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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

PROJECT REPORT
ON
Merchant Banking In India And QIP

FOR
ARYAMAN FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED (AFSL)

BY
HIREN .H. JASOLIA

Submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for award of Degree of


Master in Management Studies by University of Mumbai

ATHARVA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES


Marve Road, Charkop Naka, Malad(W), Mumbai 400 095

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the Project titled “ Merchant Banking in India And
QIP ” submitted as a part of the study of Master of Management Studies
(MMS) is my original work. The Project has not formed the basis for the
award of any other degree, diploma, associate ship, fellowship or any other
similar titles.

Place: Mumbai Hiren.H.Jasolia


Date:1/7/2010 (Name of Student)

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Hiren Jasolia has completed the Project “Merchant
Banking in India and QIP” under the guidance of Prof. Sujata Pandey in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Master of
Management Studies Degree for the academic period 2009-11.

Signature of the Guide Signature of the Director

Place: Mumbai
Date:

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I take this opportunity to express my gratitude and extend my thanks to all
those help and guidance made this endeavor successful.

I express my sincere thanks to ARYAMAN FINANCIAL SERVICES


LIMITED (AFSL); Mr.D.S.Sharma, Executive Director; Mr. Shripal Shah,
Executive Director, Mr.Ankit Doshi, Executive MBD-Company Project
Guide.

I extend my sincere thank to Shri Sunil Rane, Executive President, Atharva


Education Trust; Shri N. S. Rajan, Dean, and Dr. P.P. Joshi, Director,
Atharva Institute of Management Studies, for providing me the opportunity
to work on this Project. I also thank my Project Guide, Prof. Sujata Pandey,
for giving her support and guidance in successful completion of the Project.

I cannot end this page without thanking my family for their encouragement
and support while undertaking this Project.

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

INDEX

Sr. No Topic Pg. No


1. Acknowledgement
2. Executive Summary
3. Objective 8-9
4. Company Profile 10-11
5. Introduction- Merchant Banking in India 12
6. The Growth of Merchant Banking in India 13-15
7. Requirements for Setting up a Merchant Banking 16
Outfit
8. Guidelines of SEBI 17-18
9. The Difference Between Merchant Banks and 19-20
Commercial Banks
10. Services of Merchant Bankers in India 21-22
11. Problems and Hurdles 23
12. What is Qualified Institutions Placement? 24-25
13. SEBI- ICDR Regulations, 2009 26-30
14. Why was it introduced 31
15. Who can participate in QIP Issue 32
16. Disclosures in Placement Document 33
17. Benefits of QIP’s 34-35
18. Analysis 36-37
19. Conclusion on QIP 38
20. Recommendations 39
21. Bibliography 40-51
22. 52-53
23. 54
24. 55-56
25. 57

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

Executive Summary

The Indian economy is currently in a transition period and the second fastest
growing economy of the world after China. In this era of globalization,
service sector’s growth and contribution to the nations GDP has been
phenomenal since the last couple of years. Amongst all these, the Merchant
Banking services has grown from a sapling into a mighty tree and has
secured for itself its rightful place in the financial sector. It is a flourishing
services today as more entrepreneurs wanting to list their companies.

It can be said that this project helped me to understand every details about
Merchant Banking and in future how it’s going to get emerged in the Indian
economy. Hence, Merchant Banking can be considered as essential financial
body in Indian financial system.

In my internship at Aryaman Financial Services Limited, I was instructed to


make database of QIP Issues of Companies from the day the first QIP was
launched. Aryaman Financial Services Limited has never played a role in
being a Merchant Banker to a QIP Issue. Before undertaking this work I had
to go through SEBI, ICDR Regulations, 2009.This helped me to understand
QIP in much better way.

After completing my Database, I analyzed Database and was able to get


findings which I have expressed with Pie Charts and Bar Diagrams.

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Objective
The Objective of the report is to understand every detail about
Merchant Banking And QIP. My objective in internship was to
prepare database of QIP Issue. On basis of database, I had to draw
some findings which would be useful for the management team of
Aryaman Financial Services Limited for future purposes.

Aryaman Financial Services Limited has till date not acted as


Merchant Banker for a QIP Issue. So I was collecting every details
of QIP Issue which can be useful for the Company in future
whenever they undertake to act as Merchant Banker to a QIP Issue.

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ARYAMAN FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED (AFSL) -


COMPANY PROFILE

Aryaman Financial Services Limited a Professional Merchant Banking


House of Mumbai has been accredited by the Securities Exchange Board of
India (SEBI) under CATEGORY I to undertake corporate consultancy for
Public Issues Management as Lead Managers to Public Issues. It is a
Company backed by eminent professionals of a successful track record of
over a decade in corporate consultancy. The Company commenced its
operations in 1994.
The activities can be broadly classified as:-
• Corporate Strategy Formulation for growth through diversification,
expansion by identifying latent potential.
• Single window expert consultancy to entrepreneurs to implement the
project ideas.
• Strategy for capital structuring of Debt, Equity and for entering into
capital market and finance syndication.
• Private Placement of Equity with FIs /Banks/ Foreign Banks / FIIs
• Syndication of loans with FIs/Banks including swaps.
• Infrastructure Project Financing and Joint Venture co-ordination for
the same.
• Monitoring market making of the scrip – once quoted.
• Fixing up market premia, approvals and promotion of premium
issues.
• Comprehensive Project Appraisal and Feasibility Studies.

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MERCHANT BANKING IN INDIA

Introduction
Financial services are an important component of financial system. The
smooth functioning of financial system depends upon the range of financial
services extended by the providers. Financial services in India have
witnessed remarkable changes in the recent past after the implementation of
“Liberalization, privatization and globalization”.

