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Exemption order under regulation 11 of SEBI (SAST)...

SEBI
Mar 9, 2017
Smart Summary (Beta)

Administrative Order Summary — SEBI (Whole Time Member S. Raman) dated March 9, 2017

Factual and Procedural Background

This opinion concerns an application dated May 18, 2016 by Yashvardhan Jatia Trust (represented by Trustee Gautam N. Jajodia) seeking exemption under Regulation 11(5) of the SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011 (the Takeover Regulations) from the obligation to comply with Regulation 3(2) of the Takeover Regulations in relation to a proposed internal transfer of promoter shares in Pudumjee Industries Limited (Target Company).

The proposed transaction involved transfer of 15,71,862 equity shares (8.73% of paid-up capital) held by certain existing promoters (including shares bequeathed to the minor beneficiary Master Yashvardhan Jatia and shares held by executors) into the Yashvardhan Jatia Trust as an internal family/ promoter group realignment. The Acquirer stated that the Trust is part of the Promoter/Promoter Group and that there would be no change in the aggregate promoter shareholding (72.27%) or public shareholding (27.73%) and no change in control of the Target Company.

SEBI referred the Application to its Takeover Panel (as required by the proviso to Regulation 11(5)). The Panel considered the matter, recommended grant of exemption (subject to conditions and compliance safeguards), and also recommended annual confirmations and an independent auditor's certification of compliance to be filed with stock exchanges (with a copy to SEBI). SEBI (Whole Time Member) considered the Application, the Panel's recommendations, and related submissions and issued an order granting the requested exemption subject to specified conditions.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether exemption from the obligation to make a public open offer under Regulation 3(2) of the Takeover Regulations should be granted to Yashvardhan Jatia Trust under Regulation 11(5) of the Takeover Regulations for the proposed internal transfer of promoter shares.
  2. Whether, on the facts presented (including the Trust's composition, the nature of the transfer, and proposed covenants in the Trust Deed), such transfer will affect public shareholders or change control of the Target Company so as to preclude an exemption.
  3. What conditions and safeguards (including disclosures and auditor certification) should be imposed if SEBI grants an exemption under Section 19 of the SEBI Act read with Regulation 11(5) of the Takeover Regulations?

Arguments of the Parties

Proposed Acquirer's (Yashvardhan Jatia Trust) Submissions and Rationale

  • The Trust is a private family trust: Settlor is Shri Arun Kumar Jatia; sole beneficiary is minor Master Yashvardhan Arunkumar Jatia; trustees include family members (with one maternal uncle who is also part of the promoter family).
  • The transfer to the Trust is part of an internal re-alignment within the Promoter Group and does not involve payment of consideration by the Trust to transferors; it is not a sale, exchange or gift in the commercial sense asserted by the Acquirer.
  • The Acquirer currently holds no shares directly; the proposed acquisition will consolidate shares that legally belong to the minor beneficiary into the Trust for better management (multiple signatories to Demat account) and to spread fiduciary responsibility within trusted relatives.
  • Shares being transferred include shares bequeathed to the minor (held by executors) and shares currently registered in the minor's name; total transfer proposed equals 15,71,862 shares (8.73%).
  • The transfer will not change the aggregate promoter holding (which will remain at 72.27%), will not change public shareholding (27.73%), and will not result in any change of control of the Target Company.
  • The Acquirer provided a Supplemental Indenture to the Trust Deed adding covenants: disclosure of changes in trustees/beneficiaries and any change in ownership/control of shares; application of SEBI Act and regulations to trustees and beneficiaries; no limitation of liability for trustees/beneficiaries under SEBI Act; and an express provision about who may exercise voting rights (e.g., Arun Kumar Jatia or another trustee as decided by trustee resolution).
  • The Acquirer asserted the transfer is not prejudicial to public shareholders and therefore warranted exemption from the open offer requirement under Regulation 3(2).

No separate detailed adversarial arguments from the Target Company or other parties are recorded in the provided opinion.

