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SEBI rationalises offer document contents and certain timelines for NCD public issuance

– Palak Jaiswani, Manager & Garima Chugh, Executive | corplaw@vinodkothari.com

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SEBI revises framework for green debt securities

– Alignment with international standards and avoidance of greenwashing

– Payal Agarwal and Shreya Salampuria | corplaw@vinodkothari.com

Sustainability labeled bonds, more popularly known as GSS+ bonds, are looked upon as one of the primary means of raising funds towards sustainable development. The same has been discussed in Sustainable finance and GSS+ bonds: State of the Market and Developments. India is also not oblivious to the concept of GSS+ bonds, and companies in India have also been issuing such bonds, in one or more forms.

The issuance of green debt securities (“GDS”) in India was initially formalized through a circular issued  by SEBI in 2017 in this regard, later absorbed under the SEBI (Issue and Listing of Non-Convertible Securities) Regulations, 2021 (“ILNCS Regulations”) read with Chapter IX of the Operational Circular on the same. The regulatory framework for GDS in India has since been reviewed, and following a Consultation Paper on Green and Blue Bonds as a mode of Sustainable Finance (“Consultation Paper”) dated 4th August, 2022, SEBI, in its meeting dated 20th December, 2022 (“Board Meeting”) has approved amendments to the existing regulatory framework for GDS issuance. The press release of the Board Meeting reads as “in the backdrop of increasing interest in sustainable finance in India as well as around the globe, and with a view to align the extant framework for green debt securities with the updated  Green  Bond  Principles (GBP) recognised by IOSCO, SEBI undertook a review of the regulatory framework for green debt securities.”

Pursuant to the review of the regulatory framework for GDS, the following has been notified –

In this write-up, we intend to discuss the revised regulatory framework for GDS issuance in India.

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Online workshop on Recent amendments relating to Corporate Bonds

Click here to register for the workshop: https://forms.gle/V8SRUpDpsSMYraBx9

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Checklist for issuance of listed debt securities on private placement basis


Non-convertible debentures issued on private placement basis are one of the most practiced ways of raising finance by the companies in India. Considering the notification of SEBI (Issue and Listing of Non-Convertible Securities) Regulations, 2021, effective from 16th August, 2021, the companies may be under a perplexity of how to comply with the requirements of the newly notified regulations. We have summarised the procedure into a checklist below for reference.

Checklist for issuance of  listed and unsecured NCDs on Private Placement Basis
Serial No.Particulars Relevant provisions Remarks
Eligibility conditions:
A. Eligibility requirements under the Companies Act, 2013:
1. Offer can be made to a maximum of 200 persons
2. No advertisement can be made in the newspapers
3. The Company shall not make a fresh offer or invitation unless the allotment with respect to any offer or invitation made earlier have been completed, or withdrawn or abandoned by the Company.
B. Eligibility requirements under SEBI (Issue and Listing of Non-Convertible Securities) Regulations, 2021
No issuer shall make an issue of non-convertible securities if as on the date of filing of draft offer document or offer document:
(a) the issuer, any of its promoters, promoter group or directors are debarred from accessing the securities market or dealing in securities by the Board;
(b) any of the promoters or directors of the issuer is a promoter or director of another company which is debarred from accessing the securities market or dealing in securities by the Board;
(c) any of its promoters or directors is a fugitive economic offender; or
(d) any fine or penalties levied by the Board /Stock Exchanges is pending to be paid by the issuer at the time of filing the offer document:
1Convening of a Board Meeting:
i. To consider and approve issue of debentures including the terms and conditions of issue for the entire FY ;
ii. To authorise the Board Borrowing Committee/ other relevant committee [Optional] for the following:
a. Appointment of RTA and execute tripartite agreement [Reg 9]
b. Appointment of Credit Rating Agency and obtain Credit Rating. [Reg 10]
c. Opening of Separate Bank Account with Schedule Bank [Proviso to Section 42(6)].
d. To identify group of persons to whom Debentures are proposed to be issued [Section 42(2)]
e. To approve Private Placement offer letter
f.Appointment of Depository [Reg 7]
g. For allotment of NCDs
h. other matters relevant to the issue of NCDs
i.To appoint a debenture trustee before the issue of letter of offer for subscription of the debentures [Reg 8]
j. To obtain in-principle approval from stock exchanges [Reg 6]
Section 179(3) of CA
Section 42, 71 & SS-1
2Approval of shareholdersSec. 71, 42, Rule 14(1) of Companies (PAS) Rules,2014, Rule 18 of SHA Rulesnot required if blanket approval already taken and issue is within the limit as per  second proviso to Rule 2 of Companies (Prospectus and Allotment of Securities) Rules, 2016
3Filing of MGT-14 Rule 14(1) of Companies (PAS) Rules, 2014Within 30 days of passing of the Board Resolution/ Shareholders resolution
4a. Preparation and finalisation of Disclosure Document;
b. Preparation and finalisation of DTD, DTA/ Debenture Subscription Agreement.
5Obtain consent from TrusteeBefore issue of offer document
6To convene Board Borrowing Committee/ other relevant committee meeting for the following:                                                                                                                         a. Approval of draft offer document/ Disclosure Document/ Information Memorandum, Debenture Trust Deed, Debenture Trustee Agreement,Application Form
b. Identification of RTA
c. Approval of List of proposed Allotees
d. Approval for opening of Escrow Account (if already opened then noting of the same)
e. All other matter as delgated by the Board as mentioned in Point 1 above.
Section 42(3) of CA with Rule 14 (3) of Companies (Prospectus and allotment of Securities) Rules, 2014In terms of Rule 18(1)(c) & (5) of the Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2014 [Section 71(5)], the debenture trustee shall be appointed and DTD shal be executed at any time within 60 days of allotment of debentures. Accordingly, this may be done after the allotment of NCDs also.
7Creation of debenture redemption reserveSection 71(4) read with Rule 18 (7)(b)(iv)(B)The value of debenture redemption reserve shall be 10% of the value of outstanding debentures.

