KATHMANDU: Five development banks, two insurance companies, 10 finance companies, two hotels, National Hydropower Company and Nepal Telecom (NT) -- a total of 21 listed companies -- made it to the prestigious Class-A category for this fiscal year, according to the Nepal Stock Exchange (Nespe).

"The Nepse has listed 95 companies under Class-A category, out of the total 149-listed companies at the sole secondary market," said the sole secondary market here today.

A company that has atleast Rs 20 million paid up capital, minimum of 1,000 common share holders, operating in profit since last three years, must have floated shares to public under the by-laws 9, book value per share must not be less than its paid up value and has been submitting its financial statement within six months from the closure of the fiscal year is qualified to be listed under the Class-A category, according to the Nepse.

The number of companies listed under Group-A category has been continuously increasing since 1996-97, when there were only seven companies under the category.

"In the year 2009-10, Nepse also delisted three companies from under the Class-A category apart from adding 21 to it," the Nepse said adding that two companies merged to get entry into the prestigious category. "United Insurance, Bhajuratna Finance and Everest Finance are delisted from under the Class-A category as they didnot abide by the regulation," it added. However, Nepse listed five development banks, two insurance companies, 10 finance companies, two hotels, one hydropower company and Nepal Telecom (NT) under the Class-A companies in this fiscal year," said secondary market that has been witnessing a sluggish performance in the last three months.

Nepal Stock Exchange, according to the international norms, classifies the listed companies under the Class-A category according to their performances.

According to the Nepse, 15 commercial banks are under the Class-A category, whereas only one company each -- Unilever Nepal Ltd and Nepal Telecom -- from the manufacturing group and Others group are under the Class-A, two each from hydropower companies group and hotels group, 11 from insurance companies group, 43 finance companies, 20 development banks fall under the Class-A category.