According to section 2 of the Companies Act, 2013, the definition of a prospectus is “any document that is described or issued as a prospectus.” It is an advertisement, circular, notice, or document informing the public that the corporate body’s securities are up for sale.
Published on 13 July 2022
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To qualify as a prospectus, a document must meet any of the two criteria from the following:
It must invite the public to such an event.
It should either invite subscriptions to public shares or debentures or deposits.
The document must be issued on behalf of or by the company.
The document should describe the company’s shares, debentures, or other financial securities.
It is mandatory for every public company traded on the stock exchange to file a prospectus. A private organisation does not need to submit the same. But, if the private company wants to change to a public firm, it needs to submit a prospectus.
This article will talk about a type of prospectus called the abridged prospectus, its need, and things that you need to know about this prospectus.
What is an Abridged Prospectus?
The term ‘abridge’ means to shorten something without tampering with the sense of the original. The shortened version of an otherwise voluminous document, with all the details specified by SEBI, is an abridged prospectus
The abridged form of a prospectus is a memorandum. It contains all the salient features mentioned by the Securities and Exchange Board of India. In addition, it summarises information about the company, making it easier for investors to make decisions. To issue an application form for the sale of securities, a company must release an abridged prospectus as well.
The Need for an Abridged Prospectus
Generally, a prospectus is a comprehensive document. It contains a lot of information. You cannot expect an investor to read the entire document in this fast pacing world. There is a need for quick, crisp, and relevant information. For this purpose, an abridged form of a prospectus is prepared. It contains 5 pages with the information listed in bullets.
According to Section 33 of the Companies Act, 2013, a company cannot issue a form for the application of the purchase of securities without issuing an abridged prospectus. It means that a company cannot accept offers from the public, and the public cannot invest in the company till the abridged prospectus is received. In addition, companies must specify the rights, outcomes, and nature of the investment to protect the investor’s interests.
Points to Remember About an Abridged Prospectus
It must disclose relevant information like the issuer’s name and logo, date of opening and closing, details of promoters and directors, etc.
It must be five pages long and printed on A4 paper.
There should be no change in the order of contents.
The information must be presented in the form of tables and pointers to make it clear and more accurate.
If there are any risks involved in the situation, the risk factors need to be mentioned.
Other Types of Prospectus
The Companies Act 2013 has divided prospectuses into four types including, the abridged prospectus. The other types of prospectuses include:
1. Deemed prospectus
When a company agrees or allows allotment of the company’s financial securities, the document describing the same is known as a deemed prospectus. It shares details of the offer to the investors.
The document is filed when any financial institution or company offers one or more securities to the public. It is valid for a maximum of one year. As the first offer commences, the validity period starts. The company does not need to release more prospectuses for future offers.
3. Red herring prospectus
Red herring prospectus type of prospectus does not include details about the specific price or volume of securities that have been put up for sale. It is submitted to the registrar before the offer.
Summing up
The abridged prospectus contains only the most vital information about a company’s offer for its financial securities. It ensures that investors have all the essential details of the company’s issue to make the right investment decisions.
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In the last few years, Initial Public Offerings (IPO) have come into public focus with many bumper listings. In addition, the simplification of the IPO application process has made IPOs extremely popular. Earlier, brands needed to file and submit an IPO application physically. But with increasing participation in the primary market and its growth, companies can now do it from the comfort zone of their homes.
One of the major talking points in the year 2021 was the Initial Public Offerings or IPOs of several leading companies in India. From giants in the food retail industry to companies offering digital payments, the year has seen the launch of IPOs across various sectors - IPOs that created almost unprecedented buzz and attracted the interest of veteran investors and first-time investors alike.
The abridged prospectus helps to protect the rights of investors. Companies must issue the same with the application form to inform investors of their rights, outcomes, and consequences before investing in a particular company.
Yes. There are certain exceptions where the company does not need to send out an abridged prospectus with the application form. These exceptions are:
If the shares or debentures are not offered to the general public
If investors receive a bonafide underwriting agreement
Depending on the rights issue of shares or debentures
In respect of shares or debentures that are similar to the ones available on a stock exchange
An IPO prospectus informs potential shareholders about the company’s operations and business model. An ETF prospectus tells prospective investors of the fund’s history, goals, portfolio, fees, charges, and other financial details.
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In the last few years, Initial Public Offerings (IPO) have come into public focus with many bumper listings. In addition, the simplification of the IPO application process has made IPOs extremely popular. Earlier, brands needed to file and submit an IPO application physically. But with increasing participation in the primary market and its growth, companies can now do it from the comfort zone of their homes.
