Dhanlaxmi Bank’s auditors under spotlight as shareholders reject their appointment, BFSI News, ET BFSI

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


Statutory auditors of Dhanlaxmi Bank, PB Vijayaraghavan & Co, have come under the spotlight after the shareholders of the Kerala-based lender rejected their appointment at its 94th Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday (September 29), the scrutinizer report filed to the stock exchanges on Thursday showed.

Over 65 per cent of the votes were cast against the resolution to appoint PB Vijayaraghavan & Co as the bank’s statutory auditors. For an ordinary resolution to be passed, more than 50 per cent votes need to cast for the resolution.

PB Vijayaraghavan & Co were seeking reappointment for the third year (FY2021-22), and proposed to be paid a total fees of Rs 48 lakh by Dhanlaxmi bank. The Reserve Bank had already accorded approval for their appointment. The Chennai-based auditors, were the branch/ statutory central auditors of the bank during the period 2003-04 to 2008-09, FY 2019-20 and for FY 2020-21, Dhanlaxmi Bank’s annual report for 2020-21 showed.

P B Vijayaraghavan’s rejection as statutory auditors came at a time when Dhanlaxmi Bank’s financial health has been under question and the lender is also facing issues of corporate governance. The auditors, P B Vijayaraghavan, gave a clean chit to the bank in the last two years, issuing an “unqualified opinion”, the bank’s annual reports for FY20 and FY21 showed.

“It seems that the shareholders aren’t happy with the bank’s performance in the recent times and have shown their anger by rejecting the appointment of the statutory auditors,” Shriram Subramanian, MD at proxy advisory firm, InGovern told ETCFO.

Another expert echoed the same point. “It is possible that statutory auditors of the bank were not adequately questioning the management and therefore their independence was seen under doubt by the shareholders, which possibly led to their ouster,” said Mohit Saraf, founder & managing partner, Saraf & Partners.

Shares of Dhanlaxmi Bank closed 0.94 per cent higher on the BSE.



[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

HDFC Bank raises Rs 739 crore via masala bonds, BFSI News, ET BFSI

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


HDFC Bank on Thursday said it has raised Rs 739 crore by issuing the rupee-denominated masala bonds in the overseas markets. HDFC Bank has issued and allotted rupee-denominated bonds overseas on September 30, 2021, the lender said in a regulatory filing.

The private sector lender will use the proceeds from the issue for banking activities.

The subordinated additional tier I bonds are compliant with Basel III norms.

The perpetual bonds, which are unrated and unsecured, carry a coupon rate of 7.55 per cent.

The notes (bonds) will be listed on the India International Exchange (IFSC) Ltd and NSE IFSC, it said.

Perpetual bonds carry no maturity date, so they may be treated as equity, not as debt.

The rupee-denominated bonds, popularly known as “masala” bonds are instruments that are issued outside India, not in the local currency but the Indian rupee.

In November 2016, the RBI had allowed banks to raise funds by floating the rupee-denominated bonds in overseas markets as part of an additional avenue to raise long term funds. Shares of HDFC Bank closed at Rs 1,595.50 apiece on BSE, up 0.14 per cent from the previous close.



[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

HDFC Bank, HDFC Securities invest $1 million in Borderless Softtech, BFSI News, ET BFSI

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


HDFC Bank and HDFC Securities invested USD 1 million (about Rs 7.4 crore) in Borderless Softtech, which runs global investment platform Stockal, as part of Pre-Series A funding. Borderless Softtech is a subsidiary of US-based Borderless Investing Inc.

This partnership will widen the company’s subscriber base by expanding growth opportunities to allow Indian investors to get access to over 5,500 US-listed companies fractional stocks and ETFs, according to a release issued by Stockal on Thursday.

The company is planning to utilise the funding to turbocharge its growth, making it a platform of choice for Indian investors.

“This funding will enable thousands of Indian investors to get exposure to opportunities offered by the global markets as we further expand our capabilities to markets in South-East Asia and Europe,” Vinay Bharathwaj, Co-CEO and co-founder of Stockal, said.

Smita Bhagat, Country Head, HDFC Bank, said the funding decision was based on the strength and resilience the Stockal platform has shown in India, especially in the past few months.

Borderless Investing Inc’s brand Stockal has revolutionised the US investments space by offering seamless digital trading solutions to Indian investors since its inception.

In terms of volumes, Stockal processed about USD 550 million in transactions during this financial year and by March 2021, the platform processed more than USD 50 million in monthly transactions. PTI SP BAL BAL



[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Home loans set for a big boost this festive season, BFSI News, ET BFSI

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


Home loans are set to get a boost this festive season as easing Covid curbs give buyers confidence and rates stay rock bottom due to ample liquidity

Buyers confident about the economy are set to cash in on low rates to buy homes.

Housing sales have jumped over two-fold during the July-September period at 62,800 units across seven major cities on better demand driven by low mortgage rates and hiring in IT/ITeS sector, according to property consultant Anarock.

