Interim Order in the matter of AM Fund Managers Limited

WTM/SR/ERO/ 30 / 02 /2015

BEFORE THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA, MUMBAI CORAM: S. RAMAN, WHOLE TIME MEMBER ORDER Under Sections 11(1), 11(4), 11A and 11B of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, in the matter of AM Fund Managers Limited and its Directors, viz. Shri Ashok Kumar Behera (PAN:AKZPB1537E; DIN:02973583), Shri Aswini Kumar Barik (PAN:ASPPB7876G; DIN:05240917), Shri Satyabrata Sinha (PAN:BNRPS9656K; DIN:06364745), Shri Umesh Ch Samantasinghar (PAN:BYEPS0791M; DIN:06364749), Shri Suvash Chandra Behera (PAN: AKXPB6749E; DIN:02973562), Shri Dipak Kumar Behera (PAN:AIZPB1052E; DIN:02973546); its Promoters Shri Bibekananda Behera (PAN:ANEPB7430Q), Shri Saswat Sahoo (PAN:BAYPS1071C), Shri Satrunjaya Sahoo (PAN:CAAPS0538M) and Shri Kailash Chandra Nayak.

1. Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI") received complaints dated November 03, 2014 and November 10, 2014 from investors alleging non-payment of their invested money by AM Fund Mangers Limited (herein after referred to as 'AMF' or 'the company'). The complainants also enclosed copies of application forms and preference share certificates.

2. As a part of preliminary inquiry, SEBI vide letter dated November 25, 2014 advised AMF to furnish inter alia the following information viz. - i. Copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company; ii. Copy of Audited Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss account of the company for the last 3 years; iii. Names, addresses and occupation of all the Promoters/Directors of the company; iv. Names and details of the Key Managerial Personnel of the company; v. Other information in respect of every series of shares issued by the company, viz. – a. Copy of Prospectus/Red Herring Prospectus/Statement in lieu of Prospectus/Information Memorandum filed with the registrar of Companies ('RoC') for issuance of preference shares; b. Date of opening and closing of the subscription list;

c. Details regarding the number of application forms circulated inviting subscription for preference shares; d. Details regarding the number of applications received; e. Details regarding the number of allottees and list of such allottees; f. Number of preference shares allotted and value of such allotment against each allottee's name; g. Details regarding subscription amount raised; h. Date of allotment of preference shares; i. Copies of the minutes of Board/Committee meeting in which the resolution has been passed for allotment; j. Date of dispatch of preference share certificates; k. Details of the total number of applicants for each of AMF's scheme besides the list of final allottees; l. Copies of application forms, pamphlets, advertisements and other promotional material circulated for issuance of shares; m. Terms and conditions of the issue of shares.

3. SEBI vide letter dated November 25, 2014 also sought similar information from the Registrar of Companies (‘RoC’), Cuttack, Orissa.

4. SEBI has not received any information from AMF and its directors till date. However, RoC, Cuttack vide letter dated December 31, 2014 stated that the company has filed Form-2 with their office for issue of 36% Redeemable Preference Shares ('RPS'). RoC, Cuttack also provided copies of Form-2 and list of allottees filed by the company with their office.

5. Efforts were also made to obtain the relevant information/documents from Ministry of Corporate Affair's ('MCA') website i.e. MCA21 portal.

