Listing of Securities | Objectives | Requirements | Procedure

Listing of Securities

Listing means the admission of securities of a company to trading on a stock exchange. Listing is not compulsory under the Companies Act. It becomes necessary when a public limited company desires to issue shares or debentures to the public. When securities are listed in a stock exchange, the company has to comply with the requirements of the exchange.

Objectives of Listing

The major objectives of listing are

1. To provide ready marketability and liquidity of a company’s securities.

2. To provide free negotiability to stocks.

3. To protect shareholders and investors interests.

4. To provide a mechanism for effective control and supervision of trading.

Listing requirements

A company which desires to list its shares in a stock exchange has to comply with the following requirements:

1. Permission for listing should have been provided for in the Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association.

2. The company should have issued for public subscription at least the minimum prescribed percentage of its share capital (49 percent).

3. The prospectus should contain necessary information with regard to the opening of subscription list, receipt of share application etc.

4. Allotment of shares should be done in a fair and reasonable manner. In case of over subscription, the basis of allotment should be decided by the company in consultation with the recognized stock exchange where the shares are proposed to be listed.

5. The company must enter into a listing agreement with the stock exchange. The listing agreement contains the terms and conditions of listing. It also contains the disclosures that have to be made by the company on a continuous basis.

Minimum Public Offer

A company which desires to list its securities in a stock exchange, should offer at least sixty percent of its issued capital for public subscription. Out of this sixty percent, a maximum of eleven percent in the aggregate may be reserved for the Central government, State government, their investment agencies and public financial institutions.

The public offer should be made through a prospectus and through newspaper advertisements. The promoters might choose to take up the remaining forty percent for themselves, or allot a part of it to their associates.

Fair allotment

Allotment of shares should be made in a fair and transparent manner. In case of over subscription, allotment should be made in an equitable manner in consultation with the stock exchange where the shares are proposed to be listed.

In case, the company proposes to list its shares in more than one exchange, the basis of allotment should be decided in consultation with the stock exchange which is located in the place in which the company’s registered office is located.

Listing Procedure

The following are the steps to be followed in listing of a company’s securities in a stock exchange:

1. The promoters should first decide on the stock exchange or exchanges where they want the shares to be listed.

2. They should contact the authorities to the respective stock exchange/ exchanges where they propose to list.

3. They should discuss with the stock exchange authorities the requirements and eligibility for listing.

4. The proposed Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association and Prospectus should be submitted for necessary examination to the stock exchange authorities

5. The company then finalizes the Memorandum, Articles and Prospectus

6. Securities are issued and allotted.

7. The company enters into a listing agreement by paying the prescribed fees and submitting the necessary documents and particulars.

8. Shares are then and are available for trading.