IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016 (Amended upto 07.08.2020)

1 INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY BOARD OF INDIA (INSOLVENCY RESOLUTION PROCESS FOR CORPORATE PERSONS) REGULATIONS, 20161 [AMENDED UPTO 07.08.2020] IBBI/2016-17/GN/REG004. - In exercise of the powers conferred under sections 5, 7, 9, 14, 15, 17, 18, 21, 24, 25, 29, 30, 196 and 208 read with section 240 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (31 of 2016), the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India hereby makes the following Regulations, namely- CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY 1. Short title and commencement. (1) These Regulations may be called the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016. (2) These Regulations shall come into force on 1st December, 2016. (3) These Regulations shall apply to the corporate insolvency resolution process. 2. Definitions. (1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires- (a) “applicant” means the person(s) filing an application under sections 7, 9 or 10, as the case may be; 2[(aa) “class of creditors” means a class with at least ten financial creditors under clause (b) of sub-section (6A) of section 21 and the expression, “creditors in a class” shall be construed accordingly.] (b) “Code” means the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016; (c) “Code of Conduct” means the code of conduct for insolvency professionals as set out in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Professionals) Regulations, 2016; 1Vide Notification No. IBBI/2016-17/GN/REG004, dated 30th November, 2016, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Sec.4, vide No. 432, dated 30th November, 2016 (w.e.f. 01-12-2016). 2Inserted by Notification No. IBBI/2018-19/GN/REG031, dated 3rd July, 2018 (w.e.f. 04-07-2018). 2 (d) “committee” means a committee of creditors established under section 21; (e) “corporate insolvency resolution process” means the insolvency resolution process for corporate persons under Chapter II of Part II of the Code; (f) 3[***] (g) “electronic form” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000); (h) “electronic means” mean an authorized and secured computer programme which is capable of producing confirmation of sending communication to the participant entitled to receive such communication at the last electronic mail address provided by such participant and keeping record of such communication. 4[“(ha) “evaluation matrix” means such parameters to be applied and the manner of applying such parameters, as approved by the committee, for consideration of resolution plans for its approval; (hb) “fair value” means the estimated realizable value of the assets of the corporate debtor, if they were to be exchanged on the insolvency commencement date between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm’s length transaction, after proper marketing and where the parties had acted knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion.] (i) “identification number” means the Limited Liability Partnership Identification Number or the Corporate Identity Number, as the case may be; (j) “insolvency professional entity” means an entity recognised as such under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Professionals) Regulations, 2016; (k) 5[“liquidation value” means the estimated realizable value of the assets of the corporate debtor, if the corporate debtor were to be liquidated on the insolvency commencement date.] 3 Omitted by Notification No. IBBI/2018-19/GN/REG032, dated 5th October, 2018 (w.e.f. 05.10.2018). Prior to omission, clause (f) stood as under:- “dissenting financial creditor” means a financial creditor who voted against the resolution plan or abstained from voting for the resolution plan, approved by the committee;” 4Inserted by Notification No. IBBI/2017-18/GN/REG024, dated 6th February, 2018 (w.e.f. 06-02-2018). 5Substituted by Notification no. IBBI/2017-18/GN/REG024, dated 6th February, 2018 (w.e.f. 06-02-2018). Clause (k), before substitution, stood as under: - “2(k) “liquidation value” means the amount determined in accordance with Regulation 35;” 3 (l) “participant” means a person entitled to attend a meeting of the committee under section 24 or any other person authorised by the committee to attend the meeting; (m) “registered valuer” means a person registered as such in accordance with the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013) and rules made thereunder; (n) “Schedule” means the schedule to these Regulations; (o) “section” means section of the Code; (p) “video conferencing or other audio and visual means” means such audio and visual facility which enables the participants in a meeting to communicate concurrently with one another and to participate effectively in the meeting. (2) Unless the context otherwise requires, words and expressions used and not defined in these Regulations, but defined in the Code, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Code. CHAPTER II GENERAL 3. Eligibility for resolution professional. (1) An insolvency professional shall be eligible to be appointed as a resolution professional for a corporate insolvency resolution process of a corporate debtor if he, and all partners and directors of the insolvency professional entity of which he is a partner or director, are independent of the corporate debtor. Explanation– A person shall be considered independent of the corporate debtor, if he: (a) is eligible to be appointed as an independent director on the board of the corporate debtor under section 149 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013), where the corporate debtor is a company; (b) is not a related party of the corporate debtor; or (c) is not an employee or proprietor or a partner: (i) of a firm of auditors or 6[secretarial auditors] in practice or cost auditors of the corporate debtor; or 6Substituted by Notification No. IBBI/2017-18/ GN/ REG030, dated 27th March, 2018 (w.e.f.01-04-2018). Regulation 3 (1) (c) (i), before substitution, stood as under: “(i) of a firm of auditors or company secretaries in practice or cost auditors of the corporate debtor; or”. 4 (ii) of a legal or a consulting firm, that has or had any transaction with the corporate debtor amounting to 7[five per cent] or more of the gross turnover of such firm, in the last three financial years. 8[(1A) Where the committee decides to appoint the interim resolution professional as resolution professional or replace the interim resolution professional under section 22 or replace the resolution professional under section 27, it shall obtain the written consent of the proposed resolution professional in Form AA of the Schedule.] (2) A resolution professional shall make disclosures at the time of his appointment and thereafter in accordance with the Code of Conduct. (3) A resolution professional, who is a director or a partner of an insolvency professional entity, shall not continue as a resolution professional in a corporate insolvency resolution process if the insolvency professional entity or any other partner or director of such insolvency professional entity represents any of the other stakeholders in the same corporate insolvency resolution process. 4. Access to books. (1) Without prejudice to section 17(2)(d), the interim resolution professional may access the books of account, records and other relevant documents and information, to the extent relevant for discharging his duties under the Code, of the corporate debtor held with- (a) depositories of securities; (b) professional advisors of the corporate debtor; (c) information utilities; (d) other registries that records the ownership of assets; (e) members, promoters, partners, board of directors and joint venture partners of the corporate debtor; and (f) contractual counterparties of the corporate debtor. 7Substituted by Notification No. IBBI/2018-19/GN/REG031, dated 3rd July, 2018 (w.e.f. 04-07-2018). Before substitution, the words stood as under: “ten per cent” 8Inserted by Notification No. IBBI/2018-19/GN/REG031, dated 3rd July, 2018 (w.e.f. 04-07-2018).