In the financial year 2079/80, the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) achieved a remarkable milestone by approving initial public offerings (IPOs) worth over 22 billion rupees. This surpasses the previous record set in the financial year 2077/78, when SEBON allowed IPOs worth 15 billion 18 crores. Chairman Ramesh Hamal led the effort, breaking the previous record set during Bhishma Raj Dhungana’s tenure.
ICRA Nepal Limited has reaffirmed the issuer rating of Mid Solu Hydropower Limited as BB+, which means they have a moderate risk of default in timely servicing of financial obligations. The rating is an overall opinion on the creditworthiness of the company and not tied to any specific debt instrument.
“NEPSE Index Surges by 47.07 Points, Closing at 2,144.16 in Today’s Trading Session”
In today’s trading session, the NEPSE index showed a significant gain of 47.07 points or 2.24% compared to the previous trading day’s closing. This follows a surge of 12.16 points experienced in the index yesterday.
The trading day began with the index opening at 2,097.99 and witnessed fluctuations throughout. It reached an intraday low of 2,089.16, indicating some downward momentum, but also achieved an intraday high of 2,144.60 before settling at its closing value of 2,144.16.
A total of 257 scrips were exchanged through 50,299 transactions during the day’s trading. The volume of shares traded amounted to 7,634,190, resulting in a turnover of Rs. 2.56 Arba.
Among the stocks, SHIVAM CEMENTS LTD (SHIVM) had the highest turnover, with a value of Rs. 14.86 crores, and closed at a market price of Rs. 662. The shares of PRSF recorded the highest trading volume.
In terms of individual stock performance, BPW Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (BPW) recorded the highest gain of 10%, while United Ajod Insurance Limited (UAIL) rose by 9.99%, reaching the positive circuit for the day. On the other hand, Kumari Dhanabriddhi Yojana (KDBY) experienced the highest decline of 8.37%.
In terms of sector indices, only the “Mutual Fund” sector closed in the red, with a decline of 0.49%. The “Development Bank” sector showed the highest gain, increasing by 4.14%, while the “Others” sector experienced the smallest gain of 1.32%.
Overall, the NEPSE index witnessed a significant surge in today’s trading session, accompanied by notable individual stock performances and sector movements.
Himalayan Power Partner Limited (HPPL) has released its third-quarter report for the ongoing fiscal year, revealing a Net Loss of Rs. 10.43 crores. In contrast, during the same quarter of the previous fiscal year, the company had recorded earnings of Rs. 1.70 crores.
HPPL reported a revenue of Rs. 26.33 crores from the sale of electricity up to the third quarter of FY 2079/80. However, the company incurred costs of Rs. 1.81 crores for sales, Rs. 34.10 lakhs for administrative expenses, and Rs. 54.16 lakhs for employee costs.
One significant factor impacting the company’s profitability is the financial cost, which amounted to a loss of Rs. 24.86 crores during the first three quarters of the current fiscal year.
HPPL has a paid-up capital of Rs. 1.06 Arba and has retained earnings of Rs. 11.47 crores. The Earnings per Share (EPS) ratio stands at a negative Rs. – 9.79, while the Net Worth per Share is Rs. 110.77.
At the end of the third quarter of FY 79/80, the closing price of HPPL’s shares was Rs. 297.
The completion of the Dordi Khola Hydroelectricity project in Lamjung, with a capacity of 27 MW, has contributed to an increase of 1.53% in current assets and a significant rise of 181.33% in current liabilities compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year.
According to the company’s management analysis, following the successful completion of the project, HPPL is exploring potential investments in other projects to further expand its operations.
Aviyan Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (AVYAN) has recently released its third-quarter report, revealing a significant shift from profit to a Net Loss of Rs. 1.21 crores compared to the profit of Rs. 1.02 crores earned in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year.
The company’s core revenue source, Net Interest income, experienced a decline of 18.26%, amounting to Rs. 3.28 crores up to the third quarter of the ongoing fiscal year. This decrease in Net Interest income has adversely affected the profitability of AVYAN.
One concerning aspect in the report is the substantial increase in Non-Performing Loans (NPL), which rose to 4.61% in the third quarter of FY 2079/80, compared to only 0.45% in the corresponding quarter of FY 2078/79. This rise in NPL has further impacted the company’s profitability.
