Merger offer for MTN by this weekend

Bharti Airtel Ltd’s proposal to merge with MTN Group Ltd—not one buying the other—would be placed before the MTN board by the end of this week and likely taken up by the Johannesburg company’s board early next week, say people familiar with the talks between the two telecom companies. But a few industry analysts also predict MTN, Africa’s largest phone firm, will have to be valued at about $50 billion, or $25 a share (Rs1,060 per share), about 25% more than its current value, for a deal to be consummated.

Mint
http://www.livemint.com/2008/05/
14234019/Merger-offer-for-MTN-by-this-w.html

India's internet user base @ 46 mn

For the first time ever, the internet user base in India grew by over 40 per cent to touch 46 million in September 2007 from 32.2 million in the corresponding month last year. During the month, the number of active internet users reached 32 million, according the Internet in India Report 2007, published jointly by the Internet and Mobile Association of India and IMRB International.

Rediff.com
http://www.rediff.com/money/
2007/dec/05net.htm

India Inc eyes small cities for manpower

Despite the metropolitan cities offering maximum job avenues to the aspirants, the high cost of manpower and capacity constraints in these big cities is pushing industry to expanding its horizon towards small cities for job creation, according to ASSOCHAM Study on “Trends of Job Openings”. Out of the total 60 cities that have been tracked by the ASSOCHAM Placement Pattern (APP), the tier II and tier III cities have cornered 28% (total 14 tier II cities) and 38% (total 39 tier III cities) share of the job space respectively in the first three months of the year 2008.

Indiainfoline.com
http://www.indiainfoline.com/news/innernews.asp?
storyId=66863&lmn=1

APOs look to clock 100% growth by year end

Taking its position in the outsourcing space in the global industry ahead, Indian Companies are looking at the very critical Actuarial Process Outsourcing (APO) area. And here, the industry is expected to ramp up 100% by the end of 2008. As opposed to tactical outsourcing, the APO is highly knowledge intensive work involving valuations and analytical work and is, therefore, not largely driven by the volume of people. Actuaries, form the third and the most pecialised pillar of the insurance business much ahead of fund management and sales, where smart data crunching and detailed analysis sets the very foundation for undertaking risk coverage.

The Financial Express
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/
APOs-look-to-clock-100-growth-by-year-end/
305820/

India Inc moves to smaller cities to cut costs

Corporate India has begun to move towards tier II and tier III cities like Ranchi, Meerut, Udaipur and Patiala to bring down its rising manpower and infrastructure costs in the metros, said Industry body Assocham today.

The Economic Times
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/
India_Inc_moves_to_smaller_cities/articleshow/
3015508.cms

Real Estate Mutual Funds: Just another brick in the wall?

This is indeed a busy time for market regulators. With India on, what looks like, a sustainable growth path, it is a good time for reforms and introduction of newer financial products.

The Economic Times
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Personal_Finance/
REMF_Another_brick_in_the_wall/articleshow/
3013565.cms