SEBI : Electronic Data Information Filing And Retrieval (EDIFAR)

SMD/POLICY/Cir-13/02
June 20, 2002

The Executive Directors/
Managing Directors,
All Stock Exchanges

Dear Sir/Madam,

Sub: Electronic Data Information Filing And Retrieval (EDIFAR)

EDIFAR is Electronic Data Information Filing and Retrieval system. This would involve electronic filing of information in a standard format by the companies. This system will have several benefits by way of dissemination of information to various classes of market participants like investors, regulatory organisation, research institutions etc., This would also be useful to the companies and the stock exchanges.

SEBI in association with National Informatics Center (NIC) has set up an Electronic Data Information Filing And Retrieval (EDIFAR) to facilitate filing of certain documents/statements by the listed companies on line on the web site to be maintained by NIC. This system is being introduced in a phased manner and would be applicable to 200 companies, a list of which is enclosed. Initially, the following statements/information would be filed on-line.

Financial statements comprising of balance sheet, profit and loss account and full version of annual report; half yearly financial statements including cash flow statements and quarterly financial statements.

Corporate governance reports Shareholding pattern statement.Action taken against the company by any regulatory agency.

Filing of these statements/information would be in addition to the filings to be made by the companies with the stock exchange in compliance with various provisions of listing agreement.Accordingly, you are advised to amend the listing agreement by incorporating Clause 51 as mentioned below and to immediately bring it to the notice of the companies to which it is applicable:

“Clause 51 : EDIFAR FILING (1) The company agrees that it shall file the following information, statements and reports on the Electronic Data Information Filing and Retrieval (EDIFAR) website maintained by the SEBI in association with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), on-line, in such manner and format and within such time as may be specified by SEBI:

Full version of annual report including the balance sheet, profit and loss account, director’s report and auditor’s report; cash flow statements; half yearly financial statements quarterly financial statements.Corporate governance report.

Shareholding pattern statement.Statement of action taken against the company by any regulatory agency.Such other statement, information or report as may be specified by SEBI from time to time in this regard.

Provided that the requirement of this clause shall be in addition to and not in derogation from the requirements of other clauses of this listing agreement, which may require filing of any statements, reports and information in the physical or other form with the exchange.(2) The company agrees that it shall appoint a compliance officer who shall be responsible for filing the above information in the EDIFAR system. The compliance officer and the company shall ensure the correctness and authenticity of the information filed in the system and that it is in conformity with applicable laws and terms of the listing agreement.

(3) The company undertakes that while filing the information in the EDIFAR system, it shall make the following disclaimer clause:

‘The information furnished above is certified by [company’s name] to be true, fair and accurate (except in respect of errors in or omissions from documents filed electronically that result solely from electronic transmission errors beyond our control and in respect of which we take corrective action as soon as it is reasonably practicable after becoming aware of the error or the omission). SEBI, the Stock Exchanges or the NIC do not take any responsibility for the accuracy, validity, consistency and integrity of the data entered and updated by it.’ The name of the compliance officer with his designation and the company’s name shall be displayed immediately below the disclaimer clause.”

Companies would be required to file these information/statements and reports on EDIFAR with effect from July 15, 2002 and would be filed simultaneously with the information being filed with the Stock Exchanges. In case any of the Company included in the list files any of these Information/Statements and reports physically with the Stock Exchanges between July 1, 2002 and July 13, 2002, such companies should also file the same Information electronically on EDIFAR by July 15, 2002. The manner and format has been provided in the Operational Manual available on the web site.
Yours faithfully

P. K. BINDLISH
Encl: As above

Annexure