India Business Insight articles from October 2008, page 12

India Business Insight archives from October 2008

ET500 RANKINGS: SUASHISH DIAMONDS LTD (ranks 375th in the ET500-2008 listing of top Indian companies by turnover).
October 31, 2008... Suashish Diamonds Ltd (SDL), which operates in the diamonds & jewellery sector, ranks 375th in the ET500-2008 listing of India's Biggest Companies by turnover. SDL recorded 9.17 percent growth in sales at Rs1,052 crore for 2007-2008 and 47.66...

ET500 RANKINGS: SOUTH ASIAN PETROCHEM LIMITED (ranks 376th in the ET500-2008 listing of top Indian companies by turnover).
October 31, 2008... South Asian Petrochem Limited (SAPL), which operates in the petrochemicals sector, ranks 376th in the ET500-2008 listing of India's Biggest Companies by turnover. SAPL recorded 1.75 percent decline in sales at Rs1,051 crore for 2007-2008...

ET500 RANKINGS: DIVIS LABORATORIES LIMITED (ranks 377th in the ET500-2008 listing of top Indian companies by turnover).
October 31, 2008... Divis Laboratories Limited (DLL), which operates in the pharmaceuticals sector, ranks 377th in the ET500-2008 listing of India's Biggest Companies by turnover. DLL recorded 41.82 percent growth in sales at Rs1,047 crore for 2007-2008 and...

ET500 RANKINGS: HINDUSTHAN NATIONAL GLASS & INDUSTRIES LTD (ranks 379th in the ET500-2008 listing of top Indian companies by turnover).
October 31, 2008... Hindusthan National Glass & Industries Ltd (HNGIL), which operates in the glass & glass products sector, ranks 379th in the ET500-2008 listing of India's Biggest Companies by turnover. HNGIL recorded 95.20 percent growth in sales at Rs1,042...

ET500 RANKINGS: PHILLIPS CARBON BLACK LTD (ranks 380th in the ET500-2008 listing of top Indian companies by turnover).
October 31, 2008... Phillips Carbon Black Ltd (PCBL), which operates in the chemicals sector, ranks 380th in the ET500-2008 listing of India's Biggest Companies by turnover. PCBL recorded 3.65 percent growth in sales at Rs1,039 crore for 2007-2008 and 279.52...

ET500 RANKINGS: GUJARAT MINERAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD (ranks 381st in the ET500-2008 listing of top Indian companies by turnover).
October 31, 2008... Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (GMDC), which operates in the mining & minerals sector, ranks 381st in the ET500-2008 listing of India's Biggest Companies by turnover. GMDC recorded 66.50 percent growth in sales at Rs1,039 crore...

ET500 RANKINGS: INDIA INFOLINE LIMITED (ranks 382nd in the ET500-2008 listing of top Indian companies by turnover).
October 31, 2008... India Infoline Limited (IIL), which operates in the financial sector, ranks 382nd in the ET500-2008 listing of India's Biggest Companies by turnover. IIL recorded 140.43 percent growth in sales at Rs1,024 crore for 2007-2008 and 111.43...

ET500 RANKINGS: KALYANI STEELS LTD (ranks 383rd in the ET500-2008 listing of top Indian companies by turnover).
October 31, 2008... Kalyani Steels Ltd (KSL), which operates in the steel sector, ranks 383rd in the ET500-2008 listing of India's Biggest Companies by turnover. KSL recorded 7.08 percent growth in sales at Rs1,022 crore for 2007-2008 and 8.56 percent decrease...

ET500 RANKINGS: PFIZER LIMITED (ranks 384th in the ET500-2008 listing of top Indian companies by turnover).
October 31, 2008... Pfizer Limited, which operates in the pharmaceuticals sector, ranks 384th in the ET500-2008 listing of India's Biggest Companies by turnover. Pfizer recorded 32.47 percent growth in sales at Rs1,020 crore for 2007-2008 and 219.76 percent...

ET500 RANKINGS: NIIT LTD (ranks 385th in the ET500-2008 listing of top Indian companies by turnover).
October 31, 2008... NIIT Ltd, which operates in the infotech sector, ranks 385th in the ET500-2008 listing of India's Biggest Companies by turnover. NIIT recorded 21.31 percent growth in sales at Rs1,017 crore for 2007-2008 and 32.02 percent increase in net...

