INTRODUCTION
Share capital is a very essential part of a company, listed or unlisted. Share capital can be of two types i.e. equity share capital or preferential share capital. The share capital of a company has to be subscribed by one or more persons. After the share of a company has been allotted to the subscribing members, the subscribers have no right over the money gone as proceeds of the shares subscribed. All that the shareholder has is the right to vote at the general meetings of the company or the right to receive dividends or right to such other benefits which may have been prescribed. The only option left with the shareholder in order to realise the price of the share is to transfer the share to some other person.
But there are certain provisions in the companies act which allow the shareholders to sell their shares directly to the company and such provisions are termed as buy back of shares. Buy back of shares can be understood as the process by which a company buys its share back from its shareholder or a resort a shareholder can take in order to sell the share back to the company.
HISTORY
Prior to the amendment of the 1999 of the companies act there was no way a company could buy its shares back from the shareholders without a prior sanction of the court (except for the preferential shares). The laws as to the buying of its share by the companies were very stringent. Some of the ways by which a company could buy its shares back were as follows:-
(i) Reduction of share capital as given in sections 100 to 104.
(ii) Redemption of redeemable preferential shares under section 80.
(iii) Purchase of shares under an order of the court for scheme of arrangement under section 391 in compliance with the provisions of sections 100 to 104.
(iv) Purchase of shares of minority shareholders under the order of the company law board under section 402(b).
Though there were ways by which a company could buy its shares back from the shareholders but it could not be done without the sanction of the court. This was done to protect the rights of the creditors as well as the shareholders. But the need of less complex ways of buying its shares back by the company was always felt. The much needed change in the companies act was brought about by the companies amendment act 1999.Sections 77A, 77AA and 77B were inserted in the companies act by this amendment.
REASONS FOR BUY BACK
In the words of the working group which recommended the introduction of buy back in the companies act:
It is an erroneous belief that the sole reason for buy back is to block hostile take-overs. In this connection it is pertinent to list five reasons why the bank of England favoured the making of law to allow companies to repurchase their shares of which blocking take-over was only one:
(i) To return surplus cash to shareholders
(ii) To increase the underlying share value
(iii) To support the share prices during temporary weakness.
(iv) To achieve or maintain a target capital structure.
(v) To prevent or inhibit unwelcome take-over bids.
Briefly a company resorting to the buy back may have surplus cash, and it may not have found the right avenue to invest such surplus cash, during such period of dilemma the company may decide to return the surplus cash by buying back its shares, with a hope that at a later time when the company brings on an expansion the investors do not loose their faith in the company. Secondly the company might as well think of buying its shares with a view to increase the value of the shares which after the process of buy back still remain in the market. For after the shares are bought back the number of marketable shares become less and thus the prices increase. Thirdly, at times there is a slump in the share market due to no fault of the company. Though the slouch may be temporary but may have continued far too long .The management then may decide to give value to the shareholders and buy back there shares at a price higher than the market price. This is generally done to instill faith in the minds of the shareholders. Saving a company from hostile take-over has always been seen as a major force behind bringing about this amendment, the company may use the surplus cash available in buying back its shares and bringing the number of floating shares down, resulting in the suitor not finding it a worthy investment or a profitable acquisition. These could be certain reasons why a company may resort to buy back of its shares.
RESOURCES OF BUY BACK:
The companies amendment act 1999 under section 77A prescribes for the sources of buying back of shares or other specified securities by a company, which are as follows-:
i) Free reserves- a company may buy back out of its free reserves but a sum equal to the nominal value of the shares so purchased must be deposited in the capital redemption reserves account.
ii) Securities premium account.
iii) The proceeds of any shares or specified securities.
No buy back of any shares or securities shall be made out of the proceeds of an earlier issue of the same kind of shares of same kind of securities
CONDITIONS FOR A BUY BACK :
Sub clause (2) of section 77A enshrines the conditions for a buy back, which are as follows :
a) It should be authorised by the articles of association of the company.
b) A special resolution has been passed at the general meeting of the company authorising the buy back.
If the buy back is or less than 10 percent of the total paid up equity share capital, a resolution at the general meeting is not needed to be passed rather a simple board resolution is enough.
Provided that no offer of buy back shall be made within three sixty five days reckoned from the date of proceeding offer of buy back.
c) The buy back is or less than 25 percent of the total paid up equity share\ capital and free reserves
d) The ratio of debt owned by the company is not more than twice the capital and its free reserves after such buy back.
e) All the shares or other specified securities for buy back are fully paid up.
f) The buy back of shares or other specified securities listed on any recognised stock exchange is in accordance with the regulations made by the securities and exchange board of India in this behalf:
g) The buy back in respect of shares and other specified securities other than those specified in the aforesaid clause is in accordance with the guidelines specified.
DISCLOSURE IN THE
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT :
Notice of the meeting at which a resolution for buy back is proposed to be passed has to be accompanied by an explanatory statement stating
a) a full and complete disclosure of all material facts
b) the necessity for buy back
c) class of securities intended to be bought back under the buy back
d) the amount to be invested under buy back.
MODES OF BUY BACK :
Buy back of shares or other specified securities can be done through various sources which have been illustrated under sub section 5 of section 77A, they are as follows:-
a) From the existing security holders on a proportionate basis or
b) From the open market, through ;
i) stock market
ii) book building process
c) From odd lots, that is to say where the lot of securities of a public company, whose
shares are listed on a recognised stock exchange, is smaller than such marketable
lot, as may be specified by the stock exchange; or
c) by purchasing the securities issued to employees of the company under a scheme
of stock option or sweat equity.
DECLARATION OF SOLVENCY:
Where a company has passed a special resolution under clause b of sub-section (2) or a board resolution has been passed under some circumstances to buy back its own shares or other specified securities, under the section, it shall before making such buy back ,file with the registrar and the securities and exchange board of India a declaration of solvency in the form as may be prescribed and verified by an affidavit to the effect that the board has made a full enquiry into the affairs of the company as a result of which they have formed an opinion that it is capable of meeting its liabilities and will not be rendered insolvent within a period one year of the date of declaration adopted by the board, and signed by at least two directors of the company, one of whom shall be the managing director, if any.
REGISTER OF SECURITIES BOUGHT BACK :
Section 77A(9) prescribes for the manner in which a register shall be maintained a register of shares so bought back and enter therein the following particulars:-
i) the consideration paid for the securities bought back.
ii) the date of cancellation of securities
iii) the date of extinguishing and physically destroying of securities.
iv) other particulars as may be prescribed.
The shares or the securities so bought back shall be physically destroyed within seven days from the last date f completion of such buy back.
PROHIBITION ON FURTHER ISSUE
OF SHARES AFTER BUY BACK :
Every buy back shall be completed within twelve months from the date of passing the special resolution or the board resolution as the case may be. After the buy back is completed the company is not allowed to issue the bought back shares for the period of six months by any means including further issue of shares under section 81(1)(a) of the companies act 1956. It may however issue bonus shares or discharge its subsisting obligation of converting preference shares or other specified securities into equity shares.
PROHIBITION OF BUY BACK IN CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES :
Section 77B holds the restrictions on the companies to buy back its shares. No company shall buy its own shares or other specified securities
a) through any subsidiary company including its own subsidiary company.
b) Through any investment companies or group of investment companies.
PENALTY :
If a company makes default in complying with the provisions the
company or any officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable
with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which
may extend to fifty thousand rupees, or with both. The offences are, of course
compoundable under Section 621A of the Companies Act, 1956.