SEBI Notifies Revised Delisting Norms

SEBI NOTIFIES REVISED DELISTING NORMS

In order to make delisting more effective, the SEBI has notified revised regulations for delisting process through the reverse book-building route that would make the delisting easier for companies. Under the revised norms the timeline for completing the process has been reduced. It provides for relaxation of rules on a case-to-case basis. The key features of amendment are as under: i. Timeline for completing the delisting process has been reduced to 76 working days from 137 calendar days. ii. Now stock exchanges would be given five working days to give their in-principle approval for delisting. iii. SEBI has retained the reverse book building process for determining the price of shares for the purpose of delisting. However, delisting would be considered successful only if at least 25 % of the public shareholders would participate in the reverse book building process. Further, the shareholding of the acquirer, together with the shares tendered by public shareholders, should be 90 % of the company's total share capital. iv. To ensure that a delisting plan has been decided in a fair manner, company's board would have to approve of it only after a due diligence process, for which it can appoint a merchant banker on behalf of the firm and the promoter. v. Further, the company's board would have to certify that the company is in compliance with applicable securities law and that it would be in the interest of shareholders. vi. Companies having paid-up capital of not more than Rs 10 crore, and networth that does not exceed Rs 25 crore as on the last day of the previous financial year are exempted from following the Reverse Book Building process. vii. The exemption would be available only if there is no trading in the shares of the company in the last one year from the date of the board's resolution authorising the company to go in for delisting, and trading of shares of the company has not been suspended for any non-compliance during the same period. Source : Taxmann