JM Financial to pick up 60% in ASK Securities

Nimesh Kampani’s JM Financial Services will buy a 60 per cent stake in domestic institutional brokerage & equity research firm ASK Securities for Rs 58.14 crore, barely four months after both the local companies separated from their long-time foreign partners.

JM Financial Services, which split from its seven-year partner Morgan Stanley in February, had given up two key businesses viz., institutional broking & sales & equity research, to the US bank for $425 million (Rs 1,912 crore).

The deal came about on the same day that JM Financial’s former partner, Morgan Stanley, received government clearance to invest Rs 1,894 crore to conduct securities sales, trading and broking, merchant banking and corporate advisory services and other NBFC activities.

ASK Group, which has three businesses – institutional broking & equity research (ASK Securities), portfolio management services (ASK Investment Managers Ltd) and financial planning (ASK Wealth Advisors Pvt Ltd), separated from its foreign partner Raymond James by acquiring the 50 per cent held by the company in March.

The transaction is expected to close by the second quarter of Financial Year 2007-08, subject to necessary regulatory approvals

(Source: Business Standard )

Evolvence India Fund announces US$ 20 million investment into JM Financial India Fund

Evolvence India Fund, (EIF), an established private equity fund of funds focusing on growth capital in India, has announced an investment of US$ 20 million into JM Financial India Fund, a corporate private equity fund sponsored by JM Financial Ltd, a dominant financial services group, and lead investor, Old Lane Partners, based in the U.S.

JM Financial India Fund is a US$ 225 million fund promoted by the JM Financial Group, focusing on investments in growth-oriented, largely unlisted, mid-sized companies. Investments made by JM Financial fund so far include investments into Genesis Colour, a high-end retail company; Sona Group, an automotive components manufacturer; and International Tractors Ltd, a leading farm equipment and tractor manufacturer.