ET500 RANKINGS: ADHUNIK METALIKS LIMITED (ranks 386th in the ET500-2008 listing of top Indian companies by turnover).
October 31, 2008... Adhunik Metaliks Limited (AML), which operates in the steel sector, ranks 386th in the ET500-2008 listing of India's Biggest Companies by turnover. AML recorded 36.50 percent growth in sales at Rs1,016 crore for 2007-2008 and 3.86 percent...

ET500 RANKINGS: ALEMBIC LTD (ranks 387th in the ET500-2008 listing of top Indian companies by turnover).
October 31, 2008... Alembic Ltd, which operates in the pharmaceuticals sector, ranks 387th in the ET500-2008 listing of India's Biggest Companies by turnover. Alembic recorded 44.27 percent growth in sales at Rs1,015 crore for 2007-2008 and 58.73 percent...

ET500 RANKINGS: AGRO TECH FOODS LTD (ranks 388th in the ET500-2008 listing of top Indian companies by turnover).
October 31, 2008... Agro Tech Foods Ltd (ATFL), which operates in the solvent extraction sector, ranks 388th in the ET500-2008 listing of India's Biggest Companies by turnover. ATFL recorded 2.67 percent decline in sales at Rs1,013 crore for 2007-2008 and...

ET500 RANKINGS: ANSAL PROPERTIES & INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED (ranks 389th in the ET500-2008 listing of top Indian companies by turnover).
October 31, 2008... Ansal Properties & Infrastructure Limited (APIL), which operates in the real estate sector, ranks 389th in the ET500-2008 listing of India's Biggest Companies by turnover. APIL recorded 14.72 percent growth in sales at Rs1,011 crore for...

ADB TO LEND $150 FOR KHADI (for revival and increase income and employment generation for the rural non-farm segment).
October 31, 2008... Asian Development Bank has sanctioned a loan of $150 million for enhancement of the sustainability of khadi industry. The loan is aimed at reviving the industry and increase income and employment generation for the rural non-farm segment.

AROUND 315 HYPERMARKETS IN TIER I AND TIER II CITIES BY 2011: STUDY (to sell articles right from automobiles to needles under one roof).
October 31, 2008... Tier I and tier II cities will be having about 315 hypermarkets by 2011. The hypermarkets will sell articles right from automobiles to needles under one roof, as per the report of Assocham and KPMG. One hypermarket will be sufficient to...

RETAILERS PLAN BIG FOR PRIVATE LABELS (estimated to grow by 15 times to Rs20,000-25,000 crore by 2010-2011).
October 31, 2008... Retailers like Future Group, Spencer's and Brandhouse Retail are focusing more on private labels business to explore the opportunity. The private labels market is estimated to grow by 15 times to reach Rs20,000-25,000 crore by 2010-2011, as...

TRENT PLANS STORES FOR SUBURBS (apparels to be priced between Rs55-600).
October 31, 2008... Trent, the fashion retail company, intends to open its retail apparel format stores at suburbs of major cities and smaller towns. The stores in an area of 10,000-15,000 square feet will stock both brands and private label garments. The...

ALOK INDUSTRIES PLANS H&A RETAIL EXPANSION (to invest Rs150 crore to have 500 stores by 2011).
October 31, 2008... Alok Industries Ltd (AIL) is planning to invest Rs150 crore to expand its retail store chain H&A by 2011. It has 35 H&A stores now and intends to have 500 stores by 2011 preferably in high streets through a combination of both company owned...

PANTALOON PROFIT UP BY 52 PERCENT: 100 BIG BAZAARS (registered a total income at Rs5,052.67 crore in 2007-2008).
October 31, 2008... Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd has reported a 52 percent growth in total income at Rs5,052.67 crore in 2007-2008 (Rs3,328.77 crore in 2006-2007). Its net profit has grown by 111 percent. Big Bazaar, which opened its first outlet in...

ARVIND PLANS Rs600 CRORE INVESTMENTS (to have 250 Megamarts by Mar 2010).
October 31, 2008... Arvind Ltd is planning an investment of Rs600 crore for its expansion. It also intends to hive off its retail and brands business into separate companies to attract investors. The company's retail chain, Megamart has tied with...

SSIPL TO RAISE Rs250 CRORE (through a pre-IPO placement).
October 31, 2008... SSIPL Retail is planning to raise Rs250 crore through a pre initial public offering (IPO) placement. The company is awaiting the approval of the Securities and Exchange Board of India for the proposal. SSIPL, a master franchise of apparel and...