Sales of residential properties stood at 29,520 units in the year-ago period and 24,560 units in the previous quarter.

Housing prices appreciated by 3 per cent across the seven cities to Rs 5,760 per square feet in Q3 of 2021 calendar year from Rs 5,600 per square feet in Q3, 2020.

The ongoing WFH (Work For Home) culture continues to influence residential sentiment on two major fronts – overall housing demand and unit sizes.

About 80 per cent of respondents to a survey by consultant JLL expected to make a purchase in the next three months.

Fierce competition

Competition among lenders in the home loan space is also set to boost home loans.

Kotak Mahindra Bank is offering home loans at a lower rate of 6.50 per cent is a festive period offer available only for two months till November 8, and the lowest offering is for those having the highest credit scores coming from the salaried segment.

In the past, its rivals which include HDFC and SBI, have responded to rate cuts by slashing their own offering. The rate cut comes at a time when demand for home loans is falling in the country and may spark similar offers from rivals.

Large banks like the State Bank of India already offer home loans at as low as 6.65 per cent and 6.75 per cent, respectively, while the interest rates for HFCs is between 7.45 per cent and 10 per cent.

Nirmal Bang Institutional Equities said in a note, “The demand momentum seen in housing loans last year has tapered off and organic growth for the housing finance industry has been softening,” the brokerage house said. The organic growth in the home loan segment for large banks has been slowing over the last 45-50 days.

Home loan AUM growth

Even as lenders jostle for home loan pie, the assets under management of the segment across banks and non-banks are likely to grow by 15% over the next three to five years, according to ICICI Securities.

This would be on the back of the rise in disbursements and improved affordability.

“Factors such as low interest rates, stamp duty cut, benign real estate prices, etc. have improved affordability to own a house. ‘Work from home’ has kindled incremental housing demand. Construction too was not adversely impacted during the second wave,” the brokerage said.

Home loan growth fell to 8% over the previous three financial years as compared to 17-18% earlier while disbursements fell to Rs 5.3-5.5 lakh crore due to the pandemic. However, it has now risen to a run-rate of Rs 7-8 lakh crore.



[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

ICAs signed for all assets going to NARCL in first tranche: SBI

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


State Bank of India (SBI) chairman Dinesh Khara

Inter-creditor agreements (ICAs) for all the assets identified for transfer to the National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL) in the first round have been signed, State Bank of India (SBI) chairman Dinesh Khara told FE in an interview.

In terms of the shareholding of NARCL, private-sector banks have come forward and they are in the process of obtaining the requisite approvals in order to invest in the entity, Khara said.

“So they are fully on board and in all those accounts where ICAs have been signed, there is a consensus among banks that all such accounts will move into NARCL,” Khara said, adding that irrespective of ownership, assets would get aggregated. “All those who have signed ICAs would be happy to have the assets aggregated and move them towards resolution,” he said.

An ICA is an agreement signed between the lenders to a company as a sign of their commitment to ensure a common resolution of the stress built up in that company.

The NARCL has been set up with a paid-up capital of Rs 149 crore, all of which has come from eight public-sector banks. Banks are understood to have identified 22 accounts with a total outstanding of Rs 89,000 crore for transfer to the NARCL in the first tranche. Eventually, the bad bank is expected to acquire assets worth Rs 2 lakh crore from lenders. Sector analysts say that the aggregation of the exposures of several lenders is the chief advantage of the NARCL.

“The chances of resolution improve when you club together all the piecemeal exposures of each bank into a single asset. The assets identified in the first tranche are very old ones where private banks have anyway made an exit. So aggregation shouldn’t face too many challenges,” said an analyst.

“One of the challenges for resolution was that each bank had a different kind of charge attached to the same asset. Aggregation through the NARCL takes care of that problem,” said Ashvin Parekh, managing partner, Ashvin Parekh Advisory Services (APAS). “We must hope now that the NARCL is steered competently by the management so that there is actual resolution of stress,” he added.

Get live Stock Prices from BSE, NSE, US Market and latest NAV, portfolio of Mutual Funds, Check out latest IPO News, Best Performing IPOs, calculate your tax by Income Tax Calculator, know market’s Top Gainers, Top Losers & Best Equity Funds. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Financial Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest Biz news and updates.



[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Dhanlaxmi Bank shareholders reject appointment of statutory auditors

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


Shareholders approved the ‘Profit &Loss Account’ for the year ended and the re-appointment CK Gopinathan as a director.

Shareholders of Dhanlaxmi Bank have rejected the appointment of statutory central auditors in the annual general meeting (AGM) held on Wednesday, the bank said in a regulatory filing. Incidentally, the Kerala High Court has refrained the bank from concluding the AGM and has adjourned it to a day after one month from September 29th.
The shareholders also rejected the resolution of authorizing the board of directors to appoint and fix the remuneration of branch auditors.

