Graded Surveillance Measure (GSM)

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Exchanges in order to enhance market integrity and safeguard interest of investors, have been introducing various enhanced pre-emptive surveillance measures such as reduction in price band, periodic call auction and transfer of securities to Trade for Trade segment from time to time. 

The main objective of these measures is to;

• Alert and advice investors to be extra cautious while dealing in these securities and
• Advice market participants to carry out necessary due diligence while dealing in these securities.

In continuation to various surveillance measures already implemented, SEBI and Exchanges, pursuant to discussions in joint surveillance meetings, have decided that along with the aforesaid measures there shall be additional Graded Surveillance Measures on securities with price not commensurate with financial health and fundamentals like Earnings, Book value, Fixed assets, Net-worth, P/E multiple, Market Capitalisation etc.

The list of such securities identified under GSM shall be informed to the market participants from time to time and shall be available on the exchange's website.

1. All market participants dealing in identified securities have to be extra cautious and diligent as, Exchanges and SEBI may at an appropriate time subject to satisfaction of certain criteria lay additional restrictions such as;

• Placing / continuing securities in Trade for Trade category;
• Requirement of depositing additional amount as Surveillance Deposit, which shall be retained for an extended period;
• Once in a week trading; and
• Freezing of price on upper side of trading in securities, as may be required.
• Any other surveillance measure as deemed fit in the interest of maintaining the market integrity.

2. All the aforesaid actions shall be triggered based on certain criteria and shall be made effective with a very short notice.
3. The above surveillance actions are without prejudice to the right of Exchanges and SEBI to take any other surveillance measures, in any manner, on a case to case basis or holistically depending upon the situation and circumstances as may be warranted.
4. The members trading in the identified securities either on their own account or on behalf of clients shall be kept under close scrutiny by the exchange and any misconduct shall be viewed seriously.
5. Further details of this framework are given in Annexure I. 

Annexure I

Graded Surveillance Measures (GSM) - Shortlisting of Securities

1. The detailed criteria for shortlisting & review of securities under GSM Framework is given below:

Criteria I:

The following criteria shall be made applicable for inclusion of securities under GSM Framework.

1. Securities with latest available Net worth (Share Capital + Reserves & Surplus – debit balance in P&L) less than or equal to Rs. 10 crores;

AND

2. Securities with latest available Net Fixed Assets (Tangible Assets + Capital Work in Progress) less than or equal to Rs. 25 crores;

AND

3. Securities with PE greater than 2 times PE of Benchmark Index (Nifty 500) OR negative PE. 
 

The following securities shall be excluded from the process of shortlisting of securities under GSM:

1. Securities where the price discovery is yet to take place as per the provision of SEBI circulars CIR/MRD/DP/01/2012 and CIR/MRD/DP/02/2012 dated January 20, 2012.
2. Securities already under suspension;
3. Securities on which derivative products are available;
4. Securities as a part of any index (NSE or BSE);
5. Public Sector Enterprises and its subsidiaries, if available;
6. Securities listed during last 1 year through Initial Public Offering (IPO);
7. Securities which have paid a dividend for each of the last three preceding years;
8. Securities with Institutional holding greater than 10% only if the following conditions are met:

• If the promoter entity has not offloaded any share in the last 5 years; 

AND

• The current trading price of the security is within the range of High & Low price in last 3 years of the respective security.

9. Securities listed through Scheme of Arrangement involving Merger / Demerger during last 1 year:

1. In case of demerger, the following condition shall be applicable:

• If the parent company is under purview of GSM, the resultant demerged companies shall also attract GSM.
• If the parent company is not under purview of GSM, the resultant demerged companies shall not be part of GSM at the time of demerger and shall be considered during the subsequent quarterly review.

2. In case of merger of companies, if any of the securities at time of merger are under the purview of GSM, then the same shall be continued on the resultant entity. 
 

Criteria II:

The following criteria shall be made applicable for inclusion of securities.

1) Securities with full market capitalization less than Rs. 25 crore; 

AND

2) Securities with PE greater than 2 times PE of Benchmark Index (Nifty 500); 

OR

3) Securities with negative PE, the following should be considered:

• P/B (Price to Book) value of scrip greater than 2 times the P/B value of Benchmark Index (Nifty 500) 
  OR
• P/B value is negative

Market participants may note that GSM framework shall be in conjunction with all other prevailing surveillance measures being imposed by the Exchanges from time to time.
2. Identification / Review of securities for Graded Surveillance Measures shall be carried out on a quarterly basis. Securities placed under GSM Framework shall be reviewed and securities not meeting the inclusion Criteria - I & II shall be moved out of the GSM framework. 
The review shall be carried out based on latest available quarterly consolidated / standalone results filed by the companies as per preference opted by companies under the SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015, which are submitted within 45 days from end of quarter and in case of annual results, within 60 days from end of their financial year. 
Accordingly, tentative time schedule for publication of securities eligible for GSM framework applicable for next quarter is given below:

In case date of circular falls on trading holiday, the circular shall be published on the following working day.

3. In addition to existing Surveillance action(s) being imposed from time to time, it may be noted that these securities shall be monitored for the price movement and based on the pre-determined objective criteria shall attract following additional Graded Surveillance Measures:

Notes: -
a) The list of securities moving to/from higher stage of Graded Surveillance Measures shall be informed to the market, vide circular(s) from time to time.
b) Additional Surveillance Deposit (ASD) shall be paid only in form of cash and shall be retained till further notice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (.pdf)

List of scripts shortlisted in Graded Surveillance Measure