INDIABULLS RETAIL HIT BY LOSSES (closes four Mega stores in New Delhi and Ahmedabad).
October 31, 2008... Indiabulls Retail Ltd has closed four of its nine Mega Stores due to losses. It has closed two stores each in New Delhi and Ahmedabad and has decided not to invest Rs160-200 crore as planned earlier to wipe off its accumulated losses....

SWATCH FOR A LARGER RETAIL NETWORK (to establish 100 dedicated Swatch outlets in India).
October 31, 2008... Swatch group of Timewear is planning to establish 100 dedicated Swatch outlets in India in alliance with an Indian partner. The company has not disclosed the name of the partner and has decided to develop a dedicated distribution channel....

M&S TO SOURCE FROM INDIA (plans to open a sourcing office in Bangalore).
October 31, 2008... Marks & Spencer (M&S), the fashion brand from the UK, intends to open a sourcing office in Bangalore to source 70 percent of its merchandise from India. The brand also plans to open its 50 large format stores with 15,000-20,000 square feet...

MAJOR BRANDS TO INVEST Rs50 CRORE FOR RETAIL EXPANSION (intends to open 68 more stores in 2009).
October 31, 2008... Major Brands, the fashion retailer, intends to open 68 more stores in 2009 with an investment of Rs50 crore. The company has identified places like Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Ludhiana for its expansion. It operates 32...

VISHAL RETAIL TO LAUNCH SMALL FORMAT STORES (intends to have 2,000 stores by 2009-2010 through franchise route).
October 31, 2008... Vishal Retail Ltd, which opened its small format store in Indore, recently is planning to have 250 such stores in India by Mar 2009. It also intends to have 2,000 stores by 2009-2010 through franchise route. It proposes to open stores...

ARCHIES TO RETAIL THROUGH TIME OUT OUTLETS (to open shop-in-shops in Time Out outlets of RRL).
October 31, 2008... Archies is planning to retail through Time Out outlets of Reliance Retail Ltd (RRL). The company will sign an agreement with RRL soon to open shop-in-shops in Time Out outlets. Archies has tied up with Carte Blanche Greetings of the UK to...

VENUS JEWEL LISTED ON IDEX ONLINE (to present its goods to global customers).
October 31, 2008... Venus Jewel of India has been listed on IDEX Online diamond trading platform. With this the company presents its goods to global customers. The IDEX Online trading platform has over 3,000 buyer requests at any point of time with largest...

HANUNG RETAIL TO OPEN 50 STORES (also has plans to open 20 Splash stores for home furnishing).
October 31, 2008... Hanung Retail, retail wing of Hanung Toys and Textiles, is investing Rs4.5 crore to open 50 stores. The stores will be through franchise route and will come up by Mar 2009. It also has plans to open 20 Splash stores for home furnishing...

DEWITT SET TO COME TO NEW DELHI (the brand is also available in Dia Precious Jewellery store at the Taj hotel in Mumbai).
October 31, 2008... Montres DeWitt SA, luxury Swiss watch brand, is opening its first store in New Delhi. The brand is also available in Dia Precious Jewellery store at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai.

PAVERS JV TO SET UP FOOTWEAR DESIGN DEVELOPMENT STUDIO (to develop European comfort footwear customised to the requirements of the Indian consumers).
October 31, 2008... Pavers Foresight Smart Ventures Ltd (PFSV) is coming up with its footwear design development studio at Ambur in Tamil Nadu. The $5- million studio, the first of its kind in India, will commence its operations soon focusing on new designs. It...

MAGPPIE PLANS 40 EBOs (targets a turnover of over Rs400 crore by 2012).
October 31, 2008... Magppie, the lifestyle home accessories maker, plans to launch 40 exclusive branded outlets (EBOs) in India. It is targeting a turnover of over Rs400 crore by 2012 from Rs125 crore now. The company, which has three manufacturing...

SCHOOL FOR SMALL RETAILERS (CAIT along with IRS to open retail school in New Delhi soon).
October 31, 2008... Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) along with Indian Retail School (IRS) will open the first retail school for small retailers in New Delhi soon. There are plans to open 500 such schools in India in 2009. The schools will train small...

TRIUMPH (opens its first standalone store in Mumbai).
October 31, 2008... Triumph International India Pvt Ltd has opened its first standalone store in Mumbai to enter the Indian lingerie market. The store will have stocks of lingerie in 150 global designs. It also plans to open such stores in other major cities...

