Download MBA Finance (Master of Business Administration) 4th Semester Security Market Operations
UNIT ? I
SECURITY AND SECURITY MARKET OPERATIONS
INTRODUCTION
Many companies were set up as joint-stock enterprises with liability limited by
shares. A vast number of businessmen in major cities purchased these shares and trading
started in them early in the 19th century. In those days, although many of these
companies were financed by the issue of shares to the public, they mainly depended on
the joint-stock British banks in India and borrowals from abroad. British enterprise and
the British Government have thus helped the emergence of the securities markets in
India. The corporate securities have come to have a market first. So far as the
Government securities are concerned, the British India Government borrowed mostly in
London by issue of Sterling consols. Only later in the 19th century the Government issued
treasury bills and Government securities in rupees. This led to the emergence of the
Government securities market also in India.
WHAT IS SECURITIES MARKET?
According to Dr. V A Avadhani, Securities markets are markets in financial
assets or instruments and these are represented as I.O.Us (I owe you) in financial form.
These are issued by business organizations, corporate units and the Governments, Central
or State. Public sector undertakings also issue these securities. These securities are used
to finance their investment and current expenditure. These are thus sources of funds to
the issuers. There are different types of business organizations in India, namely,
partnership firms, cooperative societies, private and public limited companies and joint
and public sector, organizations etc. the more frequently organized method is the
company, registered under the Indian Companies Act 1956. Under this Act, there are
three types of companies: (a) companies limited by guarantee; (b) companies which are
private limited companies ? limited by shares paid up; and (c) companies private limited
companies can have 50 members and their shares are not transferable freely. These
companies reserve the right to refuse any transfer of shares and as such trading in them is
restricted. Due to these inhibitive features, private limited companies do not have easy
access to the securities markets. Only public limited companies are largely popular as
they can raise funds from the public through the issue of shares. The methods of raising
funds used by the corporate sector are to issue securities, either ownership instruments or
debt instruments.
WHAT ARE SECURITIES?
Securities are claims on money and are like promissory notes or I.O.U. Securities
are a source of funds for companies, Govt. etc. There are two types of sources of funds
namely internal and external and securities emerge when funds are raised from external
sources.
The external sources of funds of the companies are as follows:
(A) Long-term Funds
(i) Ownership capital ? equity and preference capital, and Non-voting Shares.
(ii) Debt Capital ? debentures and long-term borrowings in the form of deposits
from public or credit limits or advances from banks and financial institutions, etc.
(B) Short-term Funds
(i) Borrowings from banks, and other corporates.
(ii) Trade credits and suppliers` credits, etc.
Of the above sources, the most popular are those which are tradable and
transferable. They have a market and their liquidity is ensured, as in the case of equity
shares, preference shares, debentures and bonds. Of these the ownership instruments,
particularly the equity shares, are generally the most liquid as they are not only tradable
in the securities markets but also enjoy the prospects of capital appreciation, in addition
to dividends. The market for these has thus grown much faster than for others.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SECURITIES
The major characteristics of securities are their transferability and marketability.
These help the process of trading and investment in them. Under the Indian Companies
Act, Sections 82 and 111 deal with the transfer of shares. In the case of public limited
companies, the objective of the Companies Act as also of the Listing Agreement with the
Stock Exchanges is to ensure free and unfettered transfer of shares. Under Section 82 of
the Companies Act, shares are treated as any movable property. As any right to property,
these are freely transferable. By one amendment in 1985, Section 22(A) of the Securities
Contracts (Regulation) Act has denied the right to refuse to transfer shares by a public
limited company except on technical grounds. The other grounds on which the transfer
can be refused are specifically laid down under the Act and the company has to specify
the reasons for such refusal to transfer and reference has to be made to the Company Law
Board whose decision to refuse or not to refuse the transfer of shares will be final. Thus
the essential characteristic of transferability of shares is well preserved which gives them
the market which in turn extends liquidity to these shares. This has led to the emergence
of securities markets in India.
PRIMARY ISSUES AND DERIVATIVE SECURITIES
Primary issues are those issued to the public by the companies, Governments and
financial institutions. Derivative issues are those which are based on the original primary
issues. There are a number of derivative instruments which are used to generate a market
for the primary issues. Thus in many developed markets abroad, these are warrants,
options, futures, index linked instruments etc. which have well-established markets and
they are based on some primary instruments. In India, options are now permitted and
some form of futures trading exists in Group A securities on the stock exchanges as they
are permitted to be carried forward from settlement to settlement without taking delivery
of shares. Since January 1995, options and futures have been permitted and futures
market is now developing under strict control of SEBI.
More recently, new instruments have been developed in India, namely, warrants,
Zero coupon bonds, conversion options, rights options etc. But in many cases these are
not well developed and secondary markets for these instruments do not exist and trading
does not take place as in the case of listed shares and particularly those on the specified
group (Group A) of stock exchanges.
Reference is made in the subsequent chapters to many new instruments, which are
introduced both in the capital market and the money market in India. Besides, the RBI
has also recently permitted the securitisation of book debts of banks and financial
institutions in the sense that the debit balances on companies` accounts can be transferred
to other banks and financial institutions which are willing to discount them or purchase
them at a price but the market in many new instruments is yet to be developed in India.
To understand the Security market operations fully it is always better to understand
the relevant acts, and the guidelines of the SEBI, Institutional Investments, etc. so for the
purpose of the students of MBA, the relevant materials have been collected from the
different books written by the eminent authors, web sites and other journals etc., and
presented and reproduced here as the study material. Students please note it is not book
but it is only study material and so they are advised to go through the prescribed text
books. The Securities and Exchange Board of India Act 1992 with its relevant
Amendment Act 1995 is given in the Part I, The Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act,
1956 in Part II, Companies Act 1956 in Part ? III, Foreign Institutional Investments In
India (FII) in Part IV and the Guidelines in Part V.
Part I
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA ACT, 1992
[15 OF 1992]
[AS AMENDED BY SECURITIES LAWS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1995]
An Act to provide for the establishment of a Board to protect the interests of investors in
securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate, the securities market and
for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Forty-third Year of the Republic of India as follows:-
Preliminary
Short title, extent and commencement.
1. (1) This Act may be called the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 30th day of January, 1992.
Definitions.
2. (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
(a) Board means the Securities and Exchange Board of India established under
section 3.
(b) Chairman means the Chairman of the Board.
(c) existing Securities and Exchange Board means the Securities and Exchange
Board of India constituted under the Resolution of the Government of India in the
Department of Economic Affairs No. 1(44)SE/86, dated the 12th day of April, 1988;
(d) Fund means the Fund constituted under section 14.
(e) member means a member of the Board and includes the Chairman;
(f) notification means a notification published in the Official Gazette;
(g) prescribed means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(h) regulations means the regulations made by the Board under this Act;
(i)
securities has the meaning assigned to it in section 2 of the Securities
Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956).
Establishment Of The Securities And Exchange Board Of India (SEBI)
With effect from such date as the Central Government may, be notification,
appoint, there shall be established, for the purposes of this Act, a Board by the name of
the Securities and Exchange Board of India. The Board shall be a body corporate by the
name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power subject to
the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and
immovable, and to contract, and shall, by the said name, sue or be sued. The head office
of the Board shall be at Bombay. The Board may establish offices at other places in
India.
Management of the Board.
The Board shall consist of the following members, namely:-
(a) a Chairman;
(b) two members from amongst the officials of the Ministries of the Central
Government dealing with Finance and Law;
(c) one member from amongst the officials of the Reserve Bank of India
constituted under section 3 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of
1934);
(d) two other members, to be appointed by the Central Government.
The general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the Board shall
vest in a Board of members, which may exercise all powers and do all acts and things
which may be exercised or done by the Board. Save as otherwise determined by
regulations, the Chairman shall also have powers of general superintendence and
direction of the affairs of the Board and may also exercise all powers and do all acts and
things which may be exercised or done by that Board. The Chairman and members
referred to in clauses (a) and (d) of subsection (1) shall be appointed by the Central
Government and the members referred to in clauses (b) and (c) of that sub-section shall
be nominated by the Central Government and the Reserve Bank of India respectively.
The Chairman and the other members referred to in clauses (a) and (d) of sub-section (1)
shall be persons of ability, integrity and standing who have shown capacity in dealing
with problems relating to securities market or have special knowledge or experience of
law, finance, economics, accountancy, administration or in any other discipline which, in
the opinion of the Central Government, shall be useful to the Board.
Term of office and conditions of service of Chairman and members of the Board.
The term of office and other conditions of service of the Chairman and the
members referred to in clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 4 shall be such as may be
prescribed. Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Central
Government shall have the right to terminate the services of the Chairman or a member
appointed under clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 4, at any time before the expiry of
the period prescribed under sub-section (1), by giving him notice of not less than three
months in writing or three months` salary and allowances in lieu thereof, and the
Chairman or a member, as the case may be, shall also have the right to relinquish his
office, at any time before the expiry of the period prescribed under sub-section (1), by
giving to the Central Government notice of not less than three months in writing.
Removal of member from office.
The Central Government shall remove a member from office if he-
(a) is, or at any time has been, adjudicated as insolvent:-
(b) is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court;
(c) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Central
Government, involves a moral turpitude;
(d) has, in the opinion of the Central Government, so abused his position as to
render his continuation in office detrimental to the public interest; Provided
that no member shall be removed under this clause unless he has given a
reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter.
Meetings.
The Board shall meet at such times and places, and shall observe such rules of
procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings (including quorum at
such meetings) as may be provided by regulations. The Chairman or, if for any reason, he
is unable to attend a meeting of the Board, any other member chosen by the members
present from amongst themselves at the meeting shall preside at the meeting. All
questions which come up before any meeting of the Board shall be decided by a majority
votes of the members present and voting, and, in the event of an equality of votes, the
Chairman, or in his absence, the person presiding, shall have a second or casting vote.
Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedings of Board.
No act or proceeding of the Board shall be invalid merely by reason of --
(a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the Board; or
(b) any defect in the appointment of a person acting as a member of the Board; or
(c ) any irregularity in the procedure of the Board not affecting the merits of the case.
Officers and employees of the Board.
The Board may appoint such other officers and employees as it considers
necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions under this Act. The term and other
conditions of service of officers and employees of the Board appointed under sub-section
(1) shall be such as may be determined by regulations.
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS
Functions of Board.
Subject to the provisions of this Act, it shall be the duty of the Board to protect the
interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the
securities market, by such measures as it thinks fit.
(a) regulating the business in stock exchanges and any other securities markets;
(b) registering and regulating the working of stock-brokers, sub-brokers, share transfer
agents, bankers to an issue, trustees of trust deeds, registrars to an issue, merchant
bankers, underwriters, portfolio managers, investment advisers and such other
intermediaries who may be associated with securities markets.
(c) registering and regulating the working of venture capital funds and collective
investment schemes including mutual funds;
(d) promoting and regulating self-regulatory organisations;
(t) prohibiting fraudulent and unfair trade practices relating to securities markets;
(/) promoting investors` education and training of intermediaries of securities markets;
(g) prohibiting insider trading in securities;
(h) regulating substantial acquisition of shares and take-over of companies;
(i) calling for information from, undertaking inspection, conducting inquiries and audits
of the stock exchanges, mutual funds, other persons associated with the securities market
intermediaries and self-regulatory organisations in the securities market;
(j) performing such functions and exercising such powers under the provisions of the
Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956), as may be delegated to it by the
Central Government;
(k) levying fees or other charges for carrying out the purposes of this section;
(l) conducting research for the above purposes;
(m) performing such other functions as may be prescribed.
[Matters to be disclosed by the companies.
Without prejudice to the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), the Board
may, for the protection of investors, specify, by regulations,-
(a) the matters relating to issue of capital, transfer of securities and other matters
incidental thereto; and
(b) the manner in which such matters, shall be disclosed by the companies.
Power to issue directions.
Save as otherwise provided in section 11, if after making or causing to be made an
enquiry, the Board is satisfied that it is necessary--
(i) in the interest of investors, or orderly development of securities market; or
(ii) to prevent the affairs of any intermediary or other persons referred to in section 12
being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of investors or securities market;
or
(iii) to secure the proper management of any such intermediary or person, it may issue
such directions,--
(a) to any person or class of persons referred to in section 12, or associated with the
securities market; or
(b) to any company in respect of matters specified in section 11 A, as may be appropriate
in the interests of investors in securities and the securities market. ]
REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE
Registration of stock-brokers, sub-brokers, share transfer agents, etc.
No stock-broker, sub-broker, share transfer agent, banker to an issue, trustee of trust
deed, registrar to an issue, merchant banker, underwriter, portfolio manager, investment
adviser and such other intermediary who may be associated with securities market shall
buy, sell or deal in securities except under, and in accordance with the conditions of a
certificate of registration obtained from the Board in accordance with the regulations
made under this Act:
Provided that a person buying or selling securities or otherwise dealing with the
securities market as a stock-broker, sub-broker, share transfer agent banker to an issue,
trustee of trust deed, registrar to an issue, merchant banker underwriter, portfolio
manager, investment adviser and such other intermediary who may be associated with
securities market immediately before the establishment of the Board for which no
registration certificate was necessary prior to such establishment, may continue to do so
for a period of three months from such establishment or, if he has made an application for
such registration within the said period of three months, till the disposal of such
application:
Provided that any person sponsoring or causing to be sponsored, carrying or causing to
be carried on any venture capital funds or collective investment scheme operating in the
securities market immediately before the commencement of the Securities Laws
(Amendment) Act, 1995 for which no certificate of registration was required prior to such
commencement, may continue to operate till such time regulations are made under clause
(d) of sub-section (2) of section 30.]. Every application for registration shall be in such
manner and on payment of such fees as may be determined by regulations. The Board
may, by order, suspend or cancel a certificate of registration in such manner as may be
determined by regulations:
Provided that no order under this sub-section shall be made unless the person concerned
has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
FINANCE, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT
Grants by the Central Government.
The- Central Government may, after due appropriation made by Parliament by law in this
behalf, make to the Board grants of such sums of money as that Government may think
fit for being utilised for the purposes of this Act.
Fund.
There shall be constituted a Fund to be called the Securities and Exchange Board of India
General Fund and there shall be credited thereto-- all grants, fees and charges received
by the Board under this Act; all sums realised by way of penalties under this Act; and,
all sums received by the Board from such other sources as may be decided upon by the
Central Government. The Fund shall be applied for meeting-- (a) the salaries, allowances
and other remuneration of the members, officers and other employees of the Board; the
expenses of the Board in the discharge of its functions under section 11; the expenses on
objects and for purposes authorised by this Act.
Accounts and audit.
The Board shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant records and prepare
an annual statement of accounts in such form as may be prescribed by the Central
Government in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India. The
accounts of the Board shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India
at such intervals as may be specified by him and any expenditure incurred in connection
with such audit shall be payable by the Board to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of
India. The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and any other person appointed by
him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the Board shall have the same rights
and privileges and authority in connection with such audit as the Comptroller and
Auditor-General generally has in connection with the audit of the Government accounts
and, in particular, shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts,
connected vouchers and other documents and papers and to inspect any of the offices of
the Board. The accounts of the Board as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-
General of India or any other person appointed by him in this behalf together with the
audit report thereon shall be forwarded annually to the Central Government and that
Government shall cause the same to be laid before each House of Parliament.
PENALTIES AND ADJUDICATION
Penalty for failure to furnish information, return, etc.
If any person, who is required under this Act or any rules or regulations made
thereunder,--
(a) to furnish any document, return or report to the Board, fails to furnish the same, he
shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding one lakh and fifty thousand rupees for each such
failure;
(b) to file any return or furnish any information, books or other documents within the
time specified therefore in the regulations, fails to file return or furnish the same within
the time specified therefore in the regulations, he shall be liable to a penalty not
exceeding five thousand rupees for every day during which such failure continues ;
(c) to maintain books of account or records, fails to maintain the same, he shall be liable
to a penalty not exceeding ten thousand rupees for every day during which the failure
continues.
Penalty for failure by any person to enter into agreement with clients.
If any person, who is registered as an intermediary and is required under this Act
or any rules or regulations made thereunder to enter into an agreement with his client,
fails to enter into such agreement, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five lakh
rupees for every such failure.
Penalty for failure to redress investors' grievances.
If any person, who is registered as an intermediary, after having been called upon
by the Board in writing to redress the grievances of investors, fails to redress such
grievances, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding ten thousand rupees for each
such failure.
Penalty for certain defaults in case of mutual funds.
If any person, who is--
(a) required under this Act or any rules or regulations made thereunder to obtain a
certificate of registration from the Board for sponsoring or carrying on any collective
investment scheme, including mutual funds, sponsors or carries on any collective
investment scheme, including mutual funds, without obtaining such certificate of regis-
tration, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding ten thousand rupees for each day
during which he carries on any such collective investment scheme, including mutual
funds, or ten lakh rupees, whichever is higher;
(b) registered with the Board as a collective investment scheme, including mutual funds,
for sponsoring or carrying on any investment scheme, fails to comply with the terms and
conditions of certificate of registration, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding ten
thousand rupees for each day during which such failure continues or ten lakh rupees,
whichever is higher;
(c) registered with the Board as a collective investment scheme, including mutual funds,
fails to make an application for listing of its schemes as provided for in the regulations
governing such listing, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five thousand rupees
for each day during which such failure continues or five lakh rupees, whichever is higher;
(d) registered as a collective investment scheme, including mutual funds, fails to despatch
unit certificates of any scheme in the manner provided in the regulation governing such
despatch, he shall be liable to a penalty and exceeding one thousand rupees for each day
during which such failure continues;
(e) registered as a collective investment scheme, including mutual funds, fails to refund
the application monies paid by the investors within the period specified in the regulations,
he shall be liable to a penalty and exceeding one thousand rupees for each day during
which such failure continues;
(f) registered as a collective investment scheme, including mutual funds, fails to invest
money collected by such collective investment schemes in the manner or within the
period specified in the regulations, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five lakh
rupees for each such failure.
Penalty for failure to observe rules and regulations by an asset management
company.
Where any asset management company of a mutual fund registered under this Act
fails to comply with any of the regulations providing for restrictions on the activities of
the asset management companies, such asset management company shall be liable to a
penalty not exceeding five lakh rupees for each such failure.
Penalty for default in case of stock-brokers.
If any person, who is registered as a stock-broker under this Act,--
(a) fails to issue contract notes in the form and manner specified by the stock exchange of
which such broker is a member, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five times
the amount for which the contract note was required to be issued by that broker;
(b) fails to deliver any security or fails to make payment of the amount due to the investor
in the manner within the period specified in the regulations, he shall be liable to a penalty
not exceeding five thousand rupees for each day during which such failure continues;
(c) charges an amount of brokerage which is in excess of the brokerage specified in the
regulations, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five thousand rupees or five
times the amount of brokerage charged in excess of the specified brokerage, whichever is
higher.
Penalty for Insider trading.
If any insider who,--
(i)
either on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person, deals in securities of
a body corporate listed on any stock exchange on the basis of any unpublished
price sensitive information; or
(ii)
communicates any unpublished price sensitive information to any person, with
or without his request for such information except as required in the ordinary
course of business or under any law; or
(iii)
counsels, or procures for any other person to deal in any securities of any
body corporate on the basis of unpublished price sensitive information,
shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five lakh rupees.
Penalty for non-disclosure of acquisition of shares and take-overs.
If any person, who is required under this Act or any rules or regulations made thereunder,
fails to--
(i) disclose the aggregate of a share holding in the body corporate before
he acquires any shares of that body corporate; or
(ii) make a public announcement to acquire shares at a minimum price, he shall be liable
to a penalty not exceeding five lakh rupees.
Power to adjudicate.
1. For the purpose of adjudging under sections 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 15E, 15F, 15G and
15H, the Board shall appoint any officer not below the rank of a Division Chief to be an
adjudicating officer for holding an inquiry in the prescribed manner after giving any
person concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard for the purpose of imposing
any penalty.
2. While holding an inquiry the adjudicating officer shall have power to summon and
enforce the attendance of any person acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the
case to give evidence or to produce any document which in the opinion of the
adjudicating officer, may be useful for or relevant to the subject matter of the inquiry and
if, on such inquiry, he is satisfied that the person has failed to comply with the provisions
of any of the sections specified in sub-section (1), he may impose such penalty as he
thinks fit in accordance with the provisions of any of those sections.
Factors to be taken into account by the adjudicating officer.
While adjudging the quantum of penalty under section 15-1, the adjudicating officer
shall have due regard to the following factors, namely :--
(a) the amount of disproportionate gain or unfair advantage, wherever quantifiable, made
as a result of the default;
(b) the amount of loss caused to an investor or group of investors as a result of the
default;
(c) the repetitive nature of the default.
Establishment of Securities Appellate Tribunals.
The Central Government shall by notification, establish one or more Appellate
Tribunals to be known as the Securities Appellate Tribunal to exercise the jurisdiction,
powers and authority conferred on such Tribunal by or under this Act.. The Central
Government shall also specify in the notification referred to in sub-section (1) the matters
and places in relation to which the Securities Appellate Tribunal may exercise
jurisdiction.
Composition of Securities Appellate Tribunal.
A Securities Appellate Tribunal shall consist of one person only (hereinafter referred to
as the Presiding Officer of the Securities Appellate Tribunal) to be appointed, by
notification, by the Central Government.
Qualifications for appointment as Presiding Officer of the Securities Appellate
Tribunal.
A person shall not be qualified for appointment as the Presiding Officer of a
Securities Appellate Tribunal unless he--
(a) is, or has been, or is qualified to be, a Judge of a High Court; or
(b) has been a member of the Indian Legal Service and has held a post in Grade I of that
Service for at least three years; or
(c) has held off ice as the Presiding Officer of a Tribunal for at least three years:
Term of office.
The Presiding Officer of a Securities Appellate Tribunal shall hold off ice for a
term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his off ice or until he attains the
age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier.
Salary and allowances and other terms and conditions of service of Presiding
Officers.
The salary and allowances payable to and the other terms and conditions of
service including pension, gratuity and other retirement benefits of, the Presiding Officer
of a Securities Appellate Tribunal shall be such as may be prescribed:
Provided that neither the salary and allowances nor the other terms and conditions of
service of the said Presiding. Officers shall be varied to their disadvantage after
appointment.
Filling up of vacancies.
If, for reason other than temporary absence, any vacancy occurs in the office of the
Presiding Officer of a Securities Appellate Tribunal, then the Central Government shall
appoint another person in accordance with the provisions of this Act to fill the vacancy
and the proceedings may be continued before the Securities Appellate Tribunal from the
stage at which the vacancy is filled.
Resignation and removal.
(1) The Presiding Officer of a Securities Appellate Tribunal may, by notice in writing
under his hand addressed to the Central Government, resign his office:
Provided that the said Presiding Officer shall, unless he is permitted by the Central
Government to relinquish his office sooner, continue to hold office until the expiry of
three months from the date of receipt of such notice or until a person duly appointed as
his successor enters upon his office or until the expiry of his term of office, whichever is
the earliest.
(2) The Presiding Officer of a Securities Appellate Tribunal shall not be removed from
his office except by an order by the Central Government on the ground of proved
misbehaviour or incapacity after an inquiry made by a Judge of the Supreme Court, in
which the Presiding Officer concerned has been informed of the charges against him and
given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of these charges.
(3) The Central Government may, by rules, regulate the procedure for the investigation of
misbehaviour or incapacity of the aforesaid Presiding Officer.
Orders constituting Appellate Tribunal to be final and not to invalidate its
proceedings.
No order of the Central Government appointing any person as the Presiding
Officer of a Securities Appellate Tribunal shall be called in question in any manner, and
no act or proceeding before a Securities Appellate Tribunal shall be called in question in
any manner on the ground merely of any defect in the constitution of a Securities
Appellate Tribunal
Staff of the Securities Appellate Tribunal.
The Central Government shall provide the Securities Appellate Tribunal with
such officers and employees as that Government may think fit. The officers and
employees of the Securities Appellate Tribunal shall discharge their functions under
general superintendence of the Presiding Officer. The salaries and allowances and other
conditions of service of the officers and employees of the Securities Appellate Tribunal
shall be such as may be prescribed.
Appeal to the Securities Appellate Tribunal.
Any person aggrieved by an order made by an Adjudicating Officer under this Act, may
prefer an appeal to a Securities Appellate Tribunal having jurisdiction in the matter.
No appeal shall lie to the Securities Appellate Tribunal from an order made by an
Adjudicating Officer with the consent of the parties. Every appeal under sub-section
(1)shall be filed within a period of forty-five days from the date on which a copy of the
order made, by the Adjudicating Officer is received by him and it shall be in such form
and be accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed:
Provided that the Securities Appellate Tribunal may entertain an appeal after the expiry
of the said period of forty-five days if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not
filing it within that period.
On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (I), the Securities Appellate Tribunal may,
after giving the parties to the appeal, an opportunity of being heard, pass such orders
thereon as it thinks fit, confirming, modifying or setting aside the order appealed against.
The Securities Appellate Tribunal shall send a copy of every order made by it to the
parties to the appeal and to the concerned Adjudicating Officer. The appeal filed before
the Securities Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (1) shall be dealt with by it as
expeditiously as possible and endeavour shall be made by it to dispose of the appeal
finally within six months from the date of receipt of the appeal
Procedure and powers of the Securities Appellate Tribunal.
The Securities Appellate Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down
by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), but shall be guided by the principles of
natural justice and, subject to the other provisions of this Act and of any rules, the
Securities Appellate Tribunal shall have powers to regulate their own procedure
including the places at which they shall have their sittings. The Securities Appellate
Tribunal shall have, for the purposes of discharging their functions under this Act, the
same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of
1908), while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:--
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
(b) requiring the discovery and production of documents;
(c) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(d) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents;
(e) reviewing its decisions;
(f) dismissing an application for default or deciding it ex pane;
(g) setting aside any order of dismissal of any application for default orany order passed
by it ex parte;
(h) any other matter which may be prescribed.
Every proceedings before the Securities Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed to be a
judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228, and for the purposes of
section 196 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), and the Securities Appellate Tribunal
shall be deemed to be a civil court for all the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXVI
of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
MISCELLANEOUS
Power of Central Government to issue directions.
Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this Act, the Board shall, in
exercise of its powers or the performance of its functions under this Act, be bound by
such directions on questions of policy as the Central Government may give in writing to
it from time to time:
Provided that the Board shall, as far as practicable, be given an opportunity to express its
views before any direction is given under this sub-section. (2) The decision of the Central
Government whether a question is one of polio or not shall be final.
Power of Central Government to supersede the Board.
If at any time the Central Government is of opinion--
(a) that on account of grave emergency, the Board is unable to discharge the functions
and duties imposed on it by or under the provisions of this Act; or
(b) that the Board has persistently made default in complying with any direction issued
by the Central Government under this Act or in the discharge of the functions and duties
imposed on it by or under the provisions of this Act and as a result of provisions of this
Act and as a result of such default the financial position of the Board or the
administration of the Board has deteriorated; or
(c) that circumstances exist which render it necessary in the public interest so to do,
the Central Government may, by notification, supersede the Board for such period, not
exceeding six months, as may be specified in the notification.
(2) Upon the publication of a notification under sub-section (1) superseding the Board,--
(a) all the members shall, as from the date of supersession, vacate their offices as such;
(b) all the powers, functions and duties which may, by or under the provisions of this Act,
be exercised or discharged by or on behalf of the Board, shall until the Board is
reconstituted under sub-section (3), be exercised and discharged by such person or
persons as the Central Government may direct; and
(c) all property owned or controlled by the Board shall, until the Board is reconstituted
under sub-section (3), vest in the Central Government.
(3) On the expiration of the period of supersession specified in the notification issued
under sub-section (1), the Central Government may reconstitute the Board by a fresh
appointment and in such case any person or persons who vacated their offices under
clause (a) of sub-section (2), shall not be deemed disqualified for appointment:
Provided that the Central Government may, at any time, before the expiration of the
period of supersession, take action under this sub-section.
(4) The Central Government shall cause a notification issued under subsection (1) and a
full report of any action taken under this section and the circumstances leading to such
action to be laid before each House of Parliament at the earliest.
Returns and reports.
The Board shall furnish to the Central Government at such time and in such form and
manner as may be prescribed or as the Central Government may direct, such returns and
statements and such particulars in regard to any proposed or existing programme for the
promotion and development of the securities market, as the Central Government may,
from time to time, require.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), the Board shall, within [ninety]
days after the end of each financial year, submit to the Central Government a report in
such form, as may be prescribed, giving a true and full account of its activities, policy
and programmes during the previous financial year.
(3) A copy of the report received under sub-section (2) shall be laid, as soon as may be
after it is received, before each House of Parliament.
POWERS OF RECOGNISED STOCK EXCHANGE
A recognised stock exchange may make rules or amend any rules made by it to provide
for all or any of the following matters, namely:--
(1) the restriction of voting right of members only in respect of any matter placed before
the stock exchange at any meeting;
(2) the regulation of voting right in respect of any matter placed before the stock
exchange at any meeting so that each member may be entitled to have one vote only,
irrespective of his share of the paid-up equity capital of the stock exchange;
(3) the restriction on the right of a member to appoint another person as his proxy to
attend and vote at a meeting of the stock exchange;
(4) such incidental, consequential and supplementary matters as may be necessary to give
effect to any of the matters specified above in clauses (1), (2), and (3).
Notice that, the rules so made or amended must be approved by the Central Government.
The Central Government must then publish them in its Official Gazette.
(B) Power to make Bye-laws
Any recognised stock exchange may, subject to the previous approval of the
Central Government, make bye-Jaws for the regulation and control of contracts.
In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such
bye-laws may provide for--
(a) the opening and closing of markets and the regulation of the hours of trade;
(b) a clearing house for -the periodical settlement of contracts and differences thereunder,
the delivery of and payment for securities, the passing on of delivery orders and the
regulation and main tenance of such clearing house;
(c) the number and classes of contracts in respect of which settlements shall be made or
differences paid through the clearing house;
(d) the regulation or prohibition of blank transfers;
(e) the regulation or prohibition of budlas or carry-over facilities;
(f) the method and procedure for the settlement of claims or disputes, including
settlement by arbitration;
(g) the levy and recovery of fee, fines and penalties;
(h) the fixing of a scale of brokerage and other charges;
(i) the regulation of dealings by members for their own account;
(j) the limitations on the volume of trade done by any individual member in exceptional
circumstances;
(k) the making, comparing, settling and closing of bargains;
(l) the obligation of members to supply such information or explanation and to produce
such documents relating to the business as the governing body may require.
(m) the bye-laws, the contravention of which shall make a contract entered into otherwise
than in accordance with the bye-laws void under sub-section (1) of Section 14.
OPTIONS IN SECURITIES
The Act prohibits options in securities. Section 20 declares Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, all options
in securities entered into after the commencement of this Act shall be illegal."
LISTING OF SECURITIES BY PUBLIC COMPANIES
Listing of securities` means the inclusion of the securities in the official list of
stock exchange for the purpose of trading. A stock exchange does not deal in the
securities of all-companies. It has to, therefore, select the companies - whose securities
may be allowed to be bought and sold. The companies selected for this purpose are
included in the official trade list of the stock exchange. In technical terms, it means that
securities of these companies have been listed by the exchange concerned.
Right of Appeal Against Refusal to List Securities. Where a recognised stock
exchange refuses to list the securities of any public company, the company shall be
entitled to demand the reasons for such refusal. On receipt of the reasons for refusal, the
company may, within 15 days, appeal to the Central Government against such refusal.
The Central Government may thereupon (after giving the stock exchange an opportunity
of being heard) vary or set aside, the decision of the stock exchange. On decision being
varied or set aside, the recognised stock exchange shall act in conformity with the order
of the Central Government.
Procedure for Listing of Securities. As per the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules,
1957, a public company desirous of getting its securities listed on a recognised stock
exchange has to apply for the purpose to the stock exchange and forward with its
application the following documents and particulars : --
(a) memorandum and articles of association and in the case of a debenture issue, a copy
of the trust-deed ;
(b) copies of all prospectuses or statements in lieu of prospce-tuses issued by the
company at any time ;
(c) copies of offers for sale and circulars or advertisement offering any securities for
subscription or sale during the last 5 years ;
(d) copies of balance-sheets and audited accounts for the last 5 years, or in the case of
new companies, for such shorter period, for which accounts have been made up,
(e) a statement showing :--
(i) dividends and cash bonuses, if any paid during the last 10 years (or such
shorter period as the company has been in existence, whether as a private or public
company),
(ii) dividends or interest in arrears, if any ;
(f) certified copies of agreements or other documents relating to arrangements with or
between : --
(i) vendors and/or promoter,
(ii) underwriters and sub-underwriter,
iii) brokers and sub-brokers ;
(g) certified copies of agreements with :--
(i) selling agents,
(ii) managing and technical directors,
(iii) manager, general manager, sales manager or secretary ;
(h) certified copy of every letter, report, balance-sheet, valuation, contract, court order or
other document, part of which is reproduced or referred to in any prospectus, offer for
sale, circular or advertisement offering securities for subscription or sale, during the last 5
years ;
(i) a statement containing particulars of the dates of, and parties to all material contracts,
concessions and similar other documents together with a brief description of the terms,
subject-matter and general nature of the documents;
(j) a brief history of the company since its incorporation, giving details of its activities
including any reorganisation, reconstruction or amalgamation, change in its capital struc-
ture (authorised, issued and subscribed) and debenture borrowings, if any ;
(k) particulars of share and debentures issued (i) for consideration other than cash,
whether in whole or part, (ii) at a premium or discount or (iii) in pursuance of an option ;
(l) a statement containing particulars of any commission, brokerage, discount or other
terms including an option for issue of any kind of the securities granted to any person ;
(m) certified copies of--
(i) letter of consent of the Controller of Capital Issue,
(ii) agreements, if any, with the Industrial Finance Corporation, Industrial Credit and
Investment Corporation and similar bodies ;
(n) particulars of shares forfeited ;
(o) a list of highest ten holders of each class or kind of securities of the company as on
the date of application along with particulars as to the number of shares or debenture held
by and the address of each such holder ;
(p) particulars of shares or debentures for which permission to deal is applied for.
However, a recognised stock exchange may either generally by its bye-laws or in any
particular case call for such further particulars or documents as it deems proper. The
stock exchange shall be bound to carry out such order of the Central Government.
Waiver or Relaxation of Listing Rules.. The Central Government may, at its own
discretion or on the recommendation of a recognised stock exchange, waive or relax the
strict enforcement of any or all of the requirements with respect to listing prescribed
under Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules.
***********
PART II
THE SECURITIES CONTRACTS (REGULATION) ACT, 1956
(ACT NO.42 OF 1956)
The main purpose of the Act is to prevent the undesirable transactions in securities by
regulating the business of dealing in securities. This is discussed in 6 sub heads.
1. Preliminary
2. Recognised Stock Exchanges
3. Contracts And Options In Securities
4. Listing Of Securities Of Public Companies
5. Penalties And Procedures
6. Miscellaneous
PRELIMINARY
This Act may be called the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956. It extends to the
whole of India. It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette appoint.
Definitions
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "contract" means a contract for or relating to the purchase or sale of securities;
(aa) "derivative" includes -
A. a security derived from a debt instrument, share, loan whether secured or
unsecured, risk instrument or contract for differences or any other form of
security;
B. a contract which derives its value from the prices, or index or prices, of
underlying securities;
(b) "Government security" means a security created and issued, whether before or after
the commencement of this Act, by the Central Government or a State Government for the
purpose of raising a public loan and having one of the forms specified in clause (2) of
section 2 of the Public Debt Act, 1944 (18 of 1944);
(c) "member" means a member of a recognised stock exchange;
(d) "option in securities" means a contract for the purchase or sale of a right to buy or
sell, or a right to buy and sell, securities in future, and includes a teji, a mandi, a teji
mandi, a galli, a put, a call or a put and call in securities;
(e) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(f) "recognised stock exchange" means a stock exchange which is for the time being
recognised by the Central Government under section 4;
(g) "rules", with reference to the rules relating in general to the constitution and
management of a stock exchange, includes, in the case of a stock exchange which is an
incorporated association, its memorandum and articles of association;
(ga) "Securities Appellate Tribunal" means a Securities Appellate Tribunal established
under sub-section (1) of section 15K of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act,
1992.4
(h) "Securities" include-
(i ) shares, scrips, stocks, bonds, debentures, debenture stock or other
marketable securities of a like nature in or of any incorporated company or
other body corporate;
(ia)derivative;
(ib) units or any other instrument issued by any collective investment
scheme to the investors in such schemes
(ii) Government securities;
(iia) such other instruments as may be declared by the Central
Government to be securities; and
(iii) rights or interests in securities;
[(i) spot delivery contract means a contract which provides for,-
(a) actual delivery of securities and the payment of a price therefore either
on the same day as the date of the contract or on the next day, the actual
period taken for the dispatch of the securities or the remittance of money
therefore through the post being excluded from the computation of the
period aforesaid if the parties to the contract do not reside in the same
town or locality;
(b) transfer of the securities by the depository from the account of a
beneficial owner to the account of another beneficial owner when such
securities are dealt with by a depository;]7
(j) "stock exchange" means any body of individuals, whether incorporated or not,
constituted for the purpose of assisting, regulating or controlling the business of
buying, selling or dealing in securities.
2A. Words and expressions used herein and not defined in this Act but defined in the
Companies Act, 1956 or the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 or the
Depositories Act, 1996 shall have the same meanings respectively assigned to them in
those Acts.
CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS IN SECURITIES
Contracts in notified areas illegal in certain circumstances
If the Central Government is satisfied, having regard to the nature or the volume
of transactions in securities in any State or area, that it is necessary so to do, it may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, declare this section to apply to such State or area, and
thereupon every contract in such State or area which is entered into after date of the
notification otherwise than between members of a recognised stock exchange in such
State or area or through or with such member shall be illegal. [Additional trading floor
13A. A stock exchange may establish additional trading floor with the prior approval of
the Securities and Exchange Board of India in accordance with the terms and conditions
stipulated by the said Board.
Explanation: For the purposes of this section additional trading floor' means a trading
ring or trading facility offered by a recognised stock exchange outside its area of
operation to enable the investors to buy and sell securities through such trading floor
under the regulatory framework of the stock exchange.
Contracts in notified areas to be void in certain circumstances .
(1) Any contract entered into in any State or area specified in the notification under
section 13 which is in contravention of any of the bye- laws specified in that behalf under
clause (a) of sub-section (3) of section 9 shall be void:
(i) as respects the rights of any member of the recognised stock exchange who has
entered into such contract in contravention of any such bye-laws, and also
(ii) as respects the rights of any other person who has knowingly participated in
the transaction entailing such contravention.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall be construed to affect the right of any person other
than a member of the recognised stock exchange to enforce any such contract or to
recover any sum under or in respect of such contract if such person had no knowledge
that the transaction was in contravention of any of the bye-laws specified in clause (a) of
sub-section (3) of section 9.
Members may not act as principals in certain circumstances
No member of a recognised stock exchange shall in respect of any securities enter into
any contract as a principal with any person other than a member of a recognised stock
exchange, unless he has secured the consent or authority of such person and discloses in
the note, memorandum or agreement of sale or purchase that he is acting as a principal:
Provided that where the member has secured the consent or authority of such person
otherwise than in writing he shall secure written confirmation by such person of such
consent or authority within three days from the date of the contract:
Provided further that no such written consent or authority of such person shall be
necessary for closing out any outstanding contract entered into by such person in
accordance with the bye-laws, if the member discloses in the note, memorandum or
agreement of sale or purchase in respect of such closing out that he is acting as a
principal.
Power to prohibit contracts in certain cases
(1) If the Central Government is of opinion that it is necessary to prevent undesirable
speculation in specified securities in any State or area, it may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, declare that no person in the State or area specified in the notification
shall, save with the permission of the Central Government, enter into any contract for the
sale or purchase of any security specified in the notification except to the extent and in
the manner, if any, specified therein.
(2) All contracts in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1) entered into after
the date of the notification issued thereunder shall be illegal.
Licensing of dealers in securities in certain cases
(1) Subject to the provision of sub-section (3) and to the other provisions contained in
this Act, no person shall carry on or purport to carry on, whether on his own behalf or on
behalf of any other person, the business of dealing in securities in any State or area to
which section 13 has not been declared to apply and to which the Central Government
may, by notification in the Official Gazette declare this section to apply, except under the
authority of a licence granted by the [Securities and Exchange Board of India]30 in this
behalf.
(2) No notification under sub- section (1) shall be issued with respect to any State or area
unless the Central Government is satisfied, having regard to the manner in which
securities are being dealt with in such State or area, that it is desirable or expedient in the
interest of the trade or in the public interest that such dealings should be regulated by a
system of licensing.
(3) The restrictions imposed by sub-section (1) in relation to dealings in securities shall
not apply to the doing of anything by or on behalf of a member of any recognised stock
exchange.
Exclusion of spot delivery contracts
If the Central Government is of opinion that in the interest of the trade or in the public
interest it is expedient to regulate and control the business of dealing in spot delivery
contracts also in any State or are (whether section 13 has been declared to apply to that
State or area or not), it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that the
provisions of section 17 shall also apply to such State or area in respect of spot delivery
contracts generally or in respect of spot delivery contract for the sale or purchase of such
securities as may be specified in the notification, and may also specify the manner in
which, and the extent to which, the provision of that section shall so apply.
18A. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force,
contracts are -
a. traded on a recognised stock exchange;
b. settled on the clearing house of the recognised stock exchange in accordance with
the rules and bye-laws of such stock exchange.
Stock exchanges other than recognised stock exchanges prohibited
(1) No person shall, except with the permission of the Central Government, organise or
assist in organising or be a member of any stock exchange (other than a recognised stock
exchange) for the purpose of assisting in, entering into or performing any contracts in
securities.
(2) This section shall come into force in any State or area on such date, as the Central
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
LISTING OF SECURITIES
Conditions for listing
Where securities are listed on the application of any person in any recognised stock
exchange, such person shall comply with the conditions of the listing agreement with that
stock exchange.]
Right of appeal against refusal of stock exchanges to list securities of public
companies
Where a recognised stock exchange acting in pursuance of any power given to it by its
bye- laws, refuses to list the securities of any public company or collective investment
scheme the company or scheme shall be entitled to be furnished with reasons for such
refusal, any may,-
(a) within fifteen days from the date on which the reasons for such refusal are
furnished to it, or
(b) where the stock exchange has omitted or failed to dispose of, within the time
specified in sub-section (1) of section 73 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)
(hereafter in this section referred to as the "specified time"), the application for
permission for the shares or debentures to be dealt with on the stock exchange,
within fifteen days from the date of expiry of the specified time or within such
further period, not exceeding one month, as the Central Government may, on
sufficient cause being shown, allow,
appeal to the Central Government against such refusal, omission or failure, as the
case may be, and thereupon the Central Government may, after giving the Stock
Exchange an opportunity of being heard,-
(i) vary or set aside the decision of the stock exchange; or
(ii) where the stock exchange has omitted or failed to dispose of the
application within the specified time, grant or refuse the permission and
where the Central Government sets aside the decision of the recognised
stock exchange or grants the permission, the stock exchange shall act in
conformity with the orders of the Central Government.
Provided that no appeal shall be preferred against refusal, omission or
failure, as the case may be, under this section on and after the
commencement of the Securities Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 1999.
Right of Appeal to Securities Appellate Tribunal against refusal of stock exchange
to list securities of public companies
(1) Where a recognised stock exchange, acting in pursuance of any power given to it by
its bye-laws, refuses to list the securities of any public company, the company shall be
entitled to be furnished with reasons for such refusal, and may, -
a. within fifteen days from the date on which the reasons for such refusal are
furnished to it, or
b. where the stock exchange has omitted or failed to dispose of, within the time
specified in sub-section (1A) of section 73 of the Companies Act, 1956 (hereafter
in this section referred to as the "specified time"), the application for permission
for the shares or debentures to be dealt with on the stock exchange, within fifteen
days from the date of expiry of the specified time or within such further period,
not exceeding one month, as the Securities Appellate Tribunal may, on sufficient
cause being shown, allow,appeal to the Securities Appellate Tribunal having
jurisdiction in the matter against such refusal, omission or failure, as the case may
be, and thereupon the Securities Appellate Tribunal may, after giving the stock
exchange, an opportunity of being heard,-
i.
vary or set aside the decision of the stock exchange; or
ii.
where the stock exchange has omitted or failed to dispose of the
application within the specified time, grant or refuse the permission,
and where the Securities Appellate Tribunal sets aside the decision of the
recognised stock exchange or grants the permission, the stock exchange shall act
in conformity with the orders of the Securities Appellate Tribunal.
(2) Every appeal under sub-section (1) shall be in such form and be accompanied by
such fee as may be prescribed.
(3) The Securities Appellate Tribunal shall send a copy of every order made by it to the
Board and parties to the appeal.
(4) The appeal filed before the Securities Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (1) shall
be dealt with by it as expeditiously as possible and endeavour shall be made by it to
dispose of the appeal finally within six months from the date of receipt of the appeal.
Procedure and powers of Securities Appellate Tribunal
(1) The Securities Appellate Tribunal shall not be guided by the principles of natural
justice and, subject to the other provisions of this Act and of any rules, the Securities
Appellate Tribunal shall have powers to regulate their own procedure including the
places at which they shall have their sittings.
(2) The Securities Appellate Tribunal shall have for the purpose of discharging their
functions under this Act, the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of
Civil Procedure, 1908, while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:-
a. summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on
oath;
b. requiring the discovery and production of documents;
c. receiving evidence on affidavits;
d. issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents;
e. reviewing its decisions;
f. dismissing an application for default or deciding it ex-parte;
g. setting aside any order of dismissal of any application for default or any order
passed by it ex-parte; and
h. any other matter which may be prescribed.
(3) Every proceeding before Securities Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed to be a
judicial proceeding, within the meaning of sections 193 and 228, and for the purposes of
section 196 of the Indian Penal Code and the Securities Appellate Tribunal shall b
deemed to be a civil court for all the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
Right to legal representations
The appellant may either appear in person or authorise one or more chartered accountants
or company secretaries or cost accountants or legal practitioners or any of its officers or
present his or its case before the Securities Appellate Tribunal.
Explanation. - For the purposes of this section, -
a. "chartered accountant" means a chartered accountant as defined in clause (b) of
sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 and who has
obtained a certificate of practice under sub-section (1) of section 6 of that Act;
b. "company secretary" means a company secretary as defined in clause (c) of sub-
section (1) of section 2 of the Company Secretaries Act, 1980 and who has
obtained a certificate of practice under sub-section (1) of section 6 of that Act;
c. "cost accountant" means a cost accountant as defined in clause (b) of sub-section
(1) of section 2 of the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 and who has
obtained a certificate of practice under sub-section (1) of section 6 of that Act;
d. "legal practitioner" means an advocate, vakil or an attorney of any High Court,
and includes a pleader in practice.
Limitation
The provisions of the Limitation Act, 1963 shall as far as may be apply to an appeal made
to a Securities Appellate Tribunal.
Civil court not to have jurisdiction
No civil court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in respect of any
matter which a Securities Appellate Tribunal is empowered by or under this Act to
determine and no injunction shall be granted by any court or other authority in respect of
any action taken or to be taken in pursuance of any power conferred by or under this Act.
Appeal to High Court
Any person aggrieved by any decision or order of the Securities Appellate Tribunal may
file an appeal to the High Court within sixty days from the date of communication of the
decision or order of the Securities Appellate Tribunal on any question of fact or law
arising out of such order;
Provided that the High Court may, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by
sufficient cause from filing the appeal within the said period, allow it to be filed within a
further period not exceeding sixty days..
PENALTIES AND PROCEDURES
Penalties
(1) Any person who-
(a) without reasonable excuse (the burden of proving which shall be on him) fails
to comply with any requisition made under sub- section (4) of section 6; or
(b) enters into any contract in contravention of any of the provisions contained in
section 13 or section 16; or
(c) contravenes the provisions contained in section 17 or section 19; or
(d) enters into any contract in derivative in contravention of section 18 A or the
rules made under section 30.
(e) owns or keeps a place other than that of a recognised stock exchange which is
used for the purpose of entering into or performing any contracts in contravention
of any of the provisions of this Act and knowingly permits such place to be used
for such purposes; or
(f) manages, controls, or assists in keeping any place other than that of a
recognised stock exchange which is used for the purpose of entering into or
performing any contracts in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or
at which contracts are recorded or adjusted or rights or liabilities arising out of
contracts are adjusted, regulated or enforced in any manner whatsoever; or
(g) not being a member of a recognised stock exchange or his agent authorised as
such under the rules or bye- laws of such stock exchange or not being a dealer in
securities licensed under section 17
(h) not being a member of a recognised stock exchange or his agent authorised as
such under the rules or bye- laws of such stock exchange or not being a dealer in
securities licensed under section 17, canvasses, advertises or touts in any manner
either for himself or on behalf of any other person for any business connected
with contracts in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act; or
(i) joins, gathers or assists in gathering at any place other than the place of
business specified in the bye-laws of a recognised stock exchange any person or
persons for making bids or offers or for entering into or performing any contracts
in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act; shall, on conviction, be
punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with
fine, or with both.
(2) Any person who enters into any contract in contravention of the provisions
contained in section 15 [or who fails to comply with the provisions of section 21 or with
the orders of] the Central Government under section 22 or with the orders of the
Securities Appellate Tribunal shall, on conviction, be punishable with fine which may
extend to one thousand rupees.
Offences by companies
(1) Where an offence has been committed by a company, every person who, at the time
when the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company
for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed
to be guilty of the offence, and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished
accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to
any punishment provided in this Act, if he proves that the offence was committed without
his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such
offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this
Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been
committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any gross negligence
on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such
director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, shall also be deemed to be
guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished
accordingly.
Certain offences to be cognizable
Notwithstanding anything contained in the [Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of
1898)], any offence punishable under sub-section (1) of section 23, shall be deemed to be
a cognizable offence within the meaning of that Code. Jurisdiction to try offences under
this Act 26. No court inferior to that of a presidency magistrate or a magistrate of the first
class shall take cognizance of or try any offence punishable under this Act.
MISCELLANEOUS
Title to dividends
(1) It shall be lawful for the holder of any security whose name appears on the books of
the company issuing the said security to receive and retain any dividend declared by the
company in respect thereof for any year, notwithstanding that the said security has
already been transferred by him for consideration, unless the transferee who claims the
dividend from the transferor has lodged the security and all other documents relating to
the transfer which may be required by the company with the company for being
registered in his name within fifteen days of the date on which the dividend became due.
(2) Nothing contained in sub- section (1) shall affect -
a. the right of a company to pay any dividend which has become due to any person
whose name is for the time being registered in the books of the company as the
holder of the security in respect of which the dividend has become due; or
b. the right of the transferee of any security to enforce against the transferor or any
other person his rights, if any, in relation to the transfer in any case where the
company has refused to register the transfer of the security in the name of the
transferee.
Right to receive income from collective investment scheme. ?
(1) It shall be lawful for the holder of any securities, being units or other instruments
issued by collective investment scheme, whose name appears on the books of the
collective investment scheme issuing the said security to receive and retain any income in
respect of units or other instruments issued by the collective investment scheme declared
by the collective investment scheme in respect thereof for any year notwithstanding that
the said security, being units or other instruments issued by collective investment scheme,
has already been transferred by him for consideration, unless the transferee who claims
the income in respect of units or other instruments issued by collective investment
scheme from the transfer or has lodged the security and all other documents relating to
the transfer which may be required by the collective investment scheme with the
collective investment scheme for being registered in his name within fifteen days of the
date on which the income in respect of units or other instruments issued by the collective
investment scheme became due.
