SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
NOTIFICATION
Islamabad, 20 August,
2008
S.R.O. 867(I)/2008.- In exercise of the
powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 282B of the Companies Ordinance,
1984 (XLVII of 1984), the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan hereby
makes the following Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund Regulations, 2008
for the regulation of the Fund Management Companies and the registration and
regulation of the Private Equity and Venture Capital Funds and for matters
connected therewith and incidental thereto.
THE PRIVATE EQUITY AND VENTURE CAPITAL FUND
REGULATIONS, 2008
CHAPTER – I Preliminary
1. Short title and commencement. (1)
These Regulations shall be called the Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund
Regulations, 2008.
(2) They shall come into force at
once.
2. Definitions. (1) In these Regulations, unless the context
otherwise requires:-
(i) “Capital
Call” means the demand made by the FMC for all or part of the remaining amount
of the subscription committed by the Holder;
(ii) “Connected Person” includes:-
(a)
any person who directly or indirectly controls,
beneficially owns or holds ten (10) percent or more paid up capital of the FMC
or the Trustee;
(b)
any member of a group of which persons specified in
sub-clause (a) forms part of; or
(c)
any director or Key Executives of the FMC or the
Trustee as the case may be, or any of their Connected Person as specified in
sub-clauses
(a) and (b):
Explanation:- In this definition the
term “controls” shall have the same meaning as assigned to the term “control”
under the Listed Companies
(Substantial Acquisition of
Voting Shares and Takeovers) Ordinance, 2002;
(iii)
“Constitutive Documents” means the principal documents
governing the formation of the Fund established by an FMC and includes the
Trust Deed, Placement Memorandum, Subscription Agreement and all related
material documents;
(iv)
“Credit Rating Company” means a Credit Rating Company
registered under the Credit Rating Companies Rules, 1995 or any foreign credit
rating company whose rating is acceptable to the Commission;
(v)
“Eligible Investor” means a person who intends to
invest in the Fund established by an FMC and executes a declaration, in the
form specified in Schedule V;
(vi)
“Exchange” shall have the same meaning as defined in
section 2(1)(da) of Securities and Exchange Ordinance, 1969 (XVII of 1969);
(vii)
“Fit and Proper Criteria” means the criteria specified
by the Commission and annexed to these Regulations as Schedule II;
(viii)
“Foreign Entity” means an entity or association
established or formed outside
Pakistan and engaged in the
business of private equity or venture capital;
(ix)
“Foreign Money” means the money raised by a Foreign
Entity from outside Pakistan and transferred to Pakistan through banking
channels for investment in Investee;
(x)
“Form” means any of the forms annexed to these
Regulations or any other forms as may be specified by the Commission for the
purposes of these Regulations;
(xi)
“FMC” means the Fund Management Company licensed by the
Commission as
a NBFC
to launch the Fund and provide PE & VC Fund Management Services with
respect to it;
(xii)
“Fund” means the Private Equity and Venture Capital
Fund which is:-
a in
the form of a closed-end trust structure established by a FMC and registered
with the Commission; or
b a
Foreign Entity which has established a place of business in Pakistan and is
investing only Foreign Money in Pakistan and is registered with the
Commission;
(xiii)
“Holders” means one or more Eligible Investor who is
the legal owner of one or more Units of the Fund established by an FMC and
whose name appears in the Register;
(xiv)
“Investee” means a company incorporated in Pakistan in
which Investible Funds are invested;
(xv)
“Investible Funds” means the capital raised through the
issuance of Units and the retained earnings;
(xvi)
“Key Executives” includes the chief executive officer,
chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, chief operating officer,
company secretary, internal auditor and the compliance officer irrespective of
their designation;
(xvii)
“NBFC” means a non-banking finance company incorporated
and licensed by the Commission;
(xviii) “Net
Assets” means the difference between the market value of assets and liabilities
of the Fund established by an FMC on any given date;
(xix)
“NAV per Unit” means the Net Assets divided by the
number of Units outstanding at any given date;
(xx)
“Ordinance” means the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (XLVII
of 1984);
(xxi)
“Placement Memorandum” means a document, containing
information specified in Schedule IV, inviting Eligible Investors to invest in
Units;
(xxii)
“PE & VC Fund Management Services” mean the Private
Equity and Venture Capital Fund Management Services provided by the FMC or the
Foreign Entity as the case may be for the management and administration of the
Fund in accordance with these Regulations;
(xxiii) “Private
Placement” means the sale of Units without a public advertisement for offer to
sell;
(xxiv) “Register”
means the Register recording the details of the Units held by each Holder;
(xxv)
“Regulations” means the Private Equity and Venture
Capital Fund Regulations, 2008 and their annexed Forms and Schedules;
(xxvi) “Rules”
mean the Non-Banking Finance Companies (Establishment and Regulation) Rules,
2003;
(xxvii)
“Schedule” means the Schedule annexed to these
Regulations;
(xxviii) “Subscription
Agreement” means an agreement, between the FMC and the Eligible Investor for
subscribing to the Units, containing information specified in Schedule VI;
(xxix) “Trust
Deed” means the deed executed between the FMC and the Trustee with respect to
the Fund;
(xxx)
“Trustee” means a trustee, appointed in respect of the
Fund established by an FMC in accordance with Regulation 15;
(xxxi)
“Units” mean the instrument of ownership of the Fund
established by an FMC signifying the beneficial interest of the Holders in the
Fund.
(2)
Words and expressions used in these Regulations in
singular shall include plural and vice versa and words importing masculine
gender shall be taken to include the female gender.
(3)
Words and expressions used but not defined in these
Regulations shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in the Ordinance
and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan Act (XLII of 1997), and
the rules and regulations made under them.
CHAPTER – II
Fund Management Company and Foreign Entities
3. Conditions applicable to FMC.- In
addition to the conditions and requirements of the Rules, a FMC shall:-
(a)
have a minimum paid up capital of Rupees thirty (30)
million;
(b)
state in its memorandum of association that its
exclusive object is to establish the Fund and provide PE & VC Fund
Management Services;
(c)
ensure that each of its promoters, proposed directors
and Key Executives satisfy the Fit and Proper Criteria;
(d)
appoint at least two of its promoters as directors;
(e)
maintain adequate financial, technical, organizational
and human resources, and employ appropriate systems, procedures, processes and
personnel to provide PE & VC Fund Management Services in a proper and
efficient manner on an ongoing basis;
(f)
not takeover the management of another Fund unless
prior written approval has been obtained from the Commission;
(g)
maintain satisfactory internal controls and written
compliance procedures which address all applicable regulatory requirements; and
(h)
pay to the Commission, such non-refundable fees as
specified in Schedule I.