ENVY (opens its first shop-in-shop in Mumbai).
October 31, 2008... Envy Retail has opened its first shop-in-shop at the Central seamless mall in Mumbai. It offers tops, dresses, bottoms, lowers, skirts and tunics. The products are priced between Rs449- 2,499. It is planning to launch its first...

BEZEL (Gitanjali opens its luxury watches store in Mumbai).
October 31, 2008... Gitanjali Lifestyle Ltd has opened its luxury watches store Bezel in Mumbai. The store displays international brands like Nina Ricci, Just Cavalli, Morellato, Miss Sixty and Sector.

BASICS (Hasbro opens its Basics store in Bangalore).
October 31, 2008... Hasbro Clothing Pvt Ltd of Chennai, which retails two brands, Genesis and Basics, has opened its Basics store in Bangalore. The store offers jeans, denim, utility clothing and smart casualwear in shirts, trousers, t-shirts and jackets. It...

MANYAVAR (launches its store in Hyderabad).
October 31, 2008... Manyavar, the ethnicwear brand for men, has launched its store in Hyderabad. The store covering 1,100 square feet will offer kurtas, short kurtas, designer sherwanis, jacket sets, formalwear, casualwear and partywear. It also offers...

PRATEEK LIFESTYLE (launches its third discount retail format, Coupon in Hyderabad).
October 31, 2008... Prateek Lifestyle, a part of Prateek Apparels, has launched its third discount retail format, Coupon in Hyderabad. The company has signed agreements with several brands to sell their products at a discounted price. The company will sell...

MEGAMART (opens its 100th store in Hyderabad).
October 31, 2008... Megamart, the retail chain of Arvind Ltd, has opened its 100th store in Hyderabad. It is targeting to open 400 stores through franchisee route in the coming three-four years in tier II and tier III cities. The company is investing in adopting...

SPENCER'S (opens its third hypermart in Kolkata).
October 31, 2008... Spencer's Retail Ltd, a part of RPG Enterprises, has opened its third hypermart in Kolkata. The store located on an area of 60,000 square feet will offer merchandise in home fashion, toys, garments and fashion accessories. The company is...

REEBOK (launches its first company owned outlet in Kashmir).
October 31, 2008... Reebok has launched the first company owned retail outlet in Srinagar in Kashmir. The store offers apparel, footwear and sports and cricket gear. The company, which has two stores in Jammu and one each in Udhampur and Kathua, plans to...

INDIGO INTRODUCES FOUR NEW FLIGHTS (also plans to introduce non-stop round trip service between Pune and Chennai).
October 31, 2008... IndiGo is planning to launch four new flights. It includes a new flight between Pune and Chennai connecting to Kolkata. It also plans to introduce non-stop round trip service between Pune and Chennai, besides additional flights between...

TUTICORIN PORT HANDLING CROSSES 100 LAKH TONNES (registers a growth of 12.08 percent from 1 Apr 2008 to 13 Sep 2008).
October 31, 2008... Tuticorin Port has reported a 12.08 percent growth in handling traffic at 100 lakh tonnes from 1 Apr 2008 to 13 Sep 2008 (89.59 lakh tonnes of traffic handled from 1 Apr 2007 to 13 Sep 2007). Increase in Cargoes like copper concentrate,...

CRUISE TERMINALS TO BE SET UP AT FOUR PORTS IN PHASE I (the Government is looking into issues of taxes on bunkers and speeding up immigration procedures to boost cruise tourism).
October 31, 2008... The Government of India plans to set up dedicated cruise terminals at four ports in phase I. The terminals under the public-private-partnership (PPP) basis will come up at Chennai, Mumbai, Mormugao and Cochin ports. The Government is...

MORMUGAO PORT SEES STEEP FALL IN IRON ORE TRAFFIC (announces iron ore traffic of 2.49 lakh tonnes in Aug 2008).
October 31, 2008... Mormugao port has announced a decline in iron ore traffic at 2.49 lakh tonnes in Aug 2008, compared with 5.29 lakh tonnes in Aug 2007. It has handled 33,000 tonnes of throughput in Sep 2008 so far as against 2 lakh tonnes in Sep 2007. The...