6. The material available on record i.e. information/documents obtained from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' website i.e. 'MCA 21 Portal'; information/documents obtained from RoC, Cuttack; complaints received and the documents enclosed along with have been perused. On an examination of the same, it is observed that– i AMF (CIN:U67120OR2010PLC011758) was incorporated on March 19, 2010 with the RoC, Orissa having its registered office at BB Complex, Plot No-413/2297 Aiginia, Near Trinath Temple, Bhubaneswar – 751019. ii The present Directors in AMF are Shri Ashok Kumar Behera, Shri Aswini Kumar Barik, Shri Satyabrata Sinha and Shri Umesh Ch Samantasinghar. iii Shri Suvash Chandra Behera, Shri Dipak Kumar Behera, Shri Bibekananda Behera, Shri Saswat Sahoo, Shri Satrunjaya Sahoo and Shri Kailash Chandra Nayak who were earlier Directors in AMF have since resigned. iv Promoters of AMF are Shri Bibekananda Behera, Shri Saswat Sahoo, Shri Satrunjaya Sahoo and Shri Kailash Chandra Nayak. v It is observed from Form 2 and the lists of allottees available on MCA portal and the information provided by RoC, Cuttak that AMF issued Redeemable Preference Shares („RPS’) of face value Rs.10/- each amounting to Rs.1,21,35,000/- to 222 investors during the Financial Years 2009-10 and 2010-11. The details of the same are provided below: S.No. Year Date of Number Number of Amount Allotment of RPS raised Allottees allotted (in Rs.) 1 2009-10 31-03-2010 68 297500 2975000 Total 68 297500 2975000 2 30-04-2010 32 165000 1650000 3 31-05-2010 34 148500 1485000 4 2010-11 30-06-2010 10 96000 960000 5 30-07-2010 19 113500 1135000 6 30-08-2010 19 230500 2305000 7 30-09-2010 21 104500 1045000 8 30-10-2010 19 58000 580000 Total 154 916000 9160000 Grand Total 222 12,13,500 1,21,35,000

7. In the context of the abovementioned details, the issue for determination in the instant matter is whether the mobilization of funds by AMF through the offer of RPS, is in accordance with the provisions of the SEBI Act, 1992 ("SEBI Act") and the Companies Act, 1956.

8. The jurisdiction of SEBI over various provisions of the Companies Act in the case of public companies, whether listed or unlisted, when they issue and transfer securities at the relevant time flows from the provisions of Section 55A of the Companies Act, 1956. While examining the scope of Section 55A of the Companies Act, 1956, the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Limited & Ors. vs. SEBI (Civil Appeal no. 9813 of 2011) (Judgment dated August 31, 2012) (hereinafter referred to as the "Sahara Case"), had observed :

"We, therefore, hold that, so far as the provisions enumerated in the opening portion of Section 55A of the Companies Act, so far as they relate to issue and transfer of securities and non-payment of dividend is concerned, SEBI has the power to administer in the case of listed public companies and in the case of those public companies which intend to get their securities listed on a recognized stock exchange in India."

9. In this regard – i. Reference is also made to Sections 67(1) and 67(3) of the Companies Act, 1956, which are reproduced as under :

"67(1) Any reference in this Act or in the articles of a company to offering shares or debentures to the public shall, subject to any provision to the contrary contained in this Act and subject also to the provisions of sub-sections (3) and (4), be construed as including a reference to offering them to any section of the public, whether selected as members or debenture holders of the company concerned or as clients of the person issuing the prospectus or in any other manner. (2) Any reference in this Act or in the articles of a company to invitations to the public to subscribe for shares or debentures shall, subject as aforesaid, be construed as including a reference to invitations to subscribe for them extended to any section of the public, whether selected as members or debenture holders of the company concerned or as clients of the person issuing the prospectus or in any other manner.

(3) No offer or invitation shall be treated as made to the public by virtue of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), as the case may be, if the offer or invitation can properly be regarded, in all the circumstances- (a) as not being calculated to result, directly or indirectly, in the shares or debentures becoming available for subscription or purchase by persons other than those receiving the offer or invitation; or (b) otherwise as being a domestic concern of the persons making and receiving the offer or invitation … Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply in a case where the offer or invitation to subscribe for shares or debentures is made to fifty persons or more: Provided further that nothing contained in the first proviso shall apply to non-banking financial companies or public financial institutions specified in section 4A of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).”

ii. While examining the scope of Section 67 of the Companies Act, 1956, the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the Sahara Case observed :

