Attend MSOP SMTP online & get your Company Secretary long pending membership (ACS) now - ICSI welcomes more professionals

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) in collaboration with Gurukul Online Learning Solutions (GOLS) have come up with an initiative in the form of e-Management Skills Orientation Program (e-MSOP). The e-MSOP is basically a web-based training (WBT) wherein physical presence of the participant at the venue is not necessary. However, the final decision will depend on the response received. So, send your response now to: the Program Co-ordinator, e-MSOP, ICSI-CCGRT, Plot No. 101, Sector – 15, Institutional Area, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai – 400 614.  Phone: (022) 4102 1504 / (022) 27577814 Fax : (022) 2757 4384.  e-mail : ccgrt@icsi.edu  and icsiccgrt@gmail.com

1. For whom? A candidate occupying very senior position and who has completed Company Secretaryship Final exams on or before 1st September 2006 are eligible to apply. The decision of the Secretary & CEO whether to allow a candidate or not shall be final.
2. How much? Rs. 5000 (Five Thousand ONLY) per participant.
3. What is required? Connection to the internet, preferably through broadband. A good quality head-set is also necessary.

Modalities: Participants will be required to log onto the e-portal and participate in the program from their own office or residence.

Any participant who misses a session, will be given access to archived WBT sessions. The schedule will be posted on the web-site.

Details or Registration in  http://elearning.icsi.edu/e-msopAnnouncements.html

Enjoy training & welcome to become an ACS now!!!

Wholetime practising CS CA CWA can register as Facilitation Centre (CFC) for e-filing of excise, service tax now, website links for application forms given here

Setting up of Certified Facilitation Centers (CFCs) under ACES project of the CBEC

The ICSI/ICAI/ICWAI is pleased to inform you that the application format and other modalities for setting up of Certified Facilitation Centers (CFCs) under Automation of Central Excise and Service Tax (ACES) project of the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) has been finalised.

CFCs are set up by Professionals for the purposes of enabling e-filing of applications pertaining to Central Excise, Service tax, etc…The services provided by these CGC entail payment of service charges.

According to the scheme, a member of the ICSI/ICAI/ICWAI having valid Certificate of Practice and having at least one year of experience in practice can apply individually (not in the name of the firm) for registration as CFC after complying with the technical and other requirements as specified in the MOU.  The interested Whole Time Practicising Company Secretary/Chartered Accountant/Cost Accountant may make an online application for registration as CFC through the relevant link on our portal:

• ICSI: http://www.icsi.edu:8888/cbec
• ICAI: http://www.icai.org/post.html?post_id=5737&c_id=219
• ICWAI: http://www.icwai.org/icwai/institute-cbec.asp

The applicants are requested to note that he/she shall have to make a payment of Rs.1000/- only (non-refundable) towards application fees.

Enjoy certifyin…

Vacany in SEBI; Job for CS/CA/CWA freshers & more; apply before 31st of October 2010 - Hurry up, go for examination now

SEBI looking out your Curriculum Vitae or Biodata for over 90 posts.  Yes, an opportunity to work with the Market Regulator awaits you.  The post ranges from varied branch of qualification from Law to MBA to CA/CWA, etc… Interestingly, CTC is also good (Rs. 8.8 lakhs (approx) p.a.).

Brilliant opportunity for Freshers UPTO 27 years

As a Company Secretary/Chartered/Cost Accountant or CFA, you may join us an Asst. Manager, Officer Grade A – General Stream IF you could prove yourself well in an examination on i) English Language, ii) Quantitative Aptitude, iii) Reasoning ability and iv) General Awareness, of Objective type (Multiple Choice) for 200 marks will be held on Sunday, 05/12/2010. Candidates would have to secure minimum marks separately for each test as decided by the Board, based on Group Performance followed by an Interview.

