SEBI Circular on Disclosure of Significant Beneficial Ownership

Pursuant to the Companies (Significant Beneficial Owners) Rules, 2018 (‘SBO Rules’), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (‘SEBI’) issued a circular dated December 7, 2018 (‘SBO Circular’) modifying disclosure requirements under the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (‘Listing Regulations’) relating to the quarterly disclosures of shareholding patterns by listed entities. The SBO Circular requires disclosure of details pertaining to significant beneficial owners in a prescribed format, including details of the significant beneficial owner, registered owner, shares in which significant beneficial interest is held and the date of creation / acquisition of significant beneficial interest. The SBO Circular is to come into force with effect from the quarter ending on March 31, 2019.

However, the MCA issued a clarification on September 10, 2018 stating that it would be issuing an amended format for making disclosures under the SBO Rules and has granted an extension for making the filing. Consequently, if the amended SBO Rules are not issued before March 31, 2019, there is likely to be uncertainty regarding the scope and applicability of the SBO Circular.