BS Reporters In Mumbai, Bangalore

Stories by BS Reporters In Mumbai, Bangalore

DLF uses discounts to sell flats

DLF uses discounts to sell flats

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2009

DLF, which launched a residential project at Shivaji Marg on April 7, managed to sell all the 1,400 apartments on offer. It had priced the West Delhi project at Rs 6,000-7,000 a sq ft and offered an initial discount of Rs 1,000 a sq ft, besides an additional one of Rs 500 a sq ft on timely payments. It also offered an 8.5 per cent discount if a customer paid the entire amount within a month of the initial booking, bringing down the effective price to Rs 4,075 per sq ft.

These cities saw the highest attrition rate

These cities saw the highest attrition rate

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2009

Bangalore and Hyderabad have seen the highest attrition rates in the country. During the past year, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai had higher attrition rates than other cities. In Bangalore, ITeS lead in employment growth and it was followed by the health sector. On the other hand, financial services sector saw a negative growth in the city.

Tech M to announce open offer for Satyam today

Tech M to announce open offer for Satyam today

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2009

Tech M's priorities include retaining current customers, winning back business lost as a result of the crisis, retaining key associates, winning new businesses and exploring the best ways to realise operational and structural synergies between the two companies. On the possibility of layoffs and cost-cutting, Vineet Nayyar, Tech Mahindra's vice-chairman and MD, said, "I can't say anything. The company has to be viable and we will work at it. Layoffs will be the last option."

Should the Satyam name be retained?

Should the Satyam name be retained?

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2009

The jury is still out on whether Tech Mahindra should retain the Satyam name. Srinivasan Swamy, CMD, R K Swamy BBDO, says. "Brand Satyam took a beating for only one reason -- accounting irregularities by its erstwhile chairman. The employees were not even aware of the fraud. The company's core values and foundation have not been impacted." The task for the new management, he believes, is to retain its clients and people and the brand image would get resurrected.

Satyam transition may be discussed today

Satyam transition may be discussed today

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2009

"Other than the induction of the new board members, Tech Mahindra will have discussions with the management to articulate the growth of the company, strengthen the governance part and also focus on cash-flow issues. The current management members, including CEO A S Murty, will continue for some time," said a source close to the development. Tech Mahindra members are also expected to take stock of operations at Satyam.

SpiceJet in talks with GoAir, IndiGo for alliance

SpiceJet in talks with GoAir, IndiGo for alliance

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2009

Calculations based on the latest marketshare figures released by the ministry of civil aviation show that while a merger with GoAir or its acquisition would give SpiceJet a marketshare of 15 per cent, a merger with IndiGo would give it a hold over more than a quarter of the market. SpiceJet's current market share stands at 12 per cent.

More pay cuts for Infy top echelon

More pay cuts for Infy top echelon

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2009

In the current fiscal (2009-10), the company expects that this may further go down to about 50 per cent. "In fiscal 2010, we expect the variable pay for the senior management to be less than 58 per cent," said Infosys head of HR, education and research T V Mohandas Pai. He is also a member on the Infosys' board. Variable component is as high as 50 per cent in the total pay packet of the senior executives whereas the fixed component constitutes the other half.

Tech Mahindra brass to meet Satyam on April 20

Tech Mahindra brass to meet Satyam on April 20

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2009

They will take stock of the current situation and discuss the way forward. Handing over the share allotment documents to Tech Mahindra is also on the agenda of Monday's board meet, according to a Satyam spokesperson. Tech Mahindra Vice-Chairman, MD & CEO Vineet Nayyar, C P Gurnani, president (international operations), and President (strategic initiatives) Sanjay Kalra have confirmed their participation in the meet.

Satyam seems good fit for its new owner

Satyam seems good fit for its new owner

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2009

Analysts are optimistic on absorption of new clients, growth possibilities under Tech Mahindra. For Tech Mahindra, the biggest positive is that the two companies have synergies in service offerings and client portfolio, says Sabyasachi Satpathy, director and co-founder, Mindplex Consulting. Satyam will give Tech Mahindra capabilities in enterprise resource planning, systems integration, as well as vertical expertise in the embedded, manufacturing and insurance space.

