Brexit keeps India Inc, markets on edge

Referendum will have long-term implications for Indian companies, which earn a substantial portion of revenue from the region

The Indian currency and stock markets, and companies with European exposure, remained on edge as the UK goes to vote on a referendum to remain or exit the European Union (EU) on Thursday. Apart from roiling the currency and stock markets, the referendum will have wide-ranging, long-term implications for Indian companies such as Tata Steel and Tata Motors and information technology (IT) services companies, which earn a substantial portion of their revenue from the region.

While opinion polls suggest a neck-and-neck race between the two camps, the referendum initiated by British Prime Minister David Cameron, as part of his 2015 election manifesto, is causing deep concerns at home. "This is an unprecedented event that will have impact on cost, labour and capital. If the UK decides to leave, the risk aversion that would set in will take money away from emerging markets to safe havens like the US and Japan. India will see some dislocation in the market in the short-term," said Arvind Narayanan, executive director and head of treasury at DBS Bank, India.

The rupee closed at 67.49 versus the dollar, down 17 paise over Monday's close. The 10-year bond closed at a yield of 7.50 per cent level, about the same level as the previous day.

Stock market analysts said if the UK were to exit the EU, it could change the equation dramatically. "After the US Federal Reserve, it is a major event that is followed by the investors across the globe. Europe would be on the verge of a meltdown, if Brexit happens," says U R Bhat, managing director, Dalton Capital Advisors. The prospects of Brexit have impacted the oil markets too. In the eventuality of a Brexit, analysts expect a 10 per cent further fall in oil prices in the near future.

Executives of Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Tata Steel Europe cautioned their British employees about exiting the EU. JLR chief executive officer Ralf Speth said the UK leaving the EU would be "highly damaging" for the company and would make buying components and selling products in the EU more difficult, which is its largest market.

"Remaining in the EU will increase chances to grow, create jobs and attract investment," Speth said. Europe accounts for 57 per cent of Tata Steel's consolidated revenue.

Another worry for Indian companies is the prospects of a fall in the British currency's value, if it exits the EU. It could result in lower incomes for IT companies like Tata Consultancy Services (about 16 per cent of its revenue comes from the UK) and Tech Mahindra (15 per cent of revenue), which earn significant income from the UK. The good news though is that the punters are betting that the UK will vote to stay in the EU. While the opinion polls are split mid-way, Ladbrokes betting barometer based on live odds was predicting a 76 per cent chance that the UK would stay in the EU at 5.00 pm IST on Tuesday.

BREXIT FAQs

"Brexit" refers to the UK's exit from the European Union (EU) - a group of 28 countries. A referendum is being held on Thursday (June 23) to decide whether the UK should leave or remain in the EU

Why is the referendum being held?

In 2015, British Prime Minister David Cameron promised to hold this referendum if he won. This was in response to growing dissent that the UK did not have enough say in the EU's decisions since joining in 1973

Why the dissent?

While the British public is evenly split, according to latest opinion polls, the main grouse is that many believe Britain is unable to grow because of its association with the EU. They also want Britain to take control of its borders and reduce the number of migrants coming into the country to live and work - a marked difference from the key principle of the EU, which allows for free movement of goods and people

What is the EU?

It is an economic and political partnership, involving 28 European countries. It has become a single market, allowing goods and people to move around member countries. While the UK has maintained its own currency in the British pound, most other member nations use the euro. The EU has its own parliament.

Who will vote?

British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens, who are UK residents and nationals living abroad

Why should we care?

• The UK ranks 12th in terms of India's bilateral trade with individual countries. It is also among just seven in 25 top countries with which India enjoys a trade surplus
   
• According to commerce ministry data, India's trade with the UK was worth $14 billion in 2015-16, of which $8.83 billion was in exports and $5.19 was in imports. The trade balance thus, was a positive $3.64 billion
   
• It is also the third largest investor in India after Mauritius and Singapore, with a cumulative inward flow of $22.56 billion between April 2000 and September 2015
   
• Infotech companies and the Tata Group have strong businesses in the country. A fall in the pound would hurt them. They will have to set up separate offices in other EU countries.
   
• Work-related visa restrictions have already resulted in a fall in the number of Indian students studying in British universities from 22,385 in 2012-13 to 18,320 in 2014-15, according to the UK Council for International Student Affairs

UK'S EU MEMBERSHIP SAGA: REJECTED TWICE, WITHDRAWAL ATTEMPTS APLENTY

• Today's European Union (EU), originally known as European Economic Community (EEC), came into being after the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957
   
• United Kingdom's (UK) applications to join the common market as it was called by Britons, the first time in 1963 and the second one in 1967, were rejected as many of the country's aspects were not seen to be in sync with those of the EEC
   
• The UK joined the EEC in 1973 after its membership was accepted, when the then French President, who was the key opponent to UK joining the Union, relinquished his presidency
   
• The issue of Britain exiting (Brexit) the EU, however, is not new. It has been pursued earlier by various entities, including groups, individuals, groups and political parties since the early 1970s
   
• The referendum to be held on June 23, 2016 is not the first one. A referendum was held in 1975 on whether the UK should continue as a member. In the 1975 referendum, Britons decided on UK staying with the EEC
   
• Of the nearly 26 million people who voted in the 1975 referendum, a little over two-thirds voted in favour of the UK staying
   
• In 1983, too, when UK's Labour Party campaigned in general elections with a promise to withdraw from EEC, it was defeated badly by the Conservative Party of Margaret Thatcher. Subsequent attempts by others to resurrect the idea of the UK leaving the EU have not clicked
   
• While David Cameron, UK's Prime Minister, had rejected calls in 2012 to hold a referendum, in 2013 he did commit to holding an 'in/out' referendum on EU membership before the year 2017, if voted back to power in 2015
   
• After winning elections in 2015, Cameron's party introduced the 'European Union Referendum Act 2015', even as the prime minister himself was in favour of the UK staying with the EU
   
• On February 22, 2016, Cameron announced June 23 as the date of the referendum. The June 23 date is a result of the need for a 16 weeks' notice under the law. He also set out the legal framework for withdrawing from the EU should the need arise, that is, if Britons voted against 'staying in' the EU. "I believe Britain will be safer, stronger and better off in a reformed EU," said Cameron
   
• Since January this year, various polls have been conducted. Initial polls showed that Britons were in favour of exiting the EU, but during March and May the trend reversed in favour of staying with the EU

Sources: Wikipedia, UK news websites