4. Obligations of the FMC.- A FMC
shall:-
(a)
manage the Fund, in accordance with the Constitutive
Documents and all applicable laws including notifications, circulars,
guidelines and directives issued under them in the interest of Holders, without
gaining any undue advantage for itself or any of its Connected Persons;
(b)
ensure that the Fund has minimum Investible Funds of
Rupees two hundred and fifty million and the initial subscription is not less
then 10 percent of the Investible Funds and the remaining balance is paid up
within 36 months of the registration of the Fund;
(c)
ensure that in case of a Capital Call the Holders are
given at least two weeks time period in writing after a Capital Call is made;
(d)
along with its Connected Persons, not hold more than 30
percent of the Units of the Fund;
(e)
carry out all transactions involving the Fund on an
arm’s length basis;
(f)
ensure that the investments made out of the Investible
Funds are properly identified and are held for the benefit of the Holders in
accordance with the provisions of the Constitutive Documents, the Rules, these
Regulations and all other applicable laws;
(g)
issue Units to Eligible Investors after full payment
for such Units has been received by the Trustee;
(h)
ensure that the issuance of Units is carried out in
accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, the Constitutive Documents
and any directions, guidelines and circulars issued by the Commission;
(i)
maintain the Register of Holders or appoint an agent
for the purpose;
(j)
obtain the written approval of the Commission before
delegating one or more of its functions, and:
(i)
ensure that its delegates have sufficient experience
and financial resources to enable them to conduct the delegated function;
(ii)
demonstrate that proper due diligence procedures and
management or administrative structures are in place for the selection and
on-going monitoring of the delegates;
(iii)
ensure that the agreement between the FMC and each of
the delegate clearly documents:
a.
the demarcation of functions; and
b.
the consideration payable by the FMC for the
performance of the delegated functions;
(iv)
if it delegates its power to maintain the Register to
an agent approved by the Commission, inform the Commission, within two (2)
working
days of such delegation; and
(v)
make payments to the delegate from its own account:
Provided that the FMC shall not delegate its function of performing PE
& VC Fund Management Services;
(k)
be responsible for the acts or omissions of all
persons, to whom it delegates any of its functions as FMC and account for any
loss in value of the Fund where such loss is attributable to the FMC or any
delegate of the FMC due to their negligence or willful default;
(l)
maintain at its registered office, proper books and
record of account and activities undertaken in connection with the Fund in
order to enable a true and fair view to be formed of the:
(i)
assets and liabilities of the Fund;
(ii)
the profit and loss accruing out of the operation of
the Fund;
(iii)
transactions undertaken with respect to the Fund;
(iv)
amounts received in respect of issue of Units; and
(v)
pay-outs, if any, by way of distributions to the
Holders;
(m)
maintain the books and record of the Fund till five
years after the life of the Fund;
(n)
within three (3) months of close of the financial year
of the Fund, prepare as per the approved and applicable International
Accounting Standards and International Financial Reporting Standards, and
transmit to the Holders and the Commission, with respect to the Fund: (i)
the annual report;
(ii)
the balance sheet stating details of investments
depicting cost and realizable value of
such investments;
(iii)
profit and loss statement;
(iv)
cash flow statement;
(v)
auditors report; and
(vi)
statement of movement in NAV per Unit of the Fund;
(o)
prepare, as per the approved and applicable
International Accounting Standards and International Financial Reporting
Standards, and transmit to the Holders and the Commission, within one month of
the close of the first and third quarter and two months of the close of the
second quarter of the financial year of the Fund, with respect to the
Fund:
(i)
the balance sheet stating details of investments ;
(ii)
profit and loss statement;
(iii)
cash flow statement;
(iv)
auditors report for the half yearly accounts;
Provided that the Commission
may, subject to such conditions as it considers necessary, allow the FMC to
transmit the said quarterly accounts electronically to the Holders;
(p)
after the consent of the Trustee, appoint an auditor of
the Fund upon its establishment or the occurrence of any vacancy:
Provided that the auditor so
appointed shall be from amongst the list of auditors approved by the Commission
and shall not be the auditor of the FMC or the Fund for more than five
consecutive years;
(q)
ensure that no material change in the investment policy
or objectives of the
Fund
is made without the approval of the Holders through a special resolution;
(r)
cause a determination of the NAV per Unit of the Fund
to take place on an annual basis;
(s)
ensure that the latest NAV per Unit of the Fund along
with the valuation methodology employed is published in the annual accounts of
the Fund;
(t)
ensure that the Trust Deed is in accordance with
Schedule III and provides for the time and modality of the extinguishment of the
Fund and the manner in which the proportionate shares of the sale proceeds
shall be transferred to its Holders;
(u)
immediately inform the Commission of any special
resolution passed by the Holders;
(v)
ensure that after the extinguishment of the trust, the proceeds
are distributed amongst the Holders and the Fund is dissolved;
(w)
provide a copy of the Constitutive Documents to the
Eligible Investors; and
(x)
immediately inform the Commission in writing if any
information or particulars previously submitted to the Commission are later
found to be false or misleading in any material particular or if there is any
change in the information already submitted.
5.
Request for transfer of management of the Fund and cancellation of
license of FMC. (1) A FMC may
transfer the management of a Fund managed by it to another licensed FMC, after
the approval of the Holders of both the Funds is obtained through a special
resolution:
Provided
that in such case the FMC and its promoters shall not vote at such meetings and
their presence shall not be counted towards the requisite voting for such
special resolution.
(2) A
FMC shall apply to the Commission
for the cancellation of its license, after it has transferred the management
and the Units to another FMC provided that it is not managing another
Fund.