Funds are tapped from the capital market to finance various mega industrial
projects. In attracting public savings, Merchant Bankers play a vital role as
specialized agencies. The resource raising functions remains to be the
primary business of a Merchant Banker. The primary market holds the key
to rapid capital formation, growth in industrial productions and exports.
There has to be accountability to the end use of funds raised from the
market. The increase in the number of issues and amount raised has
increased the number of Merchant Bankers. Therefore, the field became
highly competitive market where it requires a specialized skill in handling
the situation. The Merchant Bankers have a social responsibility to in
building an industrial structure in India.

Merchant Bankers assist corporate in raising capital. They assist in issue of


shares, syndicating loans, public issue of debentures. They do not provide
funds.They only assist. They also actively arrange working capital, appraisal
projects scrutinize & persuade merger proposals.

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

Definition

 In banking, a Merchant Bank is a financial institution primarily

engaged in offering financial services and advice to corporations and


wealthy individuals on how to use their money. The term can also be
used to describe the private equity activities of banking. Merchant
Banker" could be defined as "An organisation that acts as an
intermediary between the issuers and the ultimate purchasers of
securities in the primary security market“.

 Merchant Banker has been defined under the Securities & Exchange
Board of India (Merchant Bankers) Rules, 1992 as "any person who
is engaged in the business of issue management either by making
arrangements regarding selling, buying or subscribing to securities as
manager, consultant, advisor or rendering corporate advisory service
in relation to such issue management".

In short, Merchant Bankers assist in raising capital and advice on related


issues.

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

The Growth of Merchant Banking In India

Formal merchant activity in India was originated in 1969 with the Merchant
Banking division setup by the Grindlays Bank, the largest foreign bank in
the country. The main service offered at that time to the corporate
enterprises by the Merchant Banks included the management of public
issues and some aspects of financial consultancy. Following Grindlays
Bank, Citibank set up its Merchant Banking division in 1970.The division
took up the task of assisting new entrepreneurs and existing units in the
evaluation of new projects and raising funds through borrowing and equity
issues. Management consultancy services were also offered. Merchant
Bankers are permitted to carry on activities of primary dealers in
government securities. Consequent to the recommendations of Banking
Commission in 1972, that Indian banks should offer Merchant Banking
services as part of the multiple services they could provide their clients,
State Bank of India started the Merchant Banking Division in 1972. In
the initial years the SBI’s objective was to render corporate advice and
assistance to small and medium entrepreneurs.

The commercial banks that followed State Bank of India were Central
Bank of India, Bank of India and Syndicate Bank in 1977.Bank of Baroda,
Standard Chartered Bank and Mercantile Bank in 1978 and United Bank of
India, United Commercial Bank, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank and
Indian Overseas Bank in late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Among the development

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banks, ICICI started Merchant Banking activities in 1973 followed by IFCI


(1986) and IDBI (1991).

Upto 1970, there were only two foreign banks which performed
Merchant Banking operations in the country. SBI was the first Indian
commercial bank and ICICI the first financial institution to take up the
activities in 1972 and 1973 respectively. As a result of buoyancy in the
capital market in 1980’s some commercial banks set – up their subsidiaries
to operate exclusively in Merchant Banking industry. In addition, a number
of large stock broking firms and financial consultants also entered into
business. Thus, by the end of the end of 1980’s there were 33 Merchant
Bankers belonging to three major segments viz., commercial banks, all
India financial institutions, and private firms.
Merchant Banking industry which remained almost stagnant and
stereotyped for over two decades, witnessed an astonishing growth after the
process of economic reforms and deregulation of Indian economy in 1991.
The number of Merchant Banks increased to 115 by the end of 1992-93 300
by the end of 1993-94 and 501 by the end of August, 1994. all Merchant
Bankers registered with SEBI under four different categories include 50
commercial banks, 6 all Indian financial institutions – ICICI, IFCI, IDBI,
IRBI, Tourism Finance corporation of India, infrastructure Leasing and
Financial Services Ltd. and Private Merchant Bankers.
In addition to Indian Merchant Bankers, a large number of reputed
international Merchant Bankers like Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley,
Goldman Sachs, Jardie Fleming Kleinwort Benson etc. are operating in
India under authorization of SEBI.

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Requirements for setting up a merchant banking outfit

1. Formation of the Business Organization.

SEBI act, 1992 does not prescribe any specific form of business
organization to carry on the activities as Merchant Banker. However, the
types of organizations are listed below:

a. Sole proprietorship.

b. Partnership firm.

c. Hindu Undivided Family (HUF).

d. Corporate Enterprises.

e. Co-operative Society.

Generally it is preferred that the Merchant Banking outfit be a registered


company. Merchant Banks are generally setup as subsidiary companies of
banks (Public or Private). For example, SBI caps, ICICI Securities etc.

2. Adoption of a viable business plan.

All the basic tests required to find out whether the business to be undertaken
is viable or not are also applicable to a Merchant Banking setup. Capital
adequacy, profitability, growth opportunities and current market size are
some of the factors which need to be looked into.

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3. Registration of Merchant Bankers.

a. Application for grant of certificate.

An application for grant of a certificate needs to be made to SEBI.

The application can be made for any one of the following categories of the
Merchant Banker namely:-

• Category I, that is –

(i) to carry on any activity of the issue management, which will inter-alia
consist of preparation of prospectus and other information relating to the
issue, determining financial structure, tie-up of financiers and final allotment
and refund of the subscription; and

(ii) to act as adviser, consultant, manager, underwriter, portfolio manager.

• Category II, that is, to act as adviser, consultant, co- manager,


underwriter, portfolio manager;
• Category III, that is to act as underwriter, adviser, consultant to an
issue;
• Category IV, that is to act only as adviser or consultant to an issue.

To carry on the activity as underwriter or portfolio manager a separate


certificate of registration needs to be obtained from SEBI.

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b. Application to conform to the requirements.

The application should conform to all the requirements under the SEBI
guidelines, otherwise it may be rejected.

c. Furnishing of information, clarification and personal


representation.

