Debt Securities

Market regulator Sebi warns against unregistered online debt platforms

The platforms are offering unsecured debt securities, which are not backed by any collateral and carry higher risk

Sebi relaxes prior order of ban on Axis Capital managing debt securities

Securities and Exchange Board of India, in an interim September order, had banned Axis Capital from acting as a banker for new debt issues, alleging violation of rules

Sebi proposes Rs 1 cr minimum investment, demat form for securitisation

Markets regulator Sebi has proposed a minimum ticket size or investment threshold of Rs 1 crore for the RBI-regulated originators and unregulated entities engaged in securitisation activities. The proposal also introduced limitations on the number of investors in private placements, allowing securitized debt instruments (SDIs) issued privately to be offered to a maximum of 200 investors. If this limit is exceeded, the issuance must be classified as a public issue. Public offers should remain open for a minimum of three days and a maximum of 10 days, with advertisement requirements aligned with Sebi's regulations for non-convertible securities. Additionally, the regulator has suggested that all securitized debt instruments should be issued and transferred exclusively in demat form. SDIs are financial products created by pooling together various types of debt -- such as loans, mortgages, or receivables -- and then selling them as securities to investors. This process, known as ...

Sebi clarifies on 3-in-1 accounts usage for online public issue application

Markets regulator Sebi on Friday clarified that investors can continue using 3-in-1 accounts to apply online for public issues of debt securities, non-convertible redeemable preference shares, municipal debt securities, and securitised debt instruments. This is in addition to the existing modes of application, Sebi said in a circular. A three-in-one trading account combines a savings account, a demat account, and a trading account into a single integrated solution. In this case, the clients would have their funds in their bank account, earning interest on the cash balances. The clarification came after Sebi received feedback that there is a need to explicitly specify the usage of 3-in-1 type accounts for making an application in the public issue of debt securities, non-convertible redeemable preference shares, municipal debt securities and securitised debt instruments. Last month, Sebi's board approved a proposal whereby, in addition to the current mode of trading, the qualified st

Sebi mandates UPI payment for public issue applications of debt securities

To streamline the application process for public issues of debt securities, markets regulator Sebi on Tuesday asked individual investors applying for amounts up to Rs 5 lakh through intermediaries to use only UPI to block funds. Further, investors will continue to have the choice of availing other methods like applying through Self-Certified Syndicate Banks or the stock exchange platform for making applications, Sebi said in its circular. These provisions will apply to public issues of debt securities starting from November 1. The move is aimed at streamlining and aligning the process of applying in the public issue of debt securities, non-convertible redeemable preference shares, municipal debt securities and securitised debt instruments with that of the public issue of equity shares and convertibles. "It has been decided that all individual investors applying in public issues of such securities through intermediaries (viz. syndicate members, registered stock brokers, registrar to

Sebi amends rules to streamline public issuance of debt securities

Markets regulator Sebi has amended rules to streamline the process for public issuance of debt securities aimed at providing faster access to funds for such issuers. Under the amended rules, Sebi has reduced the period for seeking public comments on the draft offer documents from 7 working days to 1 day for issuers whose specified securities are already listed and 5 days for other issuers. "The issuers whose specified securities are listed on a recognised stock exchange having nationwide trading terminals shall post the draft offer document filed with stock exchange(s) for one day immediately after the date of filing the draft offer document with stock exchange(s)," the regulator said in a notification. Also, the minimum subscription period has been cut from 3 to 2 working days. Further, in case of revision in the price band or yield, the bidding period disclosed in the offer documents, can be extended by one working day instead of three working days. The new rules are aimed at ...

Govt bond yields steady as traders await key data, Friday's debt sale

The benchmark 10-year yield ended at 6.8637 per cent, compared with its previous close of 6.8605 per cent

'A red herring': Adani Group scraps Hindenburg's fresh allegations

In a statement to the stock exchanges on Sunday, an Adani group spokesperson said the latest allegations by Hindenburg are malicious, mischievous, and manipulative

Vedanta Group mandates JPMorgan to arrange $300 million India bond

A Vedanta spokesperson said the group continues to exercise refinancing and capital-raising activities from diverse sources as it seeks to improve its debt and cash profile

Inclusion in global bond indices to up foreign interest in corp debt: Buch

The inclusion of the India in the global bond indices is also expected to increase the interest of investors in corporate paper, Sebi Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch said here on Wednesday. Speaking at a research conference organised by Sebi and its education-focused capacity-building body NISM, Buch said the regulator will further reduce the minimum investment size of bets on real estate investments trusts and infrastructure investment trusts to ensure that common people are able to take bets on such assets. "We are all delighted that now, government of India bonds will be part of the global indices," Buch said. "We are expecting that on the back of the inclusion of the sovereign debt on the global indices, there will be a significant interest in corporate debt," she added. J P Morgan and Bloomberg have included securities issued by the Indian government to take care of its funds in their indices, which is expected to lead to inflow of up to USD 40 billion into Indian debt from fore

Hybrid mutual funds scheme gain popularity, attract Rs 20,634 crore in Jan

Hybrid mutual fund schemes have been gaining popularity among investors, attracting Rs 20,634 crore in January, marking a 37 per cent surge from the previous month, largely due to their appeal as an alternative investment option post-change in taxation laws for debt funds. With this, total inflow in the category reached Rs 1.21 lakh crore in the April-January period of the current financial year (FY24). However, hybrid schemes saw outflow in the same period of the preceding financial year. Hybrid funds are mutual fund schemes that typically invest in a combination of equity and debt securities and sometimes in other asset categories such as gold. The category has been attracting regular inflows since April 2023, after a change in taxation for debt funds that kicked off in the same month. Before that, the segment saw a net withdrawal of Rs 12,372 crore in March last year. According to the latest data with the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi), hybrid schemes witnessed an

