Rule · SECP · 20 Nov 2002
Issuers of TFCs to the general public must hold a minimum credit rating of BBB- for both entity and instrument, file an application under Section 57 of the Ordinance, and complete pre-issue steps including feasibility study, pre-IPO placement, underwriting, credit rating, and appointment of Trustee, Bankers to the Issue, Balloters, Registrar and Legal Adviser. The prospectus must disclose all material risks with impact statements and the bold affirmation note, be signed by every director, and TFCs must be listed on at least one stock exchange. Under Shelf Registration, subsequent tranches cannot alter basic features except rate of return, underwriters and risk factors.
Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan NIC Building, Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad
Islamabad, November 20, 2002.
1. Short title and commencement.- (1) These guidelines may be called GUIDELINES FOR THE ISSUE OF TERM FINANCE CERTIFICATES (TFCs) TO GENERAL PUBLIC.
(2) These shall come into force at once.
2.1 These guidelines set out the minimum information required to be disclosed in a Prospectus (including full prospectus, abridged prospectus and supplement to the prospectus) for offer of TFCs to general public (hereinafter referred to as “issue, offer or invitation”) under Section 57 read with Section 120 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (the Ordinance).
2.2 These guidelines are made pursuant to sub-section (4) of Section 20 of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan Act, 1997 in order to facilitate the Issuers to disclose all such information and facts in the prospectus as are required under Section 53 of the Ordinance and 2nd schedule to the Ordinance.
2.3 These guidelines are general in nature and should not be construed as the sole criteria for disclosure. Directors, promoters and advisers to the issue shall have the primary obligation and responsibility in relation to the contents of the Prospectus and they should ensure that all such information and facts that are necessary for assessment of the instrument, offered through the Prospectus, are disclosed.
3. Definitions.- (1) In these guidelines unless there is any thing repugnant in the subject or context,-
(a) “Abridged Prospectus,” means the condensed form of the full Prospectus.
(b) “Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.
(c) “Green Shoe Option (GSO)” means a pre-determined amount of TFCs to be retained in case of over-subscription of the issue.
(d) “Instrument” means the Term Finance Certificate (TFC).
(e) “Shelf Registration” means the sanctioned amount of TFCs to be issued in tranches over a period of time as specified in the Prospectus.
(f) “Supplement to the prospectus” means an updated condensed form of the full prospectus for inviting public subscription through subsequent tranche(s).
(g) “Term Finance Certificate” means a debt instrument issued for the purpose to raise fund in the form of redeemable capital.
(h) “Tranche” means an offer of a certain portion out of the total amount of TFCs approved by the Commission.
(2) All other words and expressions used but not defined in these guidelines shall have the same meanings as are assigned to them in the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (XLVII of 1984) and Securities and Exchange Ordinance,1969 (XVII of 1969)
A Public Limited Company is eligible to offer TFCs to the general public through issue, publication and circulation of prospectus under section 57 read with section 120 of the Ordinance. The entity as well as the instrument should have a minimum credit rating grade of Triple B Minus (BBB-) assigned by a credit rating agency registered with the Commission under the Credit Rating Companies Rules, 1995.
The issuer will be required to file an application with the Commission under Section 57 of the Ordinance for approval to issue, circulate and publish prospectus for offer of TFCs to the general public. Before filing the application the issuer will be required to fulfill the following requirements: -
i) In case of a new project, Expansion or Balancing, Modernization & Replacement (BMR), a feasibility study should be conducted and a report should be prepared.
ii) Pre-IPO placement of TFCs should be finalized.
iii) Underwriting arrangements, if any, should be completed.
iv) Credit rating of the entity as well as the instrument from any rating agency should be carried out.
v) Trustee, Bankers to the Issue, Balloters, Registrar (Transfer Agent) and Legal Adviser to the Issue should be appointed.
vi) Clearance of the prospectus from the concerned stock exchange(s) should be obtained.
vii) Auditor’s certificates as required under Section 53 of the Ordinance read with clause 28(1) of Section 2 of Part-I of the 2nd schedule to the Ordinance should be obtained.
