Banking News – The Nepal Securities Board (SEBON) has organized an orientation and interaction program on the Financial Review Standards for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), 2082, aimed at strengthening the quality, reliability, and financial governance of companies seeking to go public.

The standards, which came into effect on Baisakh 1, 2083 (mid-April 2026), are intended to enhance accountability in the IPO process by improving the quality and credibility of financial statements submitted by organized institutions.

The program, held at SEBON’s office in Lalitpur, was attended by around 65 participants, including the Board’s Chairman, board members, chief executive officers, and senior officials from merchant banking institutions.

Addressing the event, SEBON Chairman Dr. Gopal Prasad Bhatta said the regulator is continuously pursuing policy and regulatory reforms to make Nepal’s primary capital market more organized, transparent, reliable, and investor-friendly. He also revealed that SEBON is preparing to publish a White Paper on Primary Market Reforms, which will propose measures to improve the public offering process.

According to Dr. Bhatta, the forthcoming White Paper will focus on strengthening investor protection, promoting corporate governance, and enhancing public confidence in Nepal’s capital market. He emphasized that improving the quality and efficiency of the primary market remains one of the Board’s key priorities.

Highlighting the role of merchant bankers, he stated that they have a significant responsibility in safeguarding investors’ interests and ensuring greater accountability in the securities market. He expressed confidence that the new standards would further improve the financial health and corporate governance of companies planning to issue public offerings.

During the program, SEBON Board Member and President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN), Anand Raj Sharma Wagley, delivered a detailed presentation on the provisions of the standards. He explained their objectives, implementation process, and practical importance in the IPO approval process.

He noted that the standards would serve as an important framework for improving the quality, reliability, and governance of financial statements submitted for public offerings. The session concluded with responses to participants’ queries from SEBON officials.