Table of Precedents Cited

No precedents were cited in the provided opinion.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The SEBI Whole Time Member set out a structured consideration of the Application and supporting material. The reasoning proceeded as follows:

  1. Administrative and factual verification: SEBI reviewed the Application, further correspondence (including shareholding patterns and the Supplemental Indenture), and minutes/recommendations of the Takeover Panel which had considered related matters for other companies in the same promoter group.
  2. Characterisation of parties and transaction: SEBI noted that the Acquirer is a private trust that qualifies as a person acting in concert (PAC) with the Promoter Group because the Settlor, the minor beneficiary and most trustees are promoters or part of the promoter group (except one trustee who is not a promoter). SEBI also recorded that the transfer comprises shares bequeathed to the minor and shares held by the minor in his name.
  3. Effect on shareholding and control: SEBI observed there would be no change in aggregate promoter shareholding (remains 72.27%), no change in public shareholding (remains 27.73%), and no change of control of the Target Company as a result of the proposed transfer.
  4. Takeover Panel's influence: The Takeover Panel had recommended grant of exemption taking into account that the same promoter group and the same acquirer were involved in parallel cases and that an earlier SEBI order and Panel recommendation had addressed a related company; the Panel also recommended safeguards including annual confirmation of compliance and independent auditor certification to be filed with stock exchanges and copied to SEBI.
  5. Trust covenants and safeguards: SEBI gave weight to the Supplemental Indenture clauses that (a) required disclosure of changes in trustees/beneficiaries or ownership/control to stock exchanges, (b) acknowledged applicability of SEBI Act/regulations to trustees and beneficiaries (direct and indirect ownership/control), (c) disclaimed limitation of liability of trustees/beneficiaries under SEBI Act, and (d) preserved liabilities of transferors under SEBI Act. SEBI also noted the clause specifying who may exercise voting rights on behalf of the Trust.
  6. Balancing regulatory objective and facts: On the basis that the transaction was an internal family realignment, would not dilute public shareholding, and that procedural and substantive safeguards had been proposed (and further conditions could be imposed), SEBI concluded that an exemption from the requirement to make an open offer under Regulation 3(2) was appropriate subject to conditions to protect public shareholders and ensure enforceability of undertakings.
  7. Legal authority invoked: The exemption was granted by the Whole Time Member exercising powers under Section 19 of the SEBI Act read with Regulation 11(5) of the Takeover Regulations.

Holding and Implications

Holding:

EXEMPTION GRANTED. SEBI granted exemption to Yashvardhan Jatia Trust (represented by Trustee Gautam N. Jajodia) from complying with the open offer obligation under Regulation 3(2) of the Takeover Regulations in respect of the proposed acquisition/exercise of voting rights in Pudumjee Industries Limited as set out in the Application.

Conditions and direct consequences imposed by the order:

  • The proposed acquisition must comply with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and other applicable laws.
  • On completion of the proposed acquisition the Acquirer must file a report with SEBI in the manner provided in the Takeover Regulations within 21 days of such acquisition.
  • The statements, averments, facts and figures in the Application and subsequent submissions must be true and correct; the Acquirer must honor its undertakings.
  • The SEBI Act and regulations will be applied on the basis that ownership or control vests directly with trustees and indirectly with beneficiaries — trustees/beneficiaries will have no limitation of liability under SEBI Act/regulations.
  • The Trust shall confirm annually that it is in compliance with the exemption order; that confirmation shall be furnished to the Target Company and prominently disclosed as a note to the quarterly shareholding pattern for the quarter ending March 31 each year under Regulation 31 of the Listing Regulations.
  • The Trust shall obtain an annual compliance status certification from an Independent Auditor and furnish it to the stock exchanges with a copy endorsed to SEBI for its records.
  • The Trust must ensure that the Trust Deed covenants are not contrary to the conditions; if they are, the Trust Deed shall be modified and reported to SEBI expeditiously.
  • The exemption applies only to the obligation to make an open offer under the Takeover Regulations. It does not exempt the parties from other disclosure obligations (Chapter V of the Takeover Regulations), the SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015, Listing Agreement/Listing Regulations, or any other applicable statutes/regulations.

Broader implications:

The order effects a narrow administrative exemption for the specific proposed transaction and imposes reporting, disclosure and auditor certification safeguards. The opinion does not purport to establish any judicial precedent; its direct effect is limited to granting the requested exemption to the named Acquirer subject to the stated conditions.

Place: Mumbai — S. RAMAN, Whole Time Member, Securities and Exchange Board of India. Date: March 9, 2017.

Show all summary ...

