--- title: "SEBI Revises The Institutional Trading Platform Regulations: A Positive Step Towards Ease of Listing for Start-ups" date: 2019-02-08 author: "Sindhuja Kashyap" url: https://ksandk.com/corporate/sebi-revises-the-institutional-trading-platform-regulations/ --- # SEBI Revises The Institutional Trading Platform Regulations: A Positive Step Towards Ease of Listing for Start-ups Posted On - 8 February, 2019 • By - Sindhuja Kashyap ### **Introduction** Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”) had brought on ground its ambitious project of introducing Institutional Trading Platform (“ITP”) vide amendments to the SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2009 on August 14, 2015. ITP was brought in with an idea to facilitate listing of new age start-ups in the country. This framework was further retained in the SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2018 (“ICDR Regulations”). While the interest of listing has and is growing with each passing day, the framework failed to attract the investors and start-ups mostly due to its stringent and complex requirements. In order to deal with this insufficiency to achieve the goal, SEBI on June 12, 2018[[1]](#_ftn1) constituted a group to look into the existing ITP framework and suggest measures to facilitate listing of startups. The group involved in extensive deliberations with the stakeholders and submitted its recommendations to the Primary Market Advisory Committee (“PMAC”). On the basis of these recommendations a consultation paper was published by SEBI seeking public comments (“Consultation Paper”).[[2]](#_ftn2) On December 12, 2018, board of directors of SEBI (“Board”)[[3]](#_ftn3) had a meeting wherein the recommendations were reviewed and an in-principal approval was provided to the amendments to the regulations of ITP in ICDR regulations as detailed below: 1. **Appellation of the Platform** In order to connect the platform with the intention for its existence, Board approved the proposal to rename the platform from ITP to Innovators Growth Platform (“IGP”). - **Eligibility Criteria for listing** ICDR regulation provides for two criterias of startups namely, Eligible Startups[[4]](#_ftn4) and Other Eligible Startups[[5]](#_ftn5). Eligible Startup includes an ‘*issuer which extensively uses technology, information technology, intellectual property, data analytics, bio-technology or nano-technology to provide products, services or business platforms with substantial value additions*’. This definition has been retained by the Board. However, the extant ICDR regulation also provided for an additional qualification of 25% of the pre-issued capital of the Eligible Startups to be held by qualified institutional buyers as on the date of filing of draft information document or draft offer document. This additional qualification has been modified wherein 25% of the pre-issued capital of the Eligible Startups for at least two years should have been held by the following: 1. Qualified Institutional Buyers 2. Family trust with net-worth of more than five hundred crore rupees; 3. Category III Foreign Portfolio Investor 4. A pooled investment fund with minimum assets under management of USD 150 million and registered with a financial sector regulator in the jurisdictions where it is resident. The fund should be a resident of a country whose securities market regulator  is  a  signatory  to  IOSCO’s  MMOU  (Appendix  A  Signatories)  or  a signatory to bilateral MOU with SEBI and not a resident in a country identified in the  public  statement of  Financial  Action  Task  Force  as  deficient  in  AML  and combating financing of terrorism. 5. Accredited Investors (AIs) for the purpose of IGP, to include: 6. Any individual with total gross income of INR 50 lakhs annually and who has minimum liquid net worth of INR 5 crores  or 7. Any body corporate with net worth of INR 25 crores However, it is pertinent to note that a cap of 10% holding of the pre-issue capital is applicable on Accredited Investors. The above amendment with the intention to widen the ambit of Eligible Startups for the purpose of listing may have been partially achieved due to failure in expanding the scope from the business model/sector perspective. This could have been a milestone decision in order to entail confidence in the market by providing right opportunities to various startups intending to list themselves and providing a level play for all startups irrespective of the business model. However, the amendment is a welcomed move as it brings along the change in the shareholding structure, thereby not limiting the same only to the qualified institutional buyer alone. Such widening of shareholding structure shall be considered a welcome move by the angel investors and off-shore funds as these form major chunk of investors in the nascent phase of any startups. Further, Board made no reference to Other Eligible Startups, which leaves a trace of ambiguity on whether the amendments and relaxations as applicable on Eligible Startups is also applicable on Other Eligible Startups on similar terms. - **Capping of the post-issued capital** The existing law entails that no person, individually or collectively with persons acting in concert, shall hold twenty five per cent or more of the post-issue share capital in either Eligible Startups or Other Eligible Startups.