FPIs investment in debt market over 6-year high at Rs 19,800 cr in January

Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have injected over Rs 19,800 crore in the country's debt market in January, making it the highest monthly inflow in more than six years, on the back of inclusion of Indian government bonds in the JP Morgan Index. On the other hand, they pulled out Indian equities worth Rs 25,743 crore last month owing to surging bond yield in the US. According to the data with the depositories, FPIs made a net investment of Rs 19,836 crore in the debt markets in January. This was the highest inflow since June 2017, when they infused Rs 25,685 crore. Before this, FPIs injected Rs 18,302 crore in the debt market in December, Rs 14,860 crore in November, and Rs 6,381 crore in October. "Indian fixed income markets witnessed robust net inflows from FPIs to the tune of USD 2.39 billion in January on the back of inclusion of Indian government bonds in the JP Morgan Index," Himanshu Srivastava, Associate Director- Manager Research, Morningstar Investment Research India, .

Sebi renews recognition to AMC Repo Clearing for 1 yr to clear transactions

The regulator has granted renewal of recognition for one year starting from January 17, 2024 till January 16, 2025, according to a notification uploaded on Sebi's website on Tuesday

IFSCA forms committee on transition finance to formulate framework

The committee has been tasked to assess the trends in the segment and identify the best practices for transition finance in India by 2047

Sebi to introduce fast track concept for public issuance of debt securities

To deepen the bond market, Sebi is looking to introduce the concept of 'fast track' public issuance for debt securities and further reduce the face value of debt securities, including non-convertible debentures, issued on a private placement basis to Rs 10,000 from Rs 1 lakh at present. If implemented, the move would also promote ease of doing business. "The main intention of a fast track public issuance of debt securities is to facilitate frequent issuers with a consistent track record, to make public issues of debt securities with reduced time, cost and effort," Sebi said in its consultation paper. To further enhance the participation of the non-institutional investors in the corporate bond market, Sebi has "proposed to permit issuers to launch NCDs (non-convertible debentures) or NCRPS (non-convertible redeemable preference shares) with the face value of Rs 10,000". However, in such cases, the issuer should appoint a merchant banker who would carry out due diligence for issuance

Sebi eases access to unclaimed funds in REITs, InvITs, debt securities

Capital markets regulator Sebi on Wednesday came out with detailed procedures for dealing with unclaimed funds of investors lying with entities having listed non-convertible securities, REITs and InvITs. Also, the regulator has put in place a manner of claiming such unclaimed amounts by investors. The new framework will come into effect from March 1, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in three separate circulars. The move is aimed at prescribing a uniform process of claim for such unclaimed funds in a streamlined manner for the ease and convenience of investors. This came after the board of Sebi in September approved amendments to rules about the IPEF (Investor Protection and Education Fund) disclosure, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs). Going by circulars, Sebi has defined the manner of handling the unclaimed amounts lying with REITs, InvITs, and in the escrow accounts of the listed entities (which are n

Sebi eases norms for borrowing for large corporates through debt securities

Capital markets regulator Sebi on Thursday relaxed norms for borrowings through the issuance of debt securities large corporates to meet their financing needs. Under the rule, entities qualified as large corporates are required to meet 25 per cent mandatory borrowing from bonds. Large corporates are those that have an outstanding long-term borrowing of at least Rs 100 crore with a credit rating of 'AA and above' and have their debt securities listed on a stock exchange. Under the new framework, Sebi has introduced incentives for large corporates in case of surplus in the requisite borrowings and moderated disincentives if they fail to raise at least 25 per cent of their incremental borrowings through debt securities. In case of shortfall or surplus by way of issuance of debt securities, additional or lower contributions, respectively, to the core Settlement Guarantee Fund (SGF) of the Limited Purpose Clearing Corporation (LPCC) needs to be made by the LC, according to the ...

Sebi brings new format for abridged prospectus for debt securities

Capital markets regulator Sebi on Monday came out with a new format for abridged prospectus for public issuance of non-convertible debt securities wherein critical information will be provided on the front page of the offer document. Besides, the issuer or merchant bankers concerned should include a Quick Response (QR) code so that the prospectus can be accessed on scanning the code. The format has been revised to further simplify and provide greater clarity and consistency in the disclosures across various documents, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in a circular. The new format will be applicable for all public issues opening on or after October 1, 2023. Under the rules, no form of application for the purchase of securities of a company will be issued unless such a form is accompanied by an abridged prospectus. As per the revised format, an issuer will have to disclose the name as a type of instrument, base size, face value, the option to retain ...

Sebi notifies stricter delisting rules for non-convertible debt securities

With an aim to protect investors' interest, Sebi has notified a new framework prohibiting listed entities, with more than 200 non-QIB (qualified institutional buyer) holders of non-convertible debt securities, from delisting voluntarily. Under the new rule, the listed entity will have to obtain permission from all holders of non-convertible debt securities within 15 working days of receiving the notification of delisting. The present rule allows entities to delist by giving a prior intimation to the stock exchange about the meeting of the board of directors, where the proposal for a voluntary delisting is considered. Unlike equity, wherein approval by a threshold majority is sufficient for approval of delisting, in the new framework, approval of 100 per cent of the debt security holders has been mandated for delisting of debt securities. This is because, unlike equity which is a perpetual instrument, listed debt securities have a finite term to maturity. In its notification issued

Regulator Sebi proposes to ease norms for borrowings by large corporates

The present norms require large corporates to raise 25 per cent of their incremental borrowings in a financial year by way of issuance of debt securities