2019 on WebNotes

DHFL default impact on credit-risk funds

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The DHFL default and its impact on credit-risk mutual funds unfolded through 2019 and 2020 as Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (DHFL), at its peak India’s third-largest private housing finance company, progressively ceased to service its market borrowings, ultimately triggering the first use of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) against a financial services entity. For Indian credit-risk funds and other debt mutual fund schemes that held DHFL’s non-convertible debentures (NCDs) and commercial paper, the episode produced significant NAV write-downs, accelerated redemptions, and reinforced the market’s already-heightened post-IL&FS scepticism about the creditworthiness of non-bank lenders. The episode also produced SEBI’s first large-scale enforcement exercise around credit risk classification and side-pocket usage.

Karvy Stock Broking pledge-misuse case (2019) and RTA implications

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Karvy Stock Broking pledge-misuse case of 2019 was one of the most significant broker-client securities fraud incidents in Indian capital market history. Karvy Stock Broking Limited (KSBL), one of India’s largest equity brokers by client account count, was found to have pledged client securities held in client demat accounts, without the knowledge or authorisation of those clients, with banks and NBFCs to raise loans for the benefit of Karvy group companies, including its real estate arm. The total unauthorised pledges amounted to approximately Rs 2,873 crore, affecting approximately 95,000 client accounts. The episode prompted emergency regulatory action by the Securities and Exchange Board of India , CDSL, and NSE, and raised specific governance concerns about the role of Karvy’s integrated registrar and transfer agent (RTA) business in the group’s operations.

Nippon Life acquisition of Reliance Mutual Fund (2019)

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Nippon Life acquisition of a controlling stake in Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management in October 2019 transformed one of India’s oldest and largest asset management companies from an Anil Ambani group entity into a Japanese-controlled subsidiary of Nippon Life Insurance Company, one of the world’s largest insurance corporations. The transaction, consummated through open market purchases and block deals on NSE and BSE, saw Nippon Life increase its shareholding from approximately 42.88 percent to approximately 75 percent in Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management Limited (RNLAM), triggering a mandatory open offer and culminating in the company’s rebranding as Nippon India Mutual Fund. The acquisition resolved the governance uncertainty created by the deteriorating financial condition of Reliance Capital Limited, the promoter AMC shareholder, and stabilised one of India’s largest AMC franchises during a period of industry stress.