Depository System — Secretarial Practice STD 12 Commerce / Arts — Question

(i) Depository:

• Depository is an organization or a system where securities/shares are held in electric form.
• Depository transfers securities/shares between accounts on the instruction of the account holders.
• Depository contacts the customer through a depository participant.
• Transfer of shares is made through mere computerized book-entry in the depository.
• This becomes possible because shares are dematerialized.
• Only those securities which are held in the form of the share certificate are one’s names can be dematerialized.
• At present, there are two depositories. They are:
  • National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL)
  • Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL).

(ii) Depository Participant:

• The depository participant is the representative of the depository.
• Depository participant acts as an intermediary between investors and depositories.
• The depository participants have an identity number for identification.
• It has to maintain accounts of securities of each investor.
• Depository participant gives intimation about holdings from time to time by sending a statement of holding.
• According to SEBI guidelines financial institutions, banks, stockbrokers can act as a depository participant.

(iii) Beneficial Owner:

• An investor is known as ‘Beneficial Owner’ on whose name Demat account is opened.
• He enjoys the rights and benefits of members such as getting dividends, getting bonus shares, to vote at meetings.
• He is allotted an account number where securities are held.

(iv) Issuer Company:

• It is a company that makes an issue of securities.
• It must get registered with the depository.