Mascon Global to raise $ 150 mn from intl mkt  
June 21, 2008
Source:  PTI

MUMBAI: Software company Mascon Global on Friday said it will raise 150 million dollar (about Rs 644 crore) through issue of securities in the international market. 

The board has approved the issuance of Global Depository Receipt and Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds to raise the said amount, Mascon Global said in a filing to the BSE. 

Further, the board has approved the raising of the authorised share capital of the company to Rs 700, from the existing Rs 450, the filing added. 

Shares of the company were trading at Rs 17.20, down 3.64 per cent on the BSE in the afternoon. 

**** Rain Commodities cement production increased to 3.16 mmt * Cement firm Rain Commodities today said it has expanded the production capacity at its Kurnool plant by 1.5 million metric tons per annum. 

With the capacity expansion the company's total production capacity now stands at 3.16 mmt per annum, Rain Commodities said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. 

Shares of Rain Commodities were trading at Rs 207.54, down 3.42 per cent in the afternoon trade on the BSE.

It's not yet a Mayday signal: TCS      
June 21 , 2008 
SOURCE: ET Bureau

CHENNAI: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the country’s largest software exporter, said it expected the low demand for IT from the troubled financial sector in the US to be offset by demand from other sectors. 

However, the overall growth is likely to be slower than last year, a top executive said. 

Earlier, speaking at the India Finance Forum, a two-day seminar organised by Confederation of Indian Industry, TCS CFO S Mahalingam said the turbulent times in the world economy meant ‘the fasten seat belt sign is on, but not a ‘Mayday’ signal.” Still, the software industry was in its growth phase, he added.

Gurukul Online plans 100 centres    
June 21, 2008 
SOURCE: BL

Coimbatore, June 20 Gurukul Online Learning Solutions is planning to establish offices across the country very soon. 

“We would like to set up at least 100 centres before the end of the current fiscal,” its founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Shailesh Mehta, told Business Line.

Without sharing investment details, yet maintaining that ‘huge’ sums have gone into developing the e-learning tool, he said the company’s tie-up with the Institute of Chartered Secretaries of India extended to managing ICSI’s e-learning portal, which include technology, development of courses and online implementation, student registration, administration and complete academic support. 

“We run and manage eMBA and other management-related programmes online. We have tied up with the Ritnand Balved Education Foundation (Amity Foundation), School of Insurance and IT Varsity among others. More such tie-ups and certificate course offerings are in the pipeline,” Mr Mehta added.

The company services its customers in five key markets — retail (B2C), corporates (B2B), institutions, universities and mandatory training institutes.

Reasoning the need for online education, he said “it is flexible and convenient, would help alleviate shortage of talent pool, offer job-oriented education in varied domains leading to placement and career enhancement.”

He further said “The scope is phenomenal and we are looking to tap the potential.”

“Over 65,000 candidates have registered with us for various programmes and the registration is growing at 50 per cent year-on-year. The critical mass is yet to come,” he said.