ESSAR SHIPPING TO RAISE $1.9 BILLION BY END OF YEAR (intends to fund its expansion through equity of $600 million and the balance through debt).
October 31, 2008... Essar Shipping Ports and Logistics Ltd plans to raise $1.9 billion by end-2008 for its expansion. It is planning an investment of $2.5 billion for its expansion by 2011. The company intends to fund its expansion through equity of $600...

ROAD IMPROVEMENT WORKS IN MAHARASHTRA APPROVED (Government approves Rs176.37 crore).
October 31, 2008... The ministry of shipping, road transport and highways, Government of India, has approved Rs176.37 crore for road improvement in Maharashtra. The amount under central road fund scheme will be utilised on 34 stretches of the State highways...

DOLPHIN OFFSHORE BAGS Rs304 CRORE ORDER FROM ONGC (scheduled for completion by 2009).
October 31, 2008... Dolphin Offshore Enterprises India has secured two contracts from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. The Rs304 crore engineering, procurement and construction order is scheduled for completion by 2009.

BPCL-KOCHI REFINERY TO SET UP BOTTOMS UPGRADATION PROJECT (at Kochi with an investment of Rs8,000 crore).
October 31, 2008... BPCL-Kochi Refinery Ltd intends to set up refinery bottoms upgrading facilities at Kochi with an investment of Rs8,000 crore. The project comprises a delayed coker unit, downstream processing units and other related facilities for...

HYDROCARBON SECTOR (India and Colombia sign MoU for cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector).
October 31, 2008... India and Columbia have entered into a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector. Under the agreement both the countries will cooperate in the fields of exploration and production of oil and gas, exchange of...

HPCL TO PRODUCE EURO-IV PETROL FROM MUMBAI, VISAKHAPATNAM (invests Rs1,800-2,000 crore in each of the refineries for upgradation).
October 31, 2008... Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd intends to commence production of superior quality Euro-IV petrol from its Mumbai and Visakhapatnam refineries by end-2008. The company has invested Rs1,800-2,000 crore in each of the facilities for petrol...

PDVSA EVINCES INTEREST IN PICKING UP STAKE IN PARADIP REFINERY (IOC to source 50 percent of crude requirement of the new refinery from the strategic partner).
October 31, 2008... Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) has expressed its interest in acquiring stake in Paradip refinery of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). IOC is looking for a strategic partner like PDVSA with an oilfield or crude oil supplies in return. It...

RIL FORMS TRADING COMPANIES OVERSEAS (for its trading operations and storage facilities).
October 31, 2008... Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has floated two trading subsidiaries in London and Singapore for its trading operations and storage facilities. The subsidiaries are opened to explore the opportunities in the global petroleum product markets....

CAIRN INDIA ARM TO INVEST $113 MILLION IN LANKA FOR EXPLORATION (in block SL 2007-01-001 in the Mannar basin).
October 31, 2008... Cairn India Ltd, through its subsidiary Cairn Lanka Pvt Ltd will invest $113 million in exploration of oil and natural gas in the Mannar basin in Sri Lanka. The company won an eight-year award for exploration of oil and natural gas in the...

DHL COMPLETES CENTRAL ASIA HUB EXPANSION (with an investment of $100 million).
October 31, 2008... DHL, the express and logistics company, has completed its expansion of Central Asia Hub ahead of the schedule. It was scheduled for completion by 2013 and involved an investment of $110 million. With this the company has invested $210...

GIDB INKS DEAL WITH DFCCIL FOR LOGISTICS PARK (to help transportation of goods in the dedicated railway freight Delhi-Mumbai corridor).
October 31, 2008... Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) has signed an agreement with Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL) to develop five logistics parks. The parks are proposed at Mehsana-Palanpur, Ahmedabad, Gandhidham,...

TUSCAN VENTURES TO INVEST IN RASMUSSEN AND SIMONSEN (RSI provides training and consulting services for global shipping and logistics industry).
October 31, 2008... Tuscan Ventures, a logistics company, has acquired 40 percent stake in Rasmussen and Simonsen International Pte Ltd (RSI) for an undisclosed amount. RSI, which provides training and consulting services for global shipping and logistics...

BEML BAGS CONTRACT FOR STAINLESS STEEL EMU COACHES (from railways for Rs31 crore).
October 31, 2008... BEML Ltd has secured a Rs31 crore developmental contract from the railway board for stainless steel alternative current electric multiple unit (EMU) coaches. The contract involves design, manufacturing, supply, testing and commissioning...

