Order in the matter of Amazan Capital Limited

WTM/SR/SEBI – ERO/105/05/2015 BEFORE THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA, MUMBAI CORAM: S. RAMAN, WHOLE TIME MEMBER ORDER Under Sections 11, 11(4), 11A and 11B of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, in the matter of Amazan Capital Limited (PAN: AABCT0574G) and its Directors, viz. Shri Joydeb Garai (PAN: AEPPG8484F; DIN: 02626788), Shri Basudeb Garai (PAN: AGNPG3984G; DIN: 02652917), Smt. Gargi Biswas (PAN: BMEPB2162H; DIN: 02626808), Shri Parag Keshar Bhattacharjee (PAN: ACWPB8279J; DIN: 00081899), Shri Manigrib Bag (PAN-AIAPB0966A; DIN: 03525192) and Shri Dillip Kumar Gangopadhyay (PAN: ADXPG0369E; DIN: 03525194).

1. Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI") received references through the Minutes of State Level Co–ordination Committee ("SLCC") of the Reserve Bank of India ("RBI") dated Jan 4, 2012 and July 25, 2012, dated January 4, 2012 and July 25, 2012, regarding the fund mobilization by Amazan Capital Limited ("ACL") inter alia through the issue of Redeemable Preference Shares.

2.1 Thereafter, SEBI vide letter dated September 24, 2012, sought the following information from ACL, viz. – i. Certified copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company; ii. Copy of 2. Audited Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Account of the company for the last 3 years; iii. Name, addresses and occupation of all the Promoters/Directors and Key Managerial of the company; iv. Nature of business; v. Other information in respect of issue of debentures/preference shares by the company, viz. – a. Copy of Prospectus/Red Herring Prospectus/Statement in lieu of Prospectus/Information Memorandum filed with Registrar of Companies ("ROC"); b. Date of opening and closing of the subscription list;

c. Details regarding the number of application forms circulated inviting subscription; d. Details regarding the number of applications received; e. Details regarding the number of allottees and list of such allottees, etc.; f. Number of debentures allotted and value of such allotment against each allottee’s name; g. Details regarding subscription amount raised; h. Date of allotment of the debenture/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 debenture certificates, etc.; k. Details of the total number of applicants for each of its scheme besides the list of final allottees; l. Copies of application forms, pamphlets, advertisements and other promotional material circulated for issuance of shares/debentures; m. Terms and conditions of the issue of shares/debentures.

2.2 Vide letter dated November 5, 2012, ACL replied to the abovementioned letter inter alia submitting that:

"The Preference Shares were issued on a private placement basis. …please note that we have already informed the RBI in writing that we will refund all the Preference Share application money raised by 31.12.2013."

2.3 Thereafter, SEBI received references dated March 22, 2013; June 24, 2013 and April 2, 2014, from the ROC, West Bengal, Ministry of Corporate Affairs containing the findings of the Inspection conducted by that Authority under Section 209A of the Companies Act, 1956, in respect of the issuance of equity shares and preference shares by ACL during the period 2010–11 and 2011–12.

2.4 Vide letters dated August 20, 2014 (sent to ACL's registered office and an alternate address of that company), SEBI sought clarification from ACL regarding the issue of Redeemable Preference Shares. However, the letters were returned as undelivered.

3. The material available on record i.e. correspondences exchanged between SEBI and ACL alongwith the documents contained therein, information obtained from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' website i.e. 'MCA 21 Portal' alongwith the references dated January 4, 2012 and July 25, 2012 (received by SEBI from the RBI) and references dated March 22, 2013; June 24, 2013 and April 2, 2014 (received by SEBI from the ROC), have been perused. On an examination of the same, it is observed that – i. ACL was originally incorporated as Thirdwave Securities Pvt. Limited on September 11, 1995, with the ROC, Kolkata with CIN as U67190WB1995PLC074186. Thereafter, the name of the company was changed to Amazan Capital Private Ltd w.e.f. from June 14, 2010. Subsequently, post conversion from Private Limited to Public Limited, the name of the company was changed to ACL w.e.f. from June 28, 2010. Its Registered Office is at Infinity Infotech Park, Tower–1, 2nd Floor, Plot No.–A3, Block–GP, Sector V, Salt Lake City, Kolkata–700091, West Bengal, India.