APPLY ONLINE
	APPLICATION PRINTOUT REPRINT
	EDIT/UPDATES APPLICATION DETAILS
	Date of Commencement of Application : 12/10/2010 Date of Closure : 31/10/2010 Start Date for Fee deposit : 09/10/2010 Last Date for Fee deposit : 31/10/2010 Last Date for Reprint : 15/11/2010

More details on October 08, 2010 - SEBI Recruitment Exercise – 2010

Click here to Apply Online

Keep me posted on your selection.  Apply now to regret it later.  Never to miss opportunity!!!

Monthly Portfolio Management Activity report to be filed within 5 days of month at SEBI portal - Revised format

Sub: Monthly reporting by Portfolio Managers
Please refer to SEBI circular SEBI/IMD/PMS/CIR-3/2009 dated June 11, 2009 regarding submission of monthly report by portfolio managers.

The format for the monthly report on portfolio management activity has been revised as per enclosed Annexure. All portfolio managers are advised to upload the report in the revised format on SEBI Portal by the 5th of the following month with effect from the report for the month of October 2010 onwards.

Procedure to upload monthly report on portal is as follows:

a. Log on to SEBI Portal at https://portal.sebi.gov.in. using the Username and Password provided at the time of Registration/ Renewal as a portfolio manager.

b. Select the portfolio manager tab

c. Select the link: PM Monthly Report

d. Fill the data in the format provided

e. Save the data and then Submit.

Download Revised PM Monthly Report

Source: Cir. /IMD/DF/14/2010 dated 8th October 2010

How to get MCA updates in SMS or email through RSS feeds in your mobile or account - Ministry of Corporate Affairs commendable initiative to Free Registered Users

All types of MCA users (with login facility – whether registered/business) now have an option to get ALERTS of happenings/updates from Ministry of Corporate Affairs through Short Messaging Service (SMS) in addition to the e-mail updates through RSS feeds now by signing up for your Account in the MCA portal (www.mca.gov.in ) and then Click this link:

Register for SMS Alerts

Which will ask for your 10 digit mobile number and get itself updated with your records thereon.  If you don’t have an account in MCA then you have the option to register as a Registered User for FREE from New User and then subscribe for the said update.

How to get MCA RSS Feeds in e-mail?

What is RSS feeds? It is as simple as how to get MCA news updates through e-mail.  Just follow with this easy step & keep learning:

Open http://www.feedmyinbox.com/ and then enter http://www.mca.gov.in/Ministry/latestnews/MinistryNews.rss in the box given next to Website or Feed URL (as shown below) and your Email Address in the Next box, follow it by clicking SUBMIT.

• Website or Feed URL
• Your Email Address

 

Now you will receive a mail in the given email id asking for your CONFIRMATION, clicking the link in the mail will help you to get MCA updates right in your email box.

Do you want specific Updates @Yehseeyes style on various Corporate laws through e-mail, then you may follow the same steps in this link: | Subscribe to Blog.

Enjoy updating (your knowledge).

ICSI's New Website, Online purchase of magazines like Chartered Secretary, Student concessions, Company Secretary National Convention 2010 articles - Subscribe now

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has 3 websites now,

1. www.icsi.edu representing ICSI
2. www.icsi.in for Members & Students of ICSI
3. http://knowledge.icsi.edu, an online e-commerce site for students, members & others which is accessible on payment basis to buy publications of ICSI, recent updates on various laws, etc…  The site plans are detailed hereunder:

Sr. No.	Plan	Special launch offer by the end of September 2010 (Rs.)*	Regular Plan by the end of March 2011 (Rs.)*
1	Student	1500	2000
2	Member in practice	2250	3150
3	Member in employment	2500	3500
4	Other	4500	5500
*Subscription valid for one year from the date of registration. All applicable taxes are extra.

No information from http://knowledge.icsi.edu is available free of cost, hence the above mentioned subscription plans to get a login id & password.  But, You have an option to:

Post Your Query

This will get you the supportive references such as legal provisions, case law etc for your legal research query even if you are not an existing subscriber of eJurix. We may need to interact with you to clarify your query if required. Cost estimation will depend upon the complexity of the query and will be conveyed to you after analyzing the same. You will receive a response to your query within 4 working days of receiving the payment.

