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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
[SEBI-MF]listing of mutual fund close ended schemes mandatory
Sunday, December 21, 2008
ICSI members-Company Secretary/PCS, download logos for visiting card & office stationery
Members can save this picture for use in their Stationeries...Right click the logo below and click "Save Picture As". Now, you can see CS logos everywhere, even we will be part of quiz contests and what now. Do comment your views on the new logo. Its now, up to us to popularise the same, so that every individual recognise CS as a professional for Corporate Legal Areas.
Enjoy CS...
Saturday, December 20, 2008
certification-foreign nationals company in India & Co incorporated outside commonwealth-apostillised as per Hague Convention
(a) by an official of the Government to whose custody the original is committed ; or
(b) a Notary (Public) of such country or [of that common wealth]; or
(b) the list of directors and secretary, if any of the company, name and address of person resident in India authorised to accept notice on company's behalf, be notarised and apostillised in the country of origin in accordance with the Hague convention;
[SEBI intermediaries]Money Laundering Master Circular dec 2008
PART -I OVER VIEW
1 Introduction
2 Background
3 Policies and Procedures to Combat Money Laundering and Terrorist financing
3.1 Guiding Principles
3.2 Obligations to establish policies and procedures
PART -II DETAILED OBLIGATIONS
4 Written Anti Money Laundering Procedures
5 Customer Due Diligence
5.1 Elements of Customer Due Diligence
5.2 Policy for acceptance of clients
5.3 Risk Based Approach
5.4 Clients of special category (CSC)
5.5 Client identification procedure
6 Record Keeping
7 Information to be maintained
8 Retention of Records
9 Monitoring of transactions
10 Suspicious Transaction Monitoring & Reporting
11 Reports to Financial Intelligence Unit- India
12 Designation of an officer for reporting of suspicious transaction
13 Employees' Hiring/Training and Investor Education
14 List of Key Circulars/Guidelines issued having a bearing on AML/CFT framework
15 Annexure- List of various Reports and their formats
The detailed master circular is available in http://www.sebi.gov.in/Index.jsp?contentDisp=Section&sec_id=1Wednesday, December 17, 2008
[EPF-international workers]43A-Provident Fund applicability mandatory on EXPATRIATES
Para 83 has been inserted in EPF Scheme w.e.f. 1-10-2008 to make provisions for provident fund to international worker.
International worker is (a) an Indian employee who has worked or is going to work in a foreign country with which India has entered into a social security agreement and when the employee is eligible to avail social security programme of that country (b) an employee other than Indian employee, working for an establishment in India to which the EPF Act applies. International worker working in India shall be required to become member of Employees Provident Fund. However, such contribution is not required if he is ¡excluded employee. Excluded employee¢ means an international worker who is contributing to social security programme of his/her country of origin, with whom India has entered into a social security agreement on reciprocity basis, and the employee is enjoying status of ¡detached¢ worker as per agreement with other country. The Indian employer is required to submit details of ¡international worker¢ employed by him and also submit periodic returns. Para 43A of EPF Scheme (inserted w.e.f. 1-10-2008) makes provision for pension to international workers, as defined in para 83 of the EPF scheme. The scheme applies to member covered by international social security agreement. The scheme makes provisions for calculating pensionable service and pensionable salary of such employees.
The salient features of the Amendment by Mr. Gokul, Trivandrum
1) The employees qualifying as 'international workers' will contribute to the EPF schemes and the employers would also be required to make an equal contribution.
2) The employees likely to be affected or benefited would include expatriates (foreign citizens) working in India and even Indian employees deputed to work abroad. With the employer picking up their share of the contributions also, the expatriate assignment costs are going to increase even further.
3) The notification exempts international workers from those countries with which India has signed Social Security Agreements, commonly known as Totalisation Agreements, and who have been contributing to their home country social security schemes. India has currently finalised totalisation agreements with Belgium, France and Germany . The entire objective of such agreements is to ensure a level playing-field for mobile assignees. These agreements aim to protect the interests of Indian professionals by securing exemption from social security contributions in case of certain short-term assignments in the host country.
4) In essence, there is no impact of the amendment on the employees of the establishment who are working in the foreign countries with whom India has not signed SSA. Such employees will continue to contribute to the Social Security Schemes of the country in which they are posted but may not get any benefit out of such contribution.
5) The Indian employees on short term international assignments (period specified in each agreement), who are contributing to Indian PF scheme, would not be required to contribute to the social security schemes in the respective host countries.
