24 July 2015

C. No. 64 / Capital Market 4 / 2015-16

To: All Members

Dear Sir,

Re: MCCI Capital Market Newsletter for June 2015

Please find attached the MCCI Capital Market Newsletter for June 2015. It has been produced by Shri Ashok Pareek, Chairman, Standing Committee on Capital Market, MCCI. If you have any suggestions, please let us know.

Thanking you,

Encl: Attached below

Yours faithfully,

Rajiv Mukerji (Deputy Secretary)

MCC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

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MCC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

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In This Issue

Clarification on Grant of Registration as a Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) to Registered Foreign Venture Capital Investor (FVCI)

3

Contribution Towards Prime Minister's National Relief Fund

3

Exchange Traded Cash Settled Interest Rate Futures (IRF) on 6 Year, 10 Year And 13 Year

4

Requirements Specified Under the Sebi (Share Based Employee Benefits) Regulations, 2014 4

Database for Distinctive Number (DN) of Shares

4

SEBI signs Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, Republic of Belarus

6

Review of Offer for Sale (OFS) of Shares through Stock Exchange Mechanism 7

SEBI Board Meeting 7 Government Sets-Up Task Force for Laying the Road Map for Setting-Up of Financial Redress Agency (Fra) as Recommended by the Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC)

11

Government Issues Final Notifications under Section 462 of the Companies Act, 2013 (Act) that provide Exemptions under various Provisions of the Act to (I) Private Companies (Ii) Government Companies (Iii) Section 8 Companies & (Iv) Nidhis

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PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

24 July 2015

Dear Sir / Madam,

I am happy to release the MCCI Capital Market

Newsletter for June 2015. As in the case of the

prior issues, this issue focuses on germane matters

pertaining to the capital markets.

I would like to thank Shri Ashok Pareek,

Chairman, Standing Committee on Capital

Market, MCCI for this newsletter. I am sure that

you will find it to be informative.

Warm regards, Arun Kumar Saraf

MCC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

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CLARIFICATION ON GRANT OF REGISTRATION AS A FOREIGN PORTFOLIO INVESTOR (FPI) TO REGISTERED FOREIGN VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR (FVCI)

Though SEBI (Foreign Portfolio Investors) Regulations, 2014 ("FPI Regulations") as well as the SEBI (Foreign Venture Capital Investors) Regulations, 2000 ("FVCI Regulations") do not expressly prohibit a Foreign Venture Capital Investor (“FVCI”) from holding registration as a Foreign Portfolio Investor (“FPI”), the investment conditions and restrictions for an entity registered as FVCI under FVCI Regulations are different as compared to the investment conditions and restrictions as prescribed for an entity registered as FPI under the FPI Regulations. Thus, an entity would be required to have a clear segregation of funds/ securities which are proposed to be invested / held under the respective registrations.

SEBI, vide Circular No. CIR/IMD/FIIC/05/2015 dated June 12, 2015, has clarified that a Designated Depository participant (“DDP”) may consider an applicant, holding FVCI registration, for grant of registration as an FPI subject to the following:

The applicant complies with the eligibility criteria as prescribed under the FPI Regulations.

The funds raised, allocated and invested must be clearly segregated for both the registrations.

Separate accounts must be maintained with the custodian for execution of trades. However, such an applicant shall have same custodian for its activities as FPI and FVCI.

The securities held under FVCI and FPI registrations should be clearly segregated.

Reporting of transactions must be done separately according to the conditions applicable under the specific registration.

All the conditions applicable to the entity under the respective registrations must be complied with at the level of the segregated funds and activities with respect to the specific registrations.

The investment restrictions as applicable to FPI, in terms of Regulation 21 of FPI Regulations and SEBI Circular No. CIR/IMD/FIIC/20/2014 dated November 24, 2014 shall be applicable.

The applicant does not have opaque structure(s), as defined under Explanation 1 of Regulation 32(1) (f) of FPI Regulations.

SEBI has also clarified that the applicant shall be required to comply with the provisions of FPI Regulations, FVCI Regulations and the circulars etc., issued there under from time to time.

CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS PRIME MINISTER'S NATIONAL RELIEF FUND

The staff members of SEBI have made a contribution of Rs. 5,40,480/- towards Prime Minister's National Relief Fund as contribution to the relief effort for the victims of earthquake affected areas.

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EXCHANGE TRADED CASH SETTLED INTEREST RATE FUTURES (IRF) ON 6 YEAR, 10 YEAR AND 13 YEAR

SEBI vide circular dated December 5, 2013 had permitted Stock Exchanges to launch cash settled Interest Rate Futures on 10-Year Government of India (“GoI”) Security.

In consultation with RBI and after taking into account feedback from market participants and Stock Exchanges, SEBI, vide Circular No. CIR/MRD/DRMNP/11/2015 dated June 12, 2015, has decided to permit stock exchanges to introduce cash settled Interest Rate Futures on 6-Year and 13 year GoI Security. The product specifications, position limits and risk management framework for both the Interest Rate Futures have been detailed in the said circular.

However, before the launch of the product/s, the Stock Exchange/Clearing Corporation are required to submit proposal for SEBI’s approval giving the details of contract specifications, risk management framework, the safeguards and the risk protection mechanisms, the surveillance systems, etc.

The 10-Year Cash Settled Interest Rate Futures (“IRF”) launched by SEBI vide circular dated December 05, 2013 while stipulating norms for cash settled 10-year IRF, inter alia, prescribed underlying bonds’ maturity criteria, position limits and maximum tenure for cash settled 10-year IRF. The residual maturity of the underlying bonds and position limits as prescribed in circular dated December 5, 2013 have been modified vide this circular.

SEBI had also vide circular dated January 20, 2014 prescribed monitoring mechanism for IRF positions of Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs). The mechanism specified in the circular dated January 20, 2014 shall also be applicable on cash settled Interest Rate Futures on 6-Year and 13 year GoI Security.

REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED UNDER THE SEBI (SHARE BASED EMPLOYEE BENEFITS) REGULATIONS, 2014

SEBI had notified the SEBI (Share Based Employee Benefits) Regulations, 2014 ("the Regulations") on October 28, 2014. The Regulations provide for certain processes / disclosure requirements to be specified by SEBI. Accordingly, necessary guidelines are being issued pursuant to this SEBI Circular No. CIR/CFD/POLICY CELL/2/2015 dated June 16, 2015. The stock exchanges have been advised vide the said circular to bring the contents of the circular to the notice of the companies listed on them and ensure its compliance.

DATABASE FOR DISTINCTIVE NUMBER (DN) OF SHARES

Share capital reconciliation of the entire issued capital of the company by the issuer or its agent is a mandatory requirement under the SEBI (Depositories & Participants) Regulations, 1996. The Depository System Review Committee (DSRC) constituted by SEBI while emphasising on the issuer's responsibility for reconciling records of total issued capital, listed capital and capital held by

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depositories in dematerialized form, recommended that the depositories may maintain complete reconciled record of total issued and listed capital, including both physical and dematerialized shares.

In order to ensure centralised record of all securities, including both physical and dematerialised shares, issued by the company and its reconciliation thereof, SEBI vide Circular No. CIR/MRD/DP/ 10 /2015 dated June 05, 2015 has mandated the Depositories to create and maintain a database of distinctive numbers (“DN”) of equity shares of listed companies with details of DN in respect of all physical shares and overall DN range for dematerialised shares.

The DN database shall make available, information in respect of issued capital, such as DN Range, number of equity shares issued, name of stock exchange where the shares are listed, date of in-principle listing / final trading approval / dealing permission, shares held in physical or demat form, date of allotment, shares dematerialized under temporary (frozen) ISIN (International Securities Identification Number) or Permanent (active) ISIN etc., at one place. Based on consultations with the Depositories and Stock Exchanges, the following guidelines have been given to the depositories, stock exchanges, issuers/RTAs and depository participants in the said circular for the operationalisation of the DN database -

I. Significant Instructions to the Depositories as detailed in the said circular are as follows:

1. The depositories shall create and maintain a database to capture DN in respect of all equity shares physical and dematerialised issued by listed companies.