The Board may require the applicant to furnish further information or


clarification regarding matters relevant to the activity of a Merchant Banker
for the purpose of disposal of the application. The applicant or its principal
officer may appear before the Board for personal representation.

d. Consideration of application.

The Board shall take into account for considering the grant of a certificate,
all matters, which are relevant to the activities relating to Merchant Banker
and in particular the applicant complies with the following requirements,
namely: -

• the applicant shall be a body corporate other than a non- banking


financial company.
• the Merchant Banker who has been granted registration by the
Reserve Bank of India to act as a Primary or Satellite dealer may
carry on such activity subject to the condition that it shall not accept
or hold public deposit.

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• the applicant has the necessary infrastructure like adequate office


space, equipments, and manpower to effectively discharge his
activities.
• the applicant has in his employment minimum of two persons who
have the experience to conduct the business of the Merchant Banker.
• person directly or indirectly connected with the applicant has not been
granted registration by the Board;
• the applicant fulfils the capital adequacy requirement is as follows:

The capital adequacy requirement should not be less than the net worth of
the person making the application for grant of registration. The net worth
shall be as follows,

Category Minimum Amount


Category I Rs. 5, 00, 00, 000
Category II Rs. 50, 00, 000
Category III Rs. 20, 00, 000
Category IV Nil

• the applicant, his partner, director or principal officer is not involved


in any litigation connected with the securities market which has an
adverse bearing on the business of the applicant and have not at any
time been convicted for any offence involving moral turpitude or has
been found guilty of any economic offence.
• the applicant has the professional qualification from an institution
recognized by the Government in finance, law or business
management.
• grant of certificate to the applicant is in the interest of investors.

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e. Procedure for Registration.

The Board on being satisfied that the applicant is eligible shall grant a
certificate. On the grant of a certificate the applicant shall be liable to pay
the fees as prescribed.

f. Payment of fees and the consequences of failure to pay fees.

Every applicant eligible for grant of a certificate shall pay such fees in such
manner and within the period specified.

Where a Merchant Banker fails to pay the Annual fees as provided in


Schedule II, the Board may suspend the registration certificate, whereupon
the Merchant Banker shall cease to carry on any activity as a Merchant
Banker for the period during which the suspension subsists.

The Merchant Bank can commence business on acquisition of a Certificate


of Registration from the SEBI after completion of the above mentioned
formalities.

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Guidelines of SEBI

(1) The issuer shall appoint one or more merchant bankers, at least one of
whom shall be a lead merchant banker and shall also appoint other
intermediaries, in consultation with the lead merchant banker, to carry out
the obligations relating to the issue.

(2) The issuer shall, in consultation with the lead merchant banker, appoint
only those intermediaries which are registered with the Board.

(3) Where the issue is managed by more than one merchant banker, the
rights, obligations and responsibilities, relating inter alia to disclosures,
allotment, refund and underwriting obligations, if any, of each merchant
banker shall be predetermined and disclosed in the offer document as
specified in Schedule I.

(4) The lead merchant banker shall, only after independently assessing the
capability of other intermediaries to carry out their obligations, advise the
issuer on their appointment.

(5) The issuer shall enter into an agreement with the lead merchant banker in
the format specified in Schedule II and with other intermediaries as required
under the respective regulations applicable to the intermediary concerned:
Provided that such agreements may include such other clauses as the issuer
and the intermediary may deem fit without diminishing or limiting in any

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way the liabilities and obligations of the merchant bankers, other


intermediaries and the issuer under the Act, the Companies Act, 1956, the
Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956, the Depositories Act, 1996 and
the rules and regulations made there under or any statutory modification or
statutory enactment thereof: Provided further that in case of ASBA process,
the issuer shall take cognisance of the deemed agreement of the issuer with
Self Certified Syndicate Banks.

(6) An issuer shall, in case of an issue made through the book building
process, appoint syndicate members and in the case of any other issue,
appoint bankers to issue, at all mandatory collection centres as specified in
Schedule III and such other collection centres as it may deem fit.

(7) The issuer shall appoint a registrar which has connectivity with all the
depositories:
Provided that if issuer itself is a registrar to an issue registered with the
Board, then another registrar to an issue shall be appointed as registrar to the
issue:
Explanation: For the purpose of this regulation, in case of a book built
issue,
the lead merchant banker appointed by the issuer shall act as the lead book
runner

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Difference between Merchant Banks and Commercial Banks

Merchant Banks Commercial Banks

1) Assist in raising capital in the form of Provide funds in the form of


equity, preference shares, and syndicated term loan and working capital.
loan working capital instruments.

2) Advisor not financer. Financing is the main business.

3) Do not accept chequable deposits. Demand deposits are the key


feature.
4) Mainly fees based business. Mainly fund based business

5) Being advisors, they are closer to the Being lenders, they are more
customers and get to know risks of the cautions, assess risks in lending
transaction s properly. They work on proposal and cannot afford to be
risks shields i.e. mitigation measures grossly relationship based and
close to the customer.

6) Most of work they get is about Commercial banks majority


management of equity issues in the business is of terms lending and
capacity of lead manager, underwriter, bank deposits.
piercing of issue, book running, and
liaisoning with SEBI.

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SERVICES PROVIDED BY MERCHANT BANKS: (in detail)

The development activity through the country had exerted excess demand on
the sources of funds by the ever expanding industry and trade which could
not be met by the All India Financial Institutions. In these circumstances, the
corporate sector enterprises had the only alternative to avail themselves of
the capital market services for meeting the long-term fund requirements
through capital issues of equity and debentures. The growing demand for
funds from capital market has enthused many organizations to enter into the
field of Merchant Banking for managing the public issues.

The need of Merchant Banker is also felt in the wake of huge untapped
public savings as Merchant Bankers can play a highly significant role in
mobilizing funds from savers to invest in channels assuring promising return
on investments and thus narrow down the gap between demand for and
supply of investible funds.

