In this, Esha Chakraborty and Shampita
Das of Vinod Kothari & Co. raise some further concerns regarding the
recent clarification issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The authors
may be contacted at esha@vinodkothari.com
and shampita@vinodkothari.com
respectively.]
Das of Vinod Kothari & Co. raise some further concerns regarding the
recent clarification issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The authors
may be contacted at esha@vinodkothari.com
and shampita@vinodkothari.com
respectively.]
Continuing with the intent of infusing
clarity to somewhat ambiguous drafting of regulations, the Ministry of
Corporate Affairs (MCA) on June 26, 2014 came out with a major clarification on
the deemed public company status of subsidiaries of foreign companies.
clarity to somewhat ambiguous drafting of regulations, the Ministry of
Corporate Affairs (MCA) on June 26, 2014 came out with a major clarification on
the deemed public company status of subsidiaries of foreign companies.
Considering
the consequences arising from the absence of the deeming provision of
sub-section (7) of Section 4 of the Companies Act, 1956 (‘Act, 1956’) by which
the status of all such Indian subsidiaries having foreign holding entities
changed; this stance, somehow, does bring some relief to all such entities.
But, some drafting
ineffectiveness prevails to bring in some new ambiguities into the picture!
the consequences arising from the absence of the deeming provision of
sub-section (7) of Section 4 of the Companies Act, 1956 (‘Act, 1956’) by which
the status of all such Indian subsidiaries having foreign holding entities
changed; this stance, somehow, does bring some relief to all such entities.
But, some drafting
ineffectiveness prevails to bring in some new ambiguities into the picture!
Let us understand through a step by
step analysis as to what was the plausible impact arising from the provisions
of Companies Act, 2013 (‘Act, 2013’) and how far this clarification grants
relief.
step analysis as to what was the plausible impact arising from the provisions
of Companies Act, 2013 (‘Act, 2013’) and how far this clarification grants
relief.
Position
under the Companies Act, 1956
The erstwhile Act, 1956 laid down the
defining clause for deemed public companies under Section 3(1)(iv)(c), which provided
that a private company which is a subsidiary of a public company, would also be
considered as a ‘public company’.
defining clause for deemed public companies under Section 3(1)(iv)(c), which provided
that a private company which is a subsidiary of a public company, would also be
considered as a ‘public company’.
However, by virtue of sub-section (7)
to Section 4, which defined holding subsidiary relationships, private companies
being subsidiaries of foreign body corporate(s) were exempted from the above
compulsion of being treated as ‘deemed public company’. It was this saving section, which provided that a
private company being a subsidiary of a foreign body corporate would not be deemed to be a public company
if:
to Section 4, which defined holding subsidiary relationships, private companies
being subsidiaries of foreign body corporate(s) were exempted from the above
compulsion of being treated as ‘deemed public company’. It was this saving section, which provided that a
private company being a subsidiary of a foreign body corporate would not be deemed to be a public company
if:
(a) the foreign body corporate, if
incorporated in India, would have been a private company; and
incorporated in India, would have been a private company; and
(b) the entire share capital in the Indian
subsidiary was held by that foreign body corporate, either alone or together
with more foreign bodies corporate.
subsidiary was held by that foreign body corporate, either alone or together
with more foreign bodies corporate.
In all other cases, such private
companies would grow out of their skin of being a private company and be deemed
to the status of a public company. In such scenario, the privileges available
with private companies would not be available to them.
companies would grow out of their skin of being a private company and be deemed
to the status of a public company. In such scenario, the privileges available
with private companies would not be available to them.
Enter
Companies Act, 2013
With major streamlining of regulatory
structures, some most welcoming, a few glaring loopholes have also been brought
forth. This exemption granted under Section 4(7) of Act, 1956 has been omitted from
the Act, 2013, which left us with the obvious interpretation that all private
companies, even being subsidiaries of foreign bodies corporate, would now be
deemed to be public companies for the purposes of the Act, 2013.
structures, some most welcoming, a few glaring loopholes have also been brought
forth. This exemption granted under Section 4(7) of Act, 1956 has been omitted from
the Act, 2013, which left us with the obvious interpretation that all private
companies, even being subsidiaries of foreign bodies corporate, would now be
deemed to be public companies for the purposes of the Act, 2013.