"Section 67(1) deals with the offer of shares and debentures to the public and Section 67(2) deals with invitation to the public to subscribe for shares and debentures and how those expressions are to be understood, when reference is made to the Act or in the articles of a company. The emphasis in Section 67(1) and (2) is on the “section of the public”. Section 67(3) states that no offer or invitation shall be treated as made to the public, by virtue of subsections (1) and (2), that is to any section of the public, if the offer or invitation is not being calculated to result, directly or indirectly, in the shares or debentures becoming available for subscription or purchase by persons other than those receiving the offer or invitation or otherwise as being a domestic concern of the persons making and receiving the offer or invitations. Section 67(3) is, therefore, an exception to Sections 67(1) and (2). If the circumstances mentioned in clauses (1) and (b) of Section 67(3) are satisfied, then the offer/invitation would not be treated as being made to the public. The first proviso to Section 67(3) was inserted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2000 w.e.f. 13.12.2000, which clearly indicates, nothing contained in Sub-section (3) of Section 67 shall apply in a case where the offer or invitation to subscribe for shares or debentures is made to fifty persons or more. … Resultantly, after 13.12.2000, any offer of securities by a public company to fifty persons or more will be treated as a public issue under the Companies Act, even if it is of domestic concern or it is proved that the shares or debentures are not available for subscription or purchase by persons other than those receiving the offer or invitation. …

I may, therefore, indicate, subject to what has been stated above, in India that any share or debenture issue beyond forty nine persons, would be a public issue attracting all the relevant provisions of the SEBI Act, regulations framed thereunder, the Companies Act, pertaining to the public issue. …"

iii. For ascertaining whether the Offer of RPS is in the nature of a public issue in accordance with Section 67 of the Companies Act, 1956, the number of subscribers is of utmost importance.

a. In the instant case, it is observed that AMF allotted 12,13,500 RPS of face value Rs.10/- each to 222 investors and mobilised funds amounting to Rs.1,21,35,000/- during FY 2009-10 and 2010-11. It is noted from the information obtained from MCA portal which is mentioned in paragraph 6(v) of this order that AMF allotted RPS in eight tranches with a gap of merely a month between the tranches. It is observed that the number of persons to whom RPS were issued by AMF was way beyond the prescribed limit of forty–nine persons. I, therefore, find that the Offer of RPS was indeed a public issue of securities in terms of provisions of Section 67(3) of the Companies Act, 1956 and the method adopted by AMF is nothing but a device to circumvent the provisions of Section 67 (3).

iv. AMF is not stated to be a non-banking financial company or a public financial institution within the meaning of Section 4A of the Companies Act and therefore, is not covered under the second proviso to Section 67(3) of Companies Act, 1956.

10. It is pertinent to note that by virtue of Section 55A of the Companies Act 1956, Section 67 of that Act, so far as it relates to issue and transfer of securities, shall also be administered by SEBI.

11. I note that – i. From the abovementioned, it will follow that since the offer of RPS is a public issue of securities, such securities shall also have to be listed on a recognized stock exchange, as mandated under Section 73 of the Companies Act, 1956. In this regard, reference is made to Sections 73 of the Companies Act, 1956, of which sub-Sections (1), (2) and (3) are relevant for the instant case, which is reproduced as under :

"73(1) Every company intending to offer shares or debentures to the public for subscription by the issue of a prospectus shall, before such issue, make an application to one or more recognised stock exchanges for permission for the shares or debentures intending to be so offered to be dealt with in the stock exchange or each such stock exchange. (1A) Where a prospectus, whether issued generally or not, states that an application under sub-section (1) has been made for permission for the shares or debentures offered thereby to be dealt in one or more recognised stock exchanges, such prospectus shall state the name of the stock exchange or, as the case may be, each such stock exchange, and any allotment made on an application in pursuance of such prospectus shall, whenever made, be void, if the permission has not been granted by the stock exchange or each such stock exchange, as the case may be, before the expiry of ten weeks from the date of the closing of the subscription lists : Provided that where an appeal against the decision of any recognised stock exchange refusing permission for the shares or debentures to be dealt in on that stock exchange has been preferred under section 22 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956), such allotment shall not be void until the dismissal of the appeal.