Merchant Bankers not only provide advisory services to corporate


enterprises but also advise the investors of the incentives available in
the form of tax relief and other statutory obligations. Thus, the
Merchant Bankers help industry and trade to raise funds, and the
investors to invest their saved money in sound and healthy concerns
with confidence, safety and expectation of higher yields.

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Broadly a Merchant Banker can provide the following services:

1. Corporate Counseling

2. Project Counseling And Pre-Investment Studies


3. Credit Syndication And Project Finance
4. Issue Management
5. Underwriting
6. Bankers
7. Portfolio Management
8. Venture Capital Financing
9. Leasing
10.Non-Resident Investment Counseling And Management
11.Acceptance Credit And Bill Discounting
12.Advising On Mergers, Amalgamations And Take-Over
13.Arranging Offshore Finance
14.Fixed Deposit Broking
15.Relief To Sick Industries

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Let’s take a brief look at each of these functions:

Corporate Counseling

It includes a whole range of financial services provided by a Merchant


Banker to a corporate unit a view to ensure better performance, maintain
steady growth and create a better image among investors.

It covers the entire field of Merchant Banking activities i.e., project


counseling, capital restructuring, portfolio management and the full range of
financial engineering including venture capital, public issue management,
loan syndication, working capital, fixed deposits, lease financing,
acceptance credit, etc. However, the scope of corporate counseling is limited
to suggestions and opinions leaving to the client to take corrective actions
for solving its corporate problems.

A Merchant Banker finds out the problems of enterprise, which shall include
organizational goals for the enterprise, size of the organization and
operational scales, choice of a product, pricing, etc, and suggests ways and
means to solve those problems.

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

Project Counseling

Project Counseling is an important Merchant Banking service which


includes preparation of project reports, deciding upon the financing pattern
to finance the cost of the project, appraising the project report with the
financial institutions/banks.

Project Reports are prepared to obtain government approval of the project,


for procuring financial assistance from financial institutions and banks, for
ensuring market for the proposed product, for planning public issues, etc.

Financing the project cost is an important aspect of Project Counseling. The


two sources of funds available to finance the project cost are internal sources
of funds (or owners' funds) which includes promoter's contribution and
retained earnings; and external sources of funds which refers to the
borrowed funds in the form of loans from banks, private investors and
financial institutions and in the form of debentures from the public.

Merchant Banker has to decide the financing mix of the internal and external
sources of funds keeping in view the rules, regulations and norms prescribed
by the government or followed by the term lending financial institutions.

While rendering Project Counseling services, the merchant banker has to


ensure that the application forms for obtaining the funds from financial
institutions are filled in with relevant and appropriate information and before
submitting the application, the merchant banker has to appraise the project

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considering the various aspects as to the type of the project, location,
technical, commercial and financial viability of the project.

Credit Syndication

Once the client company has decided about the project proposed to be
undertaken, the next step is looking for the sources wherefrom the funds
could be procured to implement the project.

Merchant Banker has to locate the sources of funds and comply the
formalities required to procure the funds. This service rendered by the
merchant Banker in arranging and procuring credit from financial
institutions, banks and other lending and investment organizations for
financing the clients' project cost or meeting working capital requirement is
referred to as Loan Syndication or Credit Syndication.

Credit Syndication in case of domestic borrowings is with the institutional


lenders and banks. Long and medium term funds are obtained from the All
India Financial Institutions like IFCI, IDBI etc., state level financial bodies
like SFC, SIDC etc., commercial banks, mutual funds etc. Short-term funds
are also required by the firm for purchase of raw materials, payment of
wages, salaries etc. Sources of financing these short term requirements or
working capital needs can be from internal sources like internal accruals
from working or operations and short term loans from friends and relatives;
or from external sources like short term borrowings from banks etc.

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Issue Management and Underwriting

Management of capital issues is a professional service rendered by the


skilled and experienced Merchant Bankers. Previously, the managing agents
for a particular corporate used to manage public issues. The abolition of the
managing agency system, the growth in the public limited companies in
number and size, the imposition of new rules and regulations regarding the
public issue of securities made it necessary for Merchant Bankers to play a
definite role in the management of public issues.

Public issue management involves marketing of corporate securities by


offering the securities to the public, procuring private subscription to the
securities and offering securities to existing shareholders of the company.

As a manager to the public issue, the Merchant Banker, before the public
issue has to obtain the consent of the stock exchanges to the memorandum
and articles of association, appoint other managers, bankers, underwriters,
brokers etc. , advice the company to appoint auditors, solicitors and board of
directors, draft the prospectus and obtain consent from the companies legal
advisors, board of directors and other concerned parties, file the prospectus
with registrar, make an application for enlistment with stock exchanges and
finally advertise for the issue.

A Merchant Bankers post issue activities include final allotment and/or


refund of subscription amount, calculation of underwriters liability in case
of

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under subscription and complying the necessary statutory requirements for


listing of securities on the stock exchange.

Under writing of public issue

A fully underwritten public issue spells confidence to the investing public,


which ensures a good response to the issue. Keeping this in view companies,
which float a public issue usually, desire a full underwriting of the issue.

Underwriting is only the guarantee given by the underwriter that in the event
of under subscription, the amount underwritten would be subscribed in
proportion by the underwriter. An underwriter of the issue gets the following
benefits:

• It earns a commission of the commitment given.


• It earns the right to be appointed as bankers of that issue.
• It expands its clientele by underwriting more and more issues.

Bankers to the Issue

The Merchant Banker can automatically become the banker to the issue in
the following cases:

• The bank is a broker to the company


• It has given underwriting commitments.
• It acts as a manger to the issue

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• The function of a banker to the issue is to accept application forms


from the public together with subscription money and transfer them to
the account of the controlling branch.

Portfolio Management

Portfolio refers to investment in different types of marketable securities or


investment papers like shared, debentures and debenture stocks, bonds etc.
from different companies or institutions held by individuals firm or
corporate units.

