[The following post is contributed
by Aditi Jhunjhunwala, Senior Associate at Vinod Kothari & Co. She can be contacted at aditi@vinodkothari.com]
by Aditi Jhunjhunwala, Senior Associate at Vinod Kothari & Co. She can be contacted at aditi@vinodkothari.com]
The moment one possesses a share of a company,
along with it also comes a bundle of rights such as the right to vote, receive
dividend, transfer, bonus, rights issue, to share in the surplus, if any, on
liquidation, to elect directors etc. These rights then become the property of the
shareholder who is entitled to deal with them in any manner as he thinks fit.
Once the share is transferred, all the rights and obligations attached to it
also get transferred. A share in a partnership reflects the partner’s
proprietary interest in the partnership assets: the assets are jointly owned by
the partners. In the case of a company, it is not the shareholders but the
company that owns the corporate assets, and the concept of a share serves
somewhat different functions. In the first place, it is a fraction of the
capital, denoting the holder’s proportionate financial stake in the company.
Secondly, it is a measure of the holder’s interest in the company as an
association and the basis of his right to become a member and to enjoy the
rights of voting, etc. so conferred. And, thirdly, it is a species of property
in its own right, a rather complex form of chose in action, which the holder
can buy, sell, charge, etc., and in which there can be both legal and
beneficial interests.
along with it also comes a bundle of rights such as the right to vote, receive
dividend, transfer, bonus, rights issue, to share in the surplus, if any, on
liquidation, to elect directors etc. These rights then become the property of the
shareholder who is entitled to deal with them in any manner as he thinks fit.
Once the share is transferred, all the rights and obligations attached to it
also get transferred. A share in a partnership reflects the partner’s
proprietary interest in the partnership assets: the assets are jointly owned by
the partners. In the case of a company, it is not the shareholders but the
company that owns the corporate assets, and the concept of a share serves
somewhat different functions. In the first place, it is a fraction of the
capital, denoting the holder’s proportionate financial stake in the company.
Secondly, it is a measure of the holder’s interest in the company as an
association and the basis of his right to become a member and to enjoy the
rights of voting, etc. so conferred. And, thirdly, it is a species of property
in its own right, a rather complex form of chose in action, which the holder
can buy, sell, charge, etc., and in which there can be both legal and
beneficial interests.
This post discusses, analyses and takes the
position that can a shareholder unpack these bundle of rights and thereafter
deal with any of the elements in a manner suitable to him, i.e. can he transfer
any one of the rights and still retain the beneficial interest in those shares,
or that can he transfer any part of such rights without parting with the
shares. This write up specifically deals with transfer of voting rights without
any transfer of shares.
position that can a shareholder unpack these bundle of rights and thereafter
deal with any of the elements in a manner suitable to him, i.e. can he transfer
any one of the rights and still retain the beneficial interest in those shares,
or that can he transfer any part of such rights without parting with the
shares. This write up specifically deals with transfer of voting rights without
any transfer of shares.
Ways of transfer of voting rights
Concept of Voting Trust
Voting trust is
whereby persons owning shares with voting powers retain ownership while
transferring the voting rights to the trustees. The Voting Trust Agreement is
an agreement whereby a voting trust is created and the shares in a company of
one or more shareholders are legally transferred to a trustee for a certain
period of time. In the Voting Trust Agreement, the trustee appointed is granted
additional powers such as the ability to sell the shares. At the termination of the term of the
trust, the shares held by the trustee would be transferred back to the
shareholders. The concept is usually prevalent in US and offshore
jurisdictions.
whereby persons owning shares with voting powers retain ownership while
transferring the voting rights to the trustees. The Voting Trust Agreement is
an agreement whereby a voting trust is created and the shares in a company of
one or more shareholders are legally transferred to a trustee for a certain
period of time. In the Voting Trust Agreement, the trustee appointed is granted
additional powers such as the ability to sell the shares. At the termination of the term of the
trust, the shares held by the trustee would be transferred back to the
shareholders. The concept is usually prevalent in US and offshore
jurisdictions.