2. The depositories shall provide an interface to the Stock Exchange, Issuers/RTAs for online updation and to the DPs for online enquiry. .

3. The database shall include the following information –

Distinctive Numbers (From) Distinctive Numbers (To) Number of Equity shares Name of stock exchange Date of in-principle listing approval Date of final trading approval / dealing

permission Trading start date Physical/demat Date of allotment and date of issue (date of credit

to BO account) ISIN along with name of company Nature of ISIN [Temporary (Frozen) or Permanent

(Active)]

4. The depositories shall ensure that the database maintained by them is continuously updated and synchronised. .

II. Main Instructions to the Stock Exchanges as detailed in the said circular are as follows:

1. The Stock Exchanges shall provide the following information of all companies listed on the concerned Stock Exchange as on September 30, 2015 -

a. Total number of equity shares (A) for which final trading approval / dealing permission has been granted.

b. Total number of equity shares (B) for which in-principle listing approval has been granted but final trading approval / dealing permission is pending.

c. Total number of equity shares comprising the paid-up capital i.e. (A+B).

2. The Stock Exchanges shall use the interface provided by the Depositories for validating the DN information updated by the Issuer/RTA, updating the date of ‘in-principle’ listing approval, date of final trading approval / dealing permission and trading start date in respect of companies where the

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final trading approval/dealing permission has not been received as on September 30, 2015 and further issue by listed companies.

a. In respect of companies coming out with initial public offer or new listings on stock exchanges, the stock exchange shall update the DN database with the total number of equity shares for which final trading approval / dealing permission has been granted.

b. In respect of companies whose capital is changed/altered for any reason other than further issuance of shares such as buy-back of shares, forfeiture of shares, capital reduction, etc., the stock exchange shall confirm such change/alteration in the capital as updated by the Issuer/RTA in the DN database.

c. In case the DN data on listed shares as per the records of Issuers/RTAs does not match with records of the Stock Exchanges, the Stock Exchanges shall coordinate with the Issuer/RTA to reconcile such differences.

III. Instructions to the Issuers/RTAs as detailed in the said circular are as follows:

1. Issuers/RTAs shall use the interface provided by the Depositories for the following –

To update DN information in respect of all physical share capital and overall DN range for dematerialised share capital for all listed companies.

Updating on a continuous basis any subsequent changes including changes in case of further issue, fresh issuance / new listing and other change / alteration in capital (such as buy-back of shares, forfeiture of shares, capital reduction, etc.).

Capturing / updating the DN information on a continuous basis while processing, dematerialisation / rematerialisation requests confirmation, executing corporate action, etc.

2. If there is mismatch in the DN information with the data provided / updated by the Stock Exchanges in the DN database, the Issuer/RTA shall take steps to match the records and update the same latest by December 31, 2015.

3. Failure by the Issuers/RTAs to ensure reconciliation of the records as required shall attract appropriate actions under the extant laws.

IV. Instructions to the Depository Participants (“DP”) as detailed in the said circular are as follows:

The DPs shall use the interface provided by the Depositories to check the DNs of certificates of equity shares submitted for dematerialisation and ensure that appropriate ISIN is filled in Dematerialisation Request Form, as applicable, while processing request for dematerialisation.

SEBI SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON BILATERAL COOPERATION WITH THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE, REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Belarus has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral cooperation in Belarus, Minsk on June 03, 2015 in the presence of the Hon’ble President of India and President of Belarus.

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The MoU inter alia, seeks to promote further development of economic links and cooperation between SEBI and the Republic of Belarus and aims at enhancing investor protection and creating conditions for an effective development of securities markets in the two countries.

In the past, SEBI has signed bilateral MoUs with a number of countries. India is a signatory to multilateral MoU of International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). In order to encourage the exchange of information and assistance, SEBI has been signing MoUs with the jurisdictions who are yet to become a signatory to the multilateral MoU of IOSCO.

