Government to boost investors’ confidence, relax margin type lending

The government today promised to ease margin type lending for shares to boost investor confidence.
In a nine-point agreement between various stakeholders, the Finance Ministry has agreed to relax the margin type loan against shares as it
will take some time to bring margin lending regulation. "Investors can avail loans against the share purchase receipt," said president of Nepal Investors' Forum Sitaram Thapalia.
After a discussion among Finance Ministry officials led by the caretaker finance minister Barshaman Pun including the central bank governor and Securities Board of Nepal (Sebon) chairman, the government also agreed to bring a slew of market supporting regulations soon.
“The central bank and Sebon will take appropriate measures to provide long-term loan facility,” according to spokesperson of the Finance Ministry Rajan Khanal.
Similarly, the government has also agreed to take action against public companies that have not held regular annual meetings on time and are cheating investors and demoralising them. "It will boost the confidence of the investors as there are many listed companies like National Hydropower which have not held their annual meetings since the last three years," said Thapalia, adding that the agreement has further directed Sebon and Office of the Company Registrar to
safeguard the investment of investors whose shares were invested in public companies which have been delisted due to untimely general assemblies or to avoid financial crime.
Sebon and Citizen Investment Trust will also formulate a regulation and working procedure within a month regarding institutional investment in the secondary market. Khanal said that the meeting also decided to start the operation of Credit Deposit System (CDS) from next fiscal year. It has been postponed several times.
The Office of the Company Registrar and Sebon will act to execute the provision of Buy Back Option, said Khanal, adding that the Finance Ministry and Nepal Rastra Bank will start homework to establish Assets Management Company to manage securities assets. "Sebon will take prompt action to execute the provision of mutual fund to develop and reform the secondary market.”
The meeting also agreed for close supervision of companies whose financial health is not good, said Khanal, adding that Nepal Rastra Bank and Sebon will initiate action against such companies if they are found involved in any misconduct.
The meeting also decided to upgrade Nepal Stock Exchange as it has been creating troubles recently.