Let us assimilate the basis of our
above interpretation:
above interpretation:
The proviso clause of Section 2 (71) of
the Act, 2013 lays down the concept of deemed public company, stating –
the Act, 2013 lays down the concept of deemed public company, stating –
“a
company which is a subsidiary of a company, not being a private company, shall
be deemed to be public company for the purposes of this Act even where such subsidiary company
continues to be a private company in its articles;”
company which is a subsidiary of a company, not being a private company, shall
be deemed to be public company for the purposes of this Act even where such subsidiary company
continues to be a private company in its articles;”
The definition of subsidiary, here,
would derive its meaning from Section 2 (87) which defines ‘subsidiary’ and
wherein, the expression ‘company’, i.e, the holding company, includes any
body corporate.
would derive its meaning from Section 2 (87) which defines ‘subsidiary’ and
wherein, the expression ‘company’, i.e, the holding company, includes any
body corporate.
One can see the word ‘company’ used in
this context in an expansive sense and would include all bodies corporate and ‘body
corporate’ by virtue of its very definition, drawn from Section 2(11) of the
Act, 2013, also includes a company incorporated outside India.
this context in an expansive sense and would include all bodies corporate and ‘body
corporate’ by virtue of its very definition, drawn from Section 2(11) of the
Act, 2013, also includes a company incorporated outside India.
Hence, for the purpose of defining a
subsidiary company in relation to a holding company, ‘company’ would definitely
mean a foreign company as well.
subsidiary company in relation to a holding company, ‘company’ would definitely
mean a foreign company as well.
In light of the above, Section 2 (87)
gives rise to two scenarios –
gives rise to two scenarios –
– The subsidiary company is an Indian company with the
holding entity as a foreign company; and
holding entity as a foreign company; and
– The subsidiary company is a foreign company with the
holding entity as an Indian company.
holding entity as an Indian company.
Here, we need to understand that the
relevance of this definition section is that it will apply to the entire Act
and the Rules made thereunder. Accordingly, wherever the word ‘subsidiary’ in
relation to a company is used under the Act, the above interpretation would
undoubtedly apply.
relevance of this definition section is that it will apply to the entire Act
and the Rules made thereunder. Accordingly, wherever the word ‘subsidiary’ in
relation to a company is used under the Act, the above interpretation would
undoubtedly apply.
Therefore, in the above two scenarios,
this subsidiary could be a subsidiary of a body corporate, being a foreign
company. Thus, it can be summed up that a private company, being a subsidiary
of a foreign holding company, will be deemed to a public company under the Act,
2013.
this subsidiary could be a subsidiary of a body corporate, being a foreign
company. Thus, it can be summed up that a private company, being a subsidiary
of a foreign holding company, will be deemed to a public company under the Act,
2013.
Implications
of the deeming status
Given this, can we say that a private
company which has been deemed to be a public company loses the core values of
its constitution viz. (a) minimum
paid up capital of Rs. 1 lakh, (b) minimum and maximum number of members (min.
2 and max. 200) and (c) minimum number of two directors?
company which has been deemed to be a public company loses the core values of
its constitution viz. (a) minimum
paid up capital of Rs. 1 lakh, (b) minimum and maximum number of members (min.
2 and max. 200) and (c) minimum number of two directors?
In our view, that will not be the case
and such companies will continue to remain private as per its articles of
association. A supporting view was held in the landmark judgment of the Supreme
Court in Needle Industries (India) Ltd.,
&Ors. vs. Needle Industries Newey (India) Holding Ltd. & Ors. dated May 7, 1981, wherein it was held that a private company
which becomes a deemed public company would continue to retain the three basic
characteristics of a private company. Such a deemed public company, therefore,
would retain the fabric of its constitution and would not have to give up its
statutory status with which it was incorporated.
and such companies will continue to remain private as per its articles of
association. A supporting view was held in the landmark judgment of the Supreme
Court in Needle Industries (India) Ltd.,
&Ors. vs. Needle Industries Newey (India) Holding Ltd. & Ors. dated May 7, 1981, wherein it was held that a private company
which becomes a deemed public company would continue to retain the three basic
characteristics of a private company. Such a deemed public company, therefore,
would retain the fabric of its constitution and would not have to give up its
statutory status with which it was incorporated.
However, by becoming a deemed public
company, it still have to comply with the corporate governance norms as
applicable to a public company. For instance, appointment of independent
directors, constitution of audit committee and nomination and remuneration
committee, appointment of internal auditors, rotation of directors and Limits
on Managerial Remuneration.
company, it still have to comply with the corporate governance norms as
applicable to a public company. For instance, appointment of independent
directors, constitution of audit committee and nomination and remuneration
committee, appointment of internal auditors, rotation of directors and Limits
on Managerial Remuneration.
