The document discusses key concepts related to takeover regulations in India. It defines terms like acquirer, target company, control, shares, thresholds for compliance, and inter-se transfers. It explains the different categories of inter-se transfers such as between relatives, group companies, and qualifying promoters. It also discusses the checks and balances in the takeover code as well as issues around preferential allotment of shares and its interaction with the takeover regulations.
2. KEYWORDS IN TAKEOVER CODE When an " acquirer " takes over the “shares” or “control” of the "target company", it is termed as Takeover . When an acquirer acquires " substantial quantity of shares or voting rights" of the Target Company, it results into substantial acquisition of shares.
3. T AKEOVER SHARES CONTROL BOTH SHARES & CONTROL Acquisition LIFTING THE VEIL
4. UNDERSTANDING SHARES Reg 2 (k) REG 2(k) Shares carrying voting rights & any security which would entitle to receive shares with voting rights in future But shall not include PREFERNCE SHARES ISSUE What is the status of partly paid shares under SAST Regulations, 1997? The partly paid up shares are also shares under Takeover Code as voting rights is embedded in partly paid up shares.
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6. THRESHOLDS DEFINED FOR COMPLIANCE Acquisition of more than 5%, 10%, 14%, 54% & 74% [ Regulation 7] Persons, who are holding between 15% - 55%, acquisition/ sale aggregating more than 2 % or more voting rights [Regulation 7(1A)]
7. THRESHOLDS DEFINED FOR OPEN OFFER Acquisition more than 15% or more voting rights [ Regulation 10] Persons, who are holding between 15% - 55%, acquisition more than 5% or more voting rights in a financial year.[Regulation 11(1)] Persons, who are holding more than 55% , acquisition of single share or voting right [Regulation 11(2)]
10. Categories for Inter-se transfer Acquirer & Persons acting in concert Relatives under Companies Act, 1956 Group under MRTP Act, 1969 Qualifying Promoters Categories
15. Qualifying Indian Promoter & Foreign Collaborators, who are shareholders. Category III – Inter-se transfer for Qualifying Promoters Qualifying Promoters Category III – Promoters… contd
16. Category III – Promoters… contd Qualifying Promoters - Defined Any person who DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY is in control of the company Who is named as Promoter in any Offer Document OR Shareholding Disclosure, Whichever is later & includes….
17. Category III – Promoters… contd Qualifying promoters..defined..contd Firm or HUF in which P/R is partner or coparcener ;stake not < 50% Any company controlled by P/R His relatives as Defined u/s 6 of Co. Act 1956. When person is individual Firm or HUF in which P/R is partner or coparcener ; stake not < 50% Any company controlled by P/R Holding & Subsidiary When person is body corporate
18. Category IV –… contd Category IV – Acquirer and Persons acting in concert. ACQUIRER Reg 2(b) PAC Reg2(e) Exemption available only after 3 years from the date of closure of open offer made under these Regulations .
19. Pre- Conditions for availing Inter- se transfer. N Y N N ii. 3 yrs holding of shares by transferee & transferor. Y Y Y Y iii. Compliance of Regulation 6, 7 & 8. Y Y N N i. Transfer is at a price > 25% of the price determined in terms of Reg 20(4) & 20(5) of SEBI (SAST) Regs, 1997. Category IV (Acquirer & PAC) Category III (Qualifying Promoter) Category II (Relative) Category I (Group) Conditions
21. Checks & Balances under Regulation 3 C O M P L I A N C E Reg 3(3) Reg 3(4) Reg 3(5) Advance Intimation (4 days in Advance) Report (21 days of acquisition) Fees to be accompanied with Report (Rs 10000 25000)
22. Checks & Balances under Regulation 7 Acquirer : Compliance of regulation 7(1) or 7(1A) Seller : Compliance of regulation 7(1A) Target Company :Compliance of Regulation 7(3)
25. INTER- SE TRANSFER : A STRATEGICAL MOVE Good means for consolidation of holdings in a Company.
26. INTER- SE TRANSFER: Clause 40A Regulation 3(1A) “ Nothing contained in sub-regulation (1) shall affect the applicability of the listing requirements.” Effect of Regulation 3(1A) The above-mentioned regulation is giving the effect that the exemption under regulation cannot exceed the provisions of listing agreement,i.e.the minimum public holding of 25% cannot be exceeded by the exemption of Inter- se Transfer
28. MATTER OF DEBATE: HELD: Regulation 3(4) is applicable to all cases wherever the acquisition exceeds the limit prescribed in the regulations irrespective of the existing holding of the acquirer. NAAGRAJ GANESHMAL JAIN V P.SRI SAI RAM, THE SAT Whether Reporting under Regulation 3(4) is one time reporting?
