SEBI bars Utkarsha Plotters from raising money from public

Pulling the plug on yet another illicit investment scheme, SEBI on Wednesday prohibited Maharashtra-based Utkarsha Plotters &  Multi Agro Solutions India Ltd from raising funds from the public with immediate effect.

• 
  
• 
  

SEBI

Besides, the market watchdog directed the company not to launch any new scheme. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) found that Utkarsha was running 'collective investment schemes' (CIS) without obtaining registration from the regulator.
  
It found that the company was carrying on CIS under the garb of purchase/sale/development of plot of land. "The activity of fund mobilisation by Utkarsha under the scheme/plans for allotment,development and maintenance and subsequent transfer of land, with a resultant promise of return," prima facie satisfies the features of CIS, SEBI Whole Time Member S Raman said in an order.

Accordingly, SEBI directed Utkarsha and its directors -- Mithalal Gurav, Mitharam Chhagan Gurav and Pravin Chhagan Gurav--"not to collect any fresh money from investors under its existing schemes" and also asked them "not to launch any new schemes or plans or float any new companies to raise fresh money."
  
Additionally, the company and its directors have been directed not to dispose any assets obtained from funds collected, while the entities also cannot divert money raised from the public.
  
Further, the entities have been asked to "immediately submit the full inventory of the assets including land obtained through money raised by Utkarsha " as well as furnish withing 15 days details related to the scheme.

These directions shall take effect "immediately and shall be in force until further orders in this regard.

Sebi cautions against repeat ponzi operators; names 51 firms

भारतीय प्रतिभूति एवं विनिमय बोर्ड :सेबी: ने शुक्रवार को निवेशकों तथा आम लोगों को धन जुटाने की गैरकानूनी योजनाओं के प्रति आगाह करते हुए कहा कि वे इन इकाइयों के ऊंचे रिटर्न के वादे के लालच में न आएं। 

नियामक ने धन जुटाने की अवैध योजनाएं चलाने वाली 63 कंपनियों की सूची भी सार्वजनिक की है। 

इससे पहले सेबी ने दिसंबर, 2014 में ऐसी 51 इकाइयों के नाम सार्वजनिक किए थे। सेबी ने यह चेतावनी इसलिए जारी की है, क्योंकि ऐसे मामले सामने आएं हैं जबकि कुछ इकाइयां गैरकानूनी निवेश योजनाओं के जरिये अभी भी धन जुटा रही हैं, जबकि नियामक ने उनसे और धन न जुटाने व कोई नई योजना पेश नहीं करने का निर्देश दिया है।


Concerned over a number of ponzi operators continuing to collect funds even after being barred to do so, regulator Sebi today cautioned investors and general public against dealing with such entities and not be lured by promises of high returns.

Making public a list of 51 entities, which included many from West Bengal, the capital market watchdog asked investors not to invest in their illegal schemes that claim to offer much higher returns than banks and other registered entities.



Further, Sebi has asked the investors to report such unauthorised money pooling activities to the market regulator, state authorities including police "immediately, along with appropriate details/documents".

The list of 51 entities banned by Sebi from raising funds include names like Saradha Realty India, Rose Valley Real Estate & Constructions, Sai Prasad Properties, Sun-plant Agro, NGHI Developers India and MPS Greenery Developers.

"It has come to the notice of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) that certain companies/entities unauthorisedly, without obtaining registration and illegally are collecting/mobilising money from the general investors by making false promises, assuring high return, etc," the market regulator said.

"Investors are advised to be careful if returns offered by the person/entity is very much higher than the return offered by regulated entities like banks, deposits accepted by companies, registered NBFCs, mutual funds etc," Sebi said.

The regulator further said it "does not regulate any scheme or arrangement made or offered by Cooperative Society, Deposits accepted by Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), among others, and investors should not invest in any company that is not registered and regulated.

Companies blacklisted by Sebi also include PACL, Sumangal Industries, MVL Ltd, KBCL India, Nicer Green, Alchemist Infra Realty, HBN Dairies, Kim Infrastructure & Developers, Green Ray International, Royal Twinkle Star Club, Ecogreen Realestate (India) Ltd, Peers Allied Corporation, Green Buds Agro Farm.

Collectively, these entities are estimated to have raised over Rs 1 lakh crore from the public.

Sebi said it has observed that certain entities were mobilising money under investment schemes even after the market regulator "directed the entity not to collect any further money, not to launch any new schemes etc, which is unauthorised and illegal".

The market regulator, since January 01, 2011, has passed orders against 51 entities and their respective directors carrying on unregistered 'Collective Investment Schemes (CIS).

Out of these, orders have been passed against 32 entities in 2014 itself.

Sebi said it does not regulate entities in businesses like chit funds, pension schemes, as also banned activities like multi-level marketing and pyramid schemes.

It also asked investors to bring such schemes to the notice of various agencies such as RBI, CBI, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, PFRDA, IRDA, state and police authorities, besides Sebi.
Sebi has been given greater powers to deal with the ponzi menace, which typically involves money being raised from investors with promise of high returns and old investors being given returns from funds collected from new subscribers to such schemes.


As part of interim directions, Sebi directs the entities and its directors to stop collecting further money under any schemes, not to launch any new scheme or float any new companies/firm to raise fresh moneys, not to divert or alienate any assets or money collected.

Through its final directions, Sebi debars the company and its directors from accessing the capital markets, the regulator said, while explaining its enforcement procedures against such entities.

Sebi further said that Gift Collective Investment Management Company Ltd is the only company registered with it to undertake CIS activities.

Source Link - www.sebi.gov.in 

S.No. Case Name Date of SEBI Order
1 Sunplant Agro Ltd 03-05-2011
2 NGHI 06-11-2012
3 MPS Greenery 06-12-2012
4 Nicer Green Forest Ltd 12-03-2013
5 Maitreya Services Pvt. Ltd 25-03-2013
6 Osian's Connoissurers of Art Ltd 15-04-2013
7 Saradha Realty India Ltd 23-04-2013
8 Alchemist Infra Realty Ltd 21-06-2013
9 Sumangal Industries Ltd 09-07-2013
10 HBN Dairies & Alled Ltd1 02-07-2013
11 Sai Prasad Foods Ltd. 17-07-2013
12 Sai Prasad Properties Ltd 17-07-2013
13 Maitreya Plotters & Structures Pvt. Ltd 30-08-2013
14 Samruddha Jeevan Foods India Ltd 31-10-2013
15 Servehit Housing & Infrastructure India Ltd 31-10-2013
16 Orient Resorts (India) Pvt. Ltd 26-11-2013
17 Green Ray International Limited 03-02-2014
18 Royal Twinkle Star Club Ltd. 07-03-2014
19 Peers Allied Corportaion Ltd 23-04-2014
20 Green Buds Agro Farm I Ltd 16-05-2014
21 M/s. KBCL India Ltd 26-05-2014
22 Adel Landmarks Ltd (Era Landmarks Ltd) 05-06-2014
23 JSR Dairies Ltd 05-06-2014
24 Nikhara Bharath Construction Company Ltd. 12-06-2014
25 Haldhar Realty and Enterprises Ltd 17-06-2014
26 Rose Valley Real Estate & Constructions Ltd. 18-06-2014
27 Beetal Livestocks & Farms (Pvt) Ltd 25-06-2014
28 Ramel Industries Ltd 11-07-2014
29 Remac Realty India Ltd 15-07-2014
30 Sunshine Agro Global Ltd (Sunshine Forestry Pvt. Ltd) 15-07-2014
31 Ally Multi-Trade India Pvt. Ltd. 22-07-2014
32 Sai Prasad Corporation Ltd 22-07-2014
33 Nicer Green Housing and Infrastructure Developers Ltd 28-07-2014
34 Dhanolty Developers Ltd 30-07-2014
35 JSV Developers India Ltd. 31-07-2014
36 HNC Infrastructures and Shares India Ltd 05-08-2014
37 Shubham Kroti Foods Pvt. Ltd 08-08-2014
38 Viswas Real Estates and Infrastructure India Ltd 08-08-2014
39 IHI Developers India Ltd 11-08-2014
40 PACL 22-08-2014
41 Step Up Marketing Pvt. Ltd. 22-08-2014
४२ SPNJ Land Projects and Developers India Ltd 17-09-2014
43 G N Dairies Limited 31-10-2014
44 Sheen Agro and Plantation Ltd 14-11-2014
45 Garima Real Estate and Allied Ltd. 24-11-2014
46 Raghav Capital & Infrastructure Ltd. 24-11-2014
47 Shree Sai Space Creation Ltd 24-11-2014
48 Arise Bhoomi Developers Ltd 02/12/2014
49 Sai Multi Services (Prop. Sanjay B Tenginkai) 02/12/2014
50 Vee Realties India Limited 02/12/2014
51 Kim Infrastructure & Developers Ltd 08-12-2014
52 KMJ Land Developers India Ltd 09/12/2014
53 Kalbut Real Estate Ltd 10/12/2014
54 Wisdom Agro Tech India Ltd 10/12/2014
55 Blessing Agro Farm India Ltd 15/12/2014
56 Skylark Land Develpers Ltd 15/12/2014
57 Ken Infratech Ltd 17-12-2014
58 MVL Limited 19-12-2014
59 Ecogreen Realestate (India) Limited 26-12-2014
60 Sai Prakash Propertis Development Ltd 26/12/2014
61 Karmbhoomi Real Estate Ltd 30/12/2014
62 G.C.A. Marketing Private Limited 30/12/2014
63 Sai Prakash Organic Food Ltd. 06/01/2015 - See more at: http://www.prompttimes.com/prompttimes/5444/State/PB/1/News#sthash.ZLxs8Amy.dpuf

Myntra, Flipkart's fashion sales hit $1bn

Myntra, Flipkart's fashion sales hit $1bn





Myntra May Turn Into Mobile-Only E-Tailer

At a time when fashion sales at Flipkart and Myntra have collectively crossed the billion-dollar mark in run rate, Myntra may look to phase out its web presence completely in a strong testimony to the exponential growth of mobile internet in the country . This will be the first such instance of a mainstream online retailer morphing into a mobile-only player as internet usage over smartphones surges in India. Myntra, which draws as much as 80% of its traffic and 60% of sales from its mobile application, is expecting to take the sales number to 90% by the year end, when the etailer's web portal may cease to exist, people familiar with the development told TOI.
Talking to TOI, Mukesh Bansal, co-founder Myntra & CMO at Flipkart, said mobile as amedium has grown rapidly for all e-commerce players but more so for the fashion e-tailers.Bansal, however, did not confirm the plans to phase out the website in the backdrop of such phenomenal traction that the mobile is getting among Indian shoppers. “Shopping for fashion is largely impulse-driven and that's why the vertical has done so well on the mobile. We are 100% focused on mobile and are making all our investments on the platform going forward.“
While fashion for Flipkart and Myntra is expected to close at $1 billion in sales for the current financial year, Myntra independently is on course to clock Rs 2,000 crore (about $315 million) in sales, or gross merchandise value (GMV), at a current monthly run rate of Rs 300 crore (nearly $50 million). GMV , in e-commerce parlance, is the overall revenue generated by an online retailer through the sale of goods on its platform. E-tailers usually make anywhere between 5% and 20% of GMV , depending on the category. Fashion unlike electronics, particularly private brands, offer e-commerce players better margins. Going forward, Myntra will look to build more of its own brands in partnerships with celebrities, sell its private labels on other portals besides hunting for acquisi tions in the fashion space.
Flipkart, along with Myntra, is expected to be burning $20-30 million on discounting, marketing, and ramping up its employee strength in a bitter battle for market share.Its two biggest rivals, Amazon and Snapdeal, are also guzzling millions in cash to discount products even as they scale up their GMVs.
Delhi-based Snapdeal also claims to have hit a run rate of a billion dollars in fashion sales with 65% of transactions being done over the mobile. “Several leading Indian e-commerce players have seen mobile contribute more than 50% of transactions today from under 5% a year ago. More importantly , these users are three times more engaged and likely to buy as compared to desktop users,“ said Tarun Davda, director at Mumbai-based early-stage venture fund Matrix Partners.

Snapdeal to hire Valley's tech guns

Snapdeal to hire Valley's tech guns





Ratan Tata and Azim Premji-backed e-commerce player Snapdeal is looking to poach technology talent from Silicon Valley to build a formidable product and engineering leadership team that would oversee over 1,500 engineers. The e-tailer is looking to get senior executives from top consumer internet and technology companies in the Valley such as Google, Facebook, Twitter and Salesforce. The company says it wants talent from companies that have demonstrated the ability to scale and grow at a rapid pace. And it expects that this talent will come at pay packages -including stock options -of about $1 million each.
Speaking to TOI, Rohit Bansal, co-founder and COO of Snapdeal, said, “We are at a point where we are running out of experienced talent in India. We have seen scale with respect to consumer internet products, but those products didn't get built in India.“
Bansal said the talent he is looking for are those who have seen companies at an early stage and have scaled them by 30x or 50x in two years.“That's the kind of growth we are looking at,“ he said.
Snapdeal -which recently raised $627 million (over Rs 3,700 crore) from Japanese internet company SoftBank -saw its business grow 600% last fiscal, and is said to be on course to achieve similar growth figures in the ongoing fiscal.Such growth requires a significant beefing up of its technology division.
Big data, analytics, supply chain management, and mobile are some of the tech areas that Snapdeal is increasing its focus on. Over the next three years the com pany plans to have 1 million merchants retail their products through a handset, eliminating the need of a computer. The merchant app on the phone allows them to scan product barcodes and do everything else necessary to showcase their products on the Snapdeal site. Already close to 60% of the company's over 100,000-strong merchant base is using mobile as the preferred medium of sales.
Over the last six months, Snapdeal has doubled its product and engineering division strength. In the same period, the NCR-based firm has opened a 300,000-sq-ft engineering development centre in Bengaluru, with options to scale the facility to 500,000 sq ft.