it will carefully study the award, together with its lawyers. The government will consider all options and take a decision on further course of action including legal remedies, the ministry said in a statement. The ruling brings an end to one of the most controversial disputes in India under international treaty agreements that it enters into with countries to protect foreign investments. Vodafone's tax dispute stems from its $11 billion deal to buy the Indian mobile assets from Hutchison Whampoa in 2007. The government said Vodafone was liable to pay taxes on the acquisition, which the company contested. In 2012, India's top court ruled in favour of the telecom provider but the government changed the rules to enable it to tax deals that had already been concluded. In 2014, Vodafone initiated arbitration proceedings against India. (with inputs from agencies)

Vodafone wins international arbitration against India, govt asked to pay only Rs 40 crore

<p>Tech giant Google might take a minority stake in British telecom group Vodafone's struggling Indian business. This news has come weeks after Facebook&nbsp;picked up a stake in India's&nbsp;Jio's multimedia platforms.</p>

<p>This move is being seen as a direct competitive move, in the disguise of a financial collaboration and help.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/facebook-to-invest-57-bn-in-jio-acquire-999-stake-293945"><strong>Also watch|&nbsp;Facebook to invest $5.7 BN in Jio: Acquire 9.99% stake</strong></a></p>

<p>Google is planning to buy nearly 5 per cent stake in Vodafone Idea Ltd, according to reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The move is being considered a good step for Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL), as it is struggling with&nbsp;nearly&nbsp;Rs 58,000 crore&nbsp;in unpaid statutory dues, after the Supreme Court upheld the government's position on including revenue from non-core businesses in calculating the annual AGR (Adjusted Gross Revenue) of telecom companies, a share of which is paid as licence and spectrum fee to the exchequer.</p>

<p>The reports are not yet confirmed as&nbsp;there have been no comments on this speculation from Vodafone India or&nbsp;Alphabet Inc's Google.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from PTI)</em></p>


Tech giant Google might take a minority stake in British telecom group Vodafone's struggling Indian business. This news has come weeks after Facebook picked up a stake in India's Jio's multimedia platforms.

Tech giant Google might take a minority stake in British telecom group Vodafone's struggling Indian business. This news has come weeks after Facebook picked up a stake in India's Jio's multimedia platforms. This move is being seen as a direct competitive move, in the disguise of a financial collaboration and help. Also watch| Facebook to invest $5.7 BN in Jio: Acquire 9.99% stake Google is planning to buy nearly 5 per cent stake in Vodafone Idea Ltd, according to reports. The move is being considered a good step for Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL), as it is struggling with nearly Rs 58,000 crore in unpaid statutory dues, after the Supreme Court upheld the government's position on including revenue from non-core businesses in calculating the annual AGR (Adjusted Gross Revenue) of telecom companies, a share of which is paid as licence and spectrum fee to the exchequer. The reports are not yet confirmed as there have been no comments on this speculation from Vodafone India or Alphabet Inc's Google. (With inputs from PTI)

Google plans to buy 5% stake in struggling Vodafone India

<p>The Supreme Court of India on Thursday dismissed review petitions filed by various telecom companies challenging its judgement in the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) case.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Telecom bigwigs like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Reliance Communications (RCom) owe a whopping Rs 92,000 crore as a license fee to the telecom department. Another 41,000 crore is to be paid to the Department of Telecom (DoT) as a spectrum usage fee.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In October last year, the apex court had granted three months to telecom operators to clear their dues with the telecom department.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Supreme Court dismisses review petitions by various telecom companies challenging the Supreme Court judgement in the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) case. <a href="https://t.co/F3W33tUxE4">pic.twitter.com/F3W33tUxE4</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1217770310440636418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Indian telecom sector reels under heavy debts and suffers from a cut-throat price war. Supreme Court's rejection of AGR pleas is likely to further add to the financial woes of the telecom operators.</p>

<p>Bharti, in its response, expressed the company's disappointment with the top court's verdict and said that it would evaluate filing another petition.</p>

<p>"The industry continues to face severe financial stress and the outcome could further erode the viability of the sector as a whole," Bharti said in a statement reported by news agency Reuters.</p>

<p>According to reports, Bharti Airtel is supposed to pay a total of around Rs 23,000 crore to the telecom department. Reliance Communications has saddled Rs 16,456.47 crore worth of dues while Vodafone Idea has to pay Rs 19,823.71 crore as its dues.</p>


The Supreme Court of India on Thursday dismissed review petitions filed by various telecom companies challenging its judgement in the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) case.

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday dismissed review petitions filed by various telecom companies challenging its judgement in the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) case. Telecom bigwigs like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Reliance Communications (RCom) owe a whopping Rs 92,000 crore as a license fee to the telecom department. Another 41,000 crore is to be paid to the Department of Telecom (DoT) as a spectrum usage fee. In October last year, the apex court had granted three months to telecom operators to clear their dues with the telecom department. Supreme Court dismisses review petitions by various telecom companies challenging the Supreme Court judgement in the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) case. pic.twitter.com/F3W33tUxE4 — ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2020 × The Indian telecom sector reels under heavy debts and suffers from a cut-throat price war. Supreme Court's rejection of AGR pleas is likely to further add to the financial woes of the telecom operators. Bharti, in its response, expressed the company's disappointment with the top court's verdict and said that it would evaluate filing another petition. "The industry continues to face severe financial stress and the outcome could further erode the viability of the sector as a whole," Bharti said in a statement reported by news agency Reuters. According to reports, Bharti Airtel is supposed to pay a total of around Rs 23,000 crore to the telecom department. Reliance Communications has saddled Rs 16,456.47 crore worth of dues while Vodafone Idea has to pay Rs 19,823.71 crore as its dues.

