India Inc. at Digital Inspiration

Find out the best interest rates on Fixed Deposits

Posted: 06 May 2008 10:28 PM CDT

The common problems among most Indian investors is how to find out the best available FD rates available among all Indian banks whether public, private or foreign. As it is virtually impossible to visit individual banks or their websites as there are over 100 of them operating in India.

Moreover, most of the financial portals does not carry a substantial information and is also not regularly updated. Even the rates given in pink financial dailies is inadequate to carry out an investment decision.

The best website which I found for comparing fixed deposit rates is ratekhoj.com The website can compare FD rates using various criteria like period, institution type, senior/non-senior/NRI and even of individual banks.

The website also carries a tool to compare rates for credit cards, home, vehicle, educational and personal loans.

The best part of the website is that it the interest rates are regularly updated and as such makes decision making easy.

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Bharti’s bid for MTN - making of a telecom global giant

Posted: 06 May 2008 08:48 AM CDT

Bharti Airtel has aspirations of becoming a telecom leader of the emerging countries by placing a bid of $19 billion for 51% stake in Johannesburg based MTN, a telecom company having operations in 21 countries of Africa, Middle East and Europe.

The bid would value MTN at $37 billion, a stifle more than its market capitalisation of $35.6 billion. However, according to FT, MTN would like the bid to be atleast 10% more than the current one.

Bharti has a market cap of $40 billion and subscribers nearly equal to MTN subscribers and the bid would give them a global expansion and take advantage of diversifying its operations to ward off slowdown in different markets.

But the road for Bharti won’t be easy since it has to first compete with other bidders such as Reliance Communications, Vodafone and China Mobile who might be willing to pay a higher price.

Also, MTN would be reluctant to sell 100% stake to foreign bidders owing to sovereign concerns. The bid may also put a strain on Bharti’s stock due to possible equity dilution and debt leverage to meet out buyout obligations.

However, Bharti has a low debt level which would help it to borrow further easily. Bharti’s shareholder, Singtel if it decides to partner Bharti in the bid, then also it may work for the latter’s advantage.

The deal will help Bharti in becoming a low cost integrated player since it can deal on better terms with its partners and as such bring in furhter low cost in the business for India as well as African countries.

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