Sebi issues ‘warrants’ to rein in promoters
The Securities & Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Monday tightened the rules governing warrant
issues, which in the past allowed promoters to enrich themselves when the
markets soared, but get away lightly when they crashed. The market regulator has promised to frame
guidelines that will give holders of Indian
Depository Receipts an even footing in rights share sales, after Standard
Chartered Bank’s rights issue disappointed investors by excluding them from it.
A level playing field will be offered during rights share issues where the
payment option for all classes of shareholders will be uniform. “About two years back, when this (warrants) issue was first
considered by Sebi, there was quite a bit of
discomfort in the market about this entire preferential issue business,” Sebi chairman CB Bhave told
reporters after a board meeting. “One of the things that was
suggested at that time was to enhance the margin amount from 10% to 25%. What
else could be done was also in consideration... this had come in the form of a
proposal, and now finally, a decision has been taken by the board.” If the promoters don’t exercise warrants by
the stipulated date, they won’t be eligible for any share or warrant purchases
for the next 12 months, said the market regulator. Convertible warrants give
promoters the option to convert warrants into equity shares at a pre-determined
price. “I think it’s quite fair,” said Bahram Vakil, senior partner, AZB & Partners, a law firm.
``Promoters can’t keep changing their minds.”
There were complaints that promoters allotted warrants to themselves and
select investors at a pre-determined price, but didn’t buy them when the due
date came if the prevailing stock prices were lower than the decided price. If the prices were higher, they would convert those warrants and at
least make a paper profit, and in some cases encash
the gains. If promoters or
promoter groups sold shares in the previous six months, they would not be
eligible for allotment on preferential basis either, said Mr
Bhave. Mr Vakil said, “It is to
discourage promoters from trading profits.” Warrants
are seen as an instrument that gives an advantage to promoters above retail
investors, who have all other rights equal to company founders.
Retail limit in IPOs doubled
BUT others believe they give the company an assured capital
at a future date, when it may be required for a planned investment but may not
be available from other sources. When the markets melted during 2008 and early
2009, promoters of many companies such as Hindalco
Industries, Tata Power, GE Shipping and Pantaloon
Retail did not convert those warrants, regulatory filings show. These companies
could not be reached for comments after the Sebi
board decision. “It would significantly
restrict the promoters’ ability to infuse funds into the company,” said Mehul Savla, director, RippleWave
Equity. “The only option now would be a rights issue, which could be highly
time consuming and expensive.” After similar complaints, in February 2009, the
regulator had raised the up-front margin to be paid by warrant subscribers to
25% from 10% since the payment lost was insignificant compared with the losses
one would have made if forced to buy. The
Sebi board also raised the retail investor limit in
initial public offers to 2 lakh from 1 lakh, as reported by ET on Monday. It said life insurance companies planning
to list would have to disclose specific risks associated with their business
since there are no peers on the stock exchanges, and various experts come up
with their own way of valuing such businesses despite them making losses. Also, to enable investors to manage their
cash and securities flows efficiently, the board decided to mandate companies
to have a pre-announced fixed pay date for payment of dividends and for credit
of bonus shares. – www.thetimesofindia.com