UNDER REGULATION 11(5) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA (SUBSTANTIAL ACQUISITION OF SHARES AND TAKEOVERS) REGULATIONS, 2011. IN THE MATTER OF PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS IN PUDUMJEE INDUSTRIES LIMITED. Background 1.1 Pudumjee Industries Limited (Target Company) was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 (Companies Act) on December 31, 1965. The Registered Office of the Target Company is at Thergaon, Pune411033. The shares of the Target Company are listed on BSE Limited (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE). 1.2 SEBI received an application dated May 18, 2016 (Application) from Yashvardhan Jatia Trust (Trustee Gautam N. Jajodia) (Proposed Acquirer) seeking exemption from the applicability of Regulation 3(2) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011 (Takeover Regulations) in respect of the proposed acquisition and control of the shareholding and voting rights in the Target Company. 1.3 Regulation 3(2) of the Takeover Regulations, states

3. Substantial acquisition of shares or voting rights. (2). No acquirer, who together with persons acting in concert with him, has acquired and holds in accordance with these regulations shares or voting rights in a target company entitling them to exercise twenty-five per cent or more of the voting rights in the target company but less than the maximum permissible non-public shareholding, shall acquire within any financial year additional shares or voting rights in such target company entitling them to exercise more than five per cent of the voting rights, unless the acquirer makes a public announcement of an open offer for acquiring shares of such target company in accordance with these regulations: Provided that such acquirer shall not be entitled to acquire or enter into any agreement to acquire shares or voting rights exceeding such number of shares as would take the aggregate shareholding pursuant to the acquisition above the maximum permissible non-public shareholding. 1.4 In the aforementioned Application, the following was stated

i. Yashvardhan Jatia Trust Proposed Acquirer is a private Trust whose Settlor is Shri Arun Kumar Jatia and the sole beneficiary of the Trust is Master Yashvardhan Arunkumar Jatia.

ii. Shri Arun Kumar Jatia is the father of Master Yashvardhan Arunkumar Jatia, who is currently a minor and the other Trustees are relate to the beneficiary as under: a. Ms. Vasudha Jatia and Ms. Vrinda Jatia are the elder sisters of Master Yashvardhan Arunkumar Jatia. b. Shri Gautam N Jajodia is the maternal uncle of Master Yashvardhan Arunkumar Jatia.

iii. Yashvardhan Jatia Trust is a part of the Promoter/Promoter Group of the Target Company.

iv. Since Shri Arun Kumar Jatia (Settlor), Master Yashvardhan Jatia (Sole beneficiary of the Yashvardhan Jatia Trust) and all the Trustees of the Yashvardhan Jatia Trust with the exception of Shri Gautam N. Jajodia (maternal uncle of Master Yashvardhan Jatia and is a member of the family of the Promoters) are Promoters or belong to the Promoter Group of the Target Company, the Trust is to be treated as person acting in concert (PAC) within the meaning of Regulation 2(q) of the Takeover Regulations.

v. The settlement of the Promoter shares into the Trust is not a sale or exchange or a gift since the proposed transfer does not carry the characteristics of either of the forms of transfers viz. a. Absence of any consideration; b. No economic enjoyment of the Promoter shares by the Trust; and c. The Trust does not have the absolute right to deal with the acquired property in any manner whatsoever without any conditions.

vi. The Private Family Trust acting through its Trustees shall not pay any consideration, whether directly, indirectly or otherwise, to the Transferors for the transfer of the Promoter Shares into the Trust.

vii. The Acquirer does not hold any shares in the Target Company.

viii. The Directors of the Target Company are as under: Table A Sr. No. Name Designation

1. V. K. Jatia Chairman & Independent Director

2. Mr. Gautam N Jajodia Executive Director

3. Mr. Arvindkumar Surenrakumar Somany Non-Executive Independent Director

4. Mr. Rajendra C Saraf Non-Executive Independent Director

5. Mr. Rushabh Pradeep Shroff Non-Executive Independent Director

6. Mr. Atul Shantikumar Dayal Non-Executive Independent Director

7. Ms. Vasudha Jatia Promoter Director

ix. The opening and closing prices as on May 13, 2016, on the BSE/NSE is as under Table B Opening Price Closing Price BSE 9.65 10.50 NSE 9.40 10.25

x. The current Promoter Group holding in the Target Company is as follows Table C Sr. No. Name No. of shares % Shareholding A. Promoter Group

