Securities and Exchange Board of India
CIRCULAR No. SEBI/HO/CFD/SSEP/CIR/P/2022/48 | Dated: April 08, 2022
To
All Recognized Stock Exchanges (except Commodity Exchanges)
Listed Companies
Registrar and Share Transfer Agent
Dear Sir / Madam,
Sub: Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for dispute resolution available under the stock exchange arbitration mechanism for disputes between a listed company and its shareholder(s)/investor(s)
1. Regulation 40 of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, and bye-laws, listing agreement & regulations of the stock exchanges provide for dispute resolution under the stock exchange arbitration mechanism for disputes between a listed company and its shareholder(s)/ investor(s).
2. In this regard, stock exchanges are advised to put in place by June 01, 2022, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for operationalizing the resolution of all disputes pertaining to or emanating from investor services such as transfer/transmission of shares, demat/remat, issue of duplicate shares, transposition of holders, etc. and investor entitlements like corporate benefits, dividend, bonus shares, rights entitlements, credit of securities in public issue, interest /coupon payments on securities, etc.
3. Further, in respect of disputes in above matters where Registrar and Share Transfer Agents (RTA) are offering services to shareholder(s)/ investor(s) on behalf of listed companies, the RTAs shall continue to be subjected to the stock exchange arbitration mechanism.
4. The recognized stock exchanges are directed to bring the provisions of this circular and the SOP put in place in this regard to the notice of listed companies and also to disseminate the same on their website.
5. This circular is issued in exercise of powers conferred by Section 11(1) 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 and shall come into effect immediately.
6. A copy of this circular is available on SEBI website at sebi.gov.in under the categories “Legal Framework/Circulars”.
Yours faithfully,
Yogita Jadhav
General Manager
Corporation Finance Department
+91 22 2644 9583
Email – yogitag@sebi.gov.in
