[The following post, which is the
first in a three-part series, is contributed by Vinod Kothari of Vinod Kothari & Co. The author can be
contacted at [email protected]]
first in a three-part series, is contributed by Vinod Kothari of Vinod Kothari & Co. The author can be
contacted at [email protected]]
The significance of the corporate sector to the economy does
not need any emphasis, and the Companies Act is surely the core legislation
that affects the corporate sector. It is not that the Companies Act was hastily
passed – it has gone through two rounds of Parliamentary committees, besides,
of course, being in the public domain for nearly 4 years before it was passed.
Yet, it is painful to see that glaring issues have remained in the Act – issues which really have ruinous impact on
the corporate sector and capital markets. India is already abysmally low in
terms of the ease of doing business, and this enactment will push it down further.
not need any emphasis, and the Companies Act is surely the core legislation
that affects the corporate sector. It is not that the Companies Act was hastily
passed – it has gone through two rounds of Parliamentary committees, besides,
of course, being in the public domain for nearly 4 years before it was passed.
Yet, it is painful to see that glaring issues have remained in the Act – issues which really have ruinous impact on
the corporate sector and capital markets. India is already abysmally low in
terms of the ease of doing business, and this enactment will push it down further.
The problems with drafting ineptitude is that once it is
done, those responsible for the legislation start defending what is quite
apparently a drafting error[1]. Errors
are, after all, human, and it is a shared error since the Act has been in public
domain for quite a long time. Therefore, there is no need for those responsible
for the law to try and construct elegant arguments to defend what are blatant
errors. On the contrary, let us call a spade a spade, and think of moving an
amendment.
done, those responsible for the legislation start defending what is quite
apparently a drafting error[1]. Errors
are, after all, human, and it is a shared error since the Act has been in public
domain for quite a long time. Therefore, there is no need for those responsible
for the law to try and construct elegant arguments to defend what are blatant
errors. On the contrary, let us call a spade a spade, and think of moving an
amendment.
It is not an effective remedy to try and iron out some of
the lapses in law by rule-making. Rules are subordinate law; in addition, rules
are in the domain of the executive. If the past experience is any indication,
it is always that rule-making has come with several conditions, which complicates
the matter further.
the lapses in law by rule-making. Rules are subordinate law; in addition, rules
are in the domain of the executive. If the past experience is any indication,
it is always that rule-making has come with several conditions, which complicates
the matter further.
While there are some areas which are pure lapses in
law-making but will have serious implications if left the way they are, there
are other very serious issues which require policy decisions. For example, is
bond market something that can be left to the discretion of the Ministry of
Corporate Affairs (MCA)? Surely the perspective of the Ministry of Finance and
that of the MCA are totally different in the matter. The MCA is approaching the
issue from an anti-abuse or investor protection viewpoint, with which the MCA
seems to be completely obliterating the bond market. Also, it is an issue of
essential policy framework for this law as to whether the exemptions to private
companies, which is germane to the whole basis of regulatory framework, could
be left to the power of exemption.
law-making but will have serious implications if left the way they are, there
are other very serious issues which require policy decisions. For example, is
bond market something that can be left to the discretion of the Ministry of
Corporate Affairs (MCA)? Surely the perspective of the Ministry of Finance and
that of the MCA are totally different in the matter. The MCA is approaching the
issue from an anti-abuse or investor protection viewpoint, with which the MCA
seems to be completely obliterating the bond market. Also, it is an issue of
essential policy framework for this law as to whether the exemptions to private
companies, which is germane to the whole basis of regulatory framework, could
be left to the power of exemption.
This post highlights 10 areas where the implications of the
law, if left uncorrected, can be seriously harmful.
law, if left uncorrected, can be seriously harmful.
1. Regulation by rule, liberty by
exception
exception
The Act enacts an all-encompassing regulatory principle by
including all companies into the tight regulatory provisions of the law, with
the promise that the government has a power to exempt such companies as it
deems fit, and that the government will be willing to exercise such power to
exempt as and when the government feels appropriate.
including all companies into the tight regulatory provisions of the law, with
the promise that the government has a power to exempt such companies as it
deems fit, and that the government will be willing to exercise such power to
exempt as and when the government feels appropriate.
