Posts

Lockdown diaries

“If you don’t come out of this #Lockdown with: A New Skill, More Knowledge, Better Health & Fitness, you never lacked time. You lacked discipline .” This is one way to motivate all of us by insulting it to the core or telling us that we can’t do certain things but is it always right? When was the time we were not asked to work harder? When was the last time we heard, its ok, relax and take a breather, You need rest? I guess never, right? Though we are human, we are programmed to believe that we are always supposed to run else we will miss the bus and growth? But why are we always running? During school we were taught to work hard for exams instead of letting us play, then Board Exams, later professional exams, followed by work and so on never we were told you have entire life to run take a break and enjoy the moment. We are always forced to believe in one last push, one more day of hard work. Even during this pandemic this is what we are hearing that if we are not learnin...

SEBI Revises Securities Buyback Regulation

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (#SEB) has revised the regulations for share buyback to provide more clarity on the requirement to make public announcements. The review of the current buyback norms has been done to simplify the language, remove inconsistencies and update the references to the new Companies Act, 2013. The amendment brings clarity on the requirement to make public announcement for the offer after declaration of postal ballot results has. Also, an explanation for ‘free reserves’ in-line with Companies Act, 2013 is added in the Regulation. As per the notification, buyback period is defined as the time between date of authorisation for buyback by a company’s board of directors and the date on which the payment is made to shareholders who have accepted the offer. Clarity has also been provided on timelines with respect to various requirements under buyback regulations. The new regulations pertaining to buyback and credit rating agency came into...

#MCA - KYC for all Individuals holding DIN – DIR-3 KYC

As per new amendment in Companies Act, 2013, all the Individuals holding valid DIN are required to update their KYC with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) by filing e-form DIR-3 KYC annually. The basic purpose of the latest amendment is that MCA wants to update its records with verified information about all the directors. Who are required to file Form DIR-3 KYC ? For Financial year 2018-19 - Any person who has been allotted “Director Identification Number (DIN/DPIN)” on or before 31st March 2018 and the status of such DIN is ‘Approved’, needs to file form DIR-3 KYC to update KYC details in the system on or before 31st August 2018. For Financial year 2019-20 onwards - Every Individual who has been allotted DIN on or before the end of the financial year, and whose DIN status is ‘Approved’, would be mandatorily required to file form DIR-3 KYC before 30th April of the immediately next financial year. What if Individual fails to file the DIR 3 KYC Fo...

AADHAR in MCA services? Steps need to be taken by professionals.

While we read so many news about deadline to link AADHAR with Bank Account, Insurance Policy, Investment and what not. One service which has not yet started linking AADHAR till date is MCA. However, Ministry of Corporate Affairs in its dashboard announcement made it clear that even MCA is considering AADHAAR integration for various MCA21 services. “As a preparatory step, all individual stakeholders viz. DIN holders/Directors/Key Managerial Personnel (KMP)/Professionals of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (CS), Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (CA), Institute of Cost Accountants of India (CWA) (whether in employment or in practice) are requested to obtain Aadhaar as early as possible for integrating their details with MCA21 and also ensure that the information in Aadhaar is in harmony with PAN .” Said the notice on MCA. The notice further clarified that “When implemented, all MCA21 services shall be available based on Aadhaar based authentication ONLY....

RBI scraps bank LoUs in the aftermath of PNB fraud

The  Reserve Bank of India  has scrapped quasi bank guarantee instruments such as the  Letter of Undertaking  and  Letter of Comfort  that blew a Rs. 14,000 crore hole in the books of Punjab National Bank as the regulator attempts to plug a loophole and improve banks’ due diligence in trade credit. Banks can continue to issue guarantees and letter of credit for trade purposes which are the international norm, and also have features that makes the claim on the issuer strong.  "It has been decided to discontinue the practice of issuance of LoUs/ LoCs for trade credits for imports into India with immediate effect," the RBI said in a statement. "Letters of Credit and Bank Guarantees for Trade Credits for imports into India may continue to be issued subject to compliance with the provisions contained in Department of Banking Regulation," it said without saying why it is scrapping it.  To check RBI Circular click here  

#NCLT status since its introduction

More than 9,000 cases are under consideration of the National Company Law Tribunal (#NCLT), including over 2,500 cases of insolvency, according to the government. A total of 9,073 cases are under consideration in NCLT as on January 31, 2018:- 1,630 cases of merger and amalgamation, 2,511 cases of insolvency; and  4,932 cases under other sections of Companies Act. Minister of State for Corporate Affairs P P Chaudhary told the  # RajyaSabh . The Company Law Board was dissolved following the setting up of the NCLT under the Companies Act, 2013. "Systems and procedures, including electronic/ information technology systems are being used on extensive basis to ensure quick disposal of cases," said Mr. Chaudhary.

Reserve Bank of India imposes monetary penalty on Airtel Payments Bank Limited

The fine was imposed after RBI scrutinized Airtel Payments bank's documents relating to opening of accounts without any specific or clear consent from the customers. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed penalty of Rs. 5 Crores on Airtel Payments Bank.  Airtel Payments Bank, which had commenced its operations in January last year, was charged for violating operating guidelines and Know Your Customer (KYC) norms. The fine was imposed after RBI scrutinised the bank's documents relating to opening of accounts without any specific or clear consent from the customers. "The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed, on March 7, 2018, a monetary penalty of Rs. 50 million on Airtel Payments Bank Limited (the bank) for contravening the Operating Guidelines for Payments Banks' and directions issued by RBI on Know Your Customer (KYC) norms," the central bank said in a statement. Based on the complaints and adverse media reports alleging that the bank had...