Dev Chatterjee &Amp; Prasad Sangameshwaran In Mumbai

Stories by Dev Chatterjee &Amp; Prasad Sangameshwaran In Mumbai

After Esmark, Essar loses Kenya refinery

After Esmark, Essar loses Kenya refinery

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2008

The Kenyan government has dumped the Mumbai-based group in favour of a Libyan company for a 50 per cent stake in a refinery project in Mombasa. Essar officials said they are still negotiating with the Kenyan government so that they can invest in the project.

No escape from price hike: Holcim

No escape from price hike: Holcim

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2008

Swiss cement major, Holcim, promoter of two of India's biggest cement companies, ACC and Ambuja Cements, said there is no escape from increasing the cement prices in the country considering the high energy costs.

Ruias, L N Mittal cross swords over Bulgarian firm

Ruias, L N Mittal cross swords over Bulgarian firm

Rediff.com   21 Jun 2008

The Ruias of the Essar group have decided to get into yet another takeover battle. And this time they are taking on none other than Lakshmi Narayan Mittal, the owner of world's largest steel maker, ArcelorMittal, to take over the Bulgarian steel firm, Kremikovtzi AD, an ailing steel mill owned by Mittal's younger brother Pramod Mittal.

Idea: Spice minority owners to get sell

Idea: Spice minority owners to get sell

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2008

The Aditya Birla group's wireless telephony firm Idea Cellular has agreed to buy Spice Communications in a three-stage deal in which minority shareholders of Spice would be given an option either to swap their shares for the Birla group firm or sell them in an open offer.

Birla tower unit may steer Spice buy

Birla tower unit may steer Spice buy

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2008

Telecom to Telekom Malaysia in an attempt to complete the merger, sources involved in the negotiations said, declining to be identified. The group has hired Enam Financial as adviser to the transaction. Investment banking sources said the lawyers from both the parties are now busy structuring the deal so that the acquisition meets all the regulatory norms of the country and the Birlas retain control over Idea Cellular.

Idea to invest in Spice network, tech upgrade

Idea to invest in Spice network, tech upgrade

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2008

Idea Cellular, the Aditya Birla group firm that is on the verge of taking over Spice Communications by buying out B K Modi's 41 per cent stake, is sounding out its bankers to raise funds to upgrade in the struggling telecom operator's network and technology.

Emami forces Zandu to drop preferential issue

Emami forces Zandu to drop preferential issue

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2008

Kolkata-based personal care products maker Emami, which made a hostile takeover bid for Zandu Pharmaceuticals, on Friday forced the latter to withdraw a plan to offer preferential shares to its promoters.Zandu had sent notice to the Bombay Stock Exchange late on Thursday evening saying its board would meet to discuss a preferential share issue to the promoters and directors.Emami lawyers swung into action and sent legal notice early on Friday to Zandu's board.

Young market? Old brands go under knife

Young market? Old brands go under knife

Rediff.com   20 May 2008

As the market grows young, old brands go under the knife. In 1897, a young man named Ardeshir Godrej gave up law and turned to making locks. He went on to make safes and security equipment, and toilet soap from vegetable oil. He wouldn't have imagined that one day the business that started after his name would grow into a conglomerate with over Rs 7,000 crore (Rs 70 billion) in revenues, or that one of its top executives would wear long, red-streaked hair.

Virgin Mobile targets young India

Virgin Mobile targets young India

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2008

Virgin Mobile is flying in the face of conventional wisdom with a niche strategy for the Indian market. Virgin is faced with a market that is crowded by telecom players. It would take some good strategies to break through the thick maze. Their strategy is to deliver a tailored & relevant offering for a single, distinct segment - the youth. 70 mn Indians aged between 14 & 25 years own cell phones. Over the next three years, Virgin expects 50 mn new subscribers in this segment.

Visibility is key for brand launch success

Visibility is key for brand launch success

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2008

Business Standard Annual Brand Derby picks Bingo as the most successful launch.

What luxury home buyers are looking for

What luxury home buyers are looking for

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2007

Selling a luxury home isn't about the space, it is about the lifestyle.

Ads can happen over coffee

Ads can happen over coffee

Rediff.com   4 Dec 2007

Welcome to the world of silent commercials, with a sales pitch that's not full-throated, but muted and substituted with high visual elements. Sure, this is not a new business model of customised ads that the coffee chain has stumbled upon. Rather it's DSN (Digital Signage Networks), an in-store media company that has put up screens in CCD outlets.

Welcome to the world of silent ads

Welcome to the world of silent ads

Rediff.com   3 Dec 2007

Welcome to the world of silent commercials, with a sales pitch that's not full-throated, but muted and substituted with high visual elements. Sure, this is not a new business model of customised ads that the coffee chain has stumbled upon. Rather it's DSN (Digital Signage Networks), an in-store media company that has put up screens in CCD outlets.

How niche TV channels compete with giants

How niche TV channels compete with giants

Rediff.com   30 Oct 2007

The Indian cable and satellite universe is already packed and in the coming months it will only get further crowded. Over the next 12 months, another 100 channels will be added to the existing 230 and according to industry estimates, by 2009 a staggering 700 channels could be beamed into Indian homes.

How Motorola captured second spot in Nokia country

How Motorola captured second spot in Nokia country

Rediff.com   23 Oct 2007

How Motorola climbed from No. 5 to No. 2 in 12 months?

FMCG firms ally with kirana stores

FMCG firms ally with kirana stores

Rediff.com   1 Oct 2007

Hindustan Unilever is associating with small-format retail through its Super Value Store, Dabur with Parivaar and Marico with Mera. At many shops, the counter has been modified into a U or L shape so that the shopper can move and pick items.

Little Hearts may figure in Britannia-Danone talks

Little Hearts may figure in Britannia-Danone talks

Rediff.com   28 Sep 2007

Britannia executives were, however, non-committal on whether the company had initiated discussions to return the Little Hearts trademark and the right to use the product recipe back to Groupe Danone.

Senior citizens are the wealthiest consumers

Senior citizens are the wealthiest consumers

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2007

While everyone from economists and management consulting firms use the promise of a "Young India" as a compelling argument to pit India against an "Ageing China", a study says marketers might be missing the big picture.

Britannia takes I-T dept to court

Britannia takes I-T dept to court

Rediff.com   6 Aug 2007

Britannia Industries, the country's top biscuit maker, has taken the income tax department, Kolkata, to court after it received a show-cause notice asking it to explain the withdrawal of funds from the employees' pension fund in 2003.

Judge Kode - The human face of justice

Judge Kode - The human face of justice

Rediff.com   3 Aug 2007

Kode has proved that justice may be delayed but it cannot be denied to the 257 innocent who lost their lives in the blasts.