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
its not targeting the scholar ...
its targeting ISLAM
its targeting the TRUTH
its targeting the blind faith from knowing the TRUTH.
its targeting to blind the knowledge of oneness of God (Na tasya Pratima Asti)
In the past there were many who targetted, but Alhamdullillah (Thanks to ALLAH) ISLAM is still ALIVE and No one can white wash it even if they have all the temporary powers they get from the Almighty. Non Muslims should read (thequranproject) online to learn about the POWERFUL ALMIGHTY ALLAH who is the CREATOR of all that EXISTS.... its time to Recognize OUR CREATOR and reject the FASLEHOOD (Manmade gods) that will be the TRUE SUCCESS in this world and the Hereafter.
When he became terrorist.
So how many riots/bomb blast took place after his speech.
O ho ! If the government can bring Zakir Naik to India, why the government can not bring Neerav modi, Lalit modi, Mehul choksi etc to India. (instead PM has friendship with them by meeting Neerav in Davos, appreciating Mehul choksi in a program etc). Is this not a partiality to target only muslims. Looting Thousands of Crores by so many guys and running away from India is not a matter at all for the goverment ?
This is totally injustice.. Targeting a scholar its not a good thing. Zakir Naik doing everything for the betterment of humanity
While barking about saffron terrorism you people should realise Islamic terrorism also. ZN spreading only hatred
Not Islamic preacher.. He is communal goon
Again started problem.. Such a communal minded man. He should not be free
Put him behind bar. He is just total waste for earth.
Why modi affraid of ZN
So what...! Handing over a terrorist is not a big issue. Modi govt asked because he is more concerned about safety of people
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