Finally, clarification from Ministry…
The
significant effects of the deeming provisions on subsidiaries of foreign
companies had created quite a ripple in the corporate sector. Companies which
were not deemed public companies by virtue of Section 4(7) of the erstwhile
Act, were suddenly faced with the prospect of huge compliance burden.
significant effects of the deeming provisions on subsidiaries of foreign
companies had created quite a ripple in the corporate sector. Companies which
were not deemed public companies by virtue of Section 4(7) of the erstwhile
Act, were suddenly faced with the prospect of huge compliance burden.
The MCA
has yet again come up with another Circular,
meaning to clarify the status of
subsidiaries incorporated or to be incorporated by foreign holding companies.
But of course, again, due to some ambiguities in the drafting strucutre and
language, the MCA has left it to one’s imagination to decipher its intent.
has yet again come up with another Circular,
meaning to clarify the status of
subsidiaries incorporated or to be incorporated by foreign holding companies.
But of course, again, due to some ambiguities in the drafting strucutre and
language, the MCA has left it to one’s imagination to decipher its intent.
Though
the first para of the Circular draws attention to the fact that the deeming
provision of Section 4 (7) of Act, 1956 was missing in the Act, 2013; it failed
to capture the fact that the exemption from ‘deeming’ provision under Act, 1956
would still be applicable under the Act, 2013.
the first para of the Circular draws attention to the fact that the deeming
provision of Section 4 (7) of Act, 1956 was missing in the Act, 2013; it failed
to capture the fact that the exemption from ‘deeming’ provision under Act, 1956
would still be applicable under the Act, 2013.
Instead, it goes on to say such subsidiary company with
foreign holding company(s) would continue to act as ‘a private company or public company, as the case may be, without any change in the incorporation
status of such company.’ As explained earlier, there was anyway no
ambiguity in the understanding with respect to the incorporation status of a
‘deemed public company’ and they would have still retained their statutory
constitution. See
also our discussion under heading, Implications of the deeming status.
foreign holding company(s) would continue to act as ‘a private company or public company, as the case may be, without any change in the incorporation
status of such company.’ As explained earlier, there was anyway no
ambiguity in the understanding with respect to the incorporation status of a
‘deemed public company’ and they would have still retained their statutory
constitution. See
also our discussion under heading, Implications of the deeming status.
Thus, instead of stating the obvious
intent of the Circular, as evident from the first para, the Circular completely
disconnects in the second para, and moves on to state the obvious!
intent of the Circular, as evident from the first para, the Circular completely
disconnects in the second para, and moves on to state the obvious!
Further,
deliberating over the language used, here are few more thoughts to mull over –
deliberating over the language used, here are few more thoughts to mull over –
– Circular
states that ‘an existing company, being a subsidiary of a company incorporated outside India’
would continue to be a private or public company without any change in the
incorporation status.
states that ‘an existing company, being a subsidiary of a company incorporated outside India’
would continue to be a private or public company without any change in the
incorporation status.
So, apparently, it deems to suggest
that subsidiaries of only companies
incorporated outside India would be covered by this clarification. However, the
language used in the Act, 1956 as well as Act, 2013 covered all bodies corporate and not merely foreign
companies. If this is the case, then the stake held by limited liability
corporations (LLCs), association of persons and other bodies corporate
incorporated outside India, in the Indian subsidiary cannot be considered for
determining the exemption status from the deeming provisions. Perhaps, this
could create more problems than solving the same.
that subsidiaries of only companies
incorporated outside India would be covered by this clarification. However, the
language used in the Act, 1956 as well as Act, 2013 covered all bodies corporate and not merely foreign
companies. If this is the case, then the stake held by limited liability
corporations (LLCs), association of persons and other bodies corporate
incorporated outside India, in the Indian subsidiary cannot be considered for
determining the exemption status from the deeming provisions. Perhaps, this
could create more problems than solving the same.
– The erstwhile
Section 4(7) clearly stated one of the preconditions to avail the exemption
clause is that, the entire share capital of the Indian private company should
be held by the overseas bodies corporate. In the absence of the said deeming
provision or any such exemption clause in the new legislation, are we left to
assume that every subsidiary of the foreign company may still avail the
exemption on this front?
Section 4(7) clearly stated one of the preconditions to avail the exemption
clause is that, the entire share capital of the Indian private company should
be held by the overseas bodies corporate. In the absence of the said deeming
provision or any such exemption clause in the new legislation, are we left to
assume that every subsidiary of the foreign company may still avail the
exemption on this front?
As of
now, the Circular somehow fails to render any light on these matters.
now, the Circular somehow fails to render any light on these matters.
– Esha Chakraborty and Shampita Das