The prospectus should contain all material facts, information and disclosures as required under Section 53 of the Ordinance, and 2nd schedule to the Ordinance. However in order to facilitate the issuers the contents of the Prospectus have been provided for guidance as per Annexure-I, Annexure-II and Annexure-III for full Prospectus, abridged Prospectus and supplement to the Prospectus respectively. In addition to these, the Commission may ask for disclosure of any material information.
7.1 The Prospectus should contain information about all material risks, contingent or otherwise, associated with the lending to the issuer. Any risk disclosed in the Prospectus should be accompanied by a statement indicating the likely impact that the risk factors might have on the issuer and the instrument. If possible, the effects should be quantified. The disclosure should include risks relating to the issuer’s financial performance. Any subsequent material change must be reflected in the supplement to the Prospectus, in case of subsequent tranche(s).
7.2 The material risks set out below are only a guide to some of the types of risks that may apply to the issuer and the instrument. The issuer has an obligation to disclose all material risks, contingent or other wise, in addition to those mentioned below: -
(i) Risks associated with the nature of business of the issuer;
(ii) If the issuer has no operating history or its history is limited, the risks of investing in a new or relatively new venture;
(iii) Risks arising from economic conditions and cycles that are significant or peculiar to the issuer’ s business;
(iv) Risks relating to any form of government control or regulation that, when changed, have financial consequences on the issuer;
(v) Risks relating to legal uncertainties concerning the issuer’s business or operations or contractual agreements;
(vi) Risks relating to financial performance, like covenants under borrowing facility, which limits the issuer/group’s operating and financial flexibilities, foreseeable capital commitments and indebtedness.
(vii) General Risks associated with the issue, instrument, Law & Order situation, etc.
7.3 The risk factors should include a note at the end in bold letters stating the following:- “IT IS AFFIRMED THAT ALL MATERIAL RISK FACTORS HAVE BEEN DISCLOSED TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF AND THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN CONCEALED IN THIS RESPECT”.
The application for subscription of TFCs should be categorized as for Rs. 5,000/-, Rs. 25,000/-, Rs. 50,000/-, Rs. 100,000/- and in multiples of the highest category. The TFCs offered to the general public should be allocated among different categories of applications in the following manner:-
In case of Public Offer Up to Rs. 50 Million
| Category of Application | Reserve Allocation of TFCs |
|---|---|
| For and in multiple of Rs. 5,000/- | 100% of the public offer |
In case of Public Offer above Rs. 50 Million and up to Rs. 100 Million
Category of Application Reserve Allocation of TFCs 1 For Rs. 5,000/- Minimum Rs. 50 million.
2 For Rs. 25,000/
3
For and in multiple of Rs.
50,000/-
The balance should be equally allocated to each category .
In case of Public Offer above Rs. 100 Million
Category of Application Reserve Allocation of TFCs 1 For Rs. 5,000/- 25% of the public offer, Minimum Rs.
50 million.
2 For Rs. 25,000/-
3 For Rs. 50,000/-
4
For and in multiple of Rs.
100,000/-
The balance should be equally allocated to each category.
The issuer will be required to provide all necessary documents alongwith the application for approval of the Commission. These documents have been listed at Annexure-IV
10.1 TFCs can be offered in tranches, however, in case of each subsequent tranche, the issuer will not be permitted to alter the basic features/structure of the issue and the instrument.
10.2 In a supplement to the prospectus for subsequent tranche(s) the issuer cannot make any change except the followings;
i. The rate of return.
ii. List of institutional investors.
iii. Updation of the clauses of Income Tax, Withholding Tax, Wealth Tax, Zakat, Capital Gain where necessary.
iv. Security & Trustee clauses.
v. Expenses of the issue.
vi. Advisors & Arranger
vii. Underwriters.
viii. Bankers to the Issue.
ix. Risk Factors.
x. Material Contracts.
xi. The information about company’s progress and strategy may be up-dated.
xii. Financials may be up-dated.
xiii. Change in the percentage of Green Shoe Option
The approval of Commission for issue, circulation and publication of prospectus shall be valid for a period of 60 days from the date of sanction. The approval of prospectus under Shelf Registration will be valid for a period mentioned therein, however, the company shall submit supplement for approval of the Commission before going public, for subsequent tranches.
