Prepaid Instruments-Debit/smart cards shall comply with RBI directions now

Issuance and Operation of Pre-paid Payment Instruments in India (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2009

All persons proposing to operating payment systems involved in the issuance of Pre-paid Payment Instruments shall seek authorization from the Department of Payment and Settlement Systems, Reserve Bank of India, under the Payment and Settlement System Act 2007.

 

Pre-paid Payment Instruments: Pre-paid payment instruments are payment instruments that facilitate purchase of goods and services against the value stored on such instruments. The value stored on such instruments represents the value paid for by the holder, by cash, by debit to a bank account, or by credit card.

The pre-paid instruments can be issued as smart cards, magnetic stripe cards, internet accounts, internet wallets, mobile accounts, mobile wallets, paper vouchers and any such instruments which can be used to access the pre-paid amount (collectively called Payment Instruments hereafter).

The pre-paid payment instruments that can be issued in the country are classified under the three categories viz. (i) Closed system payment instruments (ii) Semi-Closed system payment instruments and (iii) Open system payment instruments.

 

Only banks which have been permitted to provide Mobile Banking Transactions by the Reserve Bank of India shall be permitted to launch mobile based pre-paid payment instruments (mobile wallets & mobile accounts) subject to compliance of Capital Adequacy Requirements of RBI.

Non-Bank Finance Companies (NBFC) would be permitted to issue only semi-closed system pre-paid payment instruments subject to compliance of Capital Adequacy Requirements of RBI.

 

All other persons shall have a minimum paid-up capital of Rs. 100 lakhs and positive net owned funds would be permitted to issue only semi-closed system pre-paid payment instruments.

 

Persons authorized under FEMA to issue foreign exchange pre-paid payment instruments and where such persons issue such instruments as participants of payment systems authorised by the Reserve Bank of India, are exempt from the purview of these guidelines as they are subject to Current Account Transaction Rules.

 

The guidelines on Know Your Customer/Anti-Money Laundering/Combating Financing of Terrorism guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India to banks, from time to time, shall apply mutatis mutandis to all persons issuing pre-paid payment instruments.

 

All pre-paid payment instruments issued in the country shall have a minimum validity period of six months from the date of activation/issuance to the holder and the maximum value of any pre-paid payment instrument shall not exceed Rs 50,000/-.

Source:

RBI/2008-09/458 DPSS.CO.PD.No. 1873 /02.14.06/ 2008-09 dated 27th April, 2009

Certified Copies of Entries / Print out to Courts as Evidence by co-operative banks under Bankers Books Act

All State and Central Co-operative banks should comply with the provisions of the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891 while furnishing certified copies and computer printouts to courts. In the absence of such statutory certificate, the court would not be obliged to admit the document in evidence without any further proof.

 

The Certificate shall be as prescribed under Section 2A(a) and (b) of the Act ibid (relevant extract enclosed).

 

Click here to read about Banker’s Books Evidence Act, 1891 http://yehseeyes.blogspot.com/2007/09/interesting-act-in-banking-now-you-will.html

 

Source:

RBI/2008-09/457/RPCD.CO.RF.BC.No. 100 /07.38.03/2008-09 dated 24th April 2009

New Clause 5A&20A in Listing Agreement as amended-unclaimed shares,common notice period, dividend per share basis&voting rights pattern are the updates…

Click here for the amendments in Listing Agreement as on 24th April 2009 http://www.sebi.gov.in/circulars/2009/circfd04.pdf

All the following amendments shall come into force with immediate effect.

To put it simply,

• The unclaimed shares in escrow account shall be transferred to Demat Suspense A/c. after 3 reminders, including corporate benefits, if any and its voting rights will be frozen until claimed.
• The timelines of notice period for record date & board meeting, which were applicable only to rights issue is now made applicable for all corporate actions including mergers, demergers, bonus, buy back, etc…
• “The Issuer agrees to declare and disclose the dividend on per share basis only”.  So, you won’t see hereon 100% or 200%, etc…
• Shareholding pattern to be given for each class of security and voting rights pattern also to be given.