REVIEW OF OFFER FOR SALE (OFS) OF SHARES THROUGH STOCK EXCHANGE MECHANISM

Comprehensive guidelines on sale of shares through Offer for Sale (“OFS”) mechanism were issued by SEBI vide circular dated July 18, 2012. The OFS framework had been modified subsequently from time to time on the basis of representation/suggestion received from market participants. SEBI has been taking various steps from time to time to encourage retail investors to participate in the OFS.

In order to enhance more retail participation in the OFS process and to simplify the bidding process for retail investors, SEBI vide circular no. CIR/MRD/DP/12/2015 dated June 26, 2015 has mandated the following:

OFS notice shall continue to be given latest by 5 pm on T-2 days. However T-2 days shall be reckoned from banking day instead of trading day.

It would be mandatory for sellers to provide the option to retail investors to place their bids at cut off price in addition to placing price bids.

Accordingly, SEBI circulars dated August 08, 2014 and December 01, 2014 would stand modified as above.

SEBI BOARD MEETING

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) at its Board Meeting held on June 23, 2015 took the following decisions, the highlights of which are as follows:

I. Streamlining process of public issues- Obviating the need to issue cheques:

It was proposed by the SEBI Board that the Initial Public Offering (IPO) process be streamlined to reduce time period for listing of issues from T+12 days to T+6 days. This will increase reach of retail investors to access the IPO, reduce the cost of public issues and enable the issuers to have faster access to the capital raised while at the same time investors will have early liquidity. The Board took the following decisions to reduce the post issue timeline for listing from T+12 days to T+6 days :

Considering the reach and advantages of ASBA, it shall now be mandatory for all investors to make ASBA applications.

In order to substantially enhance the points for submission of applications, Registrar and Share Transfer Agents (RTAs) and Depository Participants (DPs) shall also be allowed to accept application forms (both physical as well as online) and make bids on the stock exchange platform. This will be over and above the stock brokers and banks where such facilities are presently available.

To help intermediaries and banks to modify their existing systems and train their staff and also enable the investors to adapt to the new system, there will be a phase-in period of 6 months. Accordingly, a public issue which opens on or after January 01, 2016 will have to follow the new system.

II. Simplified framework for capital raising by technological start-ups and other companies on Institutional Trading Platform (“ITP”):

Enabling provisions have been approved by SEBI Board for capital raising by technological start-ups and other

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companies through Institutional Trading Platform. The Board undertook a review of the extant regulatory framework in the primary market and approved the following proposals to amend the regulations concerning the ITP Platform:

i. The platform shall now be called as Institutional Trading Platform (ITP) and shall facilitate capital raising as well.

ii. The said platform will be made accessible to companies which are intensive in their use of technology, information technology, intellectual property, data analytics, bio-technology, nano-technology to provide products, services or business platforms with substantial value addition and with at least 25% of the pre-issue capital being held by QIBs or any other company in which at least 50% of the pre-issue capital is held by QIBs.

iii. No person (individually or collectively with persons acting in concert) in such a company shall hold 25% or more of the post-issue share capital.

iv. Considering the nature of business of companies which may list on the said platform, disclosure may contain only broad objects of the issue and there shall be no cap on amount raised for General Corporate Purposes. Further, the lock in of the entire pre-issue capital shall be for a period of 6 months from the date of allotment uniformly for all shareholders.

v. As the standard valuation parameters such as P/E, EPS, etc. may not be relevant in case of many of such companies, the basis of issue price may include other disclosures as deemed fit by the issuers other than projections,.

vi. Companies intending to list on the proposed ITP, shall be required to file draft offer document with SEBI for observations, as provided in SEBI (ICDR) Regulations, 2009.

vii. Only two categories of investors can access the proposed ITP i.e. (i) Institutional Investors (QIB as defined in SEBI (ICDR) Regulations, 2009) along with family trusts, systematically important NBFCs registered with RBI and the intermediaries registered

with SEBI, all with net-worth of more than Rs. 500 crore) and (ii) Non-Institutional Investors (NIIs) other than retail individual investors

viii. In case of public offer, allotment to institutional investors may be on a discretionary basis whereas to NIIs it shall be on proportionate basis. Allocation between the said two categories shall be in the ratio of 75% and 25%, respectively.

ix. In case of discretionary allotment to institutional investors, no institutional investor shall be allotted more than 10% of the issue size.

x. The number of allottees in case of a public offer shall be 200 or more.

xi. The company will have the option to migrate to main board after 3 years subject to compliance with eligibility requirements of the stock exchanges.

xii. For Category I and II AIFs, which are required under the SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012 to invest a certain minimum amount in unlisted securities, investment in shares of companies listed on this platform may be treated as investment in 'unlisted securities' for the purpose of calculation of the investment limits

xiii. Grandfathering of existing companies listed on SME-ITP: The existing companies listed on SME-ITP may continue to be guided by the existing regulatory framework for them including applicable relaxations from compliance with corporate governance requirements.

xiv. Rationalisation of disclosures for proposed ITP as well as main board: In order to rationalize the disclosures requirements for all issuers whether intending to list on the main board or the proposed ITP, the disclosures in offer document with respect to group companies, litigations and creditors shall be in accordance with policy on materiality as defined by the issuer.

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III. Fast Track Issuances through Follow on Public Offerings and Rights Issues:

In order to enable more number of listed companies to raise further capital using fast-track route, the SEBI Board has reduced the requirement of market capitalization of public shareholding of the issuer for Fast Track Issues (FTI) to Rs. 1000 crore in case of Follow on public offering (FPO) and Rs. 250 crore in case of rights issue, subject to compliance with following additional conditions:

i. In case of rights issue, promoters shall not renounce their rights, except to the extent of renunciations within the promoter group, or for the purposes of complying with minimum public shareholding norms;

ii. Annualized delivery based trading turnover requirement of 10% of the total paid up capital;

iii. No conflict of interest between the lead manager and the issuer or its group or associate company in accordance with applicable SEBI Regulations;

iv. Shares of the company should not have been suspended from trading as a disciplinary measure in past 3 years and the issuer, promoter group and directors of the issuer should not have settled any alleged violation of securities laws through the consent mechanism with the Board in last 3 years. This is in addition to the existing condition that no show-cause notices should have been issued or prosecution proceedings initiated by SEBI or pending against the issuer or its promoters or whole time directors.

IV. Review of Offer for Sale (OFS) through stock exchange mechanism:

Changes have been proposed by the SEBI Board for OFS through stock exchange mechanism to encourage greater retail participation in OFS. A discussion paper was floated on the review of Offer for Sale of Shares (OFS) through Stock Exchange mechanism and after considering the

comments / suggestions received the Board has approved the following changes to the present OFS framework:

i. To ensure increased retail participation in the OFS process, OFS notice shall be continued as per present practice i.e. latest by T-2 days; however, T-2 day shall be reckoned from banking day instead of trading day.

ii. To simplify the bidding process for retail investors, it would be mandatory for the seller to provide the option to retail investors to place their bids at cut off price (default option) in addition to placing price bids.

V. Re-classification of Promoters as Public:

A rationalised, simple framework has been put in place by SEBI Board for reclassification of promoters as public. The proposed framework would bring in consistency and also enable investors to take informed decisions based on any such move by the company / promoters.

The existing promoter of a listed entity may cease to be a promoter and/or re-classify itself as public in the following circumstances on compliance with conditions stated as follows:

Pursuant to change in promoter

Where a new promoter replaces the previous promoter subsequent to an open offer or in any other manner, re-classification needs to be approved of shareholders in the general meeting.

Shareholders need to specifically approve whether the outgoing promoter can hold any Key Management Personnel (“KMP”) position in the company. In any case, the outgoing promoter may not act as KMP for a period of more than 3 years from the date of shareholders’ approval.

The outgoing promoter can’t hold more than 10% shares of the company.

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Inheritance

In case of transmission/succession/inheritance, the inheritor shall be classified as promoter.

Company not having any identifiable promoter

In case the company becomes professionally managed and does not have any identifiable promoter, existing promoters may be re-classified as public subject to the following conditions:

The outgoing promoter shall not have any special rights through any formal or informal arrangements.

The outgoing promoter shall not, directly or indirectly, exercise control over the affairs of the company.

Increase in public shareholding pursuant to re-classification of promoters may not be counted towards achieving compliance with minimum public shareholding (MPS) requirement under clause 40A of equity listing agreement read with rule 19A of the Securities Contracts (Regulations) Rules, 1957 (SCRR).

If any public shareholder seeks to re-classify itself as promoter, it shall be required to make an open offer to the shareholders and would not be eligible for exemption from the said obligation.

The event of re-classification may be disclosed as a material event in accordance with the listing agreement/regulations.

A company will be considered as professionally managed for this purpose, if:

No person or group along with Persons Acting in Concert (PACs) taken together holds more than 1% shares of the company (including any convertibles/outstanding warrants/ADR/GDR Holding).

Mutual Funds/Banks/Insurance Companies/Financial Institutions/FPIs can each hold up to 10% shares of the company (including any convertibles/outstanding warrants/ADR/GDR Holding).

Erstwhile promoters and their relatives may hold KMP position in the company only subject to shareholders’ approval and for a period not exceeding 3 years from the date of shareholders’ approval.

In order to remove difficulties in specific cases the Board authorized the Chairman, SEBI to take required measures on a case to case basis.

VI. Annual Report for 2014-15

The Board considered and approved the SEBI Annual Report: 2014-15. In compliance with Section 18(2) of SEBI Act, 1992, the same Annual Report would be submitted to the Central Government.

VII. FMC- SEBI merger

The Board also discussed operational issues relating to the merger of Forward Markets Commission (FMC) with SEBI.

VIII. Recommendations of the Depository System Review Committee (DSRC)

An expert committee was constituted by SEBI, to inter-alia review and assess the depository system on the basis of CPSS-IOSCO principles so as to benchmark with global best practices and the recommendations of the committee had been broadly accepted by the Board. The Board also reviewed the status of the implementation of recommendations and noted that the Depositories have been advised to implement the following:

Develop a mechanism to maintain complete reconciled record of total issued and listed capital, including both physical and dematerialized shares.

Risk Management Policy at the Depositories and Information Technology (IT) infrastructure of the Depository Participants.

Popularization of e-KYC among Depository Participants.

Put in place systems to facilitate generation and dispatch of single Consolidated Account Statements (CAS) for investors having investments in securities

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and Mutual Funds, which has been implemented with effect from March 01, 2015.

IX. Interim Use of Funds by the Issuers:

In order to prevent misuse of funds during the interim period pending utilization by the issuer, for funds raised through public/ rights issue in accordance with SEBI ICDR Regulations 2009, the Board decided that net Issue proceeds pending utilization shall be deposited only in the Scheduled Commercial Banks. In case of public/ rights issue of Indian Depository Receipts, the issuer shall keep the funds in a bank having a credit rating of 'A' or above by an international credit rating agency.

GOVERNMENT SETS-UP TASK FORCE FOR LAYING THE ROAD MAP FOR SETTING-UP OF FINANCIAL REDRESS AGENCY (FRA) AS RECOMMENDED BY THE FINANCIAL SECTOR LEGISLATIVE REFORMS COMMISSION (FSLRC)

The Government sets-up a Task Force to lay the roadmap for setting-up of Financial Redress Agency (FRA) as recommended by the Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC). The Constitution of the Task Force has been put in public domain on the website of the Ministry of Finance (www.finmin@nic.in). The Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) set-up in March 2011, for re-writing the financial sector laws to bring them in harmony with the current requirements, submitted its Report to the Government on March 22, 2013. The Commission inter alia has recommended a non-sectoral, principle-based legislative architecture for the financial sector by restructuring/upgrading existing regulatory agencies and creating new agencies wherever needed for better governance and accountability.

GOVERNMENT ISSUES FINAL NOTIFICATIONS UNDER SECTION 462 OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2013 (ACT) THAT PROVIDE EXEMPTIONS UNDER VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ACT TO (I) PRIVATE COMPANIES (II) GOVERNMENT COMPANIES (III) SECTION 8 COMPANIES AND (IV) NIDHIS

The Government of India issued the final notifications under Section 462 of the Companies Act, 2013 (Act), which provide exemptions under various provisions of the Act to (i) Private Companies; (ii) Government Companies; (iii) Section 8 Companies and (iv) Nidhis.

For Private Companies, the exemptions relax the provisions for entering into related party transactions; provide a shorter period for offering securities to members through right offers; provide for approving issue of employee stock option plans through a simple majority and allow an easier procedure and flexibility in holding general meetings. Private companies have also been allowed to accept deposits from members without the requirement of offer circular and creation of deposit repayment reserve etc. Flexibility has also been provided in the types of share capital that can be issued by private companies. Exemption has been given from filing of board resolutions with the registry and giving of notice for standing for directorships. Requirement of mandatory consent of shareholders with regard to certain transactions relating to sale of undertaking, investments, borrowings etc. has been omitted.

Further, OPCs, dormant companies, small companies and private companies having paid up share capital less than Rs. 100 crore have been excluded for calculating the limit of 20 companies for audit by an auditor. Private companies not having any investment by anybody

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corporate have been allowed to extend loans to directors etc. subject to certain conditions relating to bank borrowings and default thereof. An interested director of a private company can now participate in the Board meeting after declaring his interest.

Government Companies have been exempted from the limits pertaining to managerial remuneration; restriction on maximum number of directorships and disqualification of directors in certain cases. The provisions in respect of Nomination and Remuneration Committee have also been relaxed in respect of their applicability to directors/managerial persons. The provisions relating to loans to directors; loans and investments by companies and related party transactions have been modified to provide flexibility to Government companies in complying with such provisions. The exemption for Government companies to retain the suffix “Limited” even if incorporated as private limited company has been continued as per the exemption available under Companies Act, 1956.

Modifications in the provisions relating to place of holding general meetings have also been made. Provisions in respect of rotation of directors and right of persons to stand for directorship are exempted for wholly owned Government companies. The provisions in respect of forming opinion about integrity, expertise/experience of independent directors have been modified to provide flexibility to concerned Ministry/Department. For the Government companies engaged in producing defence equipment, the provisions of section 186 (loans and investments by companies) and Accounting Standard - 17 (Segment Reporting) shall not be applicable.

For Charitable Companies the provisions in respect of notice for general meeting have been modified to enable

such companies to save time and resources in sending notices. The notice for general meeting and financial statements may be circulated at notice of 14 days instead of 21 days.

The provisions in respect of appointment of independent directors (IDs) and Nomination and Remuneration Committee will not be applicable to such companies. The audit committees of such companies need not have Independent Directors. The restrictions on number of directorships have also been exempted for these companies. These companies are allowed to hold board meetings once in six months instead of four meetings in a year, as prescribed for other companies. These companies have been exempted from provisions requiring notice to be given for standing for directorship if their articles provide for election of directors by ballot.

Flexibility from the provisions on passing of board resolutions in a board meeting only and on disclosure and participation in board meetings by an interested director has also been provided.

In case of Nidhis, provisions relating to serving of documents to members and payment of dividend have been modified to provide more flexibility to such companies. Provisions relating to private placement have been partially relaxed for such companies. These companies have also been exempted from the requirements of section 62 which relates to further issue of share capital. The notice amount of Rs. 1 lakh provided under section 160 has been reduced to Rs. 10,000 for these companies. Provisions of section 185 in respect of loans to directors have been relaxed for these companies with the condition that loan is given to a director or his relative in his capacity as member and the disclosure is made in the accounts.

Published By: MCC Chamber of Commerce & Industry, 15B Hemanta Basu Sarani, Kolkata – 700 001 Tel.: 91 33 2248 1502/6329/3123/2262 5070-74, Fax: 91 33 2248 8657, Email: mcciorg@gmail.com, mcciorg@mcciorg.com, Website: mcciorg.com

Compiled by: Ashok Pareek, Chairman, Standing Committee on Capital Market, MCCI; Assisted by: Piyush Khaitan, Khushboo Jain For Private Circulation only