What are the regulatory requirements specified by SEBI for corporate debt securities?
The term Corporate Bonds referred here includes all debt securities issued by institutions such as Banks, Public Sector Undertakings, Municipal Corporations, bodies corporate and companies having a tenure of more than 365 days. Such an issue of bonds, if offered to the public shall be required to comply with the SEBI (Disclosure and Investor Protection Guidelines), 2000. Also, a private placement of corporate bonds made by a listed company shall be required to comply with provisions contained in SEBI Circulars in this regard. The SEBI Circulars dated September 30, 2003 and December 22, 2003 have laid out norms pertaining to the disclosure norms on issuance of such securities, which include compliance with Chapter VI of the SEBI (Disclosure and Investor Protection) Guidelines, 2000, Companies Act, 1956, listing agreement for debentures with the stock exchanges, rating to be obtained from a Credit Rating Agency registered with SEBI, requirement for appointing a debenture trustee register
The issue of debt securities having maturity period of more than 365 days by listed companies (i.e. which have any of their securities, either equity or debt, offered through an offer document, and listed on a recognized stock exchange and also includes Public Sector Undertakings whose securities are listed on a recognized stock exchange) on private placement basis must comply with the conditions prescribed by SEBI from time to time for getting them listed on the stock exchanges. Further, unlisted companies/statutory corporations/other entities, if they so desire, may get their privately placed debt securities listed on the stock exchanges, by complying with the relevant conditions. Briefly, these conditions are: Compliance with disclosure requirements under Chapter VI of the SEBI (Disclosure and Investor Protection) Guidelines, 2000, Listing Agreement with the exchanges and provisions of the Companies Act. Such disclosures may be made through the web site of the stock exchanges where
