Tag: Securities exchange Board of India

  • Stockmarket rumour verification: Esha Media says its  media tool reduces company response time to Sebi’s questions

    Stockmarket rumour verification: Esha Media says its media tool reduces company response time to Sebi’s questions

    MUMBAI: This one is for communications folks or agencies and compliance executives in the top 250 companies (by market capitalisation)  listed on the stock exchanges.

    There are times when sudden sharp movements in share price  of listed companies can drive managements into a tizzy. An interested group can suddenly either ramp up or pull down a company’s share price by spreading  a rumour and the herd mentality can lead to a run on the stock.

    It is at this time that  the stock exchange  authorities can wag a finger in the company’s face and question its management about the drastic changes in transaction volumes or the spikes in the share price. This questioning can definitely  get the management scurrying all over to get at the source of  the stories and the gossip around the stock. And as per stock exchange laws they have to respond within 24 hours (more of that a little later.)

    It is at this stage where its broadcast media intelligence tool called Clipbyte can come handy, say the BSE-listed  media monitoring agency Esha Media Research. The tool allows companies to facilitate rumour verification and respond to the exchange with concrete details and thus safeguard their brand and comprehending investor sentiment.

    It may be recalled that since  1 June last year when rumour verification rules were made applicable, there  have been  around 170 instances or more as per stock exchange disclosures when these norms were triggered. These norms, which  were so far applicable to the top 100 companies, have been extended to the next 150 companies who will have to keep a close watch on material price movement of their stocks from 1 December 2024 onwards.  The first circular from Sebi was issued in January 2024 and the next in May 2024

    While companies need to have a robust in-house framework on leakages of unpublished price sensitive information, Clipbyte’s  monitoring services helps keep a  company’s compliance team prepared and equipped with data and insights to navigate the dynamic media landscape with complete nuggets of the coverage on the subject, says an Esha Media press release.. 

    “Our system detects and evaluates the impact of rumors, helping you track and  differentiate between market noise, significant events and its impact on price by providing real-time data, alerts, and insights, keeping you informed of any significant changes as they happen,” said  Esha Media Research founder Raman Iyer.

    Esha’s stock market vigilance service also offers conversation impact analysis. Companies can  track the influence of market conversations on stock prices.Its research time helps  analyse social media and  broadcast news outlets to help you understand the potential impact on price. 

    Additionally, real-time market updates received minute by minute from market open to close allow the platform to provide real-time data, alerts, and insights, keeping companies informed of any significant changes as they happen.

    In this fast paced corporate world, media monitoring services offer a competitive edge and prevent public relations disasters by keeping managements informed and responding quickly before issue emerge and escalate beyond repair, Iyer said. 

    As per Sebi  norms, a company has to confirm, deny or clarify the rumour within 24 hours once any material price movement occurs based on gossip that appears in mainstream  media.  

    With that kind of a deadline, any tool that can bring down response time should be in the consideration set, believes Iyer.

    True, Raman, but hopefully the corporate managements are listening and believing too. 

  • Sebi probe against Zeel, Chandra & Goenka to continue; fresh show cause notice to be issued

    Sebi probe against Zeel, Chandra & Goenka to continue; fresh show cause notice to be issued

    MUMBAI: The regulatory investigation against  the father-son duo of Subhash Chandra and Punit Goenka seems to be never ending.

    Securities watchdog the Securities Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on 2 January said that it will be filing a fresh show cause notice (SCN) against the two and will continue its investigation into listing guidelines violations by Chandra and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel). This was spelt out in the  adjudication order issued by adjudicating officer (AO) Amit Kapoor on 2 January 2025.  

    In the order Kapoor stated  “that the contents of the SCN dated 6 July 2022 issued by the AO will also be incorporated in the SCN to be issued in the instant matter.”

    Zeel and its promoters are under Sebi investigation for not following Listing Obligations & Disclosure Requirements (LODR) 2015. The regulator had issued a show cause notice against them on 6 July 2022. 

    Both Zeel and Punit Goenka had filed settlement claims to settle the adjudication proceedings. Sebi normally allows entities against whom investigations have been initiated to apply for settlement by paying a certain fee or complying with the rules that the watchdog lays out. 

    Their application was rejected by a panel of whole time Sebi members who also instructed it to continue with the investigation.

    Kapoor’s  adjudication order  states that once the investigation into the instant matter is complete, the competent authority should proceed against Zeel, Chandra, and Goenka under section 11B of the Sebi Act 1992. (Section 11B gives Sebi the powers to levy penalties. Penalties can vary from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1 crore or to Rs 25 crore or 10 years in prison or both depending under which section of the Sebi Act or Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 they are being levied) 

    Kapoor’s order further states that the allegations contained in the SCN  of 6 July 2022 are to be subsumed with the findings of the further investigation carried out by Sebi in the instant matter. 

    “Accordingly, the contents of the SCN dated July 06, 2022 issued by the AO including the examination report and all the relied upon documents will be treated as integral part of the further investigation report by Sebi in the matter of Zeel. The contents of the SCN dated 6 July 2022 issued by  the AO to Zeel, Chandra and Goenka  will also be incorporated in the SCN to be issued in the instant matter. The instant AO proceedings would be dropped against the three, ” he further states in his order. 

  • Indian real estate investment trust association appoints Alok Aggarwal as chairman

    Indian real estate investment trust association appoints Alok Aggarwal as chairman

    MUMBAI: Real estate investment trusts (Reits) – though in their nascent stage in India — have been getting increasing traction in the urban development ecosystem. The Indian Reits Association (IRA)  – set up in 2023 under the guidance of the Securities Exchange Board of India (Sebi) – has increasingly been making its presence felt on the financial and real estate landscape. 

    Today, the IRA  announced the appointment of Brookfield India Real Estate Trust managing director & CEO Alok Aggarwal as its chairman. The IRA is a non-profit trade organization that supports the growth and development of the India Reits  sector. Its founding members include Brookfield India Real Estate Trust, Embassy Office Parks Reit, Mindspace Business Parks Reit, and Nexus Select Trust.

    “Alok Aggarwal’s extensive experience in the real estate sector, especially Reits, and proven leadership will help IRA immensely,” said the IRA in a press release. “Under his guidance, we aim to work closely with Sebi to support industry growth, protect investor interests, and uphold high regulatory standards. The association remains committed to fostering best practices in India’s Reit  sector.”

    Added Alok Aggarwal:  “Reits have established a strong foothold in the Indian capital market and are poised for significant growth. I look forward to collaborating with industry leaders and stakeholders to drive innovation, improve transparency, and create value for investors. Together, we can contribute to the sustainable growth and long-term resilience of Reits in India.”

    Aggarwal is an alumnus of IIT Delhi, where he earned his engineering degree, and ISB Hyderabad, where he completed his MBA. His academic background has contributed to a successful career spanning over three decades in the real estate industry.

    In his professional journey,  Aggarwal has held leadership roles at prominent organizations such as Sun Apollo Capital Partners, Milestone Capital Advisors, DLF Universal and Mahindra Gesco Developers. 

    At Brookfield India Real Estate Trust, he is a leading member of the team that established India’s first 100 per cent institutionally-managed office Reit. He has been instrumental in driving operational excellence, fostering innovation, enhancing tenant relationships, and integrating ESG practices across the portfolio.