ii. ACL was granted, by the RBI, a Certificate of Registration ("CoR") to commence/carry on business of non–banking financial institution without accepting public deposits under Section 45–IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 ("RBI Act"). In the RBI reference dated July 25, 2012 [minutes of the 20th meeting of SLCC on NBFC Supervision held at RBI, Kolkata], it was recorded that ACL "has since surrendered its CoR…".

iii. The present Directors of ACL are Shri Joydeb Garai, Shri Basudeb Garai and Smt. Gargi Biswas.

iv. Shri Parag Keshar Bhattacharjee, Shri Manigrib Bag and Shri Dillip Kumar Gangopadhyay, who were earlier Directors of ACL, have since resigned.

v. From the material available on record, it is observed that ACL admittedly issued "Redeemable Preference Shares" ("Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares") to investors during the Financial Years 2010–11 and 2011–12, details of which are provided below –

Type of Security Year No. of persons to whom Total Amount preference shares were allotted ( in Crores) Redeemable Preference 2010–11 6220 6.53 Shares 2011–12 1 0.33 Total 6221 6.86 4.1 In the context of the abovementioned details of the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares, the issue for determination in the instant matter is whether the mobilization of funds by ACL through the aforesaid, is in accordance with the provisions of the SEBI Act, 1992 ("SEBI Act") and the Companies Act, 1956.

4.2 I note that 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, flows from the provisions of Section 55A of the Companies Act. 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."

4.3 In the instant matter, for ascertaining whether the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares made by ACL is a public issue or issue on private placement basis in accordance with Section 67(3) of the Companies Act, 1956, the following issues need to be addressed – i. Whether by virtue of the second proviso to Section 67(3) of the Companies Act, 1956, an offer made by ACL to fifty or more persons may be exempted from the requirements pertaining to a public issue in respect of the issue of Redeemable Preference Shares under the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares during the Financial Year 2010–11, when ACL was an Non–Banking Financial Company ("NBFC") registered with RBI?

ii. Whether ACL has discharged its burden of proof for establishing that the issue of Redeemable Preference Shares under the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares during the Financial Year 2010–11, when ACL was an NBFC registered with RBI, was a private placement?

4.4 In this regard, reference is made to Sections 67(1) and 67(3) of the Companies Act, 1956, which are reproduced as under:

"67. Construction of reference to offering shares or debentures to the public, etc. 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).”

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

"84. 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. 85. 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. A public company can escape from the rigor of provisions, if the offer is made by companies mentioned under Section 67(3A), i.e. by public financial institutions specified under Section 4A or by non-banking financial companies referred to in Section 45I(f) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Following situations, it is generally regarded, as not an offer made to public. Offer of securities made to less than 50 persons; Offer made only to the existing shareholders of the company (Right Issue); Offer made to a particular addressee and be accepted only persons to whom it is addressed; Offer or invitation being made and it is the domestic concern of those making and receiving the offer. 86. Resultantly, if an offer of securities is made to fifty or more persons, it would be deemed to be a public issue, even if it is of domestic concern or proved that the shares or debentures are not available for subscription or purchase by persons other than those received the offer or invitation.…"

Consideration of Issues –

4.6.1 Whether by virtue of the second proviso to Section 67(3) of the Companies Act, 1956, an offer made by ACL to fifty or more persons may be exempted from the requirements pertaining to a public issue in respect of the issue of Redeemable

Preference Shares under the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares during the Financial Year 2010–11, when ACL was an NBFC registered with RBI?

