Force Motors has announced that it would sell up to 14.5 per cent stake in its joint venture with Germany's MAN Nutzfahrzeuge for about Rs 300 crore. The move would enable the German auto firm to raise its stake in the JV to 50 per cent.

Experts believe that the proposed change in the equity structure of the JV would take place in two steps. First, Force will sell 14.2% stake to MAN for Rs 300 crore. Through a rights issue, MAN will later fill Rs 250 crore in the JV. Force will abstain from subscribing to the issue. As a result, MAN's stake will go up to 50% from the current 30%.

Engineering and construction major, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) announced that its newly formed Building & Factories Operating company, a part of its construction division, has pocketed Rs 1,450-crore worth orders during the third quarter of 2008-2009.

The scope of orders includes the construction of IT and office space building including add on orders from on going work at its airport projects.

The company said that it has received the fresh orders from major players including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Godrej Developers.

The country's biggest car maker, Maruti Suzuki India suffered a sale decline of 27 per cent in November. It sold 47,103 units as compared to 64,885 units in the same month last year. The automobile sector is facing the heat of the global slowdown and the data posted by Maruti Suzuki vindicates the fact. Low demand due to global financial crisis has forced the companies to cut their sale targets and employ cost cutting measures, including retrenchment of staff.

Nagarjuna Construction Company has informed that it has won six new orders worth Rs 484 crore from various firms.

The company has bagged first order worth Rs 121 crore from Golden Jubilee Hotels, Hyderabad for construction of a 5 Star Deluxe Hotels at Madhapur, Hyderabad. The order is scheduled to be completed over a period of 15 months.

The second order, which is valued at Rs 111 crore has been secured from the CMD, M.P. Paschim Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Co, Indore for different works. The contract will be completed over a period of 12 months.

Country's largest power producer, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has informed that a MOU was signed on 01 December 2008 amongst NTPC, NHPC, Power Grid and DVC to form a joint venture company.

The JVC will be set up with equal equity participation an Online High Power Test Laboratory (OHPTL) for short circuit testing facility.

Presently, manufacturers and utilities are sending their equipments to overseas testing labs which is not only time consuming but expensive too.

The plans to increase the stake in the Indian two wheeler venture by Suzuki Motorcycle India were reveled recently by the Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan which owns 74% in its Indian two wheeler venture Suzuki Motorcycle India. As of now, the remaining % equity is owned by Mr Satya Sheel and family.

It was informed by Mr Katsumi Takat, joint MD of SMIPL at the launch of the company's first super premium motorcycle brands Hayabusa and Intruder M 1800 R that discussions are on to raise their stake.