SEBI

The general understanding of a stock exchange is that it is a marketplace where for-profit companies propose to list their securities to raise funds and provide liquidity to the existing shareholders of the company. The concept of social stock exchanges has emerged in the recent past wherein not-forprofits(“NPOs”) or for profit-making social enterprises(“FPSEs”) are able to access funds for specific social projects. Countries like Canada, UK, Jamaica, Brazil, Portugal and South Africa have established social stock exchanges. India has taken the first step to join this group of countries.

During the quarter ended September, 2020, many companies who have listed their Non-Convertible Debt on the stock exchanges have defaulted on their interest payments to their NCD holders. One of them being an NBFC. The Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) with an intent to protect the investors as well as enhance the duties of the Debenture Trustees (DTs) has on 8th October, 2020 made certain amendments to the following regulations:

There are kaleidoscopic hues that surround the concept of corporate governance. One can articulate on the concept until the cows come home and yet fail to arrive at a universally acceptable definition to the term. James D.Wolfensohn, the former President of the World Bank, succinctly defined Corporate Governance as” a concept which promotes corporate fairness, transparency and accountability”. Central to the theme of governance is the need for ensuring fairness and transparency which should be pervasive in the Organization and percolate down to every level of the corporate hierarchy and functions.

Vide Notification dated November 9, 2021, SEBI has introduced amendments to the SEBI (LODR)Regulations, 2015 in respect of related party transactions. The amendments made are prospective and come into force from April,1, 2022.Some changes become effective from April 1, 2023.