Provisions Employer needs to comply with,
1) To send to the Provident Fund Commissioner, within 15 days of the commencement of the scheme (1.11.2008), a consolidated return in such form as the Commissioner may specify of the International worker indicating clearly nationality of each and every international worker required or entitled to become member of the fund showing the basic wage, retaining allowance, if any and Dearness Allowance irrespective of wage/salary ceiling including the cash value of any food concession paid to each of such international workers. However, if there is no international worker who is required or entitled to become a member of the fund, the employer shall send "Nil' Returns.
2) To send to the Commissioner, within 15 days of close of each month, a return of the International workers qualifying to become members of the fund for the first time during the preceding month.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
ICSI-company secretary exam june 2009 executive/professional program-daily/crash batches-modules/papers
Yes,
Glad to announce - CS - Executive & Professional Program - All Module - All Papers - Daily & Crash Courses at Learn Labz from February 2009 onwards.
Learning is Fun ! Know it through Learn Labz...Xperiment, Xcel!
So, ready to have fun. The following are the eligibility criteria,
1. you should be a student of CS Executive Program or
2. you should be a student of CS Professional Program.
Provided that, you shall have the time to have fun during morning's & evening's for Regular batches whereas its full Saturday's or Sunday's for Crash or Fast Track revision Courz.
Click for Time Table for CS Executive Program aka Inter
Click for Time Table for CS Professional Program aka Final
Enjoy passin...
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Find ICSI/Company Secretary December 2008 Exam Hall Ticket/Admit Card Online
Yes,
Hope you would have got your Hall Ticket for December 2008 exam to enjoy it with a bang!
For those, who have not got the same, not to panic! there is a very easy way to download, which is valid for Exams too from ICSI site itself. Just you have to know your ICSI registration number. (Enter Either Registration number or Roll Number) 17 Digit Registration No (Third character is Zero and not "O") and you will get your Admit Card Extract.
So, don't worry, just prepare well for exams and you will win.
Click here to download ICSI December 2008 hall ticket
Also you can enter your ICSI registration number to find your Roll No here. It will be there in the Enrollment status link of the page which appears after entering the Registration Number.
All the Best ! Enjoy Passin...Vj
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
[SEBI-DIP] non-convertible debentures with warrants allowed in QIP
SEBI vide circular No. SEBI/CFD/DIL/DIP/33/2008/08/12 dated 8th Dec 2008 made the following amendments in Chapter XIII-A of the SEBI (DIP) Guidelines on "Guidelines for Qualified Institutions Placement (QIP)" enable a listed company to make a combined offering of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) with warrants. Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) can subscribe to the combined offering of NCDs with warrants or to the individual instruments, i.e., either NCDs or warrants, where separate books are run for NCDs/ warrants.
The company is however required to obtain relaxation from the applicability of the provisions of Rule 19(2)(b), read with Rule 19(4) of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules, 1957 for listing/ trading of the warrants.
The amendments made vide this circular shall come into force with immediate effect.
Click here to get the amended DIP guidelines
Thanks & Regards
Alagar
CSChennai
Mobile: 919790906827 / 919884731993
email id: alagarcs@gmail.com; csalagar@yahoo.in
[FEMA]use only your own debit/credit/prepaid cards for private travel/visit abroad & comply KYC
RBI/2008-09/318
A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 40
A. P. (FL Series) Circular No. 03 dated 10th December 2008
Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 –
Foreign Travel – Mode of payment in Rupees
Attention of Authorised Dealers Category I & II and Full Fledged Money Changers (FFMCs) is invited to paragraph A.10 of the Annexure to A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.19 dated October 30, 2000, in terms of which Authorised Dealers may accept payment in cash up to Rs. 50,000 (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) against sale of foreign exchange for travel abroad (for private visit or for any other purpose). Wherever the sale of foreign exchange exceeds the amount equivalent to Rs.50,000, the payment must be received only by a -
(i) crossed cheque drawn on the applicant's bank account
or
(ii) crossed cheque drawn on the bank account of the firm/company sponsoring the visit of the applicant
or
(iii) Banker's cheque / Pay Order / Demand Draft.
2. With a view to provide flexibility in the mode of payment against sale of foreign exchange, in addition to the payment by Rupees / through crossed cheque / Banker's cheque / Pay order / Demand draft, Authorised Dealers Category I & II and FFMCs may also accept the payments made by the traveller through debit cards / credit cards / prepaid cards for travel abroad (for private visit or for any other purpose) provided -
(i) KYC / AML guidelines are complied with,
(ii) sale of foreign currency / issue of foreign currency travellers' cheques is within the limits (credit / prepaid cards) prescribed by the bank,
(iii) the purchaser of foreign currency / foreign currency travellers' cheque and the credit / debit / prepaid card holder is one and the same person.