6. Foreign Entity investing only Foreign
Money.- (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of these Regulations a Foreign
Entity which is investing only Foreign Money in Pakistan shall fulfill the
following conditions:
(a)
establish its office in Pakistan;
(b)
immediately inform the Commission in writing of any
change in the information submitted to the Commission; and
(c)
submit its application with a non-refundable
application fee as specified in Schedule I.
(2)
In case only Foreign Money is to be invested in
Investees, the Foreign Entity shall make an application to the Commission in
Form III for the registration of the Fund.
(3)
If the Commission is satisfied with the application
made under Regulation 6(2), it may register the Foreign Entity in Pakistan as a
Fund in Form IV:
Provided that the Commission may while
registering the Fund impose such conditions as it deems appropriate.
(4)
A Foreign Entity which is investing only Foreign Money
in Investees shall be exempted from compliance with these Regulations except
Regulations 6.
(5)
The registration granted through Form IV may be
cancelled by the Commission after providing the Foreign Entity a reasonable
opportunity of being heard.
7. Foreign Entity seeking local subscription.- Where in addition to the Foreign Money participation
of local Eligible Investors is sought by the Foreign Entity or the Foreign
Entity wants to raise money exclusively from local Eligible Investors, the
Foreign Entity shall form an FMC and such FMC shall thereafter make an
application for the registration of a Fund under Regulation 10.
CHAPTER – III
Registration of the Fund to be established by FMC
8.
No Fund to
operate without Registration.- No Fund established by an FMC shall operate
or be established unless it is registered with the Commission and no Units
shall be offered unless the Constitutive Documents have been approved by the
Commission.
9.
Conditions
for registration of a Fund.- The Commission may register a Fund established
by an FMC if it fulfils the following conditions:
(a)
the approval of the Trustee has been obtained from the
Commission;
(b)
the Trust Deed is in accordance with the provisions of
Schedule III and approved by the Commission and thereafter duly
registered;
(c)
the sole object of the Fund is to carry out activities
in furtherance of the interest of the Holders, in accordance with the strategy
stated in the Constitutive Documents;
(d)
the Fund, including all investments out of the
Investible Funds, shall be managed in compliance with the provisions of the
Ordinance, these Regulations and any other applicable laws;
(e)
the Fund shall only invest in Investees;
(f)
Units of the Fund shall at all times be held by at
least five (5) Holders;
(g)
the Holders that are close relatives shall not hold
more than thirty percent of the Units;
(h)
the Fund shall undertake only those activities that are
in accordance with these Regulations and such activities shall be disclosed in
the Placement Memorandum; and
(i)
any other condition specified by the Commission.
10.
Application
for registration.- Subject to the fulfillment of conditions specified under
Regulation 9, an application for registration of a Fund shall be submitted by
the FMC in Form I and shall be accompanied by the following:
(a)
Constitutive Documents of the Fund in accordance with
the
requirements of these
Regulations;
(b)
copy of the registered Trust Deed as approved by the
Commission;
(c)
latest audited balance sheet and profit and loss
statement of the FMC:
Provided that if the financial
statements are earlier than six months of the date of the application, then in
addition to such financial statements a certificate from the auditor evidencing
the net worth of the company shall also be submitted and such certificate shall
not be earlier than thirty (30) days of the date of the application;
(d)
list of the directors of FMC, their profile and consent
to act as directors of the FMC;
(e)
list of shareholders of the FMC along with their
percentage of shareholding;
(f)
the latest audited balance sheet, profit and loss
account, cash flow statement and statement of change in equity of the Trustee
and the names of their shareholders along with their percentage of
shareholding;
(g)
copy of approval of the Commission approving the
appointment of Trustee under Regulation 15;
(h)
an affidavit by the chief executive of the FMC that it
accepts responsibility for the information contained in the application for
registration of the Fund as being accurate at the date of submission;
(i)
an undertaking by the FMC that the FMC and the Trustee
are not Connected Persons;
(j)
consent letter of the Trustee to act as a Trustee under
these Regulations;
(k)
non-refundable application fee as specified in Schedule
I; and (l) any other documents
required by the Commission.
11.
Registration
of the Fund.- (1) The Commission may register the Fund in Form II if it is
satisfied that the applicable conditions have been satisfied.
(2) The Commission may while registering the
Fund impose such conditions as it deems appropriate.
12. Procedure where registration is not
granted.- (1) The Commission may reject an application for the registration
of a Fund, made under Regulation 10, after recording its reasons in
writing.
(2)
The Commission shall not reject an application made
under Regulation 10 unless it has given the FMC a reasonable opportunity of
being heard.
(3)
The decision of the Commission to reject an application
shall be final and communicated to the FMC within three (3) working days of the
rejection.
13.
Cancellation
of registration of the Fund.- The Commission may cancel the registration of
a Fund established by an FMC after informing the Trustee and providing the FMC
an opportunity of being heard if:
(a)
the Commission determines that such action is in the
best interest of the Holders;
(b)
the Holders, through a special resolution, request the
Commission on
reasonable grounds to cancel the
registration of the Fund; or
(c)
the Trustee satisfies the Commission, on reasonable
grounds that continuation of the Fund is not in the interest of its
Holders.
14.
Effect of
cancellation of registration of a Fund.- (1) Where the Commission cancels
the registration of a Fund, the Commission
may move for the revocation of the trust in terms of the Trust Deed.
(2)
The distribution of the Fund established by an FMC and
liquidation of assets, upon the revocation of the trust, shall be made by the
Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Trust Deed.
(3)
The trust shall stand extinguished after disposal of
all assets and distribution of proceeds of such disposal to Holders.
(4)
The provisions of these Regulations shall not preclude
the authority of the Commission to exercise any other powers under the
Ordinance or any other law administered by the Commission.
CHAPTER – IV
Trustee
15. Appointment of Trustee.- (1) The
Trustee for the Fund established by
an FMC shall be appointed by the FMC subject to the provisions of these
Regulations.
(2)
The FMC shall apply to the Commission for the approval
of appointment of Trustee before it applies for the registration of the Fund
under Regulation 10.
(3)
The Commission shall, before giving approval for
appointment of Trustee, consider the availability of appropriate systems,
personnel, management of the Trustee and such other criteria, as may be
specified by the Commission through circulars issued under the Ordinance.
16.
