While assured return schemes predict a win-win for both parties involved, the promises underlying these schemes have come under scrutiny with numerous complaints being filed against some builders cum promoter of these schemes. This is a first of its kind book which makes an in-depth inquiry into the nature of assured return schemes. It explores whether these schemes are unrealistic, created out of thin air, or are they realistic with few bad apples ruining their repute? From a lot of heat that these schemes have generated, it is often argued that they are nothing but Ponzi schemes. However, there is evidence of several success stories suggesting otherwise. This book clears the air surrounding this dilemma. You will get answers to...should you invest in these schemes? What aspects should you take care of when investing in assured return schemes? Whether the returns are actually possible? Where does the onus lie for the failure or success of these schemes? What should you take care of at the time of investing? How can you keep tabs on your builder?
In the current day and age, currency is considered as money that forms the basis of all our transactions. But what happens when we realize that these pieces of paper are nothing but deception? What if, one day, out of nowhere, we are told that these currency notes are as good as paper? As scary as it sounds, this scenario is not very far from the truth. On 8th November 2016, the citizens of India were faced with a similar predicament. It was the day when the government of India declared 86% of the currency worthless unless exchanged for new currency notes. An expert on financial matters, Sachin Mittal takes us through the seemingly complex matters on a variety of topics that explain one of the most basic questions of our existence: What is Money? Through a deft use of examples, Mittal draws a timeline of the various forms of money used for transactions since the existence of civilization till date. Finally, he delves on the origin of money as we know it, the paper currency. The author does not wish to pass a judgement on the factors that led to demonetization, rather raises serious concerns regarding the validity of paper currency as a widely accepted form of money. Moreover, through nuanced argument and examples, he demystifies the concept of money and reinstates the faith in gold as a more reliable form of money.
Are you interested in the stock market? Do you plan to start investing in it? Or have you burned your fingers in the real estate through rash decisions or wrong advice? Have you been swayed by hype and ads that lure you with the promise of quick riches? Well, then, Madness of the Masses is a book you must read. History has proved time and again how get-rich- quick offers have fallen flat, leaving investors in a state of financial ruin. However, we never seem to learn from history. When the next exciting scheme to get rich comes along, we fall for it all over again, leaving us in financial ruin, while the perpetrators of the scams, more often than not, laugh their way to the banks. These boom and bust cycles continue century after century. In this book, author Sameer Rastogi makes a compelling case for how human greed and envy propel us towards financial ruin. He says, “I have witnessed investor emotions and biases during Booms and Depressions. With experience, I realized that most of the investor questions and investor biases didn’t have practical answers in pure investment research. It required out-of- the-box thinking. It required analysis of investor behaviour at large. It required a study of emotional forces like greed and fear… For investment success, the EQ of each investor proved to be worth its weight in gold. Also, high investment IQ alone didn’t necessary translate into higher investment profits.” Unlike most dry finance books, Madness of the Masses is peppered with interesting anecdotes from history detailing scams through the ages, making it a thought-provoking, fascinating read. A definite must-read for investors and potential investors as there is a lesson for each of us. The author says, “The bubbles and scams are not new. They have been in existence since the time humans have been greedy, jealous and fearful. The madness of the masses is here to stay. It is up to individuals to learn from the past and stand apart from the crowd.” Section 1 Historical evidences of our vulnerability to Investment Bubbles and Scams 1. History is a great teacher, but we are not good students 2. Tulip Mania – How an entire nation went nuts over flower bulbs (circa 1637) 3. Mississippi Company Bubble – Anybody can get rich quick in France (circa 1717) 4. The South Sea Company – The Great Greed of Great Britain (circa 1721) 5. Railway Mania – The Gravy Train (circa 1845) 6. Florida Land Boom – Man-less Land for the Landless Man (circa 1925) 7. The Great Storm before The Great Depression (circa 1929) 8. Japanese Asset Bubble (circa 1986) 9. The Great Indian Thugs and their Tricks a. PACL Scam b. Saradha Scam c. Stock Market and Banking Scam by Harshad Mehta & Ketan Parekh d. Home Trade e. Teak Plantation f. EMU Mania g. Scams of Real Estate h. ….And some more jaw dropping scams Section 2 Causes of Asset Bubbles and Scams 10. The Power of Greed 11. The Power of Envy 12. The Power of Patterns Section 3 Identifying a Bubble or a Scam, and Avoiding it 13. Avoiding the Scams 14. Avoiding the Asset Bubbles 15. Some Strange but Worthy Indicators of Gauging a Bubble a. Industry becomes the first choice for career seekers. b. Bigger and taller skyscrapers. c. Art sales are frontpage news. d. Industry-related magazines are flying off the shelf. e. The difference between long-term and short-term fades. f. Everyone around you will be an expert. g. Financial engineering hits the roof . h. Investments are out, casinos are in. Bibliography
About the Book If the 1991 reforms globalized the Indian economy and brought vibrancy to the corporate sector, the year 2015-2016 can be said to have ushered the concept of 'commercial justice' that never existed in India. Prior to this, the legal system was classified between civil and criminal justice only without any concept of commercial justice which has emerged through two significant legislations- The Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and The Arbitration & Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2015. These legislations are path-breaking and have far reaching implications for the Indian economy and the business world. The Supreme Court in a short span of five years has interpreted these legislations in certain important judgements, giving certainty in the scope and application of these laws. These significant judgements of the Apex Court have been analyzed in this book. In the regime prior to the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016, the debtors laughed and the creditors cried, in other words, it was a debtors' paradise and creditors' hell. The 2016 legislation brings a paradigm shift in favour of creditors and the Apex Court has reinforced the letter and spirit of the law by its judgements as also the democracy in insolvency resolution through the Committee of Creditors (CoC). The nuances of the law have been analyzed in the book through case-law. The Apex Court has interpreted the Arbitration & Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2015 to bring the arbitration law in sync with the global arbitration landscape. The principles of fairness in arbitration as also the minimal interference with arbitral awards have been emphasized by the Supreme Court. Vexed questions that took decades to be decided have been settled in record time so as to give clarity to the business world. The book simplifies and demystifies legal complexities through Supreme Court judgements, for the benefit of readers including Law students, young Corporate Lawyers, In-house Corporate Counsel, Company Secretaries and Chartered Accountants.