Uniform procedure for dealing with unclaimed shares – Insertion of clause 5A in Listing Agreement
It has been brought to the notice of the Board that there is a large quantum of shares issued pursuant to the public issues, which remain unclaimed despite the best efforts of the Registrar to Issue or Issuers and that there is no uniform practice for dealing with such shares.

It has been decided to provide a uniform procedure for dealing with unclaimed shares i.e., shares which could not be allotted to the rightful shareholder due to insufficient/incorrect information or any other reason (in escrow A/c.). Accordingly, the new Clause 5A is to be inserted, which, inter alia, provides the following:

• The unclaimed shares shall be credited to a demat suspense account opened by the issuer with one of the depository participants after giving 3 reminders at the address mentioned in the depositories database. [Cl 5A(a)]
• Any corporate benefit in terms of securities, accruing on unclaimed shares such as bonus shares, split etc., shall also be credited to such account. [Cl 5A(b)]
• Details of shareholding of each individual allottee whose shares have been credited to such suspense account shall be properly maintained by the issuer. [Cl 5A(c)]
• The allottee’s account shall be credited as and when he/she approaches the issuer, after undertaking the proper verification of identity of the allottee. [Cl 5A(d)]
• The voting rights of these shares will remain frozen till the rightful owner claims the shares. [Cl 5A(f)]
• Details (in aggregate) of shares in the suspense account including freeze on their voting rights, shall be disclosed in the Annual Report as long as there are shares in the suspense account. [Cl 5A(g)]

Notice period for Record Date and Board Meeting – Amendments to clause 16 and clause 19
It has been decided to reduce the timelines for notice period for all corporate actions like dividend, bonus, rights, mergers, demergers, splits, etc, for all scrips whether in demat or physical, whether in F&O segment or not.

The notice period for record date has been reduced to 7 working days (now there is no confusion of whether 30 days or 21 days or 15 days or 7 days) and for board meeting has been reduced to 2 working days (now there is no confusion of whether 7 days or 2 days). 

Kindly note, it is the board meeting intimation where buy back is proposed to be considered as per Cl 19(d) is also 2 working days (not 7 days as earlier).

Uniformity in dividend declaration – Insertion of clause 20A
It has been decided to mandate that listed companies shall declare their dividend on per share basis only. This is expected to bring uniformity in the manner of declaring dividend amongst the listed companies.

 

Cl 20A - “The Issuer agrees to declare and disclose the dividend on per share basis only”.

 

Shareholding pattern for each class of shares and voting rights pattern – Amendment to clause 35
It is clarified that clause 35 of the listing agreement which gives a format for disclosures of shareholding pattern, is required to be given for each class of security separately. Further, it has been decided to amend clause 35 to provide an additional format for disclosures of voting rights pattern in the company.  For the new formats, click http://www.sebi.gov.in/circulars/2009/circfd04.pdf or wait for the amendments in Listing Agreement.

[IDR]Only audited financial statements, neither affairs/status & IOSCO recognised & Interim audit, if more than 180 days

G.S.R 251 (E) - Companies (Issue of Indian Depository Receipts) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2009.  dated 15th April 2009

In the Schedule to IDR Rules (Matters to be specified in Prospectus), under Point No.6 – REPORTING,

6 (i) - Where the law of a country, in which the Issuing company is incorporated, requires annual statutory audit of the accounts of the Issuing company, a report by the statutory auditor of the Issuing company, in such form as may be prescribed by SEBI on -
(A) the audited financial statements and financial status (deleted) of the Issuing Company in respect of 3 financial years immediately preceding the date of prospectus, and
(B) (amended) the interim audited financial statements in respect of the period ending on a date which is less than 180 days prior to the date of opening of the issue, if the gap beween the ending date of the latest audited financial statements disclosed under clause (A) and the date of the opening of issue is more than 180 days.

Provided that if the gap between such date of latest audited financial statements and the date of opening of issue is 180 days or less, the requirement under clause (B) shall be deemed to be complied with if a statement, as may be specified by SEBI, in respect of changes in the financial position of issuing company for such gap is disclosed in the Prospectus.

