Merger and Amalgamation Under The Companies Act
Merger and Amalgamation Under The Companies Act
Recognizing the rights of business owners brings the law one step closer to
regulating individual businesses. The 2013 Act aims to simplify the entire
acquisition, merger, and restructuring process and facilitate local and cross-
border mergers and acquisitions, thus making Indian companies more profitable
for private investors.
Meaning Of Amalgamation
1.Amalgamation is the blending of two or more undertakings (companies) into
one undertaking, the shareholders of each blending company substantially
become the shareholders of the other company which holds blended ENTITY
Cons or Disadvanges
Monopoly Risks: Could create monopolistic tendencies and increase debt.
Amalgamation could result in the abolition of healthy competition
job Losses: May lead to layoffs due to redundancy or restructuring.
Effect Of Amalgamation
The true effect of and character of amalgamation largely depends on the scheme
of the merger. But, when two companies amalgamate and merge into one, the
transferor company loses its entity as it ceases to have its business. However,
their respective rights and liabilities are determined under the scheme of
amalgamation- Saraswati Industrial Syndicate Ltd. v. CIT [1991] 70 Comp. Cas.
184 (SC).
When the transferee-company takes over a property subject to charge, from the
transferor-company, the transferee-company has to file the necessary form with
R.O.C. for registration of charge in its name.
Examples of Amalgamation of Companies
Maruti Suzuki (India) Limited was formed when Maruti Motors in India and
Suzuki in Japan merged to create a new firm called Maruti Suzuki (India)
Limited
Gujarat Gas Ltd (GGL) is the result of the merger of Gujarat Gas Company Ltd
(GGCL) and Gujarat State Power Corporation Gas (GSPC Gas)
Satyam Computers and Tech Mahindra Ltd
Meaning Of Merger
Merger is a form of amalgamation where all the assets and liabilities of a
transferor company get merged with the assets and liabilities of the transferee
company leaving behind nothing for the transferee company except, its name
which gets removed through the process of law.
In reality, companies don't merge, only their assets and liabilities merge [1].
Mergers in the Indian Context
A merger is the consolidation of two or more companies into a single entity,
where one company absorbs the other(s) or forms a new entity. In India,
mergers are governed by the Companies Act, 2013, primarily under Sections
230-240, which cover compromise, arrangement, reconstruction, and
amalgamation. They require approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs
(MCA) and oversight by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to prevent
anti-competitive practices. For listed companies, SEBI ensures compliance with
regulations, and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) applies to mergers
involving insolvent companies. During a merger, the stronger transferee
company absorbs the weaker transferor company, transferring all assets,
liabilities, and operations to the surviving entity. Shareholders of the transferor
company typically receive shares of the transferee company based on a swap
ratio, though in some cases, they may be compensated otherwise.
Effects of Mergers
Mergers improve operational efficiency by leveraging synergies, reducing costs,
and enhancing market power through wider geographical reach and an
expanded customer base. However, challenges like cultural integration and
potential employee redundancies can arise. While shareholders often benefit
from increased value, employees may face job losses if their roles overlap.
Additionally, mergers may lead to monopoly concerns, impacting competition
and consumer prices.
Disadvantages of Mergers
Despite the advantages, mergers have drawbacks. Cultural differences between
merging companies can create integration challenges, while high costs of legal,
administrative, and operational adjustments can strain resources. Monopoly
concerns may arise, reducing competition and potentially increasing consumer
costs. Moreover, mergers often result in employee layoffs due to role
redundancies, affecting job security.
Vertical merger: the main aim of a vertical merger is to combine companies that
deal with the same type of product. However, the stage of production at which
they operate is different.
Concentric merger: the term co-centric merger means that the organization
serves the same type of customers. Example: Axis Bank acquiring free charge.
Cash merger: when the shareholders are offered cash in place of the shares of a
newly formed company it is called a cash merger.