[[6]](#_ftn6) However it was recommended in the Consultation Paper that the capping of such post-issued capital in the Eligible Startups and Other Eligible Startups shall be removed and the same was approved by the Board. This removal of capping is a welcome move for the promoters and other initial investors of such startups who would intend to continue holding significant shareholding in the startups even post listing. - **Minimum application size and trading lot** The Board has approved the reduction of the minimum application size[[7]](#_ftn7) and minimum trading lot[[8]](#_ftn8) from INR Ten Lakhs as was present in the existing law to INR Two Lakhs and in multiples of INR Two Lakhs. - **Requirement of minimum reservation of allocation to specific category of investor** The extant law provided for reservation of allocation in the net offer to public category in the following manner: 1. seventy-five per cent to institutional investors[[9]](#_ftn9) 2. twenty-five per cent to non-institutional investors[[10]](#_ftn10) Further, no allocation was allowed for anchor investors. However, the Board has approved the removal of such minimum allocations to any such specific category of investors at all. This purging of minimum reservation is a constructive move to avoid limiting the attraction of specific category of investors and thereby the growth of the startups. - **Minimum number of allottees** The Board approved the reduction of the minimum bar of allottees from existing 200 limit[[11]](#_ftn11) to 50 number of allottees n the initial public offer. - **Minimum net offer to public** The extant law provides for the minimum offer to the public to be subject to the provision of Rule 19(2)(b) of the Securities Contracts (Regulations) Rules, 1957 (“Rules”). The Board has approved the proposal for reduction of such minimum offer size to INR 10,00,00,000 (INR Ten Crores). Further, the Board has brought in the requirement for such minimum net offer to public to be in compliance with the minimum public shareholding norms. The minimum public shareholding norms are directed under rules 19(2)(b) and 19A of the Rules which are to be read in consonance with regulation 38 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (“LODR Regulations”). Further, rule 19A of Rules clearly states that every listed company, other than public sector company, shall maintain public shareholding of at least twenty five per cent. Therefore, the Board has approved for a minimum net public offer to be at least 25%. - **Migration to main board for trade under regular category** The existing law provides the listed entity with an option to migrate to the main board of the stock exchange on which it is listed after expiry of three years from the date of listing. This option was subject to compliance with the eligibility requirements of the stock exchange. Post receiving the suggestions in the Consultation Paper, Board has designated IGP as the main board for startups. However, each startups shall be provided with an option to migrate to the main board to trade under the regular category after completion of one year from the date of listing. This option too shall be subject to compliance with the eligibility requirements of the stock exchange. ### **Conclusion** We observe that most of the recommendations made in the Consultation Paper post deliberations with the stakeholders have been approved in principal by the Board. While the interested startups may be disappointed in not receiving a broadened definition of Eligible Startups by the Board, the other amendments such as inclusion of Accredited Investor, family trust is a hailed move. Further, various other recommendations in the Consultation Paper such as lock-in of pre-issue capital[[12]](#_ftn12) wherein lock-in of 6 months was proposed to apply uniformly to all the categories of pre-IPO public shareholders was not considered by the Board. Therefore, this change in the regulations of ITP of ICDR Regulations shall be beneficial for startups in easily attracting investment in the nascent stage and getting themselves listed without any dissuasion of complex requirements. ### Contributed by – Sindhuja Kashyap Designation – Corporate Associate --- [[1]](#_ftnref1) https://www.sebi.gov.in/media/press-releases/jun-2018/sebi-constitutes-group-to-review-institutional-trading-platform-itp-framework-to-facilitate-the-listing-of-start-ups_39255.html [[2]](#_ftnref2) https://www.sebi.gov.in/reports/reports/oct-2018/consultation-paper-review-of-framework-for-institutional-trading-platform_40824.html [[3]](#_ftnref3) https://www.sebi.gov.in/media/press-releases/dec-2018/sebi-board-meeting_41274.html [[4]](#_ftnref4) Regulation 283 (1) (a) of the ICDR Regulations [[5]](#_ftnref5) Regulation 283 (1) (b) of the ICDR Regulations [[6]](#_ftnref6) Regulation 283 (2) of the ICDR Regulations [[7]](#_ftnref7) Regulation 286 of ICDR Regulations [[8]](#_ftnref8) Regulation 289 of ICDR Regulations [[9]](#_ftnref9) Regulation 287 (2)(a) of ICDR Regulations [[10]](#_ftnref10) Regulation 287 (2)(b) of ICDR Regulations [[11]](#_ftnref11) Regulation 287 (1) of ICDR Regulations [[12]](#_ftnref12) Regulation 288(1) of ICDR Regulations #### [King Stubb & Kasiva](https://ksandk.com/), Advocates & Attorneys [Click Here to Get in Touch](https://ksandk.com/ksk/contact-us/) [New Delhi](https://g.page/king-stubb-and-kasiva) | [Mumbai](https://g.page/king-stubb-kasiva-mumbai) | [Bangalore](https://g.page/king-stubb-kasiva-bangalore) | [Chennai](https://g.page/king-stubb-kasiva-chennai) | [Hyderabad](https://g.page/king-stubb-kasiva-hyderabad) | Kochi Tel: [+91 11 41032969](tel:+911141032969) | Email: [info@ksandk.com](mailto:info@ksandk.com) *Last Updated on 12 May, 2024* --- ## Office Locations - [New Delhi](https://ksandk.com/locations/top-corporate-law-firm-in-delhi/) (HQ): +91-11-41318190 | info@ksandk.com - [Mumbai](https://ksandk.com/locations/top-corporate-law-firm-in-mumbai/): 3 offices (Nariman Point, Lower Parel, Andheri) | mumbai@ksandk.com - [Bangalore](https://ksandk.com/locations/top-corporate-law-firm-in-bangalore/): bangalore@ksandk.com - [Chennai](https://ksandk.com/locations/chennai/): chennai@ksandk.com - [Hyderabad](https://ksandk.com/locations/hyderabad/): hyderabad@ksandk.com - [Pune](https://ksandk.com/locations/pune/): pune@ksandk.com - [Kochi](https://ksandk.com/locations/kochi/): kochi@ksandk.com ## Contact - [Contact Page](https://ksandk.com/contact-us/) - General: info@ksandk.com | +91-11-41318190 - WhatsApp: +91-7428567444 - [Privacy Statement](https://ksandk.com/privacy-statement/) - [Terms of Use](https://ksandk.com/terms-of-use/)