The language of the prospectus should be simple, clear, and brief. Relative emphasis and sequencing of different information in a prospectus should be from the perspective of a common investor.
The full Prospectus should be signed by every director of the company as required under sub-section (3) of Section 57 of the Ordinance. The abridged prospectus as well as the supplement should be signed by at least one director authorized by the Board of Directors, Chief Financial Officer and the Company Secretary.
Under the existing Laws, application form for subscription of TFCs are required to be available with the stock exchanges at which the TFCs are to be listed and with its members, the Bankers to the Issue and at the Registered Office of the Company. It is advised that the said forms be made available to other stock exchange(s) as well where the instrument is not listed.
Although under the law subscription money is required to be refunded within ten days of the decision regarding acceptance of applications whereas the said decision is required to be taken within ten days of the closing of the subscription list. It is advised that the decision be made within seven days of the closure of the subscription list and the subscription money is refunded to unaccepted or unsuccessful applicants within five days of the said decision.
In case of Green Field Projects, Expansion or BMR, the issues are required to be fully underwritten.
The primary purpose of the issue should be explained in appropriate detail specifying the use of the subscription proceeds.
In order to further facilitate the investors, broaden the circulation and readability, the Commission would encourage publication of the abridged prospectus and/or supplement in Urdu language in addition to English. The translation should be functional and words from English may be borrowed, where necessary.
The prospectus being a legal document should not be used as a marketing tool. Its layout should be simple and plain. Pictures and fancy formatting are not to be used.
All material expenses of the issue should be disclosed in full including advisory & arrangement fees, trustee fee, stamp duties, listing fee, SEC fee etc.
TFCs to be offered to general public should be listed at least on any one Stock Exchange of the country.
a) The company shall have the instrument rated on continuous basis till its life period and provide the rating to the Stock Exchange(s) where it is listed, the Trustee, TFC holders and the Commission. The TFCs rating should also be disclosed in the accounts of the company.
b) The issuer shall not change the Rating Agency without prior approval of the Commission during the tenure of the TFC.
In order to protect interest of small investors, redemption reserve shall be created in case of unsecured TFCs or bullet payment (repayment of principal in a single chunk at maturity). Only small investors holding TFCs of the value of two hundred thousand rupees or below will be eligible to be compensated, if found necessary, from this fund.
In order to make the TFCs more liquid, the issuers are encouraged to appoint a Market Maker. The Market Maker shall give the offer and bid prices of TFCs daily in the secondary market. A market maker may be a Brokerage House or an Investment Bank.
Trustee shall be appointed by the issuer in all cases irrespective of the fact whether the instrument is secured or not. The power, role, liabilities and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be defined in the Security Trust Deed, as required under Section 119 of the Ordinance.
The TFCs may have different features that should be disclosed in the prospectus. These may include: -
i. Secured or un-secured
ii. Short Term (Maturity/ life upto 12 months)
iii. Long Term (Maturity/ life beyond 12 months)
iv. Role-over at maturity (containing call and put option)
v. Bullet payment i.e repayment of principle amount in one chunk
Prospectus should provide a glossary of the abbreviations and technical terms, if any used therein.
The cover page of the prospectus should contains the following:-
i The words “PROSPECTUS FOR PUBLIC OFFER OF TERM FINANCE CERTIFICATES ” should be written on the top.
ii The following statement should appear near bottom; “THE INVESTORS ARE ADVISED IN THEIR OWN INTEREST TO READ THE CONTENTS OF THE PROSPECTUS ESPECIALLY THE RISK FACTORS CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING ANY INVESTMENT DECISION”
iii Credit Rating Grade alongwith name of Credit rating agency.
iv Total amount of TFCs, amount of respective tranche, if any, and amount to be retained under Green Shoe Option, if any.
v Full name of the issuer. Logo/monogram, if any (optional).
vi Date of Publication of the prospectus;
vii Date of Subscription in bold letters.
viii Full name(s) of the underwriters;
ix Full name of the Adviser/Arranger/Lead manager
The contents of the prospectus should appear in the following order.
