Tag: Capital Markets

COVID-19: Certain Issues to Consider for Listed Indian Companies

Insights | April 27, 2020 | Practice Area: Capital Markets, Mergers and Acquisitions, Regulatory

While corporations across the globe brace for the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their business, operations and financial results, listed companies need to be mindful of additional compliance requirements and responsibilities. This note discusses certain considerations which are relevant for listed Indian companies in the current COVID-19 scenario in relation to (i) periodic disclosures and reporting; (ii) board and shareholder meetings; (iii) impact on financial results and annual report; (iv) trading when in possession of UPSI and during trading window closure; (v) fund-raising; and (vi) duties of directors. As a practical matter, these considerations will continue to be relevant even in the future while tackling the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic or other crisis situations.

COVID-19: Temporary Easing of SEBI Fund-raising Rules

Updates | April 23, 2020 | Practice Area: Capital Markets, Regulatory

With a view to facilitate fund-raising from the capital markets in the wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Securities and Exchange Board of India has decided to grant certain relaxations from the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2018, as amended, to public issues (both initial and further public offerings) and rights issues. The relaxations, which are contained in two separate SEBI circulars each dated April 21, 2020, essentially relate to (i) the validity of the SEBI observations, (ii) the requirement to file a fresh draft offer document in case of change in issue size and (iii) certain conditions applicable to rights issues.

Completing an M&A Transaction On-Market – Certain Key Considerations

Insights | March 18, 2020 | Practice Area: Capital Markets, Mergers and Acquisitions

In case of acquisitions involving listed companies, parties often choose to complete the transaction ‘on-market’, that is, on the floor of the stock exchanges, on account of tax benefits. This note analyses certain key legal considerations in completing such on-market acquisitions, including: (i) considerations for non-FPI foreign acquirers; (ii) the modes through which negotiated transactions can be completed on-market; and (iii) considerations under the takeover regulations when completing acquisitions during the pendency of a mandatory tender offer.

SEBI Framework for Issuance of Depository Receipts

Updates | October 15, 2019 | Practice Area: Capital Markets

On October 10, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”) issued a circular setting out an amended framework for the issuance of Depository Receipts (“DRs”) by Indian companies (the “DR Circular”).

Minimum Public Shareholding Norms in India – Is it Time for Change?

Insights | September 11, 2019 | Practice Area: Capital Markets

On July 5, 2019, the Indian finance minister, in her debut budget speech, announced a few big-bang proposals. One such proposal was for capital market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”), to consider increasing minimum public shareholding requirement in listed companies from the current threshold of 25% to 35%.