(2) Where the permission has not been applied under subsection (1) or such permission having been applied for, has not been granted as aforesaid, the company shall forthwith repay without interest all moneys received from applicants in pursuance of the prospectus, and, if any such money is not repaid within eight days after the company becomes liable to repay it, the company and every director of the company who is an officer in default shall, on and from the expiry of the eighth day, be jointly and severally liable to repay that money with interest at such rate, not less than four per cent and not more than fifteen per cent, as may be prescribed, having regard to the length of the period of delay in making the repayment of such money. (3) All moneys received as aforesaid shall be kept in a separate bank account maintained with a Scheduled Bank until the permission has been granted, or where an appeal has been preferred against the refusal to grant such permission, until the disposal of the appeal, and the money standing in such separate account shall, where the permission has not been applied for as aforesaid or has not been granted, be repaid within the time and in the manner specified in sub-section (2); and if default is made in complying with this sub-section, the company, and every officer of the company who is in default, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees.”

ii. In the Sahara Case, the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India also examined Section 73 of the Companies Act, 1956, wherein it observed :

"Section 73(1) of the Act casts an obligation on every company intending to offer shares or debentures to the public to apply on a stock exchange for listing of its securities. Such companies have no option or choice but to list their securities on a recognized stock exchange, once they invite subscription from over forty nine investors from the public. If an unlisted company expresses its intention, by conduct or otherwise, to offer its securities to the public by the issue of a prospectus, the legal obligation to make an application on a recognized stock exchange for listing starts. Sub-section (1A) of Section 73 gives indication of what are the particulars to be stated in such a prospectus. The consequences of not applying for the permission under sub-section (1) of Section 73 or not granting of permission is clearly stipulated in sub-section (3) of Section 73. Obligation to refund the amount collected from the public with interest is also mandatory as per Section 73(2) of the Act.

Listing is, therefore, a legal responsibility of the company which offers securities to the public, provided offers are made to more than 50 persons. … Section 73(2) says that every company and every director of the company who is an officer in default, shall be jointly and severally liable to repay that money with interest at such rate, not less than four per cent and not more than fifteen per cent, as may be prescribed. The scope of the above mentioned provisions came up for consideration before this Court in Raymond Synthetics Ltd. & Ors. V. Union of India (supra), wherein the Court held that in a case where the company has not applied for listing on a stock exchange, the consequences will flow from the company‟s disobedience of the law, the liability to pay interest arises as from the date of receipt of the amounts, for the company ought not to have received any such amount in response to the prospectus. I am, therefore, of the view that since Saharas had violated the listing provisions and collected huge amounts from the public in disobedience of law, SEBI is justified in directing refund of the amount with interest."

iii. Having regard to the abovementioned observations of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, since the Offer of RPS is prima facie a public issue in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, the same will attract the requirement of compulsory listing before a recognized stock exchange in terms of Section 73(1) of the Companies Act, 1956 and also compliance with provisions of Sections 73(2) and 73(3) of that Act.

iv. In the facts of the instant case, it prima facie appears that AMF has violated the provisions of Section 73 of the Companies Act, 1956, in respect of the Offer of RPS.

12. Under Section 2(36) read with Section 60 of the Companies Act, 1956, a company needs to register its prospectus with the RoC, before making a public offer or issuing the prospectus. As per the aforesaid Section 2(36), “prospectus” means any document described or issued as a prospectus and includes any notice, circular, advertisement or other document inviting deposits from the public or inviting offers from the public for the subscription or purchase of any shares in, or debentures of, a body corporate. As mentioned above, since the offer of RPS was made to fifty persons or more, it has to be construed as a public offer. Having made a public offer, AMF was required to register a prospectus with the RoC under Section 60 of the Companies Act, 1956. In the instant case, RoC, Cuttack vide letter dated December 31, 2014 has stated that the company has not filed any prospectus with their office. In view of the same, I find that prima facie, AMF has not complied with the provisions of Section 60 of Companies Act, 1956.

13. Under Section 56(1) of the Companies Act, 1956, every prospectus issued by or on behalf of a company, shall state the matters specified in Part I and set out the reports specified in Part II of Schedule II of that Act. Further, as per Section 56(3) of the Companies Act, 1956, no one shall issue any form of application for shares in or debentures of a company, unless the form is accompanied by abridged prospectus, contain disclosures as specified. Based on the material available on record, I find that AMF has not complied with the provisions of Section 56(1) and 56(3) of the Companies Act, 1956 and therefore prima facie, has violated the aforesaid provisions.