Approvals, Consents, & Listing
i. Approval of SECP
ii. Clearance of Prospectus by Stock Exchange
iii. Filing of documents with Registrar
iv. Listing on the Stock Exchange
i. TFC Issue
ii. Opening & Closing of Subscription
iii. Investor Eligibility
iv. Minimum Amount of Application
v. Basis of Allotment of TFCs
vi. Refund of Money to Unsuccessful Applicants
vii. Minimum Subscription
viii. Issue and Dispatch of TFCs
ix. Transfer of TFCs in case of Physical Scrip and Transfer under book entry system
x. TFC Issued in Preceding Two Years
xi. Principal Purpose of the Subscription Money
xii. Instrument Registration
xiii. Redemption of TFCs
xiv. Call and put Options, if any
xv. Redemption Reserve
xvi. Zakat
xvii. Wealth Tax
xviii. Income Tax
xix. Withholding Tax
xx. Capital Gains Tax
xxi. Market Maker/Market Liquidity
xxii. Deferred Taxation
i. Underwriting
ii. No buyback/repurchase Agreement
iii. Underwriting Commission
iv. Commission to Banker to the Issue
v. Brokerage
vi. Expenses of the Issue
i. History
ii. Prospects
Regulatory, Liquidity, Reinvestment, Business Specific, Industry related, Competitors, Suppliers, Consumers risk etc. Risks related to changes in Govt. policies, Law and Order situation etc.
i. Auditor's Certificate under Section 53(1) read with clause 28(1) of Section 2 of Part-I of the 2nd schedule to the Ordinance containing a statement on Break-up Value per share of the issuer
ii. Auditor's Certificate on Issued, Subscribed, & Paid-up Capital
iii. Full Credit Rating Report
i. Security
ii. Trustee
iii. Trust Deed
Management of the Company
i. Management Information
ii. Number of Directors
iii. BOD (Name, Address, Designation, Other Directorships)
iv. Information in respect of dividend payments by group companies in which directors of the issuers holding directorship.
v. Overdue Loans
vi. Power of Directors
vii. Profiles of Chairman, Chief Executive, MD, CFO, COO and Secretary of the Company
viii. Qualification of Directors
ix. Remuneration of Directors
x. Benefits to Promoters & Officers during last two years
xi. Interest of the Directors
xii. Interest of the Director in Property acquired by the Company
xiii. Election of Directors
xiv. Borrowing Power
Miscellaneous Information
a. Addresses of the Registered Office, Head office and Factory
b. Bankers to the Company
c. Bankers to the Issue
d. Auditors
e. Legal Advisor to the Issue
f. Advisors & Arrangers to the Issue
g. Balloter to the Issue
h. Material Contracts (Nature, amount and dates of different agreements executed with respect to the issue and that of Trust Deed, Letter of Hypo; L.Cs etc.)
i. Inspection of Documents & Contracts
j. Legal Proceedings
k. Indemnity
l. Capitalization of Reserves
m. Revaluation of Fixed Assets
n. Memorandum of Association
o. Vendors
p. Subsidiary Companies
q. Associated Companies and investment therein, if any, and latest market value of the this investment
r. Registrar (Transfer Agent)
s. Tax Adviser
Application & Allotment Instructions
i. Allotment instructions
ii. Basis of Allotment
iii. List of Bankers to the issue and their Bank Code
iv. Code of Occupation
Signatories to the Prospectus List of the signatories to the prospectus and their signatures in original duly dated and witnessed
Memorandum of Association
The Application Form should contains allotment instructions, basis of allotment, list of bankers to the issue & their bank code and code of different occupations
Contains word "Abridged Prospectus”, name of issuer, total issue size, subscription date(s), lead advisors and arranger; credit rating, and rating agency and approvals.