(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall affect -
a. the right of a collective investment scheme to pay any income from units or other
instruments issued by collective investment scheme which has become due to any
person whose name is for the time being registered in the books of the collective
investment scheme as the holder of the security being units or other instruments
issued by collective investment scheme in respect of which the income in respect
of units or other instruments issued by collective scheme has become due; or
b. the right of transferee of any security, being units or other instruments issued by
collective investment scheme, to enforce against the transferor or any other person
his rights, if any, in relation to the transfer in any case where the company has
refused to register the transfer of the security being units or other instruments
issued by collective investment scheme in the name of the transferee.
Act not to apply in certain cases
(1) The provisions of this Act shall not apply to-
(a) the Government, the Reserve Bank of India, any local authority or any
corporation set up by a special law or any person who has effected any transaction
with or through the agency of any such authority as is referred to in this clause;
(b) any convertible bond or share warrant or any option or right in relation
thereto, in so far as it entitles the person in whose favour any of the foregoing has
been issued to obtain at his option from the company or other body corporate,
issuing the same or from any of its shareholders or duly appointed agents, shares
of the company or other body corporate, whether by conversion of the bond or
warrant or otherwise, on the basis of the price agreed upon when the same was
issued.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (1), if the Central
Government is satisfied that in the interests of trade and commerce or the economic
development of the country it is necessary or expedient so to do, it may, by notification in
the Official Gazette, specify any class of contracts as contracts to which this Act or any
provision contained therein shall not apply, and also the conditions, limitations or
restrictions, if any, subject to which it shall not so apply.
Protection of action taken in good faith
No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding whatsoever shall lie in any court against
the governing body or any member, office bearer or servant of any recognised stock
exchange or against any person or persons appointed under sub-section (1) of section 11
for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act
or of any rules or bye-laws made thereunder.
Power to delegate
The Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, direct that the
powers (except the power under section 30) exercisable by such conditions, if any, as
may be specified in the order, be exercisable also by the Securities and Exchange Board
of India or the Reserve Bank of India constituted under section 3 of the Reserve Bank of
India Act, 1934.
Power to make rules
(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for
the purpose of carrying into effect the objects of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such
rules may provide for,
(a) the manner in which applications may be made, the particulars which they should
contain and the levy of a fee in respect of such applications;
(b) the manner in which any inquiry for the purpose of recognizing any stock
exchange may be made, the conditions which may be imposed for the grant of
such recognition, including conditions as to the admission of members if the stock
exchange concerned is to be the only recognised stock exchange in the area; and
the form in which such recognition shall be granted;
(c) the particulars which should be contained in the periodical returns and annual
reports to be furnished to the Central Government;
(d) the documents which should be maintained and preserved under section 6 and
the periods for which they should be preserved;
(e) the manner in which any inquiry by the governing body of a stock exchange
shall be made under section 6;
(f) the manner in which the bye-laws to be made or amended under this Act shall
before being so made or amended be published for criticism;
(g) the manner in which applications may be made by dealers in securities for
licences under section 17, the fee payable in respect thereof and the period of such
licences, the conditions subject to which licences may be granted, including
conditions relating to the forms which may be used in making contracts, the
documents to be maintained by licensed dealers and the furnishing of periodical
information to such authority as may be specified and the revocation of licences
for breach of conditions;
(h) the requirements which shall be complied with -
(A) by public companies for the purpose of getting their securities listed
on any stock exchange;
(B) by collective investment scheme for the purpose of getting their units
listed on any stock exchange.
(ha) the form in which an appeal may be filed before the Securities Appellate
Tribunal under section 22A and the fees payable in respect of such appeal.
(i) any other matter which is to be or may be prescribed.
(3) Any rules made under this section shall, as soon as may be, after their publication in
the Official Gazette, be laid before both Houses of Parliament. Repeal 31. Repealed by
the Repealing and Amending Act, 1960 (58 of 1960), section 2 and Schedule 1.
Part - III
Companies Act 1956
The Companies Act which regulates the activities of the companies from birth to
death has provided for the sources of finance for companies and the methods of
marketing the public issues which are marketable. These are in the form of ownership
category, namely, Equities and Preference shares and Debt capital in the form of
convertible and non-convertible debentures, fixed deposits etc. Under the Companies
Act, Sections 55 to 68 provided for issue of prospectus, its contents, Registration of
Prospectus, civil and criminal liabilities of the Directors for any mis-statements in
prospectus etc.
The Act has laid down the methods of raising new issues, namely, through
prospectus, letter of offer or statement in lieu of prospectus, Rights and Bonus. Section
58 A and B deal with the conditions for acceptance of deposits, repayments of deposits,
etc. while companies (acceptance of deposits) Rules of 1975 laid down the period of
maturity, interest rates and other conditions. As company deposits are an avenue of
investment, the details regarding them are dealt with briefly later.
Sections 69 to 73 deal with the allotment of new issues of applicants, delivery of
certificates and their listing on Stock Exchanges. The allotment is also governed by the
guidelines given by the Stock Exchanges as per the listing agreement in the case of listed
companies.
The basic framework for trading is provided by the Companies Act in the form of
(1) Marketing the shares as movable property under Section 82.
(2) Ensuring transferability of shares in respect of public limited companies under
sections 108-112.
(3) The transfer deed through which share certificates are to be transferred is
provided for under Section 108 which was amended to legalise the demat form of
transfer since 1999.
(4) The validity of the transfer deed under Section 111 is 12 months in the case of
listed companies and 24 months in the case of non-listed companies.
(5) Section 114 provides for issue of share warrants.
So far as investors are concerned, it is desirable that they know the main provisions of
the Companies Act, because the issue of prospectus, the contents of it, allotment of
new issues, dispatch of certificates, transferability etc., are all laid down in it. The
rights of shareholders and debenture holders, and different categories of creditors and
debtors of companies are set out. The book closure for accounts, presentation of
Balance Sheet and Income-Expenditure accounts, payments of dividends etc., are all
provided for in this Act. In Particular, Section 82 provides for transferability of shares
and Section 73 lays down the conditions for listing of Public Limited Companies.
While these sections ensure the marketability of shares of listed public limited
companies, trading in them is made possible by the Securities Contracts Regulation
Act and the Rules made thereunder.
In view of the fact at purchase and sale of shares through recognized Stock
Exchanges and through licensed Stock Brokers are only legal, and those are governed
by the SC (R) Act, the investors have to be familiar with this Act and the Rules made
thereunder. The relation between the Brokers and Investors and in particular, the
disputes if any, between them are governed by the Rules and Bye-laws of the Stock
Exchanges which are formulated under this Act.
Acceptance of Fixed Deposits
A company cannot accept deposits in excess of 35% of the paid up capital and free
reserves. Of this, 25 % deposits can be accepted from the public and the rest 10% from
shareholders of the company. The minimum period of acceptance of deposits is one year
and the maximum period is limited to 3 years. The company is under an obligation to
maintain an amount not less than 15% of the company`s deposit liability maturing during
the course of the year, in liquid investments such as Government securities, units,
deposits with banks etc. The maximum rate of interest that can be offered on deposits is
fixed at 16% (1999). A ceiling on brokerage payable on deposits has been fixed at 1%.
The interest earned on fixed deposits of companies does not enjoy any exemption from
income tax. Neither does the amount of deposit qualify for any exemption under wealth
tax. Under the existing provisions of the Income Tax Act, tax on interest paid/payable is
deducted at source if the interest payment exceeds Rs. 2,500 in a financial year unless
suitable declaration is furnished by the depositor in regard to the total income of the
depositor not exceeding the minimum liable to tax in a financial year (form 15 H under
I.T. Act)
The acceptance of deposits by non-bank non-financial companies is governed by the
Companies (acceptance of deposits) Rules 1975 as amended from time to time. Along
with the prescribed application form the terms and conditions of acceptance of deposits
are required to be furnished by companies, to the RBI in the case of non-bank finance
companies and a copy in case of non-bank non-finance companies.
A careful study of either the financial data in the advertisement or the prescribed
particulars as available within the application form would generally reveal the working
results and the financial position of the company.
Compulsory Repayment of Deposits which have Matured for Repayment
The Companies Act, 1956 has been amended by the Companies (Amendment)
Act, 1988 with effect from 1.9.1989 so as to provide for compulsory repayment of
deposits which have matured for repayment (Section 58(9)]. Under the amended
provisions, the Company Law Board has been empowered to take cognizance of non-
repayment of any deposit on maturity and to direct repayment of such deposits on
such conditions as may be specified by the Company Law Board in its Order. This
will help and ensure repayment of public deposits and will create confidence amongst
the public.
Procedure for Making Application to Company Law Board
The person holding a matured fixed deposit which he has not renewed and which
the company has failed to repay, has to make an application in triplicate in Form No.
11. The application has to be accompanied by a fee payable by way of bank draft in
favour of the Pay & Accounts Officer, Dept. of Company Affairs, New
Delhi/Mumbai/Calcutta/Chennai.
The Company Law Board has four Regional Benches. The aggrieved depositors may
make an application to the Bench of the Company Law Board having jurisdiction
according to the Registered Office of the company. The Company Law Board would,
after giving a reasonable opportunity of hearing to the company and other persons
interested in the matter, make suitable orders for repayment of such deposits. Non-
compliance of the order of the Company Law Board is a punishable offence attracting
penalty by way of imprisonment upto 3 years and fine of not less than Rs. 50 for
every day till such non-compliance continues.
Where the deposit which has fallen due for payment remains unpaid the depositor
can seek remedy in a civil court, or can file an application for winding up of the
company to the court after serving on the company written demand requiring the
company to repay the deposit (Section 433, 434 and 439 of the Companies Act may
be referred to for the purpose). The SEBI is not permitting such companies to make
public issues.
Cases in Respect of which applications to the
Company Law Board will not lie
It is essential to know that under Section 58A of the Companies Act, the power to
order repayment of matured deposits can be exercised by the CLB only in respect of
deposits accepted Under the Companies (Acceptance of Deposit) Rules 1975 as
amended from time to time. In other words, an application to the Company Law
Board of repayment of matured deposits shall not lie in the following cases:
(i)
Deposits made for booking purchases of scooter, car etc.
(ii)
Deposits accepted by financial companies like, hire-purchase finance
company, a housing finance company, an investment company, a loan/mutual
benefit financial company, a chit fund company, which are governed by the
rules made by the RBI.
(iii)
Deposits accepted by companies which have been notified as relief
undertakings` under special laws enacted by various State Governments.
Court rulings point to the fact that the monetary liabilities of relief
undertakings during the notified period stand suspended and any proceedings
including the proceedings for compulsory repayment of deposits under
Section 58A (9) shall accordingly remain stayed.
(iv)
Deposits accepted by a sick industrial company covered by the Sick Industrial
Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 in respect of which, the Board for
Industrial and Financial Reconstruction has specifically, by order suspended
the operations of any contract, agreement, settlement, etc. under Section 22(3)
of the Act.
Facts about Company Deposits
The deposits accepted by a company are not repayable before the date of maturity.
It is left to the discretion of a company to allow premature repayment of a deposit. If and
when the deposits are prematurely repaid the depositors are entitled to a lower rate of
interest than the contracted rate. Most importantly, the company deposits are unsecured
and rank pari passu with other unsecured liabilities. Hence, the investor has no recourse
to any asset of the company in case of default by a company to repay the deposit on
maturity.
Care to be exercised while investing in Fixed Deposits
Invitation to deposits from public for various schemes of deposits is invariably
published in newspapers in the form of a statutory advertisement giving the following
details:
(i)
Terms of acceptance of deposits, rate of interest on different maturities,
minimum amount of deposits, cumulative or non-cumulative nature of the
deposit, etc.
(ii)
Brief details of the name of the company, date of its incorporation, business
carried on by it, places where the company has offices and names and address
of directors.
(iii)
Details of profits and dividends for the last three years.
(iv)
Summarized financial position to the company (i.e., assets and liabilities) as
appearing in the two latest audited balance sheets, alongwith details of
contingent liabilities not provided for.
(v)
Details regarding maximum amount of deposits which a company can accept.
(vi)
A specific declaration that deposits accepted are unsecured and would rank
pari passu with other unsecured liabilities.
(vii) A statement of deposits remaining unpaid.
PROBLEMS IN SECURITIES MARKETS
Securities markets are highly sensitive to any socio-economic and political
factors. A large element of speculation is rampant in these markets and a right dose of
regulation is a necessary evil. The sensitivity of external factors has increased after 1992
economic and financial reforms. When liberalization and globalization trends began to be
perceptible.
Lack of professionalisation and broker-banks nexus has led to a number of scams.
Even big banks got involved in Scams, in 1991-92 and 2000-01. Corruption and
malpractices including mismanagement led to many bank failures, involving the U.T.I. as
we. The trust and confidence reposed in the markets by investors were rudely shaken by
the failure of u.s. 64 Scheme of UTI, urban corporative banks` failures and non-refund of
deposits by many financial and non-financial companies. The laxity in regulation and in
supervision by C.L.B., SEBI and RBI is one obvious reason for increased malpractices in
the financial system, shaking the confidence of savers and investors.
Part - IV
FOREIGN INSTITUTIONAL INVESTMENTS IN INDIA (FII)
Several economic forces, operating on both demand as well as supply side, have
made markets totally global. Taken literally, it means that borrowers and investors go
shopping around the world, picking up funds wherever they find them convenient and
cheap. A pressure has come from growing number of institutionally managed funds
(pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds), which have actively pursued a
policy of diversifying their portfolios internationally. These institutions have been
investing abroad, particularly in 1980s to take advantage of higher returns available on
the foreign securities. British pension fund holdings of foreign securities raised from 5
per cent of their total assets at end-1978 to 12 per cent at end-1985 an increase of $16
billion. Since 1980, Japanese insurance companies and pension funds have been allowed
to hold upto 10 per cent of their portfolios in foreign assets and are estimated to have
invested about $ 20 billion abroad.
RATIONAL OF FOREIGN INSTITUTIONAL INVESTMENT(FII) IN INDIA
Why are FIIs so optimistic about investing in India?
1.
Macro-economic fundamentals are much stronger today.
2.
Fiscal reforms have succeeded in a large measure in curtailing inflation.
3.
The Forex position is fine.
4.
Liberalisation of trade has been accompanied by convertibility of the
rupee for trade transactions.
5.
Exchange rate is stable.
6.
Domestic Private investment is being encouraged.
7.
Government`s attitude is conductive for healthy competition and industrial
growth.
8.
Economic activity is beginning to rely more on price and market
mechanisms.
India is waking up to the possible leveraging impact of FPI, in spurring its
development efforts. As of now, FIIs control, globally, a $7.5 trillion, or Rs.2,
250.000 crore investment portfolio and this is expected to go up to an incredible $
20 trillion by the turn of the century. Since September 1992, when the
government allowed FIIs to invest in the Indian capital market, 70 FIIs registered
with SEBI and the number is increasing everyday. These 70 FIIs alone hold
enormous financial power. If even one per cent of their portfolio were to come to
India it would be about $3 billion. So far, they are believed to have brought in
only about $ 150 million. According to some estimates $ 1 billion has already
come into the Indian market through three major routes, i.e., direct portfolio
investment, country funds and equity and quasi equity issues in the world markets
placed by Indian firms.
KEY FACTORS AFFECTING FIIs
1.
Progressive management with good credentials.
2.
Sound technological base, quite possibly with foreign
collaborations.
3.
International competitiveness and good export potential.
4.
A widely dispersed share holding, that rules out the possibility of
family funds destabilising the management and performance.
5.
Market capitalisation greater than Rs.100 crore or so, and
6.
Participation by other financial institutions.
SEBI GUIDELINES
As the regulatory authority of the Indian Capital Market, the SEBI has issued a list of
guidelines for FIIs. Some of the important guidelines are listed below:
1.
FIIs would be required to obtain an initial registration with
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), nodal regulatory
agency for securities markets, before any investment is made by
them in the securities of companies listed on the stock exchanges
in India, in accordance with these guidelines. Nominee companies,
affiliates and subsidiary companies of a FII will be treated as
separate FIIs for registration and may seek separate registration
with SEBI.
2.
Since there are foreign exchange controls also in force, for various
permissions under exchange control, along with their application
for initial registration, FIIs shall also file with SEBI another
application addressed to RBI for seeking various permissions
under FERA, in a format that would be specified by RBI for this
purpose. RBIs general permission would be obtained by SEBI
before granting initial registration and RBI`s FERA permission
together by SEBI, under a single window approach.
3.
For granting registration to the FII, SEBI shall take into account,
the track record of the FII, its professional competence, financial
soundness, experience and such other criteria that may be
considered by SEBI to be relevant. Besides, FIIs seeking initial
registration with SEBI shall be required to hold a registration from
the securities commission, or the country of domicile/incorporation
of the FII.
4.
SEBI`s initial registration would be valid for five years. RBI`s general
permission under FERA to the FII will also hold good for five years. Both will be
renewable for similar five years period later on.
5.
RBI`s general permission under FERA would enable the registered FII to buy, sell
and realise capital gains on investment made through initial corpus remitted to
India, subscribe/renounce right offering of shares, invest on all recognised stock
exchanges through a designated bank branch, and to appoint a domestic custodian
for custody of investments held.
6.
There would be no restriction on the volume of investment-minimum or
maximum for the purpose of entry of FIIs, in the primary/secondary market.
Also, there would be no lock-in period prescribed for the purposes of such
investments made by FIIs. It is expected that the differential in the rates of
taxation of the long-term capital gains and short-term capital gains would
automatically induce the FIIs to retain their investments as long-term investments.
7.
Portfolio investments in primary or secondary markets will be subject to a ceiling
of 24 per cent of issued share capital for the total holding of all registered FIIs, in
any one company. The ceiling would apply to all holdings taking into account the
conversions out of the fully and partly convertible debentures issued by the
company. The holding of a single FII in any company would also be subject to a
ceiling of 5 per cent of total issued capital. For this purpose, the holdings of a FII
group will be counted as holding of a single FII.
The RBI has now restricted the foreign institutional investors quota in primary
issues. This decision has been taken after complaints that companies are reducing the
quota for NRI`s in public issue while allotting the full 24% to the FIIs.
8.
The maximum holding of 24 per cent for all non-resident portfolio investments,
including those of the registered FIIs, will also include NRI corporate and non-
corporate investments, but will not include the following:
(a) Foreign investments under financial collaborations (direct foreign
investments), which are permitted upto 51 per cent in all priority areas.
(b) Investments by FIIs through the following alternative routes:
(c) Offshore single/Regional funds:
(i) Offshore single/Regional funds;
(ii) Global Depository Receipts; and
(iii) Euro convertibles.
9.
Disinvestments will be allowed only through stock exchange in India, including
the OTC Exchange. In exceptional cases, SEBI may permit sales other than through
stock exchanges, provided the sale price is not significantly different from the stock
market quotations, where available.
10.
All secondary market operations would be only through the recognised
intermediaries on the Indian Stock Exchange, including OTC Exchange of India. A
registered FII would be expected not to engage in any short selling in securities and to
take delivery of purchased and give delivery of sold securities.
11.
A registered FII can appoint as custodian an agency approved by SEBI to act as a
custodian of securities and for confirmation of transactions in securities, settlement of
purchase and sale and for information reporting. Such custodian shall establish separate
accounts for detailing on a daily basis the investment capital utilisation and securities
held by each FII for which it is acting as custodian. The custodian will report to the RBI
and SEBI semi-annually as part of its disclosure and reporting guidelines.
12.
The RBI shall make available to the designated bank branches a list of companies
where no investment will be allowed on the basis of the upper prescribed ceiling of 24
per cent having been reached under the portfolio investment scheme.
13.
RBI may at any time request by an order, a registered FII to submit information
regarding the records of utilisation of the inward remittances of investment capital and
the statement of securities transactions. RBI and or SEBI may at any time conduct a
direct inspection of the record and accounting books of a registered FII.
14.
FIIs investing under this scheme will benefit from a concessional tax regime of a
flat tax of 20 per cent on dividend and interest income and a tax rate of 10 per cent on
long-term (one year or more) capital gains.
PROBLEM AREAS IN FIIs IN INDIA
Following are some major problems faced by FII`s hindering investment in India:
(a)
The cumbersome rules that govern foreign institutional investment in
India and the archaic system of its stock exchange have forced the FIIs to
divert a substantial portion of their investments into the offshore
instruments floated by Indian Companies, instead of directly investing in
the Indian Capital market.
(b)
Another factor that has limited grater investment in the stock market is the
fact that most money managers find greater value and growth potential in
the second tier of Indian Companies as the economy opens upto a greater
competition.
(c)
The settlement systems are complicated and fraught with risks which few
of them have any experience of counterpart, risks, default, and
unreasonable delays.
(d)
The brokerage system is not transparent.
(e)
The Indian brokers are under-capitalized.
(f)
There is lack of adequate custodial services.
(g)
Registration of shares can be an agonising process.
(h)
There are frequent interruptions in the working of the bourses.
(i)
Trading volumes are very low and less than 20 per cent of the total volume
is for delivery.
Foreign Institutional Investors- Recent Trends
With a view to facilitating the entry of Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) into
the country SEBI has simplified the common application forms. The entry of FIIs is also
to be facilitated by increasing the role of foreign brokers in the transactions of FIIs.
Foreign brokers will be allowed to assist FIIs and operate on their behalf by transmitting
orders to buy or sell securities to members of the Indian Stock Exchanges. These foreign
brokers have been permitted to open bank and custodial accounts for this purpose.
Government have also allowed some foreign firms to set up joint ventures in the financial
sector.
There has been a continuous increase in the number of FIIs registered with SEBI
and in the volume of investments effected by them in India. Till the middle of January
1994, SEBI and registered 134 FIIs who have 175 broad-based institutional funds under
them which have also been approved for investment in the market. About US $ 1 billion
have already been invested by these FIIs. The size of the inflow of investment funds and
the increase in t he number of FIIs registered in India are indicative of the growing
confidence of the international investing community in Indian markets and their
regulatory mechanism. The short-term capital gains of FIIs will be taxed at the rater of
30 per cent while long-term capital gains are taxed at 10 per cent. The will guard against
volatility in fund flow. Dividend payments will be subject to a tax rate of 20 per cent.
PART V
GUIDELINES TO INVESTORS
1. Deal with a registered member of the stock exchange. If you are dealing with a
sub-broker, make sure that all bills and contracts are made in the name of a registered
broker.
2. Insist that all your deals are done in the trading ring, or electronically recorded.
3. Give specific orders to buy or sell within the fixed price limits and/or time
periods within which orders have to be executed.
4. Insist on contract notes to be passed on to you on the dates, when the orders are
executed.
5. Make sure that your deal is registered with the stock exchange in a souda Block
Book or recorded electronically. In the case of a dispute, this will help trace the details of
the deal easily.
6. Collect a settlement table from the stock exchange mentioning the pay-in and
pay-out days. Each stock exchange has its own trading periods which are called
settlements. All transactions done within this period are settled at the end of it. All
payments for shares bought and their deliveries take place on the pay-in day. An
awareness of pay-in and pay-out days is useful when a broker tries to make excuses.
7. Keep separate records of dealings in specified shares (Group A) and non-
specified shares (Group B1, and B2). The settlement for each is on different days.
8. Execute periodic settlements of dues and delivery of shares to avoid
accumulation of transactions,
9. Insist on delivery. If the company returns your papers and shares with
objections, contact your broker immediately.
10. Ensure that shares bought are transferred in your name before the company's
book closure date. This is necessary to make sure that you receive benefits like dividend,
interest and bonus shares. All companies have a book closure date on which the list of
shareholders in the company is finalised.
11. Complain if the broker does not deliver the shares bought in your name.
Proceed to contact another broker with the bill/contract given to you by the earlier broker,
and the Exchange authorities and the latter will purchase the shares on your behalf. In
such an event, the first broker will have to pay the difference in price.
12. Do not sell shares that are not transferred in your name after the book closure
as these are not valid in the market.
13. Do not sell/deal in shares where any one of the holders has passed away. In
cases where the holder has died, a succession certificate is necessary. In cases where one
of the joint shareholders passes away, the surviving holder should send the shares along
with the death certificate to the company. Only after the name of the deceased has been
deleted from the shares, can they be transferred.
14. Do not expect the money for shares to come immediately. It will take at least a
fortnight at present from the date of transaction.
15. Unless you have a special arrangement with the broker, do not expect the
adjustment of purchases and sales against one another. One pays first and receives later
16. Do not take delays or harassment lying down. You have to complain to the
Grievance Cell of the stock exchange or the Securities and Exchange Board of India
(SEBI) in case of delay or harassment.
*******************
SECURITY MARKET
Security market or capital market may be defined as a market for borrowing and lending
long-term capital funds required by business enterprises. Capital market is the market for
financial assets that have long or indefinite maturity. Capital market offers an ideal
source of external finance. Capital market forms an important core of a country`s
financial systems too.
It refers to all the facilities and the institutional arrangements for borrowing and
lending medium-term and long ? term funds. Like any market, the capital market is also
composed of those who demand funds (borrowers) and those who supply funds (lenders).
CHARACTERISTICS
Following are the characteristic features of a security market:
Securities Market
The dealings in a capital market are done through the securities like shares, debentures,
etc. The capital market is thus called securities market.
Security Prices
The price of securities that are dealt with in the capital market is determined through the
general laws of demand and supply. The equilibrium in demand and supply of securities
is brought about by the prices. The price depends upon a large number of factors such as
the following.
1. Yield on securities
2. Extent of funds available from public savings
3. Level of demand for funds
4. Flow of funds from the banking system
5. Price situation in general
6. Attitude towards liquidity on the part of investors
Participants
There are many players in the capital market. The participants constitute a plethora of
institutions, which provide a wide variety of services of access to capital. The capital is
either directly supplied or arranged through financial intermediaries. These intermediaries
form the basic edifice of a capital market. The participants in the capital market include:
1. Financial intermediaries like insurance companies, investment companies,
pension funds, etc
2. Non-financial business enterprises
3. Ultimate economic units like households and Governments
Location
It is interesting to note that the capital market is not confined to certain specific locations,
although it is true that parts of the market are concentrated in certain well-known centers
known as Stock Exchanges. It exists all over the economy, wherever suppliers and users
of capital get together and do business.
FUNCTIONS
The functions that are performed by the security market are detailed below:
Allocation Function
Capital market allows for the channelisation of the savings of innumerable investors into
various productive avenues of investments. Accordingly, the current savings for a period
are allocated amongst the various users and uses. The market attracts new investors who
are willing to make new funds available to business. It also allocates and rations funds by
a system of incentives and penalties.
Liquidity Function
Capital market provides a means whereby buyers and sellers can exchange securities at
mutually satisfactory prices. This allows better liquidity for the securities that are traded.
Other Functions
In addition to the functions of funds allocation and liquidity, capital market also renders
the following functions:
Indicative function A capital market acts as a barometer showing not only the progress
of a company, but also of the economy as a whole through share price movements.
Savings and Investment function Capital market provides a means of quickly converting
long-term investment into liquid funds, thereby generating confidence among investors
and speeding up the process of saving and investment.
Transfer function Capital market facilitates the transfer of existing assets ? tangible and
intangible ? among individual economic units or groups.
Merger function Capital market encourages voluntary or coercive take-over mechanism
to put the management of inefficient companies into more competent hands.
CONSTITUENTS OF INDIAN CAPITAL MARKET
The Indian capital market is composed of the following:
1. The gilt-edged market
2. The industrial securities market
Gilt-edged Market
Gilt-edged Market` also known as Government Securities market, is the market for
Government and semi-Government securities. An important feature of the securities
traded in this market is that they are stable in value and are much sought after by banks.
Some of the special features of the gilt-edged market are as follows:
1. Guaranteed return on investments
2. No speculation in securities
3. Institutional based investors which are compelled by law to invest a portion of
their funds in these securities
4. Predominated by such institutions as LIC, GIC, the provident funds and the
commercial banks.
5. Heavy volume of transactions necessitating negotiation of each transaction.
Industrial Securities Market
The market for industrial securities is known as Industrial Securities Market`. It offers an
ideal market for corporate securities such as bonds and equities. Industrial securities
market comprises of the following segments:
1. Primary market
2. Secondary market
Primary Market
Meaning
Primary market also known as New Issues Market (NIM) is a market for raising fresh
capital in the form of shares and debentures. Corporate enterprises, which are desirous of
raising capital funds through the issue of securities, approach the primary market. Issues
exchange financial securities for long-term funds. The primary market allows for the
formation of capital in the country and the accelerated industrial and economic
development.
Modes of Raising Capital
Following are the popular ways by which capital funds are raised in the primary market:
Public issue where the securities are issued to the members of the general public, it takes
the form of public issue`. It is the most popular method of raising long-term funds.
Rights issue where the issue of equity shares of a body corporate is made to the existing
shareholders as a pre-emptive right, it takes the form of rights issue`. Under this method,
additional securities are offered fro subscription to the existing shareholders.
Private placement where the shares of a body corporate are sold to a group of small
investors, it takes the form of private placement`.
The Secondary Market
Meaning
A market which deals in securities that have been already issued by companies is known
as the secondary market`. It is also called the stock exchange or the share market.
Importance
The importance of the secondary market springs from the fact that it is the base upon
which rests the edifice of the primary market. In other words, for the efficient growth of
the primary market, a sound secondary market is an essential requirement. This is
because the secondary market offers an important facility of transfer of securities.
METHODS OF MARKETING SECURITIES
Following are the various methods being adopted by corporate entities for marketing
the securities in the New Issue Market:
Pure Prospectus Method
The method whereby a corporate enterprise mops up capital funds from the general
public by means of an issue of a prospectus, is called Pure Prospectus Method`. It is the
most popular method of making public issue of securities by corporate enterprises.
Features
Exclusive subscription Under this method, the new issues of a company are offered for
exclusive subscription of the general public. According to the SEBI norms, a minimum of
49 percent of the total issue at a time is to be offered to publice.
Issue price Direct offer is made by the issuing company to the general public to subscribe
to the securities at a stated price. The securities may be issued either at par, of at a
discount or at a premium.
Underwriting Public issue through the pure prospectus method` is usually underwritten.
This is to safeguard the interest of the issuer in the event of an unsatisfactory response
from the public.
Prospectus A document that contains information relating to the various aspects of the
issuing company, besides other details of the issue is called a Prospectus`. The document
is circulated to the public. The general details include the company`s name and address of
its registered office, the names and addresses of the company`s promoters, manager,
managing director, directors, company secretary, legal adviser, auditors, bankers, brokers,
etc the data of opening and closing of subscription list, contents of Articles, the names
and addresses of underwriters, the amount underwritten and the underwriting
commission, material details regarding the project, i.e. location, plant and machinery,
technology, collaboration, performance guarantee, infrastructure facilities, etc nature of
products, marketing set-up, export potentials and obligations, past performance and
future prospects, management`s perception regarding risk factor, credit rating obtained
from any other recognized rating agency, a statement regarding the fact that the company
will make an application to specified stock exchange(s) for listing its securities and so on.
Advantages
The pure prospectus method offers the following advantages to the issuer and the
investors alike:
Benefits to investors The pure prospectus method of marketing the securities serves as an
excellent mode of disclosure of all the information pertaining to the issue. Besides, it also
facilitates satisfactory compliance with the legal requirements of transparency, etc. It also
allows for good publicity for the issue. The method promotes confidence of investors
through transparency and non discriminatory basis of allotment. It prevents artificial
jacking up of prices as the issue is made public.
Benefits to issuers The pure prospectus method is the most popular method among the
large issuers. In addition it provides for wide diffusion of ownership of securities
contributing to reduction in the concentration of economic and social power.
Drawbacks
The raising of capital through the pure prospectus method is fraught with a number of
drawbacks as specified below:
High issue costs A major drawback of this method is that it is an expensive mode of
raising funds from the capital market. Costs of various hues are incurred in mobilizing
capital. Such costs as underwriting expenses, brokerage, administrative costs, publici9ty
costs, legal costs and other costs are incurred for raising funds. Due to the high cost
structure, this type of marketing of securities is followed only for large issues.
Time consuming The issue of securities through prospectus takes more time, as it
requires the due compliance with various formalities before an issue could take place. For
instance, a lot of work such as underwriting, etc should be formalized before the printing
and the issue of a prospectus.
Offer for Sale Method
Meaning
Where the marketing of securities takes place through intermediaries, such as issue
houses, stockbrokers and others, it is a case of Offer for Sale Method`.
Features
Under this method, the sale of securities takes place in two stages. Accordingly, in
the first stage, the issuer company makes an en-block sale of securities to intermediaries
such as the issue houses and share brokers at an agreed price. Under the second stage, the
securities are re-sold to ultimate investors at a market-related price. The difference
between the purchase price and the issue price constitutes profit` for the intermediaries.
The intermediaries are responsible for meeting various expenses such as underwriting
commission, prospectus cost, advertisement expenses, etc.
The issue is also underwritten to ensure total subscription of the issue. The biggest
advantage of this method is that it saves the issuing company the hassles involved in
selling the shares to the public directly through prospectus. This method is, however,
expensive for the investor as it involves the offer of securities by issue houses at very
high prices.
Private Placement Method
Meaning
A method of marketing of securities whereby the issuer makes the offer of sale to
individuals and institutions privately without the issue of a prospectus is known as
Private Placement Method`. This is the most popular method gaining momentum in
recent times among the corporate enterprises.
Features
Under this method, securities are offered directly to large buyers with the help of
share brokers. This method works in a manner similar to the Offer for Sale Method`
whereby securities are first sold to intermediaries such as issues houses, etc. They are in
turn placed at higher prices to individuals and institutions. Institutional investors play a
significant role in the realm of private placing. The expenses relating to placement are
borne by such investors.
Advantages
Private placement of securities offers the following advantages:
1. Less expensive as various types of costs associated with the issue are borne by the
issue houses and other intermediaries
2. Less troublesome for the issuer as there is not much of stock exchange requirements
concerning contents of prospectus and its publicity, etc to be complied with
3. Placement of securities suits the requirements of small companies
4. The method is also resorted to when the stock market is dull and the public response
to the issue is doubtful
Disadvantages
The major weaknesses of the private placement of securities are as follows:
1. Concentration of securities in a few hands
2. Creating artificial scarcity for the securities thus jacking up the prices temporarily
and misleading general public
3. Depriving the common investors of an opportunity to subscribe to the issue, thus
affecting their confidence levels
Initial Public Offer (IPO) Method
The public issue made by a corporate entity for the first time in its life is called
Initial Public Offer` (IPO). Under this method of marketing, securities are issued to
successful applicants on the basis of the orders placed by them, through their brokers.
When a company whose stock is not publicly traded wants to offer that stock to the
general public, it takes the form of Initial Public Offer`. The job of selling the stock is
entrusted to a popular intermediary, the underwriter. An underwriter is invariably an
investment banking company. He agrees to pay the issuer a certain price for a minimum
number of shares, and then resells those shares to buyers, who are often the clients of the
underwriting firm. The underwriters charge a fee for their services.
Stocks are issued to the underwriter after the issue of prospectus which provides
details of financial and business information as regards the issuer. Stocks are then
released to the underwriter and the underwriter releases the stock to the public.
The issuer and the underwriting syndicate jointly determine the price of a new issue.
The approximate price listed in the red herring (the preliminary prospectus?often with
words in red letters which say this is preliminary and the price is not yet set) many or
may not be close to the final issue price. IPO stock at the release price is usually not
available to most of the public. Good relationship between the broker and the investor is a
pre requisite for the stock being acquired.
Full disclosure of all material information in connection with the offering of new
securities must be made as part of the new offerings. A statement and preliminary
prospectus (also known as a red herring) containing the following information is to be
filed with the Registrar of Companies:
1. A description of the issuer`s business
2. The names and addresses of the key company officers, with salary and a 5 year
business history on each
3. The amount of ownership of the key officers
4. The company`s capitalization and description of how the proceeds from the offering
will be used and
5. Any legal proceedings that the company is involved in
Applications are made by the investors on the advice of their brokers who are
intimated of the share allocation by the issuer. The amount becomes payable to the issuer
through the broker only on final allocation. The allotment is credited and share
certificates delivered to the depository account of the successful investor.
The essential steps involved in this method of marketing of securities are as follows:
1. Order Broker receives order from the client and places orders on behalf of the client
with the issuer.
2. Share allocation The issuer finalizes share allocation and informs the broker
regarding then same.
3. The client The broker advises the successful clients of the share allocation. Clients
then submit the application forms for shares and make payment to the issuer through
the broker.
4. Primary issue account The issuer opens a separate escrow account (primary issue
account) for the primary market issue. The clearing house of the exchange debits the
primary issue account of the broker and credits the issuer`s account.
5. Certificates Certificates are then delivered to investors. Otherwise depository
account may be credited.
The biggest advantage of this method of marketing of securities is that there is no
need for the investors to part with the money even before the shares are allotted in his
favor. Further, the method allows for elimination of unnecessary hassles involved in
making a public issue. Under the regulations of the SEBI, IPOs can be carried out
through the secondary market and the existing infrastructure of stock exchanges can be
used for this purpose.
Rights Issue Method
Where the shares of an existing company are offered to its existing shareholders, it
takes the form of rights issue`. Under this method, the existing company issues shares to
its existing shareholders in proportion to the number of shares already held by them.
The relevant guidelines issued by the SEBI in this regard are as follows:
1. Shall be issued only by listed companies
2. Announcement regarding rights issue once made, shall not be withdrawn and where
withdrawn, no security shall be eligible for listing up to 12 months
3. Underwriting as to rights issue is optional and appointment of Registrar is
compulsory
4. Appointment of category I Merchant Bankers holding a certificate of registration
issued by SEBI shall be compulsory
5. Rights shares shall be issued only in respect of fully paid shares
6. Letter of Offer shall contain disclosures as per SEBI requirements
7. Agreement shall be entered into with the depository for materialization of securities
to be issued
8. Issue shall be kept open for a minimum period of 30 days and for a maximum period
of 60 days
9. A minimum subscription of 90 percent of the issue shall be received
10. No reservation is allowed for rights issue as regards FCDs and PCDs
11. A No Complaints Certificate` is to be filed by the Lead Merchant Banker` with the
SEBI after 21 days from the date of issue of offer document
12. Obligatory for a company where increase in subscribed capital is necessary after two
years of its formation or after one year of its first issue of shares, whichever is earlier
(this requirement may be dispensed with by a special resolution)
Advantages
Rights issue offers the following advantages:
Economy The issue management procedures connected with the rights issue
are easier as only a limited number of applications are to be handled.
Advantage shareholders Issue of rights shares does not involve any dilution of
ownership of existing shareholders. Further, it offers freedom to shareholders to
subscribe or not to subscribe the issue.
Drawbacks
The method suffers from the following limitations:
Restrictive The facility of rights issue is available only to existing companies and not
to new companies.
Against society The issue of rights shares runs counter to the overall societal
considerations of diffusion of share ownership for promoting dispersal of wealth and
economic power.
Bonus Issues Method
Where the accumulated reserves and surplus of profits of a company are converted
into paid up capital, it takes the form of issue of bonus shares`. It merely implies
capitalization of existing reserves and surplus of a company. The issue of bonus shares is
subject to certain rules and regulations. The issue does not in any way affect the resources
base of the enterprise. It saves the company enormously of the hassles of capital issue.
Issued under Section 205 (3) of the Companies Act, such shares are governed by the
guidelines issued by the SEBI (applicable to listed companies only) as follows:
SEBI Guidelines
Following are the guidelines pertaining to the issue of bonus shares by a listed
corporate enterprise:
1. Reservation In respect of FCDs and PCDs, bonus shares must be reserved in
proportion to such convertible part of FCDs and PCDs. The shares so reserved may
be issued at the time of conversion(s) of such debentures on the same terms on which
the bonus issues were made.
2. Reserves The bonus issue shall be made out of free reserves built out of the genuine
profits or share premium collected in cash only. Reserves created by revaluation of
fixed assets are not capitalized.
3. Dividend mode The declaration of bonus issue, in lieu of dividend, is not made.
4. Fully paid The bonus issue is not made unless the partly paid shares, if any are made
fully paid-up.
5. No default The Company has not defaulted in payment of interest or principal in
respect of fixed deposits and interest on existing debentures of principal on
redemption thereof and has sufficient reason to believe that it has not defaulted in
respect of the payment of statutory dues of the employees such as contribution to
provident fund, gratuity, bonus, etc.
6. Implementation A company that announces its bonus issue after the approval of the
Board of Directors must implement the proposal within a period of 6 months from
the date of such approval and shall not have the option of changing the decision.
7. The articles The Articles of Association of the company shall contain a provision for
capitalization of reserves, etc. If there is no such provision in the Articles, the
company shall pass a resolution at its general body meeting making provisions in the
Articles of Associations for capitalization.
8. Resolution Consequent to the issue of bonus shares if the subscribed and paid-up
capital exceeds the authorized share capital, the company at its general body meeting
for increasing the authorized capital shall pass a resolution.
Rights Issue vs. Bonus Issue
Bonus issue is different from rights issue in the following respects:
Sl No.
Feature
Rights Issue
Bonus Issue
1.
Payment
The issue is to be paid for The issue is free
2.
Privilege
Confers a privilege on the
Not a privilege issue
existing members
3.
Paid-up shares
Shares may be partly paid-
Shares are necessarily to
up also
be fully-paid
4.
Minimum Subscription Minimum subscription is
Minimum subscription is
required
not required
5.
Separate Account
Money is to be kept in a
No such requirement
separate bank account
6.
Right to Renounce
Rights
issue
may
be
No such
facility
is
renounced by a member available
in favor of a nominee
7.
Regulation
Regulated by the provisions
Regulated
by
the
of the Companies Act provisions
of
the
and SEBI guidelines
company`s
Articles
and SEBI guidelines
Book-building Method
A method of marketing the shares of a company whereby the quantum and the price
of the securities to be issued will be decided on the basis of the bids` received from the
prospective shareholders by the lead merchant bankers is known as book-building
method`. Under the book-building method, share prices are determined on the basis of
real demand for the shares at various price levels in the market. For discovering the price
at which issue should be made, bids are invited from prospective investors from which
the demand at various price levels is noted. The merchant bankers undertake full
responsibility for the issue.
The option of book-building is available to all body corporate, which are otherwise
eligible to make an issue of capital to the public. The initial minimum size of issue
through book-building route was fixed at Rs. 100 crores. However, beginning from
December 9, 1996 issues of any size will be allowed through the book-building route.
Book-building facility is available as an alternative to firm allotment. Accordingly, a
company can opt for book-building route for the sale of shares to the extent of the
percentage of the issue that can be reserved for firm allotment as per the prevailing SEBI
guidelines. It is therefore possible either to reserve securities for firm allotment or issue
them through the book-building process.
The book-building process involves the following steps:
1. Appointment of book-runners The first step in the book-building process is the
appointment by the issuer company, of the book-runner, chosen from one of the lead
merchant bankers. The book-runner in turn forms a syndicate for the book building.
A syndicate member should be a member of National Stock Exchange (NSE) or
Over-The-Counter Exchange of India (OTCEI). Offers of bids` are to be made by
investors to the syndicate members, who register the demands of investors. The bid
indicates the number of shares demanded and the prices offered. This information,
which is stored in the computer, is accessible to the company management or to the
book-runner. The name of the book-runner is to be mentioned in the draft prospectus
submitted to SEBI.
2. Drafting prospectus The draft prospectus containing all the information except the
information regarding the price at which the securities are offered is to be filed with
SEBI as per the prevailing SEBI guidelines. The offer of securities through this
process must separately be disclosed in the prospectus, under the caption placement
portion category`. Similarly, the extent of shares offered to the public shall be
separately shown under the caption net offer to the public`. According to the latest
SEBI guidelines issued in October 1999, the stipulation that at least 25 percent of the
securities were to be issued to the public has been done away with. This is aimed at
enabling companies to offer the entire public issue through the book-building route.
3. Circulating draft prospectus A copy of the draft prospectus filed with SEBI is to be
circulated by the book-runner to the prospective institutional buyers who are eligible
for firm allotment and also to the intermediaries who are eligible to act as
underwriters. The objective is to invite offers for subscribing to the securities. The
draft prospectus to be circulated must indicate the price-bank within which the
securities are being offered for subscription.
4. Maintaining offer records The book-runner maintains a record of the offers received.
Details such as the name and the number of securities ordered together with the price
at which each institutional buyer or underwriter is willing to subscribe to securities
under the placement portion must find place in the record. SEBI has the right to
inspect such records.
5. Intimation about aggregate orders The underwriters and the institutional investors
shall give intimation on the aggregate of the offers received to the book-runner.
6. Bid analysis The bid analysis is carried out by the book-runner immediately after the
closure of the bid offer date. An appropriate final price is arrived at after a careful
evaluation of demands at various prices and the quantity. The final price is generally
fixed reasonably lower than the possible offer price. This way, the success of the
issue is ensured. The issuer company announces the pay-in-date at the expiry of
which shares are allotted.
7. Mandatory underwriting Where it has been decided to make offer of shares to public
under the category of Net Offer to the Public`, it is incumbent that the entire portion
offered to the public is fully underwritten. In case an issue is made through book-
building route, it is mandatory that the portion of the issue offered to the public be
underwritten. For this purpose, an agreement has to be entered into with the
underwriter by the issuer. The agreement shall specify the number of securities as
well as the price at which the underwriter would subscribe to the securities. The
book-runner may require the underwriter of the net offer to the public to pay in
advance all moneys required to be paid in respect of their underwriting commitment.
8. Filing with ROC A copy of the prospectus as certified by the SEBI shall be filed
with the Registrar of Companies within two days of the receipt of the
acknowledgement care from the SEBI.
9. Bank accounts The issuer company has to open two separate accounts for collection
of application money, one for the private placement portion and the other for the
public subscription.
10. Collection of completed applications The book-runner collects from the institutional
buyers and the underwriters the application forms along with the application money
to the securities proposed to be allotted to them or subscribed by them. This is to be
done one day before the opening of the issue to the public.
11. Allotment of securities Allotment for the private placement portion may be made on
the second day from the closure of the issue. The issuer company, however, has the
option to choose one date for both the placement portion and the public portion. The
said date shall be considered to be the date of allotment for the issue of securities
through the book-building process. The issuer company is permitted to pay interest
on the application moneys till the date of allotment or the deemed date of allotment
provided that payment of interest is uniformly given to all the applicants.
12. Payment schedule and listing The book-runner may require the underwriters to the
net offer to the public` to pay in advance all moneys required to be paid in respect of
their underwriting commitment by the eleventh day of the closure of the issue. In that
case, the shares allotted as per the private placement category will become eligible
for being listed. Allotment of securities under the public category is to be made as
per the prevailing statutory requirements.
13. Under-subscription In the case of under-subscription in the net offer to the public`
category, any spillover to the extent of under-subscription is to be permitted from the
placement portion` category subject to the condition that preference is given to the
individual investors. In the case of under-subscription in the placement portion,
spillover is to be permitted from the net offer to the public to the placement portion.
Advantages of Book-building
Book-building process is of immense use in the following ways:
1. Reduction in the duration between allotment and listing
2. Reliable allotment procedure
3. Quick listing in stock exchanges possible
4. No price manipulation as the price is determined on the basis of the bids received
Stock Option or Employees Stock Option Scheme (ESOP)
A method of marketing the securities of a company whereby its employees are
encouraged to take up shares and subscribe to it is known as stock option`. It is a
voluntary scheme on the part of the company to encourage employees` participation in
the company. The scheme also offers an incentive to the employees to stay in the
company. The scheme is particularly useful in the case of companies whose business
activity is dominantly based on the talent of the employees, as in the case of software
industry. The scheme helps retain their most productive employees in an industry, which
is known for its constant churning of personnel.
SEBI Guidelines
Company whose securities are listed on any stock exchange can introduce the
scheme of employees` stock option. The offer can be made subject to the conditions
specified below:
1. Issue at discount Issue of stock options at a discount to the market price would be
regarded as another form of employee compensation and would be treated as such in
the financial statement of the company regardless the quantum of discount on the
exercise price of the options.
2. Approval The issue of ESOPs is subject to the approval by the shareholders through
a special resolution.
3. Maximum limit There would be no restriction on the maximum number of shares to
be issued to a single employee. However, in cases of employees being offered more
than 1 percent shares, a specific disclosure and approval would be necessary in the
AGM.
4. Minimum period A minimum period of one year between grant of options and its
vesting has been prescribed. After one year, the company would de4termine the
period during which the option can be exercised.
5. Superintendence The operation of the ESOP Scheme would have to be under the
superintendence and direction of a Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors in which there would be a majority of independent directors.
6. Eligibility ESOP scheme is open to all permanent employees and to the directors of
the company but not to promoters and large shareholders. The scheme would be
applicable to the employees of the subsidiary or a holding company with the express
approval of the shareholders.
7. Director`s report The Director`s report shall make a disclosure of the following:
a. Total number of shares as approved by the shareholders
b. The pricing formula adopted
c. Details as to options granted, options vested, options exercised and options
forfeited, extinguishments or modification of options, money realized by exercise
of options, total number of options in force, employee-wise details of options
granted to senior managerial personnel and to any other employee who receive a
grant in any one year of options amounting to 5 percent or more of options
granted during that year
d. Fully diluted EPS computed in accordance with the IAS
IPO SEBI`s stipulations prohibiting initial public offerings by companies having
outstanding options should not apply to ESOP. If any ESOPs are outstanding at the time
of an IPO issue by an unlisted company, the promoters` contribution shall be calculated
with reference to the enlarged that would arise if all vested options were exercised
Capital Market Instruments
The changes that are sweeping across the Indian capital market especially in the recent
past are something phenomenal. It has been experiencing metamorphic changes in the
last decade, thanks to a host of measures of liberalization, globalization, and privatization
that have been initiated by the Government. Pronounced changes have occurred in the
realm of industrial policy, licensing policy, financial services industry, interest rates, etc.
The competition has become very intense and real in both industrial sector and financial
services industry.
As a result of these changes, the financial services industry has come to introduce a
number of instruments with a view to facilitate borrowing and lending of money in the
capital market by the participants.
Meaning
Financial instruments that are used for raising capital resources in the capital market are
known as Capital Market Instruments`.
Types
The various market instruments used by corporate entities for raising resources are as
follows:
1. Preference shares
2. Equity shares
3. Nonvoting equity shares
4. Cumulative convertible preference shares
5. Company fixed deposits
6. Warrants
7. Debentures and Bonds
PREFERENCE SHARES
Meaning
Shares that carry preferential rights in comparison with ordinary shares are called
Preference Shares`. The preferential rights are the rights regarding payment of dividend
and the distribution of the assets of the company in the event of its winding up, in
preference to equity shares.
Types
1. Cumulative preference shares Shares where the arrears of dividends in times of no
and/so lean profits can be accumulated and paid in the year in which the company
earns good profits.
2. Noncumulative preference shares Shares where the carry forward of the arrears of
dividends is not possible.
3. Participating preference shares Shares that enjoy the right to participate in surplus
profits or surplus assets on the liquidation of a company or in both, if the Articles of
Association provides for it.
4. Redeemable preference shares Shares that are to be repaid at the end of the term of
issue, the maximum period of a redemption being 20 years with effect from 1.3.1997
under the Companies Amendment Act, 1996. Since they are repayable, they are
similar to debentures. Only fully paid shares are redeemed. Where redemption is
made out of profits, a Capital Redemption Reserve Account is opened to which a
sum equal to the nominal value of the shares redeemed is transferred. It is treated as
paid-up share capital of the company.
5. Fully convertible cumulative preference shares Shares comprise two parts, viz. Part
A and B. Part A is convertible into equity shares automatically and compulsorily on
the date of allotment. Part B will be redeemed at par/converted into equity shares
after a lock-in period at the option of the investor, conversion into equity shares
taking place after the lock-in period, at a price, which would be 30 percent lower
than the average market price. The average market price shall be the average of the
monthly high and low price of the shares in a stock exchange over a period of 6
months including the month in which the conversion takes place.
