[The
following post is contributed by Malek
Shipchandler, a lawyer at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. Views
expressed herein are solely that of the author and do not in any way represent
the views of his organization]
following post is contributed by Malek
Shipchandler, a lawyer at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. Views
expressed herein are solely that of the author and do not in any way represent
the views of his organization]
The
Indian securities regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) recently notified an amendment to
the SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011 (Takeover Regulations) which prohibits a
person or entity that is declared a “wilful defaulter” from making a public
announcement to acquire shares of an Indian listed company (Listco) or enter into any transaction
that would attract the obligation to make a public announcement to acquire the
shares of a Listco under the Takeover Regulations (Prohibition). The text of this amendment viz. Regulation 6A reads:
Indian securities regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) recently notified an amendment to
the SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011 (Takeover Regulations) which prohibits a
person or entity that is declared a “wilful defaulter” from making a public
announcement to acquire shares of an Indian listed company (Listco) or enter into any transaction
that would attract the obligation to make a public announcement to acquire the
shares of a Listco under the Takeover Regulations (Prohibition). The text of this amendment viz. Regulation 6A reads:
“Notwithstanding anything
contained in these regulations, no person who is a wilful defaulter shall make
a public announcement of an open offer for acquiring shares or enter into any
transaction that would attract the obligation to make a public announcement of
an open offer for acquiring shares under these regulations.
contained in these regulations, no person who is a wilful defaulter shall make
a public announcement of an open offer for acquiring shares or enter into any
transaction that would attract the obligation to make a public announcement of
an open offer for acquiring shares under these regulations.
Provided that this regulation
shall not prohibit the wilful defaulter from making a competing offer in
accordance with regulation 20 of these regulations upon any other person making
an open offer for acquiring shares of the target company.”
shall not prohibit the wilful defaulter from making a competing offer in
accordance with regulation 20 of these regulations upon any other person making
an open offer for acquiring shares of the target company.”
The
text of Regulation 2(1)(ze) which defines a “wilful defaulter” reads:
text of Regulation 2(1)(ze) which defines a “wilful defaulter” reads:
““wilful defaulter” means any
person who is categorized as a wilful defaulter by any bank or financial
institution or consortium thereof, in accordance with the guidelines on wilful
defaulters issued by the Reserve Bank of India and includes any person whose
director, promoter or partner is categorized as such;”
person who is categorized as a wilful defaulter by any bank or financial
institution or consortium thereof, in accordance with the guidelines on wilful
defaulters issued by the Reserve Bank of India and includes any person whose
director, promoter or partner is categorized as such;”
Under
clause 2.1.3 of the master circular on wilful defaulters dated July 1, 2015 (Circular) issued by the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI), a “wilful default” is
deemed to have occurred where a person or entity (whether incorporated or not)
has intentionally, deliberately and calculatingly defaulted in meeting payment
obligations to a lender (a) when it
has capacity to make the payment; (b)
and has not utilized the finance availed of for purposes designated but instead
diverted the funds for other purposes; (c)
and has siphoned off funds nor are the funds available in the form of assets
and (d) and has disposed off or
removed the assets given (for securing the loan) without the knowledge of the
lender.
clause 2.1.3 of the master circular on wilful defaulters dated July 1, 2015 (Circular) issued by the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI), a “wilful default” is
deemed to have occurred where a person or entity (whether incorporated or not)
has intentionally, deliberately and calculatingly defaulted in meeting payment
obligations to a lender (a) when it
has capacity to make the payment; (b)
and has not utilized the finance availed of for purposes designated but instead
diverted the funds for other purposes; (c)
and has siphoned off funds nor are the funds available in the form of assets
and (d) and has disposed off or
removed the assets given (for securing the loan) without the knowledge of the
lender.
Under
clause 2.6 of the Circular, a guarantor (be it a group company of the
defaulting entity or otherwise) that refuses to comply with a payment demand
made by a lender, is also treated as a wilful defaulter.
clause 2.6 of the Circular, a guarantor (be it a group company of the
defaulting entity or otherwise) that refuses to comply with a payment demand
made by a lender, is also treated as a wilful defaulter.
A
few observations and thoughts in connection with the above are set out below:
few observations and thoughts in connection with the above are set out below:
1. Indirect open offers: The Prohibition,
by using the language “any transaction that would attract the obligation to
make a public announcement” (Language),
covers indirect open offers as well. Therefore, hypothetically, where by virtue
of an underlying transaction which results in a change in control of a Listco,
an open offer obligation is triggered; if the acquirer (or even a person acting
in concert with the acquirer) has been declared a wilful defaulter (in capacity
of a borrower or guarantor) under the Circular, such acquirer and/or person(s)
acting in concert cannot make an open offer – which essentially means, the
acquirer and/or person(s) acting in concert cannot enter (or agree to enter) into
any underlying transactions. Therefore, the Prohibition does not just extend to
transactions directly involving a Listco. An intriguing conundrum would
be a case of an overseas transaction triggering an indirect open offer in India
where the acquirer or person(s) acting in concert have been declared wilful
defaulters – this Prohibition would need to be given thought to while, inter alia, structuring global transactions
affecting a Listco and which persons/entities to designate as “person(s) acting
in concert” for purposes of the open offer.
by using the language “any transaction that would attract the obligation to
make a public announcement” (Language),
covers indirect open offers as well. Therefore, hypothetically, where by virtue
of an underlying transaction which results in a change in control of a Listco,
an open offer obligation is triggered; if the acquirer (or even a person acting
in concert with the acquirer) has been declared a wilful defaulter (in capacity
of a borrower or guarantor) under the Circular, such acquirer and/or person(s)
acting in concert cannot make an open offer – which essentially means, the
acquirer and/or person(s) acting in concert cannot enter (or agree to enter) into
any underlying transactions. Therefore, the Prohibition does not just extend to
transactions directly involving a Listco. An intriguing conundrum would
be a case of an overseas transaction triggering an indirect open offer in India
where the acquirer or person(s) acting in concert have been declared wilful
defaulters – this Prohibition would need to be given thought to while, inter alia, structuring global transactions
affecting a Listco and which persons/entities to designate as “person(s) acting
in concert” for purposes of the open offer.