In a show of strength and defiance to the current board, the shareholders passed two resolutions while voting against the other two. Shareholders approved the ‘Profit &Loss Account’ for the year ended and the re-appointment CK Gopinathan as a director.

According to the regulatory filing, 65.44% of the shareholders present in the AGM voted against the proposal to appoint P B Vijayaraghavan & Co, Chartered Accountants, as statutory auditors and appointment of branch auditors.
The order by the HC came following a writ petition filed by KN Madhusoodanan, a shareholder of the company, P Mohanan and Prakash DL, seeking a direction to the respondents — the RBI and Dhanlaxmi bank — to discharge their statutory responsibilities under Section 160 of the Companies Act to inform the members about the candidature of the petitioners for the office of the director as mandated under Section 160(2) of the Companies Act.
Sherry Samuel Oommen, a corporate lawyer, told FE that it would have augured well for the shareholders of Dhanlaxmi to adjourn the AGM in its totality.

“The Ministry of Corporate Affairs in a circular in 1974 had permitted companies to adjourn the AGM where accounts were not ready for laying at the concerned AGM. Perhaps, in the interests of the public, the matter concerning adoption of accounts and appointment of auditors could have been adjourned to the ensuing AGM. I am quite certain that this matter would be further litigated in the next month,”he added.

Get live Stock Prices from BSE, NSE, US Market and latest NAV, portfolio of Mutual Funds, Check out latest IPO News, Best Performing IPOs, calculate your tax by Income Tax Calculator, know market’s Top Gainers, Top Losers & Best Equity Funds. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Financial Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest Biz news and updates.



[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

2 Pharma Stocks To Buy According To Sharekhan For Upside Of 20% To 31%

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


Buy Laurus Labs, long-term drivers in place

Sharekhan sees a good upside in the stock to Rs 800, as against the current market price of Rs 607, which implies an upside potential of 31%.

According to Sharekhan, Laurus is fortifying its position in the FD and synthesis segments, strengthening its presence in non- ARV space and growing in new area of biologics.

The company is building new capacities that would support the robust demand and also propel growth in the coming years. Emerging opportunities from patent expiry of drugs in areas of anti-diabetes and cardiology offer significant potential for Laurus.

“The sturdy growth prospects that are well supported by capacity expansion plans, the management has targeted for a $1bn revenues by FY2023, thus translating in to a strong growth trajectory. Diversification of revenue base and plans to enter new therapeutic areas of cardiology and anti-diabetes would also be the key growth drivers. At the current market price, the stock trades at 24.8 times and 19 times its FY22E and FY23E EPS respectively. Further the stock price has corrected by 16% from its highs and this provides a good entry point for investors. As the concerns are overdone, we re-iterate Buy recommendation on the stock of Laurus with an unchanged price target of Rs. 800,” Sharekhan has said.

Buy Gland Pharma, says Sharekhan

Buy Gland Pharma, says Sharekhan

Sharekhan has set a price target of Rs 4,400 on the stock of Gland Pharma, as against the current market price of Rs 3,700.

According to Sharekhan, Gland Pharma has a well diversified product portfolio, strong product pipeline would drive the Core markets performance, while expanding geographic footprint with plans to enter China bodes well from growth perspective.

“A confluence of multiple growth drivers is expected to boost Gland Pharma’s overall performance. A well-diversified and sturdy product portfolio, expansion of geographic footprint with a focus on entering the high potential China markets (leveraging parent company’s strength), sustained opportunities from Sputnik vaccine, and foray in to the biosimilar CDMO space would be the key growth drivers for Gland. A sturdy Rs. 770 crore capex plan spread across FY2022-FY2023E and a strong compliance track record coupled with established customer relations are the key positives and provide ample growth visibility,” the brokerage has said.

Good growth in core markets for Gland

Good growth in core markets for Gland

According to Sharekhan, Gland’s core markets consist of the US, Europe, Australia and Canada and account for 68% of FY2021 revenue. A well-diversified product portfolio, strong product pipeline and focus to expand geographic footprint are the growth levers for Gland. After a positive response from new markets entered in such as Singapore, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and CIS countries, Gland aims to enter the high-potential China markets by leveraging its parent company’s strengths.

“Structurally being an established player in injectables, Gland Pharma is set to benefit from the rising preference for injectables. At the current market price, the stock is of Gland trading at a P/E multiple of 46.2x/30x, its FY2022E/FY2023E EPS, thus pointing towards room for expansion. The stock price has corrected 14% from its highs and this provides a good entry point for investors. We reiterate our Buy recommendation on the stock with unchanged price target of Rs. 4,400,” the brokerage has said.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer

The investment ideas are picked from the brokerage report of Sharekhan. Investors should note that investing in stocks is risky and neither the author, nor Greynium nor the brokerage would be responsible for losses based on a decision from the above article.



[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

1 120 121 122