Here lies a fundamental issue – where there is no reason to
regulate in the first place, it is not appropriate to state that the Act will
by default apply to all companies, and companies that deserve to be liberated
will be let off the hook by way of exemption. This is almost like taking the
entire corporate sector as hostage, with a promise to take deserving companies
or classes of companies out by executive action. The power to exempt companies
was there in the 1956 Act also – but that was never a reason all these 6
decades of implementation of the law to regulate by rule, and exempt by choice.
After all, the fundamental rule on which humanity works is – regulation is an
exception, liberty is the rule. Admittedly, corporates are the product of
regulation – so they cannot demand fundamental liberty that individuals can;
however, regulation is not a self-serving need. It is warranted for a reason –
there seems to be no good reason to support the “negative listing” approach of
the regulatory framework, whereby all companies are prima facie regulated, with
a power to exempt exceptionally.
regulate in the first place, it is not appropriate to state that the Act will
by default apply to all companies, and companies that deserve to be liberated
will be let off the hook by way of exemption. This is almost like taking the
entire corporate sector as hostage, with a promise to take deserving companies
or classes of companies out by executive action. The power to exempt companies
was there in the 1956 Act also – but that was never a reason all these 6
decades of implementation of the law to regulate by rule, and exempt by choice.
After all, the fundamental rule on which humanity works is – regulation is an
exception, liberty is the rule. Admittedly, corporates are the product of
regulation – so they cannot demand fundamental liberty that individuals can;
however, regulation is not a self-serving need. It is warranted for a reason –
there seems to be no good reason to support the “negative listing” approach of
the regulatory framework, whereby all companies are prima facie regulated, with
a power to exempt exceptionally.
If everyone thought, when the draft Bills were being
discussed from 2008 to 2012, that the power to exempt will be logically and
liberally exercised, such expectations have already been belied. The sections
that were enforced on 12th Sept 2013 have cast rigorous restrictions
on private companies, which are totally out of place. For example, if a private
company, admittedly a private affair, gives loans to its own directors, who
could be complaining of prejudice? After all, the shareholding and management
in case of private companies is the same – so the owners are lending to
themselves, and there is no reason for regulation to worry.
discussed from 2008 to 2012, that the power to exempt will be logically and
liberally exercised, such expectations have already been belied. The sections
that were enforced on 12th Sept 2013 have cast rigorous restrictions
on private companies, which are totally out of place. For example, if a private
company, admittedly a private affair, gives loans to its own directors, who
could be complaining of prejudice? After all, the shareholding and management
in case of private companies is the same – so the owners are lending to
themselves, and there is no reason for regulation to worry.
Likewise, on the issue of financial transactions (loans and
guarantees) between holding and subsidiary companies, it is grossly illogical
to take a position that a subsidiary company cannot piggyback on its holding
company’s support. After all, if a toddler does not get support from its own
parents, where else will the support come from? It is a settled way of doing
business world-over that holding companies provide loans and guarantees to
subsidiaries. In fact, in case of overseas direct investment, the Reserve Bank
of India (RBI) specifically requires that loans be given only to subsidiaries
and none else. Having lost all practicality, section 185 was enforced without
any exemption in case of financial transactions between holding and subsidiary
companies. Here too, the government might have easily used its powers under the
Act to exempt transactions between holding and subsidiary companies from the
sweep of the law; however, after nearly 5 months of the enforcement of sec 185,
a half-hearted “clarification” was issued by the MCA on 14th Feb
2014 to state that guarantees between holding and wholly-owned subsidiaries will
be exempted from sec 185. There were several riders in this so-called
clarification – first, it is only a temporal relief, since the clarification
says so clearly. Second, the relief is only for guarantees and not for loans.
