MANU/SDEP/0012/2020

Ministry : Securities and Exchange Board of India

Department/Board : Corporation Finance Department

Circular No. : SEBI/HO/CFD/CMD/CIR/P/2020/242

Date : 09.12.2020

To,

All Recognized Depositories
All Registered Depository Participants through Depositories
All Listed Companies through recognized Stock Exchanges
All E-voting Service Providers through listed companies.

Dear Sir/Madam,

E-Voting Facility Provided by Listed Entities

1. Under Regulation 44 of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, listed entities are required to provide remote e-voting facility to its shareholders, in respect of all shareholders' resolutions. However, it has been observed that the participation by the public non-institutional shareholders/retail shareholders is at a negligible level.

2. Currently, there are multiple e-voting service providers (ESPs) providing e-voting facility to listed entities in India. This necessitates registration on various ESPs and maintenance of multiple user IDs and passwords by the shareholders.

3. In order to increase the efficiency of the voting process, pursuant to a public consultation, it has been decided to enable e-voting to all the demat account holders, by way of a single login credential, through their demat accounts/websites of Depositories/Depository Participants. Demat account holders would be able to cast their vote without having to register again with the ESPs, thereby, not only facilitating seamless authentication but also enhancing ease and convenience of participating in e-voting process. The same shall be implemented in a phased manner as under:

Phase-1

Following process for e-voting shall be implemented within 6 months of the date of the circular.

3.1. Direct registration with Depositories-Shareholders can register directly with the depository. Shareholders would be able to access the e-voting page of various ........