Section 153A of the Companies Act, 1956 (the Act)
provided that the Central Government may appoint a person as public trustee to
discharge the functions and to exercise the rights and powers conferred on him
by or under the Act. This was however withdrawn and the trustees were now to
directly exercise voting rights. Therefore the
provisions of law also had a concept and permitted separation of the voting
element from the bundle of rights.
provided that the Central Government may appoint a person as public trustee to
discharge the functions and to exercise the rights and powers conferred on him
by or under the Act. This was however withdrawn and the trustees were now to
directly exercise voting rights. Therefore the
provisions of law also had a concept and permitted separation of the voting
element from the bundle of rights.
Proxy
If a
shareholder appoints a proxy to vote on behalf of such shareholder in a
meeting, can that be called separation of voting rights and ownership rights?
The answer is no. In case of a proxy the shareholder is merely appointing a
person to act on its behalf whereas in case of a transfer of voting right it
has separated the bundle and set aside one of the elements. Surely, the
shareholder need not execute a transfer deed to appoint a proxy. The Act recognizes
a power of attorney for the purpose of transfer of voting rights as has been
cited below.
shareholder appoints a proxy to vote on behalf of such shareholder in a
meeting, can that be called separation of voting rights and ownership rights?
The answer is no. In case of a proxy the shareholder is merely appointing a
person to act on its behalf whereas in case of a transfer of voting right it
has separated the bundle and set aside one of the elements. Surely, the
shareholder need not execute a transfer deed to appoint a proxy. The Act recognizes
a power of attorney for the purpose of transfer of voting rights as has been
cited below.
In Cousins v. International Bricks Co. Ltd.,
(1931) 2 Ch 90 at 101: (1932) 2 Com Cases 108 (CA) it was discussed that a
shareholder may give an irrevocable power of attorney to a person to cast votes
on his behalf in the general meeting and also sign proxy forms on his behalf as
constituted attorney. The constituted attorney’s position is that of a proxy
and he can attend and vote at the meeting. If the shareholder himself attends
the meeting, the power of attorney shall stand revoked thereby.
(1931) 2 Ch 90 at 101: (1932) 2 Com Cases 108 (CA) it was discussed that a
shareholder may give an irrevocable power of attorney to a person to cast votes
on his behalf in the general meeting and also sign proxy forms on his behalf as
constituted attorney. The constituted attorney’s position is that of a proxy
and he can attend and vote at the meeting. If the shareholder himself attends
the meeting, the power of attorney shall stand revoked thereby.
Pledge
Is a
pledge is a mode of transfer of voting rights without transfer of shares? The
answer is yes. Pledge is very common for raising funds, where shares are pledged
as collateral towards raising working capital or a term loan, to increase their
holding or to fund an acquisition. The pledgor or the borrower will continue to
receive dividend on the pledged shares. The pledgee or the lender will get the
benefits only if a pledge is invoked and on record date the shares are in the
lender’s account. The securities arising out of corporate actions like split,
mergers, consolidation, etc. will be credited to the account of the pledgor
with pledge marked in favour of the lender. Moreover, the lenders also get the
right to sell the shares pledged by the promoters in case of default made by
the promoters.
pledge is a mode of transfer of voting rights without transfer of shares? The
answer is yes. Pledge is very common for raising funds, where shares are pledged
as collateral towards raising working capital or a term loan, to increase their
holding or to fund an acquisition. The pledgor or the borrower will continue to
receive dividend on the pledged shares. The pledgee or the lender will get the
benefits only if a pledge is invoked and on record date the shares are in the
lender’s account. The securities arising out of corporate actions like split,
mergers, consolidation, etc. will be credited to the account of the pledgor
with pledge marked in favour of the lender. Moreover, the lenders also get the
right to sell the shares pledged by the promoters in case of default made by
the promoters.