Third, the relief is only for wholly-owned subsidiaries, and not for any
subsidiary. On the contrary, if the MCA was using the power to exempt as the
justification before the Parliamentary committee for the otherwise-rigorous
scheme of the law, there was no reason why the power of exemption was not used,
rather than the half-hearted clarification, apparently arising out of a
so-called “harmonious interpretation” of sec. 372A of the 1956 Act and sec 185
of the 2013 Act.
guarantees) between holding and subsidiary companies, it is grossly illogical
to take a position that a subsidiary company cannot piggyback on its holding
company’s support. After all, if a toddler does not get support from its own
parents, where else will the support come from? It is a settled way of doing
business world-over that holding companies provide loans and guarantees to
subsidiaries. In fact, in case of overseas direct investment, the Reserve Bank
of India (RBI) specifically requires that loans be given only to subsidiaries
and none else. Having lost all practicality, section 185 was enforced without
any exemption in case of financial transactions between holding and subsidiary
companies. Here too, the government might have easily used its powers under the
Act to exempt transactions between holding and subsidiary companies from the
sweep of the law; however, after nearly 5 months of the enforcement of sec 185,
a half-hearted “clarification” was issued by the MCA on 14th Feb
2014 to state that guarantees between holding and wholly-owned subsidiaries will
be exempted from sec 185. There were several riders in this so-called
clarification – first, it is only a temporal relief, since the clarification
says so clearly. Second, the relief is only for guarantees and not for loans.
Third, the relief is only for wholly-owned subsidiaries, and not for any
subsidiary. On the contrary, if the MCA was using the power to exempt as the
justification before the Parliamentary committee for the otherwise-rigorous
scheme of the law, there was no reason why the power of exemption was not used,
rather than the half-hearted clarification, apparently arising out of a
so-called “harmonious interpretation” of sec. 372A of the 1956 Act and sec 185
of the 2013 Act.
In essence, it is quite clear that to obtain any exemption from
the government is a near impossibility. In light of this experience, the
sweeping scheme of regulation is most unreasonable, and particularly in cases
like the public-private company distinction and the holding-subsidiary company
exemption, it defies all rationale as to why should there be regulation in the
first place.
the government is a near impossibility. In light of this experience, the
sweeping scheme of regulation is most unreasonable, and particularly in cases
like the public-private company distinction and the holding-subsidiary company
exemption, it defies all rationale as to why should there be regulation in the
first place.
2. FDI investors in for a shock
This is quite an unintended implication of the law, but if
it is not corrected soon, it will lead to a major setback for the already
weakened flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country. By a
combined reading of sec. 2 (71) and section 2 (87) of the new Act, a private
company which is subsidiary of a foreign body corporate will be deemed to be a
public company, and the law will be applicable to it as if it were a public
company. There was a protection against such an unhappy situation in terms of
sec. 4 (7) of the 1956 Act, but in their bid to shorten the definition of a
subsidiary into a clause from a full-fledged section, the regulators have
deleted sec. 4 (7). The completely shocking implication of this is that every
private company, which is subsidiary of a foreign company, is a deemed public
company.
it is not corrected soon, it will lead to a major setback for the already
weakened flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country. By a
combined reading of sec. 2 (71) and section 2 (87) of the new Act, a private
company which is subsidiary of a foreign body corporate will be deemed to be a
public company, and the law will be applicable to it as if it were a public
company. There was a protection against such an unhappy situation in terms of
sec. 4 (7) of the 1956 Act, but in their bid to shorten the definition of a
subsidiary into a clause from a full-fledged section, the regulators have
deleted sec. 4 (7). The completely shocking implication of this is that every
private company, which is subsidiary of a foreign company, is a deemed public
company.
What makes it even more alarming is that since sec 2 (87) of
the new Act has been notified on 12th Sept 2013, section 4 (7) has
ceased to be effective from that date, and therefore, the deeming fiction has
already taken effect. Literally, this will mean from 12th Sept 2013,
all Indian companies which are subsidiaries of foreign companies, have become
deemed public companies. Notably, the compliances under the old Act, in case of
public companies, are far more intensive than in case of a private company. One
trite regulation is the control on managerial remuneration – thus, the Indian
subsidiary of a foreign company cannot pay what it wishes to its Indian CEO –
it must remunerate only in accordance with the scales set in Schedule XIII.
the new Act has been notified on 12th Sept 2013, section 4 (7) has
ceased to be effective from that date, and therefore, the deeming fiction has
already taken effect. Literally, this will mean from 12th Sept 2013,
all Indian companies which are subsidiaries of foreign companies, have become
deemed public companies. Notably, the compliances under the old Act, in case of
public companies, are far more intensive than in case of a private company. One
trite regulation is the control on managerial remuneration – thus, the Indian
subsidiary of a foreign company cannot pay what it wishes to its Indian CEO –
it must remunerate only in accordance with the scales set in Schedule XIII.