6. Preference shares with warrants attached The attached warrants entitle the holder to
apply for equity shares for cash, at a premium`, at any time, in or more stages
between the third and fifth year from the date of allotment. If the warrant holder fails
to exercise his option, the unsubscribed portion will lapse. The holders of warrants
would be entitled to all rights/bonus shares that may be issued by the company. The
preference shares with warrants would be entitled attached would not be
transferred/sold for a period of 3 years from the date of allotment.
EQUTIY SHARES
Meaning
Equity shares, also known as ordinary shares` are the shares held by the owners of a
corporate entity.
Features
Since equity shareholders face greater risks and have no specific preferential rights, they
are given larger share in profits through higher dividends than those given to preference
shareholders, provided the company`s performance is excellent. Directors declare no
dividends in case there are no profits or the profits do not justify dividend. For pervious
years even when the company makes substantial profits are subsequent years. Equity
shareholders also enjoy the benefit of ploughing back of undistributed profits kept as
reserves and surplus for the purposes of business expansion. Often, part of these is
distributed to them as bonus shares. Such bonus shares are entitled to a proportionate or
full dividend in the succeeding year.
A strikingly noteworthy, namely feature of equity shares is that holders of these
shares enjoy substantial rights in the corporate democracy, namely the rights to approve
the company`s annual accounts, declaration of dividend, enhancement of managerial
remuneration in excess of specified limits and fixing the terms of appointment and
election of directors, appointment of auditors and fixing of their remuneration,
amendments to the Articles and Memorandum of Association, increase of share capital
and issue of further shares of debentures, proposals for mergers and reconstruction, and
any other important proposal on which member`s approval is required under the
Companies Act.
Equity shares in the hands of shareholders are mainly reckoned for determining in
the management`s control over the company. Where shareholders are widely disbursed, it
is possible for the management to retain the control, as it is not possible for all the
shareholders to attend the company`s meeting in full strength. Furthermore, the
management group can bolster its controlling power by acquiring further shares in the
open market or otherwise. Equity share may also be offered to financial institutions as
part of the private placement exercise. Such a method, however, if fraught with the
danger of takeover attempt by financial institutions.
Equity shareholders represent proportionate ownership in a company. They have
residual claims on the assets and profits of the company. They have unlimited potential
for dividend payments and price appreciation in comparison to the owners of debentures
and preference share who enjoy just a fixed assured return in the form of interest and
dividend. Higher the risk, higher the return and vice versa.
Share certificates either in physical form or in the demat (with the introduction of
depository system in 1996) form are issued as a proof of ownership of the share in a
company. Demat facilitates electronic trading. Fully paid equity shares with detachable
warrants entitle the warrant holder to apply for a specified number of shares at a
determined price. Detachable warrants are separately registered with stock exchanges and
traded separately. The company would determine the terms and conditions relating to the
issue of equity against warrants.
Voting rights are granted under the Companies Act (Sections 87 to 89) where in each
shareholder is eligible for votes proportionate to the number of shares held or the amount
of stock owned. A company cannot issue shares carrying disproportionate voting rights.
Similarly, voting right cannot be exercised in respect of shares on which the shareholder
owes some money to the company.
Capital
Equity shares are of different types. The maximum value of shares as specified in the
Memorandum of Association of the company is called the authorized or registered or
nominal capital. Issued capital is the nominal value of share offered for public
subscription. In case shares offered for public subscription are not taken up, the portion of
capital subscribed is called subscribed capital. This is less than the issued capital. Paid-up
capital is the share capital paid-up by shareholders which is credited as paid-up on the
shares.
Par Value and Book Value
The face value of a share is called its Par value. Although shares can be sold below the
par value, it is possible that shares can be issued below the par value. The financial
institutions that convert their unpaid principal and interest into equity in sick companies
are compelled to do it at a minimum of Rs. 10 because of the par value concept even
though the market price might be much less than Rs. 10 Par value can also lead to
unhealthy practices like price rigging by promoters of sick companies to take market
prices above Rs. 10 to get their new of shares.
Book value is the intrinsic value of a share that is calculated to reflect the net worth
of the shareholders of a corporate entity.
Cash Dividends
These are dividends paid in cash. A stable payment of cash dividends is the hallmark of
stability of share prices.
Stock Dividends
These are the dividends distributed as shares and issued by capitalized reserves.
While net worth remains the same in the balance sheet, its distribution between shares
and surplus is altered.
NONVOTING EQUITY SHARES
Consequent to the recommendations of the Abid Hussain Committee` and
subsequent to the amendment to the Companies Act, corporate managements are
permitted to mobilize additional capital without diluting the interest of existing
shareholders with the help of a new instrument called nonvoting equity shares`. Such
share will be entitled to all the benefits except the right to vote in general meetings. Such
nonvoting equity share is being considered as a possible addition to the two classes of
share capital currently in vogue. This class of shares has been included by an amendment
to the Companies Act as a third category of shares. Corporates will be permitted to issue
shares upto a certain percentage of the total share capital.
Nonvoting equity shares will be entitled to rights and bonus issues and preferential
offer of shares on the same lines as that of ordinary shares. The objective will be to
compensate the sacrifice made for the voting rights. For this purpose, these shares will
carry higher dividend rate than that of voting shares. If a company fails to pay dividend,
nonvoting shareholders will automatically be entitled to voting rights on a prorata basis
until the company resumes paying dividend.
The mechanism of issue of nonvoting share is expected to overcome such problems
as are associated with the voting shares as that the ordinary investors are more inclined
towards high return on capital through sizeable dividends and capital appreciation
through the issue of bonus shares and the inability of corporates to respond to the
investors` just aspiration for reasonable dividends. Moreover, there is every need for
corporate to spend huge sums of money of a variety of non-so-useful items including
colorful and costly annual reports. For all these above mentioned reasons, nonvoting
equity shares are expected to have a ready and popular market. In effect, this kind of
share is similar to preference shares with regard to nonvoting rights but may get the
advantage of higher dividends as well as appreciation in share through entitlement to
bonus shares which is not available to preference shares.
CONVERTIBLE CUMULATIVE PREFERNCE SHARES (CCPS)
These are the shares that have the twin advantage of accumulation of arrears of dividends
and the conversion into equity shares. Such shares would have to be to the face value of
Rs. 100 each. The shares have to be listed on one or more stock exchanges in the country.
The object of the issue of CCP shares is to allow for the setting up of new projects,
expansion or diversification of existing projects, expansion or diversification of existing
projects, normal capital expenditure for modernization and for meeting working capital
requirements.
Debt-equity Ratio
For the purpose if calculation of debt-equity ratio as may be applicable CCPS are be
deemed to be an equity issue.
Compulsory Conversion
The conversion into equity shares must be for the entire issue of CCP shares and shall be
done between the periods at the end of the three years and five years as may be decided
by the company. This implies that the conversion of the CCP into equity shares would be
compulsory at the end of five years and the aforesaid preference shares would not be
redeemable at any stage.
Fresh Issue
The conversion of CCP shares into equity would be deemed as being one resulting from
the process of redemption of the preference shares out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of
shares made for the purposes of redemption.
Preference Dividend
The rate of preference dividend payable on CCP shares would be 10 percent.
Guideline Ratio
The guideline ratio of 1:3 as between preference shares and equity shares would not be
applicable to these shares.
Arrears of Dividend
The right of receive arrears of dividend up to the date of conversion, if any, shall devolve
on the holder of the equity shares on such conversion. The holder of the equity shares
shall be receiving the arrears of dividend as and when the company makes profit and is
able to declare such dividend.
Voting Right
CCPS would have voting rights as applicable to preference shares under the Companies
Act, 1956.
Quantum
The amount of the issue of CCP shares would be to the extent the company would be
offering equity shares to the public for subscription.
COMPANY FIXED DEPOSITS
Fixed deposits are the attractive source of short-term capital both for the companies and
investors as well. Corporate favor fixed deposits as an ideal form of working capital
mobilization without going through the process of mortgaging assets and the associated
rigmaroles of documentation, etc. Investors find fixed deposits a sample avenue for
investment in popular companies at attractively reasonable and safe interest rates.
Moreover, investors are relieved of the problem of the hassles of market value fluctuation
to which instruments such as shares and debentures are exposed. There are no transfer
formalities either. In addition, it is quite possible for investors to have the option of
premature repayment after 6 months, although such an option entails some interest loss.
Regulations
Since these instruments are unsecured, there is a lot of uncertainty about the repayment of
deposits and regular payment of interest. The issue of fixed deposits is subject to the
provisions of the Companies Act and the Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules
introduced in February 1975. Some of the important regulations in this regard as follows:
1. Advertisement Issue of an advertisement (with the prescribed information) as
approved by the Board of Directors in dailies circulating in the state of incorporation.
2. Liquid assets Maintenance of liquid assets equal to 15 percent (substituted for 10%
by Amendment Rules, 1992) of deposits (maturing during the year ending March 31)
in the form of bank deposits, unencumbered securities of State and Central
Governments or unencumbered approved securities.
3. Disclosure Disclosure in the newspaper advertisement the quantum of deposits
remaining unpaid after maturity. This would help highlight the defaults, if any, by
the company and caution the depositors.
4. Deemed public company Private company would become a deemed public company
(from June 1998, Section 43A of the Act) where such a private company, after
inviting public deposits through a statutory advertisement, accepts or renews deposits
from the public other than its members, directors or their relatives. This provision, to
a certain extent, enjoins better accountability on the part of the management and
auditors.
5. Default Penalty under the law for default by companies in repaying deposits as and
when they mature for payment where deposits were accepted in accordance with the
Reserve Bank directions.
6. CLB Empowerment to the Company Law Board to direct companies to repay
deposits, which have not been repaid as per the terms and conditions governing such
deposits, within a time frame and according to the terms and conditions of the order.
WARRANTS
An option issued by a company whereby the buyer is granted the right to purchase a
number of shares (usually one) of its equity share capital at a given exercise price during
a given period is called a warrant`. Although trading in warrants are in vogue in the U.S.
Stock markets for more than 6 to 7 decades, they are being issued to meet a range of
financial requirements by the Indian corporates.
A security issued by a company, granting its holder the right to purchase a specified
number of shares, at a specified price, any time prior to an expirable date is known as a
warrant`. Warrants may be issued with either debentures or equity shares. They clearly
specify the number of shares entitled, the expiration date, along with the stated/exercise
price. The expiration date of warrants in USA is generally 5 to 10 years from the date of
issue and the exercise price is 10 to 30 percent above the prevailing market price.
Warrants have a secondary market.
The exchange value between the share at its current price and the shares to be
purchased at the exercise price represents the minimum value of a warrant. They have no
floatation costs and when they are exercised, the firm receives additional funds at a price
lower than the current market, yet higher than those prevailing at the time of issue.
Warrants are issued by new/growing firms and venture capitalists. They are also issued
during mergers and acquisitions. Warrants in the context are called sweeteners` and were
issued by a few Indian companies since 1993.
Both warrants and rights entitle a buyer to acquire equity shares of the issuing
company. However, they are different in the sense that warrants have a life span of three
to five years whereas; rights have a life span of only four to twelve weeks (duration
between the opening and closing date of subscription list). Moreover, rights are normally
issued to effect current financing, and warrants are sold to facilitate future financing.
Similarly, the exercise price of warrant, i.e. the price at which it can be exchanged for
share, is usually above the market price of the share so as to encourage existing
shareholders to purchase it. On the other hand, one warrant buys one equity share
generally, whereas more than one right may be needed to buy one share. The detachable
warrant attached to each share provides a right to the warrant holder to apply for
additional equity share against each warrant.
DEBENTURES AND BONDS
A document that either creates a debt or acknowledges it is known as a debenture.
Accordingly, and document that fulfills either of these conditions is a debenture. A
debenture, issued under the common seal of the company, usually takes the form of a
certificate that acknowledges indebtedness of the company.
A document that shows on the face of it that a company has borrowed a sum of
money from the holder thereof upon certain terms and conditions is called a debenture.
Debentures may be secured by way of fixed or floating charges on the assets of the
company. These are the instruments that are generally used for raising long-term debt
capital
Features
Following are the features of debenture:
1. ISSUE In India, debentures of various kinds are issued by the corporate bodies,
Government, and others as per the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 and under
the regulations of the SEBI. Section 117 of the Companies Act prohibits issue of
debentures with voting rights. Generally, they are issued against a charge on the
assets of the company but at times may be issued without any such charge also.
Debentures can be issued at a discount in which case, the relevant particulars are to
be filed with the registrar of Companies.
2. Negotiability In the case of bearer debentures the terminal value is payable to its
bearer. Such instruments are negotiable and are transferable by delivery. Registered
debentures are payable to the registered holder whose name appears both on the
debenture and in the register of debenture holders maintained by the company.
Further, transfer of such debentures should be registered. They are not negotiable
instruments and contain a commitment to pay the principal and interest.
3. Security Secured debentures create a charge on the assets of the company. Such a
charge may be either fixed or floating. Debentures that are issued without any charge
on assets of the company. Are called unsecured or naked debentures`.
4. Duration Debentures, which could be redeemed after a certain period of time, are
called Redeemable Debentures. There are debentures that are not to be returned
except at the time of winding up of the company. Such debentures are called
Irredeemable Debentures.
5. Convertibility Where the debenture issue gives the option of conversion into equity
shares after the expiry of a certain period of time, such debentures are called
Convertible Debentures. Nonconvertible Debentures, on the other hand, do not have
such an exchange facility.
6. Return Debentures have a great advantage in them in that they carry a regular and
reasonable income for the holders. There is a legal obligation for the company to
make payment of interest on debentures whether or not any profits are earned by it.
7. Claims Debenture holders command a preferential treatment in the matters of
distribution of the final proceeds of the company at the time of its winding up. Their
claims rank prior to the claims of preference and equity shareholders.
Kinds
Innovation debt instruments that are issued by the public limited companies in India are
described below:
1. Participating debentures
2. Convertible debentures
3. Debt-equity swaps
4. Zero coupon convertible notes
5. Secured premium notes (SNP) with detachable warrants
6. Nonconvertible debentures (NCDs) with detachable equity warrant
7. Zero interest fully convertible debentures (FCDs)
8. Secured zero interest partly convertible debentures (PCDs) with detachable and
separately tradable warrants
9. Fully convertible debentures (FCDs) with interest (optional)
10. Floating rate bonds (FRB)
1. Participating debentures Debentures that are issued by a body corporate which entitle
the holders to participate in its profits are called Participating Debentures`. These are
the unsecured corporate debt securities. They are popular among existing dividend
paying corporates.
2. Convertible debentures
a. Convertible debentures with options are a derivation of convertible debentures
that give an option to both the issuer, as well as the investor, to exit from the
terms of the issue. The coupon rate is specified at the time of issue
b. Third party convertible debentures are debts with a warrant that allow the investor
to subscribe to the equity of a third firm at a preferential price vis-?-vis market
price, the interest rate on the third party convertible debentures being lower than
pure debt on account of the conversion option
c. Convertible debentures redeemable at a premium are issued at face value with a
put option entitling investors to sell the bond to the issuer, at a premium later on.
They are basically similar to convertible debentures but have less risk
3. Debt-equity swaps They are offered from an issuer of debt to swap it for equity. The
instrument is quite risky for the investor because the anticipated capital appreciation
may not materialize.
4. Zero-coupon convertible note These are debentures that can be converted into shares
and on its conversion the investor forgoes all accrued and unpaid interest. The zero
coupon convertible notes are quite sensitive to changes in the interest rates.
5. SPN with detachable warrants These are the Secured Premium Notes (SPN) with
detachable warrants. These are the redeemable debentures that are issued along with a
detachable warrant. The warrant entitles the holder to apply and get equity shares
allotted, provided the SPN is fully paid. The warrants attached to it assure the holder
such a right. No interest will be paid during the lock-in period for SPN.
6. The SPN holder has an option to sell back the SPN to the company at par value after
the lock-in period. If this option is exercised by the holder, no interest/premium will
be paid on redemption. The holder will be repaid the principal and the additional
interest/premium amount in installments as may be decided by the company. The
conversion of detachable warrant into equity shares will have to be done within the
time limit notified by the company.
7. NCDs with detachable equity warrants These are Non convertible debentures (NCDs)
with detachable equity warrants. These entitle the holder to buy a specific number of
shares from the company at a predetermined price within a definite time frame. The
warrants attached to NCDs are issued subject to full payment of the NCDs` value.
The option can be exercised after the specific lock-in period. The company is at
liberty to dispose off the unapplied portion of shares if the option to apply for equities
is not exercised.
8. Zero interest FCDs These are Zero interest Fully Convertible Debentures on which no
interest will be paid by the issuer during the lock-in period. However, there is a
notified period after which fully paid FCDs will be automatically and compulsorily
converted into shares. In the event of a company going in for rights issue prior to the
allotment of equity (resulting from the conversion of equity shares into FCDs), it shall
do so only after the FCD holders are offered securities.
9. Secured zero interest PCDs with detachable and separately tradable warrants These
are Secured Zero Interest Partly Convertible Debentures with detachable and
separately tradable warrants. They are issued in two parts. Part A is a convertible
portion that allows equity shares to be redeemed at par at the end of a specific period
from the date of allotment. Part B is a nonconvertible portion to be redeemed at par at
the end of a specific period from the date of allotment. Part B which carries a
detachable and separately tradable warrant provides the warrant holder an option to
receive equity shares for every warrant held, at a price worked out by the company.
10. Fully Convertible Debentures (FCDs) with interest (Optional) These are the
debentures that will not yield any interest for an initial short period after which the
holder is given an option to apply for equities at a premium. No additional amount
needs to be paid for this. The option has to be indicated in the application form itself.
Interest on FCDs is payable at a determined rate from the date of first conversion to
the data of second/final conversion and in lieu of it, equity shares will be issued.
11. Floating Rate Bonds (FRBs) These are the bonds where the yield is linked to a
benchmark interest rate like the prime rate in USA or LIBOR in the Euro currency
market. For instance, the State Bank of India`s floating rate bond, issue was linked to
the maximum interest on term deposits that was 10 percent at that time. The floating
rate is quoted in terms of a margin above or below the benchmark rate. Interest rates
linked to the benchmark ensure that neither the borrower nor the lender suffer from
the changes in interest rates. Where interest rates are fixed, they are likely to be
inequitable to the borrower when interest rates fall and inequitable to the lender when
interest rates rise subsequently.
Shares vs. Debentures
Shares are different from debentures in the following manner:
1. shareholder has a proprietary interest in the company, and debenture holder is
only a creditor of the company
2. Debenture holder is entitled to fixed interest whereas the shareholder is entitled
to dividends depending on and varying with profits
3. Shareholders have voting rights whereas debenture holders do not have voting
rights
4. Debentures may be redeemable whereas shares except preference shares are not
redeemable
5. Debenture holders get priority over shareholders when assets are distributed upon
winding up
GLOBAL DEBT INSTRUMENTS
Following are some of the debt instruments that are popular in the international financial
markets:
Income Bonds
Interest income on such bonds is paid only where the corporate commands adequate cash
flows. They resemble cumulative preference shares in respect of which fixed dividend is
paid only if there is profit earned in a year, but carried forward and paid in the following
year. There is no default on income bonds if interest is not paid. Unlike the dividend on
cumulative preference shares, the interest on income bond is tax deductible. These bonds
are issued by corporates that undergo financial restructuring.
Asset Backed Securities
These are a category of marketable securities that are collateralized by financial assets
such as installment loan contracts. Asset backed financing involves a disintermediating
process called securitization, whereby credit from financial intermediaries in the form of
debentures are sold to third parties to finance the pool. Respos are the oldest asset backed
security in our country. In USA, securitization has been undertaken for the following:
1. Insured mortgages
2. Mortgage backed bonds
3. Student loans
4. Trade credit receivable backed bonds
5. Equipments leasing backed bonds
6. Certificates of automobile receivable securities
7. Small business administration loans
8. Credit and receivable securities
Junk Bonds
Junk bond is a high risk, high yield bond which finances either a Leveraged Buyout
(LBO) or a merger of a company in financial distress. Junk bonds are popular in the USA
and are used primarily for financing takeovers. The coupon rates range from 16 to 25
percent. Attractive deals were put together establishing their feasibility in terms of
adequacy of cash flows to meet interest payments. Michael Milken (the junk bond king)
of Drexel Burnham Lambert was the real developer of the market.
Indexed Bonds
These are the bonds whose interest payment and redemption value are indexed with
movements in prices. Indexed bonds protect the investor from the eroding purchasing
power of money because of inflation. For instance, an inflation-indexed bond implies that
the payment of the coupon and/or the redemption value increases or decreases according
to movements in prices. The bonds are likely to hedge the principal amount against
inflation. Such bonds are designed to provide investors an effective edge against inflation
so as to enhance the credibility of the anti-inflationary policies of the Government. The
yields of an inflation-indexed bond provide vital information on the expected rate of
inflation.
United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada have introduced index linked government
securities as a segmented internal debt management operation with a view to increase the
range of assets available in the system, provide an inflation hedge to investors, reduce
interest costs and pick up direct signals, and the expected inflation and real rate of interest
from the market.
Zero Coupon Bonds (ZCBs)/Zero Coupon Convertible Debentures
Zero Coupon Bonds first came to be introduced in the U.S. securities market. Initially,
such bonds were issued for high denominations. These bonds were purchased by large
security brokers in large chunks, who resold them to individual investors, at a slightly
higher price in affordable lots. Such bonds were called Treasury Investment Growth
Receipts` (TIGRs) or Certificate of Accruals on Treasury Securities` (CATSs) or ZEROs
as their coupon rate is Zero. Moreover, these certificates were sold to investors at a hefty
discount and the difference between the face value of the certificate and the acquisition
cost was the gain. The holders are not entitled for any interest except the principal sum of
maturity.
Advantages Zero Coupon Bonds offer a number of advantages as shown below:
a. No botheration of periodical interest payment for the issuers
b. The attraction of conversion of bonds into equity shares at a premium or at par,
the investors usually being rewarded by way of a low premium on conversion
c. There is only capital gains tax on the price differential and there is no tax on
accrued income
d. Possibility of efficient servicing of equity as there is no obligation to pay interest
till maturity and its eventual conversion
Mahindra & Mahindra came out with the scheme of Zero Coupon Bonds for the first
time in India along with 12.5 percent convertible bonds for part financing of its
modernization and diversification scheme. Similarly, Deep Discount Bonds were issued
by IDBI at Rs. 2,000 for a maturity of Rs. 1 lakh after 25 years. These are negotiable
instruments transferable by endorsement and delivery by the transferor. IDBI also offered
Option Bonds which may be either cumulative or noncumulative bonds where interest is
payable either on maturity or periodically. Redemption is also offered to attract investors.
Floating Rate Bonds (FRBs)
Bonds that carry the provision for payment of interest at different rates for different time
periods are known as Floating Rate Bonds`. The first floating rate bond was issued by
the SBI in the Indian capital market. The SBI, while issuing such bonds, adopted a
reference rate of highest rate of interest on fixed deposit of the Bank, provided a
minimum floor rate payable at 12 percent p.a. and attached a call option to the Bank after
5 years to redeem the bonds earlier than the maturity period of 10 years at a certain
premium. A major highlight of the bonds was the provision to reduce interest risk and
assurance of minimum interest on the investment provided by the Bank.
Secured Premium Notes (SPNs)
Secured debentures that are redeemable at a premium over the issue price or face value
are called secured premium notes. Such bonds have a lock-in period during which period
no interest will be paid. It entitles the holder to sell back the bonds to the issuing
company at par after the lock-in period.
A case in point was the issue made by the TISCO in the year 1992, where the
company wanted to raise money for its modernization program without expanding its
equity excessively in the next few years. The company made the issue to the existing
shareholders on a rights basis along with rights issue. The salient features of the TISCO
issue were as follows:
1. Face value of each SPN was Rs. 300
2. No interest was payable during the first three years after allotment
3. The redemption started at the end of the fourth year of issue
4. Each of the SPN of Rs. 300 was repaid in four equal annual instalments of Rs.
75, which comprised of the principal, the interest and the relevant premium.
(Low interest and high premium or high interest and low premium, at the option
to be exercised by the SPN holder at the end of the third year)
5. Warrant attached to each SPN entitled the holder the right to apply for or seek
allotment of one equity share for cash payment of Rs. 80 per share. Such a right
was exercisable between first year and one-and-a-half year after allotment by
which time the SPN would be full paid up
This instrument tremendously benefited TISCO, as there was no interest outgo. This
helped TISCO to meet the difficulties associated with the cash generation. In addition,
the company was able to borrow at a cheap rate of 13.65 percent as against 17 to 18
percent offered by most companies. This enabled the company to start redemption earlier
through the generation of cast flow by the company`s projects. The investors had the
flexibility of tax planning while investing in SPNs. The company was also equally
benefited as it gave more flexibility.
Euro-convertible Bonds
Bonds that give the holders of euro bonds to have the instruments converted into a wide
variety of options such as the call option for the issuer and the put option for the investor,
which makes redemption easy are called Euro-convertible bonds`. A euro-convertible
bond essentially resembles the Indian convertible debenture but comes with numerous
options attached. Similarly, a euro-convertible bond is an easier instrument to market
than equity. This is because it gives the investor an option to retain his investment as a
pure debt instrument in the event of the price of the equity share falling below the
conversion price or where the investor is not too sure about the prospects of the company.
Popularity of convertible euro bonds A convertible bond issue allows an Indian company
far greater flexibility to tap the Euro market and ensures that the issue has a better market
reception than would be possible for a direct equity issue. Moreover, newly industrialized
countries such as Korea have chosen the convertible bond market as a stepping-stone to
familiarity and acceptance of their industrial companies in the international market. The
convertible bonds offer the following advantages:
a. Protection Euro convertible bonds are favored by international investors as it
offers them the advantage of protection of their wealth from erosion. This is
possible because the conversion is only an option, which the investors may
choose to exercise only if it works to their benefit. This facility is not available for
equity issues
b. Liquidity Convertible bond market offers the benefit of the most liquid secondary
market for new issues. Fixed income funds as well as equity investment managers
purchase convertible bonds
c. Flexibility The feature of flexibility in structuring convertible bonds allows the
company to include some of the best possible clauses of investors` protection by
incorporating the unusual features of equity investments. A case in point is the
issues made by the Korean corporate sector, which contained a provision in the
issue of convertible euro bonds. The provision entitled the holders to ensure the
due compliance of the liberalization measures that had already been announced
within a specified period of time. Such a provision enabled the investor to opt for
a put` option
d. Attractive investment The issue of convertible debentures facilitates removal of
many of the unattractive features of equity investment. For investors, convertible
bond market makers are the principal sources of liquidity in their securities
Bonds Issue?Indian Experience
In recent times, all-India financial institutions have come to design and introduce special
and innovative bond instruments exclusively structured on the investors` preferences and
funds requirement of the issuers. The emphasis from the issuer`s viewpoint is the
resource mobilization and not risk exposure. Several financial institutions such as the
IDBI, the ICICI, etc are engaged in the sale of such bonds. A brief description of some
these bonds are presented below:
1. IDBI`s zero coupon bonds, 1996 These bond are sold at a discount and are paid no
interest. It is of great advantage to issuers as it is not required for them to make
periodic interest payment.
2. IDBI`s regular income bonds, 1996 These were the bonds issued by the IDBI as 10-
year bonds carrying a coupon of 16 percent, payable half-yearly. The bonds provided
an annualized yield equivalent to 16.64 percent. The bonds, which were priced at Rs.
5,000 can be redeemed at the end of every year, after the third year allotment. There
was also a call option that entitled the IDBI to redeem the bonds five years from the
date of allotment.
3. Retirement bonds, 1996 The IDBI Retirements Bonds were issued at a discount. The
issue targeted investors who are planning for retirement. Under the scheme, investors
get a monthly income for 10 years after the expiry of a wait period, the wait period
being chosen by the investor. Thereafter, the investors also get a lump sum amount,
which is the maturity value of the bond.
4. IFCI`S bonds, 1996 These bonds include:
a. Deep Discount Bonds Issued for a face value of Rs. 1 lakh each
b. Regular Income and Retirement Bonds They had five-year tenure, a semi-annual
yield of 16 percent and a front-end discount of 4 percent. The bonds had three-
year put option and an early bird incentive of 0.75 percent
c. Step-up Liquid Bonds The five-year bonds with a put option every year with a
return of 16 percent, 16.25 percent, 16.5 percent, 16.75 percent, and 17 percent at
the end of every year
d. Growth Bonds An investment of Rs. 20,000 per bond under this scheme entitles
investors to a Rs. 1 lakh face-value bond maturing after 10 years. Put options can
be exercised at the end of 5 and 7 years respectively. If exercised, the investor
gets Rs. 43, 500 after 5 years and Rs. 60,000 after a 7 year period
e. Lakhpati Bonds The maturity period of these bonds varied from 5 to 10 years,
after which the investor gets Rs. 1 lakh. The initial investment required was Rs.
20,000 for 10 years maturity, Rs. 23,700 for 9 years, Rs. 28,000 for 8 years, Rs.
33,000 for 7 years, Rs. 39,000 for 6 years and Rs. 46,000 for 5 year period
5. ICICI`s bonds, 1997 ICICI came out with as many as five bonds in March 1997.
These are encash bonds, index bonds, regular income bonds, deep discount bonds,
and capital gain bonds. The bonds were aimed at meeting the diverse needs of all
categories of investors, besides contributing to the widening of the bond market so as
to bring the benefits of these securities to even the smallest investors.
a. Capital gains bond Also called infrastructure bonds incorporated the capital gains
tax relaxations under Section 54EA of the Income Tax Act announced in the
Union Budget for 1997-98. They are issued for 3 and 7 years maturity. 20 percent
rebate was available under Section 88 of the I.T. Act for investors on the amount
invested in the capital gains bonds upto a maximum of Rs. 70,000. They can avail
benefit under Section 88. the annual interest rate worked out to 13.4 percent while
the annual yield came to 20.7 percent. However, investment through stock-invest
will not qualify for the rebate.
b. Encash bond The five-year encash bonds were issued at a face value of Rs. 2,000
and can be redeemed at par across the country in 200 cities during 8 months in a
year after 12 months. The bond had a step up interest every year from 12 to 18.5
percent and the annualized yield at maturity for the bond works out to 15.8
percent. The encashing facility, however, is available only to the original
bondholders. The bonds not only offer higher return but also help widen the
banking facilities to investors. The secondary market price of the bonds is likely
to be favorably influenced by the step up interest that results in an improved YTM
every year.
c. Index bond Which gives the investor both the security of the debt instrument and
the potential of the appreciation in the return on the stock market. Priced at Rs.
6,000 the index bond has two parts: Part A is a deep discount bond of the face
value of Rs.22,000 issued for a 12 year period. Its calculated yield was 15.26
percent. It also has a call and a put option attached to it assuring the investor a
return or Rs. 9,300 after 6 years option is exercised. Part B is a detachable index
warrant issued for 12 years and priced at Rs. 2,000. The yield was linked to the
BSE SENSEX. The face value of the bond will appreciate the number of times the
SENSEX has appreciated. The investors` returns will be treated as capital gains.
6. Tax Free Bonds The salient features of the tax-free government of India bonds to be
issued from October 1, 2002 are as follows:
a. Interest rate The bonds will carry an interest rate of 7 percent
b. Tax exemption The bonds will be exempt from Income-tax and Wealth-tax
c. Maturity The bonds will have a maturity will have no ceiling
d. Ceiling The bonds investment will have no ceiling
e. Tradability The bonds will not be traded in the secondary market
f. Investors The eligible investors include individuals and Hindu Undivided families
(HUFs). NRIs are not eligible for investing in these bonds
g. Issue price Bonds will be issued for a minimum amount of Rs. 1,000 and its
multiples
h. Maturity value the cumulative maturity value of the bond will be Rs. 1,511 at the
end of six years
i. Form of issue The bonds will be both in demat form as well as in the traditional
form of stock certificates. Option once chosen cannot be changed
j. Transferability Bonds will not be transferable except by way of gift to relatives as
defined in the Companies Act
k. Collaterals The bonds cannot be used as collaterals for obtaining loans from
banks, financial institutions and non-banking financial companies
l. Nomination A sole holder or a sole surviving holder of the bond being an
individual can make a nomination
New Issues Market (NIM)?Conceptual Framework
NIM also known as primary market` is a market, which is characterized by the presence
of a set of all institutions, structures, people, procedures, services, and practices involved
in raising of fresh capital funds by both new and existing companies.
NIM AND SECONDARY MARKETS?AN INTERFACE
Both the primary and secondary markets are closely interrelated. This is clear from the
following:
Trading
For the purpose of securities to be traded in the secondary market, it is important that
they are first issued in the primary market.
Listing
In order that a corporate entity makes a successful issue of security in the primary market,
it is incumbent that the terms of such an issue carry a stipulation that the issues are to be
listed in a recognized stock exchange and that an application for this purpose has been
made already to the stock exchange concerned.
Regulation
The activities in the primary market such as the new issues, etc are greatly influenced by
the regulatory norms prescribed by the SEBI and stock exchanges. The object is to bring
about orderliness in the new issues market.
Marketability
The advantage of marketability provided by the secondary market greatly helps the
subscribers in the primary market. For instance, the positive trends prevailing in the
secondary market immensely help the investors to off-load their existing holdings so as to
subscribe for fresh issues in the NIM. This liquidity advantage helps in expansion of the
NIM.
Prevailing Conditions
The conditions prevailing in the secondary market affect to a very great extent the
successfulness or other wise of the issue being made in the NIM. Accordingly, where the
conditions are so favorable in the secondary market that high market prices prevail, the
issues made in the primary market will turn out to be encouraging and successful. Issues
would fetch good premiums.
Survival
The existence and the survival of the secondary market are dependent upon the efficacy
of the NIM as an avenue for fund raising. There could be no stock exchanges if there is
no NIM, in the same manner that there will be no NIM in the absence of an efficiently
functioning stock exchange. An efficient secondary market is therefore, a Sine-qua-non
for a growing primary market.
SERVICES OF NIM
A brief description of the various services rendered by the new issues market is made
below:
The Transfer
An important function rendered by NIM is to allow the transfer of resources from savers
to entrepreneurs who establish new companies. It is also called the function of
origination`. The transfer function is facilitated by specialist agencies that are engaged in
the provision of investigative and advisory services as specified below:
Investigative services The merchant bankers and other agencies provide the investigative
services. These include technical analysis, economic analysis financial analysis and
analysis of legal and environmental aspects of the proposed business. Merchant bankers
provide the above information to investors so as to enable the investors in making a
choice as to the type, quality and quantity of the issue.
Advisory services Various advisory services are made available with a view to improving
the quality of capital issues. The relevant services include determining the type, the mix,
the price, the timing, the size, the selling strategies, the methods of floatation, and the
terms and conditions of issue of securities.
The Guarantee
It is the function of underwriting`. Underwriting aims at guaranteeing the subscription of
public issue. Underwriters ensure successful subscription of the issue by undertaking to
take up the securities in the event of the public failing to subscribe the same. It benefits
the issuing company, the investing public and capital market in general. The function of
underwriting is undertaken for a fee.
The Distribution
The function that facilitates the sale of securities to ultimate investors is called
distribution`. The function of distribution is rendered by the specialized agencies like
brokers and dealers in securities. They maintain a constant and a close link with the
issuers and the ultimate investors on the one hand, and issuers and other agencies of
capital market on the other.
NM Vs. SECONDARY MARKET
NLM is different from the secondary market in the following respects:
SL. No.
Feature
NIM
Secondary Market
1.
Issues of securities
NIM deals only with new or fresh
Deals in existing securities
issue of securities. Issues are
considered fresh or new
provided such issues are made
for the first time either by the
existing company or by the
new company
2.
Location
No fixed geographical location
Needs a fixed place to house
need
the
secondary
market
activities, viz. trading
3.
Transfer of securities
Securities
are
created
andS ecurities are transferred from
transferred from corporates to one investor to another
investors for the first time
through the stock exchange
mechanism
4.
Entry
All companies can enter NIM andF or the securities to enter the
make fresh issue of securities
portals of stock exchanges
for the purpose of trading,
listing is mandatory
5.
Administration
Has
no tangible
form of
Has a definite administrative
administrative set-up
set-up
that
facilitates
trading in securities
6.
Regulation
Subject to regulations mostly from
S ubject to regulation both from
outside the company?SEBI, within and outside the
stock Exchanges, Companies stock exchange framework
Act, etc
7.
Aim
Creating long-term instruments
P roviding liquidity through
for borrowings
marketability
of
those
instruments.
8.
Price Movement
Stock
price
movement
in
Both macro and micro factors
secondary market influences influence the stock price
pricing of new issues
movement
9.
Depth
Depends on number and the
Depth depends upon the
volume of issue
activities of the primary
market at it brings into the
fore
more
corporate
entities
and
more
instruments to raise funds
8. .
Stock Option Norms for Software Companies
The relevant guidelines issued by the SEBI as regards employee`s stock option` for
software companies are as follows:
1. Minimum issue A minimum issue of 10 percent of its paid-up capital can be made by
a software company which has already floated American Depository Receipts
(ADRs) and Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) or a company which is proposing
to float these is entitled to issue ADR/GDR-linked stock options to its employees.
For this purpose, prior permission from the Department of Economic Affairs is to be
obtained.
2. Mode of issue Listed stock options can be issued in foreign currency convertible
bonds and ordinary shares (through depository receipt mechanism) to the employees
of subsidiaries of InfoTech companies.
3. Permanent employees Indian IT companies can issue ADR/GDR linked stock
options to permanent employees, including Indian and overseas directors, of their
subsidiary companies incorporated in India or outside.
4. Pricing The pricing provisions of SEBI`s preferential allotment guidelines would not
cover the scheme. The purpose is to enable the companies to issue stock options to
its employees at a discount to the market price which serves as another form of
compensation.
5. Approval Shareholders` approval through a special resolution is necessary for
issuing the ESOPs. A minimum period of one year between grant of option and its
vesting has been prescribed. After one year, the company would determine the
period in which option can bee exercised.
Bought-out Deals
Meaning
A method of marketing of securities of a body corporate whereby the promoters of
an unlisted company make an outright sale of a chunk of equity shares to a single sponsor
or the lead sponsor is known as bought-out deals.
Features
1. Parties There are three parties involved in the bought-out deals. They are promoters
of the company, sponsors and co-sponsors who are generally merchant bankers and
investors.
2. Outright sale Under this arrangement, there is an outright sale of a chunk of equity
shares to a single sponsor or the lead sponsor.
3. Syndicate Sponsor forms a syndicate with other merchant bankers for meeting the
resource requirements and for distributing the risk.
4. Sale price The sale price is finalized through negotiations between the issuing
company and the purchaser, the sale being influenced by such factors as project
evaluation, promoter`s image and reputation, current market sentiments, prospects of
off-loading these shares at a future date, etc.
5. Fund-based Bought-out deals are in the nature of und-based activity where the funds
of the merchant bankers get locked in for at least the prescribed minimum period.
6. Listing The investor-sponsors make a profit, when at a future date, the shares get
listed and higher prices prevail. Listing generally takes place at a time when the
company is performing well in terms of higher profits and larger cash generations
from projects.
7. OTCEI Sale of these shares at over-the Counter Exchange of India (OTCEI) or at a
recognized stock exchanges, the time of listing these securities and off-loading them
simultaneously are being generally decided in advance.
BOUGHT-OUT DEALS VS. PRIVATE PLACEMENTS
Following are the differences between bought-out deals and private placements:
Sl. No.
Feature
Private Placement
Bought-out Deal
1.
Trading Scrips
Listed securities
Unlisted securities
2.
Creating Securities Results in the creation of
S ecurities
are
simply
additional securities for the transferred
from
buying institutions
promoters to sponsors
who in turn off-load them
to the public
3.
Lock-in Period
Five Years
18 months
Benefits
Bought-out deals provide the following benefits:
Speedy sale Bought-out deals offer a mechanism for a speedier sale of securities at
lower costs relating to the issue.
Freedom Bought-out deals offer freedom for promoters to set a realistic price and
convince the sponsor about the same.
Investor protection Bought-out deals facilitate better investor protection as sponsors
are rigorously evaluated and appraised by the promoters before off-loading the issue.
Quality offer Bought-out deals help enhance the quality of capital floatation and
primary market offerings.
Limitations
Bought-out deals pose the following difficulties for the promoters, sponsors and
investors:
1. Loss of control The apprehensions in the minds of promoters, particularly of the
private or the closely held companies that the sponsors may usurp control of the
company as they own large chunk of the shares of the company.
2. Loss of sales Bought-out deals pose considerable difficulties in off-loading the
shares in times of unfavorable market conditions. This results in locking up of
investments and entailing losses to sponsors.
3. Wrong appraisal Bought-out deals cause loss to sponsors on account of wrong
appraisal of the project and overestimation of the potential price of the share.
4. Manipulation Bought-out deals five great scopes for manipulation at the hands of the
sponsor through insider trading and rigging.
5. No accountability Bought-out deals pose difficult of penalizing the sponsor as there
are no SEBI guidelines to regulate offerings by sponsors.
6. Windfall profits Bought-out deals offer the advantage of windfall profits by sponsors
at the cost of small investors.
7. Loss to investors Where the shares taken up by issue brokers and a coterie of select
clients are being bought back by the promoters at a pre-fixed higher price after
allotment causing loss to investors of the company.
INTERMEDIARIES IN PRIMARY MARKET (NIM)
Several intermediaries carry out activities of different nature in the new issue market.
The intermediaries include:
Merchant bankers/Lead managers
Underwriters
Bankers to the issue
Brokers to the issue
Registrars
Share transfer agent and
Debenture trustees
The legal frame work of operations of these intermediaries as prescribed by the SEBI, is
presented below
MERCHANT BANKERS/LEAD MANAGERS
Meaning
The intermediaries in the stock market who are responsible for public issues management
are known as merchant bankers` or lead managers.
Category
Merchant bankers are categorized as follows:
Category I: These are the merchant bankers who carry out such functions as relating to
new issues as determination of security-mix to be issued, drafting of prospectus,
application forms, allotment letters and a host of other documents, appointment of
registrars for handling share applicants and transfers, making arrangements for
underwriting, placement of shares, selection and appointment of brokers and bankers to
the issue, publicity of the issue, etc. Only these merchant bankers are permitted to act as
Lead Managers` to an issue.
Category II: These merchant bankers act as consultants, advisers, portfolio managers
and co-managers.
Category III: These merchant bankers act as underwriters, advisers and consultants.
Category IV: These merchant bankers act only as advisers or consultants to an issue.
As per the SEBI guidelines introduced on September 5, 1997, all categories of
merchant bankers below category I would stand abolished. The guidelines required those
merchant bankers who are functioning below the category I to upgrade themselves to
category I. Merchant bankers currently carrying out underwriting and portfolio
management, besides issue management, would be required to get separate registrations
as portfolio managers, while underwriting could be done without any additional
registration. Further, only body corporates with a net worth of Rs.5 crores would be
allowed as category I merchant bankers.
REGISTRATION ? CONDITIONS
Merchant bankers shall compulsorily register with the SEBI in the interest of investors.
Following are the conditions to be satisfied by them before registration is done by the
SEBI:
Capital adequacy: Merchant bankers have to fulfill the prescribed minimum capital
adequacy norm in terms of its net worth, i.e. Paid-up capital and free reserves.
Infrastructure Merchant bankers should have adequate and necessary infrastructure,
such as adequate office space, equipment and manpower for effective discharge of their
duties and responsibilities.
Expertise: Merchant bankers should employ experts having professional qualifications
in finance, law or business management competent to handle merchant banking business
and who are not involved in any litigation connected with securities market.
Fees: Merchant bankers should make a payment of fee as prescribed by the SEBI.
Undertaking: Merchant bankers shall undertake to fulfill their obligations and
responsibilities as may be prescribed by the SEBI from time to time. Further, they should
also undertake to adhere to the prescribed code of conduct.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
SEBI has laid down the following responsibilities for a merchant banker:
Contract A merchant banker shall enter into a contract with the issuing company. The
contract invariably specifies their mutual rights, obligations and liabilities relating to the
issue, particularly relating to disclosures, allotment and refund. A copy of the above
contract is to be submitted to the SEBI at least one month before the opening of the issue
for subscription. The merchant banker has the right not to accept the appointment as lead
manager, if the issuing company is its associate.
Registration A registration certificate has to be obtained by the merchant banker from
the SEBI
Minimum underwriting The merchant banker is duty-bound to accept on his own or
through its associate, a minimum underwriting obligation of 5 percent of total
underwriting commitment or Rs. 25 lakhs, whichever is less.
Due diligence certificate The merchant banker has to submit Due Diligence Certificate`
to SEBI at least two weeks before the opening of the issue for subscription. The
certificate has to be given on the basis of the verification of the contents of the
prospectus/letter of offer regarding the issue and reasonableness of the views expressed
therein. For this purpose, the merchant banker should reasonably be satisfied.
That the document contains all details relevant to the issue;
That all legal requirements relating to the issue have been fully complied with; and that
all disclosures are true, fair and adequate to enable the investing public to make a well-
informed decision regarding investment in the proposed issue.
Documents submission The merchant banker shall submit to SEBI various documents
containing details such as issue, draft prospectus/letter of offer and other literature to be
circulated to the investors/shareholders, etc at least two weeks before the data of filling
them with the Registrar of Companies and regional stock exchanges. It has to ensure that
all the modifications and suggestions made by SEBI regarding the above documents have
been duly incorporated.
Disclosure to SEBI The merchant bankers shall make a disclosure of the following to the
SEBI:
* Its responsibilities regarding the management of the issue
* Any change in the information/particulars previously furnished with SEBI having a
bearing on certificate of registration granted to it.
* Details relating to the breach of capital adequacy norms
* Names and addresses of the companies whose issues it has managed or has been
associated with and
* Information regarding its activities as manager, underwriter, consultant or adviser to the
issue.
Other duties In addition to the above, the merchant banker has to fulfill the following
obligations too:
* Continuing to remain fully associated with the issue till the subscribers have received
share/debenture certificates or the refund of excess application money.
* not to acquire securities of any company on the basis of unpublished price sensitive
information obtained in the course of discharge of his professional assignment.
UNDERWRITER
A set all institution and agencies that provide a commitment to take up issue of securities
in the event of a failure of the issue to get full subscription from the public, are known as
underwriters`.
They are compensated for their services by a payment of commission as agreed upon
between the issuing company and the underwriters and subject to the ceiling under the
companies act. Brokers, Investment companies, Commercial Banks and term lending
institution provide underwriting services.
Although underwriting of issues in not obligatory, underwriters play a significant role in
the development of the primary market. The issuing company in consultation with the
merchant bankers/lead managers appoints underwriters. A statement to this effect is also
to be incorporated in the prospectus.
Role and Responsibilities
Under the SEBI guidelines, underwriters have the following duties and responsibilities as
regards the public issue:
Registration A certificate of registration has to be obtained by the agencies that wish to
carry out underwriting activities from the SEBI. SEBI grants the certificate of registration
on the fulfillment of the following conditions:
Availability of adequate and necessary infrastructure like sufficient office space,
equipment and manpower to effectively function and discharge his duties.
Previous experience in underwriting or having a minimum of two persons with
experience in underwriting
Meeting capital adequacy requirement of a minimum net worth of Rs. 20 lakhs.
That the applicant (director, principal, officer or partner) has not been convicted of any
offence involving moral turpitude or found guilty of any economic offence.
Undertaking to fulfill obligations under the SEBI Act, rules and regulations
Undertaking to abide by the prescribed code of conduct and
Payment of the prescribed fee for grant of registration certificate and for its renewal,
which is Rs.2 lakhs for the first and the second years from the initial grant of certificate
and Rs. 20,000 per annum subsequently for keeping the certificate in force or for its
renewal. The Certificate of Registration can be suspended by SEBI in case of failure to
pay the fee. Thereupon, the underwriter ceases to act as underwriter.
Agreement In order that the issues are taken up by the underwriters, an agreement has to
be entered into between the underwriter and the issuing company. The agreement should,
among others, contain such details as the period during which the agreement will remain
in force, the amount of underwriting obligation, the maximum period within which the
underwriter will have to subscribe to the offer, after being intimated by or on behalf of
the issuing company, the rate and amount of commission/brokerage chargeable by the
underwriter, within the limits imposed by the Companies Act, and any other details
regarding the arrangements made by the underwriter for fulfilling the underwriting
obligations.
Code of conduct An underwriting agency shall follow the necessary codes of conduct as
framed by the SEBI. These include duty not to derive any other direct or indirect benefit
from underwriting the issue except receiving the underwriting commission at the agreed
rate, the ceiling for which is 5 percent in case of underwriting of shares and 2.5 percent in
case of debentures, duty not to take up total underwriting obligation, at any point of time
under all underwriting agreements, exceeding 20 times his net worth and duty to
subscribe for securities under the agreement within 45 days of the receipt of information
from the issuing company.
Compliance Underwriters are required to comply with all the formalities regarding
registration with SEBI, agreement with the Client Company and general responsibilities.
These include ensuring that all terms and conditions regarding disclosure in the
prospectus and its filing with ROC have been complied with before signing the
underwriting agreement with the issuing company, ensuring that the prospectus is
delivered to ROC within 30 days of the underwriting agreement or within such an
extended time as approved by the underwriter in writing, subject to the limits within the
law, complying with any additional disclosures that may be made in the interest of
investors as stipulated by SEBI/lead managers, and such disclosure requirements shall not
give any right to the underwriter to avoid or reduce his obligations, unless certified by
SEBI as material in nature and essential for underwriting agreement, arranging for sub-
underwriting but continues to be responsible for any failure or default on the part of such
sub-underwriters, etc.
Termination of agreement An underwriter is entitled to terminate an underwriting
agreement at any time before the opening of the issue as notified in the prospectus under
such circumstances as where the issuing company has made any incorrect representation
or statement to the underwriter, in the application form, in negotiations and
correspondences and in the prospectus, where a complete breakdown or dislocation of
business has occurred in major financial markets in Mumbai, Calcutta, New Delhi and
Chennai and where any other major disturbance such as declaration of war, open and
wide insurgency, civic upheaval has taken place which has adversely affected the major
financial markets.
BANKERS TO AN ISSUE
Meaning
Bankers who are engaged in the function of acceptance of applications for shares and
debentures alongwith application money from investors in respect of issue of securities
and also refund of application money to the applicants to whom securities could not be
allotted, are called bankers to an issue`. They play an important role in the working of
the primary market.
Roles and Responsibilities
The intermediary to act as a banker has the following responsibilities as ordained by the
SEBI:
Registration Bankers who are desirous of acting as bankers to an issue are required to
obtain the necessary certificate of registration from the SEBI. For this purpose, the
conditions to be fulfilled include adequacy of the necessary infrastructure such as office
space, equipment, communication facilities, data processing facilities and manpower to
effectively perform activities relating to the issue, and a stipulation that the banker or any
of its directors is not involved in any litigation connected with securities market nor they
are convicted for any economic offence. If the applicant is a scheduled bank, the grant of
certificate of registration would serve the interest of investors and the applicant pays the
registration fee.
Fees to SEBI Annual registration fee of Rs. 2.5 lakhs for the first two years is payable to
the SEBI by the intending banker and Rs 1 lakh is to be paid for the third year. An
application for the renewal of the registration can be made three months before the expiry
of registration certificate. The renewal fees are Rs. 1 lakh annually for the first two years
and Rs. 20,000 for the third year.
Contract The issuer company has to enter into a contract with the banker to an issue. The
contract shall include detailed information about the number and address of collection
centres at which applications and application money are to be received, the fee for the
services and other terms and conditions of the appointment.
Daily statement A daily statement giving the details regarding the number of applications
and amount of money received from the investors shall be submitted by the banker to the
issuing company/registrar to an issue.
Information to SEBI Information pertaining to such details as to the profile of the issue,
the number of applications and the details of application money received, the date-wise
details of application money collected and refunds, if any, to the SEBI. Similarly
information about any disciplinary action initiated by the RBI entailing the suspension or
cancellation of the banker is also to be sent to the SEBI.
Books and records Books of accounts, records and documents pertaining to all matters
regarding which the banker may be required to submit details to SEBI shall be
maintained by the banker. This is to be done for a minimum period of three years from
the completion of the issue.
Code of conduct In addition to the code of conduct prescribed for the merchant bankers
and underwriters, a banker to an issue has to adhere to the following code of conduct:
Not to keep blank application forms bearing broker`s stamp at the bank premises or at the
entrance of the bank
Not to accept applications after office hours, or on bank holidays, or after the date of the
closure of the issue.
Not to act at any time in collusion with other agents in a manner detrimental to the
interest of small investors and
Abide by all acts, rules, regulations, notifications, directions, circulars, instructions and
guidelines issued by the Government, RBI, Indian Banks Association and SEBI that are
relevant to his operations as banker to an issue.
RBI's Role
RBI is empowered to carry out the inspection of the bankers to the issue with a view to
protecting the investors instrument and also promoting compliance with SEBI Act, rules
and regulations. SEBI may order the suspension of the registration of the banker in such
circumstances as the violation of the provisions of SEBI Act, rules and regulations,
failure to submit the required information, submission of wrong of false information,
failure to resolve investors complaints or give satisfactory reply to SEBI, guilty of
misconduct or unprofessional conduct, etc.
BROKERS TO AN ISSUE
Intermediaries that are responsible for procuring the subscription to the issue from the
prospective investors are called brokers to the issue`. They provide a vital connecting
link between the prospective investors and the issuer. They assist in the speedy
subscription of issue by the public. Appointment of brokers is however not compulsory.
Unless permitted by the stock exchange, the issuing company abides by the prescribed
listing requirements and also undertakes to get its securities listed on a recognized stock
exchange. Moreover, its members can neither act as managers or brokers to an issue, nor
can they make any preliminary arrangement for floatation of an issue.
The brokers to the issue must have an expert knowledge, professional competence
and integrity in order to be able to carry out the various functions of an issue. They help
the investors make a right choice of the company for making investments. Consent must
be obtained from the stock exchange broker to act as the brokers to the issuer company.
For this purpose, the approval of stock exchanges is required. Copies of consent letters of
brokers are to be filed with ROC along with the copy of prospectus. The names and
addresses of the brokers to the issue are to be disclosed in the prospectus.
Brokerage has to be paid by the issuer company according to the provisions in the
Companies Act and rules and regulations, the agreement between the broker and the
company, and guidelines prescribed by SEBI. Maximum brokerage rate, applicable to all
types of industrial securities, whether underwritten or not, is 1.5 percent. The brokers
have to meet all mailing costs, canvassing expenses and all other out-of-pocket expenses
relating to the subscription of the issue out of their brokerage. The maximum rate of
brokerage payable by listed companies on private placement of capital is 0.5 percent.
REGISTRARS TO AN ISSUE AND SHARE TRANSFER AGENTS
Registrars and transfer agents are of two categories such as category I which carry on
activities of both registrars to an issue and also of share transfer agents and category II
which carry on activities either of a registrar to an issue or as a share transfer agent.
Functions
Registrars to an issue carry out such functions as keeping a proper record of applications
and moneys received from investors, assisting issuing companies in determining the basis
of allotment of securities as per stock exchange guidelines and in consultation with stock
exchanges, assisting in the finalization of allotment of securities, and processing and
dispatching of allotment letters, assisting in processing and dispatching refund orders,
share and debenture certificates and other documents related to the capital issue,
functioning as Depository Participants (DPs) etc.
Share Transfer Agents perform such functions as maintaining records of holders of
securities of the company for and on behalf of the company, handling all matters related
to transfer and redemption of securities of the company and functioning as Depository
Participants (DPs).
Role and Responsibilities
The role and responsibilities of registrars and share transfer agents are as follows:
Registration A certificate of registration is to be obtained from the SEBI. For this
purpose, the SEBI considers such factors as their ability to discharge their duties with
efficiency and integrity, the adequacy of infrastructure and past experience in this line of
activity and capital adequacy. Capital adequacy requirement is net worth of Rs. 6 lakhs
for category I and Rs. 3 lakhs for category II registrars and share transfer agents. They
have to pay an annual fee of Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively for initial registration
and annual renewal.
Maintenance of records Registrars and share transfer agents shall show such details as
applications received from investors relating to the issue, rejected applications together
with the reasons for rejection, basis of allotment of securities in consultation with the
stock exchanges, terms and conditions of purchase of securities, allotment of securities,
list of allottees and non-allottees, refund orders, etc and names of transferors and
transferees, and the dates of transfer of securities. Such records and books are to be
preserved for three years from the date of issue. SEBI can also ask them to file these
books and records with it whenever required.
Absorbing code of conduct Registrars and share transfer agents should adopt those codes
of conduct prescribed for merchant bankers and underwriters. Besides, they should
ensure that enquiries from investors are adequately dealt with and adequate steps are
taken for proper allotment of securities and refund of excess application money as per
law and without delay.
SEBI's Role.
SEBI is empowered to undertake inspection of books of accounts, records and documents
of registrars and share transfer agents. The certificate of registration issued to registrars
and share transfer agents will be suspended of their registration by the SEBI under such
circumstances as violation of SEBI Act, rules and regulations, violations of SCRA rules
and regulations, and stock exchange bye-laws, rules and regulations, failure to furnish
information to SEBI, furnishing wrong and false information, non-cooperation in an
inspection, investigation or an enquiry, failure to resolve investor complaints, failure to
give satisfactory reply to SEBI regarding investor complaints, involvement in
manipulation, price rigging and cornering activities, guilty of misconduct, failure to
maintain capital adequacy requirement, etc.
The registration of the registrars and transfer agents will be cancelled by the SEBI under
such circumstances as repeated defaults leading to suspension of registration certificate,
deliberate manipulation, price rigging and cornering activities adversely affecting the
securities market and the investor interest, violating provisions relating to insider trading
and take over regulations, guilty of fraud, conviction for a criminal offence and violating
SEBI Act, rules and regulations.
DEBENTURE TRUSTEES
Meaning
Trustees who are appointed to safeguard the interests of debenture holders are called
debenture trustees`. They are to be appointed before issue of debentures by a company.
No person can act as debenture trustee unless a certificate of registration has been
obtained from SEBI for the purpose.
Eligibility
To be appointed as a debenture trustee, the following are eligible:
1. A scheduled bank carrying on commercial activity; or
2. A public financial institution within the meaning of Section 4-A of the Companies
Act, 1956; or
3. An insurance company; or
4. A body corporate
Role and Responsibilities
1. Registration An institution shall be registered with the SEBI to be in a position to
function as a debenture trustee. For this purpose, the institution concerned shall
have an adequate and necessary infrastructure like adequate office space,
equipments and manpower to effectively discharge his activities, relevant
experience of a debenture trustee, professional qualification for a debenture
trustee from an institution recognized by the government in finance, accountancy,
law or business management and the applicant or any of its director or principal
officers has not at any time been convicted for any offence involving moral
turpitude or has been found guilty of any economic offence.
2. Consent Consent in writing must be given to the body corporate to act as
debenture trustee before the debenture issue.
3. Inspection Debenture trustee shall carry out the inspection of books of accounts,
records, registers of the body corporate and the trust property to the extent
necessary for discharging his obligations.
4. Possession A debenture trustee shall carry out any act as would be necessary for
the protection of the interest of and the resolution of grievances of the debenture
holders.
5. Protection of interest A debenture trustee shall carry out any act as would be
necessary for the protection of the interest of and the resolution of grievances of
the debenture holders. He must also ensure that debenture certificates have been
dispatched to the debenture holders in accordance with the provisions of the
Companies Act. Besides, he must also ensure that interest warrants for interest
due on the debentures have been dispatched to the debenture holders on or before
the due dates.
6. Due diligence A debenture trustee should exercise due diligence to ascertain
whether or not the assets of the body corporate which are available by way of
security or otherwise are sufficient or are likely to be or become sufficient to
discharge the claims of debenture holders as and when they become due. It must
also inform the Board immediately of any breach of trust deed or provision of any
law.
7. Meeting A debenture trustee shall call, or cause to be called by the body
corporate, a meeting of the entire debenture holders where a requisition for the
meeting has been made at least one-tenth of the debenture holders or the
happening of any event, which constitutes a default or which in the opinion of the
debenture trustees affects the interest of the debenture holders.
8. Code of conduct Every debenture trustee shall abide by the prescribed code of
conduct.
9. Maintenance of books of accounts, etc, Subject to the provisions of any law,
every debenture trustee has to keep and maintain proper books of accounts,
records and documents relating to the trusteeship functions for a period of not less
than 5 financial years preceding the current financial year. Every debenture
trustee has to intimate to SEBI, the place where the books of accounts, records
and documents are maintained.
10. Information to SEBI Every debenture trustee shall furnish information relating to
the following to the SEBI:
a. Number and nature of the grievances of debenture holders received and
resolved
b. Copies of the trust deed
c. Non-payment or delayed payment of interest to debenture holders, if any,
in respect of each issue of debentures of a body corporate.
d. Details of dispatch and transfer of debenture certificates giving therein the
dates, mode, etc
e. Inspection and Disciplinary Proceedings and
f. Any other particulars or documents that are relevant to debenture trustee.
SEBI's Role
SEBI is empowered to carry out the inspection of the books of accounts, other records
and documents of the debenture trustee for the purpose of ensuring that the records and
documents which are relevant to debenture trustees are being maintained in the manner
required by the Board, that the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, rules and
regulations are being complied with, that there exists any circumstances, which would
render the debenture trustee ineligible for grant of registration or continuance thereof,
that the complaints received from investors, other debenture trustees are investigated into,
and that the interest of the investors is protected.
SEBI can suspend the certificate of registration granted to a debenture trustee under the
following circumstances:
1. Violation of the provisions of the SEBI Act, rules and regulations
2. Not following the prescribed code of conduct
3. Failure to furnish information relating to his business as debenture trustee as
required by the Board
4. Furnishing wrong or false information
5. Not submitting reports as required by SEBI
6. Non-cooperation in any enquiry conducted by SEBI
7. Indulging in manipulating or price rigging or cornering activities.
8. Guilty of misconduct or improper or unbusinesslike or unprofessional conduct
9. Failure to pay the fees.
10. Violation of the conditions subject to which the certificate has been granted and
11. Failure to fulfill the obligations under the trust deed
Under the following circumstances, SEBI can cancel the certificate of registration granted
to debenture trustees:
1. Repeated defaults of the type leading to suspension of certificate
2. Indulging in deliberate manipulation or price rigging or cornering activities
affecting the securities market and the investors interests.
3. Guilty of fraud, or is convicted of a criminal offence
4. Violation of any provision of insider trading regulations.
5. Trustee being removed by the debenture holders by a resolution passed by not less
than 75 percent of the debenture holders.
Unless permitted by the stock exchange, the issuing company abides by the prescribed
listing requirements and also undertakes to get its securities listed on a recognized stock
exchange. Moreover, its members can neither act as managers or brokers to an issue, nor
can they make any preliminary arrangement for floatation of an issue.
The brokers to the issue must have an expert knowledge, professional competence
and integrity in order to be able to carry out the various functions of an issue. They help
the investors make a right choice of the company for making investments. Consent must
be obtained from the stock exchange broker to act as the brokers to the issuer company.
For this purpose, the approval of stock exchanges is required. Copies of consent letters of
brokers are to be filed with ROC along with the copy of prospectus. The names and
addresses of the brokers to the issue are to be disclosed in the prospectus.
Brokerage has to be paid by the issuer company according to the provisions in the
Companies Act and rules and regulations, the agreement between the broker and the
company, and guidelines prescribed by SEBI. Maximum brokerage rate, applicable to all
types of industrial securities, whether underwritten or not, is 1.5 percent. The brokers
have to meet all mailing costs, canvassing expenses and all other out-of-pocket expenses
relating to the subscription of the issue out of their brokerage. The maximum rate of
brokerage payable by listed companies on private placement of capital is 0.5 percent.
REGISTRARS TO AN ISSUE AND SHARE TRANSFER AGENTS
Registrars and transfer agents are of two categories such as category I which carry on
activities of both registrars to an issue and also of share transfer agents and category II
which carry on activities either of a registrar to an issue or as a share transfer agent.
Functions
Registrars to an issue carry out such functions as keeping a proper record of applications
and moneys received from investors, assisting issuing companies in determining the basis
of allotment of securities as per stock exchange guidelines and in consultation with stock
exchanges, assisting in the finalization of allotment of securities, and processing and
dispatching of allotment letters, assisting in processing and dispatching refund orders,
share and debenture certificates and other documents related to the capital issue,
functioning as Depository Participants (DPs) etc.
Share Transfer Agents perform such functions as maintaining records of holders of
securities of the company for and on behalf of the company, handling all matters related
to transfer and redemption of securities of the company and functioning as Depository
Participants (DPs).
Role and Responsibilities
The role and responsibilities of registrars and share transfer agents are as follows:
Registration A certificate of registration is to be obtained from the SEBI. For this
purpose, the SEBI considers such factors as their ability to discharge their duties with
efficiency and integrity, the adequacy of infrastructure and past experience in this line of
activity and capital adequacy. Capital adequacy requirement is net worth of Rs. 6 lakhs
for category I and Rs. 3 lakhs for category II registrars and share transfer agents. They
have to pay an annual fee of Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively for initial registration
and annual renewal.
Maintenance of records Registrars and share transfer agents shall show such details as
applications received from investors relating to the issue, rejected applications together
with the reasons for rejection, basis of allotment of securities in consultation with the
stock exchanges, terms and conditions of purchase of securities, allotment of securities,
list of allottees and non-allottees, refund orders, etc and names of transferors and
transferees, and the dates of transfer of securities. Such records and books are to be
preserved for three years from the date of issue. SEBI can also ask them to file these
books and records with it whenever required.
Absorbing code of conduct Registrars and share transfer agents should adopt those codes
of conduct prescribed for merchant bankers and underwriters. Besides, they should
ensure that enquiries from investors are adequately dealt with and adequate steps are
taken for proper allotment of securities and refund of excess application money as per
law and without delay.
SEBI's Role.
SEBI is empowered to undertake inspection of books of accounts, records and documents
of registrars and share transfer agents. The certificate of registration issued to registrars
and share transfer agents will be suspended of their registration by the SEBI under such
circumstances as violation of SEBI Act, rules and regulations, violations of SCRA rules
and regulations, and stock exchange bye-laws, rules and regulations, failure to furnish
information to SEBI, furnishing wrong and false information, non-cooperation in an
inspection, investigation or an enquiry, failure to resolve investor complaints, failure to
give satisfactory reply to SEBI regarding investor complaints, involvement in
manipulation, price rigging and cornering activities, guilty of misconduct, failure to
maintain capital adequacy requirement, etc.
The registration of the registrars and transfer agents will be cancelled by the SEBI under
such circumstances as repeated defaults leading to suspension of registration certificate,
deliberate manipulation, price rigging and cornering activities adversely affecting the
securities market and the investor interest, violating provisions relating to insider trading
and take over regulations, guilty of fraud, conviction for a criminal offence and violating
SEBI Act, rules and regulations.
DEBENTURE TRUSTEES
Meaning
Trustees who are appointed to safeguard the interests of debenture holders are called
debenture trustees`. They are to be appointed before issue of debentures by a company.
No person can act as debenture trustee unless a certificate of registration has been
obtained from SEBI for the purpose.
Eligibility
To be appointed as a debenture trustee, the following are eligible:
5. A scheduled bank carrying on commercial activity; or
6. A public financial institution within the meaning of Section 4-A of the Companies
Act, 1956; or
7. An insurance company; or
8. A body corporate
Role and Responsibilities
11. Registration An institution shall be registered with the SEBI to be in a position to
function as a debenture trustee. For this purpose, the institution concerned shall
have an adequate and necessary infrastructure like adequate office space,
equipments and manpower to effectively discharge his activities, relevant
experience of a debenture trustee, professional qualification for a debenture
trustee from an institution recognized by the government in finance, accountancy,
law or business management and the applicant or any of its director or principal
officers has not at any time been convicted for any offence involving moral
turpitude or has been found guilty of any economic offence.
12. Consent Consent in writing must be given to the body corporate to act as
debenture trustee before the debenture issue.
13. Inspection Debenture trustee shall carry out the inspection of books of accounts,
records, registers of the body corporate and the trust property to the extent
necessary for discharging his obligations.
14. Possession A debenture trustee shall carry out any act as would be necessary for
the protection of the interest of and the resolution of grievances of the debenture
holders.
15. Protection of interest A debenture trustee shall carry out any act as would be
necessary for the protection of the interest of and the resolution of grievances of
the debenture holders. He must also ensure that debenture certificates have been
dispatched to the debenture holders in accordance with the provisions of the
Companies Act. Besides, he must also ensure that interest warrants for interest
due on the debentures have been dispatched to the debenture holders on or before
the due dates.
16. Due diligence A debenture trustee should exercise due diligence to ascertain
whether or not the assets of the body corporate which are available by way of
security or otherwise are sufficient or are likely to be or become sufficient to
discharge the claims of debenture holders as and when they become due. It must
also inform the Board immediately of any breach of trust deed or provision of any
law.
17. Meeting A debenture trustee shall call, or cause to be called by the body
corporate, a meeting of the entire debenture holders where a requisition for the
meeting has been made at least one-tenth of the debenture holders or the
happening of any event, which constitutes a default or which in the opinion of the
debenture trustees affects the interest of the debenture holders.
18. Code of conduct Every debenture trustee shall abide by the prescribed code of
conduct.
19. Maintenance of books of accounts, etc, Subject to the provisions of any law,
every debenture trustee has to keep and maintain proper books of accounts,
records and documents relating to the trusteeship functions for a period of not less
than 5 financial years preceding the current financial year. Every debenture
trustee has to intimate to SEBI, the place where the books of accounts, records
and documents are maintained.
20. Information to SEBI Every debenture trustee shall furnish information relating to
the following to the SEBI:
a. Number and nature of the grievances of debenture holders received and
resolved
b. Copies of the trust deed
c. Non-payment or delayed payment of interest to debenture holders, if any,
in respect of each issue of debentures of a body corporate.
d. Details of dispatch and transfer of debenture certificates giving therein the
dates, mode, etc
e. Inspection and Disciplinary Proceedings and
f. Any other particulars or documents that are relevant to debenture trustee.
SEBI's Role
SEBI is empowered to carry out the inspection of the books of accounts, other records
and documents of the debenture trustee for the purpose of ensuring that the records and
documents which are relevant to debenture trustees are being maintained in the manner
required by the Board, that the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, rules and
regulations are being complied with, that there exists any circumstances, which would
render the debenture trustee ineligible for grant of registration or continuance thereof,
that the complaints received from investors, other debenture trustees are investigated into,
and that the interest of the investors is protected.
SEBI can suspend the certificate of registration granted to a debenture trustee under the
following circumstances:
1 . Violation of the provisions of the SEBI Act, rules and regulations
2 Not following the prescribed code of conduct
3. Failure to furnish information relating to his business as debenture trustee as required
by the Board
4. Furnishing wrong or false information
5. Not submitting reports as required by SEBI
6. Non-cooperation in any enquiry conducted by SEBI
7. Indulging in manipulating or price rigging or cornering activities.
8. Guilty of misconduct or improper or unbusinesslike or unprofessional conduct
9. Failure to pay the fees.
10.
Violation of the conditions subject to which the certificate has been granted and
11.
Failure to fulfill the obligations under the trust deed
Under the following circumstances, SEBI can cancel the certificate of registration granted
to debenture trustees:
6. Repeated defaults of the type leading to suspension of certificate
7. Indulging in deliberate manipulation or price rigging or cornering activities
affecting the securities market and the investors interests.
8. Guilty of fraud, or is convicted of a criminal offence
9. Violation of any provision of insider trading regulations.
10. Trustee being removed by the debenture holders by a resolution passed by not less
than 75 percent of the debenture holders.
E-trading
The structure of stock market in India has undergone a vast change due to the
liberalization process initiated by the Government. A number of new structures have
come to be added to the existing structure of the Indian stock exchange. A brief
description of these structures in the Indian stock market system is presented below:
Over-the-counter Market System
Basically this market is meant for small size companies. The primary objective of
this market was to enable the small start-up companies or companies in green field
ventures to obtain their capital requirements at the minimum cost. On the basis of the
recommendations of the High Powered Committee on Stock Exchange Reforms (G.S.
Patel) and Committee (Abid Hussain) on Capital Market Reforms, the Over-The-Counter
Exchange of India (OTCEI) was incorporated in October 1990 under the Companies Act,
1956. Granted recognition under section 4 of the Securities Contract (Regulation) Act
1956, the OTCEI was promoted by various public financial institutions like Unit Trust of
India (UTI), Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI), Industrial Credit and
Investment Corporation of India (ICICI), Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI),
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC),
SBI Capital Market, CanBank Financial Services, etc. Commencing its operations on
September 29, 1992 at Bombay, the OTCEI introduced screen-based automatic singular
trading system. Although companies enjoy the same status as listed on the other stock
exchanges, it is not possible that a company listed at OTCEI can be listed on other stock
exchanges.
National Stock Market System (NSMS)
National stock market system was advocated by the High Powered Group on the
Establishment of New Stock Exchanges headed by Shri. M.J.Pherwani (popularly
known as Pherwani Committee). The committee recommended in June 1991, the
following three tier-stock market structure:
Principal Stock exchanges comprising 5 major stock exchanges at Bombay, Calcutta,
Madras, Delhi and Ahmedabad
Regional stock exchanges like those in major state capitals
Additional Trading Floors (ATFs) sponsored or managed by Principal or Regional
stock exchanges
At present the National Stock Market in India comprises the following:
1. National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE)
2. Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL)
3. National Clearing and Depository System (NCDS)
4. Securities Trading Corporation of Indian (STCI)
National Stock Exchange (NSE)
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) was set up for the purpose of providing a nation
wide stock trading facility to investors so as to bring the Indian financial market in line
with international financial market. It started its operations by the end of 1993. The NSE
used the electronic trading system and computerized settlement system aimed at
extending the facility of electronic trading to every corner of the country. The exchange
has two separate segments, viz. capital market segment and money market segment.
While the capital market segment is concerned with trading in equity shares, convertible
debentures and debt instruments as nonconvertible debentures, the money market
segment facilitates high value trading in debts, public sector bonds, mutual fund units,
treasury bills, government securities, call money instruments, etc. The main participants,
in this market are usually banks, financial institutions, and other financial agencies.
Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHIL)
This Corporation was set up in October 1987, under the Companies Act, by 7 All
India financial institutions viz. IDBI, IFCI, ICICI, LIC, GIC, UTI and RBI. The range of
services that are made available by this institution includes quick transfer of shares
among its member institutions, clearing services, depository services, support services,
management information services, and development services. This is a board-managed
company and has a whole time Managing Director in charge of the day-to-day
management of the corporation. It has set up regional centers at New Delhi, Calcutta and
Madras. It is providing facilities in the major market centers in India.
National Clearance and Depository System (NCDS)
This system was created chiefly to help overcome the problem of settlement and
clearance of transactions consequent to enormous workload on the clearing agencies and
share transfer agencies. The problems mainly arose out of systematic risk like counter
party risk, credit risk, bad deliveries, long delayed delivery, counterfeit scrips, and forged
scrips.
Securities Trading Corporation of India (STCI)
The Reserve Bank of India set up Securities Trading Corporation of India Limited
(STCI) in May 1994, under the provisions of the Indian Companies Act, 1956, jointly
with public sector banks and All-India financial institutions. The main objective of
establishing the Corporation was to foster the development of an active secondary market
for Government securities and bonds issued by public sector undertakings. It had an
authorized and paid-up capital of Rs. 500 crores of which, RBI contributed 50.18 percent.
The RBI in December 1997 divested part of its equity in STCI in favor of the Bank of
India, an existing shareholder of the Company.
Corporitization and Demutualization
Of late, efforts are on by the SEBI to corporatize and demutulize the Indian stock
exchanges. For this purpose a Study Group under the Chairmanship of Justice M.H.
Kania has been constituted. The object is to put in place a common structural model for
the Indian stock market system. Accordingly, stock exchange will have to undergo
changes in organizational structure.
Corporitization and Demutualization refer to the process of conversion of a stock
exchange from a not-for-profit entity to a for-profit company. The process of transition
from mutually-owned` association to a company owned by shareholders` is called
demutualization`. Demutualization involves the segregation of members` right into
distinct segments, viz. ownership rights and trading rights. It changes the relationship
between members and the stock exchange. Members, while retaining their trading rights,
acquire ownership rights in the stock exchange, which have a market value, and they also
acquire the benefits of limited liability.
INTERCONNECTED STOCK EXCHANGE OF INDIA (ISE)
Genesis
Interconnected Stock Exchange of India Limited (ISE) has been promoted by 15
Regional Stock Exchanges to provide cost-effective trade linkage/connectivity to all the
members of the Participating Exchanges, with the objective of widening the market for
the securities listed on these exchanges. ISE is a national-level stock exchange which
provides trading, clearing, settlement, risk management and surveillance support to its
traders and dealers.
ISE aims to address the needs of small companies and retail investors, with the
guiding principle of optimizing the existing infrastructure and harnessing the potential of
regional markets, so as to transform them into a liquid and vibrant market, through the
use of state-of-the-art technology and networking.
The participating Exchanges of ISE. In order to leverage its infrastructure and to
expand its nation wide reach, ISE has also appointed around 450 dealers` across 70 cities
other than the Participating Exchange centers. These dealers are administratively
supported by the regional offices of ISE at Delhi (north), Kolkata (east), Coimbatore
(south) and Nagpur (central), besides Mumbai (west).
ISE has also floated a wholly?owned subsidiary, ISE Securities and Services Limited
(ISS), which has taken up corporate membership of the National Stock Exchange of India
Ltd. (NSE) in the Capital Market Futures and Options segments and the Stock Exchange,
Mumbai, in the Equities segment, so that the traders and dealers of ISE can access other
markets, in addition to the ISE market and their local markets. ISE thus provides the
investors in smaller cities, a one-stop solution for cost-effective and efficient trading, and
settlement in securities.
With the objective of broadbasing the range of its services, ISE has started offering
the full suite of DP facilities to its traders, dealers and their clients.
ISE endeavors to consolidate the small, fragmented and less liquid markets into a
national-level, liquid market by using state-of-the-art infrastructure and support systems.
Objectives/features
The Interconnected Stock Exchange of India Limited was constituted to realize the
following objectives:
1. Create a single integrated national-level solution with access to multiple markets for
providing high cost-effective service to millions of investors across the country
2. Create a liquid and vibrant national-level market for all listed companies in general
and small capital companies in particular
3. Optimally utilize the existing infrastructure and other resources of participating stock
exchanges, which are under-utilized now
4. Provide a level playing field to small traders and dealers, by offering an opportunity
to participate in a national-market having investment-oriented business
5. Reduce transaction cost
6. Provide clearing and settlement facilities to the traders and dealers across the country
at their doorstep in a decentralized mode
7. Spread demat trading across the Country
Achievements
Following are the achievements of ISE:
1. Network of intermediaries A broad base of members form the bedrock for any
exchange. In this respect, ISE has a large pool of registered intermediaries who can
be tapped for any new line of business. As at the beginning of the financial year
2003-04, 548 intermediaries (207 traders and 341 dealers) are registered on ISE.
2. Robust operational systems The trading, settlement and funds transfer operations of
ISE and ISS are completely automated and state-of-the-art systems have been
deployed. The communication network of ISE, which has connectivity with over 400
trading software and settlement software, along with the electronic funds transfer
arrangement established with HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, give ISE and ISS, the
required operational efficiency and flexibility, to not only handle the secondary
market functions effectively, but also by leveraging them for new ventures.
3. Skilled and experienced manpower ISE and ISS have experienced and professional
staff, which has wide experience in Stock Exchanges/Capital Market institutions.
The staff has the skill-set required to perform a wide range of functions, depending
upon the requirements from time to time.
4. Aggressive pricing policy The philosophy of ISE is to have an aggressive pricing
policy for the various products and services offered by it. The aim is to penetrate the
retail market and strengthen the position, so that a wide variety of products and
services having appeal for the retail market can be offered, using a common
distribution channel. The aggressive pricing policy also ensures that the
intermediaries have sufficient financial incentive for offering these products and
services to the end-clients.
5. Trading, risk management and settlement software systems The ORBIT (Online
Regional Bourses Inter-connected Trading) and AZIS [Automated Exchange
Integrated Settlement] software developed on the Microsoft NT platform, with
consultancy assistance from Microsoft, are the most contemporary of the trading and
settlement software, introduced in the country. The applications have been built on a
technology platform, which offers low cost of ownership, facilitates simple
maintenance, and supports easy up gradation and enhancement. The software is so
designed, that the transaction processing capacity depends on the hardware used;
capacity can be enhanced by just adding inexpensive hardware, without any
additional software work.
6. Vibrant subsidiary operations ISS, the wholly owned subsidiary of the biggest
exchange subsidiaries in the country, on an average more than 250 registered
intermediaries of ISS trade from 46 cities across the length and breadth of the
country.
7. Fine liquidity ISE is addressing the problem of illiquidity in small capital companies
at various exchanges by providing the securities of all such companies, an exposure
to a larger investor base across the country. Currently, the ISE participating
exchanges, directly account for about 5 percent of the total turnover and this is
expected to increase with this integration, as indirectly, the ISE exchanges have been
routing large volumes to BSE and NSE. NSE and BSE, both receive 50 percent of
their business from outside Mumbai, from the Regional Exchange centers. This
indicates the true potential of the ISE Exchanges and it would further increase after
Internet trading and on-line IPO distribution systems that are being implemented by
ISE.
8. One-stop solution ISE provides national reach instantaneously. Listing of shares on
ISE helps improve visibility of securities amongst the retail investors across the
country. Further, all traders and dealers also have access to NSE, through the ISE
Securities and Services Ltd. (ISS), a wholly owned subsidiary of ISE, which is a
member of NSE All the traders and dealers who have registered with this subsidiary
also act as sub-brokers. Thus, ISE and ISS provide a one-stop multiple market
solution to the investors and the listing of securities on ISE would attract instant
attention of all its investors.
It would further have the advantage of giving the company a positive image of being
an outward looking technology savvy and investor friendly company. This concept of
consolidation is now being implemented in U.S. and Europe, because of the advantages
of the one-stop solution and cost benefits, which improves the competitiveness of the
exchange.
Listing Advantages
Location advantage of ISE, focuses on retail investors, concentration of technology
companies within its jurisdiction, and convenience of compliance through decentralized
support. It is expected that the ISE would provide the best mix of all features required by
a company, to list on any exchange.
ISE offers the advantage of a Regional Exchange, for convenient and cost effective
compliance`. This is expected to promote decentralized regional development and
internalize the regulatory support as far as possible within that area of jurisdiction. This
would make the regions self sufficient, for all regulatory compliance in tune with the
decentralization policy of the Government.
ISE, being the most recent exchange, is also the most technology-savvy exchange
which is indicated not only from the complexity of the technology it uses, but also from
the fact that the exchange is located in an International Technology Park at Vashi, Navi,
Mumbai. The exchange is located strategically in this technology park, which has two
other technology parks within its vicinity, and this entire corridor between the Vashi,
MIDC and Belapur is being treated as technology corridor` to attract Foreign Direct
Investment in technology companies within the State of Maharashtra. Thus, all the
companies located in this area are expected to have ISE as the regional exchange.
In addition to the large number of companies that are expected to develop in this
area, many other companies spread across the country would also choose to list with ISE
as an additional exchange, because of the large reach of ISE amongst the retail investors
across the country. ISE has positioned itself as an exchange for the retail investors and it
has evinced great interest in attracting listing from the companies during the short period
when it started listing securities.
The advantages of a company listing on ISE is unique due to the following reasons:
1. Moderate fees ISE is the only national-level recognized Stock Exchange, having
moderate listing fees and grants listing and trading permission to the small and
medium sized companies having a post public issue paid-up capital, of Rs.3 to 5
crores, (subject to the appointment of market-markers) apart from companies above
Rs. 5 crores.
2. Easy compliance It would be possible for the companies to do listing compliance
from the four metros and Nagpur. This will improve the compliance of listing
requirements by the companies, merely due to the convenience and cost of a single
compliance.
3. Improved visibility Listing on ISE improves visibility of a company across 15
exchanges with convenience and cost of a single compliance.
4. Infrastructure ISE infrastructure and the network of large number of traders and
dealers are treated as a large distribution channel available for marketing of all
financial products. These could be shares, mutual fund units, bonds, etc. All traders
and dealers of ISE also have access to NSE, though ISE Securities and Services Ltd.
(ISS), a wholly owned subsidiary of ISE, which has taken NSE membership, which
ensures continuous attention of investors. Since investors get used to obtaining all
services from one intermediary, the success of any company listed with ISE is large,
as the intermediaries can sell these issues better and that too directly, to the target
audience which improves the success rate of an issue marketed through this system,
using our large sales force.
5. IPO Distribution system The introduction of the IPO Distribution System`. For
offering primary market issue by the ISE, would reduce the time and cost of
marketing a new issue. This would be possible once the new system is finally
notified by SEBI.
6. Additional facility Although the jurisdiction of ISE for listing of companies as
Regional Stock Exchange is Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, securities of companies,
which are located elsewhere are also listed.
7. Investor protection ISE has set up an Investors Grievance and Service Cell` which
looks after all types of complaints of investors located across the country and
provides decentralized support.
8. Website The facility of website where the publicly disclosed information on all
companies would be placed for easy access by the investors would be a great
advantage. In effect, all companies listed on this exchange would be able to update
their site independently for greater investor information.
Trading Methodology
Transactions for the ISE segment are routed from the trader`s workstation to the
central trading computers, (i.e. Tandem system) installed at ISE`s office in Vashi,
through the regional Gate Way Server (GWS) system, installed at the participating Stck
Exchanges using a VAST communication network.
As far as the NSE segment is concerned, all orders are forwarded to NSE through the
central trading and settlement software that is installed at Mumbai on a high-end Compaq
computer. This Compaq computer is connected to the NES trading system through a 2
mbps leased line, as the primary link between ISS and NSE and it also has a VSAT link
as a backup. In the case of traders, the existing VAST links connecting the Participating
Stock Exchanges with ISE will be used for accessing the NSE segment too. Within the
Participating Stock Exchange premises, the trader workstations (TWSs) required for
NSE, access would be connected on a separate LAN segment to the VSAT infrastructure
already established.
Settlement System
The total delivery-in/delivery-out of traders is computed on a netting basis. After
netting of the traders and dealers, the net position of the center is computed. If there is
pay-in position of that center, then funds or securities are moved out from one center to
another center, having a corresponding pay-out position of funds or securities. The
movement is based on a transportation model to ensure minimum distance and delivery
time.
Clearing System
ISE has appointed ABN-AMRRO-Vysya Bank consortium and HDFC Bank to
provide learning bank services. Act the operational level, pay-in of funds is done by way
of direct debit of the pay-in/settlement accounts maintained by the traders and dealers
with Vysys Bank or HDFC Bank. Similarly, in case of margins, debits are carried out on
T+1, by electronically debiting the pay-in accounts of traders and dealers. The
traders/dealers have to keep funds available in their accounts, as required for the purposes
of pay-in and margins, in accordance with the statements downloaded to their TWSs, at
the end of the settlement.
Indian Public Offering Distribution system
A system whereby market issue of securities in the primary market is made through
the stock exchange mechanism, utilizing the network of the stock exchange, the ISE is
known as Indian Public Offering Distribution System.` This would serve as an additional
issue system against the present non-computerized public offering system. The aim is to
reduce the time taken for allotment of securities to the investors, as well as bring down
discrepancies/errors inherent in any manual system
The proposed system would reduce the time taken for allotment of securities from
the date of closing of the issue. Under this system, the investor would part with his funds,
only when he has been provisionally allocated the securities. There will be no question of
refund of the application money.
Mechanism
1. Appointment of agents The issuer company appoints members of the stock exchange
as agents or collection centers for accepting applications from investors. The agents
would place orders on behalf of the client-investor, besides underwriting the issue.
Members act as agents when the issue is open to the public for subscription.
2. Order placement Interested investors approach their members and place suitable
orders for subscribing to the issue. The order placement is doen through the Stock
Exchange trading network.
3. Allotment information Registrars to the issue send information on allotment, to the
stock exchange after finalizing the allotment. Members are then informed
accordingly. The members in turn inform inform clients. Details of allotment are also
made available on the ISE`s website, which can be accessed by the investors directly.
4. Application The applications for shares are filled in by successful applicants,
electronically, where the facility of internet is available or in the usual fashion, where
the internet facility is unavailable.
5. Payment When the application is made through internet, payment for shares allotted,
is made through the payment Gateway System` and through the normal physical
instruments in case of other modes.
6. Actual allotment The registrar to the issue makes a formal allotment of shares, after
receiving the entire data and money in full. Allotment is made both in physical as
well as in demats form, depending on the request.
INDONEXT
Indonext is the proposed common trading platform for regional stock exchanges. It is
planned to obey introduced, by the SEBI on the basis of recommendations by the, Justice
Kania Committee on Corporatization and Demutalization of Stock Exchanges. Indonext
is to be set up as the third National Stock Exchange, on the lines of Euronext`. Indonext
is to be established by merging regional stock exchanges with, the Over-The-Counter
Stock Exchange (OTCEI). The scheme aims at giving a new lease of life for the regional
stock exchanges in India.
Need
The need for setting up Indonext rose, owing to the rapid expansion of the national
and Bombay stock exchanges, into small centers and cities, and the struggle of regional
exchanges to survive of all the national exchanges, seven of them do not conduct any
business at all. Further, the capital market regulator, SEBI, has permitted companies to
cut down their multiple listings and to eventually delist from the regional bourses. Good
quality stocks started vanishing from the bourses and new stocks are not being listed, due
to lack of initial public offerings. The idea behind Indonext is, to have a single trading
segment.
Features
Indonext seeks to be different from the ISE in the following respects:
1. Exclusive trading Indonext aims at offering exclusive trading in the case of
companies with paid-up capital of Rs 20 lakhs, very small and medium capital
companies.
2. Liquidy Indonext proposes to generate liquidity in the thinly traded stocks so as to
ensure survival of small stock exchanges.
3. Wide trading Trading on Indonext will be open to all members including NSE, BSE,
ISEI, OTCEI and regional exchanges.
4. Trading model Trading segment of all regional exchanges and OTCEI will be
modeled along lines of Euronext, Paris of Amesterdam.
5. Eliminating conflict of interest Indonext seeks to eliminate a conflict of interest
among regional stockbrokers by disallowing participating exchanges to retain a
separate trading platform. Members will be permitted to trade only on the Indonext
platform.
`S Group' Companies
The Federation of Indian Stock Exchanges (FISE) representing the regional stock
exchanges gave the idea of S Group` Companies. Corporates such as Alfa Laval, Tata
Coffee, Tata Honeywell, Tata Infomedia, Texmaco, Jindal Strips, Crisil, Godfrey Phillips
and Forbs Gokak are among the 2,260 scrips that BSE has agreed to be traded on the
Indonext. For this purpose, agreement is to be worked out between FISE and BSE, to
create a single order book for companies with a paid-up capital of upto Rs. 20 crores.
These companies with small capital single order book for companies with a paid-up
capital of Upto Rs. 20 crores. These companies with small capital bases will be called S
Group` companies. Scrips that are traded on BSE A Group,` would not be included even
if they have a small capital base. Similarly, all Z Group` scrips at BSE that have not paid
listing fee at the regional stock exchanges would be excluded from this group. Once a
company is admitted, it cannot come out of the S Group,` even if its paid-up capital
increases beyond Rs. 20 crores.
Benefits
Indonext offers the advantage of sharing common trading platform, whereby all the
shares listed exclusively in the regional stock exchanges are placed on a common order
book. This would facilitate trading of shares in all participating exchanges. This would in
turn, entail increase of shares traded and also increase the number of players in this
segment.
Members of NSE and BSE would be permitted to trade in Indonext through limited
trading rights, which could be formed at a low entry price. This would activate the
segment with the increase in the number of players, too. Some of the regional stock
exchanges that are set to form a common trading platform are the stock exchanges of
Madras, Bangalore, Cochin, Coimbatore, Mangalore and Hyderabad.
1. SECONDARY MARKET
ROLE AND IMPORTANCE
Stock exchanges are intricately inter-woven in the fabric of nation`s economic life.
Without a stock exchange, the saving of the community - sinews of economic progress
and productive efficiency - would remain undenitilised. The task of mobilisation and
allocation of savings could be attempted in the old days by a much less specialised
institution than the stock exchange. But as business and industry expanded and the
economy assumed more complex nature, the need for permanent finance arose.
Entrepreneurs needed money for long term whereas investors demanded liquidity - the
facility to convert their investments into cash at a given time. The answer was a ready
market for investments and this was how the stock exchange came into being. Stock
exchange means anybody of individuals whether incorporated or not, constituted for the
purpose of regulating or controlling the business of buying, selling or dealing in
securities. These securities include:
(i) Shares, scrips, stocks, bonds, debentures stock or other marketable securities of
a like nature in or of any incorporated company or other body corporate;
(ii) Government securities; and
(iii) Rights or interest in securities.
NATURE AND FUNCTION OF STOCK EXCHANGE
There is an extraordinary amount of ignorance and of prejudice born out of ignorance
with regard to the nature and functions of stock exchange. As economic development
proceeds, the scope for acquisition and ownership of capital by private individuals also
grows. Alongwith it, the opportunity for stock exchange to render the service of
stimulating private savings and channelling such savings into productive investment
exists on a vastly great scales. These are services which the stock exchange alone can
render efficiently. It is no exaggeration to say that hi a modern industrialist society, which
recognises the rights of private ownership of capital, stock exchanges are not simply a
convenience, they are essential. In fact, they are the markets which exist to facilitate
purchase and sale of securities of companies and the securities or bonds issued b the
government in the course of its borrowing operation. As our country moves towards
liberalisation, this tendency is certain to be strengthened. The task facing the stock
exchanges is to devise the means to reach down to the masses, to draw the savings of the
man in the street into productive investment, to create conditions in which many millions
of little investors in cities, towns and villages will find it possible to make use of the
facilities, which have so far been limited to the privileged few. This calls for far-reaching
changes, institutional as well as operational.
The stock exchanges in India, thus, have an important i-ole to play in the building of a
real shareholders democracy. Aim of the stock exchange authorities is to make it as
nearly perfect in the social and ethical sense as it is in the economic. To protect the
interests of the investing public, the authorities of the stock exchanges have been
increasingly subjecting not only its members to a high degree of discipline, but also those
who use its facilities--joint stock companies and other bodies in whose stocks and shares
it deals. There are stringent regulations to ensure that directors of joint stock companies
keep their shareholders fully informed of the affairs of the company. In fact, some of the
conditions that the stock exchange imposes upon companies before their shares are listed
are more rigorous and wholesome than the statutory provision such as those contained in
the Companies Act.
Apart from providing a market that mobilises and distributes the nation`s savings, the
stock exchange ensures that the flow of savings is utilised for the best purpose from the
community`s point of view. Free markets are not simply a matter of many buyers and
sellers. If the prices at which stocks and shares change hands are to be fair` prices, many
important conditions must be satisfied. It is the whole vast company of investors,
competing with one another as buyers and sellers, that decide what the level of security
prices shall be. But the public is prone to sudden swings of hope and fear. If left entirely
to itself it would produce needlessly violent and often quite irrational fluctuations. The
professional dealers inside the stock exchange, and those outside who depend upon them.
absorb a large part of the stock of these movements. These are valuable activities. So as
to ensure that the investors reap the full benefit of them, they (dealers as well as
investors) need to be regulated by a recognised code of conduct. Fair prices and free
markets require, above all things, clean dealings both by professionals and by the
investors--and dealings based upon upto date and reliable information easily accessible
to all.
In case the investment markets are not active and free or adequate information were not
available promptly and widely, the unscrupulous people would be able to manipulate
particular prices for their own ends. In any of these contingencies, the relative values of
securities would no longer be true` values, so that the relative yields obtainable from
them would be mutually distorted. The signposts which, in a well regulated market, show
the way along which savings ought to move, would point u the wrong directions. Good
businesses would get less, and indifferent or bad businesses more finance than they
deserved. The savings of the community would be misdirected and wasted. In addition,
some investors would incur losses which they might otherwise have avoided, and others
might reap profits which not otherwise could have been made.
Free and active market in stock and shares has become a pre requisite for the mobilisation
and distribution of the nation`s savings on the scale needed to support modern business,
The exchange by a process of prolonged trial and error, which is b no means complete,
has been continuously streamlining its structure to meet these wide and. ever growing
responsibilities to the pub1ic.
Stock exchanges provide an organised market for transactions in shares and other
securities. As of 2003, there are 23 stock exchanges in the country. 20 of them being
regional ones with allocated areas of operation. Of the 9,855 or so public companies that
have listed their shares in stock exchanges, around 500 account for 99.6 per cent of the
trading turnover, nearly all of which is on the primary exchanges i.e. Bombay Stock
Exchange and National Stock Exchange. The pie chart in figure below shows the
distribution of trading activity in terms of volume in the exchanges. The Bombay Stock
Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) together account for nearly 72 per
cent of all capital market activity in India. The other major exchanges are the Calcutta,
Delhi, and Ahmedabad stock exchanges. The remaining ex changes account for only 4
per cent of the Indian capital market activity.
The number of regional stock exchanges in each of the four zones--east, west, north,
south--that the country can be divided into is given in Table 2.1. The north zone has five
stock exchanges. The east zone has three stock exchanges. The west and south zones
have six stock exchanges each.
Mumbai
30%
National Stock
Exchange
42%
Kolkata
17%
All Others
4%
Delhi
Ahmedabad
5%
2%
Figure: Distribution of trading activity among stock exchanges in India
REGIONAL STOCK EXCHANGES
North Zone
East Zone
West Zone
South Zone
Kanpur
Ahmedabad
Bangalore
Ludhiana
Bhubaneswar
Vadodara
Chennai
New Delhi
Kolkata
Indore
Kochi
Jaipur
Guwahati
Mumbai
Coimbatore
Meerut
Pune
Hyderabad
Rajkot
Mangalore
The share of the 20 regional bourses, which accounted for about 45.63 per cent of the
total trading volumes in 1995-96, had reduced alarmingly to only about 16 per cent by
2001-02. The Bombay Stock Exchange, though initially established as a regional stock
exchange has assumed a national perspective in recent years with the introduction of
networking and online trading mechanisms.
Besides the regional stock exchanges, three national stock exchanges have been set up in
India. They are the National Stock Exchange, Over the Counter Exchange of India
Limited (OTCEI), and Inter connected Stock Exchange of India Limited (ISE). All these
exchanges have their head office at Mumbai
HISTORY OF STOCK EXCHANGES IN INDIA
The origin of the stock exchanges in India can be traced back to the later half of 19th
century. After the American Civil War (1860-61) due to the share mania of the public,
the number of brokers dealing in shares increased. The brokers organised an informal
association in Mumbai named The Native Stock and Share Brokers Association in
1875.
Increased activity in trade and commerce during the First World War and Second World
War resulted in an increase in the stock trading. Stock exchanges were established in
different centres like Chennai, Delhi, Nagpur, Kan Hyderabad and Bangalore. The
growth of stock exchanges suffered a set back after the end of World War. Worldwide
depression affected them. Most of the stock exchanges in the early stages had a
speculative nature of working without technical strength. Securities and Contract
Regulation Act, 1956 gave powers to the central government to regulate the stock
exchanges. The stock exchanges in Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Delhi,
Hyderabad and Indore were recognised by the SCR Act. The Bangalore stock exchange
was recognised only in 1963. At present we have 23 stock exchanges and 21 of them had
hardware and software compliant to solve Y2k problem.
Till recent past, floor trading took place in all the stock exchanges. In the floor trading
system, the trade takes place through open outcry system during the official trading
hours. Trading posts are assigned for different securities where buy and sell activities of
securities took place. This system needs a face to face contact among the traders and
restricts the trading volume. The speed of the new information reflected on the prices was
rather slow. The deals were also not transparent and the system favoured the brokers
rather than the investors.
The setting up of NSE and OTCEI with the screen based trading facility resulted in more
and more exchanges turning towards the computer based trading. Bombay stock
exchange introduced the screen based trading system in 1995, which is known as BOLT
(Bombay On-line Trading System.
ORGANISATION OF STOCK EXCHANGE
THE BOMBAY STOCK EXCHANGE
The Indian stock market is one of the oldest in Asia. By the 1830s, business in corporate
stocks and shares in bank and cotton presses took place in Bombay. Though the trading
list was broader in 1839, there were only half a dozen brokers recognised by banks and
merchants.
In 1860-61, the American Civil War broke out and cotton supply from the United States
of America and Europe was stopped. This resulted in the Share Mania for cotton
trading in India. The number of brokers increased to between 200 and 250. However, at
the end of the American Civil War, in 1865, a disastrous slump began - for example, a
Bank of Bombay share that had touched Rs 2,850 could only be sold at Rs 87.
At the same time, brokers found a place in Dalal Street, Bombay, where they could
conveniently assemble and transact business. In 1887, they formally established the
Native Share and Stock Brokers` Association. In 1895, the association acquired
premises in the same street; it was inaugurated in 1899 as the Bombay Stock Exchange.
The Bombay Stock Exchange is governed by a board, chaired by a non-executive
chairman. The executive director is in charge of the administration of the exchange and is
supported by elected directors, Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) nominees, and
public representatives.
The objectives of the stock exchange are
To safeguard the interest of investing public having dealings on the exchange.
To establish and promote honourable and just practices in securities transactions.
To promote, develop and maintain well-regulated market for dealing in securities.
To promote industrial development in the country through efficient resource
mobilisation by the way of investment in corporate securities.
THE NATIONAL STOCK EXCHANGE
The National Stock Exchange of India Limited was set up to provide access to investors
from across the country on an equal footing. NSE was promoted by leading financial
institutions at the behest of the Government of India and was incorporated in November
1992 as a tax-paying company, unlike other stock exchanges in the country.
On its recognition as a stock exchange under the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act,
1956 in April 1993, NSE commenced operations in the wholesale debt market (WDM)
segment in June 1994. The capital market (equities) segment commenced operations in
November 1994, and operations in the derivatives segment commenced in June 2000.
The organisational structure of NSE (Figure 2.2) is through the link between National
Securities Clearing Corporation Ltd. (NSCCL), India Index Services and Products Ltd.
(IISL), National Securities Depository Ltd. (NSDL), DotEx International Limited
(DotEx) and NSE.IT Ltd.
The National Securities Clearing Corporation Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of NSE,
was incorporated in August 1995. It was set up to bring and sustain confidence in the
clearing and settlement of securities, to promote and maintain short and consistent
settlement cycles, and to provide counterparty risk guarantee.
Clearing House
NSCCL
Index Service
Technical
NSE
IISL
Support
NSEIT/DotEx
Depository
NSDL
Figure Organisational structure of National Stock Exchange
India Index Services and Products Limited, a joint venture between NSE and the Credit
Rating Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL), was set up in May 1998 to
provide a variety of indices and index- related services and products for the Indian capital
market. It has a consulting and licensing agreement with Standard and Poor`s (S&P) for
co-branding equity indices.
In order to counteract the problems associated with trading in physical securities, NSE
joined hands with the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) and Unit Trust of
India (UTI) to promote dematerialisation of securities. Together they set up the National
Securities Depository Limited, the first depository in India.
NSDL commenced operations in November 1996. It has since established a national
infrastructure of international standard to handle trading and settlement in dematerialised
form and thus has completely eliminated the risks associated with fake/bad/stolen paper
documents.