Portfolio management refers to managing efficiently the investment in the


securities held by professionals to others.

Merchant Bankers take up management of a portfolio of securities on behalf


of their clients, providing special services with a view to ensure maximum
return by such investments with a minimum risk of loss of return on the
money invested in securities.

A Merchant Banker while performing the services of portfolio management


has to enquire of the investment needs of the client, the tax bracket, ability
to bare risk, liquidity requirements, etc. they should study the economic
environment affecting the capital market, study the securities market and
identify blue chip companies in which money can be invested. They should

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keep record of latest amendment in government guidelines, stock exchange
regulations, RBI regulations, etc.

Advisory Services Relating To Mergers and Takeovers

A Merger is defined as a combination of two or more companies into a


single company where one services and other looses their corporate
existence. A merger is also defied as an amalgamation wherein the
shareholders of the combining companies become substantially the
shareholders of the company formed.

A Takeover is referred to as an acquisition, which is the purchase, by one


company of a controlling interest in the share capital of another existing
company.

Merchant Bankers are the middlemen settling negotiations between the


offered and the offeror. Their role is specific and specialized in handling the
Mergers and Takeover assignments. Being a professional expert, the
Merchant Banker is apt to safeguard the interest of the shareholders in both
the companies and as such his assistance is useful for both the companies,
i.e. the acquirer as well as the acquired company.

Based on the purpose of business objective, the search of the acquirer


company will start for a merger partner company. If the objective of merger
is growth oriented i.e. seeking expansion in production and market
segments, utilization of existing companies or optimum utilization of
resources, then the acquirer company will select a business related company
as a merger partner.

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If the objective is diversification in production line or business activities,


then it will select a non-related company as a merger partner.

Once the merger partner is proposed the Merchant Banker has to appraise
the Merger/Takeover proposal with respect to financial viability and
technical feasibility. He has to negotiate with the parties and decide the
purchase consideration and mode of payment. He has to comply with the
legal formalities like getting approval from the Government/ RBI; drafting
the scheme of amalgamation; getting approval of company Board, financial
institution, high court if required; arranging for the meeting etc.

Venture Capital Financing

Financing an emerging high-risk project is called venture capital financing.


Many Merchant Bankers are entering into this area by also financing viable
upcoming projects. The financing is by subscription to the equity capital,
while repayment is by selling the equity through stock market when the
shares are listed.

Leasing

Is there another lucrative area of financing where Merchant Bankers are


turning? Leasing is a viable source of financing while acquiring capital
assets. The services include arrangement for lease finance facilities for
leasing companies, legal; documents and tax consultancy.

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Non Resident Investment

To attract NRI investments in the primary and secondary markets, the


Merchant Bankers provide investment advisory services to the NRIs in
terms of identification of investment opportunities, selection of securities,
portfolio management, etc. they also take care of operational details like
purchase and sale of securities securing the necessary clearance from RBI
under FERA for repatriation of dividends and interest, etc.

Acceptance Credit and Bill Discounting

Though Merchant Bankers world over specialize in acceptance credit and


bill discounting, these services are not currently provided by Merchant
Bankers in India the principal reasoning being the lack of an active market
for commercial bills.

Arranging Offshore Finance

The Merchant Bankers also help their clients in the following areas
involving foreign currency financing:

1. Financing Of Exports and Imports.

2. Long Term Foreign Currency Loans.

3. Joint Ventures Abroad.

4. Foreign Collaboration Arrangements.

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

The assistance rendered as in the case of financial services covers appraisals,


negotiations, compliance with procedural and legal aspects etc.

Management of Fixed Deposits of Companies

Recently, Merchant Bankers have begun to structure and mobilize fixed


deposits for their corporate clients. They take care of the procedural and
legal aspects, and also mange the collection and subsequent servicing of the
deposits. Advice with regard to the amount to be raised, interest charges,
terms of deposits and other related issues are also offered to the client.

Relief to Sick Industries

The services offered by Merchant Bankers to sick industries can be


summarized as follows:

1. Assessment of capital requirements and counseling on capital


restructuring;
2. Appraisal of technological, environmental, financial and other factors
causing sickness;
3. Preparations of programs and packages for rehabilitation of sick units;
4. Providing necessary assistance where the rehabilitation package
involves mergers or amalgamation;
5. Obtaining necessary approval for implementation the rehabilitation
package from the statutory authorities;

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP
6. Monitoring the implementation of the scheme of rehabilitation.

Problems and Hurdles


Not many but some problems are faced by Indian Merchant Bankers.

I. Industry compartmentalization: Company which is in Merchant Banking


business would have expertise in underwriting, hire purchase, leasing, and
portfolio management, money-lending. But RBI does not permit Merchant
Banking firms to get into these activities. So the same promoters have to setup
different companies for different purposes. Management cost increases and
expertise pooling i.e. multiple use of same talent is not possible.

II. Malafide practices: India corporate culture is improving but still many

corporate have excessively friendly approach. Favored allotment of shares,


tampering with project appraisal report to bankers is common. Corporate
like to use Merchant Bankers for malafide intentions. This gives growth to
more boutique fly-by-day firms. Giant professional or multinational
Merchant Bankers are cautions in their approach to Indian market.

III. Regulations: though regulations are much better now, there is still scope
for further improvement. Merchant Bankers can be made more
accountable and responsible. Professional qualification focused on
Merchant Banking is not available. Industry is not well organized and all

33
Merchant Banking in India and QIP
the players do not play the same tune. This is specifically evident in
comparison with insurance industry and mutual funds industry.

CONCLUSION

The Merchant Banker plays a vital role in channelising the financial


surplus of the society into productive investment avenues. Hence before
selecting a Merchant Banker, one must decide, the services for which he is
being approached. Selecting the right intermediary who has the necessary
skills to meet the requirements of the client will ensure success.

