Sebi board clears new norms for implement of improved powers

 

To make certain greater value in exercise of its new powers, market regulator Sebi 's board on Tuesday cleared new norms for its search and capture operations, settlement proceedings, give back to investors and crackdown on illegitimate money-pooling schemes.

The new norms also seek to ensure that sufficient safeguards are put in place to avoid any use rongly

of its new powers and the required privacy of individuals is granted while conducting search and abduction operations.

At the same time, detailed regulations have also been put in place for settlement of admistrative and civil proceedings in a transparent manner, while ensuring that serious offences like insider trading are kept out of settlement window.

The decisions were taken at a board meeting of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi ), which is also believed to have discussed matters like new Corporate Governance Code for listed companies, revision of insider trading norms and a new framework for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

However, a final decision is yet to be taken on corporate governance code, REITs and new insider trading norms, sources said.

The seven decisions announced by Sebi after the board meeting also included doing away with mandatory IPO grading, list being valid for one year for multiple draft offers, and a tax treatment similar to FIIs being accorded to FPIs (Foreign Portfolio Investors), a newly created class of abroad investors.

As many as four decisions are related to the spread of an ordinance by the government for grant of greater powers to Sebi to check escalating of illegal money-pooling schemes across the country and to take strict actions against fraudsters and market manipulators.