GOVT BACKS BHARTI-MTN DEAL

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Wednesday that the Indian government backs the proposed merger of Bharti Airtel Ltd and South Africa’s MTN Group Ltd and it was looking into legal aspects related to a dual listing.

“Our position on this is very clear. In the first week of September, I had met the South African finance minister on the sidelines of the G-20 finance ministers’ summit in London, and told him that we are in favour of the deal,” Mukherjee said in Kolkata. “As far as dual listing is concerned, that is linked with full (capital account) convertibility. This has legal aspects, which we are looking into.”

On whether India would alter legislation to allow the record $24 billion (Rs1.15 trillion) deal, the finance minister said: “We welcome the deal but in the context of the law of land. There are some legal implications, which are being looked into.”

Livemint

NORWAY'S TELENOR BUYS UNITECH'S TELECOM FIRM

Norway-based Telenor, the world’s seventh largest telecom operator with a subscriber base of about 159 million, has bought new-generation telecom company Unitech Wireless by paying Rs 6,120 crore for a 60 per cent stake. The deal puts the enterprise value of the company, which holds a licence for 22 circles and is yet to roll out its services, at Rs 11,620 crore.

Business Standard

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