Insider trading: Sebi releases new norms for reporting violations of code

Markets regulator Sebi Friday came out with standardized format for reporting violations of code of conduct, formulated under Prohibition of Insider Trading (PIT) norms.

Under PIT norms, all listed firms, intermediaries and fiduciaries are required to formulate a code of conduct for designated persons as well as for their relatives and inform the regulator about any such violation.

Under the code of conduct, the designated persons and their relatives are barred from trading while in the possession of unpublished price sensitive information (UPSI). Besides they are required to maintain the confidentiality of the UPSI, among others restrictions are placed.

The regulator said it has been receiving various references from listed firms regarding violations related to code of conduct.

However many of such references provide incomplete details about the nature of violation, designation and functional role of designated persons who have committed the violation, frequency of such violations etc. Such information is crucial for examining the reported violations and taking further necessary action if required, Sebi said.

"With an objective to standardize the process relating to dealing with such violations of the code of conduct, all listed companies, intermediaries and fiduciaries shall report such violations by the designated persons and immediate relatives of designated persons in the standardized format to Sebi," the regulator said in a circular.

All listed companies, intermediaries and fiduciaries will "maintain a database of the violation of code of conduct by designated persons and immediate relatives of designated persons that would entail initiation of appropriate action against them," it added.

Details like whether the designated person is a promoter, or belongs to promoter group, the name of the scrip, number of scrips traded by the designated person and value of such transaction, details of violations observed under PIT norms, action taken by the listed company, among other details are mandated in the new standardize format.