Differential Voting Rights

Table of Contents

WHAT ARE DIFFERENTIAL VOTING RIGHTS (DVRS) AND WHAT RECENTLY CHANGED?

Differential voting rights under section 43(a)(ii) of the Companies Act, 2013 are those rights which distinguish between shares in terms of dividend & voting between their other classes. If we speak about voting and issuing dividends, every shareholder of a company needs right concerning their shareholding. Major shareholders are generally inclined to hold voting rights, while minority shareholders are inclined to hold dividend rights. Promoters are more concerned about voting rights because it helps them to play a significant role in controlling their company. The concept of DVRs helps promoters to maintain power over the company without dilution of their rights, by enabling public investors to own shares with Superior Voting Rights (SR) or lower or fractional voting rights. Tata Motors & Pantaloons previously issued DVRs with 1/10th fractional voting rights in exchange for a 5% higher dividend than ordinary shares.
Facebook once issued shares with differential voting rights to the investors wherein Mark Zuckerberg sold his percentage holding without any effect on his voting right shares which allowed him to maintain a substantial level of control over the company.

ADVANTAGES TO COMPANY

Promoters usually avoid dilution of control in the company with other investors as it allows interference with the management and with the motto of the company. By issuing DVRs, promoters can focus on the company without being afraid of dilution of control. The company can also issue DVRs in different proportion concerning voting right. sometimes hostile takeovers by investors can also take place just by holding a substantial number of shares in the company. Issuance of DVRs will prevent such takeovers as the shareholders holding such shares will have limited voting rights.

ADVANTAGES TO INVESTOR

Issued differential voting rights has its own set of advantages. DVR shareholder will be eligible for other rights such as bonus shares, rights shares, dividend, issue of ESOPS etc. An investor can enjoy these rights while holding DVRs. In comparison to other ordinary equity shares, DVRs are offered at discounted rates with a higher dividend. The reason for providing such is the non-involvement of investors in the company subject to voting where investors will have an option of opting DVRs with higher dividend in lieu of voting rights. Countries like the US, Canada, Hong Kong also allows issuance of shares with superior voting rights.

REGULATIONS

By circular letter dated 21 July 2009, SEBI prohibited companies from issuing any kind of shares in any manner that might confer upon any individual superior voting rights or dividends in respect of the rights to equity shares already listed.
As per Rule 4 of the Companies (Share Capital and Debenture) Rules, 2014, no company shall issue equity shares with differential voting rights unless it complies with the following conditions:

Article of association of a company should authorize the issue of shares with differential rights.
Permission by shareholders in the general meeting by passing an ordinary resolution.
The voting power on the post-listing of shares (including ordinary shares) in respect of shares with differential rights of the company shall not exceed 74% (earlier 26%).
There has been no default in the submission of annual returns & financial statements for last three financial years immediately preceding the financial year in which the shares are issued.
The company has not incurred any default on the payment of dividends to shareholders or to any preference shareholders on their maturity, redemption or repayment of any loan from a public financial institution, state-level financial institution or scheduled bank that has become repayable or payable.
The company has not been penalized in last 3 years of any offence under Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, The Security and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, The Securities and Contract Regulation Act, 1956, The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 or any other Special Act.

FRAMEWORK OF ISSUANCE

A Company which consists of superior voting rights shareholders shall be allowed to issue shares via Initial Public Offering (IPO) of only ordinary shares to be listed on the mainboard subject to the following conditions:

Eligibility

Issuer company should be a tech company as per innovators growth platform which is intensive within the use of technology, information technology, intellectual property, data analytics, biotechnology/nano-technology to produce products, services or business platforms with substantial value addition.
The SR holder should be a part of the promoter’s group whose net worth mustn’t exceed Rs. 500 crore excluding the shares held by SR shareholder of share company.
The SR shares can only be issued to executive positions like of promoter/founder.
The process of issuing of SR shares can only be issued through a special resolution passed at a general meeting of shareholders.
SR shares must have been held by the holder a minimum of six months before the filing of Red Herring Prospectus.
SR holders shall have the voting rights within the ratio of minimum prescribed 2:1 to maximum 10:1 in compared to the ordinary shareholder.

List-In & Lock-In

After the general public issue, shares with superior voting rights must be listed on the securities market, and there’ll be a perpetual lock-in until conversion into ordinary shares. No exchange/transfer of such shares between the promoter shall take place and they shall be freed from any lien, costs nor may they be pledged.

Rights of Superior Right Shares

Shares with superior voting rights shall in all respects, which include dividends as well, will be treated as ordinary shares, except in the case of voting on resolutions. the overall voting rights of SR shareholders including ordinary shares post-listing must not exceed 74% of the total voting power.

Enhanced Corporate Governance

2/3 of the board and committees (excluding audit committee) must comprise of independent directors as prescribed by SEBI (LODR) regulations and Audit Committee shall compromise of only independent Directors.

Coat-Tail Provisions

Post-IPO, superior right shares will be considered as ordinary shares in terms of voting under the following situations:

Appointment/removal of independent director and/or auditor.
In case promoter is willingly transferring the control to other company.
Related party transactions as per SEBI (LODR) regulations involving SR shareholder.
The company being winded up voluntarily.
Changes to be done in MOA and AOA except for any change affecting SR instrument.
Initiation of voluntarily resolution plan under IBC.
Usage of funds for activities other than business.
Passing of special resolution in respect of buyback of shares or delisting.

Sun-Set Clauses

On certain event, SR shares shall convert automatically into ordinary shares:

On dying of promoter holding such shares.
On resigning of a shareholder holding such shares from an executive position.
In the case of M&A, the company having SR shareholder where the control would be no longer with him.

Fractional Right Shares

SEBI stated that issuance of fractional right shares by existing listed companies won’t be allowed as of now unless enough experience has been gained from the concept of issuing special right shares.

AMENDMENT

Clause (d) Rule 4(1) of SCDR, which requires companies to issue DVRs must have a profitable track record of previous 3 years has been deleted and previous limit of 26% on the percentage of shares of differential rights out of post-issue paid-up equity share capital has been revised to 74%.

CONCLUSION

The new framework of DVRs will help entities in raising capital for their business and will also allow promoters gain substantial control over the company which in past at many instances had been diluted with the rights of other shareholders resulting in loss of control over the business and in decision making. it will prevent promoters and major shareholders from the dilution of shareholdings and hostile takeovers which will also benefit to minority shareholders who are not interested in voting rights and are satisfied with other rights involved into bonus issues, dividends, ESOPS etc.