Provided further that in case of an Issuing Company which is a foreign bank incorporated outside India and which is regulated by a Central Bank which, in turn, is (deleted) a member of Bank for International Settlements or a member of the International Organisation of Securities Commission (IOSCO) which is a signatory to a Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding with India, the requirement under this paragraph, in respect of period beginning with last date of period for which the latest audited financial statements are made and the date of prospectus shall be satisfied, if the relevant financial statements are based on limited review report of such statutory auditor.

 

6(ii) - Where the law of the country, in which the Issuing company is incorporated, does not require annual statutory audit of the accounts of the Issuing company, a report, in such form as may be specified by SEBI, certified by a Chartered Accountant in practice within the terms and meaning of the Chartered Accountant Act, 1949 on -
(A) the financial statements (affairs) of the Issuing Company, in particular on the profits and losses for each of the 3 financial years immediately preceding the date of prospectus and upon the
assets and liabilities of the Issuing Company and

(B) (amended) the interim financial statements in respect of the period ending on a date which is less than 180 days prior to the date of opening of the issue, if the gap beween the ending date of the latest audited financial statements disclosed under clause (A) and the date of the opening of issue is more than 180 days.

Provided that if the gap between such date of latest audited financial statements and the date of opening of issue is 180 days or less, the requirement under clause (B) shall be deemed to be complied with if a statement, as may be specified by SEBI, in respect of changes in the financial position of issuing company for such gap is disclosed in the Prospectus.

For the status hitherto, click http://yehseeyes.blogspot.com/2009/01/idr-rules-amendednon-residents-can.html

[FEMA]FC-TRS reporting amended & is subject to KYC & to be submitted within 60 days of consideration for transfer of equity instruments involving foreign nationals or NRI’s

Foreign Direct Investment in India -
Transfer of Shares / Preference Shares / Convertible Debentures
by way of Sale - Modified Reporting Mechanism

Vide RBI/2008-09/447 A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.63 dated April  22, 2009

1.In order to capture the details of investment received by way of transfer of the existing shares / compulsorily and mandatorily convertible preference shares (CMCPS) / debentures [hereinafter referred to as equity instruments], of an Indian company, by way of sale, in a more comprehensive manner, the form FC-TRS has been revised (format in Annex I). Accordingly, the proforma for reporting of inflows / outflows on account of remittances received / made in connection with the transfer of equity instruments by way of sale, submitted by IBD/FED/nodal branch of the AD Category – I bank to the Reserve Bank has also been modified (format in Annex III).
2.The sale consideration in respect of equity instruments purchased by a person resident outside India, remitted into India through normal banking channels, shall be subjected to a KYC check (format in Annex II) by the remittance receiving AD Category – I bank at the time of receipt of funds. In case, the remittance receiving AD Category – I bank is different from the AD Category - I bank handling the transfer transaction, the KYC check should be carried out by the remittance receiving bank and the KYC report be submitted by the customer to the AD Category – I bank carrying out the transaction along with the form FC-TRS.
3.Further, in order to ensure that the form FC-TRS is submitted within a reasonable timeframe, it has been decided that henceforth, the form FC-TRS should be submitted to the AD Category – I bank, within 60 days from the date of receipt of the amount of consideration.  The onus of submission of the form FC-TRS within the given timeframe would be on the transferor / transferee, resident in India.
4.In case of transfer of equity instruments where the non-resident acquirer proposes deferment of payment of the amount of consideration, prior approval of the Reserve Bank would be required, as hitherto. Further, in case approval is granted for a transaction, the same should be reported in form FC-TRS, duly certified by the AD Category – I bank, within 60 days from the date of receipt of the full and final amount of consideration.
5. These directions will become operative with immediate effect.

Kindly note,

Attention of the Authorised Dealer Category – I (AD Category - I) banks is invited to paragraph 6 of the Annex to A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.16 dated October 4, 2004, wherein, it has been stipulated that in case of transfer of shares from a resident to a non-resident / non-resident Indian and vice versa, the transferee / his duly appointed agent is required to approach the investee company to record the transfer in their books along with the certificate in form FC-TRS from the designated AD branch that the remittances have been received by the transferor / payment has been made by the transferee.  In addition, the designated AD branch is also required to submit two copies of the form FC-TRS received from their constituents / customers together with the statement of inflows / outflows on account of remittances received / made in connection with transfer of shares, by way of sale, to IBD/FED or the nodal office designated for the purpose by the AD Category – I bank. The IBD/FED or the nodal office of the AD Category – I bank in turn submits a consolidated monthly statement in respect of all the transactions reported by the branches to the Reserve Bank, in the prescribed proforma.  Further, it may be noted that in terms of Regulation 2 of Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated 3rd May 2000, as amended from time to time, "preference shares" mean compulsorily and mandatorily convertible preference shares and "debenture" means compulsorily and mandatorily convertible debentures.