NSE.IT, a 100 per cent subsidiary of NSE, provides technical services and solutions in
the area of trading, broker front-end and back-office, clearing and settlement, web-based
trading, risk management, treasury management, asset liability management, banking,
insurance, and so on. The company also plans to provide consultancy and implementation
services in the areas of data warehousing, business continuity plans, mainframe facility
management, site maintenance and backups, real time market analysis and financial
news, and so on. NSE.IT is an export-oriented unit with Straight Through Processing
(STP).
NSE.IT and i-flex Solutions Limited, a leader in e-enabling the global financial services
industry, promoted DotEx International Limited. DotEx provides customer fulfillment
infrastructure for the securities industry. The initial offering of DotEx is the DotEx Plaza
where multiple market participants such as brokers, depository participants, and banks
can offer web-based services to their customers. As a neutral aggregator and
infrastructure provider, DotEx offers choice and convenience to investors.
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India became operational in the capital market
segment on 3rd, November 1994 in Mumbai. The genesis of the NSE lies in the
recommendations of the Pherwani Committee (1991). Apart from NSE, it had
recommended for the establishment of National Stock Market System also. Committee
pointed out five major defects in the Indian stock market. The defects specified are
1. Lack of liquidity in most of the markets in terms of depth and breadth.
2. Lack of ability to develop markets for debt.
3. Lack of infrastructure facilities and outdated trading system.
4. Lack of transparency in the operations that affect investors` confidence.
5. Outdated settlement systems that are inadequate to cater to the growing volume,
leading to delays.
6. Lack of single market due to the inability of various stock exchanges to function
cohesively with legal structure and regulatory frame work. These factors led to
the establishment of NSE.
The main objectives of NSE are as follows
To establish a nation wide trading facility for equities, debt instruments and
hybrids.
To ensure equal access to investors all over the country through appropriate
communication network.
To provide a fair, efficient and transparent securities market to investors using an
electronic communication network.
To enable shorter settlement cycle and book entry settlement system.
To meet current international standards of securities market.
Promoters of NSE IDBI, ICICI, IFCI, LIC, GIC, SBI, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank,
Corporation Bank, Indian Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Union Bank of India,
Punjab National Bank, Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services, Stock Holding
Corporation of India and SBI Capital Market are the promoters of NSE.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is based on factors such as capital adequacy, corporate structure, track
record, education, experience, etc. Admission is a two stage process with applicants
requiring to go through a written examination followed by an interview. Candidates are
interviewed by a committee consisting of experienced people from the industry to assess
the applicant`s capability to operate as an exchange member. The exchange admits
members separately to Wholesale Debt Market (WDM) segment and the Capital Market
segment. Only corporate members are admitted on the debt market segment whereas
individuals and firms are also eligible on the capital market segment. Eligibility criteria
for Trading Membership on the segment of WDM are as follows
i) The persons eligible to become Trading Members are bodies corporate,
companies, institutions including subsidiaries of banks engaged in financial
services and such other persons or entities as may be permitted from time to time
by RBI/SEBI.
ii) The whole-time directors should possess at least two years` experience in any
activity related to banking or financial services or treasury.
iii) The applicant must possess a minimum networth of Rs.2 crores.
iv) The applicant must be engaged solely in the business of securities and must not be
engaged in any fund based activities.
The eligibility criteria for the Capital Market segment are
i) Individuals, registered firms, bodies corporate, companies and such other persons
may be permitted under the SCRA, 1957.
ii) The applicant must be engaged solely in the business of securities and must not be
engaged in any fund based activities.
iii) The minimum networth requirements prescribed are as follows
a) individuals and regi3tered firms--Rs 75 lakh
b) corporate bodies--Rs 100 lakh
In the case of registered partnership firm, each partner should contribute at least 5
per cent of the minimum networth requirement of the firm.
iv) A corporate trading member should consist only of individuals (maximum 4) who
should directly hold atleast 40 per cent of the paid-up capital in case of listed
companies and at least 51 per cent in case of other companies.
v) The minimum prescribed qualification of graduation and two years experience of
handling securities as broker, sub-broker, authorised assistant,etc. must be
fulfilled by
a) minimum two directors in case the applicant is a corporate,
b) minimum two partners in case of partnership firms and
c) the individual in case of individual or sole proprietary concerns.
The two experienced directors in a corporate applicant or trading member should hold
minimum 5 per cent of the capital of the company.
ADVANTAGES OF NSE
Wider accessibility The NSE ensures wider accessibility through satellite linked trading
facility. Computer terminals and links with VSAT help the traders to contact their
counterparts in other parts of the country quickly. The quick trading system ensures better
pricing.
Screen based trading Originally, the basic advantage of NSE is computer based trading.
The back office loads have been reduced as everything is stored in the computer. At
present, BSE and many other stock exchanges have introduced the computer based
trading. The ring based trading is vanishing in the recent days.
Non-disclosure of the trading members identity While placing the orders there is no
need to disclose the identity of the member on the screen. It depends upon the wish of the
trading member. So without any fear of influencing the prices, any member can place
large size orders.
Transparent transactions The major advantage of the NSE trading is the complete
transparency. The investor can find out the rate of the deal, the counterparty and the time
of execution of the deal. The enquiry facilities offered in the terminals help the investor
to find out the price and the depth of the market of the particular security. The investor
can have the high and low quotations and the last traded price of the particular security.
This information enables him to make a healthy decision regarding his investment.
Matching of orders Once the order has been fed into the computer, the computer
searches and finds out the suitable matching order subject to the conditions placed by the
investor or the trader. The conditions are related to the price, volume and time of the
trade. While matching the order, priority is given on the basis of price and time. If the
matching order is found, the deal Is struck, otherwise as per the instructions the order
would be kept pending or cancelled.
Effective settlement of corporate benefit All monetary benefits lodged, dividend,
interest and redemption amount, claims on company objections, are debited/credited
directly in the clearing account of the clearing members. This reduces the problems faced
by the members in settlement of corporate benefits.
Trading in dematerialised form According to the SEBI directives, trading in the
depository segment is carried out only on the rolling (T + S) settlement basis. This rolling
settlement basis helps the traders to settle the accounts quickly without waiting for a fixed
settlement date. The total number of compulsorily dematerialised stock was 30 in June
1998. The dematerialised trading helps the institutions to effect the transfer of shares
immediately after the payment.
SGL facility in the debt market The SGL (Subsidiary General Ledger) facility provided
by the NSE allows the trusts and other retail constituents to hold and settle their trades
through electronic book transfer. This speeds up the transfer process. Settlement of trades
in Government Securities would become paperless, more prompt and safer. The
constituents get their securities registered in their names immediately after making
payments. They would also get the interest on due dates without delay.
Recent Trends in NSE
The NSE has managed to prove itself successful and maintained its position as the
country`s premier stock exchange. The exchange has faired well compared to other stock
exchanges in terms of expansion of network, market share, volume traded, liquidity and
clearance of deals.
Expansion After establishing its operation in Mumbai, the NSE had expanded its
operation to other cities. NSE has installed 2580 VSATS in 317 cities across the country.
A break up of VSATs across 317 cities is given below
NSE NETWORK (Feb 2004)
Numbers of VSATs
Number of cities
Total VSATs
1
156
156
2
76
152
3
24
72
4-10
72
447
11-20
20
281
21-50
9
257
51-199
5
342
>100
3
1190
Total
365
2897
Quality Apart from the consolidation of the market at national level, the transaction cost
along with the bad deliveries has declined. Dematerialisation of shares has helped in the
reduction of the bad deliveries. The effective functioning of National Securities Clearing
Corporation Limited is another reason for it.
More liquidity With its on-line system and quick trading facilities, the NSE has
introduced some liquidity into the capital market. In the last quarter of 1997, the NSE
was more liquid for the 835 scrips that accounted for 97 per cent of the total trading
volume. In number of trades, an indicator of the presence of the retail investor, the NSE
was ahead of the BSE.
Less brokerage Transparency in NSE allows the breaking up of the costs into brokerage
fees, market impact costs and clearing and settlement. The brokerage fee at the BSE
terminals outside Mumbai is 0.5 per cent of the value transacted. On the NSE, it is around
0.1 per cent of the value transacted.
Insurance against risk When an investor deals with a broker or two brokers deal with
each other there is a possibility of either of the parties in the transaction, defaulting on the
payment. National Securities Clearing Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the
NSE offers legal guarantee and protection against such risk. Till 1996, there was no
insurance against such risks.
Quick clearing and settlement NSE has introduced a full range of clearing house
facilities. A part of the securities is processed at the regional clearing centres (Delhi,
Chennai and Calcutta). The inter-region clearing facility provided at present, reduces the
risk of the members because of not getting timely delivery of shares or loss of shares in
transit. The facility is also expected to boost delivery based trading.
Foreign institutional investors trading The identity of the broker remains undisclosed
till the transactions are executed. Secrecy being important to FIIs, which is unavailable
on the BSE, it encouraged FIIS to trade on the NSE. The corporate becoming members of
NSE is on the increase. Out of 780 NSE members corporates are 668 in March 2000.
NSE poses a healthy threat for the existing exchanges, especially to the BSE. It is the
competitive threat from the NSE which made the BSE to embark on the reforms and the
introduction of the Bombay on-line trading mechanism.
OVER THE COUNTER EXCHANGE OF INDIA
Over the Counter Exchange of India was started in 1992 after the role models of
NASDAQ (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation) and
JASDAQ (Japanese Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation). The
OTCE! was started with the objective of providing a market for the smaller companies
that could not afford the listing fees of the large exchanges and did not fulfill the
minimum capital requirement for listing. It aimed at creating a fully decentralised and
transparent market. Over the counter means trading across the counter in scrips. The
counter refers to the location of the member or dealer of the OTCEI where the deal or
trade takes place. Every counter is treated as a trading floor for the OTCEI where the
investor can buy and sell. The members or dealers of OTCEI counters are linked to the
central OTCEI computer. The member should have the computer and telecommunication
facility.
The promoters OTCEI is incorporated as a company under sec. 25 of the Indian
Companies Act 1956. As per the registration norms, OTCEI will be obliged to plough
back all its profits and will not be allowed to declare dividends on its share capital. The
promoters are as follows
UTI
GIC
ICICI
SBI Capital Markets
IDBI
Canbank Financial Services
IFCI
LIC
Players in the OTCEI market The players on the OTCEI exchange are the members
and dealers. The activities of the members and dealers are:
1. Act as brokers, buy and sell securities according to the instructions of the
investors.
2. Market Makers in securities, they quote the prices at which members are willing
to buy and sell the specified number of securities.
Members can be the public financial institutions, scheduled banks, mutual funds, SEBI
approved merchant bankers, banking subsidiaries, venture capital funds and other non-
banking financial companies with mini mum net worth of Rs 2.5 crores. Members pay a
one time non-refundable admission fee of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 5 lakh after one year. The
annual subscription fee is Rs 1 lakh.
The dealers are: individuals, partnership firms and corporate entities with a minimum net
worth of Rs 5 lakh. They should have adequate office space and telecommunication
facilities. They have to pay one time non-refundable admission fee of Rs 2 lakh and
annual subscription fee of Rs 5,000. OTCEI may collect additional security deposit if it
considers necessary, depending upon the business experience of the applicant.
Scrips to be traded Guidelines are issued for the companies whose scrips have to be
traded in the OTCEI by the Government. As per the guidelines
1.
The minimum capital requirement for a company to be listed on the OTCEI is
Rs 3 crores and the maximum is Rs 50 crores.
2.
For companies with an issued capital of more than Rs 30 lakhs but less than
300 lakhs, the minimum public offer should be 25 per cent of the issued
capital or 20 lakhs worth of shares in face value, whichever is higher.
3.
Companies with an issued capital of more than Rs.30 Cr seeking to be listed
have to comply with listing requirements and guidelines that are applicable to
such companies in other stock exchanges.
Revised listing norms To broaden the base of exchange membership the guidelines have
been revised. The ministry allowed
(a) closely held existing corporate houses upto 100 Cr
(b) new companies with a paid up base of upto 50 Cr and
(c) all currently listed companies on various stock exchanges
The procedure adopted for the listing of the scrips
1. An OTCEI member is appointed as a sponsor for the companys`s issue. The
sponsor appraises the project or company on technical, managerial, commercial,
economical and financial aspects. The sponsor certifies the OTCEI regarding its
appraisal.
2. The sponsor determines the price of the company shares offered to the public,
members and dealers of the OTCEI.
3. The sponsor gets all statutory consent and compliance with all SEBI guidelines.
4. The sponsor registers the issue with OTCEI and places the equity.
5. The listing application has to be made to the DICEI as per its rules and
regulations.
6. After getting the approval, the allotment is made.
Once the allotment is over, the equity is listed and the trading commences. In the primary
issue the sponsor carries the activities of issue management and he is the sole underwriter
for the issue. He can sub write his liability with the syndicate of members and dealers.
NATIONAL SECURITIES DEPOSITORY LIMITED
To meet the capital requirements companies turn towards the capital market that is more
flexible and responsive source of funds. The savers of Indian economy a decade ago held
simple pass books of the post office and banks. Today they hold plenty of paper or
marketable financial assets or securities. The stock brokers have to move large number of
paper certificates to give delivery on behalf of their clients. Each transfer of a deed
involves different manual checks. Many of the share transfers are rejected because of
some technical defect and investors who sell their shares often, wait a couple of months
before they receive their money. Because of this tiring procedure, many of the foreign
institutional investors restrict their trading with sensex scrips. To remove these
difficulties, National Securities Depository Limited was established.
NSDL is an organisation promoted by the Industrial Development Bank of India, the Unit
Trust of India and the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd., to provide electronic
depository facilities for securities traded in the equity and the debt market. The
depositories` ordinances promulgated by the Government of India in September 1995
enabled the setting up of multiple depository system. The securities and Exchange Board
of India (SEBI) issued the guidelines for depositories in May 1996. The Bill was passed
by the parliament in July 1996. NSDL was registered by SEBI on June 7, 1996.
THE FUNCTIONING
NSDL performs the following functions through its various participants
a) Enables surrender and withdrawal of securities to and from the depository.
b) Maintains investors` holdings in the electronic form.
c) Effects settlement of securities traded on exchanges.
d) Carries out settlements of trader that have not been done on the stock exchanges.
NSDL (DP) Depository Participant can be a public financial institution, bank, custodian,
registered stock broker or a NBFC subject to approval from the depository company and
the SEBI. Brokers and NBFCs are required to have a minimum net worth of Rs 50 lakhs.
DP has to pay a security deposit of Rs 10 lakhs and an admission fee of Rs 25,000 to
NSDL. The depository participants are likely to pass on these charges to the investors.
NSDL operates on two tier structures wherein it maintains accounts of its DP and the
DP`s maintain the accounts of their clients. With the help of the continuous electronic
connectivity, reconciliation of all accounts is done on daily basis to balance the number
of stocks issued and dematerialised.
Initially, NSDL makes use of VSAT network of the NSE for communications as it is
easier for the depository participants who have leased lines with NSE to join. After
ascertaining its requirement on the volume of trade, NSDL would set up its own network.
At present NSE only has the clearing corporation, the National Securities Clearing
Corporation and it can participate in the functioning of NSDL. The SEBI has now made it
mandatory for all stock exchanges to have clearing corporation. The stock exchanges are
setting up their own clearing corporation.
Individual Investor and NSDL
The investor has to open an account with the depository participant that is similar to the
opening of a bank account. Investors can get a list of depository participant from NSDL.
The depository participants may also advertise the services offered by them once they are
registered. The investor can choose any depository participant of his choice and fill up an
account opening form. Reasonable charges are received by the depositories for the
opening of accounts and every transaction in the accounts. The investor receives a
passbook or a statement of holdings, just like the bank passbook from the depository
agent. The statement of holdings is despatched to the investors periodically. The investor
can contact the depository participant for any disparity in the statement of holding. If the
discrepancy cannot be resolved
at the depository participant level, he could
approach NSDL for clarification. There is absolutely no restriction with the number of
depository participants the investor can open accounts.
Rights and Bonus Issue
Depository gives all the details about the corporate events to the clients. The registrar
calculates the corporate benefits due to all the shareholders. The disbursement of cash
benefits such as dividend or interest is done by the registrar whereas the distribution of
the securities entitlements is done by the depository, based on the information provided
by the registrar. In case of corporate events such as issuing of right issues, the investor
can have the option of having it either in the form of physical or electronic mode of
holdings. However, corporate entitlements such as bonus are made in the same form of
the original holdings.
Advantages to the Investor
1. Depositing the securities with NSDL would give the freedom from the worry of loss
of share certificates through theft, mutilation due to careless handling, fire, etc.
2. In selling the shares, the paper work required is reduced to a minimum. Investors
also prefer to buy shares that are already in the depository mode. The investor
would find it easy to sell the shares whenever he wants to do it.
3. The investor can become the owner of the shares within a day of the settlement
being completed, if the shares bought are in the depository mode. There is no need
to apply to the company for registering the share in the name of investors. There is
no possibility of loss or theft when the share certificates are posted to the company.
There is no fear of any fake or stolen shares being delivered to the investor. In the
physical transfer of shares, it takes nearly 40-60 days to get the shares registered in
his name.
2. LISTING OF SECURITIES
Listing refers to the admission of the security of a public limited company on a
recognised stock exchange for trading. Listing of securities is undertaken with the
primary objective of providing marketability, liquidity and transferability to securities.
After the promulgation of Companies (Amendment) Act 1988, listing of securities
offered to the public, became compulsory. The section 73, of the Companies Act states
that any company intending to offer shares or debentures to the public through the issue
of prospectus should make an application to one or more recognised stock exchanges for
permission to be traded in the respective stock exchange. After the permission is granted,
the company becomes eligible to list its securities in the stock exchanges.
MERITS OF LISTING
Liquidity Listed shares can be sold at any recognised stock exchange and converted into
cash quickly. Finding out buyers would be easy in the security market through brokers
and screen based trading.
Best prices The price quotations and the volume traded regarding the listed shares appear
in the news papers. According to the demand and supply of the shares, prices are
determined. This results in best price.
Regular information The transactions of the listed shares regularly appear in the news
paper, providing adequate information regarding the current worth of the securities.
Buying and selling activities can be decided on the basis of the price quotations.
Periodic reports Listed companies have to provide periodic report to the public. Half
yearly financial reports should be published in the financial news papers or in any other
news papers. In 1985, it has been made obligatory for all listed companies to submit
unaudited financial results on a half yearly basis within 2 months of the expiry of that
half year. At present quarterly reports have to be published.
Transferability Listing provides free transferability of securities. After the incorporation
of Section 22- A in the Securities Contract (Regulation) Act, free transfer of shares has
been ensured.
Income tax benefit Income-tax Act treats the listed companies as widely held
companies. The advantages available to a widely held company are applicable to the
listed company.
Wide publicity Since the prices are quoted in the newspaper, the listed companies get
wide publicity. This not only does good to the investor but also to the corporate to attract
the public for further issues.
DEMERITS
1 Listed companies are subjected to various regulatory measures of the stock
exchanges and SEBI.
2 Essential information has to be submitted by the listed companies to the stock
exchanges.
3. Annual General Meeting, Annual reports have to be sent to a large number of
shareholders. This creates large amount of unnecessary expenditure.
4 Public offer itself is an expensive exercise. But, this is a pre-requisite for the
company`s shares to be listed.
QUALIFICATION FOR LISTING
There are certain minimum requirements for a security to be listed in a stock exchange.
They are given below
Minimum issued capital According to the regulation laid down by The Ministry of
Finance and Department of Economic affairs the minimum issued capital should be Rs 3
crores and the minimum public offer is Rs. 75 lakhs. In 1995 the Bombay Stock
Exchange raised the limit from Rs Cr to Rs. Cr. In 1996, it has been further raised to Rs
10 Cr. Some other stock exchanges have also increased the limit to Rs.5 Cr.
Payment of excess application money According to the direction given by the SEBI, the
amended listing agreement of Mumbai Stock Exchange (1996) made the allotment of
securities to be done within 30 days of the closure of the public issue. The refund orders
should be dispatched within the specified period. Beyond the period they shall be liable
to pay an interest rate of 15 p.a. Similar amendments are made in the Delhi Stock
Exchange agreement too.
Listing on multiple exchanges When the paid up capital of the company is above Rs 5
crores, it obligatory for the company to seek listing on more than one stock exchange.
The number of shareholders To ensure wide distribution of shares among the general
public and to prevent undue concentration of large holdings with the company, minimum
number of shareholders are prescribed. For every Rs 1 lakh of fresh issue of capital, there
should be atleast 10 shareholders. In the case of sale of existing capital of Rs 1 lakh, it
should ensure atleast 20 public shareholders. In 1996, Bombay Stock Exchange has
reduced the above said numbers to 5 and 10 respectively. If the number of shareholders
falls below the prescribed number, then the concerned company`s security would be
delisted.
Appointment of market maker A company where the paid up capital is Rs 3 cr but not
more than Rs 5 cr and having a commercial operation for less than two years should
appoint a market maker. The market maker should provide two way quotes for the
concerned stock for a minimum period of 18 months from the date of trading on stock
exchange. The difference between quotations for the sale and purchase bid, ask spread
should not exceed 10 per cent. The market maker should have an inventory of 5 per cent
of the post issue capital as on the date of allotment.
Articles of association The articles of association of the company should be in tune with
the sound corporate practice. If veto power has been provided to a director or a class of
directors to over rule the majority decision, the security of the company is not qualified
for listing.
Cost of public issue To be listed the company should adhere to the ceiling in the
expenditure of public issue as prescribed by the SEBI.
Advertisement The company should not advertise in newspapers that issue over
subscribed` or Thanks to the investing public for their overwhelming response,` etc
during the subscription period. If the company gives such an advertisement, listing will
be refused by the stock exchange -after intimation to the stock exchange division of the
Ministry of Finance.
Minimum subscription A minimum of Rs 5 ,000 (500 shares of Rs each) subscription
has been fixed by SEBI. But, due to the slackness in the primary market, it is reduced to
Rs of 200 shares of RsJO each. This should be given in the prospectus.
Applying mode The prospectus should provide information on how the investor should
apply. It should clearly state that the application must be made in the prescribed form
stating the number of shares applied for. It should be applied in single name or joint
names of not more than three. Application can be made in the name of limited
companies, corporations or institutions and not in the name of a trust firm or partnership.
The names should be given in block letters in English. An individual can make only one
application.
Public offer size The size of the public offer and value of the share should be stated in
the first page of the prospectus. If the shares are issued at premium, that also should be
stated. Preferential allotment to the directors and workers of the company and the
reservation for allotment to the non-resident Indians should be indicated clearly on the
prospectus.
LISTING PROCEDURE
Obtaining the listing permission from stock exchanges involves various steps. The steps
are as follows:
Preliminary discussion The company desirous of getting its security listed on the stock
exchange should have detailed discussion with the stock exchange authorities. The
discussion enables it to understand the various compliances to be complied with for
listing its securities.
Article of association approval The articles of association will be approved only if it
fulfills certain requirements. They are:
1. Common form of transfer should be used
2. Once the shares are fully paid, they should be free from all lien and in the case of
partly paid shares the company`s lien is restricted to the call money alone.
3. The calls carried out in advance are entitled to interest rate but not for dividends
or any other declared profits.
4. The free dealings in company`s shares should not be restricted by any provision.
5. The company should comply with the section 205-A of Companies Act in the
case of dividends.
If the company is not able to comply with any of the requirements of the Rule 19(2)(a) of
the Securities Contract Regulation Act, the company should give an undertaking to make
necessary amendments in the articles of association as required in the next annual general
meeting of the company. On the basis of the undertaking, the security will be permitted to
trade on the stock exchanges. If the article of association provides veto powers to any
director/or group of directors, the relevant article should be amended to remove such
powers to get the security listed.
Draft prospectus approval Getting approval for the draft prospectus is the essential pre-
requisite for the security to be listed. Before finalising the draft prospectus the company
authority should hold a discussion with the stock exchange authorities. While seeking
approval, the prospectus should contain all the conditions put by the stock exchange. The
prospectus should clearly state the following:
1.
The name of regional stock exchange and any other stock exchanges(s) where it
intends to enlist its securities,
2.
It should specify the date of commencement of the subscription and the date of
closing of the subscription. It is essential to keep the subscription list open for a
minimum period of three working days. It may extend upto 10 working days at
the discretion of the Board of Directors. The date of closure of subscription list
should be notified to the stock exchange where listing is sought.
Listing Application
Any company when it intends to offer shares to the public through prospectus, should
make an application to the stock exchange or exchanges where the share is to be listed. A
formal application form should be filed before filing the prospectus with the Registrar of
Companies. A number of certificates have to be submitted with the application. They are
listed below
1. Three certified copies of memorandum and articles of association and debenture
trust deed.
2. Copies of prospectus, offer for sale made during the last five years and circulars
and advertisement regarding the offer made during the last five years.
3. Copy of every letter, report, balance sheet, valuation, contract, court order or any
other document that is given in the prospectus.
4. Certified copies of underwriting, brokerage, vendors, promoter`s selling agents
and sales managers agreement.
5. Certified copies of the service agreements of secretaries, treasures, managing
director, technical directors, general manager and manager.
6. Particulars regarding the material contract, technical advice and collaboration,
concessions and similar other documents.
7. Copies of agreements with the Industrial Finance Corporation, Industrial Credit
and Investment Corporation and such other bodies.
8. Details regarding the reorganisation, reconstruction, amalgamation and details of
the companies` activities.
9. Specimen copies of the share certificate, debenture certificate, letters of allotment,
letters of acceptance, letters of renunciation, transfer receipts and renewal
receipts.
The above mentioned documents are ordinarily required by the listing application. But
sometime additional documents also may b called for.
The stock exchange generally acknowledges the receipt of the application and gives
instructions regarding various other formalities to be fulfilled before getting the listing
permission. Once the subscription list is closed, the process of allotment should be closed
within 30 days of the closure. Originally it was 10 weeks from the closure of the
subscription list. The allocation of shares should be intimated to the stock exchange
concerned.
Listing Agreement Regarding Projection of Profitability
Generally companies make projections regarding the profitability of the company at the
time of issue of capital and give an abridged statement of the balance sheet and profit and
loss account. Many times the projections are not met with. To provide protection to the
investors, SEBI amended the listing agreement by inserting a new clause 43. Accordingly
the company has to submit yearly statement showing the variation between projections
given in the prospectus and the actuals achieved. The reasons for the variation in the
profitability projections and actuals should be given. If the projections are provided for
five years, the company has to furnish explanation for the unattained projected figures for
all the five years. This information also should be published in the news paper. The listed
company has to give a copy of the complete and full balance sheet, profit and loss
account, and the directors` report to each shareholder.
Listing Agreement and Cash Flow Statement
The representatives of SEBI, the stock exchanges of Mumbai, Calcutta, Delhi,
Ahmedabad, National stock exchange and the Institute of Chartered Accountant of India
framed the norms for the inclusion cash flow statement in the annual reports. The cash
flow statement discloses the actual cash flow operations in the company. This would
provide better quality information to the shareholders. To comply with the international
standards this has been imposed as a part of listing agreement. The company has to
provide the cash flow statement along with the balance sheet profit and loss account. The
cash flow statement has to be prepared according to the instructions given by the SEBI.
The cash flow statement helps the shareholders to analyse the pattern of resources
deployed and evaluate the changes in net assets of a company. It helps to assess the
ability of the company to generate cash and cash equivalents. Briefly, it is useful to the
shareholders to assess the liquidity, viability and financial adaptability of the company.
Listing Fee
The stock exchange charges a fee from the company for permitting the company`s scrip
to be traded. The listing fee varies from major stock exchanges to regional stock
exchanges. The fees charged by the regional stock exchanges are comparatively less than
the major stock exchanges. The fee also differs according to the equity base of the
company. The following table gives the listing fee charged by the NSE.
Table: Listing Fees of NSE (1999)
Particulars
Amount Rs.
1. Initial Listing Fees
7500
2. Annual Listing Fees
a) Companies with paid share and! or debenture
4200
capital of Rs 1 Cr
b) Above Rs 1 Cr and up to Rs 5 Cr
8400
c) Above Rs S Cr and up to Rs 10 Cr
14000
d) Above Rs 10 Cr and up to Rs 20 Cr
28000
e) Above Rs 20 Cr and upto Rs 50 Cr
42000
f) AboveRs50Cr
70000
Companies that have a paid up capital of more than Rs 50 Cr will pay additional listing
fees of Rs 1400 for every increase of Rs 5 Cr or part thereof in the paid up share or
debenture capital.
LISTING OF RIGHT SHARES
The formalities that have to be fulfilled in the case of right shares are given below.
1. The company should notify the stock exchange, the date of meeting of Board of
Directors at which the proposal of the right shares or debenture is to be considered.
2. The company should inform the decision taken regarding the right issue to the stock
exchange immediately.
3. As per section 81 of the Companies Act 1956 the company should obtain the
consent of the shareholders by way of a special resolution in general body meeting.
4. The record date for closure of register of members should be intimated to the stock
exchanges.
5. The letter of offer should give financial information before one month of the date of
letter of offer and from the date of company`s last balance sheet. The working
results regarding the sales/turnover and other income, estimated gross profit/loss
should be provided. The provisions made for depreciation and taxes should be
presented. Estimated amount of profit and loss also should be given.
The current market price of the share, highest and lowest price of the equity during
the related period and the week end prices for the last four weeks should be
provided. The shareholders can renounce the rights in favour of their nominees. The
company has power to reject any nominee of whom it does not approve. If the
nominee is rejected, the shareholders have the right to take up shares applied by the
rejected nominee.
The shareholders are entitled to apply for additional shares. If the shareholders have
renounced their shares in whole or in parts in favour of any other person, they
cannot apply for additional shares. If the shares are not quoted at premium this
condition would be relaxed by the stock exchanges.
6. The applications are accepted at all centres where recognised stock exchanges are
situated. If the company is not able to make such arrangements at all centres, it can
have the centres of its own choice subject to the condition that bank commission
and collection charges for out station cheques would be borne by the company.
7. The letter of offer should be made within six weeks after the closure of the transfer
books.
8. The shareholders should be given reasonable time to record their interest or exercise
their rights. It should not be not less than four weeks.
9. The renunciation forms should be made available to the shareholders freely on
request.
10. The company should inform the stock exchange the last date fixed for submission
of rights application, split/renunciation application and consolidated coupons.
11. The company should forward a specimen copy of the letter of offer and application
form for the rights issue to the stock exchange.
12. After despatching the allotment letters or share certificates the company should
apply for listing in the prescribed form. The company has to submit the distribution,
an analysis form and new issue statement forms.
13. After receiving the application form along with the required documents, the stock
exchange would permit the shares to be listed for official dealing by its members.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India is taking steps to facilitate the speedy
disposal of right issues. It has directed all stock exchanges to amend their listing rules.
The appraisal of the rights issue is left with the merchant bankers. The provisions relating
to the fixing of record dates for the purpose of right issue has been ignored. The
companies can apply for record date simultaneously with the filing of the letter of offer
with SEBI.
HIGH POWERED COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The High P Committee`s recommendations on Stock Exchanges on listing of industries
securities are given below
1. Once the completed listing application is submitted to the stock exchanges, it
should not take more than three working days for the admission of securities for
dealings.
2. Stock exchanges should set up guidance cells to provide required help to the
companies seeking enlistment. A uniform check list exhibiting the standard set
norms required by the stock exchanges for the admission of the securities for
trading should be prepared.
3. An updated brochure on matters related to listing should be prepared by the stock
exchanges. An annual review should be made regarding the compliances of the
provisions of listing agreement by the companies. It should also publicise the
names of the companies that have not complied with the listing requirement and
the Government also has to be informed.
These recommendations have been accepted by the Government.
DELISTING
In December 1998, the Mumbai Stock Exchange has threatened to delist shares of over
700 companies for non-payment of listing fee for 1997-98 by December 1998. Over the
past years, several companies incurred loss and many of them were unable to pay the
listing fee. But many companies purposefully avoided paying the listing fee. Delisting the
company`s share prevents the public scrutiny of performance. Many companies made
public issue itself a business. Thus delisting may be compulsory or voluntary. Some of
the common causes for delisting are given below.
Compulsory
a) Non-payment of listing fee or violation of listing agreement.
b) Thin/negligible trading or thin shareholding base.
c) Non redressal of grievances.
d) Unfair trade practices at the behest of promoters or managers, and malpractice such
as issuing of duplicate fake shares by management.
Voluntary
a)
Unable to pay the listing fee. Listing fee is prohibitive.
b)
Business sick/suspended/closed.
c)
Capital base is small.
d)
Mergers, demergers, amalgamations and takeovers.
Voluntary delisting is at present provided to the companies if three conditions are
satisfied.
(i) Company must have incurred losses in the preceding three years, with net worth
less than the paid-up capital.
(ii) Securities have been infrequently traded.
(iii) Securities remain listed at least on the regional stock exchange.
If these conditions are not fulfilled, Central Government approval would be needed. The
other ground under which voluntary delisting can be allowed by a stock exchange is for
thin public share holding.
CHANDRATRE COMMITTEE REPORT (1997)
The committee studied the problem of delisting and felt that the listing process at present
does not have any degree of transparency. The committee felt that disclosures should be
made at every stage of the process. Advance public notice should be given by the stock
exchange on the proposed delisting.
(i) Intimation to other stock exchanges where the securities are listed.
(ii) Public notice of delisting should be given after the process is completed.
(iii) The annual report must contain details of delisting on any stock exchange with
reasons and justification.
(iv) An appeal made against the decision to delist would lie with the Central
Government.
(v) Dealing facility should be allowed for some time to provide a liquidity window
after delisting.
These detailed procedures must be made applicable even in the case of a voluntary
delisting too. As far as the voluntary delisting, the proposal is to give public notice
explaining the justification for delisting and requires a special resolution authorising
voluntary delisting.
Suggested framework The contents of the Listing Agreement (LA) are to be made part
of the Conditions for Listing and Continued Listing under the rules of SCRA. The LA is
to have two parts: Part A to stipulate the minimum conditions for listing to all stock
exchanges (SE) and Part B to prescribe additional conditions by any SE.
(i) Basic minimum listing norms for listing on any recognised SE must be uniform;
additional norms may be specified by SEs.
(ii) The LA may contain terms and conditions that serve investor interests though the
law may allow greater leeway to a company on a particular issue.
(iii) Violation of the LA should be a punishable offense, with penalties of Rs 10,000
and Rs, 1,000 per day of continuing default.
(iv) SEs have to be empowered to prosecute a company and its directors/officers for
violation of LA.
(v) SEs have to strengthen their machinery for strict enforcement of LA and
institution of prosecution.
(vi) SEBI to be nodal authority for any amendments to the LA with due consultation
of SEs to ensure uniformity and avoid confusion.
(vii) Pre-listing scrutiny of draft offer documents to be made mandatory for all stock
exchanges before any SEs are cited in the final offer document as SEs on which
the securities would be listed.
(viii) Listing norms should be disclosed and well publicised to ensure desired
transparency in the pre-listing scrutiny of offer documents.
(ix) Compulsory listing on Regional Stock Exchanges has to be dispensed with. SEs
have to operate competitively and companies should have freedom of choice in
seeking listing on any SE.
(x) Recovery of listing fee from shareholders in case of default by the company is not
a feasible proposition though they may be the beneficiaries of the SE`s services.
(xi) There is no need to bring uniformity in listing fee structure across SEs.
(xii) SEs should be free to decide the quantum of listing fee`, manner of payment and
periodicity of payment.
(xiii) The listing fee should not be prohibitive and disproportionate to the services
offered by the SE.
(xiv) SEs must improve services to investors-especially redressal of investor grievances
and investor education.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Share of the companies listed on exchanges other than the Bombay Stock Exchange and
seeking listing on it, will be required to have a minimum market capitalisation of Rs 20
crores as against the previous criterion of Rs 10 crores of issued capital.
The BSE board has decided that companies should have necessarily recorded profits for
the last three years, traded on at least half the total trading days with a minimum of five
trades and 500 shares on any given day and have 20 per cent of the stock held with the
public.
The board also decided to institute awards for investor friendly companies. Categorised
into three, companies would be awarded for best returns, being proactive in servicing
investor needs and corporate governance. Non friendly companies are classified into Z`
category; the exchange has identified 300 such companies.
3. TRADING MECHANISM
MECHANICS OF SECURITY TRADING IN STOCK EXCHANGES
An investor must have some knowledge of how the securities markets operate. The
marketing old or new securities on the stock markets can be done only through members
of the Stock Exchange. These members are either individuals or partnership firms. An
individual must use the facilities of these members for trading in securities unless he
himself is a registered dealer or member of an organised stock exchange. Trading among
the members of a recognised stock exchange is to be done under the statutory regulations
of the stock exchange. The members carrying on business are known as brokers` and can
trade only on listed securities. The se members execute customer`s orders to buy and sell
on the exchange and their firms receive negotiated commissions on those transactions.
About one-fourth of all members of the exchange are specialists`, so called because they
specialise in making a market` for one or more particular kind of stock. In the process of
trading in stock exchanges, there is the basic need for a transaction` between an
individual and the broker. A transaction to buy and sell securities is also called trades.`
This is to be done through the selection of a broker.
1. Finding a Broker
The selection of a broker depends largely on the kind of services rendered by a particular
broker as well as upon the kind of transaction that a person wishes to undertake. An
individual usually prefers to select a broker who can render the following services:
(a) Provide information: A broker to be selected should be able to give information
about the available investments)These may be in the form of capital structure of
companies` earnings, dividend policies and prospects. These could also take the
form of advice about taxes, portfolio planning and investment management.
(b) Availability of In vestment Literature: Secondly, a broker should be able to
supply financial periodicals, prospectuses and reports. He should also prepare
and analyse valuable advisory literature to educate the investor.
(c) Appoint Competent Representatives: Brokers should have registered competent
representatives who can assist customers with most of their problems.
2. Kinds of Brokers - Selection
(a) Commission Broker: All brokers buy and sell securities for earning a
commission. From the investor`s point of view, he is the most important
member of the exchange because his main function and responsibility is to buy
and sell stock for his customers. He acts as an agent for his customer and earns a
commission for the service performed. He is an independent dealer in securities.
He purchases and sells securities in his own name. He is not allowed to deal
with the non-members. He can either deal with a broker or another jobber.
(b) Jobber: A jobber is a professional speculator. He works for a profit called
turn.`
(c) Floor Broker: The floor broker buys and sells shares for other brokers on the
floor of the exchange He is an individual member owns his own seat and
receives commissions on the orders the executes. He helps other brokers when
they are busy and as compensation, receives a portion of the brokerage charged
by the commission agent to his customer.
(d) Taraniwalla: The Taraniwalla is also called a jobber. He makes an orderly and
continuous auction in the market in the stock in which he specialises. He is a
localised dealer and often handles transactions on a commission basis for other
brokers who are acting for their customers. He trades in the market even for
small differences in prices and helps to maintain liquidity in the stock exchange.
(e) Odd Lot Dealer: The standard trading unit for listed stocks is designated as a
round lot which is usually a hundred shares. Anything less than the round lot is
an odd lot which is traded on the floor of the exchange because odd lots appear
in odd quantities -- 8 shares, 10 shares or 15, 20, 25, 27, 33 and it is impossible
to match buying and selling orders in them. The specialists handle odd lots.
They buy odd lots which other members wish to sell for their customers and sell
odd lots which others wish to buy. If dealers buy more than they sell or sell
more than they buy, they can clear their position by engaging in round lot
transactions. The price of the odd lot is determined by the round lot transactions.
The odd lot dealer earns his profit on the difference between the price at which
he buys and sells the securities. He does not rely on commission.
(f) Budliwalla: The financier in the stock exchange is also called the Budliwalla.
For giving credit facilities to the market, he charges a fee called contango` or
backwardation` charge. The budliwalla gives a fully secured loan for a short
period of two to three weeks. This loan is governed according to the prevailing
rate of interest in the market. The Budliwalla`s technique of lending is to take
up delivery on the due date at the end of the clearing to those who wish to carry
over their sales. These transactions help him to make a profit on the prevailing
rates of interest, subject to regulations of the stock exchange.
(g) Arbitrageur: An arbitrageur is a specialist in dealing with securities in different
stock exchange centres t the same time. He makes a profit by the difference in
prices prevailing in different centres of market activity. He maintains an office
with a good communication system and telephonic and tele-printer facility. His
profit depends on the ability to get the prices from different centres before
others trading in the stock exchange.
(h) Security Dealers: The purchase and sale of government securities is carried on
the stock exchange by Security Dealers. Each transaction of purchase or sale has
to be separately negotiated. The dealer takes risk in ready purchase and sale of
securities for current requirements. The dealer has information about several
kinds of government securities as well as statutory public bodies, but the
presence of large investors like the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) and
commercial banks makes his role rather restricted.
3. Opening an Account with Broker
After a broker has been selected, the investor has to place an order` on the broker. The
broker will open an account in the name of the investor in his books. He will also ask the
investor for a small sum of money called margin-money as advance. In case, the investor
wishes to sell his securities, he will have to deposit with the broker share certificates and
transfer deeds. He will also have to sign in the transferor`s column on the transfer deed.
The physical presence of share certificates is not required anymore in India if shares have
been through the demat` process.
4. Order
Brokers receive a number of different types of buying and selling orders from their
customers.
5. Choice of orders
Buy and sell orders are placed with the members of the stock exchanges by the investors.
The orders are of &e types.
Limit orders Orders are limited by a fixed price. Buy Reliance Petroleum at Rs 50.
Here, the order has clearly indicated the price at which it has to be bought and the
investor is not willing to give more than Rs 50.
Best rate order Here, the buyer or seller gives the freedom to the broker to execute the
order at the best possible rate quoted on that particular date for buying. It may be the
lowest rate for buying and the highest rate for selling.
Discretionary order The investor gives the range of price for purchase and sale. The
broker can use his discretion to buy within the specified limit. Generally the approximate
price is fixed. The order stands as this Buy BRC 100 shares around Rs 40`.
Stop loss order The orders are given to limit the loss due to unfavourable price
movements in the market. A particular limit is given for waiting. If the price falls below
the limit, the broker is authorised to sell the shares to prevent further loss. Ex. Sell BRC
Ltd at Rs 25, stop loss at Rs 22.
KINDS OF TRADING ACTIVITY
Options: An Option` is a contract which involves the right to buy or sell securities
(usually 100 shares) at specified prices within a stated time. There are various types of
such contracts, of which puts` and calls` are most important. A put` is a negotiable
contract which gives the holder the right to sell a certain number of shares at a specified
price within a limited time. A call` is the right to buy under a negotiable contract.
Sometimes, these option transactions are combined. These are called options and are
exercised through the following strategies:
(a) Establishing a Spread: A spread involves the simultaneous purchase and sale of
different options of the same security. A vertical spread is the purchase of two
options with the same expiry date but different striking prices. In a horizontal
spread, the striking price is the same but the expiry date differs.
(b) Buying a Call: Buyers of a Call look for option profits from some probable
advance in the price of specified stock with a relatively small investment
compared with buying the stock outright. The maximum that can be lost is the
cost of the option itself.
(c) Writing Options: A written option may be covered` or uncovered.` A covered
option is written against an owned stock position. An uncovered or naked`
option is written without owning the security. A covered option is very
conservative. The income derived from the sale of a covered option offsets the
decline in the value of the specified security.
(d) Wash Sales: A wash sale is a fictitious transaction in which the speculator sells
the security and then buys it at a higher price through another broker This gives a
misleading and incorrect position about the value of the security in the market
The price of the security in the market rises in such a misleading situation and the
broker makes a profit by selling or unloading his security to the public This
kind of trading is considered undesirable by the stock exchange regulations and a
penalty is charged for such sales.
(e) Rigging the Market: This is a technique through which the market value of
securities is artificially forced up in the stock exchange. The demands of the
buyers force up the price. The brokers holding a large chunk of securities buy and
sell to be able to widen and improve the market and gradually unload their
securities. This activity interferes with the normal interplay of demand and supply
functions in the stock market.
(f) Cornering: Sometimes, brokers create a condition where the entire supply of
particular securities is purchased by a small group of individuals In this situation,
those who have dealt with short sales` will be squeezed` and will not be able to
make their deliveries in time The buyers, therefore assume superior position and
dictate terms to short sellers This is also an unhealthy technique of trading in
stock exchange.
(g) Blank Transfers: A blank transfer is one in which the transferor signs the form
but does not fill-in the name of the transferee while transferring shares. Such a
transfer facilitates speculation in securities It involves temporary purchases and
sales of securities without regulation.
ARBITRAGE
Arbitrage is a technique of making a profit on stock exchange trading through difference
in price of two different markets. If advantages of price is taken between two markets in
the same country, it is called domestic arbitrage.` Sometimes, arbitrage may also be
between one country and another. It is called foreign arbitrage.` Such an advantage in
prices between two countries can be taken when the currencies of both the countries can
be easily converted.
Arbitrage usually equalises the price of security in different places. When the security is
sold at a high price in a market, more of the supply of the security will tend to bring a fall
in the price, thus neutralisirig the price and making it equal to the price in the cheaper
market.
On placing an order, the brokers get busy through different kinds of trading activities,
which may also include options and other speculations such as wash sales, rigging,
cornering, blank transfers or arbitrage. The sp in the stock market are generally
represented by bull`, bear`, stag`, and lame duck`.
(a) Bull: A bull is a person on the stock exchange who expects a rise in the price of a
certain security. A bull is also called a tejiwala`, because of his expectation of
price rise.
(b) Bear: A bear is the opposite of a bull. He expects a fall in prices always. He is
popularly known as Mandiwalla.`
(c) Bullish and Bearish: When the price is rising and the bulls` are active in the
market, there buoyancy and optimism in the share market. The market in this
situation is reigning bullish.` When there is decline in prices, the market is said to
go bearish.` This is followed by pessimism and decline in the share market
activity.
(d) Bull Campaign and Bear Raid: The bulls begin to spread rumours in the market
about rise ii when there is an over-bought condition in the market, i.e. the
purchases made by the speculators exceed sales made by them. This is called a
bull campaign.` Similarly, a bear raid` is a condition when speculative sales
made by bear speculators exceed the purchases made by them and they spread
rumours to bring the price down.
(e) Lame Duck: A Bear cannot always keep his commitments because the price does
not move the way he wants the shares to move. He is, therefore, said to be
struggling like a lame duck.
(f) Stag: A stag is a cautious speculator. He does not buy or sell securities but applies
for shares in the new issue market just like a genuine investor on the expectation
that the price of the share will soon rise and be sold for a premium. The stag
shares the same approach as a bull, always expecting a rise in price. As soon as
the stag receives an allotment of his shares, he sells them. He is, therefore, taking
advantage in the rise in price of shares and is called premium hunter.`
(g) Hedging: Hedging is a device through which a person protects himself against
loss. A bull agreeing to purchase a security for someone may hedge` or protect
himself by buying a put option` so that any loss that he r suffer in his transaction
may be offset. Similarly, a seller can hedge against loss through call`.
Giving Margin Money to Broker
Margin: Margin is the amount of money provided by customers to the brokers who have
agreed to trade their securities. It may also be called a provision to absorb any probable
loss.
Execution of Order in the Stock Exchange
Making a Deal: When the broker receives the margin money and is clear about the order
received by him, he puts the details in the order book.` The broker in the beginning of
his career makes the deals himself. Once his business grows, he employs clerks to
transact his orders.
The stock exchange hail` also called a floor` is divided into a number of markets
according to the security which is being dealt with. The authorised clerk goes to the
particular part of the floor called the pit` and makes his quotation for the purchase or sale
according to the order. The dealer to whom the quotation is given quotes his own price, if
it does not suit the clerk, he asks for a lower price to be quoted When both the sides are
satisfied, the price is settled and the bargain` is made.
Preparing Contract Note in the Stock Exchange
Contract Note: The clerk takes the details of the day`s transaction to the broker at the end
of the working day. The broker scrutinises all transactions of the day and prepares a
contract note and signs it on a prescribed form. The contract note gives the details of the
contract for the purchase or sale of securities; it records the number of shares, rate and
date of purchase or sale. It also gives the brokerage` entitlement to the broker.
Settlement of Contracts
Settlement: The last step is the settlement of the contract by the broker for his client. The
procedure for settlement is to be made (a) for ready delivery contracts and (b) for forward
delivery contracts.
Ready Delivery Contracts: A ready delivery contract is to be settled within three days in
Kolkata Stock Exchange and 7 days at the Mumbai and Chennai Stock Exchange. A
ready delivery contract is also called a spot` contract. The settlement under this contract
can be made on the same day or during the maximum period of 7 days and there can be
no extension, or postponement of the time of settlement. Ready delivery contracts can be
settled in two ways:
(i) By Actual Delivery: The securities may be purchased or sold and the price is
paid or received in full.
(ii) By Paying the Difference: The securities are not actually delivered but on the
settlement day the transaction is squared by paying the difference.
Carry Over' or `Badla'
Carry Over` or Badla` is the facility of postponing a transaction till the next settlement
day. This facility is available only in forward delivery contracts. Postponement of a
transaction is effected by payment of an amount called Badla Charge.` Badla is
transacted in the following manner:
First, cancel the existing contract by squaring it up. Cancellation is to be made at the
price determined by Stock Exchange authorities.
Second, prepare a new transaction through the original transaction for settlement on the
next settlement day.
Third, payment of a badla` charge. When a Bull speculator wishes to defer his
transaction, he pays a contango charge` to the Bear speculator for carrying over of his
purchase agreement to the next settlement.
Screen Based Trading System
In March 1995, the Bombay (Mumbai) Stock Exchange has introduced screen based
trading called BOLT (BSE on-line Trading). The BOLT is designed to get best bids and
offers from jobbers` book as well as the best buy and sell orders from the order book.
Slowly the network is being extended to other cities too. Now the BOLT has a nation
wide network. Trading Work Stations are connected with the main computer at Mumbai
through Wide Area Network (WAN). The capacity of the Tandem hardware of BOLT is
5,00,000 trades per day (in 6 hours i.e. from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ). After getting
specific approval from SEBI, BOLT connections have been installed in Ahmedabad,
Rajkot, Pune, Vadodara and Calcutta. The number of scrips on BSE was 4,702 in March
1995 and has increased to 5,853 in March 1998. The following table indicates the trend
of trade in the BSE.
Trade in BSE
Year
Number of
Market
Annual
Average Daily Turnover
Listed Companies Capitalisation Turnover
(Rs in Billion)
1994-95
4702
4355
677
1.8
1995-96
5602
5365
501
2.2
1996-97
5832
4639
1243
5.2
1997-98
5853
5603
2706
8.5
SECURITIES TRADED
The securities traded in the BSE are classified into three groups namely, specified shares
or A` group and non-specified securities. The latter is sub-divided into B 1` and B`
groups. A` group contains the companies with large outstanding shares, good track
record and large volume of business in the secondary market. Carry forward transactions
for a period of 90 days are permitted in A group shares. A group contains 150 companies.
Relatively liquid securities come under the B 1` group and it comprises 746 companies.
The remaining shares are placed under the B` group. Settlements of all the shares are
carried out through the Clearing House. The settlement period is reduced from 14 days to
7 days for all scrips.
SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
There is a separate surveillance department in the stock exchange. The surveillance
department aims at providing free and fair market, arresting unsystematic risk from
entering into the system and managing risks. The surveillance can be classified into price
surveillance and pre-monitoring.
Price Surveillance
The surveillance department keeps a close watch over the price movements of scrips and
aims at an early detection of market manipulation like price rigging. The price
surveillance is effectively carried out mainly through
1. Circuit filters and
2. Margins.
Circuit filters The circuit filters decide the range within which the traded prices of a
scrip can vary on a day compared to the previous day`s closing price. The filter
percentages are entered into the system. The quote orders outside the prescribed filter
band cannot be traded. The filter percentages for various scrips are changed at the end of
the day. If there is a need, it may be changed even when the trade is going on. In spite of
the price filters if there is a manipulation in the price, the trading of the particular scrip is
suspended for a day or more depending upon the situation.
Margins The trading members deposit part of their trades as a margin to the exchange.
