Microsoft to charge software as services
Seattle: The world’s largest software company, Microsoft, has overhauled its licensing policy and is in the process of selling its software as a service.

The company, whose Windows operating system and Office suite of business applications have a major market share globally, stated that starting in October the changes will simplify a complex system that frustrated some customers and sometimes delayed sales.

It is expected that the new charging system will be able to help customers spread costs over many separate payments rather than fork over annual upfront fees, and get support and upgrades bundled in, as well.

Some analysts have said the changes were aimed at squeezing more revenue out of existing customers, as the company sees its traditional revenue engine, growing PC market, gradually facing a massive slowdown.

The company, however, stated that the changes themselves wouldn't put more money in Microsoft's pocket but might attract more customers simply by making it easier to deal with Microsoft.

Starting October 1, customers can choose to keep their existing licences or swap them for the new ones.
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Ballarpur Industries in largest ever paper acquisition
New Delhi: The LM Thapar group, through their group holding company, Bilt Paper Holdings, announced its acquisition of Sinar Mas Pulp and Paper India, a subsidiary of one of Asia’s largest paper companies, for an estimated Rs 530 crore. This acquisition is likely to propel the Thapars as significant players in the paper business in the Asian region.

The deal has been structured in US dollars and includes a purchase price of 62.5 million for the company’s equity and the assumption of liability of $52 million. The purchase of equity of Rs 290 crore ($62.5m) was part financed by a consortium of banks and FIs which, include ICICI, Standard Chartered Bank and Rabo Bank.

The Rs 400-crore Sinar Mas India has a capacity of 1.15 lakh tonnes at its plant near Pune and is the market leader in high value coated paper segment. It registered a net profit of Rs 6 crore for the year ended December 31, 2000.
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G P Goenka in restructure mode, to sell loss-making units
Kolkota: The loss-making Duncan-Goenka group, is said to be going through a restructuring phase with the group deciding to sell loss-making units. It is understood that a merchant banker has already been appointed for this purpose and identifying the target companies in the group to be sold off.

Some of the companies in the group that could be targeted for sale are Consolidated Fibres & Chemicals, National Standard Duncan and Herdillia Unimers.

Chairman, GP Goenka had been keen to identify the non-performing assets of the group for which he had set up a recast panel headed by Bhaskar Banerjee, senior managing director of flagship company, Duncans Industries.
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Nusli Wadia generates Rs. 100 crore by property sale
Mumbai: The Nusli Wadia group has raised nearly Rs. 100 crore in the last few months as a result of group companies, Bombay Dyeing and National Peroxide, selling property.

These properties include flats in its Central Mumbai residential complex Nestle Apartments and a plush apartment in Mumbai’s highly acclaimed building, Samudra Mahal.

It is also understood that Bombay Dyeing has finalised the sale of a guest house in Beach Towers, the residential compex for its top executives in Central Mumbai, where some more flats will be sold in the coming months.
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Tata BP Lubricants and Castrol likely to merge
Mumbai: Following the Tata Group’s decision to exit the lubricants business, the group’s joint venture, Tata BP Lubricants is likely to be merged with Castrol India.
The company’s chief executive, confirmed this to a leading economic daily.

This move comes in the wake of BP acquiring, globally, the business of Burmah-Castrol. The current chief executive of Tata BP, DA Chetty, will oversee the integration for the Castrol and BP business in the entire region.

As far as the product brand is concerned, the Tata name will be gradually phased out and the company plans to launch BP-branded products in India sometime during the third quarter of this year.

Mr Chetty however clarified that the company would continue its relationship with the Tatas through a strategic alliance spanning commercial vehicle oils and passenger car motor oils.
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