1. Arun Kumar Jatia jointly with Basant Kumar Khaitan (Executor of Will of Shri Mahabir Prasad Jatia) 6,67,462 3.71

2. Arun Kumar Mahabir Prasad Jatia (Executor of the Will of Smt. Poonam Jatia) 8,99,000 4.99

3. Yashvardhan Jatia 5,500 0.03

4. Yashvardhan Jatia Trust 0 0

5. Arun Kumar Mahabir Prasad Jatia 9,29,000 5.16

6. Vrinda Jatia 1,50,000 0.84

7. Vasudha Jatia 1,50,000 0.84

8. Pudumjee Investment & Finance Co. Ltd. 39,45,790 21.92

9. Thacker and Company Limited 25,20,210 14.00

10. Pudumjee Pulp & Paper Mills limited 9,56,725 5.32

11. Suma Commercial Private Limited 18,48,525 10.26

12. Chem Mach Private Limited 61,450 0.34

13. Fujisan Technologies Limited 8,75,680 4.86

14. Pudumjee Holding Limited 0 0

15. Arun Jatia HUF 0 0

16. Kairos Investments 0 0

17. Pudumjee Paper Products Limited 0 0

18. Poonam Jatia Family Trust 0 0

19. Mahabirprasad Jatia Family Trust 0 0

20. Pudumjee Hygiene Products Limited 0 0 130,09,342 72.27 B. Public Shareholding 49,90,658 27.73 C. Total (A + B) 1,80,00,000 100.00 Proposed Acquisition

xi. The proposal is for transfer of 15,71,862 (8.73%) equity shares held by some of the current promoters (Arunkumar Mahabir Prasad Jatia jointly with Basant Kumar Khaitan, Arunkumar Mahabir Prasad Jatia and Master Yashvardhan Jatia) to Yashvardhan Jatia Trust as part of the internal re-alignment of holdings within the Promoter Group family, as under Table D Name Pre Acquisition Post Acquisition Shares % Shares % A. Promoter Group

1. Arun Kumar Jatia jointly with Basant Kumar Khaitan (Executor of Will of Shri Mahabir Prasad Jatia) 6,67,462 3.71 0 0

2. Arun Kumar Mahabir Prasad Jatia (Executor of the Will of Smt. Poonam Jatia) 8,99,000 4.99 0 0

3. Yashvardhan Jatia* 5,500 0.03 100 0

4. Yashvardhan Jatia Trust 0 0 15,71,862 8.73 B. Total 15,71,962 8.73 15,71,962 8.73 *Of the 5500 shares of the Target Company held by Master Yashvardhan Jatia, 5400 shares are proposed to be transferred to Yashvardhan Jatia Trust. The remaining 100 shares will be retained by Yashvardhan Jatia. Additionally, we wish to submit the following clarification with respect to the proposed acquisition of shares: - The 6,67,462 shares constituting 3.71% of the total paid up capital of the Target Company, were bequeathed by Late Shri Mahabir Prasad Jatia (deceased in May 2012), by way of a will, to Master Yashvardhan Jatia. - Shri Basant Kumar Khaitan and Shri Arun Kumar Jatia were appointed as the Executors of the Will as per the probate dated June 10, 2014, granted by the Honble Bombay High Court. - The shares are currently being held in the joint names of the Executors of the Will and in the capacity of joint executors of the Will until the said shares are finally transmitted to Master Yashvardhan Jatia, the beneficiary of the Trust, who is presently 12 years of age and is a minor. - While Shri Arun Kumar Jatia is part of the Promoter Group of the Company and one of the Trustees of the Acquirer i.e. Yashvardhan Jatia Trust, Shri Basant Kumar Khaitan is not a part of the Promoter Group of the Target Company nor is he a Trustee of the Acquirer. - Therefore, we believe that pursuant to the proposed acquisition of shares by the Acquirer, the role of Shri Basant Kumar Khaitan, as the joint executor of the Will should be completed and hence, there shall be no further obligation and liability of Shri Basant Kumar Khaitan towards these shares in future. Rationale and Grounds for Exemption

xii. Shri Arum Kumar Jatia who is the father and natural guardian of the minor child is a single parent and the entire shareholding bequeathed to the minor child as well as those shares which are held by the minor child in his own name, is being managed by him, as the minor childs guardian.

xiii. Shri Arun Kumar Jatia is also the sole signatory of the Demat Account of Master Yashvardhan Jatia and in his absence, there is no other signatory to the said Account. It is felt that transfer of the said the said shares to the Trust would facilitate the better management of the shares entitled to and held by the minor child since there would be more than one signatory to operate the Demat Account.