i. As has been stated above, ACL was granted, by the RBI, a Certificate of Registration ("CoR") to commence/carry on business of non–banking financial institution without accepting public deposits under Section 45–IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 ("RBI Act"). In the RBI reference dated July 25, 2012 [minutes of the 20th meeting of SLCC on NBFC Supervision held at RBI, Kolkata], it was recorded that ACL "has since surrendered its CoR…". During the period i.e. Financial Year 2010–11, when it was an NBFC registered with RBI, ACL admittedly issued Redeemable Preference Shares under the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares to 6220 individuals/investors and mobilized an amount of 6.53 Crores.

ii. Upon a consideration of the preceding paragraphs 4.4–4.5, it is noted that as per the first proviso to Section 67(3) Companies Act, 1956, the public offer and listing requirements contained in that Act would become automatically applicable to a company making the offer to fifty or more persons. However, the second proviso to Section 67(3) exempts NBFCs and Public Financial Institutions ("PFIs") from the applicability of the first proviso. Simply put, the requirements of public offer under the Companies Act, 1956, would not be triggered for an NBFC or PFIs making an offer of shares or debentures in terms of Section 67 of that Act, to fifty or more persons, if the concerned NBFC or PFI can show that the offer was a private placement in terms of the aforesaid Section 67(3).

iii. In its reply dated November 5, 2012, ACL submitted that: "The Preference Shares were issued on a private placement basis." However, in order to comply with Section 67(3), ACL is required to show that it had an intention to offer the Redeemable Preference Shares under the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares during the Financial Year 2010–11, to only those persons who received the Offer, or that the Offer is a domestic concern of ACL and the persons receiving the same.

iv. The fact that ACL was a registered NBFC will not exempt it from the requirement of proving that the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares made by it during the Financial Year 2010–11, was a private placement in accordance with Section 67(3) of the Companies Act, 1956.

4.6.2 Whether ACL has discharged its burden of proof for establishing that the issue of Redeemable Preference Shares under the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares during the Financial Year 2010–11, when ACL was an NBFC registered with RBI, was a private placement?

i. I note that Section 67(3) of the Companies Act, 1956, which pertains to private placements, requires an offer in a private placement to be made to a specific and pre-determined set of persons, or persons who are associated with the offeror company in a way so as to make the offer a domestic concern of the company making the offer of shares or debentures, and the offerees who are the intended recipients of such offer. The association between the offeror company and offerees for determining whether an offer is in the nature of a private placement needs to be established on a case-to-case basis. As per the Sahara Case, it was held that under Section 67(3) of the Companies Act, 1956, the "Burden of proof is entirely on Saharas to show that the investors are/were their employees/workers or associated with them in any other capacity which they have not discharged." In view of the aforesaid, ACL is required to show that the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares made to 6220 individuals/investors, who were allotted Redeemable Preference Shares during the Financial Year 2010–11, was not intended to be available for subscription by the general public.

ii. In this regard, I find that ACL has not made available to SEBI any material or information to indicate that the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares by ACL, which raised 6.53 Crores during the Financial Year 2010–11 and which resulted in subscription by 6220 individuals/investors, was intended to be an issue on private placement basis meant only for a specific or selected group of persons, as required by Section 67(3) of the Companies Act, 1956. I, therefore, find that ACL has failed to discharge the burden of proof necessitated for establishing that the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares made by it was an issue on private placement basis in accordance with Section 67(3) of the aforesaid Act.

4.6.3 In view of the above, I, therefore, find that the issue of Redeemable Preference Shares, by ACL, under the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares during the Financial Year 2010–11, was prima facie a public issue and not an issue on private placement basis in accordance with Section 67(3) of the Companies Act, 1956.

4.7 I note that – i. From the abovementioned, it will follow that since the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares 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 recognized 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 recognized 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 1 [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 five 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 that – "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. Vs. 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 Redeemable Preference Shares 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 the provisions of Sections 73(2) and 73(3) of that Act.

