Category: Uncategorized

  • An Analysis of the LLP Act

    A paper titled The Indian LLP Law: Some Concerns for Lawyers and CAs by Amit M. Sachdeva and Sachin Sachdeva has been posted on SSRN. Here is the extract: With a view to giving the entrepreneurs the necessary regulatory support, India enacted its first law on limited liability partnerships in December 2008, after almost two…

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  • Is a tax avoidance motive necessary for application of Transfer Pricing provisions?

    In a recent decision, ACIT v. MSS India, ITA No. 393/PN/07, the Pune Bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal had to consider an interesting issue pertaining to the application of transfer pricing provisions. On an appeal after a transfer pricing assessment, the CIT (Appeals) had held in favour of the assessee; deciding that as…

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  • SEBI Notification Regarding Anchor Investors, etc.

    RNI-1300 A couple of weeks ago, we had discussed some primary market reforms that were announced by SEBI. Most of those reforms have now been notified by SEBI by way of amendments to the SEBI (Disclosure and Investor Protection) Guidelines, 2000. The notification contains a fair amount of detail regarding anchor investors. Although such investors…

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  • Depository Receipts and the Takeover Regulations

    SEBI yesterday published its informal guidance in the matter pertaining to Bharti Airtel Limited. The question was whether the acquisition of 36% global depository receipts (GDRs) in Bharti Airtel Limited by MTN and its shareholders as part of the combination transaction would trigger various obligations under the SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations,…

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  • The Duties of Non-Executive Directors

    Earlier discussions on corporate governance norms have raised questions about the role of independent non-executive directors in maintaining appropriate standards of governance. In this context, a recent Australian judgment indicates the nature of duties which a non-executive director may be required to discharge. Australian Securities and Investment Commission v. MacDonald involved a situation where the…

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  • Foreign Venture Capital: Firm Commitment

    In order to obliterate the disparity in firm commitment requirements for domestic venture capital funds (VCFs) and foreign venture capital investors (FVCI), SEBI has introduced a new requirement whereby FVCIs are to obtain firm commitment from their investors for contribution of at least US$ 1 million at the time of submission of application seeking registration…

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  • Budget 2009: Key Features and Some Thoughts

    India’s Finance Minister, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, presented the Government’s annual Budget in Parliament yesterday. While commentators brand it a mixed bag, the stock markets do not seem to have received the Budget favourably as the stock indices experienced their largest Budget-day fall in history. The purpose of this post is to highlight some of the…

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  • Doing Business in India 2009

    The Doing Business in India 2009 report, a co-publication of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, has been released, along with a press release. The report contains a city-wise analysis that measures business regulations and their enforcement around India. Some of the results seem to defy conventional wisdom. Ludhiana has been found to…

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  • NCLT: Still Awaiting a Verdict

    Although the establishment of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) was envisaged through an amendment to the Companies Act nearly 7 years ago, it is yet to see the light of day. The NCLT is expected to take over the role of the High Court and the Company Law Board pertaining to various matters under…

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  • The Convergence Debate and Indian Corporate Governance

    An interesting article by Afra Afsharipour (UC Davis School of Law) titled Corporate Governance Convergence: Lessons from the Indian Experience is available on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Over the past two decades, corporate governance reforms have emerged as a central focus of corporate law in countries across the development spectrum. Various legal scholars studying…

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