[ECB] No objection for Corporate Guarantee after Board Resolution

External Commercial Borrowings Policy – Liberalization Issue of Guarantee for operating lease

As all of you aware that in term of AP DIR Circular No.24 dated March 01, 2002 AD Category – I banks have been permitted to allow payment of lease rentals, opening of letters of credit towards security deposit, etc. in respect of import of aircraft / aircraft engine / helicopter on operating lease basis subject to the terms and conditions mentioned therein.

Further, in terms of AP DIR Circular No.01 dated July 11, 2008, as a measure of rationalization of the existing procedures, AD Category - I banks have been allowed to convey ‘no objection’ under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 for creation of charge on immovable assets, financial securities and issue of corporate or personal guarantees in favour of overseas lender / security trustee, to secure the ECB to be raised by the borrower, subject to compliance of prescribed conditions.

As part of further rationalization, vide AP (DIR Series) Circular No.62 dated April 20, 2009, it has been decided to allow AD Category – I banks to convey ‘no objection’ from the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 angle for issue of corporate guarantee in favour of the overseas lessee, for operating lease in respect of import of aircraft / aircraft engine / helicopter.

The ‘no objection’ to the Indian importer for issue of corporate guarantee under FEMA, 1999 may be conveyed after obtaining –

• Board Resolution for issue of corporate guarantee from the company issuing such guarantees, specifying names of the officials authorised to execute such guarantees on behalf of the company.
• Ensuring that the period of such corporate guarantee is co-terminus with the lease period.

Click here - AP (DIR Series) Circular No.62 dated April 20, 2009

Supreme Court gives statutory shield to SEBI from SAT

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday said the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) has no discretionary power to interfere with orders passed by market regulator Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Allowing SEBI’s plea, the court said the tribunal has to do what is prescribed under the statute.

“When something is to be done statutorily in a particular way, it can only be done that way. There is no scope for taking shelter under a discretionary power,” said a bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice LS Panta. The court rejected the plea that the tribunal can interfere with the order passed by SEBI. The court also turned down the plea that under section 15 T (4) of the Act, the tribunal is empowered to pass such orders on the appeal as it thinks fit, confirming, modifying or setting aside the order of SEBI.

SEBI had filed two appeals against order passed by the tribunal. In one case, Saikala Associates acted as a sub-broker at the National Stock Exchange with 2 NSE Members — MIS PCS Securities and M/S Zen Securities — without being registered as a sub-broker with SEBI between 2000 and May 2002. It had created the value of Rs 403.29 crore in breach of section 12(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (read with Rule 3 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Stock Brokers & Sub Brokers) Rules, 1992.)

In the second case Shilpa Stock, registered as a SEBI broker while executing trades on behalf of its client Kamlesh Shroff had dealt with Jairam Enterprises, an un-registered sub-broker. Again, it was in violation of SEBI rule. The tribunal had said the proved charges were not serious enough to warrant suspension of certificate of registration and had set aside the SEBI order. SEBI challenged this in the apex court. The regulator had said in terms of Regulation 25 of the SEBI regulations & circulars, (stock brokers and sub-brokers), which was applicable prior to the amendment with effect from November 2, 2003, it was provided that any contravention of any provisions of the Act, rules and regulations is to be dealt with in the manner provided in Regulations 26 to 32 of the Regulation prior to the amendment with effect from September 27, 2002.

 

The provisions of section 12(3) of the 1992 Act confer power on SEBI, by an order, to suspend or cancel a certificate of registration in such manner as may be determined by regulations, provided that no order under the said section will be made unless the person concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard, the appellant had said. It had further said as per Rule 3 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Stock Brokers & Sub Brokers) Rules, 1992, the existing brokers & sub-brokers were allowed to continue business pending registration but no new person commencing the business of the broker or sub-broker after August 20, 1992 could do the business pending registration and could commence only after being registered.

