India Auto Components

Sources say Citibank is looking ta options to demerge its private equity operations in India. Citi Venture Capital International is Citibank's private equity arm in India. The move is likely to close by 2011-end and comes after global arms decided to sell or de-merge operations.  CNBC-TV18 learns it is waiting for nod from global arm to begin procedure.

Citi PE Investment in India currently stands at USD 2.5 billion. Its investments are spread across auto components, financial services, IT enabled services, and real estate. It has large portfolio investments in Idea Cellular, Suzlon, Keane Services, Sharekhan, and JBF Global.

Full Story: Citigroup looking to demerge private equity arm in India - Moneycontrol.com

makes car batteries and interior parts for passenger and hybrid electric vehicles, as well as energy-efficient HVAC systems for commercial buildings. Car interior products include seating, instrument panels, and electronics. Major OEM customers include GM, Daimler, Chrysler, and Ford. The battery unit makes car batteries for retailers such as Advance Auto, AutoZone, Pep Boys, and Wal-Mart. The building efficiency division makes, installs, and services mechanical equipment that controls HVAC, lighting, security, and fire systems in commercial buildings. The unit also offers on-site facility management.

Whereby, ArvinMeritor Inc. is a premier global supplier of a broad range of integrated systems, modules and components to the motor vehicle industry. The company serves commercial truck, trailer and specialty original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and certain aftermarkets, and light vehicle manufacturers.

To learn more about Johnson Controls Inc. and Arvin Meritor Inc., log on to www.rothmanresearch.com for a free research report, to help you make the right decision.

Full Story: The Component and Controls Industry - CNNMoney.com (press release)

"We declared lockout at Naganathpura following labour threats to our plant managers on Sunday and tool down strike since Monday," said a company .

The plant, located near the electronics city on Hosur road, about 30km from the city, employs over 1,000 people to manufacture spark plugs, alternators and generator starters for the Indian automotive industry and exports to the Germany-based Bosch GmbH global operations.

The workers have been negotiating a long-term wage settlement with the company since January 1 after the previous settlement ended December 31, 2008.

Full Story: Bosch Ltd declares lockout at Bangalore plant - IBNLive.com

Full Story: Munjals sell 50% in Hero Chassis - Economic Times

The BSE-Sensex and the NSE-Nifty are currently trading higher by around 180 points (up 1.1%) and 55 points (up 1%) respectively. Stocks from the midcap and small cap spaces are trading in the green, with the BSE-Midcap and the BSE-Smallcap indices trading higher by 1.1% and 1.5% respectively. The rupee is trading at 45.42 to the US dollar.

Hero Honda and Tata Motors . It is believed that auto major, M&M is in discussions with various European two-wheelers manufacturers to develop premium bikes for the Indian market. Companies such as Triumph and Moto Guzzi are supposedly some of the companies with whom M&M is in discussions with. While there is not official statement from the company, this would definitely be a very different segment for the company, considering that it has just recently entered the two-wheeler segment. M&M had recently moved into the two-wheeler space by acquiring Pune based Kinetic and has currently selected offerings in the in the mid-segment of the motorcycle market.

A handful of two-wheeler manufacturers have tied up with international brands to launch the latters? products in India. These would be however, mainly aimed at the high end segment, where the market is fast growing and does not have a lot of players present at the moment.

Full Story: Investors prefer smallcaps, midcaps - Equitymaster.com