COMPANIES

• German Remedies scouting for new acquisitions
• Novartis to exit contact lens business
• BHEL ties up with Max Control
• B.K. Birla group cement restructuring in quandary
• Parry asked to withdraw its Spirulina campaign
• Chembiotek ties up with 2 Euro pharma firms
• Sicom and United Western in JV for NRIs
• HLL working on restructuring its products portfolio
• Essar to sign MoU for stake in LNG terminal

GENERAL

• Defence production may be thrown open to private sector

PEOPLE

• Civic honours for Dhirubhai Ambani