One of the major talking points in the year 2021 was the Initial Public Offerings or IPOs of several leading companies in India. From giants in the food retail industry to companies offering digital payments, the year has seen the launch of IPOs across various sectors - IPOs that created almost unprecedented buzz and attracted the interest of veteran investors and first-time investors alike.
The abridged prospectus helps to protect the rights of investors. Companies must issue the same with the application form to inform investors of their rights, outcomes, and consequences before investing in a particular company.
Yes. There are certain exceptions where the company does not need to send out an abridged prospectus with the application form. These exceptions are:
If the shares or debentures are not offered to the general public
If investors receive a bonafide underwriting agreement
Depending on the rights issue of shares or debentures
In respect of shares or debentures that are similar to the ones available on a stock exchange
An IPO prospectus informs potential shareholders about the company’s operations and business model. An ETF prospectus tells prospective investors of the fund’s history, goals, portfolio, fees, charges, and other financial details.
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited (TM) operates the web site accessible from the URL www.myespresso.com (the “web site”').
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited is committed to protecting your privacy and utilising technology that gives you the most powerful, safe, online experience that you can get anywhere else.
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited does, however, gather certain information that is provided by you to the Web Site. Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited believes that by collecting this information Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited is able to provide you with a personalised web experience, and to assist its own sales team and advertisers in efficiently reaching an appropriate audience.Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited does, however, gather certain information that is provided by you to the Web Site. Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited believes that by collecting this information Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited is able to provide you with a personalised web experience, and to assist its own sales team and advertisers in efficiently reaching an appropriate audience.
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited requests the minimum information it believes necessary to achieve this goal.
The following discloses Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited's information gathering and dissemination practices for the Web Site:
System Data:
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited uses your IP address to help diagnose problems with our server and to administer the web site. Your IP address is used to identify you and your shopping cart and to gather broad demographic information.
Registration Data:
The Web Site's registration form may require users to give us contact information (like their name, phone number and e-mail address), unique identifiers (like their PAN Number) and demographic information (like their pin code, age or income level). The Web Site uses customer contact information from the registration form to send the users information about Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited and promotional material from some of Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited's partners. The customer's contact information is also used to contact the visitor when necessary. Unique identifiers (such as PAN numbers) are collected to verify the user's identity. Demographic and profile data is also collected at the Web Site. We use this data to tailor the visitor's experience at the Web Site, showing them contents that we think they might be interested in, and displaying the contents according to their preferences. This information is shared with advertisers on an aggregate basis.
Links and Co-Branded Sites:
This site contains links to other Web Sites which are not necessarily been screened or reviewed by www.myespresso.com. Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited is neither responsible for the privacy practices or the contents of such Web Sites nor shall be held answerable for the inaccurate, inappropriate or offensive data, material, information, products and services that may be viewed on those sites.
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited may operate a number of co-branded sites. Policies regarding information collection and sharing may differ on some of these co-branded sites. If you have any particular questions, you should check the privacy statement that appears on each co-branded site.
Order Forms:
The Web Site uses an order form for customers to request information, products and services. The Web Site collects visitors' contact information (like their mobile number or e-mail address), unique identifiers (like their PAN number) financial information (like their account or credit card numbers) and demographic information (like their pin code, age or income level). Contact information from the order form is used to send orders, information about Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited, and promotional material from some of Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited's partners to the visitors of the Web Site. The visitor's contact information is also used to get in touch with the visitor when necessary. Financial information that is collected is used to check the users' qualifications and bill the user for products and services. Unique identifiers (such as PAN numbers) are collected from Web Site visitors to verify the user's identity.
Surveys and Contests:
The Web Site's online surveys ask visitors for contact information (like their mobile number or e-mail address) and demographic information (like their pin code, gender, age or income level). The Web Site uses contact data from its surveys to send the user information about Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited and promotional material from some of Sharekhan Ltd.'s partners. The customer's contact information is also used to contact the visitor when necessary. Users may opt-out of receiving future mailings; see the choice/opt-out section below. Demographic and profile data is also collected at the Web Site. The Web Site use this data to tailor its visitor's experience at the Web Site, showing them content that it thinks they might be interested in, and displaying the content according to their preferences. This information is shared with advertisers on an aggregate basis.
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Ltd run contests on the Web Site in which we ask visitors for contact information (like their e-mail address). Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited uses contact data from its contests to send users information about Sharekhan Comtrade Private Ltd. and promotional material from some of our partners. The customer's contact information is also used to contact the visitor when necessary. Users may opt-out of receiving future mailings; see the choice/opt-out section below.
