Merger Agreement Between Stock Brokers Association and Dhitopatra Brokers Association

A merger agreement has been signed between the Stock Brokers' Association Of Nepal (SBAN) and the Dhitopatra Brokers Association Nepal (DBAN). The agreement was formalized with the signatures of Dharma Raj Sapkota, President of the Stock Brokers Association, and Sagar Dhakal, President of the Dhitopatra Brokers Association. As a result of this merger, both organizations will now operate under the unified name of the Stock Brokers Association.

Sagar Dhakal, while addressing the merger, emphasized the importance of this collaboration in addressing the inefficiencies and discrepancies currently present in the securities market. He remarked, “The polarization between new and established securities professionals, which emerged following the licensing of new businesses in 2079, has now been resolved. This merger represents a historic opportunity to advance the development of the capital market and ensure the protection of the interests of all stakeholders.”

The merged entity is committed to driving the growth and expansion of Nepal’s securities market. Dhakal further outlined that the revision of the Securities Act, after nearly 23 years, would play a vital role in ensuring a more business-friendly environment for the sector. He called for continued reforms to make Nepal’s capital market internationally competitive, particularly by introducing modern trading tools such as intra-day trading, short-selling, equity derivatives, and index funds, as well as establishing critical market infrastructure like auction markets and a central counterparty (CCP).

The merger committee, responsible for overseeing the integration of the two associations, includes Santosh Raj Mainali, former president of the Stock Brokers Association, as convenor, along with Madan Paudel and Suyog Adhikar. From the Dhitopatra Brokers Association, the committee is led by General Secretary Krishna Giri, with Suman Kumar Mall and Sandeep Bikram Rana serving as members. Both associations have pledged to work together to address long-standing challenges, including margin lending regulations and the settlement guarantee fund, with a unified approach.