Most companies in India which receive FDI are private
companies. They might be having huge turnover, but they are constitutionally
private, as they are held almost entirely by their foreign parents. IBM India
is an example – it is a private company.
companies. They might be having huge turnover, but they are constitutionally
private, as they are held almost entirely by their foreign parents. IBM India
is an example – it is a private company.
For variety of reasons, international investors have lately
been shunning India. If they run the risk of sleep-walking into the regulations
applicable to public companies, it will really be a shocker for them, and obviously, India as a
country could not have a worse time if FDI investors turn their back.
been shunning India. If they run the risk of sleep-walking into the regulations
applicable to public companies, it will really be a shocker for them, and obviously, India as a
country could not have a worse time if FDI investors turn their back.
–
Vinod Kothari
[1]
One prominent example is the definition of “subsidiary company” in sec. 2 (87)
where the intended reference to “total voting power” was wrongly worded as
“total share capital”, thereby making preference shares, which are non-voting
shares, as the basis of subsidiarisation. Apparently, attempts were made to
justify this error, but the error is quite evident from the use of the words
“exercises or controls”, which obviously cannot relate to share capital, as
share capital cannot be “exercised”.
One prominent example is the definition of “subsidiary company” in sec. 2 (87)
where the intended reference to “total voting power” was wrongly worded as
“total share capital”, thereby making preference shares, which are non-voting
shares, as the basis of subsidiarisation. Apparently, attempts were made to
justify this error, but the error is quite evident from the use of the words
“exercises or controls”, which obviously cannot relate to share capital, as
share capital cannot be “exercised”.
Section 185 starts with "Save as otherwise provided in this Act". I understand that unless contradictory provided in other section, this section shall prevail. Therefore, since 186 still not notified, we can take the Shelter of Section 372A to give loans, guarantees, to Wholly owned Subsidiary Companies.
It think it is incorrect to say that subsidiary of a foreign body corporate will be a public company. Section 2(71) refers to subsidiary of a company, not being a private company , shall be deemed to be a public company. The definition of a company is a company incorporated under the Indian law. The expansive definition of company to include body corporates with reference to holding companies is only for the term subsidiary company.
I would respond to both the comments.
Re the meaning of "subsidiary company". The expression "subsidiry company" or cognate expressions cannot be read de hors of sec 2 (87). In essence, we cannot pick up the meaning of "subsidiary" from sec 2 (87) and disregard that part of sec 2 (87) – which is the defining section – which says the word company includes a body corporate. The meaning given in the definition section is pervade through the Act and cannot be limited to the defining section. Hence, when it comes to sec 2 (71) defining publi company, being subsidiary, etc., we have to take the word subsidiary as subsidiary of a body corporate too. That was the precise reason why there was a carve-out in sec 4 (7) of the earlier Act, which was deleted for unspecified, ununderstanable reason.
I know the interpretation I am taking is quite harsh for all FDI companies, but unfortunately that is inescapable.
Next, regarding holding-subsidiary companies, our view is that none of the 5 items in Expln below sec 185 (1) cover holding-subsidiary relationship. Clause (e) is purely circumstantial and may be rebutted by facts.
I would agree to the second comment that the company in the provisio must be incorporated under the Indian Law. In the 2013 act, there are only two types of cos can be incorporated public and private (including one person co). If we take your corollary that "not being a private company" will include body corporate and apply to the definition of a public company i.e. 71 (a) & (b), then all body corporates with over 5 lakhs of paid of capital would be public companies under the act. Surely, this is not the intention of the legislators.
► MCA vide Circular No. 23 of 2014 has clarified the ambiguities surrounding the status of an Indian private limited company being subsidiary of a foreign public company. MCA has made the following clarifications:
• The is no bar under Cos Act 2013 for a foreign company to incorporate a subsidiary either as a private company or public company
• A company incorporated by a foreign company, either as public or private company, will continue as a public company or a private company, as the case may be, without any change in the incorporation status of such company.
Good Article …thx.
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