38th National Convention of ICSI 2010 @ Kolkata

The following Articles are the must read-through which are published by learned professionals on various topics of relevance as a part of ICSI convention theme – India Inc & Inclusive growth.  The topics include Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises, Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Governance, Direct Tax Code, Goods & Services Tax, etc…download the same from the following links:

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NNTRlNThmMzQtYzE2ZC00ZDZmLTkzOWEtOTg0ZWYxODdjNTY4&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NMDkyYTU2ZTgtMDNkMy00ZGY2LWJjMTYtMjllZmYzZGQxYjE1&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NNGI5YmMzYTUtYjc4MC00ZjE0LTkwNDItZmU0YmI2NGE0NGVj&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NMmFhMTdkMmItZTMyYy00ZGU0LTgxYTEtODg4Zjk5OGVmYzUy&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NOTdjNzhkNDktZjI1My00NmY1LTg3NGQtZTJjMzZjZmI5ZDM5&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NMjJjY2RiOTItYzQzZS00MmYxLThkYzItMmNkZjMxNmQ1OTI3&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NN2U5MzM5YTQtMGJiYi00MTQwLWExYTAtYjAxODY4MjFjNWZj&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NYjI0N2UzZjUtNmYxMC00MTYxLWEzODgtNjFiOWUyYmY3OTFh&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NMWNiYzhlZTUtNzExOC00NTNhLThlNWUtMDkxYTVlMmYwNzU4&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NZjU2NWU3OTktNTYxMi00Mjg5LThmOTMtZDIwYTk0MjFkOTUz&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NYmQ3MWZlMDItYTBmZC00ZGU5LWI1ZDctZDMxNDY4YzMzNjM2&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NNzJhYmUxZTgtYmMzZS00OTQ1LWJhNjgtMWM4NGVkZjRiYTVi&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NNjdiZTNiYjEtNmEyNi00NmNkLWI5NTUtYjUyY2M4OGFmOWMx&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NNTg0ODhkODMtYjVmOS00ODUwLWEwMjctOGRhNmQ4YTE2YzNh&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NMDU2OTE3OGEtMzMwZi00NTM5LWI4YTctNmFiNjhjOTFiY2Rj&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NMzE3YmFkNmEtOTE2MC00ZDdiLTlmMjUtNDFhYTU0YTk0NWIz&hl=en https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-36NqCFw_7NZDhhMWQ5OTQtZDAwYS00MmUwLTg1MTgtNTY5ZDRkOGIwOTJh&hl=en https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0Ae36NqCFw_7NZGQ2aGJteDJfMTEyZ253bXB2a2I&hl=en

Investments in shares for holding stake in group companies but NOT for trading or anyother financial activity requires RBI NBFC Registration as Core Investment Company if asset size is Rs. 100 crores

Regulatory Framework for Core Investment Companies (CICs)

The Bank had announced in the Annual Policy 2010-2011 that companies which have their assets predominantly as investments in shares for holding stake in group companies but not for trading, and also do not carry on any other financial activity, i.e., Core Investment Companies, (CICs), justifiably deserve a differential treatment in the regulatory prescription applicable to Non-Banking Financial Companies which are non deposit taking and systemically important.

1. Core Investment Company (CIC) means:

A Non Banking Finance Company (NBFC) carrying on the business of acquisition of shares and securities which satisfies the following conditions:-

• it holds atleast 90% of Total Assets as investment in equity shares, preference shares, debt or loans in group companies;
• its investments in the equity shares (including instruments compulsorily convertible into equity shares within a period not exceeding 10 years from the date of issue) in group companies constitutes atleast 60% of its Total Assets;
• it does not trade in its investments in shares, debt or loans in group companies except through block sale for the purpose of dilution or disinvestment;
• it does not carry on any other financial activity referred to in Section 45I(c) and 45I(f) of the RBI Act, 1934 except investment in bank deposits, money market instruments, government securities, loans and investments in debt issuances of group companies or guarantees issued on behalf of group companies.

Note: Registered CIC can hold or accept public deposit.