Another notable change is the doubling of the Cost of Funds, which reached 13.90% in Q3 of the ongoing fiscal year. This increase has added to the financial challenges faced by AVYAN.
The staff expenses of the financial institution have witnessed a sharp spike of 94.13%, amounting to Rs. 5.31 crores up to the third quarter, in contrast to Rs. 2.73 crores in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year. This surge in staff expenses has added to the financial burden of the company.
AVYAN currently maintains a paid-up capital of Rs. 25 crores, with reserve and surplus funds amounting to Rs. 2.19 crores. However, the company reports a negative Earnings per Share (EPS) ratio of Rs. -6.50 and a Net Worth of Rs. 108.79.
The closing price of AVYAN’s shares at the end of the third quarter of the ongoing fiscal year stood at Rs. 619.9. The third-quarter report highlights the challenges faced by AVYAN, with a significant shift from profit to a net loss and various financial indicators pointing towards a decline in performance.
Salt Trading Corporation Limited (STC) has recently published its third-quarter report for the ongoing fiscal year, revealing a nearly twofold increase in Net Profit, amounting to Rs. 3.71 crores. The company’s primary revenue source, sales, demonstrated a noteworthy growth of 17.44%, reaching Rs. 5.77 Arba. However, the selling expenses experienced a more significant surge of 21.65%, totaling Rs. 5.07 Arba during the third quarter of FY 2079/80.
During the same period, STC observed a 12.51% rise in staff expenses and a 15.84% increase in administrative expenses compared to the corresponding quarter of FY 2078/79. On a positive note, the company’s Interest Expenses witnessed a substantial decrease of 35.44%, declining to Rs. 27.25 crores from Rs. 42.16 crores in the previous fiscal year’s third quarter. This reduction in interest expenses played a role in enhancing the company’s overall profitability.
STC currently maintains a paid-up capital of Rs. 25.35 crores and possesses reserve and surplus funds amounting to Rs. 1.35 Arba. Additionally, the company holds property, plant, and equipment valued at Rs. 1.46 Arba, which remained relatively stable compared to the corresponding amount in the third quarter of the previous fiscal year.
With an impressive Earnings per Share (EPS) ratio of Rs. 19.52 and a Net Worth of Rs. 632.89, STC exhibits positive financial indicators in its third-quarter report. The significant increase in Net Profit, coupled with improved revenue and reduced interest expenses, signifies the company’s strong performance and its commitment to maintaining a robust financial position.
Prabhu Capital Limited and Century Capital Markets have officially commenced their joint operation on Jestha 01, 2080, following a successful acquisition. The acquisition was approved by the Office of the Registrar and regulatory bodies, as confirmed through a letter issued on Baisakh 26, 2080. The two companies will now conduct their business together under the unified name of “Prabhu Capital Limited.”
Prior to the merger, both Prabhu Capital Limited and Century Capital Markets held separate Special General Meetings (SGMs) to obtain endorsement for a share swap ratio of 1:1. This ratio indicates that shareholders of both companies received equal shares in the merged entity. As a result, the registered office of the merged company, Prabhu Capital Limited, will be situated in Kamaladi, Kathmandu.
The joint operation of Prabhu Capital Limited marks a significant milestone in the financial market, bringing together the expertise and resources of both entities. The merger is expected to enhance their capabilities and expand their reach to provide comprehensive services to clients in the Nepalese market.
Balephi Hydropower Limited (BHL) has released its third-quarter report for the current fiscal year, revealing a significant net loss of Rs. 23.72 crores. In comparison, during the third quarter of the previous fiscal year 2078/79, the company had reported a net loss of Rs. 6.06 lakhs.
During the third quarter of the current fiscal year, BHL experienced a substantial increase in administrative expenses, reaching Rs. 25.59 lakhs. Additionally, the company had to bear financial costs amounting to Rs. 31.19 crores up to the third quarter of FY 079/80.
With an Earnings per Share (EPS) of Rs. -17.30 and a below-average net worth of Rs. 81.93, BHL faces financial challenges. However, the company managed to generate revenue of Rs. 35.93 crores from the sale of power until the end of the third quarter of the ongoing fiscal year.
According to the management analysis, BHL incurred significant penalties from the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) for surpassing the Required Commercial Operation Date (RCOD) as outlined in the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
BHL is optimistic that once the RCOD issue is resolved, the company will generate sufficient cash revenue to meet its financial and operational obligations. To improve its cash flow, the company plans to issue right shares.
