Relaxation from compliance with SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015

Relaxation from compliance with certain provisions of the SEBI (LODR) (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 –Reg.

1. SEBI, vide circular no. SEBI/HO/CFD/CMD1/CIR/P/2020/79 dated May 12, 2020, had inter-alia relaxed the requirements specified in regulation 36(1)(b) of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (“LODR Regulations”) relating to dispatching hard copy of the statement containing salient features of all the documents as prescribed in section 136 of the Companies Act, 2013 (financial statements, Board’s report, Auditor’s report etc.), to those shareholders who have not registered their email addresses. The said relaxation was initially extended till December 31, 2021 and was subsequently extended upto December 31, 2022, vide SEBI circular no. SEBI/HO/CFD/CMD2/CIR/P/2022/62 dated May 13, 2022 (“SEBI Circular”).
   
2. SEBI has been receiving representations from listed entities seeking extension of the relaxations provided in the aforesaid SEBI Circular, beyond December 31, 2022. Incidentally, MCA, vide General Circular No. 10/2022 dated December 28, 2022, has provided similar relaxations to companies from dispatching physical copies of the financial statements (including Board’s report, Auditor’s report or other documents required to be attached therewith) to the shareholders, for the Annual General Meetings (AGMs) conducted till September 30, 2023.
   
3. After consideration, it has been decided to extend the relaxations provided in para 2 and 4 of the SEBI Circular till September 30, 2023. The listed entities shall ensure compliance with the conditions specified in para 2 and 3 of the said circular which is reproduced below:
   a.In terms of regulation 36(1)(c) of the LODR Regulations, listed entities are required to send hard copy of full annual reports to those shareholders who request for the same.
   b.The notice of AGM published by advertisement in terms of regulation 47 of the LODR Regulations shall disclose the web-link to the annual report so as to enable shareholders to have access to the full annual report.
   
4. This Circular shall come into force with immediate effect. The Stock Exchanges are advised to bring the provisions of this circular to the notice of all listed entities that have issued specified securities and also disseminate on their websites.
   
5. The Circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 read with Regulations 101 and 102 of the LODR and the relaxations contained herein are subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and rules made thereunder.

Circular

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