Cashing in on optimism

Osama Manzar
New July 18: “Optimism is the key to my success. You cannot be more optimistic than me,” claims P. N. Vijay. The Capital’s hi-flying merchant banker started his financial services barely two years ago, the inaugural year fetching him a neat Rs 25,00,000. The promoter and director of P N Vijay Financial Services Pvt. Ltd. has also served the State Bank of India, ANZ Grindlays Bank, besides being the country head of the Merchant banking activities of Citibank N A.
In early Vijay thought of doing something on his own - He recalls: “I realised that India was on ‘the threshold of an economic revolution that could open the floodgates for people like me. I jumped into the cesspool.
Rightly so. Vijay found him self in a near-virgin terrain: There were barely 10 established merchant bankers in the country that time, Apart from his own consultancy, Vijay established Shyam Sunder Investment, naming it after his only son.
Vijay’s, forte is capital market organisations, as a result of which he has been involved in. a mind-boggling 200 issues of equities, debentures, convert ibles, mergers and acquisitions an acid test for the survival of the fittest.
When the expertise is there, can success b far behind. He was soon identified as one of the pioneers among the lot. Today it is no wonder that he has to his credit more than 50 major transactions, both domes tic and cross-border.
Says a contented Vijay: “We also assist in acquisition financing and escrow arrangements, focusing on the best options for fund-raising that is based on market analysis. In short, mine is an in-house investment bank.”
The appointment of P N Vijay Financial as investment constiltant to Sumitomo Trust & Bank Limited manifests the sauve accountant’s capabilities and his recognition among the international banking community.
Thanks to his newfangled ideas, Vijay never looked back: The firm he started with only eight professionals helped him more than double his profits. This year his target is Rs 75,00,000
“So far we have concentrated with large companies, but now we are planning to involve even small investors who are less professional and beginners.”
Does increasing profits mean less social life? “No. I have ever overstretched myself. Money has a certain velocity and time element to it. Of course, I do hard work, that also for a limited time but routinely, to the right direction.”
Doesn’t the West beckons? It does, but the sauve merchant banker has overcome all provocations: “There are three reasons why I preferred India or Delhi in particular — the quality of life here, India’s economic condition and the apprehensiveness of the jetset life abroad.”
Rest? Life revolves around wife Shri and the son an unassuming violinist and economics student at Harvard — in the plush 650-sqm bungalow across the Yamuna.