Give merchant banks more clout
KATHMANDU, OCT 11:
A study has shown that the role of merchant bankers needs to be redefined.
Currently, the merchant bankers are acting as issue managers, underwriters, portfolio managers and share registrars that is not enough, according to senior trainer at the Revenue Administration Training Centre Basu Sharma, who is one of the member of the study team.
Earlier, banks and financial institutions used to work as merchant bankers but last October Securities Board of Nepal (Sebon) directed them to establish a separate company to perform the merchant banking business.
Currently, there are 14 merchant bankers under the new Merchant Banking Regulation that was brought in to make capital market regulator easy to regulate the merchant bankers as the banks and financial Institutions come under the Nepal Rastra Bank’s jurisdiction. At a time when the investors’ confidence is at its low, the study suggested to let the merchant bankers operate Unit Fund that could expand the operational scope of merchant bankers.
Unit investment fund represents a peculiar accumulator of temporarily free money resources of individuals and legal entities, directed for acquisition of securities, real property, currency values and other assets.
Though merchant bankers have the aptitude to conduct businesses of securities brokerage, securities dealer, securities market maker, investment adviser, mutual fund manager, consultant for mergers and acquisitions, and conduct Central Depository System (CDS), they are currently working in a small area and need to widen investment opportunities, Sharma said, adding that enhancing the scope of merchant banks will help salvage the capital market from the current slump by injecting the investment in the right place.
“Giving a new investment opportunity will expand the market,” Sharma said, adding that traditional investment pattern has to be changed to develop the market.
Sebon chairman next week
By the deadline on Sunday, around one dozen — including economic journalist Gajendra Bista and share market analyst Rabindra Bhattarai — applied for the post of chairman of Securities Board of Nepal (Sebon) after Finance Ministry called for an open competition for the coveted post. The government has sought the application to choose the professional leadership in the capital market regulator that has been without its head since last one month after the retirement of incumbent chairman Dr Surbir Poudyal. At a time when the share market has been performing poorly, the chairman’s role is key to boost the investors’ confidence. The market started looking downward since 2009 when the current Premier Dr Baburam Bhattarai was finance minister. If the Bhattarai-led government could select a professional chairman in the board, the investors’ moral would be high and the market could bounce back.
Source: THT
A study has shown that the role of merchant bankers needs to be redefined.
Currently, the merchant bankers are acting as issue managers, underwriters, portfolio managers and share registrars that is not enough, according to senior trainer at the Revenue Administration Training Centre Basu Sharma, who is one of the member of the study team.
Earlier, banks and financial institutions used to work as merchant bankers but last October Securities Board of Nepal (Sebon) directed them to establish a separate company to perform the merchant banking business.
Currently, there are 14 merchant bankers under the new Merchant Banking Regulation that was brought in to make capital market regulator easy to regulate the merchant bankers as the banks and financial Institutions come under the Nepal Rastra Bank’s jurisdiction. At a time when the investors’ confidence is at its low, the study suggested to let the merchant bankers operate Unit Fund that could expand the operational scope of merchant bankers.
Unit investment fund represents a peculiar accumulator of temporarily free money resources of individuals and legal entities, directed for acquisition of securities, real property, currency values and other assets.
Though merchant bankers have the aptitude to conduct businesses of securities brokerage, securities dealer, securities market maker, investment adviser, mutual fund manager, consultant for mergers and acquisitions, and conduct Central Depository System (CDS), they are currently working in a small area and need to widen investment opportunities, Sharma said, adding that enhancing the scope of merchant banks will help salvage the capital market from the current slump by injecting the investment in the right place.
“Giving a new investment opportunity will expand the market,” Sharma said, adding that traditional investment pattern has to be changed to develop the market.
Sebon chairman next week
By the deadline on Sunday, around one dozen — including economic journalist Gajendra Bista and share market analyst Rabindra Bhattarai — applied for the post of chairman of Securities Board of Nepal (Sebon) after Finance Ministry called for an open competition for the coveted post. The government has sought the application to choose the professional leadership in the capital market regulator that has been without its head since last one month after the retirement of incumbent chairman Dr Surbir Poudyal. At a time when the share market has been performing poorly, the chairman’s role is key to boost the investors’ confidence. The market started looking downward since 2009 when the current Premier Dr Baburam Bhattarai was finance minister. If the Bhattarai-led government could select a professional chairman in the board, the investors’ moral would be high and the market could bounce back.
Source: THT