3. Authorised Dealers Category I & II and Full Fledged Money Changers may bring the contents of the circular to the notice of their constituents and customers concerned.
4. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under Section 10(4) and Section 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and is without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.
[FEMA]BuyBack FCCB@15%/25% discount under Automatic/Approval Route now
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Friday, December 5, 2008
SEBI extend observation letter validity, rights entitlement in Demat & no early exit for close ended MF
PR No.283/2008
1. SEBI to extend validity of the observation letter
SEBI Board has approved extension of validity of observation letter issued for public / rights issue from present three months to one year, subject to filing of updated document with SEBI where there are material changes.
2. SEBI to introduce electronic rights entitlements and ASBA in the Rights Issue process.
SEBI Board has approved certain policy measures pertaining to rights issue process, which inter-alia include enabling electronic rights entitlement, which can be traded electronically in Stock Exchanges, introducing alternate mode for making applications in rights issue viz Applications Supported by Blocked Amount (ASBA) mode and mandating that the issuer can get access to rights issue proceeds only after the allotment is finalized.
Currently a shareholder intending to renounce his/her Rights entitlements fills up part B of the rights issue application form. The renouncee can trade this form or apply in the Rights Issue by filling up Part C of the form. Renunciation forms are traded in physical segment in Bombay Stock Exchange. The right entitlement will now be made available in demat form for all shareholders holding the underlying shares in demat form.
The policy measures approved by the Board in this meeting, along with measures undertaken in the recent past for reduction in timelines, are expected to streamline the rights issue process and make it more efficient.
3. It was decided that no early exit will be allowed in any scheme of Mutual Fund in the nature of a close ended scheme. The schemes which have been approved earlier but not yet launched will also have to be amended accordingly. It will be obligatory for the Asset Management Company to list the close ended schemes. The Board also decided that for such close ended schemes the underlying assets will not have a maturity beyond the date on which the scheme expires.
4. The Board decided to adopt a code to avoid conflict of interest for the members of the Board. It was further decided that this code will be put up in the public domain by publishing it on the SEBI website before December 12, 2008.
- In order to bring transparency in the working of the Board it was decided that the agenda papers submitted to the Board on all policy issues will be made available in the public domain by putting them up on the SEBI website after the Board has taken a decision on the issue. The minutes of the meeting relating to such items will also be made available on the SEBI website after the Board has approved the minutes. Accordingly the agenda papers for today's Board meeting will be made available on the SEBI website by December 15, 2008.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
[SEBI-Equity & Derivative]Cross Margining across Exchange traded priority ranked with default positions
Sub: Cross Margining across Exchange traded Equity (Cash) and Exchange traded Equity Derivatives (Derivatives) segments
SEBI/DNPD/Cir- 44 /2008 dated 2nd December 2008
This is in continuation of SEBI Circular No. MRD/DoP/SE/Cir-13/2008 dated May 05, 2008 on the cross margining facility across cash and derivatives segments for institutional trades. In order to improve the efficiency of the use of the margin capital by market participants, it has now been decided to revise the existing facility of cross margining and to extend it across cash and derivatives segments to all categories of market participants. The features of the revised cross margining facility are detailed below:
1. Positions eligible for cross margining benefit
a. The positions of clients in both the cash and derivatives segments to the extent they offset each other shall be considered for the purpose of cross margining as per the following priority:
i. Index futures position and constituent stock futures position in derivatives segment
ii. Index futures position in derivatives segment and constituent stock position in cash segment
iii. Stock futures position in derivatives segment and the position in the corresponding underlying in cash segment
b. A basket of positions in index constituent stock/stock futures, which is a complete replica of the index in the ratio specified by the Exchange/Clearing Corporation, shall be eligible for cross margining benefit.
c. The positions in the derivatives segment for the stock futures and index futures shall be in the same expiry month to be eligible for cross margining benefit.
2. Computation of cross margin
a. To begin with, a spread margin of 25% of the total applicable margin on the eligible off-setting positions, as mentioned in para 1 (a) above, shall be levied in the respective cash and derivative segments.
b. Cross margining benefit shall be computed at client level on an online real time basis and provided to the trading member / clearing member / custodian, as the case may be, who, in turn, shall pass on the benefit to the client. For institutional investors, however, the cross margining benefit shall be provided after confirmation of trades.
3. Separate accounts
To avail the facility of cross margining, a client may maintain two accounts with the trading member / clearing member, namely arbitrage account and a non-arbitrage account, to allow converting partially replicated portfolio into a fully replicated portfolio by taking opposite positions in two accounts. However, for the purpose of compliance and reporting requirements, the positions across both accounts shall be taken together and client shall continue to have unique client code.
