Unitron Hearing India Pvt. Ltd. v. -
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION COMPANY SCHEME PETITION NO. 878 OF 2015 CONNECTED WITH COMPANY SUMMONS FOR DIRECTION NO. 726 OF 2015 Unitron Hearing India Private Limited ....Petitioner Company AND COMPANY SCHEME PETITION NO. 879 OF 2015 CONNECTED WITH COMPANY SUMMONS FOR DIRECTION NO. 727 OF 2015 In the matter of the Companies Act, AND In the matter of Sections 391 to 394 of the Companies Act, 1956.
AND In the matter of the Scheme of Amalgamation of Unitron Hearing India Private Limited, Transferor Company with Phonak India Private Limited, Transferee Company and their respective shareholders and creditors.
Phonak India Private Limited ....Petitioner Company Called for Hearing Mr. Sanjay Udeshi with Mr. Darshan Ashar i/b M/s Sanjay Udeshi & Co, Advocate for the Petitioners.
Mr. G. Hariharan i/b Shri. Pankaj Kapoor for the Regional Director. Mr. Vinod Sharma Official Liquidator present in C.S.P. No. 878 of 2015.
CORAM: S.C. Gupte, J DATE : 4th May, 2016 P.C.:
1.
Heard Counsel for the parties. None appears before the Court to oppose the Scheme nor any party has contraverted any averments made in the petition.
2.
The sanction of the Court is sought under Sections 391 to 394 of the Companies Act, 1956, to Scheme of Amalgamation of Unitron Hearing India Private Limited the Transferor Company with Phonak India Private Limited the Transferee Company and their respective shareholders and creditors.
3.
The Learned Counsel for the Petitioners state that the Transferor Company is engaged in the business of trading in hearing instruments and accessories. The Transferee Company is engaged in the business of trading in Hearing Aids, Audiological equipments and batteries. 4.
Learned Counsel for the Petitioner Company states that the Proposed Amalgamation will have greater efficiency in overall business including economies of scales, cash management of the amalgamated entity and unfettered access to cash flow generated by the combined business which can be deployed more efficiently for the purpose of development of business related activities and their growth opportunities in the businesses of the Companies, to maximize shareholder value. Amalgamation will result in cost saving for both the Transferor Company and the Transferee Company as they are engaged in the related and interdependent activity which is expected to result in higher net worth for the Amalgamated Company and cost savings for the Amalgamated Company. The Amalgamated Company will have the benefit of the combined resources of the Transferor Company and the Transferee Company i.e., market share, scale, efficiency, combined
networth, combined employees base, reserves, investments, and other assets, manpower, finances, mitigating competition etc. The Amalgamated Company would be in a position to carry on consolidated operations through optimum utilization of its resources and avoidance of duplication. The Amalgamated Company will be in position to have more efficient and more cost effective management system in view of consolidation of operations and larger size. Also the Transferee Company will be expanding its operations as the future opportunities in this line of business activity are very good.
The Amalgamated Company would also have a larger networth base, and greater borrowing capacity, which would provide it a competitive edge over others, especially in view of the increasing competition due to liberalization and globalization, which will be beneficial in more than one ways to both the Transferor Company and the Transferee Company and their shareholders and creditors, as the Transferor Company and the Transferee Company plan to meet the competition in more effective way by combining their asset base and operations. The Board of Directors of the Transferor Company and the Transferee Company are of the opinion that the amalgamation would benefit the shareholders, employees and other stakeholders of the Transferor Company and the Transferee Company.
The Board of Directors of the Transferor Company and the Transferee Company are of the opinion that the amalgamation would motivate employees by providing better opportunities to scale up their performance with a corporate entity having large revenue base, resources, asset base etc which will provide impetus to corporate performance thereby enhancing overall shareholder value.
5.
The Petitioner Companies have approved the said Scheme of Amalgamation by passing the Board Resolution which is annexed to the respective Company Scheme Petition.
6.
The Learned counsel for the Petitioner Companies states that the Petitioner Companies have complied with all the directions passed in Company Summons for Direction and that the Company Scheme Petition have been filed in consonance with the orders passed in Summons for Direction.