Today, with the impact of globalization and liberalization on the world economy, new ideas and new thinking dominate the world. The financial services sector is no exception to this. Being an integral part of the financial system of a modern industrial economy, the financial sector has witnessed a proliferation of its functions. This well-organized, easy-to-read text covers the entire gamut of development that is taking place in the Indian financial services sector. Besides providing an extensive coverage of the dynamics of bond market, insurance, banking services, plastic cards, bancassurance, derivatives and emerging trends of real estate industries, the book also offers an in-depth knowledge of venture capital, lease financing, securitization as effective financial instruments. In addition, the text also gives a detailed account of the principles, operational policies and practices of the financial services sector. KEY FEATURES : Pedagogically rich to help students comprehend and apply chapter concepts. Comprehensive coverage of Indian financial regulatory bodies and practices. Detailed discussions on the working of SEBI and Stock Exchanges—both NSE and BSE. Highlights latest trends in financial services sector with figures and tables. The text is intended for the students of management as well as professionals in the field of financial management. Students pursuing professional courses such as ICWA, CFA and CA will also find the book useful.
About the Book In its second edition released during COVID times, it specifically includes all that is significant for a practitioner to know about Insolvency Law during this time including exclusion of period of limitation w.e.f. 15.03.2020 till 14.03.2021 in computation, while filing suits, appeals etc. under law. Key Highlights - Comprehensive Commentary on IBC - Updated IBC Rules, Regulations, NCLT and NCLAT Rules 2016 - Includes Understanding on Core Issues like limitation under IBC, Guarantors, Pre-Pack Insolvency etc - Includes Landmark judgments of SC, HCs, NCLAT and NCLT - Incorporates draft provisions of Cross-Border Insolvency (“Draft Part Z”); and - Incorporates Report of Insolvency Sub-Committee of the Insolvency Law Committee on Pre-packaged Insolvency Resolution Process.
Insolvency is a state of financial distress in which a business or person is unable to pay their bills. It can lead to insolvency proceedings, in which legal action will be taken against insolvent person or entity, and assets may be liquidated to pay off outstanding debts. Whereas, Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor. Bankrupt is not the only legal status that an insolvent person may have, and the term bankruptcy is therefore not a synonym for insolvency. Bankruptcy usually refers to Balance-sheet Insolvency wherein a person or company does not have enough assets to pay of all their debts. There could also be a Cash-flow insolvency wherein a person or company has enough assets to pay what is owed, but does not have enough liquid assets to pay a debt when it falls due. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) is the bankruptcy law of India which seeks to consolidate and amend the laws relating to reorganization and insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals in a time bound manner for maximization of value of assets of such persons, to promote entrepreneurship, availability of credit and balance the interests of all the stakeholders including alteration in the order of priority of payment of Government dues and to establish an Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. IBC is a major legal reform to speed up resolution of stressed assets in India and is applicable to Individuals, Partnerships, LLPs and Corporates. Authority decides insolvency application within 180 days and can also fast track process of 90 days extension available for specified entities. The Adjudicating Authority for Corporates is NCLT, for Individuals and Partnership firm it is DRT (Debt Recovery Tribunals) under the SARFAESI (The Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest) Act, 2002 and the RDB (The Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy) Act, 1993. This books covers the Global Insolvency and Bankruptcy Norms, the Indian Code and focusses its impact on the Indian Real Estate Sector.
Investing is not a casual act. What makes this book unique is that it covers the entire spectrum of personal finance management. With a wide range of investment options available today, this book guides you in a simple manner to make the right choices. It empowers the reader to identify the right investment. Retail Investors or HNIs or corporate honchos – there is a plan for everyone in this book.
This book is related to the Supreme Court of India's Case Laws on Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016. Relevant Sections, Case Note-Facts-Findings of the Hon’ble Apex Court and Citation are given for each case. It will be useful for Lawyers, Insolvency Professionals, Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, Corporate Applicants, Corporate Debtors, Corporates, MNCs, IPAs, IPEs, NCLT, NCLAT, DRT and DRAT, High Courts and Supreme Court Librarians, Entrepreneurs, Individuals, Consultants, Valuers, Law Students and Law School Faculties.
This friendly guide provides comprehensive coverage of all basic money management principles. Enables readers to understand not only the implications of far-reaching events but also the fundamental knowledge to navigate the world of personal finance. Describes how to effectively manage personal assets- from buying and selling to investing, insuring, planning and preparing income taxes.