Trustee and
the FMC to be independent.- The Trustee shall not be a Connected Person,
associated company or associated undertaking of the FMC.
17. Qualifications to act as Trustee.- The
Trustee shall be:
(a)
a scheduled bank licensed under the Banking Companies
Ordinance, 1962 (LVII of 1962) or a Development Financial Institution (DFI) which
has been assigned a long term minimum rating of “AA” by a Credit Rating
Company, and has been in operation for at least five (5) years;
(b)
a trust company which is a subsidiary of a scheduled
bank referred to in clause 17 (a);
(c)
a foreign bank operating as a scheduled bank in
Pakistan for at least five (5) years which has been assigned a minimum
investment grade rating by a Credit Rating Company;
(d)
a depository registered with the Commission pursuant to
the Central Depository Companies (Establishment and Regulation) Rules, 1996; or
(e)
such other entity as the Commission may specify through
circular issued under
the Ordinance.
18.
Retirement
of Trustee.- (1) The Trustee may, subject to the prior written approval of
the Commission, retire from its office on the appointment of another Trustee
proposed by the FMC and approved by the Commission.
(2)
The retirement of a Trustee shall take effect from the
date of transfer of the Fund to the newly appointed Trustee:
Provided
that the cost of transfer of the Fund to the new Trustee shall be borne by the
retiring Trustee unless directed otherwise by the Commission.
(3)
For the purpose of appointment of a Trustee under
Regulation 18(1), the Trust Deed may be amended in accordance with provisions
of the Trusts Act, 1882 (II of 1882).
19. Removal of the Trustee.- (1) The
Trustee may be removed by the Commission after serving a written notice to the
FMC and the Trustee in any one or more of the following circumstances:
(a)
the Trustee goes into liquidation, becomes bankrupt or
has a receiver or administrator appointed; or
(b)
the Commission itself or on an application by the FMC,
after recording reasons in writing, decides that a change of the Trustee is
desirable in the interests of Holders; or
(c)
in the case of a Fund registered under Regulation 11,
by a special resolution is passed by Holders resolving that the Trustee should
be removed:
Provided that no order shall be made under Regulation 19(1) (b) or (c)
unless the Trustee has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard by
the Commission.
(2)
For purposes of Regulation 19(1)(c), the Commission may
call a meeting of the Holders on the request of Holders holding not less than
twenty (20) percent of the Units, and the Connected Persons of the Trustee
shall not vote at such meetings and their presence shall not be counted towards
requisite voting for the special resolution.
(3)
Where a Trustee has been removed under Regulation 19(1)
the FMC shall, in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, appoint
another Trustee.
(4)
All costs with respect to the change of Trustee will be
borne by the Fund unless directed otherwise by the Commission.
20. Obligations of the Trustee.- The
Trustee shall:
(a)
exercise due diligence and vigilance in carrying out
its functions and duties under the Constitutive Documents, these Regulations
and all other applicable laws;
(b)
ensure that the title to all assets of the Fund is
lawfully vested in it;
(c)
ensure that the assets of the Fund are properly held on
behalf of the Holders and managed for the benefit of the Holders in accordance
with the provisions of the Constitutive Documents, these Regulations and all
other applicable laws;
(d)
not delegate any of its duties unless the Trust Deed
allows for such delegation;
(e)
make payments to delegate from its own account, if it
has delegated any of its functions;
(f)
be liable for any negligent act or omission, on its
part or on the part of any of its delegates;
(g)
not legally or beneficially own Units;
(h)
receive the payments from Eligible Investors or the
Foreign Entity for the subscription of Units;
(i)
deposit the money received by the Fund in a scheduled
bank which has a minimum long term “A” rating;
(j)
carry out the instructions of the FMC in respect of
investments out of the Investible Fund unless such instructions are in conflict
with the Constitutive Documents, these Regulations, directions, guidelines,
circulars or any other applicable law; and
(k)
immediately inform the Commission of any action of the
FMC that contravenes the Ordinance, the Rules these Regulations, guidelines,
codes, circulars, directives or any other applicable laws.
CHAPTER – VI
Investment Conditions and Restrictions
21.
Minimum
investment in a Fund.- The FMC may raise capital for a Fund from an
Eligible Investor through issue of Units in accordance with the following
conditions:
(a)
the FMC shall neither make nor accept any offer for
subscription to the Units of a Fund of an amount less than Rupees ten (10)
million:
Provided that the restriction
contained in this clause shall not apply to employees, officers or directors of
the FMC; and
(b)
every Eligible Investor approached for raising capital
for a Fund shall be provided the Placement Memorandum and a copy of the
declaration required under Schedule V.
22.
Investment
conditions and restrictions. - (1) All investments from the Investible
Funds shall be made in Investee subject to the following conditions:-
(a)
the FMC shall make investments which are in conformity
with its investment strategy as disclosed in its Placement Memorandum;
(b)
the Investible Funds may be invested with a Connected
Person of the FMC or the Trustee only if adequate disclosure to this effect has
been made in the investment strategy stated in the Placement Memorandum;
(2)
In the event that any of the conditions specified in Regulation 22(1) is
breached:
(a)
the FMC or the Trustee shall promptly inform the
Holders and the Commission of the breach, the reasons for the breach, and the
proposed steps for rectification; and
(b)
the FMC shall rectify the breach within such period as
the Commission may specify.
23. Prohibition on listing.- The Units of a
Fund shall not be listed on any Exchange.
24.
Life of the
Fund.- (1) A Fund established by an FMC shall be established for a specific
period of time not exceeding fifteen (15) years and such period shall be stated
in the Constitutive Documents.
(2)
The Fund established by an FMC shall be dissolved and
assets liquidated when the life of the Fund as stated in the Constitutive
Documents comes to an end:
Provided
that, if allowed by the Constitutive Documents and the request is approved by
the Commission, the life of the Fund may be extended for a period of upto two
years beyond its initial life as stated in the Constitutive Documents.
(3)
The distribution of the assets of the Fund established
by an FMC, upon dissolution of the Fund, shall be made by the Trustee in
accordance with the terms of the Trust Deed.
Chapter VII
General Obligations and Responsibilities
25.
