SEBI enabled T+2 trading of Bonus shares where T is the record date

SEBI has decided to enable T+2 trading of Bonus shares where T is the record date. This would reduce the time taken for credit of bonus shares and trading of such shares, from the record date of the Bonus Issue under SEBI (ICDR) Regulations, 2018.

The operational procedure prescribed by SEBI is as under:

(i) The Issuer proposing a bonus issue shall apply for the in-principle approval under Regulation 28(1) of SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015, to the Stock Exchange within 5 working days from the date of board meeting approving the Bonus issue.

(ii) The Issuer  while  fixing  and  intimating  the  record  date  (T  day)  to  the  Stock Exchange as required under Regulation 42(1) of SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015, for the proposed bonus issue, shall also take on record deemed date of allotment on next working date of record date (T+1 day).

(iii) Upon receipt of intimation of the record date (T Day) and requisite documents from the Issuer, the Stock Exchange(s) shall issue notification accepting the record date and notifying the number of shares considered in the bonus issue. The notification shall include the deemed date of allotment (T+1 day).

(iv) After issuance of notification issued by the Stock Exchange for acceptance of record date, the Issuers shall ensure submission of the requisite documents to Depositories for credit of bonus shares in the depository system latest by 12 P.M.of next working day of the record date (i.e. T+1 day)

(v) The Issuer shall ensure upload of the distinctive number (DN) ranges in the DN database of the depository and stock exchange(s)shall ensure updation of relevant dates before credit of bonus shares.

(vi) The shares allotted pursuant to the bonus issue shall be made available for trading on the next working date of allotment (T+2 day).

(vii) The directions issued pursuant to SEBI Circular No. CIR/MRD/DP/21/2012 dated August 02, 2012 and CIR/MRD/DP/ 24 /2012 dated September 11, 2012 requiring credit of bonus shares in temporary ISIN shall be exempted in case of bonus issue of equity shares, and credit of shares directly in permanent ISIN (existing ISIN) shall be permitted in case of bonus issue of equity shares.

The relevant SEBI Circular CIR/CFD/PoD/2024/122 dated 16.09.2024 in this regard shall be applicable  for all bonus issues announced on or after October 01, 2024. Any delay in compliance with the timelines as mentioned above will attract penalties.