VENTURE CAPITAL POST

India's securities market regulator Sebi is upgrading and strengthening its surveillance system on commodity exchanges (CommExes). Recently, Sebi has barred 16 commodity trading members from trading for manipulating castor seed futures. National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) is also enhancing and strengthening surveillance system for commodity exchanges in the country.

Brazilian telecom group Oi SA (OIBR3.SA) is reconsidering the sale of its African assets as relations improve with an estranged partner, Chief Executive Bayard Gontijo said on Monday.

Portugal Telecom SGPS (PTC.LS) shareholders on Monday postponed until Jan. 22 a vote on the sale of its former operations by its merger partner, Brazil's Oi (OIBR3.SA), complicating the 7.4 billion euro ($9 billion) deal and possibly casting doubts on the long-agreed deal.

Telecom Italia (TLIT.MI) will examine a possible tie-up between its Brazilian unit Tim Participacoes (TIMP3.SA) and local group Oi (OIBR3.SA), it said as it announced the sale of mobile phone masts for more than 900 million euros ($1.1 billion).

Brazilian telecommunications provider Oi SA (OIBR4.SA) said on Monday it has not entered into any agreement to join a group of rivals to buy Telecom Italia SpA's (TLIT.MI) stake in Brazilian phone company TIM Participacoes SA TIMP4.SA.

Shareholders of Portugal Telecom (PTC.LS) and Brazil's Oi (OIBR3.SA) on Monday approved the revised terms of a merger after a failed debt investment forced the Portuguese company to accept less favorable terms in the tie-up.

The battle over Brazil's telecoms market is heating up, with the country's biggest fixed-line firm Oi signaling it may make an offer for Telecom Italia's local mobile business.

Portugal Telecom announced in a statement that it would be merging with Brazilian telecom company Oi.