Final order in the matter of Avikem Resins Limited
- Order No.WTM/RKA/EFD/DRAII/70/2016
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
Where a listed company, served with a show cause notice by affixture after the notice was returned undelivered, has been given repeated opportunities to appear and has filed no reply, the authority may proceed to decide the matter on the material on record. A listed company's obligation to obtain SEBI Complaints Redress System (SCORES) authentication and to redress investor complaints, as directed by SEBI's circular and advice under section 11 of the SEBI Act, continues until that authentication is obtained and the complaints are resolved. Continued non-compliance with that obligation, and the resulting failure to redress investor grievances, adversely affects investor confidence in the securities market. Such non-compliance justifies a direction under section 11B, read with sections 11 and 19 of the SEBI Act, restraining the company from accessing the securities market and from buying, selling or dealing in securities, until it obtains SCORES authentication and resolves the pending investor grievances.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
WTM/RKA/EFD/DRA II/70/2016 BEFORE THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA ORDER UNDER SECTION 11B OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA ACT, 1992 In respect of Avikem Resins Limited 1. Avikem Resins Limited (hereinafter referred to as ‘the company’) is a listed company having its registered office address at 405B, Vertex Vikas, Sir M V Rdbehind Andheri Police Station, Andheri (E), Mumbai, 400 069. 2. SEBI vide its circular no. CIR/OIAE/1/2012 dated August 13, 2012 directed all listed companies to obtain SEBI Complaints Redress System (SCORES) authentication by September 14, 2012 and to take appropriate necessary steps within seven days of receipt of complaints through SCORES, so as to resolve the complaint within thirty days of its receipt. 3. However, certain companies, including Avikem Resins Limited did not obtain SCORES authentication within the time period specified in the aforementioned circular, a public notice was issued on January 13, 2013, advising inter alia the companies to obtain SCORES authentication within seven days from the date of the advertisement, failing which SEBI would be constrained to initiate appropriate enforcement actions. However, the company still failed to obtain SCORES authentication and resolve pending investor complaints. 4. Since the company did not obtain SCORES authentication and failed to redress eighteen investor grievances, SEBI issued Show Cause Notices (SCN) dated May 02, 2014 to the company calling upon it to show cause as to why suitable directions including direction to restrain it from accessing the securities market for a specified period should not be passed under section 11B of the SEBI Act. The SCN returned undelivered from registered office address and the last known address of the company. Accordingly, on April 26, 2016 the SCN was served through affixture on the registered office address of the company. 5. Opportunity of personal hearing was granted to the company on June 09, 2016. The notice to this effect was served through affixture on the company's registered office address. However the company chose not to appear for the personal hearing on the scheduled date. In the matter of Avikem Resins Limited
6. I note that sufficient opportunities have been granted to the company and it is not keen to avail the same. I further note that the company has not even filed any written reply/submission to the SCN. In view of these facts and circumstances, I deem it appropriate to decide the matter on the basis of material available on record. 7. I note that as on June 23, 2016 the company had not obtained SCORES authentication, as required under SEBI circular dated August 13, 2012 and all the eighteen investor complaints as indicated in SCN were pending against the company for redressal. 8. I note that the investor complaints are pending unresolved since the year 2004. In addition to the obligations under the provisions of Companies Act, the company is also under an obligation to redress all investor complaints in terms of the advice/directions of SEBI, in view of the provisions of section 11 of the SEBI Act. However, the company has not shown any tenacity in resolving the investor grievances and in spite of repeated advice of SEBI, the said investor grievances are pending till date. 9. Failure to redress investor grievances, by a listed company adversely affects the confidence of investors in the securities market. In view of the foregoing, I am of the view that it is a fit case to issue appropriate directions under section 11B of the SEBI Act against the company as contemplated in the SCN. I, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me under section 19 of the SEBI Act read with sections 11 and 11B thereof, hereby restrain and prohibit Avikem Resins Limited from accessing the securities market and from buying, selling or dealing in securities, directly or indirectly, in whatsoever manner, till the company obtains SCORES authentication in terms of the SEBI circular dated August 13, 2012 and resolves all the investor grievances pending against it. The aforesaid direction is without prejudice to any other action that may be taken against the company and its directors in accordance with law. 10. This Order shall come into force with immediate effect. A copy of this Order shall also be served upon the depositories and stock exchanges for necessary action.
Sd/- Date: June 29th, 2016 RAJEEV KUMAR AGARWAL Place: Mumbai WHOLE TIME MEMBER SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA
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