Pfizer offers to raise stake in Indian unit

Pfizer offers to raise stake in Indian unit

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2009

The world's biggest drug maker Pfizer Inc has offered about Rs 680 crore to raise its stake in its Indian subsidiary to 75 per cent from 41 per cent. The offer of Rs 675 per share, however, is unlikely to find takers, since Pfizer share price rose 10.02 per cent to close at Rs 685.4 per share on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Monday, analysts feel.

Self-regulation by new channels: Will it work?

Self-regulation by new channels: Will it work?

Rediff.com   13 Apr 2009

India TV walks out of News Broadcasters Association after questioning the decision to penalise the channel.

High-end Nano more popular

High-end Nano more popular

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2009

Nearly 80 per cent of the buyers opting for the more expensive variants instead of the base-level car which is priced at Rs 1.23 lakh (ex showroom, Delhi). The trend is based on responses from dealers and banks that took bookings in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chandigarh and Kolkata on Thursday. The Nano CX costs Rs 1.48 lakh and the top-end LX Rs 1.72 lakh.

Stop Satyam sale, IT union tells EC

Stop Satyam sale, IT union tells EC

Rediff.com   9 Apr 2009

UNITES, the union that represents workers in the IT and ITeS sector in India, has requested the CEC to invoke the model code of conduct to stall the whole process citing the scandal-hit company's legal liabilities and other ambiguities as deterrents for any potential bidder to carry an effective due diligence process. Over 2,000 Satyam employees, claims UNITES, have registered with the union since the scandal was reported on January 7 this year.

Tech Mahindra gets cracking on Satyam

Tech Mahindra gets cracking on Satyam

Rediff.com   9 Apr 2009

"Tech Mahindra is way too dependent on one sector, telecom, and one client," said an analyst. Satyam will not only give it access to different business verticals but also key clients. But Tech Mahindra have been concerned over the recent client loss Satyam has witnessed. Another big concern is the liabilities Satyam will have to face due to the 13 US class-action suits, the unresolved Upaid case, as well as lack of clarity on client and employee details.

Now, book your Nano at UCO bank

Now, book your Nano at UCO bank

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2009

"The amount payable to the company at the time of booking is Rs 95,000, and the bank would lend this money to the applicant at a less than 10 per cent interest," said S K Goel, chairman and managing director of UCO Bank. He said the scheme offered by UCO was different from that of the State Bank of India, in the sense that UCO would lend any amount less than Rs 95,000 to the customer depending on their need.

Don't depend on management: ICAI to auditors

Don't depend on management: ICAI to auditors

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2009

On the back of the Satyam episode, the ICAI is planning to seek more power for chartered accountants so that they are not mere qualifiers. In case they see any divergence in the numbers provided by the company, there must be a way to compel a restatement of accounts, according to the ICAI. It has asked its members to 'to be much more vigilant and rely on external information than be dependent on what the management provides.'

IBM pulls out of Satyam race on lawsuit fears

IBM pulls out of Satyam race on lawsuit fears

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2009

IBM's exit leaves the field open for engineering giant Larsen & Toubro, which owns 12 per cent in Satyam, Tech Mahindra, Cognizant Technology and private equity firm Wilbur L Ross. Satyam currently faces 13 class action suits by holders of the company's ADRs in the US. An investment banker close to the deal said IBM was a big name and could, therefore, be vulnerable to more lawsuits.

Cognizant back in search of Satyam

Cognizant back in search of Satyam

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2009

Nasdaq-listed Cognizant Technology Solutions, which did not complete the due diligence process for Satyam Computer Services, is understood to be back in the race to acquire the troubled software company.

Govt asks state-run banks to cut rates

Govt asks state-run banks to cut rates

Rediff.com   3 Apr 2009

Some banks made it clear that banks have to make commercial decisions. "There is a limit to which we can reduce the deposit rates because of competing investment products such as small savings instruments," said a bank chief. With banks unable to lower deposits rates, lending rates were unlikely to drop significantly. A banker is said to have talked about the fact that companies that are unable to sustain themselves during the present downturn would face many risks.

Satyam employees fear job loss after takeover

Satyam employees fear job loss after takeover

Rediff.com   3 Apr 2009

"The situation is bad. Some people are leaving and some are being asked to leave. And more important, several positions are remaining vacant. The selected candidates for these posts are not coming," said an associate, as the employees are called. "There is talk now that the new company, whichever that is, will cut at least 10,000 jobs gradually. We are praying that this is unfounded," a senior associate said.