by CSIS: Center for Strategic & International Studies

Kotak Securities Limited, a subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank, is the stock broking and distribution arm of the Kotak Mahindra Group. The company was set up in 1994. Kotak Securities Limited has Rs. 2300 crore of Assets Under Management (AUM) as of 31st March, 2010. The portfolio Management Service provides top class service, catering to the high end of the market. Portfolio Management from Kotak Securities comes as an answer to those who would like to grow exponentially on the crest of the stock market, with the backing of an expert. Kotak Securities is a corporate member of both The Bombay Stock Exchange and The National Stock Exchange of India Limited. Its operations include stock broking and distribution of various financial products – including private and secondary placement of debt and equity and mutual funds. Currently, Kotak Securities is one of the largest broking houses in India with wide geographical reach. The company has four main areas of business: (1) Institutional Equities, (2) Retail (equities and other financial products), (3) Portfolio Management and (4) Depository Services.

Institutional Business
This division primarily covers secondary market broking. It caters to the needs of foreign and Indian institutional investors in Indian equities (both local shares and GDRs). The division also incorporates a comprehensive research cell with sectoral analysts who cover all the major areas of the Indian economy.
Client Money Management
This division provides professional portfolio management services to high net-worth individuals and corporates. Its expertise in research and stock broking gives the company the right perspective from which to provide its clients with investment advisory services.
Retail distribution of financial products
Kotak Securities has a comprehensive retail distribution network, comprising 870 offices (own and franchisees) across 309 cities and towns, servicing 590,000 customers. This network is used for the distribution and placement of a range of financial products that includes company fixed deposits, mutual funds, Initial Public Offerings, secondary debt and equity and small savings schemes.

Depository Services
Kotak Securities is a depository participant with the National Securities Depository Limited and Central Depository Services (India) Limited for trading and settlement of dematerialised shares. Since it is also in the broking business, investors who use its depository services get a dual benefit. They are able to use its brokerage services to execute transactions and its depository services to settle these.

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