Category: Uncategorized
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Towards evolving Global Corporate Governance Standards
In a recent article, Mr. Umakanth drew a distinction between ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ models of corporate governance, and argued that “…the current regime on corporate governance has been transplanted from jurisdictions which display diffused shareholding and hence is inappropriate to the Indian regime which is dominated by promoter-controlled companies. What is necessary is a paradigm…
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Capital Gains and the Cost of Acquisition
A recent post examined the decision of the Bombay High Court in Techno Shares which adopted a new stance on the law of depreciation. Soon after this decision, the Mumbai Bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal seems to have marked another point of departure in relation to the taxation of capital assets, this time…
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FDI from Cayman Islands: Recent Changes
In an article titled “Investing in India: How Recent Developments in the Cayman Islands Facilitate Inbound Investment”, Chetan Nagendra examines two recent events: Cayman Islands’ acceptance as a full member of IOSCO and its recognition in the ‘white list’ of jurisdictions that have substantially implemented the OECD tax standard. He notes that these events are…
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True and Fair Accounting
Recent events like Satyam and the economic recession have thrown up several issues about appropriate accounting and auditing practices, discussed here and here. In this context, it is interesting to note a decision of the United Kingdom Queen’s Bench in Macquarie Internationale Investments Ltd. v. Glencore UK Ltd., [2009] EWHC 2267 (Comm). Macquarie Internationale Investments…
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SEBI decides to amend Listing Agreement, Takeover Regulations, etc.
SEBI has issued a press release stating the decisions taken at the Board meeting held today and certain aspects have been highlighted. The decisions relate to amendments of the Listing Agreement and the new ICDR 2009, the Takeover Regulations and certain other amendments. The press release is fairly self explanatory and in any case one…
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Contestability of Corporate Control
In a column in the Business Standard, Nitin Desai argues that the current ecosystem in India provides greater benefits to corporate control, resulting in a number of large Indian companies being managed by the promoter-owners. Corporate control may be susceptible to challenge if there is a market for control facilitated by a liberal takeover regime.…
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Inputs and Suggestions to TRAC
The Takeover Regulations Advisory Committee (discussed earlier) has invited inputs and suggestions regarding suitable amendments to the SEBI Takeover Regulations. This is part of the committee’s consultative process. Suggestions are due in the prescribed format by October 31, 2009. The background for the proposed amendments is as follows: There have … been various prominent judgments…
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The Legal Aspects of Dual Listings
There has recently been a fair amount of discussion regarding the ability of companies to carry out dual listings in India. This arises in the context of dual listing as a possible structure being considered in the Bharti-MTN transaction. Generally, dual listings occur when two or more companies (that otherwise intend to merge) continue as…
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SEBI’s Proposed Changes on Disclosures and Audit Norms
After the Satyam fraud earlier this year, there was expectation of significant regulatory changes that strengthen corporate governance, disclosure and audit norms in India companies. Some changes did occur almost immediately; for instance, detailed measures were introduced favouring disclosure of pledges by promoters. However, the Companies Bill, 2009 introduced in Parliament a few weeks ago…
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A Change in the Law of Depreciation
A recent decision of the Bombay High Court in CIT v. M/s Techno Shares & Stocks Ltd. seems to have greatly narrowed down the scope of depreciation under the Income Tax Act. Although the issue before the Court was only whether depreciation can be granted on a Bombay Stock Exchange Membership Card, the rationale of…