It can be said that this project helped me to understand every details


about Merchant Banking and in future how it’s going to get emerged in the
Indian economy. Hence, Merchant Banking can be considered as essential
financial body in Indian financial system.

Market development is predicted on a sound, fair and transparent


regulatory framework. To sustain the growth of the market and crystallize
the growing awareness and interest into a committed, discerning and
growing awareness and interest into an essential to remove the trading
malpractice and structural inadequacies prevailing in the market, and
provide the investors an organized, well regulated market.

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

What is Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP)?

There are broadly two ways by which companies can raise capital from the
markets viz. debt and equity. Whereas issuing debt instruments only adds to
the financial burden of the company, the equity option brings investment in
company by making investors partners in the business. Companies intending
to raise capital via the equity route have various ways of doing so which
include Initial Public Offering (IPO), Follow-on Public Offering
(FPO),Rights Issue, Preferential Issue of Shares or through listing in foreign
bourses through American Depository Receipts (ADRs) and Global
Depository Receipts (GDRs).

QIP is the latest addition to the already existing modes of equity


participation. QIP is a capital raising means, whereby a listed company can
issue equity shares, fully and partly convertible debentures, or any securities
other than warrants which are convertible into or exchangeable with equity
shares to Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs).

QIP permits listed companies to collect funds from domestic markets


without the need for submitting any pre-issue filings to market regulator,
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Instead of trying to raise
cash from public at large, the companies adopt this route to get funds from a
few large investors called Qualified Institutional Buyers. Apart from
preferential allotment, this is the only other speedy method of private

35
Merchant Banking in India and QIP
placement for companies to raise money and a good way for funds /
institutions to pick up stakes in a company.

SEBI – ICDR REGULATIONS, 2009

CHAPTER VIII

QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONS PLACEMENT

Applicability.

80. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to a qualified institutions


placement made by a listed issuer.

Definitions.

81. For the purpose of this Chapter:

(a) “eligible securities” include equity shares, non-convertible debt


instruments along with warrants and convertible securities other than
warrants;

(b) “qualified institutions placement” means allotment of eligible securities


by a listed issuer to qualified institutional buyers on private placement basis
in terms of these regulations;

(c) "relevant date" means:

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP
(i) in case of allotment of equity shares, the date of the meeting in which the
board of directors of the issuer or the committee of directors duly authorized
by the board of directors of the issuer decides to open the proposed issue;

(ii) in case of allotment of eligible convertible securities, either the date of


the meeting in which the board of directors of the issuer or the committee of
directors duly authorised by the board of directors of the issuer decides to
open the issue of such convertible securities or the date on which the holders
of such convertible securities become entitled to apply for the equity shares.

Conditions for qualified institutions placement.

82. A listed issuer may make qualified institutions placement if it satisfies


the following conditions:

(a) a special resolution approving the qualified institutions placement has


been passed by its shareholders;

(b) the equity shares of the same class, which are proposed to be allotted
through qualified institutions placement or pursuant to conversion or
exchange of eligible securities offered through qualified institutions
placement, have been listed on a recognized stock exchange having nation
wide trading terminal for a period of at least one year prior to the date of
issuance of notice to its shareholders for convening the meeting to pass the
special resolution:

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP
Provided that where an issuer, being a transferee company in a scheme of
merger, de-merger, amalgamation or arrangement sanctioned by a High
Court under sections 391 to 394 of the Companies Act, 1956, makes
qualified institutions placement, the period for which the equity shares of the
same class of the transferor company were listed on a stock exchange having

nation wide trading terminals shall also be considered for the purpose of
computation of the period of one year.

(c) it is in compliance with the requirement of minimum public


shareholding specified in the listing agreement with the stock exchange;

(d) In the special resolution, it shall be, among other relevant matters,
specified that the allotment is proposed to be made through qualified
institutions placement and the relevant date referred to in sub-clause (ii) of
clause (c) of regulation 81 shall also be specified.

Explanation: For the purpose of clause (b), “equity shares of the same class”
shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in Explanation to sub-rule
(4) of rule 19 of the Securities Contracts(Regulation) Rules, 1957.

Appointment of merchant banker.

83.

(1) A qualified institutions placement shall be managed by merchant


banker(s) registered with the Board who shall exercise due diligence.

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP
(2) The merchant banker shall, while seeking in-principle approval for
listing of the eligible securities issued under qualified institutions placement,
furnish to each stock exchange on which the same class of equity shares of
the issuer are listed, a due diligence certificate stating that the eligible
securities are being issued under qualified institutions placement and that the
issuer complies with requirements of this Chapter.

Placement Document:

84.

(1) The qualified institutions placement shall be made on the basis of a


placement document which shall contain all material information, including
those specified in Schedule XVIII.

(2) The placement document shall be serially numbered and copies shall be
circulated only to select investors.

(3) The issuer shall, while seeking in-principle approval from the recognized
stock exchange, furnish a copy of the placement document, a certificate
confirming compliance with the provisions of this Chapter along with any
other documents required by the stock exchange.

(4) The placement document shall also be placed on the website of the
concerned stock exchange and of the issuer with a disclaimer to the effect
that it is in connection with a qualified institutions placement and that no
offer is being made to the public or to any other category of investors.

39
Merchant Banking in India and QIP
(5) A copy of the placement document shall be filed with the Board for its
record within thirty days of the allotment of eligible securities.

Pricing.

85.

(1) The qualified institutions placement shall be made at a price not less than
the average of the weekly high and low of the closing prices of the equity
shares of the same class quoted on the stock exchange during the two weeks
preceding the relevant date.

(2) Where eligible securities are convertible into or exchangeable with


equity shares of the issuer, the issuer shall determine the price of such equity
shares allotted pursuant to such conversion or exchange taking the relevant
date as decided and disclosed by it while passing the special resolution.

