SIS plans Indian unit
Chennai: US company Systems Integration Solutions is setting up an Indian subsidiary in Chennai. The unit is expected to be a major offshore development centre for the $100 million SIS, and will handle training and recruitment for its US parent. It will recruit 100 software engineers for US firms by next year.

AirTouch, Charles Schwab, Visa and Wells Fargo are some of the major clients of SIS, which is among the top 500 fastest growing privately-held companies in the US.

The company has invested about $100,000 through   Chennai-based Zelos Technologies by way of fees towards assistance in training and recruitment.
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Hi-Power to make car shampoos
Chennai: Hi-Power Marketing, the Kochi-based subsidiary of Hi-Power Inc of the UK, will introduce car shampoos, multi-purpose cleaning liquids, detergents and dish-washing liquids. The company has acquired special formulae from a German company, and will make the products at Kochi through local vendor arrangements. It will invest Rs 1.25 crore in the project.

Besides these home products, the company is also planning to make colour monitors and is setting up manufacturing units at Noida and Kochi at a cost of Rs 40 crore and Rs 10 crore respectively.
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High priority for General Motors' Asia car project
Frankfurt: General Motors is giving high priority for its Asia car project. The decision will have an impact on General Motors'  India plans.

General Motors Asia-Pacific's executive in charge of operations, Kevin E. Wale, says entry into the small car segment is No 1 priority for General Motors for the next two to three years. "We realise that to develop market share we have to develop some Asia-based product," Mr Wale told The Economic Times at the Frankfurt auto show.
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Audi to reconsider India plans
Frankfurt: German luxury carmaker Audi is reconsidering its plans for India. The company will take up the matter with the new government, says Audi's executive director, sales and marketing for Asia-Pacific Markus Schrick.

Audi had earlier decided to freeze its plans for a production facility in India after conducting a feasibility study on the right location, partnership prospects and investment budget early 1998.
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MCI WorldCom, Sprint in merger talks
New York: MCI WorldCom and Sprint Corporation are in talks for a merger that will combine the No 2 and No3 US long-distance telephone companies to create a powerful rival to AT&T Corporation. The combined MCI WorldCom-Sprint will control about 32 per cent of the US long-distance market, which will still be way behind the 60 per cent controlled by AT&T.

The alliance will give MCI WorldCom access to wireless phone operations through Sprint PCS, Sprint's national wireless business.
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Exxon-Mobil merger possible
Washington: Anti-trust regulators are said to be closer to permitting the proposed $82-billion merger of Exxon Corporation and Mobil Corporation.

Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal said the regulators are moving close to an agreement. He said he is working with other attorney generals from northeast states, which want the two oil firms to sell some of their gasoline stations in markets where they have a strong presence.
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Lottery scheme to retain workers
Calgary: Canada's Nova Chemicals Corporation is giving away a total of C$1 million to its construction workers through a lottery programme as reward to those who do not miss any of their assigned shifts.

The first lottery is to be held on 27 September. The Calgary-based petrochemical company instituted the lottery scheme as an incentive as it found itself short of skilled workers while at a critical point in its construction scheduling.
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Mattel, Salt Lake Olympics in deal
Salt Lake City: The Salt Lake City Olympics and Mattel have signed a $1 million licensing agreement allowing the world's largest toy maker to produce three plush toy mascot characters for the Winter Games of 2002.

The three mascots are a coyote, a bear and a snowshoe hare.
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