Issuer - History including profile of management & sponsors
i. Description of Issue, including rate of return
ii. Primary purpose of issue
iii. Break-up of the issue in Private Placement & Public Offer
iv. Options, if any - Call, Put, Green Shoe, Minimum Subscription
v. Return & Redemption Schedule(s) for smallest denomination
vi. Zakat & Taxes
vii. Listing(s)
viii. Market Maker(s)
i. Risk Factors
ii. Underwriters
iii. Trustee & Responsibility
iv. Security & Negative Pledge
v. Redemption Reserve
vi. Overdue debt servicing liabilities
vii. Legal Cases
viii. Total Expenses to the issue
a. Investor Eligibility
b. Denomination(s)
c. Bankers to the Issue
d. Issue, Dispatch & Transfer of TFCs
e. Address of the issuer
1. Cover Page: - The cover page of the supplement should contains the following: -
i. The words “SUPPLEMENT FOR THE SECOND/THIRD/(whichever is applicable) TRANCHE OF THE FIRST/SECOND/THIRD/(whichever is applicable) PUBLIC OFFER OF TERM FINANCE CERTIFICATES ” should be written on the top.
ii. The following statement should appear near bottom; “THE INVESTORS ARE ADVISED IN THEIR OWN INTEREST TO READ THE CONTENTS OF THE SUPPLEMENT ESPECIALLY THE RISK FACTORS CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING ANY INVESTMENT DECISION”
iii. Credit Rating Grade alongwith name of credit rating agency
iv. Total amount of TFCs, amount of respective tranche, and amount to be retained under Green Shoe Option, if any
v. Full name of the issuer, logo/monogram, if any (optional)
vi. Date of publication of the Supplement
vii. Date of subscription in bold letters
viii. Full name(s) of the underwriters
ix. Full name of the Adviser/Arranger/Lead manager
The contents of the Supplement should appear in the following order.
1. Approvals and list of documents filed with Registrar Joint Stock Companies
2. The Issuer
3. The Tranche
4. Principal purpose of the subscription money
5. Application Procedure
6. Underwriting and expenses of the issue
7. Contracts and Legal Cases
8. Summary of the financial statements
9. Summarized credit rating report
10. Security & Trustee
11. Application and allotment instructions
i. Approval of SECP and clearance from the stock exchange(s).
ii. List of documents filed with Registrar Joint Stock Companies.
iii. Total amount of the Issue and the amount and date(s) of previous tranche(s)
i. History/Background
ii. Project Information
i. The Total amount of TFC under shelf registration, the amount of previous tranche(s), and the break-up of the amount of current tranche in to Pre-IPO and IPO.
ii. Green Shoe Option, if any.
iii. Denomination of TFCs
iv. Redemption of TFCs
v. Call and put Options, if any
vi. Zakat
vii. Wealth Tax
viii. Income Tax
ix. Withholding Tax
x. Capital Gains Tax
xi. Market Maker/Market Liquidity
xii. Deferred Taxation
xiii. Basis of Allotment of TFCs
xiv. Refund of Money to Unsuccessful Applicants
xv. TFC Issued in Preceding Two Years
xvi. Risk Factors
i. Investor eligibility
ii. Opening & closing of subscription
iii. Bankers to the Issue
iv. Minimum amount of application
v. Availability of application forms
i. Legal Cases
ii. Material Contracts
iii. Inspection of Documents and Contracts
i. Security
ii. Trustee
The Application Form should contain allotment instructions, basis of allotment, list of bankers to the issue & their bank code and code of different Occupations
14. Any other material information as directed by the Commission should be disclosed
| S. No. | Name of Document |
|---|---|
| 1. | Application under Section 57(1) of Companies Ordinance, 1984 |
| 2. | Application(s) made to Stock Exchange (s) |
| 3. | Clearance Letter(s) from concerned Stock Exchange (s) |
| 4. | Affidavit, on Non-Judicial Stamp Paper, from Chief Executive & Chief Financial Officer on accuracy of disclosure, certified by Oath Commissioner |
| 5. | Power of Attorney, on Non-Judicial Stamp Paper, in favor of consultants to the issue, certified by Notary Public |
| 6. | Application filing and processing fee of Rs. 25,000/- |
| 7. | Draft full Prospectus (alongwith abridged prospectus, if any) with the last page signed in original by all directors of the company and duly witnessed |
| 8. | Certificate from auditors under Section 53(1) of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 and statement on break-up value per share |
| 9. | Consent from Experts/Auditors under Section 55 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 |
| 10. | Consents from Bankers to the issue |
| 11. | Consent from Balloter to the issue |
| 12. | Consent from Legal Advisor to the issue |
| 13. | Consents from Chief Executive and Directors |
| 14. | Consent from Company Secretary |
| 15. | Form-28 duly certified from concerned Company Registration Office (CRO) |
| 16. | Form-29 duly certified from concerned CRO |
| 17. | Feasibility Report and/or Information Memorandum |
| 18. | Copy of only one Investor Agreement in full, if the terms and conditions of all the Agreements are same, along with key pages of others |
| 19. | Copies of Underwriting Agreements (if underwritten) |
| 20. | Certificate(s) on non-judicial stamp paper regarding no-buy-back / re-purchase agreement from sponsors/sponsoring directors |
| 21. | Certificate(s) on non-judicial stamp paper regarding no-buy-back / re-purchase agreement from underwriters (if underwritten) |
| 22. | Audited Annual Accounts for the last five years |
| 23. | Full Credit Rating Report |
| 24. | Trust Deed |
| 25. | Letter of Hypothecation along with details of assets hypothecated |
| 26. | Undertaking from the Balloter, Transfer Agent (Registrar to the Issue) and Underwriter(s) that they fulfill all the conditions of rule-4 of the Balloters, Transfer Agents and Underwriters Rules, 2001 |
| 27. | Copy of Memorandum and Articles of Association duly certified from the concerned Company Registration office (CRO) |
| 28. | Undertaking on non-judicial stamp paper from the directors of the company that all legal proceedings other than ordinary routine litigations incidental to the business of the company as described in clause 27 of the part-I of 2nd schedule to the Companies Ordinance, 1984, have been disclosed in the prospectus |
| 29. | Application for clearance, of any advertisement in the press and/or |
electronic media, inviting public subscription for TFCs
| 30. | Copy of Certificate of Incorporation duly Certified from concerned CRO |
|---|---|
| 31. | Copy of Certificate of Commencement of Business duly Certified from concerned CRO |
| 32. | Certificate from Auditors testifying subscription of sponsors’ money |
| 33. | Form-3 Certified from concerned CRO |
| 34. | Form-27 duly Certified from concerned CRO |
| 35. | Auditors certificate confirming receipt of proceeds of subscription of TFCs under Pre-IPO placement three days prior to the subscription date |
|---|---|
| 36. | Ten printed copies of the Prospectus along with copies of all newspapers in which the prospectus has been published within two days of the publication |
| 37. | Supplemental Trust Deed and Letter of Hypothecation, where necessary |
|---|---|
| 38. | Report containing information about the public issue, advertisement of the Prospectus, subscription received, basis of allotment, refund made and related matters, within 30 days of the public offer The Report to be submitted to the Commission within 30 days of the Public Subscription should include information on the following: 1. Brief History and Financial Highlights of the Issuer; 2. Summary of the TFC Issue including; Amount (Pre-IPO and IPO), Tenor, Return, green shoe option, Credit Rating, Listing etc.; 3. Sector-wise breakup of Private Placement Investors (Amounts and percentage of total Pre-IPO); 4. Total number and amount of Applications received in response to the Public Offer; 5. Odd Amounts or Multiple Applications received if any; 6. Refunds or Confiscation (of multiple applications if any); 7. Exercise of green shoe option; and Sector-wise breakup of successful applicants in the public offer (Amount and percentage of total public offer & Green shoe Option, if any). |
| 39. | Statement regarding the payment of profit/interest on TFCs and redemption of the principle amount, regularly on semiannual basis |
Note: Copies of all the documents should be truly certified by the Company Secretary.
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“These guidelines are made pursuant to sub-section (4) of Section 20 of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan Act, 1997”
“under Section 57 read with Section 120 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (the Ordinance).”
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