4. Settlement
To begin with, a client may settle through a trading member / clearing member / custodian, as the case may be, who is clearing in both the segments or through two trading members / clearing members / custodians, one of whom is a trading member / custodian in the cash segment and the other is a clearing member in the derivatives segment. However, in course of time, a client will settle through only one clearing member who is a member in both the segments.
5. Default
In the event of default by a trading member / clearing member / custodian, as the case may be, whose clients have availed cross margining benefit, the Stock Exchange / Clearing Corporation shall have the option to:
a. Hold the positions in the cross margin account till expiry in its own name.
b. Liquidate the positions / collateral in either segment and use the proceeds to meet the default obligation in the other segment.
6. Agreement
The Exchange / Clearing Corporation shall enter into agreement with client / clearing member / trading member / custodian, as the case may be, clearly laying down the inter-se distribution of liability / responsibility in the event of default.
7. The Stock Exchanges are advised to:
a. put in place the adequate systems and issue the necessary guidelines for implementing the above decision.
b. make necessary amendments to the relevant bye-laws, rules and regulations for the implementation of the above decision.
c. specify the legal agreements between the clearing entities for the purpose of margin utilisation in case of liquidation/default etc.
d. bring the provisions of this circular to the notice of the trading members / clearing members / custodians and also to disseminate the same on the website.
8. This circular is being issued in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 11 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market.
Friday, November 14, 2008
[CS book Law Labz]"Only this much"-Company, Economic & Labour, Securities Law & Compliances BOOK [charts/notes]Company Secretary /CA/CWA / MBA / Law
Dear Readers,
While we were students studying for the exams we faced a severe shortage of books that made studying the course fun and interesting. All books we came across had a highly ‘Professional’ approach. We realised that this was because the books were written by veterans with enormous years of experience, who are used to deciphering voluminous cryptography.
This book has been tailor made for readers and complied with a three fold objective:
- To make reading interesting.
- To bring out the important points and serve as an aid for remembering them, which would otherwise be lost in the mammoth theoretical ocean.
- To serve as and aid from the examination point of view.
We advise students to use the Institute study material wherever they seek clarity.
We further would like to advise them to use Institute published Guideline answers to understand the expected pattern and presentation of answers.
Please feel free to share your thoughts and critical analysis at http://yehseeyes.blogspot.com/ & mails.
Wishing you all the very best for your oncoming exams!
NOTHING SHOULD BE READ, UNLESS OTHERWISE IT’S INTERESTING…
I like doing things that I am passionate about but ‘Reading theory’ (Yawn!) just doesn’t fit the bill. It is a general consensus that Reading theory is as boring as eating Plain rice. It has been our endeavor (me and my fellow chef!) to make it a mouth watering and lip smacking ‘Biryani’ (Only this Much!). To make this dish we needed the right recipe and ingredients.
Now let me introduce you to my TEAM:
Chef: R. Anand, who is very particular about quality, hygiene & calorific value of every ingredient added in the dish, handled the legal content editing. Yes, he is also the Gold Medalist in Dec 2006 ICSI Final Exams and is currently working in SEBI as Manager.
Chef: CS.Divya Mittal working for Law Labz, has been the wheels and driving force behind this dish. She is a connoisseur and facilitator for ensuring the creation of this dish.
Chef: Mr.Venkatraman, Licentiate ICSI has been our creative garnisher and is the official taster of this dish.
SO, there should be "Only this Much"… & this is only about that much.
This is Head Chef: A.N.S. Vijay working for Law Labz (also Licentiate ICSI) and I am eagerly awaiting your secret ingredients!!
Though great care has been taken in preparing this dish, we cannot rule out the possibility that some may not find it to taste. We would be grateful to those readers to point out portions not to their taste, so that we could use it in the next edition of the dish.
FEED BACK / SUGGESTIONS
E-mail - onlythismuch@lawlabz.com
Address - No.128, Veeraperumal Koil Street, Mylapore, Chennai-04
Website - http://onlythismuch.lawlabz.com/
Mobile : + 91 93821 35598
MRP – Rs. 425/-
(Legal Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed in the book do not reflect those of the organisation but only those of the individual authors)
Keep Communicatin…
A.N.S.VIJAY & TEAM
Trezrrr… Every Pulsss
New Edition with Iconistic Approach
Only This Much!