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

4.8 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 Redeemable Preference Shares was made to fifty persons or more, it has to be construed as a public offer. Having made a public offer, ACL was required to register a prospectus with the ROC under Section 60 of the Companies Act, 1956. I find that there is no evidence on record to indicate whether or not ACL has complied with the provisions of Section 60 of Companies Act, 1956. In view of the same, I find that ACL has prima facie not complied with the provisions of Section 60 of Companies Act, 1956.

4.9 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 ACL has not complied with the provisions of Section 56(1) and 56(3) of the Companies Act, 1956 and therefore, has prima facie violated the aforesaid provisions.

4.10 Upon a consideration of the aforementioned paragraphs, I am of the view that ACL is prima facie engaged in fund mobilising activity from the public, through the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares 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).

5. 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 deems fit for fulfilling its legislative mandate. Further, as per the provisions of Section 55A of the Companies Act, 1956, 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 (as mentioned in paragraphs 4.1–4.10 above). Steps therefore, have to be taken in the instant matter to ensure only legitimate fund raising activities are carried on by ACL and no investors are defrauded. In light of the facts in the instant matter, I find that there is no other alternative but to take recourse through an interim action against ACL and its Directors, for preventing that company from further carrying on with its fund mobilising activity under the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares.

6. Shri Parag Keshar Bhattacharjee, Shri Manigrib Bag and Shri Dillip Kumar Gangopadhyay, who were earlier Directors of ACL, have since resigned.

7. In view of the foregoing, I, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me under Sections 11, 11(4), 11A and 11B of the SEBI Act, hereby issue the following directions – i. ACL (PAN: AABCT0574G) shall forthwith cease to mobilize funds from investors through the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares 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. ACL and its present Directors, viz. Shri Joydeb Garai (PAN: AEPPG8484F; DIN: 02626788), Shri Basudeb Garai (PAN: AGNPG3984G; DIN: 02652917) and Smt. Gargi Biswas (PAN: BMEPB2162H; DIN: 02626808), 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. The past Directors of ACL, viz. Shri Parag Keshar Bhattacharjee (PAN: ACWPB8279J; DIN: 00081899), Shri Manigrib Bag (PAN-AIAPB0966A; DIN:

03525192) and Shri Dillip Kumar Gangopadhyay (PAN: ADXPG0369E; DIN: 03525194), 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; iv. ACL and its abovementioned past and present Directors, 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; v. ACL shall provide a full inventory of all its assets and properties; vi. ACL's abovementioned past and present Directors shall provide a full inventory of all their assets and properties; vii. ACL and its abovementioned present Directors 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 Redeemable Preference Shares, without prior permission from SEBI; viii. ACL and its abovementioned present Directors shall not divert any funds raised from public at large through the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares, which are kept in bank account(s) and/or in the custody of ACL.

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

9.1 The prima facie observations contained in this Order are made on the basis of the material available on record i.e. correspondences exchanged between SEBI and ACL alongwith the documents contained therein, information obtained from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' website i.e. 'MCA 21 Portal' alongwith the references dated January 4, 2012 and July 25, 2012 (received by SEBI from the RBI) and references dated March 22, 2013; June 24, 2013 and April 2, 2014 (received by SEBI from the ROC). In this context, ACL and its abovementioned past and present Directors are advised to show cause as to why suitable directions/prohibitions under Sections 11(1), 11(4), 11A and 11B of the SEBI Act including the following, should not be taken/imposed against them:

i. Directing them jointly and severally to refund money collected through the Offer of Redeemable Preference Shares alongwith interest, if any, promised to investors therein;

ii. Directing them to not issue 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, for an appropriate period; iii. Directing them to refrain from accessing the securities market and prohibiting them from buying, selling or otherwise dealing in securities for an appropriate period.

9.2 ACL and its abovementioned past and present Directors, may, within 21 days from the date of receipt of this Order, file their replies, 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.

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

Place: Mumbai S. RAMAN Date: May 29, 2015 WHOLE TIME MEMBER SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA