Quick Facts
Biography
Porinju Veliyath (born 6 June 1962) is an Indian investor and fund manager. He manages his own portfolio as a partner in his portfolio management firm Equity Intelligence India Ltd. He is referred as the small-cap czar by The Economic Times. .
Early Life
Porinju was born in a lower-middle-class family in Chalakudy village, Thrissur near to Kochi city and the Athirappilly Falls. At the age of 16, his family couldn't fund his higher education. The home they were staying in till then had to be sold to repay the debts. Soon, Veliyath shifted to Ernakulam, Kerala's biggest city, to hunt for a job to support his family and also fund his education.
Career
He started as an accountant in a private firm at Rs 1,000 per month and then at Ernakulam Telephone Exchange as a phone operator drawing Rs 2,500.
Veliyath then enrolled for the law programme at Ernakulam Law College, which offered cheap accommodation and canteen to its students. The next five years were spent studying law and his job as a phone operator. After graduating in 1990, he set off for Mumbai city with dreams of getting rich. Upon reaching the city, an acquaintance of Veliyath found him a job with Kotak Securities, initially as an office clerk and later as a floor trader. Before hitting the trading floors, Veliyath changed his name to Francis (English equivalent of the Malayali language word – Porinju).
From 1994 onwards, he worked as Research Analyst & Fund Manager for Parag Parikh Securities.
He moved back to Kochi in 1998 where he worked with Geojit Securities till 2002 and then started Equity Intelligence(SEBI-registered Portfolio Management Services) aimed for value investing.
Veliyath bought 5 per cent of Kaya Limited on Jun 08, 2017.
He is also a director with Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, the world’s leading Ayurveda institute. Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has with Arya Vaidya Pharmacy co-created and launched a new and expanded range of Ayurvedic personal care products under the ‘Lever Ayush’ brand name.
Veliyath’s Twitter handle which has more than 100,000 followers is suggested by professors in multiple IIMs to their students for proper learning in value investing.
Books
- Ohariyiloode Engane Nettam Koyyam (Complete step-by-step guide to share market and investing) - 2008 by Dhanam Publications
Personal life
Veliyath has a 10-acre organic farm outside of Thrissur city at Chalakudy village, where he spends every weekend with his family.