IDEA DEAL GOOD FOR INVESTORS, CONSUMERS

The Idea-Spice merger brings is good news for shareholders as well as consumers of Idea and Spice, experts said. "The offer price and the deal is good for investors especially under current market conditions," said Phani Sekhar, fund manager at Angel Broking.

Yahoo News

IDEA-SPICE DEAL 4th LARGEST M&A IN INDIA

The buyout of Spice Telecom by Idea Cellular is the fourth largest merger and acquisition deal involving an Indian entity and may be a pre-cursor to more such transactions in the telecom space.

The Financial Express

IDEA GETS SPICE FLAVOUR

It’s consolidation time in India’s booming telecom industry. Idea Cellular, the fifth largest mobile operator in terms of subscriber base, is acquiring 40.8 per cent stake in its smaller rival Spice Communications for Rs 2,716 crore. The deal will help Malaysian telecom major TM International (TMI) to convert its 32 per cent stake in Spice Communications to Idea shares. In other words, TMI will hold 18-20 per cent stake in Idea after the Aditya Birla group firm merges Spice with itself.

Hindustan Times

Planet Retail to bring in Carter’s, OshKosh B’Gosh

Indian kidswear market, dominated largely by unorganised players, may soon see major international play. Two over-a-century old American iconic brands, Carter’s and OshKosh B’Gosh, are entering India in licensing partnership with Planet Retail, which is already the Indian franchisees of brands such as Body Shop, Debenhams, Next, Guess and 14 stores of Marks & Spencer, which has now moved into the Reliance Retail fold. Carter’s and OshKosh B’Gosh will be initially sold through shop-in-shop format in department store Debenhams, which is scheduled to open its second store in Mumbai next month. The kidswear brands will later have their exclusive stores.

The Economic Times
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry
/Services/Planet_Retail_to_bring_in_Carters_OshKosh_BGosh/
articleshow/3161732.cms

India is top source to meet staff shortage in Britain

India is one of the top three sources of international recruitment for British employers struggling to meet talent shortages.

The Economic Times
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/
News_By_Industry/Jobs/India_is_top_source
_to_meet_staff_shortage_in_Britain_/
articleshow/3162202.cms

Estee Lauder to make foray into Indian market

With rising demand for the latest beauty products in India, especially from the prosperous middle class, international chain Estee Lauder is making a foray into the lucrative South Asian market.

The Economic Times
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/
News_By_Industry/Cons_Products/
Estee_Lauder_to_make_foray_into_Indian_market/
articleshow/3159860.cms

Microsoft pips Infosys, SBI in most reputed firms list

US software giant Microsoft has topped the list of most reputed companies in India ahead of homegrown major Infosys and public sector banking giant State Bank of India.

The Economic Times
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
Microsoft_is_the_most_reputed_firm_in_India/
articleshow/3159984.cms

Yahoo! to double India headcount in 2008

The long drawn takeover battle and exodus of top executive ranks notwithstanding, internet major Yahoo! expects to more than double its employee strength in India to close to 2,700 by the end of 2008.

The Financial Express
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/
Yahoo-to-double-India-headcount-in-2008/326433/0

Reliance Infra to hire 4,500 in three years

Reliance Infrastructure, part of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group (ADAG), will recruit more than 4,500 people in the next three years as the company develops its engineering and construction business as a major growth driver, apart from its existing power operations.

The Economic Times
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/
Jobs/Reliance_Infra_to_hire_4500_in_three_years/
articleshow/3154510.cms

Genpact sees no drag, to hire 10,000 again

Global slowdown notwithstanding, Genpact Ltd, a business process outsourcing (BPO) firm, plans to hire as many as it did last year in a bid to maintain its "30% to 35%" growth rate.

Sify.com
http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14695172

Daiichi-Ranbaxy may signal Big Pharma-generic deals

Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd's for control of Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd that pharmaceutical companies have a major appetite for generic drugmakers despite concerns about differences in their business models.

Reuters
http://in.reuters.com/article/asiaCompanyAndMarkets/
idINN1144380420080611?sp=true

Japanese firm Daiichi to buy stake in Ranbaxy

Leading Japanese pharmaceutical firm Daiichi Sankyo Company Ltd, will acquire majority stake in India's largest drug maker Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. The companies have announced a binding share purchase and share subscription agreement (the "SPSSA") between Daiichi Sankyo, Ranbaxy and the Singh family, the largest and controlling shareholders of Ranbaxy.

Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/common/
storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=10&bKeyFlag=
IN&autono=39729

Job market in India to remain positive: Manpower

The release of Manpower Employment Outlook Survey has revealed that job market in India is expected to remain positive yet cautious in the third quarter of 2008. Of the 32 countries and territories surveyed globally this quarter, employer hiring intentions continue to be robust in India with an overall Net Employment Outlook of +45%.

Indiainfoline
http://www.indiainfoline.com/news/
innernews.asp?storyId=70001&lmn=1

One night @ the Call Centre-in Hinterland

Welcome to the world of rural BPOs—an idea that has potential to dramatically change the way people look at rural and semi-urban workforce. While rural BPOs are changing lives for the village youth, for many companies the trend accompanies a big relief from increasing costs and nagging attrition in their urban units. Little wonder then, rural BPOs are growing at an impressive 60% clip, according to estimates.

The Economic Times
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
articleshow/msid-3085379,flstry-1.cms

Reliance, MTN Tie-Up Meets Financiers

Barclays Capital, Calyon and Lehman Brothers are close to arranging the financing behind Reliance Communications’ takeover bid for MTN, Africa’s biggest mobile phone company, following the collapse of talks between MTN and Bharti Airtel. Reliance, India’s second largest mobile phone operator, began discussing a possible merger with MTN only this week. Bankers involved in the financing say talks are at a very early stage. One banker said it was very likely that the banking group would be enlarged before any financing package was sealed.

The Euromoney Institutional Investor
http://www.emii.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=1940048

Indian companies created 5,000 British jobs in 2007

Seventy Indian companies set up in Britain last year, creating 5,000 more jobs, Britain's trade and investment minister has said.Trade between India and Britain grew by 9.1 per cent last year, adding around 9 billion pounds to the total value

The Economic Times
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/
Jobs/Indian_companies_created_5000_British_jobs_in_2007/
articleshow/3060180.cms

India 2nd optimistic employer in BRIC nations

Employment across BRIC region (Brazil, Russia, India and China) is likely to increase with the country expected to be the second most optimistic nation in terms of expanding its workforce over the next 12 months, says global consulting major KPMG.

Growth of employment is expected to be the strongest in Russia with almost half of Companies set to increase workforce numbers, while India followed suit and emerged as the second most confident nation

The Financial Express
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/
India-2nd-optimistic-employer-in-BRIC-nations/312671/0