As widely expected, General Motors has filed papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission as the first step towards an initial public offering (IPO) which is expected to be one of the largest in US history.

A GM IPO is expected to raise anything between $12 billion and $20 billion. The record for the largest IPO is currently held by Visa, which raised $19.7 billion in 2008.

UK satellite telecommunications company Inmarsat is to receive almost £218 million over the next 18 months from a co-operation agreement with US communications group LightSquared.

The agreement between LightSquared and Inmarsat aims to increase the contiguous broadband spectrum available to both companies and give LightSquared increased flexibility to roll out its fourth-generation (4G) network in the US. This will allow users without their own wireless network or limited geographic coverage to develop and sell their own devices, applications and services.

Many corporations like to think they have best practice processes already in place. Richard Ilsley of Synogis highlights the top 10 fundamental issues that must be considered with respect to any best practice process.

It is hard to find an organisation that is not using the term ‘best practice’ somewhere within its sales operation. It seems that no matter where you go, someone is talking about it and everyone wants it. But what is it and how do we know when we have it?

According to figures released by the Federal Reserve, US factory output grew in July at its fastest rate for nearly a year, suggesting that the recovery from recession might not be stagnating as had been feared after June figures had shown a slight decline.

Industrial production from the country’s factories, mines and utilities increased an overall 1.0 percent, with factory output, the largest single component, rising 1.1 percent.

Edinburgh-based Melrose Resources has said that the opening of new fields in Bulgaria will boost the company’s production by 7,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

The first of two Bulgarian fields—Kavarna—is expected to begin production in September. Kavarna and Kaliakra are both being developed as single well subsea tiebacks to the Melrose-operated Galata field platform. Kaliakra will follow, beginning production in October.

The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer, today reported second quarter net earnings of $1.2 billion, or $0.72 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $1.1 billion, or $0.66 per diluted share, in the same period of 2009. Sales for the second quarter totaled $19.4 billion, a 1.8 percent increase from the second quarter of fiscal 2009.

UK-based energy services group Hunting is to buy US electronics company Innova-Extel for $125 million to boost its well construction unit, it has been announced.

London-based Hunting, whose equipment is used in the construction and maintenance of oil and gas wells, is also seeking further purchases in order to transform into a higher margin, higher growth business.

Scientists and engineers at the Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company's Advanced Technology Center (ATC) have demonstrated an innovative perimeter security system for government and commercial applications.

Due to a complex mix of possible emergencies, including terrorist attacks, accidents, and natural disasters, security protection of borders and critical infrastructures is a major imperative for the US Government.

India’s Vedanta Resources has said it will acquire a 51 to 60 per cent stake in Cairn Energy’s Indian unit for between £5.4 billion to £6.1 billion.

The move represents Vedanta's first foray into oil and gas, and will help Edinburgh-based Cairn Energy fund a drilling programme in Greenland.

Cairn India operates the country’s largest onshore oil field, and has a market value of approximately £8.6 billion.

Since the liberalisation of trade in India, MMTC has flourished and grown, but the journey to success hasn’t been easy. Marketing director Sunir Khurana explains to Gay Sutton how the company has become the country’s largest non-oil importer and the largest exporter of minerals.