xiv. The proposed transfer of shares to the Trust, thus, emanate from the fathers concern and effort to spread the responsibility of securing the minor sons future and financial interests among a group of trusted, close and immediate relatives.

xv. Shri Mahabir Prasad Jatia has bequeathed 6,67,462 shares constituting 3.71% of the paid up capital of the Target Company to his grandson Master Yashvardhan Jatia, the sole beneficiary of the Trust, who is also legal owner of the shares.

xvi. Further, 8,99,000 shares constituting 4.99% of the paid up capital of the Target Company has also been bequeathed by way of will of Smt. Poonam Jatia to her minor son, Master Yashvardhan Jatia.

xvii. The shares bequeathed to Master Yashvardhan Jatia are currently being held by Executors of the respective wills.

xviii. It is also proposed to transfer 5400 shares constituting 0.03% of the paid up capital of the Target Company which are being held by Master Yashvardhan Jatia in his name.

xix. Pursuant to the proposed transaction, instead of directly exercising voting rights to the extent of 8.73%, the Promoters of the Target Company would exercise the same through the Acquirer. There would be no reduction in the holding of the public shareholders in the Target Company.

xx. The proposed acquisition is only an arrangement wherein the shares of the minor beneficiary will be held by the Trust and therefore, it will not be prejudicial to the interests of the public shareholders of the Target Company. 1.5 In June 2016, SEBI sought clarification from the Acquirer inter alia on the following issue

1. To confirm if Yashvardhan Jatia Trust is shown as part of the Promoter Group in the other three companies i.e. in shareholding patterns, etc. If not, to state that Yashvardhan Jatia Trust is a PAC with the Promoters and will become part of the Promoter Group after the acquisition. 1.6 Vide an email dated June 23, 2016 and letter dated June 28, 2016, the Acquirer submitted its reply to SEBI wherein it forwarded copies of latest shareholding patterns of the Pudumjee Paper Products Limited, Target Company, Thacker and Company Limited (TCL), Pudumjee Pulp and Paper Mills Limited, stated as under Yes. Yashvardhan Jatia Trust has been shown as part of the Promoter Group of Pudumjee Paper Products Limited, Target Company, TCL and Pudumjee Pulp and Paper Mills Limited with NIL shareholding. 1.7 Vide an email dated November 25, 2016, the Acquirer submitted details regarding the pre- acquisition and post-acquisition shareholding in the Target Company, which is as under Table E Name Pre Acquisition Post Acquisition Shares % Shares % A. Promoter Group