The court said, “In the instant case, the position of broker/sub-broker in case of violation is statutorily provided under Section 12 of the Act, which has to be read along with Rule 3 of the Rules. No power is conferred on the tribunal to travel beyond the areas covered by section 12 and Rule 3.”

Source: The Economic Times

The concerned citation of the case is S.E.B.I  Versus Saikala Associates Ltd. with CIVIL APPEAL NO. 4640 OF 2006 and the date of judgement is April 21, 2009. For complete judgement one can check SC website or else follow the below URL :-
 

http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/helddis3.aspx

 
Thanks - CS Monika Bhardwaj of CS Mysore

File Offer Documents (50 crores) at SEBI Western Regional Office, Ahmedabad from 1st May 2009

Schedule XXII of SEBI (DIP) Guidelines, 2000 (click here for the latest guideline) got amended enabling Merchant Bankers  to file the draft offer documents (public issue & rights issue) of size up to Rs. 50 crores, of the companies whose registered office falls in Gujarat and Rajasthan, with the regional office of SEBI in Ahmedabad.

Securities and Exchange Board of India

Western Regional Office

Unit No: 002, Ground Floor, SAKAR I,

Near Gandhigram Railway Station,

Opposite Nehru Bridge, Ashram Road,

Ahmedabad – 380 009.

Phone: (079) 26583633, 26583634 and 26583635.

Click here for the said circular http://www.sebi.gov.in/circulars/2009/cfdcir04.pdf

[FTP-Hp] LUT & BG for duty credit scrips before realisation of export proceeds

Obtaining transferable duty credit scrips made easier

Source: TNC Rajagopalan / New Delhi April 06, 2009, 0:09 IST

Ref: Handbook of Procedures (FTP)

The Director General of Foreign Trade has notified the procedures for executing legal undertaking and bank guarantee for obtaining transferable duty credit scrips under Duty Entitlement Passbook scheme and under the reward schemes such as Focus Product Scheme, Focus Market Scheme etc. before realisation of export proceeds. The formats of legal undertaking and bank guarantee have also been notified

The good news is recognised export houses and PSUs need not furnish bank guarantees. Manufacturer exporters registered with Central Excise and with exports in the preceding two years of at least Rs 1 crore and manufacturer exporters who have paid excise duty of over Rs 1 crore in the preceding year need not execute bank guarantee.

The relevant Public Notice (no. 167/2008 dated 30th March 2009) says the applicant shall execute the legal undertaking and bank guarantee as per Customs circular no. 58/2004 dated 21st October 200 4. The said circular exempts exporters who have a turnover (physical exports) of Rs 5 crore in the current or preceding fiscal and having a track record of three years of exports.

Other manufacturer exporters need furnish bank guarantee of only 15 per cent of the amount of legal undertaking. Other exporters have to furnish bank guarantee covering 100 per cent of the amount involved.

Apparently, the amount of legal undertaking should cover the full duty credit amount. The exporter, however, has the option to file a revolving legal undertaking for a higher amount which will act as a limit i.e., within the limit, it will be debited if a duty credit scrip is issued and credited whenever the exporter submits evidence of realisation of export proceeds relating to any shipping bill against which the duty credit scrip was issued.

The revolving legal undertaking has to be submitted separately for each scheme. The legal undertaking/bank guarantee should be kept valid for 24 months from the let export order date. Perhaps, the DGFT expects that few payments will be delayed beyond 24 months from the date of exports.

The DGFT circular says that in case the export proceeds are not realised within 12 months of export, the exporter should either produce Reserve Bank approval extending the period for realisation of export proceeds or deposit amount equal to the duty credit or produce duty credit scrip for debit of equivalent amount within further 60 days failing which he will have to pay, in addition, 15 per cent per annum interest on the duty credit amount. The legal undertaking/bank guarantee will be enforced if the exporter does not surrender the benefits.