14. Upon a consideration of the aforementioned paragraphs, I am of the view that AMF is prima facie engaged in fund mobilising activity from the public, through the offer of RPS and as a result of the aforesaid activity has violated the aforementioned provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 (Section 56, Section 60 read with Section 2(36), Section 73).

15. SEBI has a statutory duty to protect the interests of investors in securities and promote the development of, and to regulate, the securities market. Section 11 of the SEBI Act has empowered it to take such measures as it thinks fit for fulfilling its legislative mandate. Further, as per the provisions of Section 55A of the Companies Act, 1956, the administrative authority on the subjects relating to public issue of securities is exclusively with SEBI. For this purpose, SEBI can exercise its jurisdiction under Sections 11(1), 11A, 11B and 11(4) of the SEBI Act read with Section 55A of the Companies Act, 1956 over companies who issue Preference Shares to fifty persons or more, but do not comply with the applicable provisions of the aforesaid Companies. Steps therefore, have to be taken in the instant matter to ensure only legitimate fund raising activities are carried on by AMF and no investors are defrauded. In light of the same, I find there is no other alternative but to take recourse through an interim action against AMF, its past and present Directors and its Promoters for preventing that company from further carrying on with its fund mobilising activity under the offer of RPS.

16. In view of the foregoing, I, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me under Sections 11(1), 11(4), 11A and 11B of the SEBI Act, 1992, hereby issue the following directions – i. AMF shall not mobilize any fresh funds from investors through the offer of RPS or through the issuance of equity shares or any other securities, to the public and/or invite subscription, in any manner whatsoever, either directly or indirectly till further directions; ii. AMF and its Directors, viz. Shri Ashok Kumar Behera (PAN:AKZPB1537E; DIN:02973583), Shri Aswini Kumar Barik (PAN:ASPPB7876G; DIN:05240917), Shri Satyabrata Sinha (PAN:BNRPS9656K; DIN:06364745), Shri Umesh Ch Samantasinghar (PAN:BYEPS0791M; DIN:06364749), Shri Suvash Chandra Behera (PAN: AKXPB6749E; DIN:02973562) and Shri Dipak Kumar Behera (PAN:AIZPB1052E; DIN:02973546); its Promoters Shri Bibekananda Behera (PAN:ANEPB7430Q), Shri Saswat Sahoo (PAN:BAYPS1071C), Shri Satrunjaya Sahoo (PAN:CAAPS0538M) and Shri Kailash Chandra Nayak are prohibited from issuing prospectus or any offer document or issue advertisement for soliciting money from the public for the issue of securities, in any manner whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, till further orders; iii. AMF, its abovementioned Directors and Promoters are restrained from accessing the securities market and further prohibited from buying, selling or otherwise dealing in the securities market, either directly or indirectly, till further directions; iv. AMF shall provide a full inventory of all its assets and properties; v. AMF 's abovementioned Directors and Promoters shall provide a full inventory of all their assets and properties; vi. AMF, its abovementioned Directors and Promoters shall not dispose of any of the properties or alienate or encumber any of the assets owned/acquired by that company through the offer of RPS, without prior permission from SEBI;

vii. AMF, its abovementioned Directors and Promoters shall not divert any funds raised from public at large through the offer of RPS, which are kept in bank account(s) and/or in the custody of AMF; viii. AMF, its abovementioned Directors and Promoters shall furnish complete and relevant information within 21 days from the date of receipt of this Order.

17. The above directions shall take effect immediately and shall be in force until further orders.

18. The prima facie observations contained in this Order are made on the basis of the material available on record i.e. information/documents obtained from RoC, Orissa; information/documents obtained from Ministry Of Corporate Affair's website 'MCA 21 Portal'; complaints received and the documents enclosed along with. In this context, AMF, its abovementioned Directors and Promoters may, within 21 days from the date of receipt of this Order, file their reply, if any, to this Order and may also indicate whether they desire to avail themselves an opportunity of personal hearing on a date and time to be fixed on a specific request made in that regard.

19. This Order is without prejudice to the right of SEBI to take any other action that may be initiated against AMF, its abovementioned Directors and Promoters in accordance with law.

Place: Mumbai S. RAMAN Date: February 20, 2015 WHOLE TIME MEMBER SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA