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• Merchant banking gained momentum as Indian companies increasingly tapped
capital markets for funds.
• Services diversified into underwriting, portfolio management, and advisory for
foreign collaborations.
• The Controller of Capital Issues (CCI) regulated merchant banking activities before
SEBI was established.
1990s – Liberalization Era
• Economic reforms in 1991 opened up capital markets.
• Foreign merchant banks like HSBC, Citibank, and Morgan Stanley entered India.
• SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) became the regulator, introducing
strict norms for merchant bankers.
• Merchant banks played a crucial role in managing IPOs during the boom of the
1990s.
2000s – Technology and Globalization
• With globalization, merchant banks began advising Indian companies on cross-
border mergers and acquisitions.
• They also helped in private equity placements and venture capital funding.
• Technology-driven services like online issue management and electronic fund raising
emerged.
2010s – Rise of Investment Banking
• Merchant banking merged with broader investment banking services.
• Firms like Kotak Mahindra, Axis Capital, and Edelweiss became leaders in IPO
management.
• Focus shifted to structured finance, risk management, and global advisory.
Today
• Merchant banking in India is a mature industry.
• It supports startups, SMEs, and large corporates in raising funds, restructuring, and
expanding globally.
• SEBI regulations ensure transparency and protect investors.
• Merchant banks are now integral to India’s financial ecosystem.
Diagram: Evolution of Merchant Banking in India
1967 → Grindlays Bank starts merchant banking
1970s → SBI & Indian banks enter
1980s → Expansion, diversification
1990s → Liberalization, SEBI regulation, foreign banks enter
2000s → Globalization, technology-driven services
2010s → Investment banking integration
Today → Mature industry, IPOs, M&A, global advisory