7.
Counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioner Companies state that the Petitioners have complied with all requirements as per directions of this Court and they have filed necessary affidavits of compliance in the court. Moreover, the Petitioner Companies through its counsel undertake to comply with all statutory requirements, if any, as required under the Companies Act, 1956/2013 and the Rules made thereunder. The said undertaking is accepted.
8.
The Regional Director has filed an affidavit on 27th day of April, 2016 stating therein save and except stated in paragraph 6 (a) and (b), of the said Affidavit, it appears that the Scheme is not prejudicial to the interest of the shareholders and public. In paragraph 6 (a) and (b) of the said Affidavit, it is stated that;- "6. That the Deponent further submits that, (a) The Shares of Transferor Company are held by Foreign Body Corporate. Hence, while giving effect to the Scheme, by issuing new shares by the Transferee Company to the shareholders of Transferor Company, the Transferee Company has to comply with the provisions of FEMA/RBI regulations as applicable in this regard.
(b) It is respectfully submitted that the tax implication, if any, arising out of this Scheme is subject to final decision of Income Tax Authorities. The approval of the Scheme by this Hon'ble High Court may not deter the Income Tax Authority to scrutinize the tax return filed by the Transferee Company after giving effect to
the Scheme. The decision of the Income Tax Authority is binding on the Petitioner Companies.
9.
As far as the content of paragraph 6 (a) of the Affidavit of Regional Director is concerned, counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioner Companies states while giving effect to the Scheme, by issuing new shares by the Transferee Company to the shareholders of Transferor Company, the Transferee Company has to comply with the provisions of FEMA/RBI regulations as applicable in this regard. 10.
As far as the content of paragraph 6 (b) of the Affidavit of Regional Director is concerned, counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioner Companies states that that the Transferor Company and the Transferee Company are bound to comply with the applicable provisions of the Income Tax Act and all tax issues arising out of Scheme will be met and answered in accordance with the law. 11.
The Learned Counsel for the Regional Director on instructions of Mr. M. Chandana muthu, Joint Director, in the office of the Regional Director, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Western Region, Mumbai states that they are satisfied with undertaking given by the Petitioner Companies mentioned hereinabove. The said undertaking is accepted. 12.
The Official Liquidator has filed his report dated 15th March, 2016 stating therein that the affairs of the Transferor Company have been conducted in a proper manner and that the Transferor Company may be ordered to be dissolved.
13.
From the material on record, the Scheme appears to be fair and reasonable and is not violative of any provisions of law and is not contrary to public policy.
14.
Since all the requisite statutory compliances have been fulfilled, the Company Scheme Petition Nos. 878 and 879 of 2015 filed by the Petitioner Companies are made absolute in terms of prayer clause (a). 15.
The Petitioner to lodge a copy of this order and the Scheme duly authenticated by the Company Registrar, High Court (O.S.), Bombay, with the concerned Superintendent of Stamps, for the purpose of adjudication of stamp duty, payable, if any, on the same within 60 days from the date of this Order.
16.
Petitioner is directed to file a copy of this order alongwith a copy of Scheme of Amalgamation with the concerned Registrar of Companies, electronically, alongwith E-Form 21 / INC-28, in addition to physical copy, as per the provision of the Act.
17.
Petitioners in all the Company Scheme Petitions to pay costs of Rs.10,000/- each to the Regional Director, Western Region, Mumbai and to pay a sum of Rs.10,000/- each to the Official Liquidator, High Court, Bombay, in Company Scheme Petition No. 878 of 2015 towards their costs. Costs to be paid within four weeks from today. 18.
Filing and issuance of the drawn up order is dispensed with. 19.
All concerned regulatory authorities to act on a copy of this order alongwith the Scheme duly authenticated by Company Registrar, High Court, Bombay.
(S.C. Gupte J.) Certificate I Certify that this Order uploaded is true and correct copy of original signed order Uploaded by: Shri Shankar Gawade, Stenographer