In a meeting held on Falgun 12, 2079, the board of directors of BHL decided to propose the issuance of rights shares in a ratio of 1:0.5 in the next annual general meeting. The proposal aims to utilize the then-paid-up capital of Rs. 1.827 Arba, resulting in an enhanced paid-up capital of Rs. 2.74 Arba after the 50% right issue.
At the end of the third quarter of this fiscal year, BHL’s closing share price stood at Rs. 321. Additionally, the company successfully increased its paid-up capital by 10.50%, amounting to Rs. 1.82 Arba.
Collaboratively organized by NIBL Ace Capital Ltd., Express Services Private Limited, and Pioneer Law Associates, a workshop titled “Road to IPO” was held to educate corporate houses about the IPO process from legal and financial perspectives. Dynamic Techno Soft Pvt. Ltd., as a sponsor, prominently displayed its banner during the event. The workshop took place on Monday, May 8, 2023, at Clark Resort in Birgunj.
Mr. Anup Raj Upreti, Managing Partner of Pioneer Law Associates, and Mr. Sachindra Dhungana, Deputy General Manager of NIBL Ace Capital Limited, served as presenters for the session. CA Subhash Khandelwal and CA Pradeep Kushwaha played crucial roles in the successful implementation of the program.
The workshop delved into various topics related to IPO, focusing on legal aspects, corporate governance, capital structure, IPO pricing, size, timeline, and methods. Participants from different corporate houses gained valuable insights into the different aspects of IPO.
Nepal Telecom (NTC) Releases Q3 Report with Stable Net Profit, Increased Investments, and Strong Financial Position
Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited (NTC), commonly known as Nepal Telecom, has published its third-quarter report for the fiscal year 2079/80. The report reveals that the company has achieved almost similar figures in Net Profits compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year. In Q3, NTC recorded a Net Profit of Rs. 5.41 Arba, which is slightly lower than the Rs. 5.43 Arba achieved in the same quarter of FY 2078/2079.
However, the company’s income from other sources has seen a notable increase of 35.78%, reaching Rs. 5.86 Arba in the third quarter of the current fiscal year, compared to Rs. 4.31 Arba in the previous fiscal year.
While the administrative expenses of the company have risen by 16.25% to Rs. 89.87 crores during Q3 of this fiscal year, NTC has successfully reduced its operating and maintenance expenses by 13.65% to Rs. 5.28 Arba, as opposed to Rs. 6.12 Arba during the corresponding quarter of FY 2078/79.
NTC has also made significant increments in its investments, which now amount to Rs. 72.66 Arba, including both long-term and short-term investments.
With a paid-up capital of Rs. 18 Arba and reserves and surplus of Rs. 75.47, Nepal Telecom stands in a robust financial position.
The company maintains an Earning per Share (EPS) of Rs. 40.09 and was traded at a Price per Earnings Ratio of 20.40 times.
Upper Solu Hydro Electric Company Limited (USHEC) has released its unaudited third-quarter report for FY 2079/2080, reporting a net profit of Rs. 1.08 Crores, indicating a 78.98% decline from the relevant period of the previous fiscal year. The company’s paid-up capital remains at Rs. 1.35 Arba, and it has a negative reserve of Rs 3.64 Crores. Additionally, USHEC generated electricity sales worth Rs. 53.39 Crores in Q3 of FY 79/80, while finance expenses increased significantly by 244.73%, amounting to Rs. 30.73 Crores, affecting the company’s profitability for the period. The management analysis states that electricity was produced entirely from the organization’s project during the quarter period, and electricity was sold from the 132 KV transmission line, but reduced water flow in the river resulted in lower income than previous quarters. The company’s annualized EPS stood at Rs. 1.07, and its net worth per share was Rs. 97.30.
ICRA Nepal Limited has confirmed NIC Asia Bank Limited’s grade. The rating has been removed from the ‘Watch with Negative Implications’ category and moved to the “Issuer Not Cooperating” category, with the following notification for rating withdrawal:
The rating agency has assessed the bank’s NPR 3,000 million subordinated debenture as [ICRANP] LBBB “Issuer Not Cooperating”; it has been withdrawn from watch with negative implications and moved to the issuer not cooperating category with notice of withdraw