Prohibition
on inviting subscription from the public.- No person or the FMC shall issue
any document or advertisement inviting offers from the public for subscription
or purchase of Units of a Fund.
26.
Private
Placement.- Subscription to the Units shall be received only through
Private Placement of the Units.
27.
Placement
Memorandum and Subscription Agreement.- (1) The FMC shall for the purpose
of all Private Placement of Units issue a Placement Memorandum and a
Subscription Agreement.
(2) All Eligible Investors of a Fund shall be
issued the same Placement Memorandum and Subscription Agreement, as submitted
to the Commission.
28.
Contents of
the Placement Memorandum.- The Placement Memorandum shall contain the
information specified in Schedule IV.
29.
Contents of
the Subscription Agreement.- The Subscription Agreement shall contain the
information specified in Schedule VI.
Chapter VIII
Miscellaneous
30. Application of the Ordinance to the
Fund.- The provisions of the Ordinance governing matters relating to
general meetings of a company, allotment and transfer of shares and declaration of dividend, shall as far as may
be mutatis mutandis apply to the meetings of the Holders required under these
Regulations, allotment and transfer of Units under these Regulations and
declaration of dividend of the Fund:
Provided that any Holder who has a conflict of
interest in the matter put up for approval in a meeting shall abstain from
voting at the meeting of the Fund and such holder’s presence shall not be
counted for the purposes of such meeting:
Provided
further that the FMC, upon the request of not less than twenty (20) percent
Holders, shall call for a meeting of the Holders.
(2)
For the purpose of meetings of the Holders, the company secretary of
the FMC shall act as if he is the company secretary of the Fund.
31. Management fee payable to the FMC.- (1) The FMC shall be entitled to an annual
management fee as specified in the Constitutive Document and such remuneration
shall be chargeable to the Fund as an expense.
(2) The FMC shall be entitled to a carried
interest as specified in the Constitutive Document provided the Fund meets the
bench mark of return as stated in the Placement Memorandum.
32.
Fee payable
to Trustee. - The Trustee shall be entitled to such fee as may be agreed
between the FMC and the Trustee and such fee shall be disclosed by the FMC in
the Trust Deed and the Placement Memorandum and chargeable to the Fund as an
expense.
33.
Monitoring
fee payable to the Commission.- A supervisory fee shall be payable by the
FMC to the Commission on an annual basis at such rate as may be specified from
time to time by the Commission in Schedule I, and such fee shall be chargeable
to the Fund as an expense.
34.
Transitional
Provisions.- (1) Existing NBFCs licensed to undertake the business of
venture capital investment shall, within a period of eighteen (18) months from
the coming into force of these Regulations ensure that they comply with the
requirements of these Regulations and apply to the Commission for the issuance
of a license to act as a FMC.
(2)
The Commission shall, after receiving a request under
Regulation 34(1), and upon being satisfied that the applicant has fulfilled the
requirements of the Rules and these Regulations, issue the NBFC a license to
act as a FMC, and cancel the existing license of the NBFC to undertake the
business of venture capital investment.
(3)
All NBFCs licensed to undertake venture capital
investment which are managing funds in company structure shall, within a period
of eighteen (18) months from the coming into force of these Regulations, make
an application to the Commission for the registration of a Fund and the
existing fund shall upon the registration of the Fund transfer its assets and
liabilities to such Fund.
(4)
The shareholders of a fund which is in company
structure shall upon the transfer of the assets and liabilities of such fund to
the newly registered Fund be deemed to be the Holders of the Fund to the extent
of their shareholding in the company and shall be issued Units in proportion to
their shareholding.
(5)
The company which has transferred its assets and
liabilities to the Fund in terms of Regulation 34(3) shall after the transfer
of its assets and liabilities cease to carry out operations and proceed towards
the dissolution of the company or may approach the Commission to alter its
memorandum to perform any other business.
35. Repeal.- (1) The provisions of the Non-Banking Finance
Companies and Notified Entities Regulations, 2007 listed in Schedule VII shall
stand repealed upon the expiry of eighteen (18) months from the commencement of
these Regulations.
(2)
Notwithstanding Regulation 35(1), no person shall after
the commencement of these Regulations file an application for registration of a
venture capital fund under the NonBanking Finance Companies and Notified
Entities Regulations, 2007.
(3)
Every action instituted by the Commission with respect
to a venture capital company or a venture capital fund under the Non-Banking
Finance Companies and Notified Entities Regulations, 2007 on expiry of eighteen
(18) months of the time of coming into operation of these Regulations shall be
deemed to be action instituted by the Commission under these Regulations.
(4)
Every order or directive issued by the Commission with
respect to a venture capital company or a venture capital fund under the
Non-Banking Finance Companies and Notified Entities Regulations, 2007 on expiry
of eighteen (18) months of the time of coming into operation of these
Regulations shall be deemed action under these Regulations.
FORM I
[See Regulation 10]
APPLICATION FOR
REGISTRATION AS A
PRIVATE EQUITY AND VENTURE
CAPITAL FUND
INSTRUCTIONS:
(i)
This form is meant for use by a FMC (hereinafter
referred to as the “applicant”) for making an application for the grant of a
certificate of registration as Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund proposed
to be established and managed by it.
(ii)
The applicant shall complete this form, and submit it,
along with the documents required under these Regulations to the Commission at
its head office at Islamabad.
(iii)
The application Form shall be filled in accordance with
these Regulations.
(iv) The
application shall be considered by the Commission when it is complete in all
respects.
(v)
All answers must be legible.
(vi) Information
which needs to be supplied in more detail may be given on separate sheets and
attached to the application form.
(vii) The
application must be signed and all signatures must be original.
(viii)The application must be accompanied by a receipt of Rs. 1,000,000/-
being the application fee (non-refundable), deposited in
____________________________________________
on ________________.
(Name
of Bank with branch) (Date)
Details of the Fund:
(a) Name
of the proposed Fund.
(b) Investment
objectives.
(c)
Proposed amount of Investible Funds.
(d) Details
of commitments by Eligible Investors, if any and names and addresses of such
Eligible Investors.
(e) Name
and address of the auditor of the Fund.
Details of the FMC
(a)
Registered office address.
(b) Names
of directors of the FMC and their profile.
(c)
Names of the shareholders of the FMC along with their
percentage of shareholding.
