[The following post is contributed by Amitabh Robin Singh, who is a corporate lawyer practising in Mumbai.] Last month, the Reserve Bank of India (“RBI“) allowed Foreign Portfolio Investors (“FPIs“) to invest in unlisted non-convertible debentures (“NCDs“). This has been done by way of an amendment to the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of...
Further Analysis on Compensation Agreements
[The following guest post is contributed by Rohit Sharma, who is a Research Associate at Vinod Kothari & Co. Two earlier posts on this topic are available here and here.] Introduction The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) drew attention to the issue of compensation arrangements that take place between the private equity investors (PE) and the promoters, directors and key...
Disgorgement Orders under Indian Securities Law
[The following guest post is contributed by Shubham Janghu, a third year student at Jindal Global Law School with inputs and minor edits by Aditya Swarup, who is an Assistant Professor at Jindal Global Law School.] Introduction Gain-based remedies, though rarely adjudicated in India, are an important aspect of commercial law. The powers of courts to award such remedies arise from statute, for...
SEBI’s Proposals on Stock Advice through Social Media
Nearly a month ago, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a Consultation Paper on Amendments/Clarifications to the SEBI (Investment Advisers) Regulations, 2013. Although the consultation paper deals with a number of issues relating to investment advice, one aspect has received undue attention, and perhaps rightly so. Tucked into the consultation paper are a couple of paragraphs...
SEBI’s Enhanced Standards for Credit Rating Agencies
On November 1, 2016, the Securities and Exchange Board of India issued a circular containing Enhanced Standards for Credit Rating Agencies. These seek to introduce greater stringency in the operation of the rating industry. The areas covered include: – Formulation of Rating Criteria and rating processes and public disclosure of the same. – Accountability of Rating Analysts. –...
SEBI to Reconsider the Largest Penalty Imposed
On September 22, 2015, an Adjudicating Officer (AO) of SEBI passed an order against PACL Limited and certain other persons imposing a penalty of Rs. 7,269.5 crores in connection with a case involving the illegal and fraudulent mobilization of funds from the public. This is said to be highest penalty that SEBI has ever imposed. Such a penalty was imposed under section 15HA of the Securities and...
SAT on Market Manipulation Involving GDRs
Last year, we had discussed a decision of the Supreme Court which clarified that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had jurisdiction over the issuance of global depository receipts (GDRs), due to which lead managers to such issuances would also come within the purview of SEBI if their actions were found to violate Indian securities law. This involved PAN Asia Advisors Limited and...
Withdrawal of Open Offer: A Debate Rekindled?
[The following post is contributed by Saumya Bhargava & Prateek Suri, who are Associates at AZB & Partners, New Delhi. Views expressed are personal.] [In an earlier post dated August 5, 2016, we had discussed an order relating to the open offer of Jyoti Limited in the context of circumstances under which an open offer is allowed to be withdrawn in India] Public announcement of an open...
Promoter Upside Sharing Arrangements in Listed Companies: SEBI Comes Down Hard
[The following post is contributed by Amitabh Robin Singh, who is a corporate lawyer practising in Mumbai. For another perspective on the topic, please see an earlier post on the Blog.] The Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI“) has released a discussion paper (“Paper“) to regulate certain arrangements between private equity investors and the promoters/top...
Takeover Regulations and the Banking Sector
Two separate but recent developments underscore the need to treat the banking sector differently when it comes to compliance with the SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011 (the “Takeover Regulations”). While the first relates to the applicability of the Takeover Regulations to capitalization of banks, the second relates to restructuring debts of borrower...
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