2. CIC with an asset size of Rs. 100 crores or more, will be regarded as Non Deposit Taking Systemically Important (CICs-ND-SI) and requires registration with RBI.

3. A CIC-ND-SI which fulfills the following conditions , will not be required to meet the requirement for maintaining Net Owned Funds  (NOF) & capital adequacy and exposure norms as required under Non-Banking Financial (Non-Deposit Accepting or holding)  Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2007

• Maintenance of minimum Capital Ratio where Adjusted Net Worth is atleast 30% of its Aggregate Risk Weighted Assets on Balance Sheet and risk adjusted value off-balance sheet items as on the date of the last audited Balance Sheet  at the end of the financial year.
• Ensuring that it’s outside liabilities at all times is UPTO 2.5 times of the Adjusted Net Worth as on last audited Balance Sheet date.

4. All CICs-ND-SI, whether they are exempted in the past from registration with RBI or not, should apply to the RBI for obtaining Certificate of Registration within a period of 6 months from 12th August 2010 (i.e) within 11th February 2010.

5. Companies which presently have an asset size of less than Rs 100 crores would be required to apply to RBI for Certificate of Registration within 3 months of achieving a Balance Sheet size of Rs. 100 crores.

6. CICs-ND-SI will be required to submit an Annual Certificate from their statutory auditors regarding compliance with the above guidelines within 1 month from the date of finalisation of the Balance-Sheet.

Source:  RBI/2010-11/168 DNBS (PD) CC.No. 197/03.10.001/2010-11 dated 12th August 2o1o

FEMA Contravention clarification, whether technical/minor is what RBI has to decide and not on own motion or on basis of external advice BUT in nature of interest, apply compounding @ earliest opportunity & how to enter into composition

RBI clarifies on compounding of contraventions under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999

The Reserve Bank of India has clarified that whether contraventions under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) are to be treated as technical and/ or minor or serious would be decided by the Reserve Bank on the merits of the case. The case would accordingly be disposed of keeping in view the procedure notified in this regard. It has urged that persons who have contravened provisions of FEMA should not take upon themselves, suo moto or on the basis of external advice, to decide whether a particular contravention is of a technical or minor in nature and, hence, no compounding application need be submitted to the Reserve Bank.

 

The Reserve Bank has further clarified that if such applications for compounding are not made, the person concerned shall expose himself/herself to such action under the provisions of FEMA as the authorities may deem appropriate. The persons concerned should, therefore, in their own interest, submit their applications for compounding of contravention under FEMA to the Reserve Bank at the earliest opportunity.

 

It may be recalled that in terms of A.P.(DIR Series) Circular No. 56 dated June 28, 2010, the Reserve Bank had notified the process of compounding which has been further rationalised and streamlined to enhance transparency and effect smooth implementation of the compounding process and understand the same from

Violated Foreign Exchange laws: on becoming aware of the contravention, disclose it to RBI to save huge penalty of 2 lakhs or 3 times the amount involved in transaction [Compounding Master Circular]

Source: RBI Press Release No. 2010-2011/234 dated 13th August 2010

Download Referencer on Secretarial Audit under Corporate Governance Voluntary Guidlines for Company Secretaries issued by ICSI, good read through

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India released CORPORATE GOVERNANCE VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES 2009 on December 21, 2009. The preamble to Guidelines states that “These guidelines provide for a set of good practices which may be voluntarily adopted by the Public companies. Private companies, particularly the bigger ones, may also like to adopt these guidelines.”

The Guidelines, amongst other things, recommend the introduction of Secretarial Audit. Para V of the Guidelines states that :

“Since the Board has the overarching responsibility of ensuring transparent, ethical and responsible governance of the company, it is important that the Board processes and compliance mechanisms of the company are robust. To ensure this, the companies may get the Secretarial Audit conducted by a competent professional. The Board should give its comments on the Secretarial Audit in its report to the shareholders.”

Companies, which do not adopt these guidelines, either fully or partially, are expected to inform their shareholders about the reasons for not adopting these Guidelines. This is in consonance with the popular doctrine of “Comply or Explain”. The Board should give its comments on the Secretarial Audit in Directors’ Report as provided in Para V of the Guidelines.