DRR shall not be required in case of NBFCs [Rule 18 (7) (iv)(A) of Deposit Rules

8Creation of recovery expense fundReg 11 read with SEBI Circular https://www.sebi.gov.in/web/?file=https://www.sebi.gov.in/sebi_data/attachdocs/oct-2020/1603361431987.pdf#page=1&zoom=page-width,-16,792deposit an amount equal to 0.01% of the issue size with designated stock exchange upto  a maximum of Rs. 25 lakhs.
9Obtain credit ratingReg 10
10Agreement with depository for dematerialisationReg 7
11Private placement offer-cum-application shall be sent to the identified investorsSec. 42 of CA 13
12Maintain a complete record of persons to whom the Private Placement offer letter is sent in form PAS-5.Rule 14(4) of PAS Rules
13Receipt of application moneySection 42 of CA
14Filing of Master Creation form with NSDL/CDSL -for demat issuance
15Filing of listing application with stock exchanges and debenture trustees –
(a) Placement Memorandum;
(b) Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association;
(c) Copy of the requisite board/ committee resolutions authorizing the borrowing and list of authorised signatories for the allotment of securities;
(d) Copy of last three years Annual Reports;
(e) Statement containing particulars of, dates of, and parties to all material contracts and agreements;
(f) An undertaking from the issuer stating that the necessary documents for creation of the charge, wherever applicable, including the Trust Deed has been executed within the time frame prescribed in the relevant regulations/Act/rules etc. and the same would be uploaded on the website of the designated stock exchange, where such securities have been proposed to be listed;
(g) In case of debt securities, an undertaking that permission / consent from the prior creditor for a second or pari passu charge being created, wherever applicable, in favour of the debenture trustee to the proposed issue has been obtained; and
(h) Any other particulars or documents that the recognized stock exchange may call for as it deems fit:
Reg 44
16Allotment of NCDs after holding a meeting of Borrowing Committee/ other relevant committeeSection 42 of CA
17Filing of PAS-3 with ROCSection 42(8) read with Rule 14(6) of Companies Prospectus and allotment of securities) Rules, 2014
18Payment of fees to stock exchangesReg 13(2)at the time of listing

This is a general checklist for companies desiring to list its debt securities. For NBFCs and HFCs, the requirements may differ depending upon their specifically applicable regulations.

Further, you may read our article on the NCS Regulations here.

A comparison of the NCS Regulations from erstwhile ILDS Regulations can be accessed here.

A presentation on the various structures of debt securities can be viewed here – https://vinodkothari.com/2021/09/structuring-of-debt-instruments/