29. MATTER OF DEBATE: HELD: It was held that when the belated filing of the report under 3(4) does not resulted in any gain to the appellant & also no loss to the invested, the imposition of the penalty is not justified. SAMRAT HOLDINGS V SEBI Whether the belated filing of report should not be considered as commission of offence when there is no substantial loss to the investors?
32. An issue by a company Equity shares / Securities convertible into equity / FCDs / Warrants / PCDs / Convertible Preference Shares pursuant to a resolution u/s. 81(1A) of Act, to any select group of persons by way of private placement. Of What is Preferential allotment of shares?
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34. The Companies Act, 1956 SEBI (Disclosure and Investor Protection) Guidelines, 2000 (Chapter – XIII & XIIIA) SEBI (SAST) Regulations, 1997 Listing Agreement GOVERNING LAW
35. Allotment to QIBs (not in Promoter Group) by companies listed on NSE / BSE OTHERS Chapter – XIIIA of SEBI (DIP) Guidelines Chapter – XIII of SEBI (DIP) Guidelines Proposed Allottees
36. Time Line- Preferential Allotment Relevant Date 30 days General Meeting Filing of application of in-principal approval Despatch of Individual Notices 25 days 15 days (12 months in case of QIBs) Board Meeting Allotment of Shares Shareholders’ Resolution must be implemented within 15 days ( 12 months in case of QIBs) except in case of pending regulatory approvals
38. QIBs Others Existing Holding Preferential Allotment Existing Holding Preferential Allotment No Lock in For One Year, except in case of Trading through Stock Exchange For Six Months PROMOTERS – 20% of Total Capital - for 3 Years Remaining – for one Year OTHERS – For One Year Lock-in Requirement
39. Currency of Security Convertible into Equity Shares QIBs OTHERS FCDs/ PCDs/ any other convertible Security –60 Months from the date of allotment Warrants convertible into Equity Shares – can’t be issued to QIBs FCDs/ PCDs/ any other convertible Security – No time prescribed for conversion Warrants convertible into Equity Shares - 18 months from the date of allotment
42. Limit for Preferential Allotment Limits are calculated taking into account the EXPANDED CAPITAL of the Company & not the EXISTING CAPITAL of the Company.
43. Acquirer (holding 20%) Through Preferential Allotment Acquirer’s holding cannot exceed 24.99% of Expanded Capital. Illustration I
44. Acquirer (holding 5 %) Through Preferential Allotment Acquirer’s holding cannot exceed 14.99% of Expanded Capital. Illustration II
45. Illustration III Acquirer (holding 0%) Through Preferential Allotment Acquirer’s holding cannot exceed 14.99% of Expanded Capital.
46. Example: Acquisition by a new entity upto allowable limit Existing Capital of Company: 1,00,000 shares Maximum Allowable Limit: 14.99% USUAL WAY OF CALCULATION 100000* 14.99% = 14,990 THE RIGHT WAY 100000* 14.99% / 85.01 = 17633 The difference is because of the calculation on expanded Capital Base. 17633- 14990 = 2643
47. Example: Acquisition by a existing entity holding 50% presently Existing Capital of Company: 1,00,000 shares Maximum Allowable Limit: 4.99% USUAL WAY OF CALCULATION 100000* 4.99% = 4,990 THE RIGHT WAY Non-promoter holding / 45.01% 50000/45.01%= 11108 The promoters will get extra 11108 equal to 4.99%. So, the resultant promoter shareholding = 50000 +11108 61108 shares equal to 54.99%
48. Queries Suppose the present holding of a promoter is 54% and after preferential allotment the holdings of the promoter remains same as that of 54% of the expanded capital. The question is whether any disclosure or compliance required in the present situation Query 1 Query 2 What is the maximum limit of preferential allotment? Can a Company through preferential allotment expand its capital without any limit?
49. Suppose the present holding of a promoter is 54% and after preferential allotment the holdings of the promoter remains same as that of 54% of the expanded capital. The question is whether any disclosure or compliance required in the present situation? What, if, the same question arises in case the promoter is holding 60%? The issue is as there is acquisition of shares but such acquisition has not change the voting rights. The question is what is relevant in terms of takeover code, acquisition or voting rights? Query 3 Queries
50. Conclusion To sum up… preferential allotment is becoming a buzz word these days… However, it is subject to various checks & balances.
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