The Customs credit the duty drawback at All Industry Rates in the exporter’s bank account immediately after shipment based on only a declaration along with the shipping bill. The exporter is not required to submit a bond or bank guarantee but a six monthly certificate of export bills outstanding beyond the period allowed by RBI from authorised dealer(s) or chartered accountant.

Click here to understand Foreign Trade Policy 2004-2009.

Download LLP Act, 2008 word format – soft copy in editable form of Limited Liability Partnership Act & Rules, 2009

Yes,

 

To download editable soft copy in word form of Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008, Click here.

 

Click here to download the Government notification on Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 i.e, LLP Act, 2008 in PDF format.

 

Click here to read the Government Notification on LLP rules with forms in word form i.e, Limited Liability Partnership Rules, 2009 in editable soft copy.

 

Click here to read more on LLP – http://yehseeyes.blogspot.com/search/label/LLP

 

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Must read FAQ’s on Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) in India–a mandatory read through for every one

Every limited liability partnership shall have either the words “limited liability partnership” or the acronym “LLP” as the last words of its name. LLPs would not be given names, which, in the opinion of the Central Government, are undesirable. 

 

This article is selective extract from the FAQ’s of LLP from http://www.llp.gov.in .  It is classified into 5 heads for the purpose of understanding – Basics, Transactional, Compliance, Penal & Conversion provisions on LLP.

 

BASICS

 

Whether the LLP Act is applicable to any specific services like professional services regulated by Statutes?

No. Any two or more persons associating for carrying on a lawful business with a view to profit may set up an LLP.

 

Likely users/beneficiaries of the LLP Law?

It is likely that in the years to come Indian professionals would be providing accountancy, legal and various other professional/technical services to a large number of entities across the globe. Such services would require multidisciplinary combinations that would offer a menu of solutions to international clients.  In view of all this, the LLP framework could be used for many enterprises, such as:-

·                  Persons providing services of any kind

·                  Enterprises in new knowledge and technology based fields where the corporate form is not suited.

·                  For professionals such as Chartered Accountants (CAs), Cost and Works Accountants (CWAs), Company Secretaries (CSs) and Advocates, etc.

·                  Venture capital funds where risk capital combines with knowledge and expertise

·                  Professionals and enterprises engaged in any scientific, technical or artistic discipline, for any activity relating to research production, design and provision of services. 

·                  Small Sector Enterprises (including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises)

·                  Producer Companies in Handloom, Handicrafts sector

 

What are the restrictions in respect of minimum and maximum number of partners in an LLP?  

A minimum of two partners will be required for formation of an LLP. There will not be any limit to the maximum numberof partners.

 

Whether a body corporate may be a partner of an LLP?

Yes.

 

What are the qualifications for becoming a partner?

Any individual or body corporate may be a partner in a LLP. However an individual shall not be capable of becoming a partner of a LLP, if—

(a)   he has been found to be of unsound mind by a Court of competent jurisdiction and the finding is in force;

(b)   he is an undischarged insolvent; or

(c)   he has applied to be adjudicated as an insolvent and his application is pending.

 

What are the requirements in respect of “Designated Partners”?

Appointment of at least two “Designated Partners” shall be mandatory for all LLPs. “Designated Partners” shall also be accountable for regulatory and legal compliances, besides their liability as ‘partners, per-se”.

 

Who can be a “Designated Partner”?

Every LLP shall be required to have atleast 2 Designated Partners who shall be individuals and at least 1 of the Designated Partner shall be a resident of India. In case of a LLP in which all the partners are bodies corporate or in which one or more partners are individuals and bodies corporate, at least two individuals who are partners of such LLP or nominees of such bodies corporate shall act as designated partners.

 

Should the number of designated partners resident in India not be more than partners from outside India?

LLPs, particularly those as may be engaged in the services or technology-based sectors, may provide services globally. This may require any number of its partners to locate them abroad.  In view of liability structure of partners, designated partners and LLP, clearly provided for in the Act, there does not appear to be any necessity and justification for restriction relating to designated partners to out-number partners located abroad. In fact it may pose unnecessary restriction.

 

Whether there would be any requirement of ‘identification number’ of Designated Partner? Whether Designated Partners would be subject to any other condition/requirement before they are appointed as such?

