Tag: SEBI

  • Companies Bill Rekindled

    The recent change at the helm of affairs of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has rekindled the discussion on the Companies Bill. Newspaper reports indicate that the new Bill is expected to be introduced in Parliament during the monsoon session that begins August 1. The reports also highlight some key areas recently at the

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  • Miscellaneous

    The following developments and readings may be of interest: 1. Sahara: Public Offering vs. Private Placement We have been following the Sahara case as it involves the crucial question of what differentiates a public offering from a private placement of securities under Indian company law and securities regulation. Newspaper reports (here, here and here) indicate

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  • SEBI’s Further Order in the Sahara Case

    SEBI yesterday issued a detailed and well-reasoned order in the case involving the offering of optionally fully convertible debentures (OFCDs) by two Sahara companies. It found that the Sahara companies had offered OFCDs to millions of investors in the garb of a ‘private offering” without complying with the requirements applicable to a public offering of securities.

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  • SEBI Reasserts Views on Put and Call Options

    In view of the provisions of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (SCRA) and notifications issued thereunder, the validity of put and call options on securities of public limited companies entered into outside the stock exchange has been in doubt. In the last year, however, SEBI has been making its stand clearer: such options are

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  • SEBI on Put and Call Options

    The Vedanta/Cairn Energy deal brings the issue of put and call options back into the spotlight as SEBI has sought removal of those clauses from the agreement regarding sale of shares in Cairn India. Curiously enough, SEBI has adopted a strict stance on an issue that is far from being clear under Indian law. As

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  • Regulating Offshore Derivative Instruments

    Over the last few years, SEBI has been adopting various strategies to regulate the use of offshore derivative instruments (ODIs) such as participatory notes that enable foreign investors to participate in the Indian markets without actually owning the underlying securities. The strategies include restricting the use of ODIs, and also requiring the application of know-your-client

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  • Regulating use of Internet can stifle

    SEBI’s move to regulate the usage of e-mail, internet and electronic means of communication by employees of market intermediaries, and to make the compliance officer liable, was commented upon recently by Umakanth here. However, well-intentioned, SEBI’s move is not implementable, poses serious issues for the office of the compliance officer, and can have the unintended

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  • SEBI’s Call to Promote Market Transparency

    In a circular issued this week, SEBI has advised market intermediaries to put in place a code of conduct and internal controls to prevent circulation of rumours and unverified information in blogs, chats and messenger sites. SEBI seeks to impose a check on circulation of such information, as “market rumours do considerable damage to the

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  • Actions Against Independent Directors

    On March 11, 2011, SEBI passed an order in relation to Pyramid Saimara Theatre Limited (PSTL) restraining three of its independent directors (Mr. K.S. Kasiraman, Mr. K. Natarahjan and Mr. G. Ramakrishnan) from being independent directors or members of audit committees of any listed company for a period of two years from March 11, 2011.

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  • The Concept of an “Interested” Shareholder

    Yesterday’s board meeting at SEBI was not expected to generate any substantial decision owing to the impending change of guard at the regulatory institution. True to expectations, key matters such as amendment to the Takeover Regulations and implementation of the Jalan committee report on stock exchanges and other market infrastructure institutions were deferred. However, SEBI

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