September 10, 2013

Press Release No. 1

NSE and Prime Database launch the Corporate Bonds Information Database

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has developed a new platform, the Corporate Bonds Information Database, powered by PRIME Database, to provide comprehensive information on Corporate Bonds to market participants, to encourage the growth of the debt market in India. The database was launched by the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, Mr. U K Sinha this evening. Mr. Sinha delivered the keynote address at the event and Ms. Chitra Ramkrishna, MD and CEO of NSE gave the welcome remarks. Mr. Prithvi Haldea, Chairman PRIME Database also spoke on the occasion. The event was held at the Dr R. H. Patil Auditorium at NSE, where Mr. Sinha also unveiled a portrait of the late Dr. Patil, the first MD and CEO of NSE.

To begin with, the Information Database shall have comprehensive information on nearly 1500 Corporate Bonds. The coverage includes all bonds listed on NSE since 1^st January 2013, some of the highest traded bonds listed in 2012 as well as any other bond, which is available for trading in the NSE Debt Segment. It shall be a one stop shop for all information related to the bonds, both primary market and secondary market related, and it shall become far easier for investors, member brokers, institutions and issuers to find relevant information under one roof, with this database.

Mr. U K Sinha, Chairman, SEBI said, “I am happy to launch the Corporate Bond Information Database (CBID) by NSE and Prime Database, which will help in dissemination of information in the bond market, that was one big hurdle till now. We are currently working on a couple of more options, which will be announced in a day or two, to improve the liquidity and trading mechanism in the debt market.”

Ms. Chitra Ramkrishna said, “There has been an enduring demand from the investors, industry, regulators, academicians and researchers for an authentic and wide ranging database on Corporate Bonds, for both public as well as privately placed bonds. We hope that this database will help the market community in accessing important data, in a quick and efficient manner, and contribute towards building a dynamic and vibrant debt platform.’’

Chairman NSE, Mr. S B Mathur said, “India needs a robust debt market on exchanges, to finance the capital requirements of the government and the corporate sector. I am confident that recent SEBI regulations on debt markets will contribute greatly towards increasing their participation and building liquidity in the segment.’’

The Information database, launched today, carries information on listed corporate bonds, presently scattered and not available on one platform, such as coupon type, coupon rate, coupon frequency, ISIN, face value, allotment date, listing date, maturity date and credit rating from multiple agencies. Going forward, changes in the credit ratings shall also continuously reflect in this database. The database can be accessed through the hyperlink http://www.primedatabase.com/debtsecurities.asp on the NSE website.

Mr. Pranav Haldea, Managing Director, PRIME Database said that the database presently covers securities from 127 issuers, representing an issue amount of Rs. 5 lakh crore. “We shall keep adding data on more debt instruments as we go along.” He added, “To make the data more usable from what is presently available in the public domain, we have normalized and standardized fields available at multiple sources, populated missing gaps and then undertaken an extensive data cleaning and standardizing exercise, to make the database searchable.”

The database is free for market participants, although some more value added data shall be available, at a nominal charge.

NSE had launched a dedicated debt platform in May 2013 and currently both publicly placed and privately placed Corporate bonds are trading on it. There are 191 publicly listed securities or debt instruments trading in the retail segment of the debt platform and 564 non publicly issued corporate bonds in the institutional segment of the debt platform.

Press Release No. 2

Clarification about Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited

Substantial increase in trading volumes has been observed in Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited. The Exchange, in order to ensure that investors have latest relevant information about the company and to inform the market place so that the interest of the investors is safeguarded, had written to the company. Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited has vide its letter inter-alia stated, "With regards to increase in volume / price, the Company would not like to speculate nor would like to comment on the increase in the volume / price in the recent past, as in our opinion there are no material information which may have a bearing on the price / volume in the scrip."

Press Release No. 3

News about Jaiprakash Power Ventures Limited

The media had reports that "Abu Dhabi Utility Eyes JP Hydro Assets in HP".

The Exchange, in order to verify the accuracy or otherwise of the information reported in the media and to inform the market place so that the interest of the investors is safeguarded, had written to the company.

Jaiprakash Power Ventures Limited has vide its letter inter-alia stated, "We wish to inform you that, as per publicly announced policy of Jaypee Group, we are committed to unlock and enhance the shareholders' value through various options including, if necessary, by sale of some of its undertakings. This is a continuous exercise and, as and when any such transaction materializes, we shall make appropriate announcement through the Stock Exchanges. We further reiterate that we have not mandated ICICI / IDFC, as reported in the news item for advising us on the purported transaction."

Press Release No. 4

Clarification about Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company Limited

Substantial increase in trading volumes has been observed in Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company Limited. The Exchange, in order to ensure that investors have latest relevant information about the company and to inform the market place so that the interest of the investors is safeguarded, had written to the company. Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company Limited has vide its letter inter-alia stated, “that there is no price sensitive information relating to the Company, which requires to be intimated to the Stock Exchanges as per Clause 36 of the Listing Agreement".