Recent regulatory developments for listed entities – critical changes under LODR and PIT Regulations
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Open in new tab Stricter framework for sale, lease or disposal of undertaking by a listed entity
– Nitu Poddar | corplaw@vinodkothari.com
Reg 37A of Listing Regulations requires additional voting and disclosure requirements
| The article was also published by IndiaCorpLaw and can be viewed here |
Disposal of an undertaking (whole or substantially the whole) can be done either as part of a scheme of arrangement or otherwise by way of slump sale / business transfer agreement (‘BTA’). Disposal, other than by way of scheme of arrangement, have so far been regulated as per section 180(1)(a) of the Companies Act, 2013 (‘Act’) which requires approval of the shareholders by way of special resolution. SEBI has prescribed approval requirement in this regard by way of introduction of regulation 37A vide SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2023 (‘Amendment Regulations’) effective from June 14, 2023 that requires listed entities to follow a stricter regime for disposal of undertaking inter alia mandating approval from majority of the public shareholders who are not interested in the transaction, disclosure of the object, commercial rationale and use of proceeds arising from such transaction. While there is an exemption provided in case of transactions with a wholly owned subsidiary (WOS), the approval regime will apply in case of disposal of undertaking by such WOS or any reduction in shareholding in the WOS subsequent to transfer of the undertaking.
The said amendment is based on the Consultation Paper rolled by SEBI on February 21, 2023. Apart from incorporating the provisions proposed in this regard in the Consultation Paper, the amendment has introduced new provisions as well. Provision with respect to seeking approval from the shareholders of the listed entity in case a WOS is used as a conduit for transfer in undertaking is a new requirement brought in through the amendment.
Read more →Understanding CSR for NGO
– Pammy Jaiswal, Partner | corplaw@vinodkothari.com
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Entering in FY 23-24: Regulatory review of corporate law developments
– Payal Agarwal, Deputy Manager (payal@vinodkothari.com)
As the new financial year 23-24 commences, we look back at where we stand at the end of FY 22-23, in terms of the regulatory developments. While there has been no substantial traffic in terms of regulatory developments to the Companies Act, the migration of various forms in MCA’s V3 portal proved to be (and still continues to be so in some cases) a turmoil, with a standstill in the fundraising process, and other practical difficulties, even resulting in levy of additional fines.
There has been significant traction on the part of SEBI too. While Structured Digital Database (SDD) remained the buzzword for the listed entities with the stock exchanges requiring them to submit quarterly compliance certificates, the stress for proper controls on insider trading remained the focal point. Having stiffed the nerves of the Compliance Officers in the listed entities through the quarterly compliance certificates, the same has been finally absorbed in the annual secretarial compliance reports under the Listing Regulations.
Read more →Directors to declare on personal disqualifications too in DIR-8
– Prapti Kanakia, Manager | prapti@vinodkothari.com
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2022 Wrapped Up: Regulatory review of corporate law developments
– Payal Agarwal, Assistant Manager (payal@vinodkothari.com)
2022 has been a relatively stable year when it comes to Companies Act, save changes in the forms and filing procedures with increasing online processes, there has been significant traction on the part of SEBI. While Structured Digital Database (SDD) remained the buzzword for the listed entities with the stock exchanges requiring them to submit quarterly compliance certificates, the stress for proper controls on insider trading remained the focal point. For social enterprises, a landmark development was the introduction of the concept of Social Stock Exchanges, which seems to be shortly getting into operational mode.
We have tried to briefly cover the major developments in corporate laws during the year 2022. You may also refer to our brief discussion of the same in this youtube video. For updates relevant to the financial sector including the overseas investment norms, refer 2022 in retrospect: Regulatory activity in the financial sector. You may also refer to our quick round-up of regulatory developments in IBC in the year 2022.
Read more →CSR Rules tweaked to rationalize committee constitution, implementing agencies etc
– Nitu Poddar, Partner | Lovish Jain, Executive | corplaw@vinodkothari.com
MCA vide its notification dated September 20, 2022 has made amendments in the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules, 2014 (“Rules”). The said amendment seeks to do away with the redundant requirements in Rule 3(2) of making CSR expenditure and other compliances even after the companies cease to be covered within the thresholds under section 135(1), provide for continuation of CSR committee in case of amount lying in the unspent CSR account, amend the scope of implementing agencies and in the ceiling of expenditure towards impact assessment as well as some changes in the annual report on CSR.
Read more →New avatar of DPT-3 requires aging details for exempted deposits
– Also burdened with irrelevant deposit related details
– Payal Agarwal, Senior Executive (payal@vinodkothari.com)
The format of the “return on deposits” and on “exempted deposits”, that is, form DPT-3 has been amended pursuant to the notification of the Companies (Acceptance of Deposit) Amendment Rules, 2022 (“Amendment Rules”) on 29th August, 2022. While the same has been made applicable immediately, the revised format will be actually relevant for the filing of form DPT-3 for FY 2022-23, since the due date for filing DPT-3 for FY 2021-22 has already expired on 30th June, 2022. It is interesting to note that while most of the changes pertain to the “return of deposits”, the same does not have any practical significance in India. However, there is specifically one addition w.r.t. the money received by a company, but not considered as deposit, i.e., exempted deposits.
Read more →Investments from neighbouring countries under stringent scan of GoI
– Prapti Kanakia | corplaw@vinodkothari.com
Recently, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has implemented a series of amendments which relates to investments in India by foreign nationals or entities incorporated in a country which shares a land border with India. These amendments are in tandem with the amendment made by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in FDI Policy and by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs, in FEM (Non Debt Instruments) Rules, 2019 (NDI Rules).
DPIIT amended the FDI policy vide press note no. 3 dated 17 April, 2020 to curb the hostile takeovers of Indian Companies by nationals/entities of neighbouring countries. Erstwhile, only a citizen of Bangladesh & Pakistan or an entity incorporated in Bangladesh & Pakistan were required to take government approval for investing in India. Pursuant to amendment, any entity incorporated in a country, citizen or beneficial owner of a country, which shares land border with India, needs to obtain government approval for investing in the equity instrument of the Indian Company. Thus, nationals/entities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh can invest in India only under approval route.
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