In Egyptian stock market, many transactions are held on securities and financial instruments that include stocks, bonds, sukuk and securitization bonds. Besides, investment certificates that take the form of companies.1 The competent authorities are the Financial Regulatory Authority and the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE).

Disputes can be settled by grievance, arbitration, or litigation. According to the Egyptian Capital Market Law, a grievance committee shall be formed by a Decree of the Minister, the committee shall have jurisdiction over the grievances applied by stakeholders of administrative decisions issued by the Minister. Moreover, the disputes can be settled by arbitration if the parties agree to it.  This article discusses securities litigation under Egyptian laws.

Securities litigation in Egypt is the process of taking legal action to a court of law so that a judgment can be made. The competent court is economic court according to law No. 120 of the year 2008. The law states that the first instance and appellate circuits at the economic courts exclusively have the territorial and qualitative jurisdiction to consider the criminal cases originating from the crimes set forth in the following laws: 1- Capital Market Law

2- Central Securities Depository and Registry Law.

In addition to, the First instance circuits at the economic court have the jurisdiction to consider the misdemeanor cases mentioned in the law and they should be considered before the appellate circuits at the economic courts.

Moreover, with the exception of the disputes and the claims that fall within the jurisdiction of the State Council. The First instance circuits at the economic court exclusively have the jurisdiction to consider the cases and disputes not exceeding 5 million EGP. However, the appellate circuits at the economic courts exclusively have the jurisdiction to consider the cases exceeding 5 million EGP or when value is not estimated.

The above-mentioned laws regulate the Securities in Egypt. The crimes that the capital market law mentioned are:

1- Any person engaging in activities governed by market law, without being licensed.

2) Any person offering and selling securities in violation of the law.

3) Any person stating intentionally material misstatements in a prospectus, incorporation documents, licensing applications, or in any other reports, documents and such information after being certified by the Authority or presented to it.

4) Any person who intentionally publishes material misstatements on securities being subscribed for through an agency, which is licensed to receive public subscriptions.

5) Any person committing forgery of company records, stating intentionally material misstatements or untrue facts in the company records, or submitted misstated reports to the general assembly.

6) Any person quoting artificial price of a security, or conducting false transaction, or attempted by fraud to affect market prices.

7) Any person who lists securities on the stock exchange in violation of this Law and its Executive Regulations.

8) Any person who discloses a secret, which is in his possession by virtue of his duties or has benefited from insider information of his work, or who used material misstatement, or omitted any material information in reports, submitted by him, to the extent that it affects the results contained in such reports.

9) The delay in delivery of the financial statements and in complying with the rules of disclosure dealing with listing and de-listing of securities.

10) Anybody who disposes of securities contrary to the provisions of the Law.

11) Whoever contravenes any of the rules stipulated in the Executive Regulations of the law.

The crimes that the Central Securities Depository and Registry law mentioned are:

  • Carrying out any activity subject to the Central Securities Depository and Registry law without a license.
  • The registered owner who violates the obliged to vote for each of the beneficial owners according to the instructions he received from them.
  • Violating Article No. 10, which stipulates prohibition of dealing in securities for the representatives of the members of the Board of Directors of the company and its employees and their spouses and minor children, except after the approval of the Board of Directors of the company.
  • Violation of Article 28 which obliges the Registered Owners to disclose the Beneficiary Owners' data to the Company, in accordance with the rules and procedures prescribed by the Regulations.
  • Violation of the obligation of the licensee to practice the activities of the custodians as stipulated in Article 31. Obligations such as segregate its own securities and accounts from those of its clients, credit and debit the account of each client for payments arising out of dealing in and managing such securities, and Deliver client's securities and cash at the client's request.
  • Discloses or benefits directly or indirectly from any information declared confidential.

Footnote

1 http://www.fra.gov.eg/content/efsa_en/cma_pages_en/main_cma_page_en.htm

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.