Economic & Labour Laws [Old Edition]
Economic & Labour Laws - Only This Much
Securities Law & Compliances [Old Edition]
Securities Laws - Only This MuchCompany Law [Old Edition]
Company Law - Only This MuchTuesday, November 11, 2008
[FEMA]StandbyLetterOfCredit/BankGuarantee-OverseasCommodityDerivativeContractUPTO 1 year
RBI/2008-09/277
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.35
10th November 2008
Remittance related to Commodity Derivative Contract
Issuance of Standby Letter of Credit / Bank Guarantee
Attention of Authorised Dealer Category - I (AD Category-I) banks is invited to Regulation 8 of Notification No.FEMA.25/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000 viz. Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign exchange derivative contracts) Regulations, 2000, as amended from time to time, regarding remittance of foreign exchange related to commodity derivative contract undertaken in accordance with the regulations.
2. The Reserve Bank has been receiving requests from banks for issuance of bank guarantee / standby letter of credit, in lieu of making a direct remittance towards payment obligations arising out of commodity derivative transactions entered into by customers with overseas counterparties. With a view to providing greater flexibility to resident entities who have such payment obligations related to commodity derivative contracts, it has been decided that AD Category-I banks may issue guarantees / standby letters of credit to cover these specific payment obligations subject to the conditions / guidelines given in the Annex to this Circular.
3. AD Category-I banks may issue guarantees / standby letters of credit only where the remittance is covered under the delegated authority or under the specific approval granted for overseas commodity hedging by the Reserve Bank.
4. The issuing bank shall have a Board approved policy on the nature and extent of exposures that the bank can take for such transactions and should be part of the credit exposure on the customers. The exposure should also be assigned risk weights, for capital adequacy purposes as per the extant provisions.
As per the Guideline,
1. It is to be issued for the specific purpose of payment of margin money [not exceeding the margin payments made to the specific counterparty during the previous FY] in respect of approved commodity hedging activities of the company.
2. After marking a lien & for a period UPTO 1 year & compliance of guidelines for overseas commodity hedging.
3. Broker's month-end reports duly confirmed / countersigned by corporate's financial controller have to be submitted and verified by the bank to ensure that all off-shore positions are / were backed by physical exposures.
[FEMA]NRE accounts - credit proceeds of account payee cheques
RBI/2008-09/276
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.34
November 10, 2008
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks and Authorised Banks
Madam / Sir,
Foreign Exchange Management (Deposit) Regulations, 2000
Credit to Non Resident (External) Rupee Accounts - Clarification
Attention of Authorised Dealer Category - I (AD Category-I) banks and Authorised Banks is invited to A.P.(DIR Series) Circular No.45 dated May 30, 2008 on the captioned subject. In this connection, it is clarified that AD Category-I banks and authorised banks may credit proceeds of account payee cheques also in addition to demand drafts / bankers' cheques, issued against encashment of foreign currency to the NRE account of the NRI account holder where the instruments issued to the NRE account holder are supported by encashment certificate issued by AD Category-I / Category-II.
ECN (like Physical Contract Note) in Equity Derivatives Segment
DERIVATIVES AND NEW PRODUCTS DEPARTMENT
To
The Managing Director / Executive Director
of Derivative Segment of NSE and BSE
and their Clearing Houses / Corporations.
Dear Sir,
Sub: Issuance of Electronic Contract Notes (ECNs) in Equity Derivatives Segment
- This is in continuation of SEBI Circular no. DNPD/Cir-9/04 dated February 3, 2004, on the issuance of electronic contract notes as a legal document for Equity Derivatives like the physical contract note for the equity segment.
- In consultation with the exchanges, it has now been decided to extend the facility of issuance of ECNs as a legal document using Straight Through Processing (STP) to the equity derivatives segment also.
- Accordingly a model contract note in electronic form (IFN 515 messaging format) and confirmation of electronic contract note (IFN 598 messaging format) are enclosed as Annexure-A.
- The Exchanges are advised to modify/amend their bye-laws, rules and regulations to;
a) Permit issuance of electronic contract note including all the standard pre-printed terms and conditions as given in the physical contract note.
b) Permit signing of the electronic contract note with a digital signature so as to make the modified format of the electronic contract note a valid legal document like the physical contract note.
c) Prescribe a standard format for the issuance of the electronic contract note.
5. The standard terms of contract as are required to be mentioned in the Contract Notes as per the Bye-laws and Regulations of exchanges, which are not contained in ECNs, shall be incorporated in the Client Broker Agreement or where applicable, the Tripartite Agreement between the stock broker, sub-broker and the client.
This circular is being issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11 (1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act 1992, read with Section 10 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market.
Encl : Annexure-A