Public issue of Debt Securities- Prohibition on payment of incentives
Summary
SEBI issued a circular prohibiting the payment of incentives to investors for subscribing to public issues of debt securities. The prohibition applies to all persons connected with the issue, including distributors, but excludes standard fees or commissions for services rendered. The directive was issued under Section 11(1) and Section 11A of the SEBI Act, 1992.
Text
It is gathered from market participants that in public issues of debt securities, some brokers/ distributors are passing on part of their brokerage/ commission to the final investor(s) for subscription to such public issue of debt.
In order to curb such practices, it is advised that in respect of public issues of debt securities, no person connected with the issue shall offer any incentive, whether direct or indirect, in any manner, whether in cash or kind or services or otherwise to any person for making an application for allotment of specified securities:
Provided that nothing contained in this circular shall apply to fees or commission for services rendered in relation to the issue.
For the purpose of the above guideline, the expression “person connected with the issue” includes a person connected with the distribution of issue.
All recognized stock exchanges are advised to bring to the notice of all their members and to disseminate the same on their respective websites for information.
This circular is issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11(1) and Section 11 A of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 read with Regulation 31(1) of SEBI (Issue and Listing of Debt Securities) Regulations, 2008 to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market.
Source: SecMarx — Public issue of Debt Securities- Prohibition on payment of incentives. Verbatim text is public record; SecMarx structuring (linkage to applying orders) is cited to us.