Every Designated Partner would be required to obtain a “Designated Partner’s Identification Number” (DPIN) on the lines similar to “Director’s Identification Number” (DIN) required in case of directors of companies. Enabling provisions have been made to prescribe under rules conditions, which would have to be fulfilled by an individual who is eligible to be appointed as a ‘designated-partner’.

 

TRANSACTIONAL PROVISIONS

 

Whether LLP Agreement would be mandatory for all LLPs?

As per provisions of the LLP Act, in the absence of any LLP agreement, the mutual rights and liabilities shall be as provided for under Schedule I to the Act. Therefore, in case any LLP proposes to exclude provisions/requirements of Schedule I to the Act, it would have to enter into an LLP Agreement, specifically excluding applicability of any or all paragraphs of Schedule I.

 

What is the manner in which a partner of an LLP can bring his contribution? How will it be recorded/disclosed in the accounts?

Partner’s contribution may consist of both tangible and/or intangible property and any other benefit to the LLP. The monetary value of contribution of each partner shall be accounted for and disclosed in the accounts of the limited liability partnership in the manner as may be prescribed in the rules (see section 32).

 

Whether a partner would be able to give loan to or transact other commercial transactions with LLP? What will be his rights and obligations in this regard?

A partner may lend money to and transact other business with the LLP and shall have the same rights and obligations with respect to the loan or other transactions as a person who is not a partner.

 

What is the nature & extent of liability of a partner of an LLP?

Every partner of an LLP would be, for the purpose of the business of the LLP, an agent of the LLP but not of the other partners. Liability of partners shall be limited except in case of unauthorized acts, fraud and negligence. But a partner shall not be personally liable for the wrongful acts or omission of any other partner. An obligation of the limited liability partnership whether arising in contract or otherwise, is solely the obligation of the limited liability partnership. The liabilities of LLP shall be met out of the property of the LLP.

 

How penal action on errant partners who are not residents of India will be taken?

For statutory compliances provisions of at least one resident designated partner (DP) in every LLP is would ensure that at least one partner is available in India for at least six months for regulatory compliance requirements. The LLPs would have freedom to appoint more than one resident as DP. LLP as an entity would always remain liable for regulatory or other compliances. Civil liability on such a partner would be adjudicated by the courts under civil law which recognises ‘foreign awards’. Criminal liability would require adjudication/ enforcement by the courts including using the extradition process. Position would be similar to the cases of directors of companies who are foreign nationals.  

 

COMPLIANCE PROVISIONS

 

Whether every LLP would be required to maintain and file accounts?

An LLP shall be under obligation to maintain annual accounts reflecting true and fair view of its state of affairs. A “Statement of Accounts and Solvency” in prescribed form shall be filed by every LLP with the Registrar every year.

 

Whether audit of all LLPs would be mandatory?

Audit of LLPs shall be mandatory. However a more simplified compliance regime for small LLPs is being proposed by exempting such LLPs from the requirement of audit by exemption through notification by the Central Government. 

 

Whether any Annual Return would be required to be filed by an LLP?

Every LLP would be required to file with ROC, every year, an Annual Return, contents of which would be prescribed under rules.

 

Which documents will be available for public inspection in the office of Registrar?

The following documents/information will be available for inspection by any person:-

·                  Incorporation document,

·                  Names of partners and changes, if any, made therein,

·                  Statement of Account and Solvency

·                  Annual Return

The manner and fees for such inspection shall be prescribed in the rules.

 

How would compliance management (i.e. ensuring that LLPs file their documents with Registrars timely and otherwise comply with other procedural requirements under the Act) be ensured in the Act?

The provisions of the Act require LLPs to file the documents like Statement of Account and Solvency (SAS) and Annual Return (AR) and notices in respect of changes among partners etc. within the time specifically indicated in relevant provisions. The Act contains provisions for allowing LLPs to file such documents after their due dates on payment of additional fees. It has been provided that in case LLPs file relevant documents after their due dates with additional fees upto 300 days, no action for prosecution will be taken against them. In case there is delay of 300 days or more, the LLPs will be required to pay normal filing fees, additional fee and shall also be liable to be prosecuted. 

The Act also contains provisions for compounding of offences which are punishable with fine only.

