Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
4. Aradhita Saraf
Pan No. BHUPS8703E
7. Sujata Saraf
Pan No. ALMPS8672F
8. Dev Saraf
Pan No. BHUPS8785E
In the matter of
M/s Comfort Fincap Ltd.
Page 1 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
collectively
referred
to
as
'Noticees'),
erstwhile
Page 2 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
Page 3 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
for
settling
the
proceedings
initiated
by
the
Page 4 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
Regulation 14
Timing of the public announcement of offer
14. (1) The public announcement referred to in regulation 10 or regulation 11
shall be made by the merchant banker not later than four working days of
entering into an agreement for acquisition of shares or voting rights or
deciding to acquire shares or voting rights exceeding the respective
percentage specified therein:
Page 5 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
Finding
The issues for examination in this case and the findings thereon are as
follows:
(a) Whether the Noticees had violated the provisions of regulation
11(1) and 11(2) read with 14(1) of SAST Regulations, 1997?
10. While examining the Letter of offer, the following was observed:
a)
were
inter-se
transfer
of
shares
amongst
SAST
Regulations,
1997.
However,
no
public
Page 6 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
d)
e)
f)
Page 7 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
It was thus, alleged that the Noticees had failed to make a public
announcement under regulation 11(2) read with regulation 14(1) of SAST
Regulations, 1997 for the financial years 1997-98, 2004-05, 2005-06.
Also, the Noticees had failed
regulation 11(1) read with regulation 14(1) of SAST Regulations, 1997 for
the financial year 1998-99.
11. Upon perusal of submissions of the Noticees and documents available
on record, I find that Noticee No. 5 expired on December 06, 2014.
Copy of notarized death certificate issued by Kolkata Municipal
Corporation was taken on record. In this context, I would like to quote
the observations of Hon'ble Supreme Court, in Girijanandini Vs
Bijendra Narain (AIR 1967 SC 2110), wherein the court observed that
in case of personal actions, i.e. the actions where the relief sought is
personal to the deceased, the right to sue will not survive to or against
the representatives and in such cases the maxim actio personalis
moritur cum persona (personal action dies with the death of the
person) would apply. I am of the view that the proceedings against
Noticee No. 5 are liable to be abated without going into the merits of
the case. Therefore, the proceedings against Noticee No. 5 stands
abated.
12. Now I proceed to deal with the case as against the other Noticees. The
main submissions of the Noticees are as under:
Page 8 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
assumed all
Page 9 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
the
obligations
under
the
Memorandum
of
13. It is not in dispute that the Noticees who were erstwhile promoters of
CFL made aforesaid acquisitions by way of inter-se transfer of shares
among themselves. It is pertinent to mention here that regulation 3 of
SAST Regulations, 1997 exempts certain acquisitions from the
obligation to make public announcement under regulations 10, 11 and
12 of SAST Regulations, 1997 subject to fulfillment of conditions
stipulated
therefor.
The
conditions
specified
under
regulation
Page 10 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
ii.
iii.
iv.
1997
have
been
complied
with
by
the
of SAST
Page 11 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
17,
2011
of
Luharuka.
note
that
the
public
Page 12 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
Page 13 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
18. Ultimately the fact remains that the Noticees made certain acquisitions
by way of inter se transfers during financial years 1997-98, 1998-99,
2004-05(twice), 2005-06. Admittedly, the Noticees did not comply with
the conditions for claiming exemption under regulation 3(1)(e) from the
applicability of regulation 11 of SAST Regulations, 1997. As such the
Noticees were under an obligation to comply with regulation 11(2) read
with regulation 14(1) of SAST Regulations, 1997 for the financial years
1997-98, 2004-05(twice), 2005-06 and regulation 11(1) read with
regulation 14(1) of SAST Regulations, 1997 for the financial year 199899. The Noticees failed to make public announcement as required
under the said regulations. As dealt with hereinabove, the arguments
put forth by the Noticees are devoid of any merit.
19. In view of the above, I hold that the Noticees have violated regulation
11(2) read with regulation 14(1) of SAST Regulations, 1997 for the
financial years 1997-98, 2004-05(twice), 2005-06 and regulation 11(1)
read with regulation 14(1) of SAST Regulations, 1997 for the financial
year 1998-99.
(b) Does the non-compliance, if any, attract monetary penalty under
section 15H (ii) of SEBI Act, 1992?
20. In this context I would like to quote the observations of Hon'ble
Supreme Court in the matter of SEBI Vs. Shri Ram Mutual Fund.
21. The Honble Supreme Court of India in the matter of Chairman, SEBI v..
Shriram Mutual Fund {[2006] 5 SCC 361} held that In our considered
opinion, penalty is attracted as soon as the contravention of the statutory
obligation as contemplated by the Act and the Regulations is established and
hence the intention of the parties committing such violation becomes wholly
irrelevant.
Adjudication order in the matter of Comfort Fincap Ltd..
Page 14 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
22. Further in the matter of Ranjan Varghese v. SEBI (Appeal No. 177 of 2009
and Order dated April 08, 2010), the Honble SAT had observed Once it
is established that the mandatory provisions of Takeover Code was
violated the penalty must follow.
23. As the violation of the statutory obligation under regulation 11(1), 11(2)
read with regulation 14(1) of SAST Regulations, 1997 has been
established, I am convinced that it is a fit case for imposing monetary
penalty under section 15H(ii) of SEBI Act, 1992 before and after
amendment of 2002 which reads as under:Before Amendment of 2002
Penalty for non-disclosure of acquisition of shares and takeovers.
15H. If any person, who is required under this Act or any rules or
regulations made thereunder, fails to,
(i)
(ii) make a public announcement to acquire shares at a minimum price; or
(iii).
(iv)..
he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five lakh rupees
After Amendment of 2002
Penalty for non-disclosure of acquisition of shares and takeovers.
15H. If any person, who is required under this Act or any rules or
regulations made thereunder, fails to,
(i)
(ii) make a public announcement to acquire shares at a minimum price; or
(iii).
(iv)..
he shall be liable to a penalty of twenty-five crore rupees or three times
the amount of profits made out of such failure, whichever is higher.
24. Section 15H(ii) of the SEBI Act, 1992 provides for imposition of
monetary penalty, on any person, who fails to make a public
announcement to acquire shares at a minimum price as required under
the SEBI Act, 1992 or any rules or regulations made thereunder.
Page 15 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
(c) If so, what would be the monetary penalty that can be imposed
taking into consideration the factors mentioned in section 15J of
SEBI Act, 1992?
25. While determining the quantum of penalty under section 15H(ii) of the
SEBI Act, 1992 it is important to consider the factors stipulated in
section 15J of SEBI Act, 1992 which reads as under:-
Page 16 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015
Fifty Lakh Only) on the Noticee No. 1,2,3,4,6, 7 and 8 which will be
commensurate with the violation committed by them.
29. The aforesaid Noticees shall pay the said amount of penalty by way of
demand draft in favour of SEBI - Penalties Remittable to Government
of India, payable at Mumbai, within 45 days of receipt of this order.
The said demand draft should be forwarded to Deputy General
Manager, Division of Corporate Restructuring, SEBI, SEBI Bhavan,
Plot No. C 4 A, G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (E),
Mumbai 400 051.
30. In terms of rule 6 of the Rules, copies of this order are sent to the
Noticees and also to the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
A. SUNIL KUMAR
PLACE: MUMBAI
ADJUDICATING OFFICER
Page 17 of 17
Brought to you by http://StockViz.biz
January 16 , 2015