In due course, we propose to analyze various provisions of the Companies Act, 2013. In this behalf, Mihir has recently commented upon the class action mechanism stipulated in the legislation. As for previous analyses of the provisions (as they were contained in the Companies Bill, 2011), please see the following earlier posts on the Blog: 1. ...
Takeover Exemption: Inter Se Transfer Among Promoters
A few months ago, we had discussed certain orders passed by SEBI that exempted parties from mandatory open offers in certain specific circumstances. Recently, SEBI passed an exemption order in a transfer involving the shares of GMR Infrastructure Limited (the target company). In this case, 70.3% of the shares of the target company are held by GMR Holdings Private Limited (GHPL). GHPL is in turn...
Interpreting Reps and Warranties in M&A Deals
Although clauses such as representations and warranties have become quite ubiquitous in M&A transactions involving sale and purchase of assets, business or shares, there has hardly been any litigation in India involving the technicalities of such representations and warranties. The reps and warranties also constitute some of the major sticking points in negotiations that take up a substantial...
Delaware Court on Going Private Transactions
Transactions such as mergers between a company and its controlling shareholders are subject to close scrutiny by courts. Such transactions give rise to conflict of interest as they are carried out between related parties and therefore require close supervision. Moreover, mergers with controlling shareholders may also be utilised to force out minority shareholders of a company if the non...
Supreme Court on Withdrawal of a Takeover Offer
Background The Supreme Court earlier this month issued its decision on the takeover offer by Nirma Industries Limited to the shareholders of Shree Rama Multi Tech Limited (SRMTL). The court concurred with the view of the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in disallowing the withdrawal of the offer by Nirma. In a column appearing on CNBC’s The...
Defining “Control” in Takeover Regulations
The question of what constitutes “control” under the SEBI Takeover Regulations of 2011 is a vexed one. This is because an acquirer could acquire less than the mandatory offer threshold of 25% and still be required to make an offer if it is said to be in control of the target company. Control is defined in an inclusive manner and could result in some amount of subjectivity in its determination...
SEBI Clarifies on Schemes of Arrangement
Following SEBI’s circular of February 4, 2013 imposing stringent requirements for oversight of schemes of arrangement, there were certain issues that required clarification (discussed here and here). Now, by way of another circular dated May 21, 2013, SEBI has clarified some of the outstanding issues and also made some modifications to the previous circular. In this post, we discuss some of the...
Madras High Court on SEBI Circular for Scheme of Arrangement
A few months ago, I had discussed SEBI’s circular of February 4, 2013, which imposes more stringent oversight by SEBI and the stock exchanges on different types of schemes of arrangement. Shortly thereafter, our guest contributor Yogesh Chande has pointed to issues relating to the scope of the SEBI circular, and specifically whether the circular applies only to such schemes that require exemption...
Miscellaneous
1. Exemption from Takeover Regulations for Gift of Shares to Family Trust SEBI has granted an exemption to an acquirer from making an open offer under the SEBI Takeover Regulations in the case involving Gujarat Organics Limited (the company). In that case, the promoter Mr. Ashwin S. Dani, owns 71.15% shares in the company, and proposes to transfer...
Amendments to the Combination Regulations
[The following post is contributed by Karan S. Chandhiok, who is the Managing Associate of the Competition Law Team at Luthra & Luthra Law Offices. Karan graduated from Amity Law School followed by a BCL at Oxford. He currently serves as a Member Executive of the Competition Law Bar Association. These views are personal. Karan may be contacted at [email protected] or karanchandhiok@gmail...
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