The margin amount varies for Type-I members who trade in A` group shares and Type-I
members who have not opted for carry forward trade. Type-I members pay a daily
margin of 15% on their trades both on delivery and carry forward. For Type-H members,
the margin is computed on the basis of gross exposure or net exposure and the higher of
the margin is charged. Mark-to-market margins are collected on all notional losses on a
daily basis. Carry over margin is collected when traders` transactions are carried
forwarded in A` or specified group scrip from one settlement to another settlement.
Special margin To curb the unwanted risk in the price and volume special margin has
been imposed. The special margin is levied on the net cumulative purchase of the scrip in
which the rise in price is abnormally high. It ranges from 25% to 100%.
Concentration margin Apart from daily margin if the member`s trade is concentrated on
limited number of scrips say one to three scrips, concentration margin is levied. If the
sale or purchase position exceeds 50%, 65% and 80% respectively, the member has to
pay concentration margin.
Additional volatility margin This margin is imposed on scrips quoting above Rs.40. If
the price of the scrip changes by 16% or more in one settlement compared to the closing
price at the close of the previous settlement, additional volatility margin is imposed on
the traders.
Ad-hoc margin The exchange imposes ad-hoc margin above the daily margins. To have
an effective risk management, it is levied when there is an excessive purchase or
concentrated purchase position in some scrips. It is also imposed if the member`s
financial position may not appear to be sound compared to the market exposure.
CHECK ON THE BOLT TERMINALS
The work stations of the members are deactivated generally on two occasions: the
member`s failure to pay the fee and violation of the trade restrictions given by the
authorities. The decision to deactivate is taken on case- to-case basis.
Position monitoring The position monitoring means watching of the member`s trade
position and the outstanding exposure. This is carried out to ensure a smooth completion
of pay-in and pay-out settlement. Towards this purpose, various Market Monitoring
Reports (MMR) are prepared from the trading data. The Information System Department
(ISD) of the exchange provides available data on trade.
Outstanding market position The trade exposure beyond a limit is monitored. The trade
outstanding market position is R 10 million and above for A + B1 group scrips. It is Rs 5
million and above in the case of B group scrip. It is Rs 1 million and above for individual
scrips. The market exposures of the members are compared with the financial soundness
of the members and their normal volume of business. If the margin cover is not adequate
against their outstanding position corrective steps are taken. Adhoc margins are imposed
and details of members` dealings are obtained. The member is advised to square up the
outstanding position.
Concentrated purchase or sales Sometimes the members concentrate their trading only
on certain scrips and it may end in price rigging. The exchange takes appropriate
surveillance against it. The judgment of risk is made on the basis of fundamentals of the
scrips, daily turnover and market transactions. The market transactions are scrutinised by
cross deals, negotiated deals for settlement, transactions for international investors,
Indian financial institutions (IFI), Mutual funds (MFs) and corporate clients.
Carry forward positions The exchange limits the carry forward settlement also. The
limit given by the exchange is Rs 200 million for the members at the end of settlement
and Rs 300 million at the end of any day within a settlement. Adherence to these limits
has been closely monitored by the Surveillance Department. The department also inspects
certain dealings and books of accounts of the members. Irregularities are referred to the
Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) of the Exchange and Scrutiny Committee of the
Ex change.
4. INSIDER TRADING
The most profitable technique employed in the stock market is using one`s access to rice
sensitive information ahead of others. For example, Hindustan Lever announced the
merger of Broke Bond Lipton India with itself on April 16, 1996. But hectic trading took
place on the two scrips preceding the announcement. Once the information became
public, the trading volume and price declined. Several examples like this can be cited. To
prove this SEBI has come out with the SEBI Insider Trading Regulation 1992. The act
has defined the insider and the price sensitive information as
Who is or was connected with the company
Who is deemed to have been connected with the company and is reasonably
expected to have access by virtue of such connection to unpublished price
information or
Who has received or has had access to unpublished price sensitive information.
Connected person is any person:
Who is a director or is deemed to be a director as per the definition in the
Companies Act
Who is an officer or employee of the company
Who holds a position involving a professional or business relationship with the
company and who may reasonably be expected to have access to unpublished
price sensitive information
a subsidiary as per section (370) (IB) on 372 (11)
an official or member of a stock exchange
a dealer in securities or an employee of such dealer member
a merchant banker, share transfer agent, registrar, debenture trustee, broker,
portfolio manger, investment advisor, sub-broker, investment company or an
employee thereof, a trustee of a mutual fund, or director on the board of an asset
management company
a director or employee of a public financial institution
an official or employee of a self-regulatory organisation
a relative of any of the above
banker to the company
Unpublished price sensitive information areas are given below
Financial results of the company
Intended declaration of dividends
Rights or bonus share offers
Major expansion plans or execution of new projects
Amalgamation, mergers and takeovers
Disposal of the whole of the undertaking
Such other information as may affect the earnings of the company
Any changes in policies, plans or operations of the company
Prohibition of deals SEBI prohibits an insider from dealings. SEBI is empowered to
investigate cases of insider trading. The person being investigated by SEBI is required to
produce books, accounts and other documents which the investigating authority may
require. SEBI has the authority to restrain the insider from dealing in securities. Any
person violating the provision of the insider trading regulation is liable to be punished
with fine or imprisonment under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.
5. INTERNET TRADING
The Net is used as a medium of trading in internet trading. Orders are communicated to
the stock exchange through website. Internet trading started in India on 1St April 2000
with 79 members seeking permission for online trading. The SEBI committees on
internet based securities trading services has allowed the net to be used as an Order
Routing System (ORS) through registered stock brokers on behalf of their clients for
execution of transaction.
Under the Order Routing System the client enters his requirements (security, quantity,
price, and buy/sell) in broker`s site. They are checked electronically against the clients
account and routed electronically to the appropriate exchange for execution by the
broker. The client receives a confirmation on execution of the order. The customer`s
portfolio and ledger accounts get updated to reflect the transaction.
The user should have the user id and password to enter into the electronic ring. He should
also have a demat account and bank account. The system permits only a registered client
to log in using user ID and password. Order can be placed using place order window of
the website.
The client has to enter stock code and other parameters such as quantity and price
of the scrip on the place order window.
The client can review the order placed by clicking the review option. He can also
reset to clear the values.
Satisfactory orders are sent by clicking the Send option.
The client receives an order confirmation message with order number and value
of the order.
If the order is rejected by the broker or stock exchange for certain reasons such as
invalid price limit, a related message appears at the bottom of the screen. The time
taken to execute the order is 10 seconds.
When the trade is executed, the broker asks for the transfer of funds by the
investor to his account. Stocks are credited/debited according to the buy/sell order
in the demat accounts.
Internet trading provides total transparency between a broker and an investor in the
secondary market. In the open outcry system, only the broker knew the actually
transacted price. Screen based trading provides more transparency. With online trading
investors can see themselves the price at which the deal takes place.
The time gap has narrowed in every stage of operation. Confirmation and execution of
trade reaches the investor within the least possible time, mostly within 30 seconds.
Instant feedback is available about the execution. Some of the websites also offer;
News and research report
BSE and NSE movements
Stock analysis
Freebies
IPO and mutual fund centers and
Movements of international stock exchanges.
6. TAKEOVERS & MERGER
Terms such as merger, amalgamation, take-over, consolidation, etc., are used int to
denote the process of corporate re-structuring. There is no common definition and these
terms may be used to describe a re-structuring of one type of the other. Generally, these
terms are used to denote a particular type of re-structuring as follows:
MERGER:
The term merger includes consolidation, amalgamation and absorption. It refers to a
situation when two or more existing firms combine together and form a new entity. Either
a new company may be incorporated for this purpose or one existing company (generally
a bigger one) survives and another existing company (which is smaller) is merged into it.
If a new company is incorporated, it is known as a case of consolidation/amalgamation.
However, if an existing company is merged into another existing company, it is known as
absorption. The merger of Tata Oil Mills Ltd. and Brook Bond Lipton (India) Ltd. into
Hindustan Lever Ltd. were cases of absorption. On the other hand, merger of 4
companies into HCL Ltd. was a case of consolidation. In year 2000, Times Bank had
been merged with HDFC Bank, in line with the wave of consolidation that is sweeping
across the global banking industry. SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceutical Ltd. has been
merged into Glaxo Ltd. ICICI Ltd., a financial institution has been merged into ICICI
Bank Ltd.
Merger is an arrangement for bringing the assets of two firms under control of one. It
signifies the transfer of all assets and liabilities of one or more existing companies to
another existing or new company. A basic feature of merger is that one company takes
the ownership of another company and combine its operations with that of its own
operations. The term merger is used to denote the fusion of two or more companies.
TAKEOVERS:
In general takeovers refer to the acquiring of ownership right in the property and assets.
It denotes a situation when one company acquires (i) ownership in the assets, and to
control of monies of another company. The other company of which the control is so
acquired remains a separate company and is not liquidated, but there is a change in
control. A.V. Birla Group has acquired controlling interest in Larsen & Toubro Ltd.
Acquisition results when one company purchases the controlling interest in the share
capital of another existing company in any of the following ways:
(a) By entering into an agreement with a person or persons holding controlling
interest in the other company.
(b) By subscribing new shares being issued by the other company.
(c) By purchasing shares of the other company at a stock exchange.
(d) By making an offer to buy the shares of other company, to the existing
shareholders of that company.
The term take-over is used to denote the acquisition, which is hostile in nature and the
company which is being taken-over may put resistance and oppose the take-over bid.
Two companies, i.e., DCM Ltd. and Escorts Ltd. had successfully resisted the take-over
bid on their companies by the Caparo Group of the U.K. Arun Bajoria made an
unsuccessful bid to take over the controlling interest in Bombay Dying Ltd.
Another form of acquisition may take place in the form of holding-subsidiary relationship
between two companies. A company is called a holding company if it controls the
composition of the Board of Directors of the other company, or holds more than half in
nominal value of the equity share capital of the other company. The other company in
such a case is known as the subsidiary company. Both holding and the subsidiary
companies maintain their individual identity in the eyes of law as well as in practice.
Generally, the relationship between holding and subsidiary companies takes place at the
time of incorporation of the latter. Reliance Petro Chemical Ltd. was incorporated as a
subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd. and later it was merged into the holding company.
Hindustan Lever Chemical Ltd. (erstwhile Stepan Chemical Ltd.) is a subsidiary of
Hindustan Lever Ltd. In most of the cases, subsidiary companies are small in size and
operate as an investment or financing arm of the holding company.
In accounting, the term merger is taken in a different way. The Accounting Standard, AS-
14, issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India has defined the term
amalgamation by classifying (i) Amalgamation in the nature of merger, and (ii)
Amalgamation in the nature of purchase.
MERGERS AND TAKE-OVERS: INDIAN SCENE
In India, the concept of mergers, acquisitions and take-overs had not been popular and
kept a low profile, and the reason for this is quite obvious. The regulatory and prohibitory
provisions of MRTP Act, 1969 provided for a cumbersome procedure to get approval for
mergers and acquisitions under the Act. However, most of the previsions of the MRTP
Act, 1969, have been repealed as a part of economic liberalization drive of the
Government of India. In most of the cases, merger in India used to be friendly
amalgamation resulting as a consequence of a negotiated deal, untill 1988 when there was
the well-known unsuccessful hostile take-over bid by Swaraj Paul (of Caparo Group of
the U.K) to get control over DCM Ltd. and Escorts Ltd. Many other Non-resident
Indians, such as Chabrias, Hindujas, etc., also attempted to take over many Indian
companies by buying shares of these companies at stock exchanges.
During recent years, there have been a spate of merger moves by various industrial
groups. Voirho Ltd., a loss-making company, was amalgamated with Voltas Ltd.
Hindustan Lever Ltd., first, acquired Tata Oil Mills from the Tata Group and then merged
other group ccmpanies, i.e., Brook Bond Lipton (India) Ltd. and Ponds (India Ltd.) with
it. The SCICI Ltd., which was initially promoted by ICICI Ltd., has been merged with the
latter. Jindal Ferroy Alloys Ltd. has been merged with Jindal Strips Ltd. ITC Classic Ltd.
has been merged with ICICI Ltd. British Gas Company has taken over Gujarat Gas
Company. Company like Nicholas Piramal has been built only by mergers and
acquisitions. India Cement Ltd.`s offer for Raasi Cement Ltd. and the offer of Sterlite
Ltd, for taking over Indian Aluminum Company have heralded a new era of hostile take-
overs in India.
Regulatory Framework in India:
Initially, the regulatory framework for mergers and acquisitions was contained in MRTP
Act, 1969. As a measure for reviving the sick enterprises, the Government introduced
certain fiscal concessions through the Finance Act, 1976 under Section 72A of the
Income Tax Act, 1961. A profit-making enterprise taking over a sick firm was allowed to
carry forward and set off accumulated losses of the later (subject to certain conditions).
Presently, the mergers and acquisitions of corporate entities are regulated by provisions
contained in (i) Companies Act, 1956; (ii) Security Contracts (Regulations) Act, 1956;
(iii) Income-Tax Act, 1961; (iv) Sick Industries Companies (Special Provisions) Act,
1985; (v) Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, and (vi) Listing Agreement
of the Stock Exchanges.
Tax Aspects of Mergers and Takeovers:
Income Tax Act, 1961 is vital among all tax laws which affect the merger of firms from
the point of view of tax savings/liabilities. However, the benefits under this Act are
available only if the following conditions mentioned in Section 2 (1B) of the Act are
fulfilled:
(a) All the amalgamating companies should be companies within the meaning of the
Section 2 (17) of the Income Tax Act, 1961;
(b) All the properties of the amalgamating company (i.e., the target firm) should be
transferred to the amalgamated company (i.e., the acquiring firm);
(c) All the liabilities of the amalgamating company should become the liabilities of
the amalgamated company; and
(d) The shareholders of not less than 90% of the share capital of the amalgamating
company should become the shareholders of amalgamated company.
In case of mergers and amalgamations, a number of issues may arise with respect to tax
implications. Some of the relevant provisions may be summarized as follows:
Depreciation:
The amalgamated company continues to claim depreciation on the basis of written down
value of fixed assets transferred to it by the amalgamating company. The depreciation
charge may be based on the consideration paid and without any re-valuation. However,
unabsorbed depreciation, if any, cannot be assigned to the amalgamated company and
hence no tax benefit is available in this respect.
Capital Expenditures:
If the amalgamating company transfers to the amalgamated company any asset
representing capital expenditure on scientific research, then it is deductible in the hands
of the amalgamated company under Section 35 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Exemption from Capital Gains Tax:
The transfer of assets by amalgamating company to the amalgamated company, under the
scheme of amalgamation is exempted for capital gains tax subject to conditions, namely
(i) that the amalgamated company should be an Indian Company, and (ii) that the shares
are issued in consideration of the shares, to any shareholder, in the amalgamated
company. The exchange of old shares in the amalgamated company by the new shares in
the amalgamating company, is not considered as sale by the shareholders and hence no
profit or loss on such exchange is taxable in the hands of the shareholders of the
amalgamated company.
Carry Forward Losses of Sick Companies:
Section 72A(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 deals with the mergers of the sick
companies with healthy companies and to take advantage of the carry forward losses of
the amalgamating company. But the benefits under this Section with respect to
unabsorbed depreciation and carry forward losses are available only if the following
conditions are fulfilled:
(i)
The amalgamating company is an Indian Company;
(ii)
The amalgamating company should not be financially viable;
(iii)
The amalgamation should be in public interest;
(iv)
The amalgamation should facilitate the revival of the business of the
amalgamating company;
(v)
The scheme of amalgamation is approved by a specified authority; and
(vi)
The amalgamated company should continue to carry on the business of the
amalgamating company without any modification.
Amalgamation Expenses:
In case, an expenditure is incurred red towards professional charges of Solicitors for the
services rendered in connection with the scheme of amalgamation, then such expenses
are deductible in the hands of the amalgamated firm.
REFERENCE QUESTIONS
1.
What is listing of share? Describe the advantages provided for listing. What
document should be filed for listing of shares?
2.
What is the methodology adopted in security trading on stock exchange?
3.
What are the different kinds of brokers operating in the stock market? How do
they trade securities in the stock market?
4.
Explain the screen based trading system adopted in BSE.
5.
Define OTCEI. Explain the trading & settlement system of OTCEI.
6.
Explain the functionary of NSDL.
7.
What is meant by stock exchange? Explain its main function.
8.
Explain the role played by stock exchange in the economic development.
9.
Define Takeover & SEBI regulations regarding takeover.
10. How has SEBI regulated Insider trading in the stock exchanges?
UNIT IV
4.0 Depository Meaning:
A depository can be compared to a bank. A depository holds securities (like shares,
debentures, bonds, Government Securities, units etc.) of investors in electronic form.
Besides holding securities, a depository also provides services related to transactions in
securities.
4.1 Role and need: Depository plays a vital role in the following areas:
1. Immediate transfer of securities;
2. No stamp duty on transfer of securities;
3. Elimination of risks associated with physical certificates such as bad delivery ,
fake securities , etc.;
4. Reduction in paperwork involved in transfer of securities;
5. Reduction in transaction cost;
6. Nomination facility;
7. Change in address recorded with DP gets registered electronically with all
companies in which investor holds securities eliminating the need to correspond
with each of them separately;
8. Transmission of securities is done by DP eliminating correspondence with
companies;
9. Convenient method of consolidation of folios/accounts ;
10. Holding investments in equity, debt instruments and Government securities in a
single account;
Depositories Act, 1996
[22 of 1996]
An Act to provide for regulation of depositories in securities and for matters connected
therewith or incidental thereto.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Forty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as
follows: --
Chapter I
Preliminary
Short title, extent and commencement.
1. (1) This Act may be called the Depositories Act, 1996.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 20th day of September, 1995.
Definitions.
2. (1) in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, --
(a)
beneficial owner means a person whose name is recorded as such
with a depository;
(b)
Board means the Securities and Exchange Board of India
Established under section 3 of the Securities and Exchange Board of
India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992);
(c)
bye-laws means bye-laws made by a depository under section 26;
(d) Company Law Board means the Board of Company Law
Administration constituted under section 10E of the Companies Act,
1956 (1 of 1956);
(e) Depository means a company formed and registered under the
Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), and which has been granted a
Certificate of registration under sub-section (1A) of section 12 of the
Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992);
(f)
Issuer means any person making an issue of securities;
(g) Participant means a person registered as such under sub-section
(1A) of section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act,
1992 (15 of 1992);
(h)
Prescribed means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(i)
record includes the records maintained in the form of books or
Stored in a computer or in such other form as may be determined by
Regulations;
(j)
registered owner means a depository whose name is entered as
such in the register of the issuer;
(k)
Regulations means the regulations made by the Board;
(Ka)
Securities Appellate Tribunal means a Securities Appellate
Tribunal established under sub-section (1) of section 15K of the
Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992);]
(l)
Security means such security as may be specified by the Board;
(m)
service means any service connected with recording of allotment
of securities or transfer of ownership of securities in the record of a
Depository.
(2) Words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the
Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956
(42 of 1956), or the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), shall
have the meanings respectively assigned to them in those Acts.
Chapter II
Certificate of Commencement of Business
Certificate of commencement of business by depositories.
3. (1) No depository shall act as a depository unless it obtains a certificate of
commencement of business from the Board.
(2) A certificate granted under sub-section (1) shall be in such form as may be specified
by the regulations.
(3) The Board shall not grant a certificate under sub-section (1) unless it is satisfied that
the depository has adequate systems and safeguards to prevent manipulation of records
and transactions:
Provided that no certificate shall be refused under this section unless the depository
concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
Chapter III
Rights and obligations of depositories, participants,
issuers and beneficial owners
Agreement between depository and participant.
4. (1) A depository shall enter into an agreement with one or more participants as its
agent.
(2) Every agreement under sub-section (1) shall be in such form as may be specified by
the bye-laws.
Services of depository.
5. Any person, through a participant, may enter into an agreement, in such form as may
be specified by the bye-laws, with any depository for availing its services.
Surrender of certificate of security.
6. (1) Any person who has entered into an agreement under section 5 shall surrender the
certificate of security, for which he seeks to avail the services of a depository, to the
issuer in such manner as may be specified by the regulations.
(2) The issuer, on receipt of certificate of security under sub-section (1), shall cancel
the certificate of security and substitute in its records the name of the depository as a
registered owner in respect of that security and inform the depository accordingly.
(3) A depository shall, on receipt of information under sub-section (2), enter the name
of the person referred to in sub-section (1) in its records, as the beneficial owner
Registration of transfer of securities with depository.
7. (1) every depository shall, on receipt of intimation from a participant, register the
transfer of security in the name of the transferee.
(2) If a beneficial owner or a transferee of any security seeks to have custody of such
security the depository shall inform the issuer accordingly.
Options to receive security certificate or hold securities with depository.
8. (1) every person subscribing to securities offered by an issuer shall have the option
either to receive the security certificates or hold securities with a depository.
(2) Where a person opts to hold a security with a depository, the issuer shall intimate
such depository the details of allotment of the security, and on receipt of such
information the depository shall enter in its records the name of the allottee as the
beneficial owner of that security.
Securities in depositories to be in fungible form.
9. (1) all securities held by a depository shall be dematerialized and shall be in a fungible
form.
(2) Nothing contained in sections 153, 153A, 153B, 187B, 187C and 372 of the
Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), shall apply to a depository in respect of securities held
by it on behalf of the beneficial owners.]
Rights of depositories and beneficial owner.
10. (1) Not withstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force,
a depository shall be deemed to be the registered owner for the purposes of effecting
transfer of ownership of security on behalf of a beneficial owner.
(2) Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (1), the depository as a registered
owner shal not have any voting rights or any other rights in respect of securities held by
it.
(3) The beneficial owner shall be entitled to all the rights and benefits and be
subjected to all the liabilities in respect of his securities held by a depository.
Register of beneficial owner.
11. Every depository shall maintain a register and an index of beneficial owners in the
manner provided in sections 150, 151 and 152 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).
Pledge or hypothecation of securities held in a depository.
12. (1) Subject to such regulations and bye-laws, as may be made in this behalf, a
beneficial owner may with the previous approval of the depository create a pledge or
hypothecation in respect of a security owned by him through a depository.
(2) Every beneficial owner shall give intimation of such pledge or hypothecation to
the depository and such depository shall thereupon make entries in its records
accordingly.
(3) Any entry in the records of a depository under sub-section (2) shall be evidence of a
pledge or hypothecation.
Furnishing of information and records by depository and issuer.
13. (1) every depository shall furnish to the issuer information about the transfer of
securities in the name of beneficial owners at such intervals and in such manner as may
be specified by the bye-laws.
(2) Every issuer shall make available to the depository copies of the relevant records in
respect of securities held by such depository.
Option to opt out in respect of any security.
14. (1) If a beneficial owner seeks to opt out of a depository in respect of any security he
shall inform the depository accordingly.
(2) The depository shall on receipt of intimation under sub-section (1) make appropriate
entries in its records and shall inform the issuer.
(3) Every issuer shall, within thirty days of the receipt of intimation from the depository
and on fulfillment of such conditions and on payment of such fees as may be specified by
the regulations, issue the certificate of securities to the beneficial owner or the transferee,
as the case may be.
Act 18 of 1891 to apply to depositories.
15. The Bankers` Books Evidence Act, 1891 shall apply in relation to a depository as if it
were a bank as defined in section 2 of that Act.
Depositories to indemnify loss in certain cases.
16. (1) Without prejudice to the provisions of any other law for the time being in force,
any loss caused to the beneficial owner due to the negligence of the depository or the
participant, the depository shall indemnify such beneficial owner.
(2) Where the loss due to the negligence of the participant under sub-section (1) is
indemnified by the depository, the depository shall have the right to recover the same
from such participant.
Rights and obligations of depositories, etc.
17. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the rights and obligations of the depositories,
participants and the issuers whose securities are dealt with by a depository shall be
specified by the regulations.
(2) The eligibility criteria for admission of securities into the depository shall be specified
by the regulations.
CHAPTER IV
ENQUIRY AND INSPECTION
Power of Board to call for information and enquiry.
18. (1) The Board, on being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest or in the
interest of investors so to do, may, by order in writing,--
(a)
call upon any issuer, depository, participant or beneficial owner to furnish
in writing such information relating to the securities held in a depository as it may
require; or
(b)
Authorize any person to make an enquiry or inspection in relation to the
affairs of the issuer, beneficial owner, depository or participant, who shall submit a report
of such enquiry or inspection to it within such period as may be specified in the order.
(2) Every director, manager, partner, secretary, officer or employee of the depository or
issuer or the participant or beneficial owner shall on demand produce before the person
making the enquiry or inspection all information or such records and other documents in
his custody having a bearing on the subject-matter of such enquiry or inspection.
Power of Board to give directions in certain cases.
19. Save as provided in this Act, if after making or causing to be made an enquiry or
inspection, the Board is satisfied that it is necessary--
(i)
in the interest of investors, or orderly development of securities market; or
(ii)
to prevent the affairs of any depository or participant being conducted in the
manner detrimental to the interests of investors or securities market,
it may issue such directions,--
(a)
to any depository or participant or any person associated with the securities
market; or
(b) To any issuer,
as may be appropriate in the interest of investors or the securities market.
[Penalty for failure to furnish information, return, etc.
19A. Any person, who is required under this Act or any rules or regulations or bye-laws
made there under,--
(a)
to furnish any information, document, books, returns or report to the Board, fails
to furnish the same within the time specified therefore, he shall be liable to a penalty of
one lakh rupees for each day during which such failure continues or one crore rupees,
whichever is less for each such failure;
(b)
to file any return or furnish any information, books or other documents within the
time specified therefore in the regulations or bye-laws, fails to file return or furnish the
same within the time specified therefore, he shall be liable to a penalty of one lakh rupees
for each day during which such failure continues or one crore rupees, whichever is less;
(c)
to maintain books of account or records, fails to maintain the same, he shal be
liable to a penalty of one lakh rupees for each day during which such failure continues or
one crore rupees, whichever is less.
Penalty for failure to enter into an agreement.
19B. If a depository or participant or any issuer or its agent or any person, who is
registered as an intermediary under the provisions of section 12 of the Securities and
Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), and is required under this Act or any
rules or regulations made there under, to enter into an agreement, fails to enter into such
agreement, such depository or participant or issuer or its agent or intermediary shall be
liable to a penalty of one lakh rupees for each day during which such failure continues or
one crore rupees, whichever is less for every such failure.
Penalty for failure to redress investors` grievances.
19C. If any depository or participant or any issuer or its agent or any person, who is
registered as an intermediary under the provisions of section 12 of the Securities and
Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), after having been called upon by the
Board in writing, to redress the grievances of the investors, fails to redress such
grievances within the time specified by the Board, such depository or participant or issuer
or its agents or intermediary shall be liable to a penalty of one lakh rupees for each day
during which such failure continues or one crore rupees, whichever is less.
Penalty for delay in dematerialization or issue of certificate of securities.
19D. If any issuer or its agent or any person, who is registered as an intermediary under
the provisions of section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15
of 1992), fails to dematerialize or issue the certificate of securities on opting out of a
depository by the investors, within the time specified under this Act or regulations or
bye-laws made hereunder or abets in delaying the process of dematerialization or issue
the certificate of securities on opting out of a depository of securities, such issuer or its
agent or intermediary shall be liable to a penalty of one lakh rupees for each day during
which such failure continues or one crore rupees, whichever is less.
Penalty for failure to reconcile records.
19E. If a depository or participant or any issuer or its agent or any person, who is
registered as an intermediary under the provisions of section 12 of the Securities and
Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), fails to reconcile the records of
dematerialized securities with all the securities issued by the issuer as specified in the
regulations, such depository or participant or issuer or its agent or intermediary shall be
liable to a penalty of one lakh rupees for each day during which such failure continues or
one crore rupees, whichever is less.
Penalty for failure to comply with directions issued by Board under section 19 of the Act.
19F. If any person fails to comply with the directions issued by the Board under section
19, within the time specified by it, he shall be liable to a penalty of one lakh rupees for
each day during which such failure continues or one crore rupees, whichever is less.
Penalty for contravention where no separate penalty has been provided.
19G. Whoever fails to comply with any provision of this Act, the rules or the regulations
or bye-laws made or directions issued by the Board there under for which no separate
penalty has been provided, shall be liable to a penalty which may extend to one crore
rupees.
Power to adjudicate.
19H. (1) For the purpose of adjudging under sections 19A, 19B, 19C, 19D, 19E, 19F and
19G, the Board shall appoint any officer not below the rank of a Division Chief of the
Securities and Exchange Board of India to be an adjudicating officer for holding an
inquiry in the prescribed manner after giving any person concerned a reasonable
opportunity of being heard for the purpose of imposing any penalty.
(2) While holding an inquiry, the adjudicating officer shall have power to summon and
enforce the attendance of any person acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the
case to give evidence or to produce any document, which in the opinion of the
adjudicating officer, may be useful for or relevant to the subject-matter of the inquiry and
if, on such inquiry, he is satisfied that the person has failed to comply with the provisions
of any of the sections specified in sub-section (1), he may impose such penalty as he
thinks fit in accordance with the provisions of any of those sections.
Factors to be taken into account by adjudicating officer.
19-I. While adjudging the quantum of penalty under section 19H, the adjudicating officer
shall have due regard to the following factors, namely:--
(a)
the amount of disproportionate gain or unfair advantage, wherever
quantifiable, made as a result of the default;
(b)
the amount of loss caused to an investor or group of investors as a result of
the default;
(c)
the repetitive nature of the default.
Crediting sums realized by way of penalties to Consolidated Fund of India.
19J. All sums realized by way of penalties under this Act shall be credited to the
Consolidated Fund of India.]
Chapter V
Penalty
Offences.
20. (1) Without prejudice to any award of penalty by the adjudicating officer under this
Act, if any person contravenes or attempts to contravene or abets the contravention of the
provisions of this Act or of any rules or regulations or bye-laws made there under, he
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, or with
fine, which may extend to twenty-five crore rupees, or with both.
(2) If any person fails to pay the penalty imposed by the adjudicating officer or fails to
comply with any of his directions or orders, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for
a term which shall not be less than one month but which may extend to ten years, or with
fine, which may extend to twenty-five crore rupees, or with both.]
Offences by companies.
21. (1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person
who at the time the offence was committed was in charge of, and was responsible to, the
company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be
deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and
punished accordingly :
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to
any punishment provided in this Act, if he proves that the offence was committed without
his knowledge or that he had exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of
such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this
Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been
committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part
of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director,
manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of the offence and
shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Explanation.--for the purposes of this section,--
(a)
Company means any body corporate and includes a firm or other
association of individuals; and
(b)
Director, in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm
.
Chapter VI
Miscellaneous
Cognizance of offences by courts.
22. (1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act or any
rules or regulations or bye-laws made there under, save on a complaint made by the
Central Government or State Government or the Securities and Exchange Board of India
or by any person.
(2) No court inferior to that of a Court of Session shall try any offence punishable under
this Act.
Composition of certain offences.
22A. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of
1974), any offence punishable under this Act, not being an offence punishable with
imprisonment only, or with imprisonment and also with fine, may either before or after
the institution of any proceeding, be compounded by a Securities Appellate Tribunal or a
court before which such proceedings are pending.
Power to grant immunity.
22B. (1) The Central Government may, on recommendation by the Board, if the Central
Government is satisfied, that any person, who is alleged to have violated any of the
provisions of this Act or the rules or the regulations made there under, has made a full
and true disclosure in respect of alleged violation, grant to such person, subject to such
conditions as it may think fit to impose, immunity from prosecution for any offence
under this Act, or the rules or the regulations made there under or also from the
imposition of any penalty under this Act with respect to the alleged violation :
Provided that no such immunity shall be granted by the Central Government in cases
where the proceedings for the prosecution for any such offence have been instituted
before the date of receipt of application for grant of such immunity:
Provided further that recommendation of the Board under this sub-section shall not be
binding upon the Central Government.
(2) An immunity granted to a person under sub-section (1) may, at any time, be
withdrawn by the Central Government, if it is satisfied that such person had, in the course
of the proceedings, not complied with the condition on which the immunity was granted
or had given false evidence, and thereupon such person may be tried for the offence with
respect to which the immunity was granted or for any other offence of which he appears
to have been guilty in connection with the contravention and shall also become liable to
the imposition of any penalty under this Act to which such person would have been
liable, had not such immunity been granted.]
Appeals.
23. (1) Any person aggrieved by an order of the Board made [before the commencement
of the Securities Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 1999] under this Act, or the regulations
made there under may prefer an appeal to the Central Government within such time as
may be prescribed.
(2) No appeal shall be admitted if it is preferred after the expiry of the period prescribed
therefore:
Provided that an appeal may be admitted after the expiry of the period prescribed
therefore if the appellant satisfies the Central Government that he had sufficient cause for
not preferring the appeal within the prescribed period.
(3) Every appeal made under this section shall be made in such form and shall be
accompanied by a copy of the order appealed against and by such fees as may be
prescribed.
(4) The procedure for disposing of an appeal shall be such as may be prescribed:
Provided that before disposing of an appeal, the appellant shall be given a reasonable
opportunity of being heard.
[Appeal to Securities Appellate Tribunal.
23A. (1) Save as provided in sub-section (2), any person aggrieved by an order of the
Board made, on and after the commencement of the Securities Laws (Second
Amendment) Act, 1999, under this Act, or the regulations made there under, [or by an
order made by an adjudicating officer under this Act] may prefer an appeal to a
Securities Appellate Tribunal having jurisdiction in the matter.
(2) No appeal shall lie to the Securities Appellate Tribunal from an order made by the
Board with the consent of the parties.
(3) Every appeal under sub-section (1) shall be filed within a period of forty-five days
from the date on which a copy of the order made by the Board is received by the person
referred to in sub-section (1) and it shall be in such form and be accompanied by such fee
as may be prescribed:
Provided that the Securities Appellate Tribunal may entertain an appeal after the expiry
of the said period of forty-five days if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not
filing it within that period.
(4) On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), the Securities Appellate Tribunal may,
after giving the parties to the appeal an opportunity of being heard, pass such orders
thereon as it thinks fit, confirming, modifying or setting aside the order appealed against.
(5) The Securities Appellate Tribunal shall send a copy of every order made by it to the
Board and parties to the appeal.
(6) The appeal filed before the Securities Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (1) shall
be dealt with by it as expeditiously as possible and endeavor shall be made by it to
dispose of the appeal finally within six months from the date of receipt of the appeal.
Procedure and powers of Securities Appellate Tribunal.
23B. (1) The Securities Appellate Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down
by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), but shall be guided by the principles of
natural justice and, subject to the other provisions of this Act and of any rules, the
Securities Appellate Tribunal shall have powers to regulate their own procedure
including the places at which they shall have their sittings.
(2) The Securities Appellate Tribunal shall have, for the purpose of discharging their
functions under this Act, the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of
Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters,
namely :--
(a)
summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on
oath;
(b) Requiring the discovery and production of documents;
(c) Receiving evidence on affidavits;
(d) Issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents;
(e) Reviewing its decisions;
(f) Dismissing an application for default or deciding it ex parte;
(g) setting aside any order of dismissal of any application for default or any
Order passed by it ex parte; and
(h) Any other matter which may be prescribed.
(3) Every proceeding before the Securities Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed to be a
judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228, and for the purposes of
section 196 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) and the Securities Appellate Tribunal
shall be deemed to be a civil court for all the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXVI
of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
Right to legal representation.
23C. The appellant may either appear in person or authorize one or more chartered
accountants or company secretaries or cost accountants or legal practitioners or any of its
officers to present his or its case before the Securities Appellate Tribunal.
Explanation.--For the purposes of this section,--
(a)
chartered accountant means a chartered accountant as defined in clause
(b) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 (38 of 1949)
and who has obtained a certificate of practice under sub-section (1) of section 6 of that
Act;
(b)
Company secretary means a company secretary as defined in clause (c) of sub-
section (1) of section 2 of the Company Secretaries Act, 1980 (56 of 1980) and who has
obtained a certificate of practice under sub-section (1) of section 6 of that Act;
(c)
cost accountant means a cost accountant as defined in clause (b) of sub-section
(1) of section 2 of the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 (23 of 1959) and who has
obtained a certificate of practice under sub-section (1) of section 6 of that Act;
(d)
legal practitioner means an advocate, vakil or an attorney of any High Court,
and includes a pleader in practice.
Limitation.
23D. The provisions of the Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963) shall, as far as may be,
apply to an appeal made to a Securities Appellate Tribunal.
Civil court not to have jurisdiction.
23E. No civil court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in respect of
any matter which a Securities Appellate Tribunal is empowered by or under this Act to
determine and no injunction shall be granted by any court or other authority in respect of
any action taken or to be taken in pursuance of any power conferred by or under this Act.
[Appeal to Supreme Court.
23F. Any person aggrieved by any decision or order of the Securities Appellate Tribunal
may file an appeal to the Supreme Court within sixty days from the date of
communication of the decision or order of the Securities Appellate Tribunal to him on
any question of law arising out of such order :
Provided that the Supreme Court may, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by
sufficient cause from filing the appeal within the said period, allow it to be filed within a
further period not exceeding sixty days.]]
Power of Central Government to make rules.
24. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules
for carrying out the provisions of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such
rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely [(a) the
manner of inquiry under sub-section (1) of section 19H;
(aa)
the time within which an appeal may be preferred under sub-section (1) of section
23;]
(b)
The form in which an appeal may be preferred under sub-section (3) of
Section 23 and the fees payable in respect of such appeal;
(c)
the procedure for disposing of an appeal under sub-section (4) of section 23;
(d)
the form in which an appeal may be filed before the Securities Appellate Tribunal
under section 23A and the fees payable in respect of such appeal.]
Power of Board to make regulations.
25. (1) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in section 30 of the Securities and
Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), the Board may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, make regulations consistent with the provisions of this Act and the rules
made there under to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such
regulations may provide for--
(a)
The form in which record is to be maintained under clause (i) of sub-section (1) of
section 2;
(b)
The form in which the certificate of commencement of business shall be issued
under sub-section (2) of section 3;
(c)
The manner in which the certificate of security shall be surrendered under sub-
section (1) of section 6;
(d)
The manner of creating a pledge or hypothecation in respect of security owned by
a beneficial owner under sub-section (1) of section 12;
(e)
The conditions and the fees payable with respect to the issue of certificate of
securities under sub-section (3) of section 14;
(f)
The rights and obligations of the depositories, participants and the issuers under
sub-section (1) of section 17;
(g)
The eligibility criteria for admission of securities into the depository under sub-
section (2) of section 17.
Power of depositories to make bye-laws.
26. (1) A depository shall, with the previous approval of the Board, make bye-laws
consistent with the provisions of this Act and the regulations.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such
bye-laws shall provide for--
(a) the eligibility criteria for admission and removal of securities in the
Depository;
(b)
The conditions subject to which the securities shall be dealt with;
(c)
The eligibility criteria for admission of any person as a participant;
(d)
The manner and procedure for dematerialization of securities;
(e)
The procedure for transactions within the depository;
(f)
The manner in which securities shall be dealt with or withdrawn from a
Depository;
(g)
The procedure for ensuring safeguards to protect the interests of participants and
beneficial owners;
(h)
The conditions of admission into and withdrawal from a participant by a
beneficial owner;
(i)
The procedure for conveying information to the participants and beneficial
owners on dividend declaration, shareholder meetings and other matters of interest to the
beneficial owners;
(j)
The manner of distribution of dividends, interest and monetary benefits received
from the company among beneficial owners;
(k)
The manner of creating pledge or hypothecation in respect of securities held with
a depository;
(l)
Inter se rights and obligations among the depository, issuer, participants, and
beneficial owners;
(m)
The manner and the periodicity of furnishing information to the Board, issuer and
other persons;
(n)
The procedure for resolving disputes involving depository, issuer, company or a
beneficial owner;
(o)
The procedure for proceeding against the participant committing breach of the
regulations and provisions for suspension and expulsion of participants from the
depository and cancellation of agreements entered with the depository;
(p)
The internal control standards including procedure for auditing, reviewing and
monitoring.
(3) Where the Board considers it expedient so to do, it may, by order in writing, direct a
depository to make any bye-laws or to amend or revoke any bye-laws already made
within such period as it may specify in this behalf.
(4) If the depository fails or neglects to comply with such order within the specified
period, the Board may make the bye-laws or amend or revoke the bye-laws made either
in the form specified in the order or with such modifications thereof as the Board thinks
fit.
Rules and regulations to be laid before Parliament.
27. Every rule and every regulation made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be
after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period
of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive
sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the
successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule
or regulation or both Houses agree that the rule or regulation should not be made, the rule
or regulation shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as
the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without
prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule or regulation.
Application of other laws not barred.
28. The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other
law for the time being in force relating to the holding and transfer of securities.
Removal of difficulties.
29. (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central
Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for
removing the difficulty :
Provided that no order shall be made under this section after the expiry of a period of two
years from the commencement of this Act.
(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made,
before each House of Parliament.
Amendments to certain enactments.
30. [Repealed by Repealing & Amending Act, 2001].
Repeal and saving.
31. (1) The Depositories (Third) Ordinance, 1996 (Ord. 28 of 1996), is hereby repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the said
Ordinance shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding
provisions of this Act.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA
(DEPOSITORIES AND PARTICIPANTS) REGULATIONS, 1996
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
Short title & commencement
1. (1) These regulations may be called the Securities and Exchange Board of India
(Depositories and Participants) Regulations, 1996.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
Definitions
2. (1) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, -
(a) "Act" means the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992);
1[(b) (i) "Depositories Act" means the Depositories Act, 1996 (22 of 1996);
(ii) In these regulations, wherever the words "Depositories Ordinance" occur, they shall
be replaced by the words "Depositories Act".]
(d) "Form" means any of the forms specified in the First Schedule;
(e) "inspecting officer" means any person authorised by the Board under regulation 59
(f) "Schedule" means any of the Schedules annexed to these regulations;
4 [Explanation - Any person who acting alone or in combination with others holds not
less than 51 percent of the share capital of the depository as a sponsor and undertakes to
perform the obligation under these regulations shall be deemed to be a sponsor for the
purpose of these Regulations]
(2) Words and expressions used and not defined in these regulations but defined in the
Act or in the Depositories Ordinance shall have the meanings respectively assigned to
them in the Act or the Depositories Ordinance.
(g) "sponsor" means any person or persons who, acting alone or in combination with
another person proposes to establish a depository and undertakes to perform the
obligations of a sponsor under these regulations.
CHAPTER II
REGISTRATION OF DEPOSITORY
Application for grant of certificate of registration
3. (1) An application for the grant of a certificate of registration as a depository shall be
made to the Board by the sponsor in Form A, shall be accompanied by the fee specified
in Part A of the Second Schedule and be paid in the manner specified in Part B thereof.
(2) The application shall be accompanied by draft bye-laws of the depository that is
proposed to be set up.
Application to conform to the requirements
4. An application in Form A, which is not complete in all respects and does not conform,
to the instructions specified therein shall be rejected:
Provided that before rejecting any such application, the sponsor shall be given in writing
an opportunity to remove, within thirty days of the date of communication in this regard,
the objections indicated by the Board.
Provided further that the Board may, on being satisfied that it is necessary to extend the
period specified in the first proviso, extend such period by such further time as it thinks
necessary in order to enable the applicant to remove the objections indicated by the
Board.
Furnishing of information, clarification and personal representation
5. (1) The Board may require the sponsor to furnish such further information or
clarification regarding matters relevant to the activity of the depository for the purpose of
consideration of the application.
(2) The sponsor or his authorised representative shall, if so required, appear before the
Board for personal representation, in connection with the grant of certificate of
registration.
Consideration of application for grant of certificate of registration
6. The Board shall not consider an application under regulation 3, unless the sponsor
belongs to one of the following categories, namely: -
(i) a public financial institution as defined in section 4A of the Companies Act, 1956 (1
of 1956);
(ii) a bank included for the time being in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of
India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934);
(iii) a foreign bank operating in India with the approval of the Reserve Bank of India;
(iv) a recognized stock exchange within the meaning of clause (j) of section 2 of the
Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956);
(v) a body corporate engaged in providing financial services where not less than seventy
five percent of the equity capital is held by any of the institutions mentioned in sub-
clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) jointly or severally;
(vi) a body corporate constituted or recognised under any law for the time being in force
in a foreign country for providing custodial, clearing or settlement services in the
securities market and approved by the Central Government; or
(vii) an institution engaged in providing financial services established outside India and
approved by the Central Government.
5*[(viii) the applicant is a fit and proper person.]
Grant of certificate of registration
7. After considering the application under regulation 3, with reference to the
qualifications specified in regulation 6, if the Board is satisfied that the company
established by the sponsor is eligible to act as depository, it may grant a certificate of
registration in Form B to the depository subject to the following, namely: -
(a) the depository shall pay the registration fee specified in Part A of the Second
Schedule in the manner specified in Part B thereof, within fifteen days of receipt of
intimation from the Board;
(b) the depository shall comply with the provisions of the 6*[Act], the Depositories
Ordinance, the bye-laws, agreements and these regulations;
(c) the depository shall not carry on any activity other than that of a depository unless the
activity is incidental to the activity of the depository;
(d) the sponsor shall, at all times, hold at least fifty one per cent of the equity capital of
the depository and the balance of the equity capital of the depository shall be held by its
participants;
(e) no participant shall at any time, hold more than five per cent of the equity capital of
the depository;
7*[Provided that for the purposes of clause (d) and Clause (e) no foreign entity
individually or collectively either as a sponsor or as a participant or as a sponsor and
participant together shall hold more than 20% of the equity capital of a depository.]
Explanation: For the purpose of this regulation, a foreign entity shall mean a body
corporate or an entity where more than 51% of its equity is held by persons who are not
citizens of India.
(f) if any information previously submitted by the depository or the sponsor to the Board
is found to be false or misleading in any material particular, or if there is any change in
such information, the depository shall forthwith inform the Board in writing;
(g) the depository shall redress the grievances of the participants and the beneficial
owners within thirty days of the date of receipt of any complaint from a participant or a
beneficial owner and keep the Board informed about the number and the nature of
redressals;
(h) the depository shall make an application for commencement of business under
regulation 14 within one year from the date of grant of certificate of registration under
this regulation; and
(i) the depository shall amend its bye-laws from time to time as may be directed by the
Board.
Payment of annual fee
8. A depository who has been granted a certificate of registration under regulation 7, shall
pay annual fee specified in Part A of the Second Schedule in the manner specified in Part
B thereof.
Procedure where certificate of registration is not granted
9. (1) Where an application for the grant of certificate of registration under regulation 3
does not satisfy the requirements specified in regulation 7, the Board shall reject the
application after giving the applicant an opportunity of being heard.
(2) The decision of the Board to reject the application shall be communicated to the
applicant in writing within thirty days of such decision, stating therein the grounds on
which the application has been rejected.
________________________________________
CHAPTER III
CERTIFICATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF BUSINESS
Application for grant of certificate of commencement of business
10. A depository, which has been granted a certificate of registration under regulation 7,
shall within one year from the date of issue of such certificate make an application to the
Board for commencement of business in Form C.
Application to conform to the requirements
11. Any application in Form C, which is not complete in all respects and does not
conform to instructions specified therein shall be rejected:
Provided that before rejecting any such application, the applicant shall be given in writing
an opportunity to remove within thirty days of the date of communication in this regard,
the objections indicated by the Board.
Provided further that the Board may, on being satisfied that it is necessary to extend the
period specified in the first proviso, extend such period by such further time as it thinks
necessary in order to enable the applicant to remove the objections indicated by the
Board.
Furnishing of information, clarification, and personal representation
12. (1) The Board may require the depository to furnish such further information or
clarification regarding matters relevant for the grant of certificate of commencement of
business.
(2) The depository or its authorised representative, if so required, shall appear before the
Board for personal representation in connection with the grant of certificate of
commencement of business.
Consideration of application for grant of certificate of commencement of business
13. (1) The Board shall take into account for considering grant of certificate of
commencement of business, all matters which are relevant to the efficient and orderly
functioning of the depository and in particular, the following, namely, whether:
(a) the depository has a net worth of not less than rupees one hundred crore;
(b) the bye-laws of the depository have been approved by the Board;
(c) the automatic data processing systems of the depository have been protected against
unauthorised access, alteration, destruction, disclosure or dissemination of records and
data;
(d) the network through which continuous electronic means of communications are
established between the depository, participants, issuers and issuers' agents is secure
against unauthorised entry or access;
(e) the depository has established standard transmission and encryption formats for
electronic communications of data between the depository, participants, issuers and
issuers' agents;
(f) the physical or electronic access to the premises, facilities, automatic data processing
systems, data storage sites and facilities including back up sites and facilities and to the
electronic data communication network connecting the depository, participants, issuers
and issuers' agents is controlled, monitored and recorded;
(g) the depository has a detailed operations manual explaining all aspects of its
functioning, including the interface and method of transmission of information between
the depository, issuers, issuers' agents, participants and beneficial owners;
(h) the depository has established adequate procedures and facilities to ensure that its
records are protected against loss or destruction and arrangements have been made for
maintaining back up facilities at a location different from that of the depository;
(i) the depository has made adequate arrangements including insurance for indemnifying
the beneficial owners for any loss that may be caused to such beneficial owners by the
wrongful act, negligence or default of the depository or its participants or of any
employee of the depository or participant; and
(j) the grant of certificate of commencement of business is in the interest of investors in
the securities market.
(2) The Board shall, before granting a certificate of commencement of business under this
Chapter make a physical verification of the infrastructure facilities and systems
established by the depository.
Grant of certificate of commencement of business
14. After considering the application under regulation 13 with reference to the matters
specified in sub-regulation (1) of regulation 13 and making physical verification under
sub- regulation (2) of that regulation, if the Board is satisfied that the depository is
eligible to commence business as a depository, shall grant a certificate of commencement
of business in Form D.
Procedure where certificate of commencement of business is not granted
15. (1) If the Board, after considering the matters specified in sub-regulation (1) of
regulation 13 and making physical verification under sub- regulation (2) of that
regulation, is of the opinion that the depository shall not be granted a certificate of
commencement of business, it may either-
(a) direct the depository to conform to the matters specified in regulation 13; or
(b) reject the application after giving the applicant an opportunity of being heard.
(2) The decision of the Board to reject the application shall be communicated to the
depository in writing within thirty days of such decision, stating therein the grounds on
which the application has been rejected.
CHAPTER IV
REGISTRATION OF PARTICIPANT
Application for grant of certificate of registration
16. (1) An application for the grant of a certificate of registration as a participant shall be
made to the Board in Form E, through each depository in which the applicant proposes to
act as a participant, shall be accompanied by the fee specified in Part A of the Second
Schedule and be paid in the manner specified in Part B thereof.
(2) The depository shall forward to the Board the application in Form E as early as
possible, but not later than thirty days along with its recommendations and certifying that
the participant complies with the eligibility criteria including adequate infrastructure as
provided for in these regulations and the bye- laws of the depository.
Application to conform to the requirements
17. An application in Form E, which is not complete in all respects and does not conform
to the instructions specified therein, shall be rejected:
Provided that before rejecting any such application, the applicant shall be given in writing
an opportunity to remove within thirty days of the date.
Provided further that the Board may, on being satisfied that it is necessary to extend the
period specified in the first proviso, extend such period by such further time as it thinks
necessary in order to enable the applicant to remove the objections indicated by the
Board.
Furnishing information, clarification, and personal representation of communication in
this regard, the objections indicated by the Board
18. (1) The Board may require the applicant, or the depository to which the applicant is to
be admitted as a participant, to furnish such further information or clarification as may be
considered necessary for the grant of a certificate of registration to the applicant.
(2) The applicant or his authorised representative shall, if so required, appear before the
Board for personal representation in connection with the grant of a certificate of
registration.