Third-Party Advertisement Servers:
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited engages the services of an outside advertisement company to display advertisement on the Web Site. These advertisements may contain cookies. While Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited uses cookies in other parts of the Web Site, cookies received with banner advertisements are collected by the Advertisement company, and Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited does not have access to this information.
Protection of your Data and Information:
The privacy and protection of your data and information provided to us is of vital importance. Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited shall ensure to safeguard the security and confidentiality of any information you share with us. Any personally identifiable information of the customers obtained by us shall not be used or shared other than for the purposes to which the customers consents. However security and confidentiality of information cannot be guaranteed cent percent. Hence despite our utmost efforts to protect your personal information, Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited and www.myespresso.com cannot warrant the security of any information you transmit to us through our online services. Such transmission of your personal information is done at your own risk.
Disclosure of Customer Information :
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited and www.myespresso.com shall not deliberately disclose customer's personally identifiable information to any unauthorized third person, save and except where such information shall be disclosed in good faith and for the purpose of law for the time being in force or to protect the rights and property of Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited and www.myespresso.com.
Public Forums :
The Web Sites makes chat rooms, forums, message boards and/or news groups available to its users. Please remember that any information that is disclosed in these areas becomes public information and you should exercise caution when deciding to disclose your personal information.
Supplemental Information :
The Web Site supplements the information that you provide with information that is received from third parties.
The Web Site DOES NOT entice by the prospect of a special game, prize or other activity, to divulge more information than is needed to participate in the activity.
Further to the above, in light of the recently notified Information Technology (Reasonable security practices and procedures and sensitive personal data or information) Rules, 2011. (Hereinafter referred to as the Rules)
The following shall be deemed to be sensitive information :
Password;
Financial information such as Bank account or credit card or debit card or other payment instrument details;
Physical, physiological and mental health condition;
Sexual orientation;
Medical records and history;
Biometric information;
Any detail relating to the above clauses as provided to body corporate for providing service; and
Any of the information received under above clauses by body corporate for processing, stored or processed under lawful contract or otherwise:
provided that, any information that is freely available or accessible in public domain or furnished under the Right to Information Act, 2005 or any other law for the time being in force shall not be regarded as sensitive personal data or information for the purposes of Rules.
Collection of Information:
Compliance with KYC guidelines as per SEBI / Exchanges / Or any other Act, law or regulation requiring the same and any internal KYC guidelines formulated by Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited.
In order to provide enhanced trading experience to the client.
In order to provide any further information to be provided to regulators.
Such information may be collected in a manner that the client is always aware of the collection and purported usage of the same. The client shall have an option to withdraw consent to share the information. However such intimation shall be required in writing. Such intimation shall only be taken into account from the date on which the same is received. Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited may choose to stop services to such a client in case such intimation is received. Such information shall only be used for the purpose it is collected.
Clients would be allowed an option not to disclose any information to be collected, provided the same is in compliance with regulatory requirements.
Disclosure of information:
Disclosure of sensitive information would be as per the terms agreed by the clients. For any change in such terms, the clients would be informed.
Provided no consent may be required in case the same is being shared as per compliance guidelines or as required by regulators.
Any information being disclosed to third parties would be in accordance with the Rules and would be done provided such third party has the same level of compliance guidelines as Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited.
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited shall allow clients to review their personal information and the same shall be allowed to be edited provided exchange guidelines relevant to the same are followed.
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited shall maintain reasonable security practices and procedures and maintain a comprehensive documented information security programme. In the event of an information security breach, Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited or a person on its behalf shall be required to demonstrate as and when called upon to do so by the agency mandated under the law, that there have implemented security control measures as per their documented information security programme and information security policies and information security policies that contain managerial, technical, operational and physical security control measures that are commensurate with the information assets being protected with the nature of business.
KYC Languages
Download Client Registration Documents (Rights & Obligations, Risk Disclosure Document, Do's & Don't's) in Vernacular Language :
Note: "This document is a translated version of the client registration documents in English and is being provided in vernacular language to facilitate better understanding by the investors. In case of any ambiguity, the contents of the English version would prevail."
NDNCR Terms & Conditions
By accepting the Terms & Conditions, you authorise Espresso, its representatives and agents to provide information about various products, offers and services provided by Espresso through any mode, including telephone calls, SMSes, emails, letters and any other mode of communication. You also confirm that laws in relation to unsolicited communication referred in "National Do Not Call Registry" as laid down by "Telecom Regulatory Authority of India" will not be applicable for such information/communication.
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