Abu Dhabi, Feb 17: NMC Health Plc, a hospital operator targeted by short-seller Muddy Waters, said founder Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty resigned amid investor concern he faced a margin call and misrepresented his stake.
The board asked for Co-Chairman Shetty’s resignation and it takes effect immediately, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. NMC has lost four board members since Friday, including Vice Chairman Khaleefa Butti, whose holdings are also being probed. The stock, the worst performer on the FTSE-100 Index this year, fell as much as 9.2 percent Monday morning and then rebounded.
“The resignation of senior board members should be viewed positively,” said Abdulla Nahlawi, an analyst at Rasmala Investment Bank in Dubai. “The credibility of the current board has been jeopardized with the unfolding of the recent events.”
NMC shares lost almost half their value the first week of February on speculation the company’s main investors faced a margin call, in which banks seize shares pledged as collateral. NMC said Friday that First Abu Dhabi Bank and Al Salam Bank Bahrain obtained 20 million shares in the company from BRS International Holding, an investment vehicle of NMC’s top shareholders. The banks sold more than 8 million of those shares as “enforcement of security,” NMC said.
NMC operates the largest medical network in the United Arab Emirates and in 2012 became the first Abu Dhabi company to list in London. The shares started teetering in mid-December when Muddy Waters alleged that NMC manipulated its balance sheet and inflated the prices of companies it acquired.
Shetty, 77, was born in India and founded NMC in the 1970s after moving to Abu Dhabi. His spokesman said a legal review of the situation is ongoing and declined further comment.
Chief Investment Officer Hani Buttikhi and board member Abdulrahman Basaddiq also stepped down because they were appointees of Shetty and Butti, NMC said, adding that they had no knowledge of the share transfers.
Questions remain over the role of Shetty’s family at the company. His wife and son-in-law both hold roles in senior management.
Almost 10 per cent of NMC’s freely traded shares are shorted, according to Markit Securities data. In mid-December about a third of them were.
Last week GKSD Investment, an investment company backed by hospital investors, said it’s studying a possible offer for NMC. Under U.K. takeover rules, it has until March 9 to make a bid.
NMC has said Muddy Waters’s claims are false and the company hired former FBI Director Louis Freeh to conduct an independent review. The review is due to be completed before the company issues its financial results in March, the person said.
NMC said Mark Tompkins will continue as the company’s sole chairman.
Comments
Madam, please remove the zero which you added by mistake.
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Nobody can stop us from grabbing the power , we will show the mighty power when election is nearing it ... shobakka no need to reveal . it is done we will get 150 at any cost ... permanently we should send the khangrace to their home .. becoz jihadists are using it as cover .
Pokkade?
At least Start Master Bhagawat Programme to produce more than 10kids, get marry more than one, Shobakka why are you not Co operating with your Great leaders request, now you looks like 50's above can not produce more at least try your level best to do something for Master Bhagath's request do not Bark Fate of Kannadigas now!!!!!! we will see when battle starts, Till then you co ordinate your Criminal RSS Sabb.
Jai Hind.
Jai Hoo Modianna
Jai Hoo Siddanna.
keep dreaming everyday!!! utter loss this year.
shobakka, the central intelligence agency is working for bjp rss and vhp.
people will decide who will come to power....
I think shoba had a bad dream last night... Come on Shoba Wake up wake up.. Stop dreaming and get back to some work.
What a Joke, Shobakka should join Comedy Circus.Thank god she did not mention Yeddy as C.M and akka as Deputy C.M.
Shobha learnt Jothishya Shastra?
Dil ke behlane ko Ghalib, ye khayal accha hain.
HA ha ha ha ha ha ha
\DREAM GIRL\""
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