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Table of Contents
In the beginning, merchant banking-a phrase that dates back to the UK of the 19th century-supported trade and commerce by offering loans for imports and exports. In the early 1900s, European institutions like HSBC and Standard Chartered pushed the expansion of this practice to India. As time went on, merchant bankers in India added new services to their repertoire, such as handling initial public offerings (IPOs) and providing financial guidance. The first merchant bank to be established in India was National Grindlays Bank, followed by Citibank, ICICI Bank, and SBI Capital Markets. The Merchant Bankers Regulation (MBR) was established by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in 1992 to control merchant banking operations. In light of the requirement that merchant bankers adhere to the MBR and register with SEBI, there are currently more than 500 registered merchant bankers in India. With India’s economic expansion, companies have come to rely more and more on merchant bankers for financial services, and they have also helped the country’s capital markets thrive.
Fundamentally, merchant bankers are financial institutions. The main activities of merchant bankers are business loans as well as underwriting. They primarily offer their services to large enterprises and individuals of high net worth. While acting as a banker to an issue, a merchant banker has to disclose full details to the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI)1 as it is the regulator for this entity. They do not undertake the activities of depositories or retail lender institutions. Merchant bankers are basically intermediaries.
In India, a merchant banker’s duties can be divided into the following main categories:
Further, Merchant bankers also advise on amalgamations, mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, foreign collaborations, diversification of business, technology up-gradation, joint-ventures, etc., to their clients.
Managing the ensuing public issue of the client is also an essential service offered by Merchant Bankers. In fact, it is a prime function of Merchant Bankers.
They offer the following services for the above-mentioned purpose:
A merchant banker offers some specialized assistance in the phases of preparation of a project, the loan applications required for the raising of short-term and long-term credit from various banks and financial institutions, etc.
Handling Government Consent for Industrial Projects
A merchant banker fulfils all formalities for his client to obtain government permission to expand and modernize businesses and start new businesses.
Special Assistance to Entrepreneurs and Small Companies
Merchant banker councils and explains the people in business and small companies on availability and avenues of business opportunities, concessions, incentives, and government policies and helps them to take advantage of this.
Services to PSU’s
Merchant banker also offers several services to public sector undertakings and units and their public utilities.
The Revival of Sick Units
A merchant bank assists in reviving sick industrial units also. They negotiate with several agencies such as banks, long-term lending institutions, and the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR).
Portfolio Management of Sick Units
Merchant bankers help in offering revival services to companies issuing the securities.
In the Indian financial system, merchant bankers are crucial since they carry out a variety of tasks that help to expedite capital market transactions and offer business advising services. Regulatory compliance, capital market services, business advisory services, and project finance are all part of their duties. Merchant bankers protect investor interests and uphold financial transaction transparency by ensuring compliance with SEBI regulations and other pertinent legislation. Merchant bankers must have comprehensive knowledge of and experience in the financial markets. They must have a thorough awareness of the numerous financial products and services that are available, as well as the regulatory structure that oversees the sector. Furthermore, it is critical that they be able to build and maintain excellent connections with customers and other stakeholders. Due to the Indian financial market’s ongoing growth and evolution, merchant bankers are becoming more and more important. Merchant bankers are required to provide a broader range of services in order to successfully fulfill the demands of businesses and investors, given the changing market conditions.
By enabling capital raising, providing financial guidance, and encouraging market efficiency and openness, merchant bankers contribute significantly to the Indian economy.
By facilitating capital creation, stimulating investments, and fostering corporate growth and expansion, merchant bankers contribute significantly to economic development.
Read our article: Registration of Merchant Banker – An overview
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