Revised regulations on due diligence for listed debentures

Introduction
Regulatory approach
Requirements
Comment

Introduction

In November 2020, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a circular on due diligence to be carried out by debenture trustees on security for listed debentures. The circular prescribed additional obligations and compliance requirements for trustees and issuers of secured debentures. The implementation of this circular was brought forward to 1 April 2021.

While the SEBI (Issue and Listing of Debt Securities) Regulations 2008 and the SEBI (Debenture Trustees) Regulations 1993 require due diligence for security for listed debentures, the circular prescribes more detailed and enhanced requirements. It now requires issuers to provide further information and documents to the trustee regarding assets to be charged to secure debentures. This includes details of:

• existing charges;
• title search reports;
• consent from existing charge holders; and
• undertakings from issuers on whether the assets to be charged are unencumbered or are already charged.

Trustees can also ask for additional information in relation to the creation and perfection of any security.

Regulatory approach

The circular takes an expansive regulatory approach on personal and corporate guarantees, which now have to be supported by enhanced documentation. An issuer must provide:

• details of the guarantor;
• the financial information and assets of the guarantor;
• consents;
• conditions; and
• details of any previous guarantees provided.

For pledges of securities, statements and undertakings from depository participants are required.

Requirements

The circular requires trustees to verify that assets on which issuers intend to create security are free from encumbrances, or that consents have been obtained from existing charge holders. If such consents have to be obtained by the issuer, the trustee must verify that they have been validly obtained. Trustees must inform existing charge holders of the proposed security creation and seek their comments or objections.

Where personal or corporate guarantees or any other form of security are provided, the trustee must verify filings made to any authorities and obtain certification from statutory auditors or chartered accountants to confirm the ability of the guarantors to provide the guarantees. The terms and conditions of due diligence must be set out in the agreement to be executed between the trustee and the issuer.

The trustee must prepare or obtain reports and certifications – including valuation reports, title search reports and asset cover certificates – and independently assess whether the assets to be charged adequately secure the debentures. Once the consents required for the creation of a security have been obtained, and the appropriate disclosure of the security and other covenants in the offer document have been made, the trustee may issue a due diligence certificate in the format prescribed in the circular. This certificate has to be disclosed in the offer document.

While SEBI regulations give the impression that security can be created within 90 days after the issue of listed debentures, the circular appears to require security to be created upfront to the satisfaction of the trustee before the application for listing. This is a curious step as it may raise questions of jurisprudence on possible conflicts in the circular and SEBI regulations, and may consequently also result in judicial challenges on the validity of the circular.

Comment

The circular appears to be a reaction to the recent turmoil affecting certain non-banking financial companies, and questions raised on fundraising and security creation. However, the relatively harsh measures introduced by the circular have raised eyebrows. Some stakeholders believe that while such measures are appropriate for debentures offered to the public and retail investors, these may be counterproductive for privately placed debentures, which are generally offered to institutional investors and rely on freedom of contract and nimble execution.

The circular appears to address through regulation matters that should instead be a part of best practice and sound risk management. While the circular is an investor-friendly step, it may be necessary to re-evaluate it if it results in constricting the issues of listed debentures.

For further information on this topic please contact Aditya Bhargava or Sristi Yadav at Phoenix Legal by telephone (+91 22 4340 8500) or email ([email protected] or [email protected]). The Phoenix Legal website can be accessed at www.phoenixlegal.in.