A
pledgee or the lender may contractually enjoy voting rights over such shares in
spite of the fact that in reality there is no actual transfer of shares by
execution of transfer deed. All the rights and benefits attached to the shares
otherwise are transferred to the pledgor.
pledgee or the lender may contractually enjoy voting rights over such shares in
spite of the fact that in reality there is no actual transfer of shares by
execution of transfer deed. All the rights and benefits attached to the shares
otherwise are transferred to the pledgor.
In
the case of Mohini Mohan Chakravartty v.
Mohanlal Thalia[1], it was
held by the Hon’ble Calcutta High Court that the shares when pledged with the
pledgee, only create a special property in the shares and the pawnee of shares
in a company cannot be treated as the holder of shares nor is he entitled to
receive any dividend on the shares.
the case of Mohini Mohan Chakravartty v.
Mohanlal Thalia[1], it was
held by the Hon’ble Calcutta High Court that the shares when pledged with the
pledgee, only create a special property in the shares and the pawnee of shares
in a company cannot be treated as the holder of shares nor is he entitled to
receive any dividend on the shares.
Disclosure for Pledge
In
India, until recently when Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) made
it compulsory for promoters to disclose their pledged shares vide insertion of
Regulation 8A in SEBI (Substantial Acquisition and Takeover) Regulations, 1997,
there were no disclosure norms. However, post Satyam debacle, SEBI has made it
mandatory for promoters and promoter groups to disclose the details of pledging
of shares of their listed entities.
India, until recently when Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) made
it compulsory for promoters to disclose their pledged shares vide insertion of
Regulation 8A in SEBI (Substantial Acquisition and Takeover) Regulations, 1997,
there were no disclosure norms. However, post Satyam debacle, SEBI has made it
mandatory for promoters and promoter groups to disclose the details of pledging
of shares of their listed entities.
The
SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011 (the
Takeover Code) has made it mandatory for the promoters and their persons acting
in concert to make all disclosures relating to any “encumbrances” created by
them on their securities. The term “encumbrance” has been specifically used to
widen the scope of the disclosures to be made by the promoters. Regulation
28(3) of the new Takeover Code provides an inclusive definition of
“encumbrance” as, “it shall include a
pledge, lien, or any such transaction, by whatever name called.” Thus,
disclosure will have to be made in case of pledge of shares. Further, in case
the pledgee gets voting rights also or has the right to cause the shareholder
to vote as per the instructions of the pledgee, the transaction would well
amount to acquisition of control and hence, triggering the Regulation 3 for
making public announcement as well.
SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011 (the
Takeover Code) has made it mandatory for the promoters and their persons acting
in concert to make all disclosures relating to any “encumbrances” created by
them on their securities. The term “encumbrance” has been specifically used to
widen the scope of the disclosures to be made by the promoters. Regulation
28(3) of the new Takeover Code provides an inclusive definition of
“encumbrance” as, “it shall include a
pledge, lien, or any such transaction, by whatever name called.” Thus,
disclosure will have to be made in case of pledge of shares. Further, in case
the pledgee gets voting rights also or has the right to cause the shareholder
to vote as per the instructions of the pledgee, the transaction would well
amount to acquisition of control and hence, triggering the Regulation 3 for
making public announcement as well.
Under
clause 35 of the listing agreement, a disclosure regarding the shareholding
pattern of the company and the “promoter and promoter group” has to be made
while under clause 41, the company is required to submit its financial results
of every quarter. Both the clauses though existed earlier too, have been
amended to include within its ambit necessary disclosure of shares pledged by
the promoter and promoters group by virtue of the change in the Takeover Code.
clause 35 of the listing agreement, a disclosure regarding the shareholding
pattern of the company and the “promoter and promoter group” has to be made
while under clause 41, the company is required to submit its financial results
of every quarter. Both the clauses though existed earlier too, have been
amended to include within its ambit necessary disclosure of shares pledged by
the promoter and promoters group by virtue of the change in the Takeover Code.
(to be continued)
– Aditi Jhunjhunwala