SEBI panel prescribes tougher norms on insider trading

12 Dec 2013 Evaluate

To rein in the growing menace of insider trading activities in the stock market, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) panel, headed by former chief justice of India N. K. Sodhi, has proposed tougher law. The panel has recommended widening the definition of 'insider trading', with plans to include company employees, directors, their immediate relatives and public servants handling market sensitive information, as the securities regulator moves to crack down on offenders.

The 19-member committee headed by former presiding officer of the Securities Appellate Tribunal proposed that public servants and persons holding statutory positions be banned from trading, while in possession of unpublished price-sensitive information (UPSI). Under the proposals, trades by stakeholders, employees, directors and their immediate relatives would also need to be disclosed internally to the company.

The proposal makes it compulsory for every listed company and market intermediary to formulate a code of conduct to regulate, monitor and report trading in securities by its employees or connected persons. The new norms, once implemented, would also apply to mutual funds and trusts issuing securities, or schemes that get listed on stock exchanges.

Further, the panel on insider trading also recommended that trades within a calendar quarter of a value beyond Rs 10 lakh (or such other amount as the capital market regulator may specify) would be required to be disclosed to the stock exchanges. It also has suggested that each regulatory provision may be backed by a note on legislative intent.

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