1. Arun Kumar Jatia jointly with Basant Kumar Khaitan (Executor of Will of Shri Mahabir Prasad Jatia) 6,67,462 3.71 0 0

2. Arun Kumar Mahabir Prasad Jatia (Executor of the Will of Smt. Poonam Jatia) 8,99,000 4.99 0 0

3. Yashvardhan Jatia* 5,500 0.03 100 0.00

4. Yashvardhan Jatia Trust 0 0 15,71,862 8.73

5. Arun Kumar Mahabir Prasad Jatia 9,29,000 5.16 9,29,000 5.16

6. Vrinda Jatia 1,50,000 0.84 1,50,000 0.84

7. Vasudha Jatia 1,50,000 0.84 1,50,000 0.84

8. Pudumjee Investment & Finance Co. Ltd. 39,45,790 21.92 39,45,790 21.92

9. Thacker and Company Limited 25,20,210 14.00 25,20,210 14.00

10. Pudumjee Pulp & Paper Mills limited 9,56,725 5.32 9,56,725 5.32

11. Suma Commercial Private Limited 18,48,525 10.26 18,48,525 10.26

12. Chem Mach Private Limited 61,450 0.34 61,450 0.34

13. Fujisan Technologies Limited 8,75,680 4.86 8,75,680 4.86

14. Pudumjee Holding Limited 0 0 0 0

15. Arun Jatia HUF 0 0 0 0

16. Kairos Investments 0 0 0 0

17. Pudumjee Paper Products Limited 0 0 0 0

18. Poonam Jatia Family Trust 0 0 0 0

19. Mahabirprasad Jatia Family Trust 0 0 0 0

20. Pudumjee Hygiene Products Limited 0 0 0 0 B. Total Promoter Group 130,09,342 72.27 130,09,342 72.27 C. Public 49,90,658 27.73 49,90,658 27.73 D. Total (A + B) 1,80,00,000 100 1,80,00,000 100 *Of the 5500 shares of the Target Company held by Master Yashvardhan Jatia, 5400 shares are proposed to be transferred to Yashvardhan Jatia Trust. The remaining 100 shares will be retained by Yashvardhan Jatia. Observations of the Takeover Panel on the Application made by the Proposed Acquirer A. Takeover Panels Recommendations 2.1 In its meeting held on October 20, 2016 (minutes of the said meeting were approved on November 28, 2016), the Takeover Panel made the following observations in relation to enforcing compliance with the conditions specified in the exemption orders passed by SEBI in matters involving acquisition by Trust entities With a view to enforce compliance with the conditions specified in the exemption orders passed by SEBI in trust case, the Panel recommended the following:

(i) The Trust shall confirm, on an annual basis, that it is in compliance with the exemption order passed by SEBI. The said confirmation shall be furnished to the company which it shall disclose prominently as a note to the shareholding pattern filed for the quarter ending March 31 each year, under Regulation 31 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

(ii) The Trust shall get the compliance status certified from an Independent Auditor annually and furnish the same to SEBI. 2.2 Vide letter dated December 22, 2016, the Proposed Acquirer forwarded a duly notarized copy of Supplemental Indenture dated December 21, 2016, to the Trust Deed dated August 22, 2014, containing the following covenants

3. As regards the listed securities to be transferred by natural guardian of Beneficiary and by the respective executors of last wills and testaments of late Mr. Mahabir Prasad Jatia and late Mrs. Poonam Arunkumar Jatia and held by the Trust, the Trustees hereby covenant as under: a. Any change in the trustees/beneficiaries and any change in ownership or control of share or voting rights held by the Trust shall be disclosed to the concerned stock exchanges. b. The provision of the SEBI Act and the regulations framed thereunder will apply on the basis that the ownership or control of shares or voting rights vests not only directly with the trustees but also indirectly with the beneficiaries. c. The trust deed does not contain any limitation of liability of the trustees/ beneficiaries in relation to the provision of the SEBI Act and all regulations framed thereunder. d. The liabilities and obligations of the individual transferors under the SEBI Act and the regulations framed thereunder will not change or get diluted due to the above transfer to the Trust.

4. In order to enable the Trustees to exercise voting rights in respect of the securities held/to be held by the Trust, the Trustees agree and confirm that the following clause shall be added a. Voting Rights in respect of the securities acquired and held by the Trust shall be exercisable by Mr. Arun Kumar Jatia, the Trustee or in his absence, by any other Trustee of the Trust or such other person, as may be decided by the Trustees by a resolution passed by the Trust in this behalf. B. Takeover Panels Recommendations 2.3 The Application dated May 18, 2016, was forwarded to the Takeover Panel in terms of the proviso to Regulation 11(5) of the Takeover Regulations. The matter relating to the Target Company was deliberated by the Takeover Panel in its meeting held on January 7, 2017 (minutes of the said meeting were approved on February 17, 2017). The Takeover Panel made the following observations In the case of Pudumjee Industries Limited, Pudumjee Paper Industries Limited and Thacker and Co. Limited, the Panel took note of SEBI Order dated November 28, 2016 and its recommendation made in the meeting held on March 19, 2016, for granting exemption to the Acquirer (i.e. Yashvardhan Jatia Trust) in the matter of Pudumjee Pulp and Paper Mills Limited. The Panel also noted that all the above mentioned four companies are being managed by the same Promoter Group and all the Promoters belong to the Jatia Group/family and the Acquirer is same in all the cases. In view of the above, the Panel recommended grant of exemption. In the aforesaid Takeover Panels meeting, the recommendation relating to the submission of compliance status certified from an Independent Auditor as recommended in its meeting held on October 20, 2016 (paragraph 2.1), was again deliberated pursuant to which, the Takeover Panel made the following observations The issue of whether the Independent Auditor certified status of compliance with the exemption order should be filed with SEBI or stock exchange was also deliberated by the Panel. The compliance certificate should be filed with the stock exchanges with a copy endorsed to SEBI for its records. Consideration of the Application and Findings 3.1 I have considered the Application alongwith further correspondences/submissions/ clarifications submitted by the Proposed Acquirer; the recommendations of the Takeover Panel and other material available on record. 3.2.1 From the preceding paragraphs, it is noted that A. The Application submitted is in respect of the proposed acquisition and control of the shareholding and voting rights in the Target Company i.e. Pudumjee Industries Limited. B. The aforesaid acquisition is proposed to be made by the Yashvardhan Jatia Trust i.e. the Proposed Acquirer, in the following manner Name Pre Acquisition Post Acquisition Shares % Shares % A. Promoter Group