(d) Previous
approval, if any, by the Commission to manage a Private Equity and Venture
Capital Fund.
Details of the Trustee:
(a)
Name and contact details of the Trustee.
(b) Registered
office address.
(c)
Name of the directors of Trustee and their profile.
1.
Any additional information/ document in support of this
application that may be important or required by the Commission.
2.
The application shall be accompanied by the documents
required under Regulation 10, documents supporting the information requested
under this Form and any other document required under these Regulations.
3.
Declaration statement as under:
(a)
We hereby declare and certify that the information
provided in this application, including that provided in the attachment sheets
and documents attached, is complete and true in all respects.
(b) We
further certify that we shall inform the Securities and Exchange Commission of
Pakistan immediately of any change in the information provided in the
application and the documents attached with them.
(c)
We warrant that we shall comply with and be bound by
the Securities and Exchange Ordinance, 1969, the Securities and Exchange
Commission of Pakistan Act, 1997, the Companies Ordinance, 1984, Non-Banking
Finance Companies (Establishment and Regulation) Rules, 2003 the Private Equity
and Venture Capital Fund Regulations, 2008, and the regulations, guidelines,
circulars, orders and directions that may be issued by the Securities and
Exchange Commission of Pakistan from time to time.
For and on
behalf of...................................
(Name of the
applicant)
Authorized signatory
.............................. ……................ (Name) (Signatures) Date:
Place:
FORM II
[See Regulation 11]
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION
AS A
PRIVATE EQUITY AND VENTURE
CAPITAL FUND
In exercise of the powers conferred
by Section 282CA of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (Act XLVII of 1984) the
Commission hereby grants a certificate of registration to
________________________________________, as a Private Equity and Venture
Capital Fund subject to the conditions prescribed under the Private Equity and
Venture Capital Fund Regulations, 2008 or as may be prescribed or imposed
hereafter.
The registration number of the
Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund is ______________________.
Dated:
_________________
Place:
ISLAMABAD
By order
Sd/- For and
on behalf of
THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
FORM III
[See Regulation 6(2)]
APPLICATION FOR
REGISTRATION BY A
FOREIGN ENTITY WHEN ONLY
FOREIGN MONEY IS TO BE INVESTED
INSTRUCTIONS:
(i)
This form is meant for use by a Foreign Entity
(hereinafter referred to as the “applicant”) for making an application for the
grant of a certificate of registration as Private Equity and Venture Capital
Fund when only Foreign Money is to be invested by the Foreign Entity in Private
Equity Entities;
(ii)
The applicant shall complete this form, and submit it
along with the required documents to the Commission at its head office at
Islamabad.
(iii)
The application form shall be filled in accordance with
these Regulations.
(iv)
The application shall be considered by the Commission
when it is complete in all respects.
(v)
All answers must be legible.
(vi)
Information which needs to be supplied in more detail
may be given on separate sheets and attached to the application form.
(vii)
The application must be signed and all signatures must
be original.
(viii)
The application must be accompanied by a receipt of Rs.
1,000,000/- being the application fee (non-refundable), deposited in
__________________________________________ on
________________.
(Name
of Bank with branch) (Date)
Details of the Foreign
Entity
1.
Name and contact details of the Foreign Entity.
2.
Contact details of the Foreign Entity’s office in
Pakistan.
3.
Names of the directors or partners of the Foreign
Entity and their profile.
4.
Legal structure of the Foreign Entity along with:
(a)
date and place of establishment;
(b) date
of commencement of business and current business activities (enclose a copy of
the formation documents of the entity along with the brief introduction of
relevant law and jurisdiction).
5.
Total Foreign Money to be invested in Pakistan.
6.
Mode of investment in Pakistan.
7.
Details of the scheduled bank in Pakistan through which
business will be transacted.
8.
Investment objectives and details about the proposed
Investee.
9.
Any additional information in support of this
application that the Foreign Entity may wish to disclose.
10. The
application shall be accompanied by the following documents:
(a)
An undertaking that the Foreign Entity has never been
involved in any illegal activities.
(b) Details
of the foreign regulatory authority under which the Foreign Entity is being
regulated.
(c)
An affidavit by the Foreign Entity that it accepts
responsibility for the information contained in the application and is accurate
at the date of submission.
(d) Documents
supporting the information requested under this Form and any other document
required under these Regulations.
(e)
Any other documents required by the Commission. (f) Declaration
statement:
(i)
We hereby declare and certify that the information
supplied in the application, including the attachment sheets and documents
attached, is complete and true in all respects.
(ii) We
further certify that we shall inform the Securities and Exchange Commission of
Pakistan immediately of any change in the information provided in the
application and the documents attached with them.
(iii) We
warrant that we shall for the purposes of investments in Pakistan be bound by
the laws of Pakistan and directions that may be issued by the Securities and
Exchange Commission of Pakistan from time to time.
For and on behalf
of...................................
(Name of the
applicant)
Authorized signatory ..............................
……................ (Name) (Signatures) Date: Place:
FORM IV
[See Regulation 6(3)]
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION
AS A
PRIVATE EQUITY AND VENTURE
CAPITAL FUND
In exercise of the powers conferred
by Section 282CA of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (Act XLVII of 1984) the
Commission hereby grants a certificate of registration to _______________________________________,
as a Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund subject to the conditions
prescribed under the Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund Regulations, 2008
or as may be prescribed or imposed hereafter.
The registration number of the
Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund is ______________________.
Dated:
_________________
Place:
ISLAMABAD
By order
Sd/- For and
on behalf of
THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
SCHEDULE I
[See Rules 4, 5, 7A and Regulations
6, 10 & 32]
Amount of Fees
A) Application Fees under the Rules:
(Rules 4, 5, 7A)
FORM SUBJECT OF APPLICATION
|
AMOUNT
(RS.)
|
Form I Application for permission to form an FMC
|
500,000
|
Form II Application
for license to provide PE & VC Fund
Management Services
|
250,000
|
Form IV Application
for renewal of license to provide PE & VC
Fund Management Services
B) Application Fee
under these Regulations: (Regulations 6 and 10)
|
250,000
|
Form SUBJECT OF APPLICATION
|
AMOUNT
(RS.)
|
Form III Application for registration as a
Fund
|
1,000,000
|
Form I Application for registration of a Fund
|
1,000,000
|
C) Other Fees: (Regulation 33)
HEAD OF FEE
AMOUNT
(RS.)
Supervisory
Fee for
250,000
the FMC
SCHEDULE II
[See Regulation 3(c)]
FIT AND PROPER CRITERIA
APPLICATION AND SCOPE
(1) The
Fit and Proper Criteria in relation to FMC
is applicable to the following persons:
(i)
Promoters of the FMC;
(ii)
Director of the FMC; (iii) Key Executives of the FMC.
(2) The
Commission may upon the request of the Foreign Entity which intends to
establish a FMC under these Regulations exempt the foreign directors, foreign
promoters and foreign key executives of such FMC from the Fit and Proper
Criteria or part thereof.
(3) A
proposed director or chief executive of the FMC shall not assume the charge of
their respective office until their appointments have been approved by the
Commission.
(4) The
application for seeking approval of the Commission under clause (2) shall be
submitted by the FMC along with the requisite information required under Annex
A and the Affidavit as specified in Annex B.
(5) The
fitness and propriety of any person shall be assessed by taking into account
all the relevant factors including but not limited to the following:
(a)
Integrity and track record of such person.
(b) Financial
soundness of such a person.
(c)
Competence and capability of the person.
ASSESSMENT OF FITNESS AND PROPRIETY
(1)
Integrity and Track Record
A person shall not be considered Fit and
Proper if he:
(i)
has been convicted of an offence involving moral
turpitude;
(ii)
has been involved in the mismanagement of investments,
financial/business misconduct, fraud, etc;
(iii)
has been the subject to adverse findings, after
conducting an inquiry, by the Commission or any other regulatory or
professional body or Government agency;
(iv)
has been actively involved in the management of a
company/ firm whose registration/ license has been revoked or cancelled or
which has gone into liquidation or other similar proceedings due to
mismanagement of affairs, financial misconduct or malpractices;
(v)
is ineligible, under the Companies Ordinance, 1984 or
any other legislation or regulation, from acting as a director or serving in a
managerial capacity of an NBFC or a company;
(vi)
has entered into a plea bargain arrangement with the
National Accountability Bureau;
(vii)
does not have an established and proven track record of
successfully running a business enterprise for 3 to 5 years.
(2)
Financial soundness
In
determining a person’s financial soundness, the following shall be
considered:
(i)
whether such person’s financial statements/record
including wealth
statements/ income tax returns/
assessment orders are available;
(ii)
whether the person has been declared by a court of
competent jurisdiction as defaulter in repayment of loan;
(iii)
whether the person has applied to be adjudicated as an
insolvent and his application is pending;
(iv)
whether the person is an un-discharged insolvent; and
(v)
whether the person has been declared a defaulter by a
stock exchange.
(3)
Competence and Capability
In determining a person’s competence
and capability the following shall be considered:
(i)
the directors must be individuals having
management/business experience of
at least five years at a senior
level;
(ii)
the chief executive must have a minimum experience of
three to five years in a senior management position;
(iv) the chief
executive must have the capacity to successfully undertake the responsibilities
of the position; and
(6)
The Fit and Proper Criteria is perpetual in nature and
a FMC shall ensure compliance with the provisions of Fit and Proper
Criteria.
(7)
All persons subject to Fit and Proper Criteria must
submit any change in the submitted information through the company secretary of
the FMC to e Commission.
Annexure A
Information
to be provided by Promoters, proposed
director and proposed chief executive of the FMC –
1.
|
Curriculum Vitae/Resume containing:
|
a
|
Name: (former name if any):
|
b
|
Father’s/Husband Name:
|
c
|
C.N.I.C # (attach copy)
|
d
|
Latest photograph
|
e
|
Nationality:
|
f
|
Age:
|
g
|
Contact details:
|
|
i) Residential address:
|
|
ii) Business address:
|
|
iii) Tel:
|
|
iv) Mobile:
|
|
v) Fax:
|
|
vi) E-mail:
|
h
|
National Tax Number:
|
i
|
Present occupation:
|
j
|
Qualification(s):
|
|
i) Academic:
|
|
ii) Professional:
|
k
|
Experience:
|
2.
|
Nature of directorship Executive
Non-executive
Status of directorship Nominee director
Number of shares subscribed/held
_____________________________nominated by _____(name of shareholder)___________________________
Personal net worth (copy of
wealth statement) ______________
|
3.
|
Names of companies, firms and other
organizations of which the proposed person is a director, partner, office
holder or major shareholder.
|
4.
|
CIB report issued by SBP for each company of
which he has been a director (attach original CIB report for the last 10
years)
|
5.
|
In
the case of appointment of directors the date of board of directors’ meeting
in which the appointment of proposed director was approved. (Attach copy of
the minutes of the meeting of the board of directors. If the director is
elected, then attach a copy of the minutes of the general meeting of the
company.)
|
6.
|
Names of persons on the board of the FMC
who are related to the applicant.
|
FITNESS & PROPRIETARY OF KEY EXECUTIVES
Signature_________________________________________________________
*use
additional sheets if required
Annexure B
(On Stamp Paper of appropriate value)
AFFIDAVIT
Before
the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan
I, ________________
son/daughter/wife of _______________________ born on
____________________ and resident
of
_______________________________________________________________________
holding CNIC/Passport No. ______________________________ do hereby state on
solemn affirmation as under:-
1. That I am eligible for the position of ___________according to
the Fit and Proper Criteria for the position of _________ annexed to the
Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund Regulations, 2008.
2. That I hereby confirm that the statements made and the
information given by me is correct and that there are no facts which have been
concealed.
3. That I have no objection if the Securities and Exchange
Commission of Pakistan requests or obtains information about me from any party.
4. That I undertake to bring to the attention of the Securities
Exchange Commission of Pakistan any matter which may potentially affect my
status for the position of ____________ as per the Fit and Proper Criteria
annexed to the Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund Regulations,
2008.
5. That all the documents provided to the Securities Exchange
Commission of Pakistan are true copies of the originals and I have compared the
copies with their respective originals and certify them to be true copies thereof.