 

PENAL PROVISIONS

 

 

The offences can be punished either (i) through payment of fine or (ii) through payment of fine as well as imprisonment of the offender. The Judicial Magistrate of the first class, or, as the case may be, the Metropolitan Magistrate shall have jurisdiction to try offences under the LLP Act.

Though most of the offences in the Act provide for punishment by way of charging fine, imprisonment has been provided for in respect of violations relating to

(i) making by any person a false statement at the time of incorporation of LLP (ii) carrying on business of LLP with intent to defraud or for any fraudulent purposes and (iii) making, knowingly, false statements or omitting any material fact, in any return, documents etc under the Act. The offences which are punishable with fine only can be compounded by the Central Government, by collecting a sum not exceeding the amount of maximum fine prescribed for the offence.

Further, for defaults/non-compliance on procedural matters such as time limits for filing requirements provisions have been made for charging default fees (on daily basis) in a non-discretionary manner.

 

CONVERSION PROVISIONS

Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 provides for conversion of partnership firm, private limited company and unlisted public limited company into an LLP but all such provisions are not made effective till date.  Only new LLP’s can be formed from 1^st April 2009. 

 

Further, provision to convert a private limited company or an unlisted public limited company may be enabled by amending the Companies Act, 1956 by providing a provision for the same.

 

Secretarial practice to form Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) in India

Steps to form an LLP

 

1. Every name application shall be in Form 1 and be accompanied by fee as mentioned in Annexure ‘A’ and the Registrar shall inform to the applicant for reservation or non reservation of the changed name or the name with which the proposed LLP is to be registered ordinarily within 7 days of the receipt of application.

 

2. Where the Registrar informs applicant about reservation of name with which the LLP is to be registered or changed name, as the case may be, such name shall be available for reservation for a period of 3 months from the date of intimation by the Registrar. 

 

3. Enter the details of 2 proposed Designated Partners and 1 of whom should be resident of India.

 

“The Resident of India” means a person who has stayed in India not less than 182 days during immediately preceding 1 year.

 

“Designated partner” may be individual, LLP, company, LLP incorporated outside India(LIOI), company incorporated outside India (CIOI).

 

4. Enter the DPIN (Designated Partner Identification Number), if any or Income Tax PAN or Passport No. of the applicant in Form 1 for reservation of name.  Hence, one can reserve the name for LLP even before obtaining DPIN also.

 

5. How to Obtain Designated Partners Identification Number (DPIN)

 

·        All designated partners of the proposed LLP shall obtain “Designated Partner Identification Number (DPIN)” by filing an application individually online in Form -7 along with Rs. 100/-.

·        Take the print out of the application form, affix a latest passport size photograph and get it attested/certified for submission physically along with documentary evidences for proof of identify and proof of residence with the Registrar LLP.

·        The provisional DPIN will be valid for 60 days from the date on which it was generated.

·        Deliver the printed and signed application form, along with the prescribed documents by hand/courier/registered post to the Office of Registrar, Ministry of Corporate Affairs,  3^rd Floor, “Paryavaran Bhawan”, CGO Complex,

Lodhi Road, New Delhi

-110003.

6. LLP to intimate your DPIN to Registrar - After the designated partner has intimated the DPIN allotted to the LLP, the LLP is then required to intimate the DPINs of its designated partner to Registrar the in Form 4.

7. Then, one can proceed to file Incorporation document and statement in form 2 for formation of LLP, as pre-certified by a professional.

·        On submission of complete documents the Registrar after satisfying himself about compliance with relevant provisions of the LLP Act will register the LLP, maximum within 14 days of filing of Form-2 and will issue a certificate of incorporation in Form-16.

·        Form 3 (Information with regard to LLP agreement and changes, if any made therein) and Form-4 (Notice of Appointment of Partner/Designate Partner, his consent etc.) may be filed with the prescribed fee simultaneously at the time of filing Form-2 or within 30 days of the date of incorporation or within 30 days of such subsequent changes.

 

To understand the LLP Act, 2008, LLP Rules, 2009, LLP Forms, Statutory Fees or Professional service to form an Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), kindly visit What Professionals should know about Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) law in India as on 1st April 2009