StarSoft Development Labs announced the completion of its merger with Exigen Services, US offshore outsourcer quartered on Bahamas. StarSoft has got 600 staff members working in St. Petersburg head office and development centers in Moscow and Kazan although the firm is registered in the US. Its 2006 turnover amounts to $17 mln. According to StarSoft's president Nikolai Puntikov and chairman Alec Miloslavsky, the merging was finalized Jan,16. The new company will continue under both brands depending on awareness of those in different regions with front offices in US, Europe. They also announced opening of a development center in the EU. Some sources disclosed StarSoft was previously seeking partnership with EPAM and Intel Capital.

One of the major Russian mediacorporation Sistema Mass-Media's is seeking for foreign funding, according to it's CEO Mikhail Dunaev. At his recent press-conference he admitted that SMM's TV assets (Stream-TV and Tsifrovoe Teleradiovestchanie/DTB (Digital Broadcasting) would be of most interest to probable buyers. According to him a strategic alliance with one of the world's major mobile TV providers might be announced soon while SMM's DTB is about to release beta DVB-H service. Besides SMM is negotiating with Disney to produce together TV content at SMM's St.Petersbourg studio.

RBC's board of directors approved $120 mln investment amount targeting company's expansion in the general interest web segment within Russia, former USSR republics and Eastern Europe. At the moment RBC (which was mostly known for its business targeted projects) is now concentrating on developing entertainment websites. According to RBC's chairman German Kaplun this amount will be spent within the next two years.

"We plan to extend our staff up to 500 people (150 at the moment) and to make purchases. Although there's not so many objects to invest in Russia, there are few, same thing in Eastern Europe', he told in an interview to RBC Daily. He also specified that $10 mln will be invested to venture projects, RBC plans to hold not less than a half share of each.

Describing the nearest future German Kaplun said that company's Internet business is being separated into Media Mir company with Michael Gurevich as a head of it. This company is already working on few startups and will negotiate on future partnerships and purchases. "We expect this project will have $70-100 mln turnover in three years", he said, "with 75% advertising and 25% services parts in revenue".