Notification Of Section 230(11) And (12) Of Companies Act 2013: New Way To Squeeze Out Minority Shareholders

Takeover Regulation

• Section 230(11) and Amendment Rules:
• The minimum threshold for making takeover application by a member of the company is holding minimum 3/4^th or 75% 'shares' of the company either alone jointly with other members. Here the definition of 'shares' include equity shares and other securities carrying any voting rights such as depository receipts.
• A report of the registered valuer detailing the valuation of the shares shall be attached with the above application. The valuation must have been determined after taking into account the following factors:
• the highest price paid for acquisition of shares in preceding 12 months;
• Return on net worth;
• Book values of shares;
• Earning per share;
• Price earning multiple vis-à-vis the industry average;
• Such other factors customary in valuation of shares.
• The takeover application shall also contain the details of a bank account which is to be opened separately and half of total consideration of the takeover offer shall be deposited in such account.
• Transfer or transmissions of shares through any contract, arrangement and succession or in pursuance of any statutory or regulatory requirement are exempted here.
• In case of takeover of listed companies provisions of SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011 shall be applicable.

• Section 230(12):

This section allows an aggrieved party to approach NCLT with respect to any grievance in takeover offer. In case of listed companies such grievances shall be addressed to SEBI. The application to NCLT shall be made in Form NCLT-1 as provided under the NCLT Amendment Rules. The said application shall contain affidavit of the aggrieved party verifying petition, memorandum of appearance with copy of board's resolution or the executed vakalatnama, documents in support of the grievance and any other relevant document.

Existing Framework

• Section 66:

Section 66 deals with selective reduction of share capital of a company. It's a conventional method to squeeze out the minority shareholders. The reduction of share capital can take place in following ways after passing a special resolution:

• On non paid-up shares - extinguish or reduce the liability;
• On paid-up shares - (a) cancel any such share which is lost or unrepresented by available assets, or (b) pay off which is in excess of the wants of the company.

The memorandum of the company shall be altered and a confirmation from NCLT shall be received to give effect to such reduction.

• Section 236:

This section provides an alternate way to acquire the shares held by the minority shareholders. The pre-requisite of this section is that acquirer shall hold minimum 90% of the issued equity share capital of the company. The acquirer can then notify of its intention to buy the remaining equity shares. The minority shareholders have no provision under this section to approach NCLT for their grievances. Therefore, this section is considered for forcefully acquisition of minority shares. Further, the price at which the shares are to be acquired must be determined in the manner provided therein.

Takeover Regulation v/s Existing Framework

Section 66 is a commonly used approach for squeezing out the minority shareholders as Section 236 requires a minimum threshold. Section 66 consists of a complex procedure as it requires a special resolution to be passed in addition to a confirmation from NCLT. In granting such confirmation NCLT has to undergo a long process which includes a) giving notice of every application received by it for reduction of share capital to Central Government, Registrar, Creditors and SEBI (in case of listed companies); b) take their representations into consideration made within 03 months of receipt of notice; c) verify the discharge of debts of creditors etc. Further, if the company is in arrear with respect to repayment of any of its deposit then no such reduction can take place. The company shall also satisfy the NCLT that accounting treatment for such reduction is in compliance with relevant accounting standards specified in Section 133 of the Act. Takeover Regulation will help majority shareholders to bypass such complex process as it only requires filing an application before NCLT with some supporting documents.

Takeover Regulation also provides an opportunity for minority shareholders to place their grievances before NCLT as compared to Section 66. Selective reduction under Section 66 does not require any active participation from minority shareholders and therefore it's difficult for them to challenge the same. The courts have also refrained themselves to pass any order against such reduction if the minority shareholders have been provided with fair value for their shares. The same has been held by Bombay High Court in Sandvik Asia Limited v/s Bharat Kumar Padamsi & Ors.^[1] wherein the court said that:

"once it is established that non-promoter shareholders are being paid fair value of their shares, at no point of time it is even suggested by them that the amount that is being paid is any way less and that even overwhelming majority of the non-promoters shareholders having voted in favour of the resolution shows that the court will not be justified in withholding its sanction to the resolution."

As far as Section 236 is concerned, it can only be used when the acquirer holds minimum 90% of the 'issued equity share capital' in the target company. The similar threshold under the Takeover Regulation is 75% of the 'shares' of the company. Here, the major difference is that Section 236 requires ownership over 'issued equity share capital' while the Takeover Regulation requires ownership over 'shares'. The definition of 'shares', as stated under the Amendment Rules, means equity share capital including securities carrying any voting rights such as depository receipts. So the main focal point under the Takeover Regulation is having ownership of securities accompanying any voting rights. Further, it's not necessary under Section 236 that by acquiring all the equity shares, the acquirer will also get all the voting rights in the company. The voting rights may vest with some other securities which Sections 236 did not intend to cover. While under Takeover Regulation, the takeover offer must be to acquire the remaining securities of the company carrying any voting rights. The Takeover Regulation is focused upon to gain control over the company by the majority shareholders than merely acquiring the shares.

Another major difference between Section 236 and Takeover Regulation is that Section 236 uses the expression 'acquirer' while the Takeover Regulation uses 'members'. The implication of using these different terminologies is that Section 236 can be used by any person satisfying the minimum threshold criteria either directly or indirectly. While under the Takeover Regulation, only members of company can acquire the remaining shares. Member of a company is that person whose name is registered in the register of members of the company. It seems that MCA is not encouraging any indirect takeover under the new framework. Further, the valuation method provided under the Takeover Regulation is same as contained under the concerned rule of Section 236 which manifests that the current valuation method has been considered as fair one by the MCA.

Section 236 also requires the acquirer to deposit the total consideration amount of the offer in a separate bank account for at least one year. While under the Takeover Regulation the said requirement is to deposit half of the total consideration amount. However, the ambiguity remains on time period for which the said amount shall remain in the bank account as Takeover Regulation is silent on such timeline. The general industrial perspective is that it will remain till all the minority shareholders are fully paid. But then the question arises, what if the offer doesn't work out or if it gets rejected by the tribunal? Another ambiguity arises over the disbursement of these funds as no procedure has been provided for same under the Takeover Regulation. The answers are unclear and clarifications may be expected from MCA in future on such ambiguities.

Conclusion:

The Takeover Regulation is an appreciable step for the majority shareholders to take control of the company. But majority shareholders shall opt for best suitable method considering the time and circumstances. In squeezing out, the debate revolves around the process of giving a fair exit to the minority shareholders. Although an aggrieved party can approach NCLT under Section 230(12) but the uncertainty remains over factors to be considered by NCLT in deciding such application. In matters related to minority squeeze out, judiciary had limited its intervention to the extent that minorities get a fair price of their shares. Even many legal professionals suggest that such applications are allowed only if they object the valuation of shares undertaken by the offeror. However, in the absence of any clarification and a settled principle by the courts nothing can be presumed. The time has also come for judiciary to decide a long battling question i.e. whether the minority shareholders have a right to hold their shares with no time constraint as they are the lawful owners of same or can there shares be forcefully acquired by the majority shareholders?