FT acquires 1% stake in NSE
Financial Technologies India Ltd (FT) on Thursday said it has acquired 4.5 lakh equity shares in National Stock Exchange  (NSE), from ICICI Bank for Rs 125 crores. With the current FT-ICICI Bank deal, the valuation of NSE has moved up to Rs 12,500 crore, an increase of around 11 per cent in seven months. NSE had recorded a net profit of Rs 191 crore on a revenue of Rs 472 crore for the financial year ended March 31, 2006.
HCL Info Q4 net up 21.2 pc
HCL Infosystems Ltd on Thursday reported a 21.2 per cent rise in the net profit to Rs 84.90 crore for the fourth-quarter ended June 30, 2007, as compared to Rs 70.03 crore in the comparable quarter of last year. The company’s total income during this quarter, however, was marginally down at Rs 3,080.43 crore from Rs 3,098.22 crore in the Q4 of last year, the company said in Mumbai. HCL Infosystems reported 12.7 per cent growth in consolidated full-year net, for the year ended June 30, 2007, at Rs 315.95 crore as against Rs 280.36 crore last year. Meanwhile, the company board has recommended 100 per cent final dividend on the paid up share capital of the company for 2006-2007.
Spices Board for chilli e-auction 
The Spices Board is planning to start electronic auction of chilli in Guntur, a major trading centre, a spokesman said on Thursday in Mumbai. “Chilli e-auction will be held in Guntur ... it is being planned but no exact date has been specified for that,” the spokesman said. The board has started the electronic auction of cardamom in Bodinayakanur, a trading hub in Tamil Nadu. Spices Board would provide Rs 20 million for setting up a cleaning, grading and warehouse facility for cardamom in Bodinayakanur for which 10 acres of land would be procured, he said.
Primus acquires Weekender
Primus Retail has acquired lifestyle brand Weekender from the Jagadish Hinduja family, the owners of Gokaldas Images, for an undisclosed sum. Primus CEO Balaji said, “Acquiring a brand like Weekender will help us in expanding our portfolio, allowing us to consolidate our position as a leader in the apparel and small format retail industry.” Weekender has more than 50 stores, the company said adding that the Primus plans to renovate the existing stores and plans to add more stores in the next 12 months.
ICICI Prudential MF’s new fund
ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, a joint venture of India’s leading private sector bank ICICI Bank and UK-based Prudential Plc, announced in Mumbai on Thursday the launch of an open-ended diversified equity scheme “ICICI Prudential Indo Asia Equity Fund.” The fund will invest predominantly in equity and equity related securities.The offer will be open between August 23 to September 21, 2007 and the fund will invest 65 per cent or more directly into Indian equities, and will initially invest upto 35 per cent in Asian Equity Fund.