I do hereby verify that the
statements made above are correct to the best of my knowledge and belief and
nothing has been concealed therein.
DEPONENT
The Deponent is
identified by me
Signature
_______________________
ADVOCATE
(Name and Seal)
Solemnly affirmed before me on this ______ day of
_____________ at ______________ by the Deponent above named who is identified
to me by ________________, Advocate.
Signature______________________________
OATH COMMISSIONER FOR TAKING
AFFIDAVIT
(Name and Seal)
SCHEDULE III
[See Regulation 9(b)]
Contents of the Trust Deed
of the Fund
The Trust
Deed must inter alia contain the
following not necessarily in the sequence given:
1)
Name and Registered address of the Trustee along with
place and date of creation of Trust;
2)
Object of the Trust;
3)
Duration and date of extinction of Trust;
4)
Authorization/approval of the Commission to constitute
the Trust;
5)
Parties to the Trust Deed identifying the Trustee as
well as the beneficiaries;
6)
Governing law and jurisdiction;
7)
Rights of the beneficiaries of the Trust;
8)
Duties, powers and rights of the FMC in relation to the
trust;
9)
Duties, powers, rights and obligations of Trustee;
10) Mechanism
for rectification of Trust Deed;
11) Duties
of the Trustee which may be delegated to third parties;
12) Accounting
period and appointment of the auditor;
13) Retirement
or removal of Trustee, specifically giving the Commission the power to remove
the Trustee;
14) Circumstances
and procedure for the change of FMC upon the request of the Holders;
15) Proposed
amount of Investible Funds;
16) Investment
policy and authorized Investment;
17) Fees
and charges to be paid out of the Fund;
18) Dividend
policy;
19) Circumstances
for the revocation of the Trust along with the mechanism specifically stating
the power of the Commission to revoke the trust;
20) Mechanism
for the distribution of assets of Fund, upon the extinction or revocation of
the Trust and the manner in which the beneficiaries shall be transferred their
proportionate shares of the sale proceeds;
21) Procedure
for change of Trustee; 22) Utilization of Investible Fund; and 23) Arbitration.
SCHEDULE IV
[See Regulation 28]
Contents of Placement
Memorandum
Notice: - This is not an
exhaustive list. The FMC is obliged to disclose any information that may be
necessary for Eligible Investors to make an informed judgment.
1)
Details of the FMC and the investment committee.
2)
Details of the Trustee.
3)
Details of Fund.
4)
Summary of the substantive provisions of the Trust
Deed.
5)
Investment opportunities and Investment Strategy of the
Fund.
6)
Risk factors.
7) Minimum
amount to be contributed by each investor and manner of subscription to the
units of the fund.
8)
Obligations and rights of the Trustee, FMC and Eligible
Investors.
9)
Distribution policy.
10) Fees
and charges to be paid by the Fund.
11) Details of tax
exemptions available to the Fund and deductions, if any, on distribution to
Holders.
12) Details
of Auditors of the Fund.
13) The
accounting year of the Fund.
14) Particulars
and frequency of the financial reports to be sent to the Holders.
15) An
overview of the applicable regulatory and legal framework.
16) Circumstances
for the revocation of the Trust.
17) Mechanism
for the distribution of assets of Fund, upon the extinction or revocation of
the Trust and the manner in which the beneficiaries shall be transferred their
proportionate shares of the sale proceeds.
18) Retirement
or removal of Trustee, specifically giving the Commission the power to remove
the Trustee.
19) Circumstances
and procedure for the change of FMC upon the request of the Holders.
20) A statement that
the FMC accepts responsibility for the information contained in the placement
memorandum as being accurate at the date of publication 21) Exit
method for Eligible Investors.
22) Disclosures
required under these Regulations.
23) Any
other information that the Commission may specify.
SCHEDULE V
[See Regulation 21(b)]
DECLARATION BY ELIGIBLE INVESTOR
All Eligible Investors are advised that completion of this declaration
form is mandatory as per the Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund
Regulations, 2008 of Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) in
order to invest in a Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund.
1. I hereby acknowledge that:
a.
I have examined the Constitutive Documents carefully
and I understand that investment in this Private Equity and Venture Capital
Fund (i.e. STATE NAME OF THE FUND) may involve risks which I am
willing to undertake;
b.
the Units of the Fund have not been recommended by the
SECP and in making an investment decision, I will rely on my own judgement of
the Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund and the terms of the offer
including the merits and risks involved.
________________________________
Name, if
individual
________________________________
Signature,
if individual
________________________________
Name, if
entity
By:
_____________________________
Title:
____________________________
________________________________
Seal, if
entity
SCHEDULE VI
[See Regulation 29]
Contents of Subscription
Agreement
Notice: - This list is not
intended to be exhaustive. The FMC is obliged to disclose any information that
may be necessary for investors to make an informed judgment.
1)
Information about the Eligible Investor.
2)
Subscription by the Eligible Investor.
3)
Payment of commitment / Capital calls.
4)
Distribution / dividends.
5)
Privacy policy.
6)
Rights and obligations of the Eligible Investor and
FMC.
7)
Governing law.
8)
Arbitration.
9)
Exit Mechanism for the Holder.
SCHEDULE VII
[See Regulation 34]
Repeals
and Amendments
ENACTMENT
|
|
REPEAL
|
Non-Banking Finance Companies
Notified Entities Regulations, 2007.
|
and
|
The
words and comma “and venture capital investment,” in the Preamble shall be
omitted.
|
Regulation 2(1)(xl) to (xliii) shall be
deleted.
|
||
The
words “Venture Capital Investment,” and words as figure “Rs. 50 million” in
the last row of the table under regulation 3(1) shall be omitted.
|
||
The
words and comma “private equity funds, venture capital funds,” in regulation
27(d)(x) shall be omitted.
|
||
Regulations 34 to 44 and narration of Part
III shall be deleted.
|
||
Form I along with its annexure shall be
deleted.
|
||
and Form II shall be deleted.
|
||
In
Schedule 1, part B the words “Form 1” shall be deleted.
|
||
In
Schedule 1, part B the words “Application for registration as a Venture
Capital Fund” shall be deleted.
|
||
In
Schedule 1, part B the letter and figure “Rs. 500,000” shall be deleted.
|
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