RAILWAY EARNINGS UP BY 18.56 PERCENT (at Rs32,303.66 crore during Apr-Aug 2008).
October 31, 2008... Indian Railways have registered a 18.56 percent growth in earnings at Rs32,303.66 crore during Apr-Aug 2008 (Rs27,246.71 crore during Apr-Aug 2007). Total goods earning have gone up by 20.48 percent to Rs22,029.4 crore (18,284.6 crore).

INDIAN RAILWAYS CARRY 336 MILLION TONNES OF FREIGHT (during Apr-Aug 2008 against 309.34 mt in Apr-Aug 2007).
October 31, 2008... Indian Railways have announced an increase of 8.62 percent in freight traffic at 336 million tonnes (mt) during Apr-Aug 2008 (309.34 mt of freight traffic in Apr-Aug 2007). It handled freight traffic of 65.27 mt in Aug 2008 (61.95 mt in...

QUIPPO TELECOM AMONG 17 FDI PLANS CLEARED (Quippo to raise its foreign equity to 82.55 percent from 65.63 percent).
October 31, 2008... The Government of India has cleared 17 foreign direct investment proposals worth Rs1,844.32 crore that includes Quippo Telecom Infrastructure proposal. Quippo's proposal will result in FDI inflow of Rs781 crore to raise its foreign equity to...

TEST LAUNCH OF COUNTRY'S FIRST 3G SERVICES BY MTNL (in Connaught Place area of New Delhi by Sep 2008).
October 31, 2008... Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) will test launch the first third generation (3G) mobile services in Connaught Place area in New Delhi by Sep 2008. MTNL will launch the 3G services in Delhi by Dec 2008. The company has core equipment for...

BPL MOBILE SELLS 17 PERCENT TO MAURITIUS FUND (despite an arbitration panel restraining Essar from selling equity in BPL).
October 31, 2008... BPL Mobile of Essar group has sold around 17 percent equity stake to an equity fund based in Mauritius for $80 million. The sale is despite an arbitration panel restraining Essar from selling equity in BPL. The issuance was not in violation...

NEW PLAYERS GET MORE GSM SPECTRUM (new telecommunications companies will be in a position to launch services in 10 circles).
October 31, 2008... The Government of India has allotted start-up Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) spectrum to new companies like Datacom and Unitech. The allocation is for Mumbai, Maharashtra, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh (East) circles. Tata...

BSNL TO PROCURE 93 MILLION MORE MOBILE LINES (plans to offer GSM services to all villages in India).
October 31, 2008... Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) plans to procure 93 million lines to provide Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) services to all villages in India with over 1,000 population. The procurement of lines will be done in phases...

PARSVNATH LAUNCHES PARSVNATH CITY CENTRE IN SONEPAT (will comprise ground plus four floors).
October 31, 2008... Parsvnath Developers Ltd has launched Parsvnath City Centre in Sonepat. The centre, a commercial project, will come up on 16,214 yards space with 3.7 lakh square feet area. It will comprise ground plus four floors with a shopping mall, an...

NIRMAL TO LAUNCH US OPEN-BRANDED INFRASTRUCTURE (signs a 10 year agreement with USTA).
October 31, 2008... Nirmal Lifestyle Ltd will launch US open branded infrastructure like tennis academy, clubhouses, fitness centres and villas in its township projects under development in India. It has entered into a 10 year agreement with the United States...

JMD JOINS HANDS WITH CELEBRITY FITNESS (for its retail mall - JMD Regent Arcade on MG Road in Gurgaon).
October 31, 2008... JMD Ltd, real estate developer, has partnered with Celebrity Fitness India Pvt Ltd for its retail mall - JMD Regent Arcade on MG Road in Gurgaon. The mall will cover 38,000 square feet and will have brands like KFC, Shehnaz, Prime Watches,...

AXIOM ESTATES TO SHOWCASE MIXED-USE TOWNSHIP (Hiranandani Palace Gardens Chennai in Chicago and Los Angeles).
October 31, 2008... Axiom Estates Ltd will present a mixed-use township, Hiranandani Palace Gardens, Chennai in Chicago and Los Angeles. Hiranandani Group is developing the township on 500 acres of land at Thriveni Nagar near Chennai airport. It comprises...