2. Creeping acquisition: The
Prohibition does not appear to prohibit wilful defaulters from making creeping
acquisitions. Essentially, a wilful defaulter already holding a 25% stake in a
Listco, can undertake stake building by acquiring up to 5% in any financial
year, since open offer obligations are triggered only when an acquisition is
made of a more than 5% stake in a financial year. Whether this leeway
(intentional or unintentional) afforded by SEBI actually resonates with its
intent reflected at clause 17 of a discussion paper floated by it in January
2016, is questionable.
Prohibition does not appear to prohibit wilful defaulters from making creeping
acquisitions. Essentially, a wilful defaulter already holding a 25% stake in a
Listco, can undertake stake building by acquiring up to 5% in any financial
year, since open offer obligations are triggered only when an acquisition is
made of a more than 5% stake in a financial year. Whether this leeway
(intentional or unintentional) afforded by SEBI actually resonates with its
intent reflected at clause 17 of a discussion paper floated by it in January
2016, is questionable.
3. Exemptions: The Takeover Regulations
exempt an acquirer from complying with open offer related obligations if
certain transactions and/or thresholds are met with. Examples are inter-se promoter
transfers, inter-group transfers and schemes of arrangement (directly or
indirectly involving the Listco, whether implemented in India or overseas). The
exemption provisions can be availed of when an open offer obligation is
triggered. Therefore, it can be mooted that the Prohibition extends to exempted
transactions under the Takeover Regulations as well, because, if not for the
exemptions, the transaction (i.e. an acquisition) would otherwise trigger open
offer obligations. To articulate this interpretation differently: the
exemptions can be ‘activated’ only if and when an open offer obligation is
triggered; thus. Perhaps, by way of insertion of another proviso (instead of a
FAQ or an informal guidance), SEBI could consider clarifying its position.
exempt an acquirer from complying with open offer related obligations if
certain transactions and/or thresholds are met with. Examples are inter-se promoter
transfers, inter-group transfers and schemes of arrangement (directly or
indirectly involving the Listco, whether implemented in India or overseas). The
exemption provisions can be availed of when an open offer obligation is
triggered. Therefore, it can be mooted that the Prohibition extends to exempted
transactions under the Takeover Regulations as well, because, if not for the
exemptions, the transaction (i.e. an acquisition) would otherwise trigger open
offer obligations. To articulate this interpretation differently: the
exemptions can be ‘activated’ only if and when an open offer obligation is
triggered; thus. Perhaps, by way of insertion of another proviso (instead of a
FAQ or an informal guidance), SEBI could consider clarifying its position.
4. Competing offers: The proviso to the
Prohibition allowing wilful defaulters to make a competing open offer looks out
of place and begs the question: why? SEBI’s intent behind this proviso can be
gauged from clause 19.4 of the discussion paper floated by it in January 2016
which states: “If a hostile bid is made on a listed company which is controlled
by a person categorized as a wilful defaulter, restricting such wilful
defaulter from making a counter offer may not be legally tenable.” The question
of legal tenability in allowing a wilful defaulter to make a competing offer is
another discussion altogether. Be that as it may, SEBI, to align the literal
construction of the proviso with its intent, could consider crisping the
proviso to state: “… this regulation shall not prohibit a person in control
of the target company who is a wilful defaulter from making a competing
offer…”, since the extant proviso appears to allow any wilful defaulter to make
a competing offer.
Prohibition allowing wilful defaulters to make a competing open offer looks out
of place and begs the question: why? SEBI’s intent behind this proviso can be
gauged from clause 19.4 of the discussion paper floated by it in January 2016
which states: “If a hostile bid is made on a listed company which is controlled
by a person categorized as a wilful defaulter, restricting such wilful
defaulter from making a counter offer may not be legally tenable.” The question
of legal tenability in allowing a wilful defaulter to make a competing offer is
another discussion altogether. Be that as it may, SEBI, to align the literal
construction of the proviso with its intent, could consider crisping the
proviso to state: “… this regulation shall not prohibit a person in control
of the target company who is a wilful defaulter from making a competing
offer…”, since the extant proviso appears to allow any wilful defaulter to make
a competing offer.
5. Consequences: While SEBI’s insertion of
this Prohibition is well intended, there is no express provision spelling out
the consequence(s) if a wilful defaulter violates the Prohibition. The author
has discussed a similar lapse in relation to another amendment by SEBI here.
As such, the consequence(s) under the general provisions of the Takeover
Regulations and/or SEBI Act, 1992 will not only fall on the wilful defaulter
(and person(s) acting in concert), but also on the merchant banker appointed to
manage the open offer.
this Prohibition is well intended, there is no express provision spelling out
the consequence(s) if a wilful defaulter violates the Prohibition. The author
has discussed a similar lapse in relation to another amendment by SEBI here.
As such, the consequence(s) under the general provisions of the Takeover
Regulations and/or SEBI Act, 1992 will not only fall on the wilful defaulter
(and person(s) acting in concert), but also on the merchant banker appointed to
manage the open offer.
– Malek Shipchandler