MAN Industries India Ltd, one of the leading large-diameter pipe manufacturing companies has approved to issue in aggregate and up to 3 million warrants convertible equity shares on a preferential basis to M/s Man Finance Pvt. Ltd (promoter group entity).

Together with technology, people and credible data, APM 4.0 is increasingly becoming central to the success of industrial and infrastructure firms.

Industry sectors like housing, cement, et al have been clamouring to be allowed into the hallowed precincts of infrastructure for quite some time. Apart from the recognition of contributing to nation building, to be admitted as a member of the so called "Infrastructure Club" also offers the lure of easier financing norms.

We are almost there both with REIT and InvIT. They have been in the pipeline for quite some time. The government has taken the initiative to come out with proper SEBI regulations, which itself is the very first step towards REITs and InvITs.

The one thing, which is commonly heard in the corridors of the financial world, is the looming concern as regards the huge NPA that banks are currently saddled with. Long drawn processes pertaining to insolvency has taken a toll on the credit realization in the country.

Bankers moved to recast bulky loans in the January-March quarter ahead of a change in rules which will lead to restructured loans being categorized as bad loans, attracting a minimum provision of 15 per cent, mentioned a business news paper.

Public Sector Units (PSUs) in India have been amassing losses, both at the Central and State levelù79 State-run companies had an accumulated loss of Rs 55,656 crore in 2012-13; while at the same time, investment in these companies is approximately Rs. 1.57 lakh crore.

We must understand project finance in the traditional sense. Project finance works only when all material approvals for a particular project are in place and the same is then handed over to a successful bidder like the bidding for UMPP was done in India. The bidder can then straightaway proceed for financial closure. This will ensure there are no time and cost over-runs on account of delay in approvals.

I believe that the annual fund requirement of these projects will not go beyond Rs 50,000 crore as this will be done in phases, hence planning should be proposed accordingly.