1. Arun Kumar Jatia jointly with Basant Kumar Khaitan (Executor of Will of Shri Mahabir Prasad Jatia) 6,67,462 3.71 0 0

2. Arun Kumar Mahabir Prasad Jatia (Executor of the Will of Smt. Poonam Jatia) 8,99,000 4.99 0 0

3. Yashvardhan Jatia* 5,500 0.03 100 0

4. Yashvardhan Jatia Trust 0 0 15,71,862 8.73 B. Total 15,71,962 8.73 15,71,962 8.73 *Of the 5500 shares of the Target Company held by Master Yashvardhan Jatia, 5400 shares are proposed to be transferred to Yashvardhan Jatia Trust. The remaining 100 shares will be retained by Yashvardhan Jatia.

i. The Proposed Acquirer i.e. Yashvardhan Jatia Trust, is a private Trust.

ii. Since Shri Arun Kumar Jatia (Settlor), Master Yashvardhan Jatia (Sole beneficiary of the Yashvardhan Jatia Trust) and all the Trustees of the Yashvardhan Jatia Trust with the exception of Shri Gautam N. Jajodia (maternal uncle of Master Yashvardhan Jatia and is a member of the family of the Promoters) are Promoters or belong to the Promoter Group of the Target Company, the Trust is a PAC within the meaning of Regulation 2(q) of the Takeover Regulations.

iii. Yashvardhan Jatia Trust is a part of the Promoter/Promoter Group of the Target Company.

iv. Shri Mahabir Prasad Jatia has bequeathed 6,67,462 (3.71%) shares of the Target Company to his grandson i.e. Master Yashvardhan Jatia, who is also legal owner of the shares.

v. Further, Smt. Poonam Jatia has bequeathed 8,99,000 (4.99%) shares of the Target Company to her son, Master Yashvardhan Jatia.

vi. The shares bequeathed to Master Yashvardhan Jatia are currently being held by Executors of the respective Wills.

vii. 5400 (0.03%) shares of the Target Company are held by Master Yashvardhan Jatia.

viii. The proposal is for transfer of the aforementioned 15,71,862 (8.73%) shares held by the aforementioned current promoters (Arunkumar Mahabir Prasad Jatia jointly with Basant Kumar Khaitan, Arunkumar Mahabir Prasad Jatia, Master Yashvardhan Jatia) to Yashvardhan Jatia Trust. C. The proposed acquisition transaction is pursuant to a private family arrangement for internal realignment of holdings within the Promoter Group family, wherein the shares of the minor beneficiary will be held by Yashvardhan Jatia Trust Proposed Acquirer and will not affect the interest of the public shareholders. D. There will be no change in control of the Target Company pursuant to the proposed acquisition. E. There is no new acquisition of shares by the Promoters Group and the pre-acquisition and post-acquisition shareholding of the Promoter Group in the Target Company will remain the same at 72.27%. F. There will also be no change in the public shareholding of the Target Company. G. The Target Company shall continue to be in compliance with the minimum public shareholding requirements under the Securities Contracts Regulation Rules, 1957 (SCRR) and the Listing Agreement. H. Vide letter dated December 22, 2016, the Proposed Acquirer forwarded a duly notarized copy of Supplemental Indenture dated December 21, 2016, to the Trust Deed dated August 22, 2014, containing the following covenants

3. As regards the listed securities to be transferred by natural guardian of Beneficiary and by the respective executors of last wills and testaments of late Mr. Mahabir Prasad Jatia and late Mrs. Poonam Arunkumar Jatia and held by the Trust, the Trustees hereby covenant as under: a. Any change in the trustees/beneficiaries and any change in ownership or control of share or voting rights held by the Trust shall be disclosed to the concerned stock exchanges. b. The provision of the SEBI Act and the regulations framed thereunder will apply on the basis that the ownership or control of shares or voting rights vests not only directly with the trustees but also indirectly with the beneficiaries. c. The trust deed does not contain any limitation of liability of the trustees/ beneficiaries in relation to the provision of the SEBI Act and all regulations framed thereunder. d. The liabilities and obligations of the individual transferors under the SEBI Act and the regulations framed thereunder will not change or get diluted due to the above transfer to the Trust.