(3) The issuer shall not allot partly paid up eligible securities:

Provided that in case of allotment of non convertible debt instruments along


with warrants, the allottees may pay the full consideration or part thereof
payable with respect to warrants, at the time of allotment of such warrants:

40
Merchant Banking in India and QIP
Provided further that on allotment of equity shares on exercise of options
attached to warrants, such equity shares shall be fully paid up.

(4) The prices determined for qualified institutions placement shall be


subject to appropriate adjustments if the issuer:

(a) makes an issue of equity shares by way of capitalization of profits or


reserves, other than by way of a dividend on shares;

(b) makes a rights issue of equity shares;

(c) consolidates its outstanding equity shares into a smaller number of


shares;

(d) divides its outstanding equity shares including by way of stock split;

(e) re-classifies any of its equity shares into other securities of the issuer;

(f) is involved in such other similar events or circumstances, which in the


opinion of the concerned stock exchange, requires adjustments.

Explanation: For the purpose of sub-regulation (1), the term “stock


exchange” means any of the recognized stock exchanges in which the equity
shares of the same class of the issuer are listed and in which the highest
trading volume in such equity shares has been recorded during the two
weeks immediately preceding the relevant date.

Restrictions on allotment.

86.

41
Merchant Banking in India and QIP
(1) Allotment under the qualified institutions placement shall be made
subject to the following conditions:

(a) Minimum of ten per cent. of eligible securities shall be allotted to


mutual funds:

Provided that if the mutual funds do not subscribe to said minimum


percentage or any part thereof, such minimum portion or part thereof may be
allotted to other qualified institutional buyers;

(b) No allotment shall be made, either directly or indirectly, to any qualified


institutional buyer who is a promoter or any person related to promoters of
the issuer:

Provided that a qualified institutional buyer who does not hold any shares in
the issuer and who has acquired the said rights in the capacity of a lender
shall not be deemed to be a person related to promoters.

(2) In a qualified institutions placement of non-convertible debt instrument


along with warrants, an investor can subscribe to the combined offering of
non- convertible debt instruments with warrants or to the individual
securities, that is, either non- convertible debt instruments or warrants.

(3) The applicants in qualified institutions placement shall not withdraw


their bids after the closure of the issue.

Explanation: For the purpose of clause (b) of sub-regulation (1), a qualified


institutional buyer who has any of the following rights shall be deemed to be
a person related to the promoters of the issuer:

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP
(a) rights under a shareholders’ agreement or voting agreement entered into
with promoters or persons related to the promoters;

(b) veto rights; or

(c) right to appoint any nominee director on the board of the issuer.

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

Minimum number of allottees.

87.

(1) The minimum number of allottees for each placement of eligible


securities made under qualified institutions placement shall not be less
than:

(a) two, where the issue size is less than or equal to two hundred and fifty
crore rupees;

(b) five, where the issue size is greater than two hundred and fifty crore
rupees:

Provided that no single allottee shall be allotted more than fifty per cent. of
the issue size.

(2) The qualified institutional buyers belonging to the same group or who
are under same control shall be deemed to be a single allottee.

Explanation: For the purpose of sub-regulation (2), the expression “qualified


institutional buyers belonging to the same group” shall have the same
meaning as derived from sub-section (11) of section 372 of the
Companies Act, 1956;

Validity of the special resolution.

88.

(1) Allotment pursuant to the special resolution referred to in clause (a) of


regulation 82 shall be completed within a period of twelve months from the

44
Merchant Banking in India and QIP
date of passing of the resolution.

(2) The issuer shall not make subsequent qualified institutions placement
until expiry of six months from the date of the prior qualified institutions
placement made pursuant to one or more special resolutions.

Restrictions on amount raised.

89. The aggregate of the proposed qualified institutions placement and all
previous qualified institutions placements made by the issuer in the same
financial year shall not exceed five times the net worth of the issuer as per
the audited balance sheet of the previous financial year.

Tenure.

90. The tenure of the convertible or exchangeable eligible securities issued


through qualified institutions placement shall not exceed sixty months from
the date of allotment.

Transferability of eligible securities.

91. The eligible securities allotted under qualified institutions placement


shall not be sold by the allottee for a period of one year from the date of
allotment, except on a recognized stock exchange.

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

Why was it introduced?

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) introduced the QIP
process in 2006, to prevent listed companies in India from developing an
excessive dependence on foreign capital.

The complications associated with raising capital in the domestic markets


had led many companies to look at tapping the overseas markets via Foreign
Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCB) and Global Depository Receipts
(GDR) to fulfil their needs. To keep a check on this process and to give a
push to the domestic markets, QIPs were launched.

Prior to the innovation of the qualified institutional placement, there was


concern from Indian market regulators and authorities that Indian companies
were accessing international funding via issuing securities, such as
American depository receipts (ADRs), in outside markets. The
complications associated with raising capital in the domestic markets had
led many companies to look at tapping the overseas markets. This was seen
as an undesirable export of the domestic equity market, so the QIP
guidelines were introduced to encourage Indian companies to raise funds
domestically
instead of tapping overseas market.

46
Merchant Banking in India and QIP

Who can participate in the QIP issue?

Only QIBs, who are not promoters of issuer or related to the promoters of
issuer, are eligible for allotment of the securities via this route. QIBs are
generally large institutional investors like banks, insurance firms, mutual
funds and foreign institutional investors who have the expertise and
financial muscle to evaluate market offerings and invest large amounts in
capital market. SEBI has given an extensive list on who are eligible to
qualify as QIB.

Qualified Buyer includes

• a public financial institution as defined in section 4A of the Companies


Act, 1956;
• a scheduled commercial bank;
• a mutual fund registered with the Board;
• a foreign institutional investor and sub-account registered with SEBI,
other than a sub-account which is a foreign corporate or foreign individual;
• a multilateral and bilateral development financial institution;
• a venture capital fund registered with SEBI;
• a foreign venture capital investor registered with SEBI;
• a state industrial development corporation;
• an insurance company registered with the Insurance Regulatory and
Development Authority (IRDA);
• a provident fund with minimum corpus of 25 crore;
• a pension fund with minimum corpus of 25 crore;

47
Merchant Banking in India and QIP

• National Investment Fund set up by resolution no. F. No. 2/3/2005-DDII


dated November 23, 2005 of Government of India published in the Gazette
of India.

Unlike private placement via the preferential allotment wherein the


securities can be issued to promoters or their relatives, in QIP allotment the
DIP Guidelines clearly provide that the securities cannot be issued to QIBs
who are either promoters or related to the promoters.
The DIP Guidelines also clarifies that a QIB who has all or any of the
following rights shall be deemed to be related to the promoter(s):
• rights under the shareholders agreement or listing agreement entered into
with
promoters or persons related to promoters;
• veto rights;
• right to appoint nominee directors on the Board of the issuer company.

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

Benefits of QIPs

Raising funds by means of issuing securities to QIBs provides multi-fold


benefits to the issuer companies, investors and economy as a whole.
Following is the list of advantages of QIPs as compared to other means of
fund raising:

1. Time Saving: QIPs can be raised within shorter span of time as

compared to FPO or Right Issue which are time consuming


procedures. Even compared to preferential allotment which can even
take as much as three months, this is a speedier method of private
placement where capital raising can be done in as soon as a week.

2. Simplified Procedure: QIP scores over others methods as there are

fewer formalities and requirements as regards rules and regulations


and it does not have to undergo the elaborate procedural requirements
of fund raising such as the submission of pre-issue filings to SEBI or
converting the accounts to International Financial Reporting
Standards and the like. Except the 10% reservation for mutual funds,
companies can issue securities to QIBs on discretionary basis.

3. Valuation: Barring the SEBI norms regarding floor price the

valuation of the issue is decided between the issuer and the buyers
and there is no third party interference. This also is another reason for
its popularity.

49
Merchant Banking in India and QIP

4. Lock-in: It provides an opportunity to investors to buy non-locking

shares since they have an exit option on the stock exchange and do
not have to wait for a minimum period of 1year.

5. Lower Cost of Capital: QIP route is more cost effective in

comparison to other modes which prove to be costly. The cost


differential vis-à-vis ADR/GDR in terms of legal fees, listing charges
is huge. In a QIP the company has to pay an incremental fee to the
stock exchange.

6. Retail Investors: In view of the SEBI mandate to issue 10% of the

issue to mutual funds QIP also gives the retail investors a practical
and efficient means to further diversify their portfolios.

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

ANALYSIS

During my internship at Aryaman Financial Services, a growing Merchant


Bank, I had prepared QIP Database for 126 Companies.

While preparing the database, there were some interesting facts which were
observed. These observations are put forth in the form of following
diagrams:

1. No. of QIP’s from different sectors

Major Qip’s were from Real Estate, Infrastructure and


Construction

51
Merchant Banking in India and QIP

2. Domestic Legal Advisor for QIP

Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co. enjoyed dominance
and was able to bagged 37%

52
Merchant Banking in India and QIP

3.International Legal Advisor for QIP

Jones Day and Dorsey & Whitney had a share of 83%.

4.QIP’s having Global Co-Ordinator

53
Merchant Banking in India and QIP

5.Pre-Issue Networth of Co. which came up with QIP)


(In Crores)

6. Issue Size of equity share

(In Crores)

54
Merchant Banking in India and QIP

Conclusion

One of the key concerns in QIP is that unlike the rights issues, it dilutes the
stake of existing shareholders. Hence QIP are made by companies with
significant promoter holding and promoters with low stakes are reluctant to
adopt this route as a further dilution could mean risking its management
control of the company. However in difficult times like the current
environment where FCCBs and ECBs are not feasible, this option as and
interim measure can still prove to be beneficial as it gives the company’s
business the much needed capital to bail out and sustain itself.

Now, when the global capital market is struggling for revival, QIP is
ensuring a turnaround by giving the much need financial impetus to the
Indian real estate and infrastructure business while also giving investment
opportunities to the cash rich QIBs who have been waiting on the sidelines
over the last six months to enter the potential-rich Indian real estate market.
But the QIBs are selective as they look at growth prospects of the companies
and so companies with strong fundamentals, sound corporate governance
and good underlying assets have better ability to tap the QIP market.

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

Recommendations for

Aryaman Financial Services Limited

The Company commenced its operations in 1994. Aryaman Financial


Services Limited has established itself as a leading private sector Merchant
Banking house of repute by successfully managing various public issues,
mobilizing resources for the corporate sector and has remained in the
forefront in the Indian Capital Market.

In year 2007-2008 , this Company was takeover By Mr. Shripal Shah. It


will take some time for him to develop corporate links. The business is
going well and is increasing every year. For increasing business, just a point
that I could think of is that Aryaman should hire better staff as in better
human resource management and expand its business.. It's not that Aryaman
does not get business or is not known amongst people, but I think they do
not have that much capability or human resource to spin up their work and
undertake more projects. They should hire more experienced people with
prior experience in field of Merchant Banking. The Company incurs
significant cost on getting Legal Advisory Services. This cost can be cut
short by employing a Company Secretary. Having an employee with
knowledge about legal aspects will lead to less dependence on outside Legal
Advisors and will increase the speed of work. In this way, Company can
handle more clients and in more effective manner.

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Merchant Banking in India and QIP

Bibliography

A. Government Sources

1. Reserve Bank of India (www.rbi.gov.in).


2. SEBI (ICDR) Regulations, 2009.
3. IBEF (www.ibef.org.in).

B. Economic and Financial Journals and Magazines

1. Money Outlook.
2. Business Week.

C. Commercial Publication

1. Bloomberg.
2. NSE Fact book

D. On – Line Data Bases

1. www.bseindia.com.
2. www.nseindia.com.

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