Telecom operators to pay Rs 92,000 crore as dues to telecom department, SC rejects review plea 

<p>Britain&#39;s Vodafone Group will merge its Indian subsidiary with local rival Idea Cellular within two years,&nbsp;&nbsp;Idea said today. The new entity will compete with Reliance Jio that has unleashed a fierce price war.</p>

<p>Kumar Mangalam Birla will be the chairman of the merged entity.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I am pleased and honoured to be the chairman of the new company: Kumar Mangalam Birla after Vodafone India-IDEA merger (file pic) <a href="https://t.co/p7csrklCuz">pic.twitter.com/p7csrklCuz</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/843710972409782272">March 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to some reports, Idea said Vodafone will own 45.1 per cent of the merged entity, after it transfers about 4.9 per cent to promoters of Idea and/or their affiliates for 38.74 billion rupees ($592.15 million) in cash. PTI, however, says&nbsp;both companies will have an equal stake.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vodafone?src=hash">#Vodafone</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Idea?src=hash">#Idea</a> to have equal stakes in the merged entity over a period of time: chiefs of both companies.</p>
&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/843708844052242437">March 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The merger will see $10 billion&nbsp;in cost, capex synergies, reports said.</p>

<p>&quot;Vodafone Group Plc and Idea Cellular announced that they have reached an agreement to combine their operations in India,&quot; they said in a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).</p>

<p>&quot;The combined company would become the leading communications provider in India with almost 400 million customers, 35 per cent customer market share and 41 per cent revenue market share,&quot; the statement added.</p>

<p>The confirmation ended months of speculation that the two operators were ready to sign a deal to help fend off Reliance Jio, whose recent arrival has shaken up India&#39;s ultra-competitive mobile network market.</p>

<p>Shares in Idea rose as much as 14.25 per cent immediately after the merger news but gave up gains to be trading up 3.8 per cent.</p>

<p>The merger of Vodafone - the world&#39;s second-largest cellphone network operator - with the Aditya Birla Group firm - India&#39;s third-largest cellular operator - would create a company with around 387 million users and form one of the largest telecom companies in the world.</p>

<p>Since its entry in India in 2007, Vodafone has become the number-2 operator in the country, but its journey has been tumultuous as it is locked in a legal battle with the government over a $2 billion retrospective tax claim over its acquisition of Vodafone India from Hutchison in 2007.</p>

<p>It had written down value of business by 5 billion pound ($3.35 billion) late last year. The British firm has pumped in more than $7 billion into the India unit.</p>

<p>Backed by India&#39;s richest man Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Jio Infocomm is offering free voice calls and data till March and has notched up 74 million users. It has already invested over $25 billion and is investing another Rs 30,000 crore ($4.8 billion).</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>In what could be the biggest telecom operator merger in India, Idea Cellular has approved its amalgamation with Vodafone India. (WION)</p>
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<p>(WION)</p>


The merger will create a company with around 387 million users?and form one of the largest telecom companies in the world.

Britain's Vodafone Group will merge its Indian subsidiary with local rival Idea Cellular within two years, Idea said today. The new entity will compete with Reliance Jio that has unleashed a fierce price war. Kumar Mangalam Birla will be the chairman of the merged entity. I am pleased and honoured to be the chairman of the new company: Kumar Mangalam Birla after Vodafone India-IDEA merger (file pic) pic.twitter.com/p7csrklCuz — ANI (@ANI_news) March 20, 2017 × According to some reports, Idea said Vodafone will own 45.1 per cent of the merged entity, after it transfers about 4.9 per cent to promoters of Idea and/or their affiliates for 38.74 billion rupees ($592.15 million) in cash. PTI, however, says both companies will have an equal stake. #Vodafone, #Idea to have equal stakes in the merged entity over a period of time: chiefs of both companies. — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 20, 2017 × The merger will see $10 billion in cost, capex synergies, reports said. "Vodafone Group Plc and Idea Cellular announced that they have reached an agreement to combine their operations in India," they said in a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). "The combined company would become the leading communications provider in India with almost 400 million customers, 35 per cent customer market share and 41 per cent revenue market share," the statement added. The confirmation ended months of speculation that the two operators were ready to sign a deal to help fend off Reliance Jio, whose recent arrival has shaken up India's ultra-competitive mobile network market. Shares in Idea rose as much as 14.25 per cent immediately after the merger news but gave up gains to be trading up 3.8 per cent. The merger of Vodafone - the world's second-largest cellphone network operator - with the Aditya Birla Group firm - India's third-largest cellular operator - would create a company with around 387 million users and form one of the largest telecom companies in the world. Since its entry in India in 2007, Vodafone has become the number-2 operator in the country, but its journey has been tumultuous as it is locked in a legal battle with the government over a $2 billion retrospective tax claim over its acquisition of Vodafone India from Hutchison in 2007. It had written down value of business by 5 billion pound ($3.35 billion) late last year. The British firm has pumped in more than $7 billion into the India unit. Backed by India's richest man Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Jio Infocomm is offering free voice calls and data till March and has notched up 74 million users. It has already invested over $25 billion and is investing another Rs 30,000 crore ($4.8 billion). In what could be the biggest telecom operator merger in India, Idea Cellular has approved its amalgamation with Vodafone India. (WION) × (WION)

Vodafone, Idea Cellular to merge, set to become India?s largest telecom operator

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Vodafone wins international arbitration against India, govt asked to pay only Rs 40 crore

Google plans to buy 5% stake in struggling Vodafone India

Telecom operators to pay Rs 92,000 crore as dues to telecom department, SC rejects review plea

Vodafone, Idea Cellular to merge, set to become India?s largest telecom operator