Sebi settles case against Citigroup Global Markets Mauritius

Sebi has disposed of the matter against Citigroup Global Markets Mauritius after it paid Rs 10000000 to settle the charges of not complying with market regulator's reporting standards for off-shore derivative instruments (ODIs).Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had noted that these non-compliances during its probe into insider trading and dealings of investors in the shares of erstwhile Satyam Computer Services , during 2008-09.In a consent order dated April 9, Sebi said that it is disposing of the "adjudication proceedings initiated against Citigroup Global Markets Mauritius vide Show Cause Notice... dated August 17, 2011".Sebi's probe had revealed that the transactions executed by Citigroup, a foreign institutional investor (FII), against the ODIs through Participatory Notes (PNs) issued by it "were not off-setting in nature".The regulator had observed that 12 transactions made for PNs by Citigroup and six deals in derivative segment had resulted in profits amounting to USD 4.13 million.It was also found that all these six PNs were issued by Citigroup to the same entity through Helios Capital Management Pte Limited from Singapore on behalf of the fund Helios Strategic Fund which were not reported to Sebi.As per Sebi's norms, FIIs who have been issuing ODIs against underlying Indian securities are mandated to report issuance/renewal/cancellation/redemption of these instruments to Sebi as per a prescribed format.Therefore, Citigroup, was mandated to submit the ODIs report to Sebi on a monthly basis which it did not do for December 2008 and January 2009, as per the charge.Sebi also said that Citigroup had not submitted complete details of transactions in the specified format and failed to comply with the reporting standards prescribed by it."During the investigation, it was further found from the clarifications provided by the applicant that it has been following the same policy since long time and hence the magnitude of the violation is much more," it added.Following its findings Sebi had initiated adjudication proceedings against Citigroup in 2011.However, while the proceedings were in progress,Citigroup proposed settlement under the Sebi's consent order mechanism and in February, 2013 it offered to pay Rs one0000000.Thereafter, Sebi's High Powered Advisory Committee on Consent (HPAC) after deliberations recommended the case for settlement on the payment of Rs 10000000. This was also approved by the panel of whole-time members of Sebi.Subsequently, Citigroup remitted the amount on April 3, this year.Sebi noted that enforcement actions, including commencing of the proceedings, could be initiated if any representation made by Citigroup is found to be untrue. P