Consideration of application for grant of certificate of registration
19. For the purpose of grant of certificate of registration, the Board shall take into
account all matters which are relevant to or relating to the efficient and orderly
functioning of a participant and in particular, whether the applicant complies with the
following requirements, namely: -
(a) the applicant belongs to one of the following categories,-
(i) a public financial institution as defined in section 4A of the Companies Act, 1956 (1
of 1956);
(ii) a bank included for the time being in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of
India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934);
(iii) a foreign bank operating in India with the approval of the Reserve Bank of India;
(iv) a state financial corporation established under the provisions of section 3 of the State
Financial Corporations Act, 1951 (63 of 1951);
(v) an institution engaged in providing financial services, promoted by any of the
institutions mentioned in sub clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) jointly or severally;
(vi) a custodian of securities who has been granted a certificate of registration by the
Board under sub- section (1A) of section 12 of the Act;
(vii) a clearing corporation 8*[or a clearing house] of a stock exchange;
(viii) a stock broker who has been granted a certificate of registration by the Board under
sub-section (1) of section 12 of the Act:
9*[Provided that the stock-broker shall have a minimum net worth of rupees 50 lakhs and
the aggregate value of the portfolio of securities of the beneficial owners held in
dematerialised form in a depository through him, shall not exceed 10*[100 times of the
net worth of the stock broker]
Provided further that if the stock broker seeks to act as a participant in more than one
depository, he shall comply with the criteria specified in the first proviso separately for
each such depository; or
11*[Provided further that where the stockbroker has a minimum networth of Rupees Ten
crore, the limits on the aggregate value of the portfolio of securities of the beneficial
owners held in dematerialized form in a depository through him shall not be applicable.]
(ix) a non-banking finance company, having a net worth of not less than rupees fifty
lakhs:
Provided that such company shall act as a participant only on behalf of itself and not on
behalf of any other person;
12 [Provided further that a non-banking finance company may act as a participant on
behalf of any other person, if it has a networth of Rs. 50 crores in addition to the networth
specified by any other authority]
13 [(x) a registrar to an issue or share transfer agent who has a minimum net worth of 14
[rupees ten crores] and who has been granted a certificate of registration by the Board
under sub ? section (1) of Section 12 of the Act.]
15 (b) the applicant is eligible to be admitted as a participant of the depository through
which it has made the application to the Board;
(c) the applicant has adequate infrastructure, systems, safeguards and trained staff to
carry on activity as a participant; and
16(cc) the applicant is a fit and proper person.]
(d) the grant of certificate of registration is in the interests of investors in the securities
market
Grant of certificate of registration
20. (1) After considering the application under regulation 16, with reference to the
matters specified in regulation 19, if the Board is satisfied that the applicant is eligible for
grant of certificate of registration, grant a certificate in Form F.
(2) The grant of certificate of registration in Form F shall be subject to the following
namely:-
(a) the participant shall pay the registration fee specified in Part A of the Second
Schedule in the manner specified in Part B thereof, within fifteen days of the receipt of
intimation from the Board;
(b) the participant shall comply with the provisions of the 17*[Act], Depositories
Ordinance, the bye-laws, agreements and these regulations;
(c) the depository through which an application for certificate of registration has been
forwarded holds a certificate of commencement of business under regulation 14;
(d) if any information previously submitted by the participant to the Board is found to be
false or misleading in any material particular, or if there is any change in such
information, the participant shall forthwith inform the Board in writing;
(e) the participant shall redress the grievances of beneficial owners within thirty days of
the date of the receipt of the complaint and keep the depository informed about the
number and the nature of redressals; and
(f) the participant shall pay annual fees specified in Part A of the Second Schedule in the
manner specified in Part B thereof.
18*[Participants to abide by Code of Conduct
20A. The Participant holding a certificate shall, at all times, abide by the Code of
Conduct as specified in Third Schedule.]
Period of validity of the certificate of registration
21. The certificate of registration issued under regulation 20, or renewed under regulation
22 shall be valid for a period of five years from the date of its issue or renewal, as the
case may be.
Renewal of certificate of registration
22. (1) Three months before the expiry of the period of validity of a certificate of
registration, the participant shall, if it so desires, make an application for renewal in Form
E through the depository in which it is a participant.
(2) The application for renewal under sub-regulation (1) shall accompany the fee
specified for issue of certificate of registration and shall be dealt with in the same manner
as if it were a fresh application for grant of certificate of registration.
Conditions of renewal of certificate of registration
23. The Board may renew a certificate of registration granted to a participant subject to
the conditions of certificate of registration specified in regulation 22.
Procedure where certificate of registration is not granted
24. (1) Where an application for the grant of certificate of registration under regulation 16
or for its renewal under regulation 22 does not satisfy the requirements specified in
regulation 19, the Board shall reject the application after giving the applicant an
opportunity of being heard.
(2) The decision of the Board to reject the application shall be communicated to the
applicant in writing within thirty days of such decision, stating therein the grounds on
which the application has been rejected.
Effect of refusal to renew a certificate of registration
25. Any participant whose application for a certificate of registration as a participant has
been rejected by the Board under regulation 24 shall from the date of expiry of the
certificate of registration sought to be renewed, cease to carry on any activity as a
participant:
Provided that the Board may, in the interest of the investors in the securities market
permit the participant to carry on activities undertaken prior to the receipt of the
intimation of refusal subject to such condition as the Board may specify.
CHAPTER V
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF DEPOSITORIES, PARTICIPANTS, ISSUERS,
MANNER OF SURRENDER OF CERTIFICATE OF SECURITY AND
CREATION OF PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATION
Rights and obligations of depositories, etc
26. The depositories, participants, issuers, and issuers' agents, in addition to the rights and
obligations laid down in the Depositories 19*[Act] and the bye-laws shall have the rights
and obligations arising from the agreements entered into by them.
Depository to declare specific securities eligible arising from the agreements entered into
by them
27. Every depository shall, in its bye-laws, state the specific securities which are eligible
for being held in dematerialised form in the depository.
Securities eligible for dematerialisation
28. The following securities shall be eligible for being held in dematerialised form in a
depository:-
(a) shares, scrips, stocks, bonds, debentures, debenture stock or other marketable
securities of a like nature in or of any incorporated company or other body corporate;
(b) units of mutual funds, rights under collective investment schemes and venture capital
funds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, securitised debt, money market
instruments and 20*[government securities] unlisted securities shall also be similarly
eligible for being held in dematerialised form in a depository.
Agreement between depository and issuer
29. 21(1) Either on the issuer or on the investors exercising an option to hold his
securities with a depository in dematerialised form, the issuer shall enter into an
agreement with a depository to enable the investor to dematerialise the securities."]
22 [Provided that no agreement shall be required to be entered into where depository
itself is an issuer of securities]
23 [Provided further that no agreement shall be required to be entered into where State or
Central Government is the issuer of Government securities]
(2) Where the issuer has appointed a Registrar to the Issue or Share Transfer Agent, who
has been granted certificate of registration by the Board under sub-section (1) of section
12 of the Act, the depository shall enter into a tripartite agreement with the issuer and the
Registrar to the Issue or Share Transfer Agent, as the case may be, in respect of the
securities to be declared by the depository as eligible to be held in dematerialised form.
Systems and procedures
30. Every depository shall have systems and procedures which will enable it to co-
ordinate with the issuer or its agent, and the participants, to reconcile the records of
ownership of securities with the issuer or its agent, as the case may be, and with
participants, on a daily basis.
Connectivity
31. Every depository shall maintain continuous electronic means of communication with
all its participants, issuers or issuers' agents, as the case may be, clearing houses and
clearing corporations of the stock exchanges and with other depositories.
Transfer to be affected only after payment
32. The depository shall satisfy the Board that it has a mechanism in place to ensure that
the interest of the persons buying and selling securities held in the depository are
adequately protected and shall register the transfer of a security in the name of the
transferee only after the depository is satisfied that payment for such transfer has been
made.
Withdrawal by participant
33. Every depository shall allow any participant to withdraw or transfer its account, if the
request for such withdrawal or transfer is in accordance with conditions stipulated
therefor in the bye-laws of the depository.
Internal monitoring, review and evaluation of systems and controls
34. Every depository shall have adequate mechanisms for the purposes of reviewing,
monitoring and evaluating the depository's controls, systems, procedures and safeguards.
External monitoring, review and evaluation of systems and controls
35. Every depository shall cause an inspection of its controls, systems, procedures and
safeguards to be carried out annually and forward a copy of the report to the Board.
Insurance against risks
36. Every depository shall take adequate measures including insurance to protect the
interests of the beneficial owners against risks likely to be incurred on account of its
activities as a depository.
Manner of keeping records
37. Where records are kept electronically by the depository, it shall ensure that the
integrity of the automatic data processing systems is maintained at all times and take all
precautions necessary to ensure that the records are not lost, destroyed or tampered with
and in the event of loss or destruction, ensure that sufficient back up of records is
available at all times at a different place.
Records to be maintained
38. (1) Every depository shall maintain the following records and documents, namely: -
(a) records of securities dematerialised and rematerialised;
(b) the names of the transferor, transferee, and the dates of transfer of securities;
(c) a register and an index of beneficial owners;
24*[(cc) details of the holdings of the securities of the beneficial owners as at the end of
each day.]
(d) records of instructions received from and sent to participants, issuers, issuers' agents
and beneficial owners;
(e) records of approval, notice, entry and cancellation of pledge or hypothecation, as the
case may be;
(f) details of participants;
(g) details of securities declared to be eligible for dematerialisation in the depository; and
(h) such other records as may be specified by the Board for carrying on the activities as a
depository.
(2) Every depository shall intimate the Board the place where the records and documents
are maintained.
(3) Subject to the provisions of any other law, the depository shall preserve records and
documents for a minimum period of five years.
Co-operation with other entities
39. Every depository shall extend all such co-operation to the beneficial owners, issuers,
issuers' agents, custodians of securities, other depositories and clearing organizations as is
necessary for the effective, prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities`
transactions and conduct of business.
Prohibition of Assignment
40. No depository shall assign or delegate to any other person its functions as a
depository, without the prior approval of the Board.
Agreement by participant
41. Every participant shall enter into an agreement with a beneficial owner before acting
as a participant on his behalf, in a manner specified by the depository in its bye-laws.
Separate Accounts
42. (1) Separate accounts shall be opened by every participant in the name of each of the
beneficial owners and the securities of each beneficial owner shall be segregated, and
shall not be mixed up with the securities of other beneficial owners or with the
participant's own securities.
(2) A participant shall register the transfer of securities to or from a beneficial owner's
account only on receipt of instructions from the beneficial owner and thereafter confirm
the same to the beneficial owner in a manner as specified by the depository in its bye-
laws.
(3) Every entry in the beneficial owner's account shall be supported by electronic
instructions or any other mode of instruction received from the beneficial owner in
accordance with the agreement with the beneficial owner.
Statement of accounts
43. Every participant shall provide statements of account to the beneficial owner in such
form and in such manner and at such time as provided in the agreement with the
beneficial owner.
Transfer or withdrawal by beneficial owner
44. Every participant shall allow a beneficial owner to withdraw or transfer from his
account in such manner as specified in the agreement with the beneficial owner.
Connectivity
45. Every participant shall maintain continuous electronic means of communication with
each depository in which it is a participant.
Monitoring, reviewing and evaluating internal systems and controls
46. Every participant shall have adequate mechanism for the purposes of reviewing,
monitoring and evaluating the participant's internal accounting controls and systems.
Reconciliation
47. Every participant shall reconcile his records with every depository in which it is a
participant, on a daily basis.
Returns
48. Every participant shall submit periodic returns to the Board and to every depository in
which it is a participant in the format specified by the Board or the bye-laws of the
depository, as the case may be.
Record of services
49. (1) Every participant shall maintain the following records and documents, namely: -
(a) records of all the transactions entered into with a depository and with a beneficial
owner;
(b) details of securities dematerialised, rematerialised on behalf of beneficial owners with
whom it has entered into an agreement;
(c) records of instructions received from beneficial owners and statements of account
provided to beneficial owners; and
(d) records of approval, notice, entry and cancellation of pledge or hypothecation, as the
case may be.
(2) Every participant shall make available for the inspection of the depository in which it
is a participant all records referred to in sub-regulation (1).
(3) Every participant shall allow persons authorised by the depository in which it is a
participant to enter its premises during normal office hours and inspect its records.
(4) Every participant shall intimate the Board the place where the records and documents
are maintained.
(5) Subject to the provisions of any other law, the participant shall preserve records and
documents for a minimum period of five years.
Manner of keeping records
50. Where records are kept electronically by the participant, it shall ensure that the
integrity of the data processing systems is maintained at all times and take all precautions
necessary to ensure that the records are not lost, destroyed or tampered with and in the
event of loss or destruction, ensure that sufficient back up of records is available at all
times at a different place.
Records to be maintained depository-wise
51. If a participant enters into an agreement with more than one depository, it shall
maintain the records specified in regulation 49 separately in respect of each depository.
Prohibition of assignment systems
52. No participant shall assign or delegate its functions as participant to any other person,
without the prior approval of the depository.
Agreement by issuer
53. Every issuer whose securities have been declared as eligible to be held in
dematerialised form in a depository shall enter into an agreement with the depository in
accordance with the provisions of regulation 29.
25 [Provided that no agreement shall be required to be entered into in case: -
(i) the depository is the issuer of securities; or
(ii) the State or the Central Government is the issuer of Government securities.]
26 [Manner of Handling Share Registry Work
53A All matters relating to transfer of security, maintenance of records, holders of
security, handling of physical security and establishing connectivity with the depositories
shall be handled and maintained at a single point i.e., either in-house by the issuer or a
share transfer agent registered with the Board.]
Redressal for Investor Grievances
53B Every issuer or its agent or any person who is registered as an intermediary under
this Act, shall redress the grievances of beneficial owners within thirty days of the date of
receipt of complaint and keep a depository informed about the number and nature of
grievances redressed by it and the number of grievances pending before it.]
Manner of surrender of certificate of security
54. (1) Any beneficial owner, who has entered into an agreement with a participant, shall
inform the participant of the details of the certificate of security, which is to be
dematerialised, and shall surrender such certificate to the participant:
Provided that where a beneficial owner has appointed a custodian of securities, then he
may surrender the certificates of security to the participant through his custodian of
securities.
(2) The participant shall, on receipt of information under sub- regulation (1), forward
such details of the certificate of security to the depository and shall confirm to the
depository that an agreement has been entered into between the participant and the
beneficial owner.
(3) The participant shall maintain records indicating the names of beneficial owners of
the securities surrendered the number of securities and other details of the certificate of
security received.
27*[(4) The participant shall, within 7 days of the receipt of certificate of security refer to
in sub-regulation (1) furnish to the issuer details specified in regulation 2 along with the
certificate of security.]
28*[(5) Within 15 days of receipt of the certificate of security from the participant shall
confirm to the depository that the security comprised in the said certificate have been
listed on the stock exchange or exchanges where the earlier issued securities are listed
and shall also after due verification immediately mutilate and cancel the certificate of
security and substitute in its record the name of the depository as the registered owner
and shall send a certificate to this effect to the depository and to every stock exchange
where the security is listed.
Provided that in case of unlisted companies the condition of listing in all stock exchanges
where earlier issued shares are listed shall not be applicable.]
(6) Immediately upon receipt of information from the issuer under sub-regulation (5), the
depository shall enter in its records the name of the person who has surrendered the
certificate of security as the beneficial owner, as well as the name of the participant from
whom it has received intimation under sub-regulation (2), and shall send an intimation of
the same to the participant.
(7) The issuer shall maintain a record of certificates of securities, which have been
dematerialised.
Reconciliation
55. The issuer or its agent shall reconcile the records of dematerialised securities with all
the securities issued by the issuer, on a daily basis.
29 [Provided that where the State or the Central Government is the issuer of Government
securities, the depository shall, on a daily basis, reconcile the records of the
dematerialised securities.]
30Audit
55A(1) Every issuer shall submit audit report on a quarterly basis starting from
September 30, 2003 to the concerned stock exchanges audited from a qualified chartered
accountant or a practicing company secretary, for the purposes of reconciliation of the
total issued capital, listed capital and capital held by depositories in dematerialized form ,
the details of changes in share capital during the quarter and the in-principle approval
obtained by the issuer from all stock exchanges where it is listed in respect of such
further issued capital.
(2) The audit report under sub-regulation (1) shall also give the updated status of the
register of members of the issuer and confirm that security have been dematerialized as
per requests within 21 days from the date of receipt of request from the issuer and where
the dematerialization has not been effected within the said stipulated period, the report
shall disclose the reasons for such delay.
(3) The issuer shall immediately bring to the notice of depositories and the stock
exchanges, any difference observed in its issue, listed, and the capital held by
depositories in dematerialized form.]
Connectivity
56. Every issuer or its agent shall establish continuous electronic means of
communication with the depository with which it has entered into an agreement.
Information
57. Every issuer whose securities have been declared as eligible for dematerialisation in a
depository shall give information to the depository about book closures, record dates,
dates for the payment of interest or dividend, dates for annual general meetings and other
meetings, dates for redemption of debentures, dates for conversion of debentures and
warrants, call money dates and such other information at the time and in the manner as
may be specified by the depository in its bye-laws or agreement.
31[Provided that no such information would be required to be given to the depository
where the State or the Central Government is the issuer of Government securities.]
Manner of creating pledge or hypothecation
58. 32(1) If a beneficial owner intends to create a pledge on a security owned by him, he
shall make an application to the depository through the participant who has his account in
respect of such securities.
(2) The participant after satisfaction that the securities are available for pledge shall make
a note in its records of the notice of pledge and forward the application to the depository.
33 (3) The depository after confirmation from the pledgee that the securities are available
for pledge with the pledgor shall within fifteen days of the receipt of the application
create and record the pledge and send an intimation of the same to the participants of the
pledgor and the pledgees.
(4) On receipt of the intimation under sub-regulation (3) the participants of both the
pledgor and the pledgee shall inform the pledgor and the pledgee respectively of the entry
of creation of the pledge.
(5) If the depository does not create the pledge, it shall send along with the reasons
intimation to the participants of the pledgor and the pledgee.
(6) The entry of pledge made under sub-regulation (3) may be cancelled by the
depository if the pledgor or the pledgee makes an application to the depository through its
participant.
Provided that no entry of pledge shall be cancelled by the depository with the prior
concurrence of the pledgee.
(7) The depository on the cancellation of the entry of pledge shall inform the participant
of the pledgor.
(8) Subject to the provisions of the pledge document, the pledgee may invoke the pledge
and on such invocation, the depository shall register the pledgee as beneficial owner of
such securities and amend its records accordingly.
(9) After amending its records under sub-regulation (8) the depository shall immediately
inform the participants of the pledgor and pledgee of the change who in turn shall make
the necessary changes in their records and inform the pledgor and pledgee respectively.
(10) (a) If a beneficial owner intends to create a hypothecation on a security owned by
him he may do so in accordance with the provisions of sub-regulations (1) to (9).
(b) The provisions of sub ? regulations (1) to (9) shall mutatis mutandis apply in such
cases of hypothecation.
Provided that the depository before registering the hypothecatee as a beneficial owner
shall obtain the prior concurrence of the hypothecator.
(11) No transfer of security in respect of which a notice or entry of pledge or
hypothecation is in force shall be effected by a participant without the concurrence of the
pledgee or the hypothecatee as the case may be.]
34*[Investment advice
58A (1) A depository or a participant or any of their employees shall not render, directly
or indirectly, any investment advice about any security in the publicly accessible media
whether real-time or non-real-time, unless a disclosure of his interest including long or
short position in the said security has been made, while rendering such advice.
(2) In case an employee of the depository or the participant is rendering such advice, he
shall also disclose the interest of his dependent family members and the employer
including their long or short position in the said security, while rendering such advice.
Appointment of compliance officer
58B (1) A depository and a participant shall appoint a compliance officer who shall be
responsible for monitoring of the compliance of the Act, rules and regulations,
notifications, guidelines, instructions, etc., issued by the Board or the Central
Government and for redressal of investor's grievances.
(2) The compliance officer shall immediately and independently report to the Board any
non-compliance observed by him]
CHAPTER VI
INSPECTION
Board's right to inspect
59. The Board may appoint one or more persons as inspecting officer to undertake
inspection of the books of accounts, records, documents and infrastructure, systems and
procedures, or to investigate the affairs of a depository, a participant, a beneficial owner,
an issuer or its agent for any of the following purposes, namely:-
(a) to ensure that the books of account are being maintained by the depository,
participant, issuer or its agent in the manner specified in these regulations;
(b) to look into the complaints received from the depositories, participants, issuers,
issuers' agents, beneficial owners or any other person;
(c) to ascertain whether the provisions of the Act, the Depositories 35*[Act], the bye-
laws, agreements and these regulations are being complied with by the depository,
participant, beneficial owner, issuer or its agent;
(d) to ascertain whether the systems, procedures and safeguards being followed by a
depository, participant, beneficial owner, issuer or its agent are adequate;
(e) to suo motu ensure that the affairs of a depository, participant, beneficial owner,
issuer or its agent, are being conducted in a manner which are in the interest of the
investors or the securities market.
Notice before inspection and investigation
60. (1) Before ordering an inspection or investigation under regulation 59, the Board shall
give not less than 10 days notice to the depository, participant, beneficial owner, issuer or
its agent, as the case may be.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-regulation (1), where the Board is
satisfied that in the interest of the investors no such notice should be given, it may, by an
order in writing direct that such inspection be taken up without such notice.
(3) During the course of an inspection or investigation, the depository, a participant, a
beneficial owner, an issuer or its agent against whom the inspection or investigation is
being carried out shall be bound to discharge his obligation as provided in regulation 61.
Obligations on inspection by the Board
61. (1) It shall be the duty of the depository, a participant, a beneficial owner, an issuer or
its agent whose affairs are being inspected or investigated, and of every director, officer
and employee thereof, to produce to the inspecting officer such books, securities,
accounts, records and other documents in its custody or control and furnish him with such
statements and information relating to his activities as a depository, a participant, a
beneficial owner, an issuer or its agent, as the inspecting officer may require, within such
reasonable period as the inspecting officer may specify.
(2) The depository, a participant, a beneficial owner, an issuer or its agent shall allow the
inspecting officer to have reasonable access to the premises occupied by him or by any
other person on his behalf and also extend reasonable facility for examining any books,
records, documents and computer data in the possession of the depository, a participant, a
beneficial owner, an issuer or its agent or such other person and also provide copies of
documents or other materials which, in the opinion of the inspecting officer are relevant
for the purposes of the inspection.
(3) The inspecting officer, in the course of inspection of investigation, shall be entitled to
examine or to record the statements of any director, officer or employee of the
depository, a participant, a beneficial owner, an issuer or its agent.
(4) It shall be the duty of every director, officer or employee of the depository, a
participant, a beneficial owner, an issuer or its agent to give to the inspecting officer all
assistance in connection with the inspection, which the inspecting officer may reasonably
require.
Submission of Report to the Board
62. The inspecting officer shall, as soon as possible, on completion of the inspection or
investigation as the case may be, submit a report to the Board:
Provided that if directed to do so by the Board, he may submit interim reports.
36*[Action on inspection or investigation report
63. The Board or the Chairman shall after consideration of inspection or investigation
report take such action as the Board or Chairman may deem fit and appropriate including
action under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Procedure for Holding Enquiry
by Enquiry Officer and Imposing Penalty) Regulations, 2002]
37*[Application of Chapter
63A Nothing contained in this Chapter shall be applicable to the State or the Central
Government where it is the issuer of the Government securities]
38*[Appointment of Auditor
63A? The Board shall have the power to appoint an auditor to inspect or investigate, into
the books of accounts, records, documents, infrastructures, systems and procedures or
affairs of a depository, a participant, a beneficial owner, an issuer or its agent.
Provided that the auditor so appointed shall have the same powers of the inspecting or
investigating officer as stated in regulations 59 and 60, and the obligation of the
depository, participant, beneficial owner, issuer or its agent and their respective directors,
officers and employees, as the case may be, as stated in Regulation 61, shall be applicable
to the inspection or investigation under this Regulation.
Board to recover the expenses
63B The Board shall be entitled to recover from the depository, a participant, a beneficial
owner, an issuer or its agent as the case may be, such expenses including fees paid to the
auditors as may be incurred by it for the purposes of inspecting or investigating the books
of accounts, records, documents, infrastructures, systems and procedures of the
depository, a participant, a beneficial owner, a issuer or its agent, as the case may be.]
Foot notes
35. Substituted for "Ordinance" by Securities and Exchange Board of India (Depository
and Participants) (Amendment) Regulations, 1997 published in the official Gazette of
India dated 07.02.1997.
36. Following regulation 63 was substituted by Securities and Exchange Board of India
(Procedure for Holding Enquiry by Enquiry Officer and Imposing Penalty) Regulations,
2002.
"Communication of findings etc.
63. (1) The Board shall, after consideration of the inspection report or the investigation
report referred to in regulation 62, communicate the findings of the inspecting officer to
the depository, participant, issuer or its agent, as the case may be, and give him an
opportunity of being heard.
(2) On receipt of the reply if any, from the depository, participant, issuer or its agent, as
the case may be, the Board may call upon him to take such measures as the Board may
deem fit in the interest of the securities market and for due compliance with the
provisions of the Act, the Depositories a*[Act], regulations, the bye- laws and
agreements.
a. Substituted for "Ordinance" by Securities and Exchange Board of India (Depository
and Participants) (Amendment) Regulations, 1997 published in the official Gazette of
India dated 07.02.1997.
37. Regulation 63A inserted by Securities and Exchange Board of India (Depository and
Participants) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 1998 published in the official Gazette of
India dated 21.01.1998.
38. Regulations 63A and 63B were inserted by Securities and Exchange Board of India
(Depository and Participants) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 1999 published in the
official Gazette of India dated 07.07.1999
CHAPTER VII
PROCEDURE FOR ACTION IN CASE OF DEFAULT
39 [Liability for action in case of default
64. A depository or a participant who-
a.
contravenes any of the provisions of the Act, the Depositories Act, the bye-laws,
agreements and these regulations;
b.
fails to furnish any information relating to its activity as a depository or
participant as required under these regulations;
c.
does not furnish the information called for by the Board under clause (a) of sub-
section (1) of section 18 of the Depositories Act or furnishes information which is false
or misleading in any material particular;
d.
does not co-operate in any inspection or investigation or enquiry conducted by the
Board;
e.
fails to comply with any direction of the Board issued under section 18 of the
Depositories Act;
f.
fails to pay the annual fee referred to in regulation 8,
shall be dealt with in the manner provided under the Securities and Exchange Board of
India (Procedure for Holding Enquiry by Enquiry Officer and Imposing Penalty)
Regulations, 2002.]
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA
(CUSTODIAN OF SECURITIES) REGULATIONS, 1996
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
Short title and commencement
1. (1) these regulations may be called the Securities and Exchange Board of India
(Custodian of Securities) Regulations, 1996.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
Definitions
2. In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires:-
(a) "Act" means the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of
1992);
(b) "Certificate" means a certificate of registration granted by the Board under
these regulations;
(c) "Client" means any person who has entered into an agreement with a
custodian of securities to avail of custodial services provided by the custodian of
securities;
(d) "Custodian of securities" means any person who carries on or proposes to
carry on the business of providing custodial services;
(e) "Custodial services" in relation to securities means safekeeping of securities of
a client and providing services incidental thereto, and includes-
(i) Maintaining accounts of securities of a client;
(ii) Collecting the benefits or rights accruing to the client in respect of securities;
(iii)
keeping the client informed of the actions taken or to be taken by the
issuer of securities, having a bearing on the benefits or rights accruing to the
client; and
(iv)
maintaining and reconciling records of the services referred to in sub-
Clauses (i) to (iii).
(f) "Custody account" means an account of a client maintained by a
custodian of securities in respect of securities;
(g) "enquiry officer" means an enquiry officer appointed by the Board, under
regulation 29;
(h) "Form" means any of the forms set out in the First Schedule;
(i) "inspecting officer" means an inspecting officer appointed by the Board under
regulation 21;
CHAPTER II
REGISTRATION OF CUSTODIANS OF SECURITIES
Application for grant of certificate
3. (1) Any person proposing to carry on business as custodian of securities on or after the
commencement of these regulations shall make an application to the Board for grant of a
certificate.
(2) Any person who is carrying on business as a custodian of securities on the date of
commencement of these regulations shall make an application to the Board for grant of
certificate within a period of three months from the date of such commencement.
Provided that the Board may, in special cases, where it is of the opinion that it is
necessary to do so for reasons to be recorded in writing, may extend the period up to a
maximum of six months from the date of such commencement.
(3) An application for grant of a certificate under sub- regulation (1) or sub-regulation (2)
shall be made in Form A and shall be accompanied by an application fee as specified in
Part A of the Second Schedule and be paid in the manner specified in Part B thereof.
(4) Any person referred to in sub-regulation (2) who fails to make an application for grant
of certificate within the period or the extended period specified therein, shall cease to
carry on any activity as custodian of securities and shall be subject to the directions of the
Board with regard to the transfer of records, documents or securities relating to his
activities as custodian of securities.
Application to conform to requirements
4. An application under regulation 3 which is not complete in all respects or which does
not conform to the instructions specified therein shall be rejected;
Provided that, before rejecting any such application, the Board shall give the applicant an
opportunity to remove the objection, within such time as may be specified by the Board.
Furnishing of information, clarification, and personal representation
5. (1) The Board may require the applicant to furnish such further information or
clarification regarding matters relevant to the activities of a custodian of securities for the
purpose of consideration of the application.
(2) The applicant or his authorized representative shall, if so required, appear before the
Board for personal representation, in connection with the grant of certificate.
Consideration of application for grant of certificate
6. (1) For the purpose of the grant of a certificate, the Board shall take into account all
matters which are relevant to the activities of a custodian of securities and, in particular,
whether:-
(a) the applicant fulfils the capital requirement in accordance with regulation 7;
(b) the applicant has the necessary infrastructure, including adequate office space,
vaults for safe custody of securities and computer systems capability, required to
effectively discharge his
Activities as custodian of securities;
(c) The applicant has in his employment adequate and competent persons who have the
experience, capacity and ability of managing the business of the custodian of securities;
(d) the applicant has prepared a complete manual, setting out the systems and procedures
to be followed by him for the effective and efficient discharge of his functions and the
arms length relationships to be maintained with the other businesses, if any, of the
applicant;
(e) The applicant is a person who has been refused a certificate by the Board or whose
certificate has been cancelled by the Board;
(f) the applicant, his director, his principal officer or any of his employees is involved in
any litigation connected with the securities market;
(f) the applicant, his director, his principal officer or any of his employees has at
any time been convicted of any offence involving moral turpitude or of any
economic offence; and
(g) the applicant is a fit and proper person] and
(h) the grant of certificate is in the interest of investors.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-regulation (1) the Board shall not consider
an application made under regulation 3 unless the applicant is a body corporate.
Capital requirement
7. (1) The capital requirement referred to in clause (a) of sub- regulation (1) of regulation
6 shall be a net worth of a minimum of rupees fifty crores.
Explanation: For the purposes of this regulation, the expression "net worth" means the
paid up capital and the free reserves as on the date of the application.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-regulation (1), any custodian of securities
which;
(a) has been approved by the Board under the provisions of Securities and
Exchange Board of India (Mutual Fund) Regulations, 1993, or the Securities and
Exchange Board of India (Foreign Institutional Investors) Regulations, 1995, or
the Government of India Guidelines for Foreign Institutional Investors dated
September 14, 1992, even if it does not have the net worth specified in sub-
regulation (1) may continue to function as a custodian of securities and shall
within a period of one year from the date of commencement of these regulations
raise its net worth to that specified in sub- regulation (1);
[Provided that the period specified above may be extended by the Board upto a
maximum of 5 years;]
(c) has made an application under regulation 3 shall be permitted to fulfil his capital
adequacy requirements within one month of the receipt of certificate under
regulation 8.
Procedure and grant of certificate
8. (1) After considering the application under regulation 3, with reference to the matters
specified in regulation 6, if the Board on being satisfied that all particulars sought have
been furnished and the applicant is eligible for the grant of a certificate, shall send an
intimation of the same to the applicant.
(2) On receipt of an intimation from the Board under sub- regulation (1), the applicant
shall pay to the Board a registration fee specified in Part A of Second Schedule in the
manner specified in Part B thereof.
(3) The Board shall thereafter grant a certificate in Form B to the applicant on receipt of
the registration fee.
Conditions of certificate
9. The certificate granted to the custodian of securities shall be subject to the following
conditions, namely:-
(a) it shall not commence any activities as custodian of securities unless it fulfils the
capital requirement specified in regulation 7;
(b) it shall abide by the provisions of the Act and these regulations in the discharge of its
functions as custodian of securities;
(c) it shall enter into a valid agreement with its client for the purpose of providing
custodial services;
(d) it shall pay annual fees as specified in Part A of the Second Schedule in the manner
specified in Part B thereof;
(e) if any information previously submitted by it to the Board is found by it to be false or
misleading in any material particular, or if there is any change in such information, it
shall forthwith inform the Board in writing; and
(f) besides providing custodial services, it shall not carry on any activity other than
activities relating to rendering of financial services.
Procedure where certificate is not granted
10. (1) After considering an application for grant of certificate made under regulation 3, if
the Board is satisfied that a certificate should not be granted, the Board may reject the
application after giving the applicant a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(2) The decision of the Board to reject the application shall be communicated within
thirty days of such decision to the applicant in writing, stating therein the grounds on
which the application has been rejected.
(3) An applicant, who is aggrieved by the decision of the Board under sub-regulation (1)
may, within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of communication under sub-
regulation (2), apply to the Board for re-consideration (4) The Board shall, as soon as
possible, in the light of the submissions made in the application for re-consideration made
under sub-regulation (3) and wherever necessary, after giving the applicant a reasonable
opportunity of being heard, convey its decision in writing to the applicant. of its decision.
Effect of refusal to grant certificate
11. Any custodian of securities whose application for grant of certificate has been
rejected by the Board shall, on and from the date of the receipt of the communication
under sub- regulation (2) of regulation 10, cease to carry on any activity as custodian of
securities and shall be subject to the directions of the Board with regard to the transfer of
records, documents or securities that may be in its custody or control relating to its
activity as custodian of securities.
CHAPTER III
GENERAL OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CUSTODIANS
Code of conduct
12. Every custodian of securities shall abide by the Code of Conduct as set out in the
Third Schedule.
Segregation of activities
13. Where a custodian of securities is carrying on any activity besides that of acting as
custodian of securities, then,-
(i) the activities relating to his business as custodian of securities shall be separate
and segregated from all other activities;
(ii) its officers and employees engaged in providing custodial services shall not be
engaged in any other activity carried on by him.
Monitoring, review evaluating and inspecting systems and controls
14. (1) Every custodian of securities shall have adequate mechanisms for the purposes of
reviewing, monitoring and evaluating the custodian's controls, systems, procedures and
safeguards.
(2) The custodian of securities shall cause to be inspected annually the mechanism
referred to in sub-regulation (1) by an expert and forward the inspection report to the
Board within three months from the date of inspection.
Prohibition of assignment
15. No custodian of securities shall assign or delegate its functions as a custodian of
securities to any other person unless such person is a custodian of securities.
Separate custody account
16. Every custodian of securities shall open a separate custody account for each client, in
the name of the client whose securities are in its custody and the assets of one client shall
not be mixed with those of another client.
Agreement with the client
17. Every custodian of securities shall enter into an agreement with each client on whose
behalf it is acting as custodian of securities and every such agreement shall provide for
the following matters, namely:-
(a) The circumstances under which the custodian of securities will accept or release
securities from the custody account;
(b) The circumstances under which the custodian of securities will accept or release
monies from the custody account.
(c) The circumstances under which the custodian of securities will receive rights or
entitlements on the securities of the client;
(d) The circumstances and the manner of registration of securities in respect of each
client;
(e) Details of the insurance, if any, to be provided for by the custodian of securities.
Internal Controls
18. (1) Every custodian of securities shall have adequate internal controls to prevent any
manipulation of records and documents, including audits for securities and rights or
entitlements arising from the securities held by it on behalf of its client.
(2) Every custodian of securities shall have appropriate safekeeping measures to ensure
that such securities are protected from theft and natural hazard.
Maintenance of records and documents and furnishing of information
19. (1) without prejudice to the provisions of any other law for the time being in force,
every custodian of securities shall maintain the following records and documents,
namely:-
(a) Records containing details of securities received and released on behalf of each client;
(b) records containing details of monies received and released on behalf of each client;
(c) Records containing details of rights or entitlements of each client arising from the
securities held on behalf of the client;
(d) Records containing details of registration of securities in respect of each client ;(e)
Ledger for each client;
(f) Records containing details of instructions received from and sent to clients; and
records of all reports submitted to the Board.
(2) Every custodian of securities shall intimate to the Board the place where the records
and documents under sub- regulation (1) are maintained.
(3) Every custodian of securities shall preserve the records and documents maintained
under sub-regulation (1) for a minimum period of five years.
Appointment of Compliance Officer
19A. (1) Every custodian of securities shall appoint a compliance officer who shall be
responsible for monitoring the compliance of the Act, rules and regulations, notifications,
guidelines , instructions etc issued by the Board or the Central Government and for
redressed of investors` grievances.
(2) The compliance officer shall immediately and independently report to the Board any
non-compliance observed by him.]
Information to the Board
20. (1) The Board may, at any time, call for any information from a custodian of
securities with respect to any matter relating to its activity as custodian of securities.
(2) Where any information is called for by the Board under sub-regulation (1), it shall be
the duty of the custodian of securities to furnish such information, within such reasonable
period as the Board may specify.
CHAPTER IV
INSPECTION AND AUDIT
Board's right to inspect
21. (1) The Board may appoint one or more persons as inspecting officer to undertake
inspection of the books of accounts, records and documents of the custodian of securities
for any of the following purposes, namely:-
(a) to ensure that the books of account, records and documents are being maintained by
the custodian of securities in the manner specified in these regulations;
(b) to investigate into complaints received from investors, clients or any other person, on
any matter having a bearing on the activities of the custodian of securities;
(c) to ascertain whether the provisions of the Act and these regulations are being
complied with by the custodian of securities; and
(d) to investigate suo motu into the affairs of the custodian of securities, in the interest of
the securities market or in the interest of investors.
Notice before inspection
22. (1) Before ordering an inspection under regulation 21, the Board shall give not less
than ten days notice to the custodian of securities.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-regulation (1), where the Board is
satisfied that in the interest of the investors no such notice should be given, it may by an
order in writing direct that the inspection of the affairs of the custodian of securities be
taken up without such notice.
(3) During the course of an inspection, the custodian of securities against whom the
inspection is being carried out shall be bound to discharge his obligations as provided in
regulation 23.
Obligations of custodian on inspection by the Board
23. (1) It shall be the duty of the custodian of securities whose affairs are being inspected,
and of every director, officer and employee thereof, to produce to the inspecting officer
such books, securities, accounts, records and other documents in its custody or control
and furnish him with such statements and information relating to his activities of the
custodian of securities, as the inspecting officer may require, within such reasonable
period as the inspecting officer may specify.
(2) The custodian of securities shall allow the inspecting officer to have reasonable
access to the premises occupied by such custodian or by any other person on his behalf
and also extend reasonable facility for examining any books, records, documents and
computer data in the
possession of the custodian of securities or such other person and also provide copies of
documents or other materials which, in the opinion of the inspecting officer are relevant
for the purposes of the inspection.
(3) The inspecting officer, in the course of inspection, shall be entitled to examine or to
record the statements of any director, officer or employee of the custodian of securities.
(4) It shall be the duty of every director, officer or employee of the custodian of securities
to give to the inspecting officer all assistance in connection with the inspection, which the
inspecting officer may reasonably require.
Submission of Report to the Board
24. The inspecting officer shall, as soon as possible, on completion of the inspection
submit an inspection report to the Board:
Provided that if directed to do so by the Board, he may submit an interim report.
Communication of findings etc. to the custodian of securities
25. (1) The Board shall, after consideration of the inspection report or the interim report
referred to in regulation 24, communicate the findings of the inspection officer to the
custodian of securities and give him an opportunity of being heard.
(2) On receipt of the reply if any, from the custodian of securities, the Board may call
upon the custodian of securities to take such measures as the Board may deem fit in the
interest of the securities market and for due compliance with the provisions of the Act,
the rules framed there under and these regulations.
Appointment of Auditor
25A. The Board shall have the power to appoint an auditor to inspect or investigate, as
the case may be, into the books of accounts, records, documents or affairs of the applicant
or the custodian as the case may be;
Provided that the auditors so appointed shall have the same powers as vested in the
investing officer under regulation 21 and the applicant or custodian and its directors,
officers and employees shall be under the same obligations, towards the auditor so
appointed, as are mentioned in regulation 23.
Board to recover the expenses
25B. The Board shall be entitled to recover from the custodian or the applicant as the
case may be, such expenses including fees paid to the auditors a s may be incurred by it
for the purposes of inspecting the books of accounts, records and documents of the
applicant or the custodian as the case may be.
CHAPTER V
PROCEDURE FOR ACTION IN CASE OF DEFAULT
Suspension of certificate
26. The Board may suspend the certificate granted to a custodian of securities where the
custodian of securities:
(a) contravenes any of the provisions of the Act, the rules framed there under or these
regulations;
(b) fails to furnish any information relating to his activity as custodian of securities as
required by the Board;
(c) furnishes to the Board information which is false and misleading in any material
particular;
(d) does not submit periodic returns or reports as required by the Board;
(e) does not co-operate in any enquiry or inspection conducted by the Board;
(f) fails to update its systems and procedures as recommended by the Board;
(g) fails to resolve the complaints of clients or fails to give a satisfactory reply to the
Board in this behalf;
(h) is guilty of misconduct or makes a breach of the Code of Conduct specified in the
Third Schedule;
(i) fails to pay annual fees.
Cancellation of certificate
27. The Board may cancel the certificate granted to a custodian of securities:-
(a) when it is guilty of fraud or has been convicted of an offence involving moral
turpitude; or
(b) it has been guilty of repeated defaults of the nature specified in regulation 26
Explanation: In this regulation, "fraud" has the same meaning as is assigned to it in
section 17 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872. (9 of 1872)
Manner of making order of cancellation or suspension
28. No order of suspension or cancellation of certificate shall be made by the Board
against a custodian of securities, except after holding an enquiry in accordance with the
procedure specified in regulation 29
Manner of holding enquiry before suspension or cancellation
29. (1) For the purpose of holding an enquiry under regulation 28, the Board may appoint
one or more enquiry officer.
(2) The enquiry officer shall issue to the custodian of securities, at its registered office or
its principal place of business, a notice setting out the grounds on which action is
proposed to be taken against it and calling upon it to show cause against such action
within a period of fourteen days from the date of receipt of the notice.
(3) The custodian of securities may, within fourteen days from the date of receipt of such
notice, furnish to the enquiry officer a written reply, together with copies of documentary
or other evidence relied on by it or sought by the Board from the custodian of securities.
(4) The enquiry officer shall give a reasonable opportunity of hearing to the custodian of
securities to enable him to make submissions in support of its reply made under sub-
regulation (3).
(5) Before the enquiry officer, the custodian of securities may either appear in person or
through any person duly authorized by the custodian of securities;
Provided that no lawyer or advocate shall be permitted to represent the custodian of
securities at the enquiry;
Provided further that where a lawyer or an advocate has been appointed by the Board as a
presenting officer under sub- regulation (6), it shall be lawful for the custodian of
securities to present its case through a lawyer or advocate.
(6) The enquiry officer may, if he considers it necessary, ask the Board to appoint a
presenting officer to present its case.
(7) The enquiry officer shall, after taking into account all relevant facts and submissions
made by the custodian of securities, submit a report to the Board and recommend the
penal action, if any, to be taken against the custodian of securities as also the grounds on
which the proposed action is justified.
Show-cause notice and order
30. (1) On receipt of the report from the enquiry officer, the Board shall consider the
same and issue to the custodian of securities a show-cause notice as to why the penal
action as proposed by the enquiry officer should not be taken against it.
(2) The custodian of securities shall, within fourteen days of the date of the receipt of the
show-cause notice, send a reply to the Board.
(3) The Board, after considering the reply of the custodian of securities to the show-cause
notice, if received within a period of fourteen days shall, as soon as possible but not later
than thirty days from the receipt of the reply or the date of hearing, if any, which ever is
later, pass such order as it deems fit, including an order for the suspension or cancellation
of the certificate.
(4) Every order made under sub-regulation (3) shall be self-contained and shall give
reasons for the conclusions stated therein, including the justification for the penalty if
any, imposed by that order.
Effect of suspension and cancellation of certificate
31. (1) On and from the date of the suspension of the certificate, the custodian of
securities shall cease to carry on any activity as a custodian of securities during the period
of suspension, and shall be subject to the directions of the Board with regard to any
records, documents or securities that may be in its custody or control, relating to its
activities as custodian of securities.
(2) On and from the date of cancellation of the certificate, the custodian of securities
shall, with immediate effect, cease to carry on any activity as a custodian of securities,
and shall be subject to the directions of the Board with regard to the transfer of any
records, documents or securities
that may be in its custody or control, relating to its activities as custodian of securities.
Publication of order of suspension or cancellation
32. The order of suspension or cancellation of certificate passed under sub-regulation 3 of
Regulation 30 shall be published by the Board in at least two daily newspapers.
National Securities Depository Limited
Although India had a vibrant capital market which is more than a century old, the paper-
based settlement of trades caused substantial problems like bad delivery and delayed
transfer of title till recently. The enactment of Depositories Act in August 1996 paved the
way for establishment of NSDL, the first depository in India. This depository promoted
by institutions of national stature responsible for economic development of the country
has since established a national infrastructure of international standards that handles most
of the securities held and settled in dematerialised form in the Indian capital market
Using innovative and flexible technology systems, NSDL works to support the investors
and brokers in the capital market of the country. NSDL aims at ensuring the safety and
soundness of Indian marketplaces by developing settlement solutions that increase
efficiency, minimise risk and reduce costs. At NSDL, we play a quiet but central role in
developing products and services that will continue to nurture the growing needs of the
financial services industry
In the depository system, securities are held in depository accounts, which is more or less
similar to holding funds in bank accounts. Transfer of ownership of securities is done
through simple account transfers. This method does away with all the risks and hassles
normally associated with paperwork. Consequently, the cost of transacting in a
depository environment is considerably lower as compared to transacting in certificates.
Depository Participant:
NSDL depository reaches its services to investors through market intermediaries called
Depository Participants (DP), who as per SEBI regulations could be organisations
involved in the business of providing financial services like banks, brokers, custodians,
financial institutions, etc. This system of using the existing distribution channel helps
NSDL to reach to a wide cross section of investors spread across a large geographical
area
The admission of the DPs involves a detailed evaluation by NSDL and a further
evaluation and approval by SEBI.
Realising the potential in this market, all the custodians in India and a number of banks,
financial institution and major brokers have already joined NSDL as DPs and they are
providing services in a number of cities. Many more organisations are in various stages
of establishing connectivity with NSDL.
SUGGESTED QUESTIONS
1. What is depository? Explain the role and need of depository?
2. Explain briefly the rights & obligations of depositories as per Depositories Act
1996
3. Explain the procedure of Registration of transfer of securities with depository
under Depositories Act 1996
4. Explain briefly the Powers of Board to give Directions in certain cases under
Depositories Act 1996
5. Explain the procedure for application of grant of certificate of registration under
SEBI (Depositories Participation and Regulation) Act 1996
6. Explain the procedure of inspection under SEBI (Depositories Participation and
Regulation) Act1996
7. Explain the procedure of Registration of custodian of services inspection under
SEBI (Custodian of Securities and Regulation) Act1996
8. Briefly explain the procedure of inspection and audit under SEBI (Custodian of
Securities and Regulation) Act1996
9. Briefly explain the procedure for action in case of default under SEBI (Custodian
of Securities and Regulation) Act1996
10. Explain general obligations and responsibilities of custodian under SEBI
(Custodian of Securities and Regulation) Act1996
UNIT - V
FUNDS FROM INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
Economic development of the any country depends on the existence of a well
established and efficient functioning of financial market. A tremendous reconstituting of
the Indian economic system consisting of industrial deregulation, liberalisation of
policies relating to foreign direct investment, public enterprises reforms, trade
liberalisation and financial sector reforms have been initiated in 1992 ? 93. Under the
financial sectors reforms in the area of commercial banking, capital markets and non
banking finance companies have also been undertaken. After the implementation of
liberalisation policies to the Indian Economy and emphasis on market forces involving
the raising of large proportion of resources required for investment in public and private
sectors from the capital market. In this regard the global financial markets contribute
various way to the growth of Indian economy.
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MARKETS
International financial markets otherwise known as global financial markets.
Financial markets that operate outside the domain, regulations, and legislative framework
of a country are collectively known as global financial markets. However it is quite
possible that global capital transactions may take place in domestic capital markets also.
CONSTITUENTS OF GLOBAL FINANCIAL MARKETS
The operations of the global financial market are not subject to any specific rules
and regulations of a particular country. Eurobond is the bond used in the global financial
market, the issue of Eurobond being managed by a syndicate of international banks and
placed with investors and lenders all over the world. Various constituents of global
financial markets are as follows.
i.
Euro currency market
ii.
International bonds market
iii.
Export credit facilities
iv.
Institutional finance
EURO CURRENCY MARKET
It is popular in Europe especially in London, following II world war the market
that is dominated by Euro dollar deposit in the form of bank deposits and loans are
known as Euro currency market. The basis of Euro currency market is the banks in
Europe accepting dollar denominated deposits and making dollar denominated loans to
customers.
EXPORT CREDIT FACILITIES
Credit facilities for the international business are constituted as an institutional
framework called EXIM banks by several countries. The EXIM Bank contributing vital
role in the extension of export credit facilities. In this aspect the EXIM bank of is playing
significant role in financing exports and other off shore deals.
INTERNATIONAL BONDS MARKET
International bonds market are otherwise known as Euro bond market. With help
of the Euro bond market long term funds are raised by using different type of
instruments.
INSTITUTIONAL FINANCE
There are number of international financial institutions which provide finance in
foreign currency. It include the international monetary fund (IMF) World Bank and its
allied agencies such as the International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank
etc.
INSTRUMENTS USED IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS FOR
RAISING FUNDS
i. US Dollar
It is the most dominant and the most accepted international currency. A large part
of the global trade and financial transactions are settled in US dollar. The US dollar has
been the predominant currency of the international bond market.
ii. Euro
The birth of Euro as the currency of European union marked an important
development in the annals of global financial system.
iii. Pound sterling
Pound sterling although remained a strong currency in the colonial past way over
take by U.S. Dollar deutsche marks, Japanese yen, and Swiss Francs. The reserve bank
of England controls and regulates international bonds issue transaction.
iv. Deutsche mark
Another important currency in the international bond market is the deutsche mark.
This allows the international borrowers to openly use their proceeds fro direct investment
in Germany currency occupies around 20% of all international bonds.
v. Swiss Francs
Another important currency that commands as big a share in global capital market
as deutsche mark is the Swiss francs. Swiss Banks are also very active in the Euro
currency market and through their foreign branches in Euro credit markets.
vi. Yen
Japanese currency yen is fast becoming a favorite choice of those who are
actively involved the Japanese bond market. It is the world`s second largest traded
currency after the us dollar.
vii. Dutch Guider
Dutch guider was a important currency in international market till 1980. It was
the fourth strong currency after us dollar, deutsche mark and Swiss francs.
viii. Canadian Dollar
Canadian dollar appeared in the world`s financial market in 1975. The issued of
Canadian dollar Euro bonds became attractive for international borrowers. The main
reason for its popularity were cheaper cost of funds and easy convertibility in other
currency.
ix. Other Currencies
The following are the some of the currencies that are used in global financial
markets, i e French Frances, Middle Eastern Currencies.
