Nevin John, Shivani Shinde &Amp; P B Jayakumar

Stories by Nevin John, Shivani Shinde &Amp; P B Jayakumar

Virtual data centres save power, realty costs

Virtual data centres save power, realty costs

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2008

Research firm IDC India estimates the share of virtualised servers in the industry to double from the current 22 per cent to 45 per cent by the year-end.

Pharma Q1 show to stay robust

Pharma Q1 show to stay robust

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2008

The pharmaceutical industry is expected to continue with its good performance in the first quarter of 2008-09 with over 25 per cent growth in revenues and about 45 per cent rise in net profit riding on better sales in the domestic and export markets. The industry will gain from the the depreciation of rupee as well.

Mittal's Bulgarian plant takeover plan hit

Mittal's Bulgarian plant takeover plan hit

Rediff.com   16 Jul 2008

Steel tycoon Lakshmi N Mittal's move to revive and take over the sick steel plant of his brother, Pramod Mittal, in Bulgaria is facing hurdles after a major trade union representing over 2,000 workers raised its opposition.

3 Ranbaxy units face ban if US charges are proved

3 Ranbaxy units face ban if US charges are proved

Rediff.com   15 Jul 2008

Experts said it is the first time that an Indian pharmaceutical company has been charged with such serious offences, and that the firm may be prosecuted if the allegations are proved. Able Labs of the US, now a unit of Sun Pharma through an acquisition in 2005, had to face similar charges in 2004-2005.

US sues Ranbaxy for forging data

US sues Ranbaxy for forging data

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2008

Pharma major denies charges, to file response soon.

Paid mobile entertainment losing steam

Paid mobile entertainment losing steam

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2008

Consider this. Leading broadcaster Star India's mobile interactive division, Star Mobile Entertainment -- which made some serious headway in the space by launching a service whereby mobile users could opt to view soaps from across Star India's network -- recently reviewed its operational strategy.

Suzlon to buy Chinese wind energy firm

Suzlon to buy Chinese wind energy firm

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2008

Tanti, who acquired Germany's REpower Systems last year, today announced plans to buy Chinese wind energy company Honiton Energy Holdings. The acquisition will be concluded through Colossus Holdings, a Singapore-based holding company of the Tanti group, and Bahrain-based private equity company Arcapita Bank for over $500 million (Rs 2,162 crore), sources said.

Anil's men skip Mukesh peace meet

Anil's men skip Mukesh peace meet

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2008

A day before the deadline of exclusive takeover talks between Anil Ambani's Reliance Communications and South African company MTN expires, Reliance Industries has invoked the dispute resolution clause of the non-competition agreement against RCom. However, RCom plans to go ahead with its proposed merger with MTN without taking RIL's claim into account.

Rupee fall may not help IT companies in Q1

Rupee fall may not help IT companies in Q1

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2008

Mark-to-market losses due to the unexpected fall of the rupee against the US dollar, euro and pound; the impact of wage increases in the first quarter; a stagnant global economy; and margin pressure owing to inflation are expected to impact the rupee-term fortunes of Indian IT firms that will declare their quarterly results for the April-June 30 quarter beginning this week.

Ranbaxy, others to scrap 60 drug combinations

Ranbaxy, others to scrap 60 drug combinations

Rediff.com   7 Jul 2008

The voluntary move comes a little more than a year after the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, the central authority that approves new drugs for marketing, had asked the drug makers to withdraw the 'combination drugs' as they are 'unnecessary' and may pose health hazards. The Drugs Controller General of India had banned 294 combination drugs sold under nearly 1,053 brand names from the market in June 2007.

RCom may get 20% fresh equity in MTN

RCom may get 20% fresh equity in MTN

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2008

Move to skirt public offer for S African telco.

Mobile users may be 'vishing' for trouble

Mobile users may be 'vishing' for trouble

Rediff.com   3 Jul 2008

Welcome to the world of Vishing or voice phishing, wherein hackers are using a combination of voice over internet protocol, SMSs and the internet to fool and redirect users into dialling a phone number and collect critical information for financial gain. In Kolaskar's case, both mobile spam and vishing were used.

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.

Asarco buy: Sterlite may retaliate legally

Asarco buy: Sterlite may retaliate legally

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2008

Sterlite Industries, the flagship firm of London-listed Vedanta Resources, may consider legal action if the bankruptcy court favours Grupo Mexico's counter-offer of $4.1 billion for Asarco, the US copper mining giant. Sterlite's takeover bid for Asarco hit a bump when a judge of a bankruptcy court in Texas signalled on Friday that he might give Grupo Mexico, Asarco's estranged corporate parent, a last chance to resume control of its US subsidiary.

TCS sees synergy in Gen X tools

TCS sees synergy in Gen X tools

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2008

A team of engineers at India's largest IT services provider firm. Tata Consultancy Services, was working on a project for an important client. While it was co-ordinating work from three geographical units - Europe, South America and India - it was finding it difficult to collaborate through telephone or other voice means as there were language and pronunciation hurdles.

VMIL stake: Merrill, Lehman among 4 firms in race

VMIL stake: Merrill, Lehman among 4 firms in race

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2008

VMIL officials declined to comment on the development. According to sources close to the development, VMIL will sell stake to raise money for expanding Hungama, the content and mobile services arm. The Mumbai-based company has already held two to three rounds of meetings with these private equity investors. The company's valuation has been pegged at Rs 800 crore (Rs 8 billion). The funds raised would be used for Hungama's expansion.

ONGC, others eye Canadian sand beds

ONGC, others eye Canadian sand beds

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2008

On the sidelines of crude oil price rise, Indian oil majors including Reliance Industries, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Essar Oil are eyeing exploration opportunities at the oil-rich sand beds of Alberta in Canada. The firms are believed to be drawing up plans in consultation with the central government and considering tie-ups with international firms for sand-oil exploration.

Ranbaxy deal may spur hostile bids in India

Ranbaxy deal may spur hostile bids in India

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2008

Aurobindo pharma, cipla, orchid chemicals are the prominent takeover targets.

RIL signs MoUs with 9 cos for KG basin gas sale

RIL signs MoUs with 9 cos for KG basin gas sale

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2008

Reliance Industries has signed agreements with nine fertiliser and power companies for gas sales from its field in the Krishna-Godavari basin over the past three months. India's largest private sector company has signed memorandums of understanding with Nagarjuna Fertilisers, GVK Industries, Konaseema Power (all in Andhra Pradesh), Kribhco, Chambal Fertilisers, Iffco, Torrent Power (all in Gujarat), Tata Power and Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilisers in Maharashtra.

Unwell? Get counselling before treatment

Unwell? Get counselling before treatment

Rediff.com   6 Jun 2008

Health experts point out that it will take decades for India to reach the level of health education and infrastructure in developed countries. Our per capita health expenditure is estimated at $23, which is only 6.1 per cent of the gross domestic production.