Reverse Merger
A reverse merger is the opposite of a merger no clear definition has been given
in the companies act nor the term has been precisely defined by the Indian
court.
The reverse merger represents a case where the loss-making company or less
profit-earning company extends its embracing arm to the profitable company
and in turn, absorbs in its fold. The lost-making company is called a shell
company.
If the value of the assets of the healthy company exceeds the value of the loss-
making company or less profit-making company.
If the net profit attributable to the assets of the healthy company exceeds those
of the loss-making company or less profit-making company.
If the issue of shares of the loss-making company would result in its change in
control through the introduction of minority holders or groups of holders.
A shell company for the purposes of a valid reverse merger may be:
i. a former operating company that is public or private, for some reason has
ceased operations and liquidated its assets; or
ii. one which never had any operations but was formed from scratch for the
specific purpose of creating a shell.
In the former situation, shell promoters gain control of defunct operating
companies by buying up a majority of their shares. In the latter situation, shell
promoters incubate the shells - they incorporate a company, under the
Companies Act. In Exchange for letting an operating company merge into a
shell, the promoter charges the operating company a fee and retains an
ownership interest in the shell post-merge.
Procedure Of Merger And Amalgamation
The Companies (Compromises, Arrangements, and Amalgamation) Rules,
2016, lay down the following procedure for filling petition under Section
230/232:
Notice of meeting:
Once that tribunal sees the application it issues notice for the conveyance of a
meeting of the creditors and the members of the company within 21 days. An
annexure with the notice is to be attached specifying details of the compromise
or arrangement, a copy of the valuation report, etc. Notice shall also be sent to
the central government, income tax authorities, respective stock exchange
sectoral regulators or authorities, etc. Representation by the above authorities
should be made within 30 days of receipt of the notice. In case of no response
within the stipulated time, it shall be presumed that they have no representation
to make on the proposals.
Role Of Tribunal
Any person aggrieved by any assessment of compensation made by the
prescribed authority under sub-section (3) may, within 30 days from the date of
publication of such assessment in the Official Gazette, prefer an appeal to the
Tribunal and thereupon the assessment of the compensation shall be made by
the Tribunal[Section 237(4)].
Where the majority of creditors had no notice of the petition for amalgamation,
their interest should be protected and the petition for sanction of amalgamation
scheme should be dismissed - Kaveri Entertainment Ltd., In re (2003).[5] In this
case, the transferor company obtained the court's permission for the non-holding
of creditors' meetings on condition that it would issue notices to all creditors -
which it did only selectively i.e. only to some unsecured creditors.
Unless the exchange ratio and scheme are unconscionable or illegal or unfair or
unjust, the court (now Tribunal) would not act as a court of appeal and sit in
judgment. The court (now Tribunal), in the exercise of its jurisdiction, is to
satisfy that:
The concept of market value means the price that a willing purchaser will pay to
a willing seller for a property having due regard to its existing conditions with
all its advantages and potential possibilities - Reliance Petroleum Ltd., In re
(2003).[6] Also, see German Remedies Ltd., In re (2004)[7]
Reference:
Settlement of Reorganisation of a
Combination of two
disputes by mutual company’s share
Definition or more companies
consent or capital or other
into a new entity.
agreement. restructuring.
Section 2(1B) of the
Income Tax Act,
Sections 230-232 of Sections 230-232 of
Legal 1961; Sections 230-
the Companies Act, the Companies Act,
Basis 232 of the
2013. 2013.
Companies Act,
2013.
To achieve
To reorganise share
To resolve disputes corporate growth,
capital, improve
Purpose and restructure economies of scale
efficiency and
liabilities. and enhanced
restructure.
market presence.
Generally between
Type of Involves the
the company and its Involves two or
Companie company’s internal
creditors/shareholder more companies.
s Involved restructuring.
s.
Two companies
Debt restructuring Share capital
merging to form a
agreement between a reorganisation by
Example new entity with
company and its consolidating shares
combined assets and
creditors. of different classes.
liabilities.