FII INVESTMENTS
Investments from FII to in our country is routed through the capital market,
primary and secondary market securities including Government securities. In this regard
the Government of India issued guidelines on 14.9.1992 has allowed reputed foreign
institutional investors. It includes pension funds, mutual funds, asset management
companies, investment trusts, nominee companies, and incorporated or institutional
portfolio managers or their power of attorney holders are eligible to invest in Indian
capital market subject to the condition that they register with the securities and Exchange
Board of India and obtain RBI approval under Foreign Exchange regulation act. They
can invest in all securities traded on the primary and secondary market including the
equity and other securities and instruments of companies that are listed to be listed on the
stock exchange in India. At the end of March 1997, 439 FIIs were registered with SEBI.
Their total investment in securities market at the end of December 1996 was $ 7.235
billion. FIIs can make purchases and sales only for delivery. A FII cannot engage in
short sales. FIIs investing under the scheme enjoy a conversional tax rate of 20% on
dividend and interest and 10% on long term capital gains held for more than one year.
FII : MEANING
A foreign institutional investor means an institution established or incorporated
outside India that proposes to make investments in India in securities. A domestic asset
management company or domestic portfolio manager who manages funds raised or
collected or brought from outside India for investment in India on behalf of a sub account
are deemed to be a FII. The following are the SEBI regulations governing FII
investment in India are
a.
Registration of FIIs including sub accounts
b.
Investment conditions and restrictions.
c.
General obligations and responsibilities
d.
Action / penalty in case of default
e.
Preferential allotment by listed companies to FIIs.
REGISTRATION OF FIIs
In order to buying, selling and dealing of securities FIIs must be registered with
the SEBI. While granting a certificate of registration it consider the following matters.
i.
Applicants financial performance, professional capacity, financial
strength, general reputation of fairness and integrity.
ii.
Regulation of the applicant by an appropriate foreign regulatory authority.
iii.
Obtain permission under FEMA by the RBI for making investments in
India as a FII.
iv.
The applicant should be established or incorporated outside India as a
pension fund, mutual fund investment trust or asset management
company, nominee company, institutional portfolio manager or trustee,
power of attorney holder and proposing to make investments in India or
university fund endowments, foundations charitable trusts, societies. The
applicant should have been in existence for at least five years. In this way
only it is legally permitted to invest in securities outside the country of its
incorporation.
v.
Issuing certificate of registration is in the interests of the development of
the securities market and
vi.
To examine the applicant is a fit and proper person.
An FII has to apply for renewal three months before the expiry of certificate of
registration. The renewal of the certificate of registration to an FII is subject to the
following conditions. Such as
i.
Before making any investment in India, framing agreement for providing
custodial services in respect of securities through appointed of a domestic
custodian.
ii.
Before making any investment in India with a designated bank for the
purpose of operating a special non ? resident rupee, foreign currency
account through an agreement.
a. REGISTRATION OF SUB - ACCOUNTS
The registration of sub account SEBI take into account the following details.
i.
The applicant is an institution, portfolio established or incorporated
outside India and proposes to make investment in India.
ii.
The applicant is fit and proper person.
iii.
The applicant whom applicant is made holds a certificate of registration
from the SEBI authorized to invest on behalf of the sub account the sub
account has paid registration or renewal fee of us % 1000.
b. INVESTMENT CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS
SEBI has permitted FIIs can invest in securities of Indian capital market in
accordance with the following provisions.
i.Securities in the primary and secondary markets including shares, debentures
and warrants of company listed or unlisted or to be listed on recognized stock exchange
in India.
ii. Units of mutual funds, unit trust of India whether listed or not.
iii. Commercial paper.
iv. Dated government securities
v. Commercial paper
SEBI has permitted FIIs to invest in government dated securities with in
the frame. Work of guidelines on FII investment in debt instruments for 100% debt funds
subject to an annual cap on such investment with in the overall limit of external
commercial borrowings of the year.
SECONDARY MARKET TRANSACTIONS
The FIIs registered with the SEBI has permitted to invest subject to an aggregate
investment limit / ceiling of 40% of the issued and paidup capital of an Indian economy
subject to i. Approval of the board of directors and ii. A special resolution passed by the
general body of the company. The purchase of the equity shares of each company by a
FII on its own account as well on behalf of each sub account exceed 10% each of the total
issued capital.
No transaction on stock exchanges can be carried forward.
C. GENERAL OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
It includes the appointment of domestic custodian, designated bank, investment
advice in publicity accessible media, preservation of books and documents and
appointment of a compliance officer.
i. Appointment of domestic custodian
The domestic custodian includes any person carrying on the activity of providing
custodial services with respect to securities. The FII can appoint more than one domestic
custodian with the SEBI`s prior approval but only one for a single sub account.
ii. Any FII any of his employees should not render, directly or indirectly, any investment
advice about any security in the publicy accessible meida, whether real time or non real
time with out a disclosure of his interests including longer short position in the security.
iii. All the FII should keep, maintain books of accounts, records, for the period of 5 years.
True and fair accounts relating to the remittance of the initial corpus of buying,
selling releasing capital gains of the investment made out of the corpus.
Bank statement of the accounts.
Contract notes relating to purchase, sales of securities.
Accounts of remittances to India.
D. PROCEDURE FOR ACTION IN CASE OF DEFAULT
i. Suspension of certificate of registration
It takes place if the FII indulges in fraudulent transaction in security
Fails to furnish an details related to his transaction insecurities as required by the
SEBI or RBI.
Furnishes False Information.
ii. Cancellation
The certificate of registration is liable to be cancelled if the FII,
Indulges in deliberate manipulation, concerning activates, prejudicially affecting
the securities market, investors interest.
Does not meet the eligibility criteria as laid down in the SEBI regulations.
Violates the provisions of the SEBI insider trading resolutions.
E. PREFERENTIAL ALLOTMENT BY LISTED COMPARES TO FIIs
SEBI grant permission to the listed companies in order to make preferential
allotment in favour of the registered FIIs subject to the following conditions.
U/S (IA) of the companies act, the company should obtain the consent of
the shareholders, through general body meeting.
The preferential allotment made to each FII, should be in accordance with
the ceilings on FII holdings.
Price fixation in the preferential allotment should be made at a price not
less than the highest price during the last 26 weeks on all the stock
exchanges where the securities of the company are listed.
EURO ISSUES
Euro equity issues are floated outside domestic markets by way of Eurobond type
of syndication and distribution. Euro-equities are issued as bearer participation
certificates.
With the impact of globalization after 1991. Indian economy specifically Indian
corporates are permitted to issue their securities in and raise funds from the Euro markets.
The important instruments of Euro issues are as follows
i.
American Depository Receipt (ADRs) in the USA.
ii.
European Depository Receipt (EDRs) in Europe.
iii.
Global Depository Receipt (GDRs) in the USA and internationally.
iv.
Foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs)
AMERICAN DEPOSITORY RECEIPTS (ADRs)
ADR is a dollar denominated negotiable certificate that indicates non ? us
company`s public traded equity. It was actually devised in the late 1920s to help
Americans invest in overseas securities and to assist non ? us companies willing to have
their stock traded in the USA. International equities are created by transforming
registered stock into a form that can be traded in foreign markets as economic
instruments. Shares are issued by a depository usually a US bank, against a stated
number of foreign securities held by the depository. It may be classified as sponsored
ADRs and unsponsored ADRs.
EUROPEAN DEPOSITORY RECEIPTS
EDRs are denominated in a European currency and issued in Europe. EDRs are
quite similar to ADRs except denomination. Unlike ADRs EDRs have not developed
into a broad and active market because of denomination of European market by Japanese
securities houses making markets in Japanese equities because of which investors are not
attracted towards EDRs.
GLOBAL DEPOSITORY RECEIPTS
Global depository receipts are essentially equity instruments created by overseas
depository banks (ODBs) which are authorized by the issuing companies in India to issue
outside the country GDRs to non ? resident investors against the shares of the issuing
compares held with the nominated domestic custodian banks.
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF GDR ARE AS FOLLOWS
i. Liquidity
It is popular in developing economies for the main reason that investors have
enough liquidity and it is simpler to understand and trade with a single depository bank
which in turn facilitates the secondary and inter market trading amongst the investors
based in different countries.
ii. Equity Funds
It is an instrument for raising equity funds by the enterprises based in Asian
regions and are subscribed by simultaneous placement in the USA, Europe and Asia. In
December 1990 the first GDR was issued by the Samsung Company Ltd a South Korean
Trading Company.
iii. Flexibility
The trading ratio of GDRs ordinary shares can be adjusted and set in the price
range of comparable foreign shares.
FOREIGN CURRENCY CONVERTIBLE BONDS
Foreign currency convertible bonds mean bonds issued in accordance with this
scheme and subscribed by a non resident in foreign currency and convertible into
ordinary shares of the issuing company.
GUIDELINES FOR RAISING FUNDS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL
MARKETS
GUIDELINES ON ISSUE OF GRDs & FCCBs
In case of GDR, first upto obtaining from the Government of India, the issuing
company should have a consistent record of good performance for a minimum period of
three years. The ordinary shares and foreign currency convertible bonds issued against
the GDRs are treated as direct foreign investment and the aggregate of the foreign
investment made either directly or indirectly should not exceed 51% of the issued and
subscribed capital of the issuing company.
MODIFIED GUIDELINES
The Government of India a issued modified guidelines for Euro issues on may it
1994. Any company or group of companies will not be allowed more than two Euro
issues during a financial year and there must be a minimum gap of 12 months between
two issues floated by a single firm. From the proceeds of Euro issue 85% should be
utilized within one year from the date of issue for financing of capital goods imports.
ANOTHER GUIDELINES ? OCT 1994
The Guidelines for Euro issues on October 28, 1994 provided that the issuing
companies mandatorily retain the Euro issues proceeds abroad and repatriate them as and
when expenditure for the approved end uses were incurred. At present, corporates are
permitted to access foreign capital markets for external commercial borrowings (ECB)
through instruments like.
FURTHER CHANGES IN GUIDELINES ? JUNE 1996
On June 19, 1996 changes in Euro guidelines were announced (i) Euro ? issue
were recommended to be treated as direct foreign investment in the issuing company, (ii)
banks, financial institutions (FIs) non ? bank financial institutions (NBFIs) registered
with RbI were made eligible for GDR issue without reference to the end use criterion.
PRICING OF GDRs
The numerous criteria considered for pricing of GDR issue are prospective
earnings, market price of the share, turnover and market capitalization, fundamental
analysis of the company and size of the issue. Prospective earnings in the ensuring three
years are a better index of the potential of long term appreciation in price earnings. The
current market price of the share is taken as a bench mark for pricing of the issue. To
ensure stability of GDR price after issue the issue amount may be limited to two thirds of
the assessed demand.
ISSUE OF GDR
Utilizing the opportunities presented by the access of the international markets,
Indian companies mobilized funds abroad through foreign currency convertible bonds
and global depositors receipts on a substantial scale in 1994. Given the low rates of
interest in international markets, this source of financing was found to be cost effective.
During 1993 ? 94, a sum of US 2374 million was mobilized through Euro issues, of
which us 1460 million was raised through GDRs and the remaining amount through
FCCBs.
LISTING
GDRs, ADRs may be listed on any of the overseas stock exchanges or over the
counter exchanges or through the book entry transfer system prevalent abroad. They may
be purchased, possessed and freely transferable by a person who is a non ? resident. A
listed company may sponsor an issue of ADRs / GDRs with an overseas depository
against shares held by its shareholders.
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES
It relates to (i) automatic route of the RBI to issue GDRs / ADRs to foreign
investor (ii) two way fungibility of ADRs / GDRs (iii) Automatic route for issue of
FCCBs (iv) Issue of ADRs, GDRs through automatic route (v) Issue of ADR, GDR
linked employee stock options by Indian software, IT Companies, and (vi) norms of
overseas business acquisition through ADRs, GDRs.
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
Significance of Foreign Investment
The role of foreign investment in the Economic development of the country is
increased in recent years. Due to the Economic reforms and the far ? reaching political
changes have resulted in very substantial changes in the international capital flows.
Foreign investment consists of Broadly two major classification. (i) Foreign Direct
Investment (ii) Portfolio Investment.
Foreign Direct Investment refer to a investment in a foreign country where the
investors retains control over the investment. It typically takes the form of starting a
subsidiary acquiring a stake in an existing firm or starting a joint venture in the foreign
country. Direct investment and management of the firms concerned normally go
together.
FDI implies that the investors exerts a significant degree of influence on the
management of the enterprise resident in the other economy. Such investment involves
both the initial transaction between the two entities and al subsequent transitions between
them and among foreign affiliates both incorporated and unincorporated FDI may be
undertaken by individuals as well as business entities.
Flow of FDI comprises capital provided either directly or through other related
enterprises by a foreign direct investor to an FDI enterprise or capital received from an
FDI enterprise by a foreign direct investor. The important components of FDI has (i)
equity capital (ii) reinvested earnings (iii) intra company loans. It may be noted that
Government of India used of exclude reinvested earnings from the estimation of FDI in
India.
FDIs are governed by long term considerations because these investments cannot
be easily liquidated. Hence factors like long term political stability, government policy,
industrial and economic prospects etc influence the FDI decision. However portfolio
investments which can be liquidated fairly easily are influenced by short term gains.
Direct investors have direct responsibility with the promotion and management of
the enterprise.
The important types of foreign investment was as follows
i.
Wholly owned subsidiary
ii.
Joint venture
iii.
Acquisition
The changes in the composition of the capital flows and the substantial increase in
the magnitude of some of the flows like FDI have remarkably changed the balanced of
payments and foreign exchange resources position of several countries.
ADVANTAGES OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
i.
FDI shifts the burden of risk of an investment from domestic to foreign
investors.
ii.
Repayments are linked to profitability of the underlying investment,
whereas under debt financing the borrowed funds must serviced regard
less of the project costs.
iii.
Further it has also been observed that FDI is the only capital inflow that
has been strongly associated with higher GDP growth since 1970.
The role of FDI to economic growth is high lighted by the fact that the ratio of
FDI flow to domestic investment (gros capital formation) rose for most developed and
developing countries in the past. Although the bulk of the FDI goes to developed
countries its share in their gross fixed capital formation is only about half of that in
developing countries because of the massiveness of their gross fixed capital formation.
Apart from potential gains through technology transfer, FDI has generated large
employment opportunities in a number of countries.
FACTORS AFFECTING FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
Foreign Direct Investment are influenced by the number of factors which are as
follows
i. Large and Growing Market
The size and potential for growth of country`s domestic market, especially the
purchasing power of its customers are key. Companies could not ready to make any
investment in a market where there is little potential to make a profit.
ii. Property rights and protection
To give the protection to private properly. In this way companies tangible or
intangible property stolen must be controlled.
iii. Reliable infrastructure
The infrastructure is the foremost factors for the effective production and efficient
serving to the market. And at the same time it is also critical. Whether it be reliable
transportation, power generation, accounting services a competent financial system or
other basic factors, investments cannot give satisfactory return without this.
iv. Availability of high quality factors of production
High quality of factors of production is responsible for the large scale production
and higher amount of foreign direct investment. While the investors brings capital,
technology and management to the table, the quality of the indigenous work force and the
availability of local raw materials are also key ingredients in the receive for success.
v. An effective and honest government
The investor must be able to rely upon the integrity of the host government and its
ability to maintain law and order.
vi. Minimal government regulations
The cost of government regulation and intervention in the affairs and profits of
private companies must be kept to a minimum.
vii. Freedom of activity in the market
The competitive strength and the degree of government interference to entering a
country`s market are important factors. The freer the market, the more attractive it
becomes as an investment site for international investors.
viii. A strong local currency
All the local currency must have retain its value. It are make an investment in we
have lost part or possibly all ? of your original dollar ? based investment.
9. Freedom to operate between markets
An organization must be able to obtain goods and services from its operating unit
in one market and distributing its goods and services to another market or maximize its
global efficiency by trading among its operating entities in different countries to round
out its product lines.
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT AND PRODUCTION LINKAGES
FDIs contribution to sustainable economic development of the host countries
depends to a large extent on the production linkages between foreign affiliates and
domestic firms. This linkages can take the following forms. It may be the backward,
forward or horizontal. Backward linkages exist when foreign affiliates acquire goods or
services from domestic firms and forward linkages exist when foreign affiliates sell
goods or services to domestic firms. In the name of horizontal linkage involves
interactions with the domestic firms engaged in competing activities. Linkages broadly
defined can also involve non business entities like universities, research and technology
institutes, export promotion agencies and other private institutions.
The extent to which foreign affiliates developing backward linkages with
domestic suppliers is usually measured by the local content of production or local
sourcing by foreign affiliates although for various reasons, however these measures may
not accurately reflect the magnitude of backward linkages with domestic firms.
TRADE AND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
Foreign trade and foreign direct investment are mutually interrelated. White some
of the FDIs increases international trade and some of them decrease the international
trade.
FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN INDIA
The flow of direct foreign investment to India has been generally smaller amount
because of the type of industrial development strategy and the very cautious foreign
investment policy followed by the nation.
Due to the following factors foreign direct investment in India was adversely
affected.
i.
Government policy about the foreign capital was very selective, foreign
investments was specifically permitted only in high technology industries
in the priority sectors and export oriented sectors.
ii.
Foreign equity participation was allowed upto a limit of 40% and at the
same time merit cases exceptions were allowed.
iii.
The public sector position as a monopoly or a dominant position most
important industrial sectors and therefore the scope of private investment
both domestic and international was limited.
iv.
Any of the inward remittances ie payment of dividends abroad,
repatriation of capital etc were subject to the provisions of the foreign
exchange regulation act 1973. It is actually discoursed international
investment.
v.
High corporate taxation and complex tax laws and their procedure.
GOVERNMENT POLICY : FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
Prior to 1991 FDI was allowed only on a case to case basis with a normal ceiling
of 40%. But generally India was following a very restrictive policy towards foreign
capital and technical know ? how. If necessary only foreign technology. In some other
cases the import of technology was permitted on the merit basis if substantial exports
were guaranteed over a period of 5 to 10 years if there is a reasonable proposals for such
exports.
The post 1991 period under the new Industrial policy, foreign equity capital has
been delinked from technology transfer. Moreover FDI is being sought actively in a wide
range of high priority export oriented critical infrastructure industries. The framework of
FDI foreign collaboration in India is described in the following heads
a. Policy
b. Procedure
c. Facilitation
a. Policy
The Government policy relating to the foreign direct investment indicate the
following steps.
(i) Industrial policy (ii) FDI (iii) Investment by NRIs / OCBs (iv) foreign
technology agreement (v) electronic hardware technology park schemes.
i. Industrial policy
The Union Governments liberalization and Economic reforms programme aims at
rapid and substantial economic growth, and integration with the global economy in a
harmonized manner. After the industrial policy reforms, it reduce the industrial licensing
requirements, removed restrictions on investment and expansion and facilitated easy
access to foreign technology and foreign direct investment.
ii. Industrial Licensing
Most of the industrial organisations are exempt from obtaining an industrial
license to manufacturing the product, except for (a) Industries reserved for the public
sector viz, Atomic energy and Railway transport (b) Industries returned under
compulsory licensing viz, cigars and cigarettes of tobacco and manufactured tobacco
substitutes, Industrial explosive, including detonating fues, safety fuees, gun powder,
nitrocellulose and matches (c) Items manufacturing reserved for small scale industries (d)
If the proposal attracts locational restrictions.
iii. Industrial Entrepreneurs Memo random
Any Business or industrial organization exempt from obtaining an industrial
license are required to file an industrial Entrepreneur Memorandum as the format
prescribed by the secretarial of Industrial Assistance, Government of India and obtain an
acknowledgement no further approval is required.
iv. Locational policy
An entrepreneur or business unit has to select its location in its convenience.
Without any restrictions. In case of cities with population of more than a million,
however the proposed location should be at least 25 kms away from the standard urban
area limits of the city. Unless its is to be located in an area designated as an industrial
area.
v. Policy relating to small scale units
An industrial undertaking is defined as a small scale unit if the investment in fixed
assets ie plant and machinery does not exceed rupee one crore. Small scale units are
registered with the Directorate of industries, or district industries centre in the respective
state government. Small scale units can manufacture any item as exclusively reserved for
manufacture in the small scale sectors. Small scale units are free from the locational
restrictions.
vi. Environmental Clearances
An industrial undertaking are required to obtain statutory clearances relating to
pollution control and environment conservation for setting up an industrial project with
respect to the specified industries.
vii. Foreign Direct Investment
To formulate the government policy enable to facilitate foreign direct investment
and investment from non ? resident Indians including overseas corporate bodies, that are
predominantly owned by them to complement and supplement domestic investment.
Foreign direct investment is freely allowed in all the sectors including the services
sectors, except where the existing and notified sectoral policy does not permit FDI
beyond a ceiling.
viii. Automatic Route
The automatic route covers both new ventures and existing companies.
NEW VENTURES
In case of new ventures foreign direct investment upto 100% fall under the
automatic route except for all proposals (i) requiring license (ii) the foreign collaborator
has a previous tie ? up in India (iii) acquisition of shares in an existing company in favour
of foreign investor.
EXISTING UNITS
Apart from the new companies, automatic route for FDI is also available to
existing companies proposing to induct foreign equity. For an existing companies with
an expansion programme the additional requirements are (i) the increase in equity level
must result from the expansion of the equity base of the existing company without the
acquisition of existing shares of NRI or foreign investors.
The automatic route has subsequently been expanded very significantly and now
there are different categories of industries on the basis of the ceiling of foreign equity
participation.
Viz
1.
Industries in which FDI does not exceed 25%
2.
Industries in which FDI does not exceed 50%
3.
Industries in which FDI does not exceed 51%
4.
Industries in which FDI does not exceed 74%
5.
Industries in which upto 100% foreign equities is
permitted.
In February 2000, Government took a major decision to place all items under the
automatic route for FDI except for a small negative list which includes the following
Hems requiring an industrial license under the industries (Development &
Regulations) Act 1951.
Foreign investment being more than 24% in the equity capital of units
manufacturing items reserved for small scale industries.
All items requiring industrial license in terms of the locational policy
notified under the industrial policy.
Proposals having previous venture tie ? up in India with foreign
collaborator.
All the proposals relating to acquisition of shares in existing Indian
Company by foreign NRI investor.
All proposals falling outside notified sectoral policy / caps or under
sectors in which FDI is not permitted.
All proposals for investment in public sector units are also for EOU / EPZ
/ STP units would quality for automatic approval subject ot the aforesaid
parameters.
All other proposals which do not conform to the guidelines for automatic
approval are considered by the foreign investment promotion boards.
The RBI has granted general permission under the foreign exchange resolution act
with respect to proposals approved by the government. Indian companies getting foreign
investment approval through the (foreign investment promotion board). FIPB route do
not require any further clearness from the RBI for the purpose of receiving inward
remittance and issue of shares to the foreign investors. This type of companies are
however required to notify the RBI of receipt of inward remittance within 30 days of
such receipt and to file the required documents within 30 days after issue of shares to
foreign investors.
b. PROCEDURES
The procedural aspects of foreign direct investment cover the following steps. (i)
approval procedures (ii) FDI (iii) foreign technology collaboration (iv) 100% EOUs units
set up in EPZs / FIZs / SEZs (v) EHTP / STP units.
APPROVAL PROCEDURES
Any industrial undertaking eligible to obtain exemption from the requirements of
industrial licensing, including existing units undertaking substantial expansion, need to
file information in the prescribed by the industrial entrepreneurs memorandum. And at
the some time all the industrial undertakings also need to file information at the time of
commencement of commercial production.
INDUSTRIAL LICNECE
All the Industrial undertaking, subject to compulsory industrial licensing are
granted licence under the industrial development regulation act 1951. Granting approval
normally be available within 4-6 weeks of filing the application.
CARRY ON BUSINESS LICENCE
A carry on business licence is required when a small scale unit exceeds the
prescribed limit of investment in plant and machinery by way of natural growth and
continues to manufacture small scale revised items.
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
The foreign direct investment procedures are
Automatic route
Government approval through FIPB
PROCEDURE FOR AUTOMATIC ROUTE
In order to simplify procedures for foreign direct investment under the automatic
route the RBI has given permission to Indian companies to accept investment under this
route without obtaining its prior approval. But any how the investors would have to file
the required documents with the RBI within 30 days after the issue of shares to foreign
investors.
PROCEDURE FOR GOVERNMENT APPROVAL ? FOREIGN INVESTMENT
PROMOTION BOARD
All other proposals for foreign investment including NRI / OCB investment and
foreign investment in EOU / EPZ / STP / units which do not fulfil any or all of the
parameters prescribed for automatic approval are considered for approval on the basis of
their merits by the government. The FIPB also grants composite approvals involving
foreign technical collaboration and setting upto EOUs involving foreign investment /
foreign technical collaboration.
FOREIGN TECHNICAL KNOW HOW OR TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATION
The approval procedure may be automatic or through government.
PROCEDURE FOR AUTOMATIC APPROVAL
Applicants for automatic approval for such foreign technology agreements should
be submitted with the RBI. Approvals are obtained within one week or two weeks.
PROCEDURE FOR GOVERNMENT APPROVAL
All other proposals for foreign technology agreements, not meeting any or all of
the parameters for automatic approval and all cases of extension of existing foreign
technical collaboration agreement are considered for approval on their merit by the
government on consideration of the proposal by the project approval board / FIPB,
decisions are normally conveyed within 4 to 6 weeks for filling the applicantions.
100% EXPORT ORIENTED UNITS (EOUs) AND UNITS SET UP IN EPZ / FTZ / SEZ
Procedure for Approval for EOUs
Applications for 100% EOUs should be submitted in the prescribed form to the
development commissioners of the concerned export processing zones (EPZs) for
automatic approval and to the SIA for government approval.
PROCEDURE FOR FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT / NRI INVESTMENT
Fro proposals not covered under the automatic route, the applicant should seek
separate approval of the FIPB as per the procedure outlined in relation to foreign
technology collaboration.
EHTP / STP UNITS
Application in the prescribed form should be submitted to the concerned directors
of STPs or the designated officers of EHTPs for automatic approval and to the SIA for
government approval.
PROCEDURE FOR FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT / NRI INVESTMENT
All proposals for FDI / NRI / OCB investment in EHTP / STP units are eligible
for approval under the automatic route. For proposals not covered under the automatic
route the applicant should seek separate approval of the FIPB as per the procedure
outlined in relation to the procedure for FDI.
PROCEDURE FOR FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN INDUSTRIAL PARK
As 100% FDI is permitted under the automatic route for setting up of an industrial
park, the procedure mentioned in relation FDI would be applicable for seeking the
requisite approval.
C. FACILITATION
In order to obtain huge amount of FDIs in India, a number of organisations,
agencies have been setup. Some of the organisations can be described in the following
i. Investment Promotion and Facilitation ? Foreign Investment Promotion Board
It is the nodal, single window agency for all matters relating to FDI and also the
promotion of investment in the country. Its main obat is to promote FDI in India.
Early undertaking investment promotion activities in India abroad.
Early clearance of proposal submitted it
Facilitating investment in the country by international companies, non ?
resident Indians and other foreign investors.
Policy review and put in place appropriate institutional arrangements,
transparent rules and procedures and guidelines for investment promotion
and approvals.
ii. Foreign Investment Implementation Authority
It has set up to facilitate quick translation of FDI approvals into implementations,
provide a Pro-active one stop after care service to foreign investors by helping them to
obtain necessary approval and also to find solutions to problems and maximize
opportunities through a partnership approach.
iii. Foreign Investment Promotion Council
The Government has constituted a foreign investment promotion council
comprising professional from industry and commerce. It main objective to identify
specific sectors / projects within the country that require FDI and target specific regions /
countries of the world for its mobilization.
iv. Secretarial for industrial Assistance
It has been set up by the Government of India to provide a single window for
entrepreneurial assistance, investor facilitation, receiving and processing of all
applications that require approval, conveying government decisions, assisting
entrepreneurs and investors in setting up projects.
v. Entrepreneurial assistance unit
It has been established for the purpose of contributing various assistance to an
entrepreneurs on different aspects concerning investment decisions. The unit receives all
papers / applications related to industrial approvals and immediately issues a
computerized acknowledgement. Which also has an reference number. All
correspondence with SIA should Quote this number.
vi. Investment Promotion and Infrastructure Development Cell
In order to give further impetus to facilitation and monitoring of investment as
well for better co-ordination of infrastructural requirements for industry, a new cell called
the investment promotion and infrastructure development has been created. It contributes
various functions for the promotion of investment.
vii. Project monitoring wing
The project monitoring wing created within had within the IP & Id. Cell in June
1998 is now functioning under the FIIA. The main function of the PMW are the co-
ordination with the respective union and state level ministries and also monitoring
approved projects.
viii. Nodal Officers
The Government has identified officers at the deputy secretary / director level
nodal officers for facilitation of all matters relating to the industrial projects pertaining to
a state. The nodal officer is full in charge for the project which requiring FDi and also
monitor their implementation within the time schedule.
ix. International centre for Alternative Dispute resolution
It is an autonomous organisation under the aegis of ministry of law and justice to
promote settlement of domestic international disputes by different modes of alternate
dispute resolution.
CREDIT RATING
Security rating popularly known as credit rating in India is mandatory for the
issuance of debt instruments debentures with conversion or redemption period,
commercial paper issued by corporates, and public deposits of all NBFCs with net owned
funds above Rs. 50 lakhs.
Credit ratings are judgment about the firms financial and business prospects. It
may be defined as a process by which a statistical service prepares various ratings
identified by symbols which are indicators of the investment quality of the securities
rated . The security may be a debt instrument or equity.
CREDIT RATING ? DEFINITION
Rating is defined by SEBI regulations as an opinion regarding securities
expressed in the form of standard symbols or in any other standardized form assigned by
a credit rating agency and used by the issuer of such securities to comply with a
requirement specified by these SEBI regulations.
Credit rating is essentially the symbolic indicator of the current opinion of the
rating agency on the relative ability and willingness of the issuer of a financial debt
instrument to meet the (debt) service obligation as and when they arise. It provides a
relative ranking of the credit quality of debt financial instruments or other grading
according to investment qualities.
The rating industry in India was ushered in 1988 with the setting up of credit
rating and information services of India Ltd followed by three more the latest entirely
devoted to rating NBFCs. The industry is sustained by mandatory requirements for rating
debt instruments.
French francs which suits small issues as French resolutions are tight and
restrictive international borrowings.
Middle ? Eastern currencies ie Saudi Arabian Riyal and Kuwait dinar that
are patronized by the non ? resident investors. But it has only limited
scope.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ? SEBI CREDIT RATING AGENCIES REGULATION
The credit rating agencies are regulated by SEBI. The main elements of its
regulatory framework are described as follows
a. Registration
b. Their general obligation
c. Restrictions on the rating of securities
d. Procedure for inspection and investigation
e. Action in case of default.
a. Registration of Credit Rating Agencies
Registration with SEBI is mandatory to carry on the rating business. The
application for the grant of certificate registration should be madeto SEBI in form A and
accompanied by a non refundable fee of Rs.25000.
i. Promoter of Credit Rating Agency
A credit rating agency can be promoted by a (i) public financial institutions as
defined in section 4 ? A co of the companies act (ii) scheduled bank (iii) foreign bank
operating in India with the RBI approval.
ii. Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for a rating agency are as follows
Is setup and registered as a company
Has specified in its Memorandum of association rating activity as one of
its main objects.
Has minimum network of 5 crore
Has adequate infrastructure
Its promoters have professional competence, financial soundness and
general reputation of fairness and integrity in business transaction to the
satisfaction of SEBI.
iii. Grant of certificate of Registration
SEBI will grant to eligible applicants a certificate registration on the payment of a
fee of Rs.5,00,000. Subject to few conditions would apply.
b. General obligations ? code of conduct
To observe in the conduct of its business high standards of integrity and
fairness in all its dealings with its clients.
To fulfill its obligation in an ethical manner.
To avoid any conflict of interest of any member of its rating committee
participating in the rating analysis.
c. Restrictions on rating of securities
i. Securities issued by promoters
A CRA is prohibited from rating securities issued by its promoters who hold not
less than 10% of its shares. If the promoter is a lending institution its chairman director
or employees cannot hold a similar position in the CRA or its rating committee.
ii. Securities issued by certain Entities
The securities of an entity cannot be rated by a CRA if its (a) a borrower of its
promoter or (b) a subsidiary of its promoter or (c) an associate (holding at least 10% of
the share capital) of its promoter when there are common (i) Chairman / Directors (ii)
there are common chairman / director / employees on the rating committee.
d. Procedure for inspection / investigation
SEBI has power to inspect or investigate the books of accounts of CRA.
To ascertain whether the provisions of the SEBI act / these regulations are
being complied with
To investigate into complaints from investors for clients whose securities
are rated by any other person on any matter having a bearing on the
activities of the CRA.
e. Action in case of Default
The CRA which (a) fail to comply with any condition subject to which certificates
of registration had been granted or (b) contravene any of the provisions of the SEBI act /
these regulations or any other regulation under the SEBI act are liable to suspension of
their registration.
CREDIT RATING AGENCIES
Credit rating agencies in the country namely
i.
CRISIL Ltd
ii.
ICRA Ltd
iii.
CARE Ltd
iv.
DCR Ltd
Among the four, the focus is on the two leading agencies namely CRISIL and
ICRA.
i. Credit rating and information services of India ltd (CRISIL Ltd)
The credit rating information services of India ltd was established in the year
1987. The agency initiated and popularized the concept of credit rating in India. It is the
premier credit rating agency in India, and top five amongst in the world.
Services of CRISIL
CRISIL provides the following services.
i.
Credit ratings
ii.
CRISIL advisory services
iii.
CRISIL.com ltd
iv)
Credibility first (CF)
v)
Global data services
vi)
CRISIL Training services
vii)
CRIS
CREDIT RATINGS CRISIL'S CREDIT RATING DIVISION
The credit rating division of CRISIL became operational in 1987. being a pioneer
in credit rating business in India, the rating agency ranks amongst the top five in the
world. It has rated over 1800 companies and 3600 instruments translating into a debt
volume of more them use 62.11 billion.
CRISIL ADVISORY SERVICES (CAS)
It is the consultancy division of CRISIL. The advisory services covering the areas
of energy, transport, urban infrastructure corporates, capital markets, e-consulting,
banking and finance. Some of the clients serviced by CAS include the government of
Maharasthra, the Gujarat state finance commission, international financiers, multinational
agencies, nationalized banks, state financial corporation, state industrial development
corporation etc.
CRISIL. COM LTD
In order to inform, educate internet with the customer is unlimited. For fulfilling
these objectives separate web are created, and to create value added content and deliver it
to new market segments. CRISIL has recognized this medium as an opportunity to coined
and easily reach its customers in its existing and new segments. CRISIL has transferred
its internet business to CRISIL. Com a wholly owned subsidiary in order to give it the
required focus.
CREDIBILITY. FIRST (CF)
It provides rating and evaluation services across the cross section of companies in
the Indian economy. It renter specialized credit and counter party rating services for a
large spectrum of corporates especially in the small scale sector, where information is not
easily available.
GLOBAL DATA SERVICES
The Global data services of India Ltd is 100% subsidiary of CRISIL. It has been
formed with a view to using the existing strengths and rescores of CRISIL to provide
high quality and timely financial analysis of Indian corporates, covering more than 1500
of the largest companies listed on the Indian stock exchanges. The data is provided both
online and offline.
CRISIL TRAINING SERVICES
CRISIL provides a wide spectrum of training programmes including the tailor ?
made ones to meet the specific needs of various agencies and individuals connoted with
credit as well as investments. Programmes are specially designed for professionals whose
business necessitates assessment of credit and investment risk.
CRISIL'S STRENGTHS
CRISIL commands the following strengths.
Professionalism
CRISIL maintains a team of highly qualified and experienced multi disciplinary
professionals from diverse streams such as business management, chartered accountancy
and library sciences.
Efficient forecasting
With help of its indigenous research methodologies and other techniques enable
it to make an accurate forecast of future trends and performance in industries.
Strong knowledge
It possesses a through knowledge and understanding of Indian economy. An
exhaustive information base on the Indian economy, 80 industries 3000 company 300
commodities satisfying the information needs of a large and diverse set of India`s leading
economic tension makers is available with CRISIL.
Others
CRISIL also provides access to the client serving facility, the information base, as
well as the team of analysis.
CRISIL'S ACHIEVEMENTS
Over the past 14 years the rating agency has successfully established the concept
of credit rating among the major market participants. CRISIL is responsible for the
innovation and institutionalization of a viable and market driven system of credit rating in
India and has thus facilitated greater investments in debt instruments.
II INVESTMENT INFORMATION AND CREDIT RATING AGENCY OF INDIA
LIMITED (ICRA)
It was incorporated in 1991, the investment information and credit rating agency
of India Ltd aimed at providing independent and professional credit rating services to the
corporate world. The ICRA Ltd has been promoted by the IFCI Ltd as the main promoter
to meet the requirements of the companies based in the north of the country. A part from
the main promoter which holds 26% of the share capital, the other share holders are the
unit trust of India, LIC, GIC, EXIM bank HEFC Ltd, and ILFS Ltd. In order to bring
international experience and practices to the Indian capital markets, ICRA has entered
into a more with Moody`s investors services to provide through its company financial
programmes Inc credit education, credit research and consulting services to bank and
mutual funds in India.
MAIN OBJECTIVES OF ICRA
To assist investors both individual and institutional in making well
informed decisions.
To enable banks investment bankers, brokers in placing debt with
investors by providing them with a marketing tool.
To assist issuers in raising funds from a wider investor base in large
amounts and at lower cost for highly rated entities
To encourage the healthy growth of capital markets
TYPE OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY ICRA LTD
Rating services
Information services
Advisory services
Rating services
ICRA rates rupee denominated debt instruments issued inter alia, by
manufacturing companies, commercial banks, non-banking finance companies, financial
institutions, public sector undertakings, among other. The obligation included long term
instruments such as bonds debentures, medium term instruments such as fixed deposit
programmes and short term instruments such as commercial paper programmes and
certificate deposit.
INFORMATION SERVICES
The information services division of ICRA focuses on providing authentic data
and value added products used by intermediaries, financial institutions, banks, assets
managers, individual investors, others.
GRADING SERVICES
ICRA`S grading services are structured to provide authentic information on the
relative quality of equity in diverse corporates. The relative quality of equity of a
company its growth, stability and composition of earnings are assessed by analyzing the
underlying fundamentally that will affect the company`s future performance over the
medium term.
SERVICES INCLUDES
Equity grading
Equity assessment
Earning prospects and risk analysis
ADVISORY SERVICES
ICRA`S foray into advisory services represents an organic growth of the
cumulative expertise bur it by ICRA in different industries and sectors. Through tie-ups
with global leaders in specific sectors ICRA also brings to its clients an insight into the
best management practices followed by some of the world`s leading organizations. It`s
advisory services offers independent objective and high quality consulting services to
organizations with an interest in India, with the fundamental aim of improving the quality
of diction making. It include the following area.
Strategy consulting
Risk management
Policy formulation
ACHIEVEMENT OF ICRA
The various achievements of ICRA from its inception are listed below
IISRP march 1993 : ICRA launched investment information service &
research publications.
EPRA ? April 1995 : ICRA launched EPRA (earnings prospers and risk
anlaysis) rang for services for the equity investor.
Credit assessment of smalls medium scale industries ? December 1995
MRMS & ICRA ? March 1996.
Money & Finance ? February 1997
Rating claims ? July 1998
MIS & ICRA ? December 1998
Corporate review services ? Jan 1999
Rating debt ? February 1999
Constructing grading ? March 1999
Moody`s investors services and ICRA
Signed the final Equity agreement
METHODOLOGY FOR CREDIT RATING
The methodology for rating involves an analysis of the industry risk, the issuers
business and financial risks. A rating is assigned after assessing all the factors that could
affect the credit worthiness of the entity. The ratings are based on the current information
provided by the issuer or facts obtained from the reliable sources. Some of the techniques
are used to evaluating and monitoring the ratings.
A FOR MANUFACTURING COMPANIES
The rating methodology for manufacturing companies are listed below
I. BUSINESS RISK ANALYSIS
Rating anlaysis begins with an assessment of the company`s internal and external
environment focusing on the strength of the industry prospects pattern of business cycles
as well as the competitive factor affecting the industry. The vulnerability of the industry
to government controls regulations is assessed. The nature of competition is diffident for
different industries based on price, product quality, product differentiation, and so on.
When a company participles in more than one business each segment is analysised
separately. As part of the industry analysis, key rating factors are identified into keys to
success and areas of vulnerability. Some of the industrial and business factors are
assessed, it include the following.
1. Industry Risk
Nature and basis of competition demand and supply position government policies
and so on.
2. Market Position of the issuing entity with in the Industry
Market share, competitive advantages, distribution policy, product and customer
diversity and so on.
3. Operating efficiency of the borrowing entity
Locational advantages, labour relations leps cost structure technological
advantages and so on.
4. Legal Position
Terms of issue document prospect as trustees and their responsibilities system for
timely payment and for protection against farced / forgery and so on.
5. Financial risk anlyasis
Financial risk is analysed through quantitative means particularly by using
financial ratios. The profitability of the company is an important determinant of its ability
to withstand business adversity as well as generate capital internally. The main aspect of
profitability study include operating and net margins and return on capital employed. The
absolute levels of these ratios, trends in movement of the ratios as well as comparison of
the ratios with other competitors is analysed.
6. Accounting Quality
Either overstatement or understatement of profits, auditors qualification methods
of income recognition methods of inventory valuation, deportation policies and so on.
7. Adequacy of cash flows
In relation to dept and working capital needs, stability of cash flows, capital
spending flexibility, working capital management and so on.
8. Financial Flexibility
Alternative financing plans in times of stress, ability to raise funds, asset
deployment potential and so on.
9. Interest and Tax Sensitivity
Exposure to interest rate changes tax law changes and hedging against interest
rates and so on.
10. Management Risk
An assessment of debt protection levels requires an evolution of the management
philosophies and its strategies if include (- a)
Track record of the management planning and control system
Evaluation of capacity to overcome adverse situations
Goals, philosophy and strategies
B. FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR
The following factors involved in the rating of financial institutions, banks and
non ? banking finance companies.
1. Regulatory and Competitive Environment
Structure and regulatory frame work of the financial system, trends in the
regulation, deregulation and their impact on the company institution.
FUNDAMENTAL ANALYSIS TO INCLUDE
Capital adequacy
Assessment of the true net worth of the issuer its adequacy in elation to the
volume of business and the risk profile of the assets.
Resources
Over view of funding sources, funding profile cost and tenor of various sources of
funds.
Asset quality
Quality of the issuer`s credit risk management, systems for monitoring credit,
sector risk, exposure to individual borrowers management of problem credits.
Profitability and financial position
Historic profits, spreads on funds deployment, revenues on non ? fund based
services, accretion to reserves and so on.
RATING SYMBOLS
The rating symbols are symbolic expression of opinion / assessment of the credit
rating agency regarding the investment / credit quality or grade of the debt/obligations
instrument. The rating symbols as the final expression of the investment quality of a
financial instrument used by the Indian rating agencies. The following are the important
instrument involved for the rating symblos. Viz (i) debentures (ii) fixed deposits (iii)
short term instruments (iv) credit assessment (v) structured obligations (vi) Bank loans
SHARE PRICE INDICES
SHARE PRICE
The price of the securities that are traded on a stock exchange is influenced by so
many factors. Movement of the share price is considered to be a broad indicator of the
state of affairs of a company. The price prevailing in a stock exchange will also affect the
yield or return on a security or the general expectation about the return on shores in an
industry.
Factors influencing the prices of a security in a stock market
1. Demand and supply
Center the conditions of a perfect market the forces of supply and demand iterant
so as of determine the price of the security.
2. Bank Rate
The availability and cast are influenced by the rate of interest which is determined
by the bank rate changed by the central monetary authority of the authority of the country
R, Z the RBI
3. Dividend Policy
The dividend paying ability is dependent upon the financial capacities of the
company. Accompany a company that has profitable investment opportunities with
excellent cash flows will be in a better position to pay dividend periodically.
4. Profile of Management
The profile of top management has got a lot to do with the way a company`s
policies are formulated and implemented.
5. Market Players
The activities of under writers, share brokers, banks and financial institutions are
responsible for causing fluctuations in share prices especially of new companies.
6. Trade Cycles
The caps and downs in the economy is called trade cycles are also responsible for
causing price movements in a particular fashion. During the period of prosperity the
investors will take part in stock market activities in a large number and with lot of
enthusiasm.
7. Political Factors
The stock exchange will at as a barometer that reflects the changes taking place in
the political arena. Accordingly position political chance will cause a spar in share prices
and political disturbances will cause prices to tumble.
Other factors
8 ? The industrial relations
9 ? competitive market conditions
10- conditions of balance of payments
11- The general price levels
12- General market sentiments
SHARE PRICE INDICES
Stock index
A stock index is a composition of selected securities traded on an exchange. For
example, sensex is a composition of 30 blue chip securities actively being traded on BSE.
Stock index futures
A type of futures contract is based on a value line index is called stock index
futures. The first stock index futures, contract based on value line index was introduced
by the KCBT (Kansas city board of Trade) our 24.02.1982. It was followed two months
later by the SSP 500 index futures contract introduced by the Chicago mercantile
exchange. At present an SSP 500 index future is the most actively traded futures contract
in the world.
A stock in tax futures contract is simply a futures contract where the underling
variable is a stock index (suit as BSE, Sensex, S&P) CNX, Nifty etc) thus the value of
stock index futures derives its value from a stock index value.
FEATURES OF STOCK INDEX FUTURES
The following one the features of stock index futures are as follows
i.
Multiple or market lot size
ii.
Margin Requirements
iii.
Settlement
iv.
Specifications
v.
Life time contract
Multiple or market lot size
The stock index futures can be bought or sold only in a specified lot size. For
example the market lot size for nifty futures is 200. It means that if on a day where nifty
futures is quoting at a price of Rs 1400 then the value of one nifty futures contract shall
be Rs. 2,80,000 ie (200 X 1400)
Margin requirement
Stock index futures is also needed by margin requirements. There are three types
of margins in a futures market ie initial margin, maintenance margin, margin call. The
initial margin is a margin amount initially required to open a margin account for trading.
Settlement
Stock index futures contract does not entitle physical delivery of stocks and the
contract is settled in cash in the settlement date.
Specifications
It indicates underlying index, contract size, price steps or tick size, price hands or
price range, trading cycle expiry day, and settlement price. It is used for buying and
selling of securities.
Lifetime contract
The contract for each series of stock index futures spans a lifetime period. At any
point of time there are three series of open for trading. On the expiry of the term of
contract, a new services of futures comes into existence.
Benefits stock index
There are so many reasons for the wide international acceptance of stock index
futures and for the strong preference for this instrument in India as compared to others
forms of equity derivatives. Following are the advantages pertaining to the stockindey
futures.
1.
Difficulty of manipulation
2.
Less volatile
3.
Cash settlement
4.
Hedging
Methods of stock index as
Different indexes are computed and compiled for use by the investors. While
some indexed employ an equal weighting apportion, the other are either price weighted or
value weighted. Both these methods are employed in the compilation of stock and
consumer price indexes
Price weighted and quantity weighted indexes
Value weighted indexes
Price weighted and quantity weighted indexes
In a price weighted index, the basic approach is to sum the prices of component
securities used in the index and divide this sum by the number of components. A price ?
weighted index strictly speaking is not an index at all it is an average it is an average. The
concept of indexing involves the comparison of currently computed averages with some
base value. Two classical forms of indexes are the paasche index and the laspeyrez index.
Both of these are used of method for determining the consumer price index.
Pjt Qjt
Paasche price index =
Pjo Qjt
Pjt Qjo
Laspeyres price index =
Pjo Qjo
Where ;
Pjit = Price per unit for jth commodity in period t
Pjo = Price per unit for jth commodity in period
Qjt = The Quantity of jth commodity in period and
Qjo = The Quantity of jth commodity in period O
Value -weighted indexes
In order to compute the value weighted indexes the following formulas are
applied.
Pjt Qjt
Cost index =
Pjo Qjo
The cost index is the basic form used for compiling the value - weighted stock
index. Stock indexes are intended to be a measure value growth. The standard form the
value weighted stock indexes is expressed.
Pjt Qjt
Stock index =
Pjo Qjo
Leading stock price indexes - Bombay stock exchange sensitive index of equity
prices
The Bombay stock exchange started compiling and publishing a sensitive index
number of equity prices from the 2-1-1986 with the base year 1978-79 = 100. It is called
the Bombay stock exchange sensitive index of equity price
Methods of compilation
The method of compilation of the BSE Sensitive index of equity prices is same as
used by STANDARD spoor, USA. In the construction of their share price indices. The
index for a day is calculated as the percentage of the aggregate market value of the equity
shares of all the companies in the sample on that day to the average market value of the
equity shares of the same companies during the base period. The current market value for
any particular share is obtained by multiplying the price of the share by number of shares
outstanding.
Adjustment for bonus shares
If a company included in the compilation of the index issues bones shares or sub
divides or consolidates the existing equity shares, the new weighting factor will be the
number of equity shares outstanding after the bonus issue, sub division or consolidation
has become effective.
Adjustments for right issue
When a company included in the compilation issues, right shares, the weighting
factor for that share is increased by the number of additional shares actually issued.
Other issues
Weighting factors are revised when new share issues are made by was of
conversion of debentures of loans into equity by financial institutions, mergers etc. the
base year average is also suitably adjusted to offset the increase in the market value thus
added.
Base changes
Base changes are in effect proportional adjustments in the base year average
market value of offset arbitrary price changes in market values upon which the index is
based. The formula for changing the base year average is as follows.
New Market Value
New base year average = Old base year Average X
Old Market Value
Bombay stock exchange National index of equity prices
The Bombay stock exchange sensitive index number of equity prices comprising
30 scrips from the specified and non ? specified list was introduced on 2nd of January
1986. The index has established a place for itself amongst investors, chartists,
newspapers and all other concerned with the securities market and has been widely
accepted as a fair reflector of the trend of prices on the Mumbai stock market.
Being a sensitive index if consists of practically all the market leaders. As a
consequence it is weighted in favour of highly capitalized companies. As such the need
for a more broad based index covering a large number of scrip`s and which can also
reflect the movement of stock prices on a national scale was felt for some time. The
Mumbai stock exchange has therefore compiled a new series called BSE national index
with the year 1983-84 as the base year. This index while including the 30 scrips of the
BSE sensitive indeed has another 70 scrips selected on an all India basis depending on
their market activity. Out of these 100 scrips. 212 are quoted on Mumbai only, 72 scrips
are quoted on the Mumbai stock exchange besides the other stock exchanges while the
remaining 6 scrips are quoted only on their stock exchanges and not on the Mumbai stock
exchange.
The methodology adopted for compiling BSE national index is the same as the
one used in compilation of the BSE sensitive index except that in case where a scrip is
actively quoted on more than one exchange, the average price of that scrip on these
exchanges is used in compilation of index.
RBI INDEX OF SECURITY PRICES
The research bank of India started compiling indices of security prices in 1949.
These were Classified under the following heads.
a) Government and semi government securities
b) Debentures of companies
c) Equity shares of companies
Other Indexes of Security Prices
A part from the BSE and RBI indices of share prices, the financial express, the
economic times, the business standard etc. also publish their own ? share price indicators.
But these are not as popular as the BSE index which is the most accepted one.
Uses of market indexes
Economists and statisticians use stock market indexes to study long term
growth patens in the economy to analyze and forecast business cycle
patterns and to relate to stock indexes to other time series measures of
economic activity.
With help of the market index investors and institutions which easily
evaluate the performance of their own or institutional portfolios.
Market technicians in most of the cases base their decisions to buy and sell
on the patterns that appear in the time series of market indexes.
Market model and systematic it will be evident that the relevant riskness
of a security is determined by the relationship between the security`s
return and the return on the market.
Enable to forecast turning points in economic activity.
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This post was last modified on 14 March 2022