4. In order to enable the Trustees to exercise voting rights in respect of the securities held/to be held by the Trust, the Trustees agree and confirm that the following clause shall be added a. Voting Rights in respect of the securities acquired and held by the Trust shall be exercisable by Mr. Arun Kumar Jatia, the Trustee or in his absence, by any other Trustee of the Trust or such other person, as may be decided by the Trustees by a resolution passed by the Trust in this behalf.

I. From the Takeover Panels Recommendations, the following is reiterated In the case of Pudumjee Industries Limited, Pudumjee Paper Industries Limited and Thacker and Co. Limited, the Panel took note of SEBI Order dated November 28, 2016 and its recommendation made in the meeting held on March 19, 2016, for granting exemption to the Acquirer (i.e. Yashvardhan Jatia Trust) in the matter of Pudumjee Pulp and Paper Mills Limited. The Panel also noted that all the above mentioned four companies are being managed by the same Promoter Group and all the Promoters belong to the Jatia Group/family and the Acquirer is same in all the cases. In view of the above, the Panel recommended grant of exemption. 3.2.2 Considering the aforementioned, I am of the view that exemption as sought for in the Application (read with further correspondences/submissions/clarifications) be granted to the Proposed Acquirer, subject to certain conditions as ordered herein below. Order 4.1 I, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me under Section 19 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (SEBI Act) read with Regulation 11(5) of the Takeover Regulations, hereby grant exemption to the Proposed Acquirer, viz. Yashvardhan Jatia Trust (represented by its Trustee Gautam N. Jajodia), from complying with the requirements of Regulation 3(2) of the Takeover Regulations with respect to its proposed acquisition/exercise of voting rights in respect of the Target Company, viz. Pudumjee Industries Limited, by way of proposed transactions as mentioned in the Application. 4.2 The exemption so granted is subject to the following conditions:

i. The proposed acquisition shall be in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and other applicable laws.

ii. On completion of the proposed acquisition, the Acquirer shall file a report with SEBI in the manner provided in the Takeovers Regulations, within a period of 21 days from the date of such acquisition.

iii. The statements/ averments made or facts and figures mentioned in the Application and in the subsequent correspondences/submissions/clarifications by the proposed acquirer are true and correct.

iv. The provisions of the SEBI Act and the Regulations framed thereunder will apply on the basis that the ownership or control of shares or voting rights vests not only directly with the Trustees but also indirectly with the beneficiaries of the Acquirer.

v. There shall be no limitation of liability of the Trustees/beneficiaries in relation to the provisions of the SEBI Act and all Regulations framed thereunder.

vi. The Proposed Acquirer shall honour their undertakings and shall also ensure compliance with the statements, disclosures and undertakings made in the Application and in their subsequent correspondences.

vii. The Proposed Acquirer/Trust shall confirm, on an annual basis, that they are in compliance with the exemption order passed by SEBI. The said confirmation shall be furnished to the Target Company, which it shall disclose prominently as a note to the shareholding pattern filed for the quarter ending March 31 each year, under Regulation

31 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

viii. The Proposed Acquirer/Trust shall get the compliance status certified from an Independent Auditor annually and furnish the same to the stock exchanges with a copy endorsed to SEBI for its records.

ix. The Proposed Acquirer/Trust shall also ensure that the covenants in the Trust Deed are not contrary to the above conditions and undertaking provided by the transferors. In such case, the Trust Deed shall be suitably modified and expeditiously reported to SEBI. 4.3 The exemption granted above is limited to the requirements of making open offer under the Takeover Regulations and shall not be construed as exemption from the disclosure requirements under Chapter V of the Takeover Regulations; compliance with the SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015; Listing Agreement/SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 or any other applicable Acts, Rules and Regulations. 4.4 The Application dated May 18, 2016 (read with further correspondence/submissions/ clarifications) filed by Yashvardhan Jatia Trust (represented by its Trustee Gautam N. Jajodia), is accordingly disposed of. Place: Mumbai S. RAMAN Date: March 9, 2017 WHOLE TIME MEMBER SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA