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Delisting. In. What How When . Delisting – regulatory framework. SEBI(DELISTING OF EQUITY SHARES) REGULATIONS, 2009 SCRA[ SECURITIES CONTRACT( REGULATION ACT) 1956] LISTING AGREEMENT COMPANIES ACT,1956 SEBI ( SUBSTANTIAL ACQUISITION OF SHARES AND TAKEOVER) REGULATION, 1997.
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Delisting. In What How When
Delisting – regulatory framework • SEBI(DELISTING OF EQUITY SHARES) REGULATIONS, 2009 • SCRA[ SECURITIES CONTRACT( REGULATION ACT) 1956] • LISTING AGREEMENT • COMPANIES ACT,1956 • SEBI ( SUBSTANTIAL ACQUISITION OF SHARES AND TAKEOVER) REGULATION, 1997
DELISTING • “Delisting” is totally the reverse of listing. To delist means permanent removal of securities of a listed company from a stock exchange. As a consequence of delisting, the securities of that company would no longer be tradeable at that stock exchange.
JOURNEY………. • SEBI Delisting Guidelines, 1998. • SEBI Delisting Guidelines, 2003. • SEBI (Delisting of Equity Shares ) Regulations, 2009.
the salient features of regulations are:- • Public shareholders have been defined as the holders of equity shares other than the • a) Promoters and • b) holders of depository receipts issued overseas against underlying shares. • Not be applicable to sick companies
the salient features of regulations are:- • The companies cannot delist their securities from the Exchanges pursuant to buyback and preferential allotment. • No shareholders approval, in case the company continues to remain listed at any of the exchanges having Nationwide trading terminal i.e. BSE and/ or NSE or any other Exchange specified in this behalf.
the salient features of regulations are:- • The concept of Specified Date has been introduced, which shall not be later than 30 working days from the date of the Public Announcement. • The special resolution passed for the delisting giving exit option to the shareholders will be valid for a period of 1 year within which the final application will be required to be made to the exchange for delisting. • Special Resolution by way of Postal Ballot
the salient features of regulations are:- • Successful Exit Offer : Under the Regulations, to get delisted, post offer, the Promoter holding should reach the higher of the following: • 90% of total issued shares of that class; or • (pre offer promoter holding +50% of the Offer Size), otherwise the offer shall be deemed to have failed. Promoters’ option of not accepting the Offer Price Promoters/ PAC not allowed to participation in bidding:
Compulsory delisting • A recognized stock exchange may, by order, delist any equity shares of a company on any ground prescribed in the rules made under section 21A of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956
Highlights of compulsory delisting • Decision by panel of experts after considering the various parameters given in the regulations. • Public notice by the exchange for inviting the representation by the aggrieved persons. • Determination of exit price by the independent valuer appointed by the concerned stock exchange. • No requirement of going through the reverse book building process.
Highlights of compulsory delisting Contd….. • Acquisition of shares by the promoters at fair value. • Where a company has been compulsorily delisted, the company itself, its whole time directors, its promoters and the companies which are promoted by any of them shall not directly or indirectly access the securities market or seek listing for any equity shares for a period of ten years from the date of such delisting
Special powers to Stock Exchange schedule -III • The recognized stock exchange can file prosecutions under relevant provisions of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 or any other law for the time being in force against identifiable promoters and directors of the company for the alleged non-compliances. • The recognized stock exchange can also file a petition for winding up the company under section 433 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) or make a request to the Registrar of Companies to strike off the name of the company from the register under section 560 of the said Act.
Voluntary delisting • Voluntary delisting :- • VOLUNTARY DELISTING FROM ALL THE EXCHANGES • VOLUNTARY DELISTING FROM FEW EXCHANGES BUT REMAINS LISTED ON AT LEAST ONE STOCK EXCHANGE HAVING NATION WIDE TERMINALS • VOLUNTARY DELISTING BY THE SMALL COMPANIES
Highlights of VOLUNTARY DELISTING • VOLUNTARY DELISTING FROM ALL THE EXCHANGES • If after the proposed delisting, the equity shares would not remain listed on any recognized stock exchange having nation wide trading terminals, Exit Opportunityshall be given to all the public shareholders holding the equity shares sought to be delisted. (Regulation 6 (b))
Highlights of VOLUNTARY DELISTING Contd….. • The special resolution to be passed by postal ballot shall be acted upon if and only if the votes cast by public shareholders in favour of the proposal amount to at least two times the number of votes cast by public shareholders against it. • The company shall obtain in principle approval from the concerned stock exchange for the proposed delisting of its equity shares .
Highlights of VOLUNTARY DELISTING Contd….. • The promoter appoint a merchant banker. • Public announcement by the promoters. • Invitation of bids from the public shareholders through letter of offer for determination of final price [ Reverse Book Building] • The final offer price shall be determined as the price at which the maximum number of equity shares is tendered by the public shareholders. • The offer shall remain open for a minimum period of three working days and a maximum period of five working days during which the public shareholders may tender their bids
Highlights of VOLUNTARY DELISTING Contd….. • Post offer Promoter shareholding should reach to either 90% of total paid up capital or minimum 50% of the public shareholding tendered through offer whichever is high. • The final price need not to be accepted by the promoters. • Remaining public shareholder may tender their shares to the promoter upto a period of one year from the date of delisting
Determination of Floor Price (Regulation 15) • Where the equity shares are frequently traded in all the recognized stock exchanges where they are listed, the fair price shall be higher of the following: • A.) the average of the weekly high and low of the closing prices of the equity shares of the company during the twenty six weeks . • OR • B.) two weeks preceding the date on which the recognized stock exchanges were notified of the board meeting in which the delisting proposal was considered,
Highlights of VOLUNTARY DELISTING Contd….. • VOLUNTARY DELISTING FROM FEW EXCHANGES BUT REMAIN LISTED AT ONE STOCK EXCHANGE HAVING NATION WIDE TRADING TERMINAL • If after the proposed delisting from any one or more recognized stock exchanges, the equity shares would remain listed on any recognized stock exchange which has nationwide trading terminals,No Exit Opportunity needs to be given to the public shareholders. (Section 6 (a))
Highlights of VOLUNTARY DELISTING Contd….. • No need to pass Special resolution by members. • The company has to give a public notice of the proposed delisting. • The company shall disclose the fact of the delisting in the first annual report after delisting.
Small companies • Definition • A company having paid-up capital of upto one Crore rupees and its equity shares were not traded on any exchange in the one year immediately preceding the date of decision of delisting; OR (Regulation 27 (1)) • A company having upto 300 public shareholders and the paid-up value of the shares held by such shareholders is upto one Crore rupees. (Regulation 27 (2))
Highlights of small companies Contd….. • The special resolution through postal ballot and be acted upon if and only if the votes cast by public shareholders in favour of the proposal amount to at least two times the number of votes cast by public shareholders against it. • The promoters shall determine the exit price in consultation with the Merchant Banker. • The company shall obtain in principle approval from the concerned stock exchange for the proposed delisting of its equity shares .
Highlights of small companies Contd….. • 90% public shareholders should give their consent for delisting of the equity shares by not following the reverse book building process. • The shareholders should be given a option to remain the shareholders even if the company gets delisted.
relisting Cooling period:- • The company that has voluntarily delisted its securities can relist its securities only after a period of 5 years. • The company that has been compulsory delisted by the exchange can relist its securities only after a period of 10 years. Relisting of sick companies • In case of Delisted companies who were sick in the past, can be given opportunity of listing through Restructuring scheme passed by BIFR. • The sick companies are exempted from the provision of cooling period.
Still gray areas…….. • Non Payment to the shareholders • No check by the regulatory authorities on whether the payment has been made to the shareholders or not in case of compulsory delisting. • It does not mention the penalties/ consequences in case of defaulting promoters in making the payment of the fixed fair value to the public shareholders. • Applicability of regulation 8 in case of small companies • The extent of the applicability of regulation 8 is not clearly defined in case of delisting by small companies. • No time period for the acquisition of shares from the public shareholders has been prescribed in case of compulsory delisting.