HDFC FUNDS EYES DISTRESSED REALTY PROJECTS (intends to capitalise on the downward trend in the real estate market).
October 31, 2008... The property funds and asset management unit of Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) are interested in acquiring distressed real estate properties. Both funds have over $1 billion at their disposal for takeover of real estate...

OMAXE HOPES TO BUILD ONE MILLION AFFORDABLE HOMES (in 140 locations in India by 2013).
October 31, 2008... Omaxe Ltd of Delhi, real estate developer, is planning to construct one million affordable houses by 2013 in 140 locations in India. It is in search of suitable partners in these locations. The company will invest Rs500 crore on these...

TISHMAN SPEYER PLANS $1 BILLION FUND FOR INDIAN REALTY (plans to raise the funds in eight-ten months).
October 31, 2008... Tishman Speyer, property developer and fund manager, intends to raise $1 billion in a private fund for Indian realty projects. The company plans to raise the funds in eight-ten months. It raised $350 million in a private fund in 2008 and...

MPHASIS SETS UP CENTRE IN HYDERABAD (to offer application services support to its global clients).
October 31, 2008... MphasiS, information technology solutions provider, has opened its centre in Hyderabad. The centre will offer application services support to its global clients.

R SYSTEMS, VALIANT ANNOUNCE BUYBACK PLANS (VCL to buyback shares up to Rs3.14 crore and R System will buy back shares up to Rs80 crore).
October 31, 2008... Valiant Communications Ltd (VCL) of New Delhi and R Systems International Ltd of Noida have announced buyback of shares from the capital markets. VCL will buy back its shares up to Rs3.14 crore at a price of Rs32 a share. This constitutes 10...

APPLABS GETS TOP RATING (from NelsonHall as pure-play testing specialist in size across the globe).
October 31, 2008... NelsonHall, advisory firm, in its report on software testing services providers, has ranked AppLabs of Hyderabad as the number one pure-play testing specialist in size across the globe. The report has also awarded AppLabs higher ratings...

IBM EYES AEROSPACE, DEFENCE SECTORS (targets revenues of about $5 billion from these two sectors in India over a span of 10 years).
October 31, 2008... IBM is planning to enter aerospace and defence sectors in India with its enterprise optimisation and microelectronics solutions. It intends to have partnerships with private and public sector companies to enter the Indian defence market. ...

TCS TO LINK UP 483 POLICE STATIONS IN GUJARAT (at a cost of Rs18 crore by 2013).
October 31, 2008... Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) has secured an order worth Rs18 crore from the department of police, Government of Gujarat. Under the contract the company will automate and electronically connect 483 police stations in the State. TCS...

INFOSYS DEPLOYS ORACLE'S HR TOOL (the solution will enhance the human resources operations of SCI).
October 31, 2008... Infosys Technologies Ltd has deployed Oracle's PeopleSoft Enterprise Human Capital Management 9.0 solution for Service Corporation International (SCI). The solution will enhance the human resources operations of SCI. SCI offers funeral,...

US CITY USES TCS TAX SOLUTION (the City of Tucson adopts TCS's tax solution).
October 31, 2008... The City of Tucson, Arizona, US has adopted the tax solution, TCS Tax Mantra, of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for tax revenue and licensing management. This enables businessmen in Tucson to file tax returns and pay tax through Tucson Tax...

INDIA TO PRODUCE 300 MW OF BIOMASS POWER IN PUNJAB (GPE to set up biomass projects worth 140 mw by Feb 2010).
October 31, 2008... Biomass power projects totalling over 300 megawatt (mw) will come up in Punjab by 2010. A 68 mw plant will be ready by end-2008. Green Planet Energy Pvt Ltd (GPE) is setting up biomass projects worth 140 mw by Feb 2010. The plants are...

TATA POWER TO ADD 10,000 MW IN NEXT FIVE YEARS (achieves financial closure for 4,000 mw ultra mega power project at Mundra in Gujarat).
October 31, 2008... Tata Power Ltd (TPL) is planning to have 10,000 megawatts (mw) of more capacity by 2013. The company has achieved financial closure for its 4,000 mw ultra mega power project at Mundra in Gujarat and 1,050 mw Maithon power project in...

WINDMILLS BRING RELIEF TO TNEB (meets the entire demand of Madurai region for 1,000 mw).
October 31, 2008... Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) was able to meet the demand of the entire Madurai region for 1,000 megawatt (mw) through power generated from windmills. With this it also relaxed the scheduled load shedding. Rural areas and other southern...