Ventura plans to expand in South

Mumbai-based stock broking firm Ventura Securities Ltd is extending its services in south India by opening three branches in Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad during the April-May period.

The company will open 10 more branches in another three months across the country, Hemant Majethia, chief executive officer and director, Ventura, said.

Ventura has also announced the launch of its online trading portal, 'Pointer', aimed at average as well as active investors.

"Currently, around 15 per cent of trading is being done online in India. Moreover, the young generation is looking at investing in equities and mutual funds and they are also technology-friendly. Keeping this in mind, we think there is great potential to acquire more customers through the online mode. We plan to acquire 50,000 clients from the three new branches in another year," Majethia said.

The company's brokerage business generated in fiscal 2007 was around Rs 50 crore and it is expected to increase by another 25-30 per cent in the next one year, according to Vinay Punjabi, country head - marketing, Ventura.

The company presently has six branches and 200 franchisees across the country and services around 50,000 clients.