Download Reference on Secretarial Audit issued by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) for the purpose of Corporate Governance Voluntary Guidelines

All investor related documents of MF like PAN, KYC, PoA specimen signature shall be updated by AMC/RTA & get it audited - Mandatory for all new schemes also

Updation of investor related documents
SEBI vide circular No. SEBI/IMD/CIR No.12 /186868 /2009 dated December 11, 2009 has inter alia advised mutual funds to confirm whether all the investor related documents are maintained/ available with them. Further in case the investor related documentation was incomplete, the trustees of the mutual funds were advised not to make further payment to such distributors till full compliance/ completion of the steps enumerated in the said circular and to send a status to SEBI as and when process is completed to satisfaction.

SEBI has not received any confirmation from the trustees of the mutual funds on the completion of the process as mandated in the said circular. Thus it appears that all the investor related documentation is not available with the AMCs. It has been observed that due to such incomplete documentation investors’ rights to approach the AMCs directly are restricted and investors are forced to depend on the distributors for executing any financial or non-financial transactions.

In order to ensure that investors have unrestricted access to AMCs and to enable AMCs to provide prompt investor service including execution of investors’ financial or non-financial transactions, all mutual funds/ AMCs are directed that:
All new folios/ accounts shall be opened only after ensuring that all investor related documents including account opening documents, PAN, KYC, PoA (if applicable), specimen signature are available with AMCs/RTAs and not just with the distributor.
For existing folios, AMCs shall be responsible for updation of the investor related documents including account opening documents, PAN, KYC, PoA (if applicable), specimen signature by November 15, 2010.

The trustees shall submit a confirmation after they receive certification from an Independent auditor on completion of the said process latest by November 22, 2010.

Mutual Funds/Asset Management Companies shall comply with the above requirements in letter and spirit.

Source: SEBI Cir / IMD / DF / 9 / 2010 dated 12th August 2010

All amended SEBI circulars on Arbitration mechanism in stock exchange as governed by Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996

Revised Arbitration Mechanism in Stock Exchanges
In consultation with the stock exchanges, it has been decided to streamline the arbitration mechanism available at stock exchanges for arbitration of disputes (claims, complaints, differences, etc.) arising between a client and a member (Stock Broker, Trading Member and Clearing Member) across various market segments.

A stock exchange shall provide an arbitration mechanism for settlement of disputes between a client and a member through arbitration proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this Circular read with Section 2(4) of the Arbitration and Conciliation, Act, 1996.

This circular CIR/MRD/DSA/24/2010 dated 11th August 2010 modifies provisions relevant to arbitration, contained in the following SEBI Circulars:-
i. Master Circular as on 31st March 2010
ii. SEBI/MRD/DSA-OIAE/Cir-09/2010 dated April 1, 2010
iii. CIR/MRD/DSA/10/2010 dated April 6, 2010

SEBI Clarification: AMC Addendum:all mutual fund schemes in demat form shall be freely transferable from 1st October, 2010 (except ELSS)

Transferability of Mutual Fund units

Regulation 37(1) of SEBI (Mutual Fund) Regulations, 1996 states that:

“a unit unless otherwise restricted or prohibited under the scheme, shall be freely transferable by act of parties or by operation of law.”

The spirit and intention of this regulation is not to prohibit transferability of units as a general rule or practice. However, it is noticed that mutual fund schemes prohibit transfer on a regular basis instead of on an exceptional basis.

In order to facilitate transferability of units of mutual funds held in one demat account to another demat account, it has been decided that all Asset Management Companies (AMCs) shall clarify by way of an addendum that units of all mutual fund schemes held in demat form shall be freely transferable from the date of the issue of said addendum which shall be not later than October 1, 2010. However, restrictions on transfer of units of Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) during the lock-in period shall continue to be applicable as per the ELSS Guidelines.

Source: SEBI CIR/IMD/DF/10/2010 dated 18th August 2010