Economic development of a country is channelized by reforms brought in the legal and financial sector. Time and again deliberate reforms are brought in the country with an aim to bring higher economic growth in the country. Major factor contributing to the growth of India’s Index of Economic Freedom since 1990s is attributed to the supportive governmental policies and institution. These policy decisions range from lowering key policy rates, increasing, or decreasing the rate of interests on different types of loans and cash transfers and, various types of fiscal stimulus measures. Annual Financial Statement, 2021-22 considered persistent problems of the banking and financial sector. For instilling confidence in Corporate Bond Market in India and improve secondary market liquidity, an announcement was made regarding the creation of a permanent institutional framework to invest in investment-grade securities.
There is a strong causal relationship between the development of credit market and economic growth. An established credit market effectively relocates the resources aiming higher economic growth and fuels the growth of credit market. Time bound successful resolution of the stressed assets will reinstate the trust of investor, which is paramount in credit market. The present article seeks to discuss the nexus between IBC and development of Credit Market. The article will also draw a comparative analysis between the Pre-IBC and IBC Regime and how the latter has been better fostering the credit market in the Country.
Historically, the laws relating to corporate insolvency and creditor protection proved to be a significant obstacle to the growth of the credit markets in India. The Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 (‘SICA’), enacted to rescue sick companies, turned out to be inefficient due to delays and other systemic problems leading to its failure. Several committees appointed by the government critiqued and sought to introduce new legislation. The Bankruptcy Law Reform Committee, which issued its report in 2015, that resulted in a concrete change in the form of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (the ‘Code’).
The Code signifies a paradigm shift in Indian corporate insolvency law. It involves an approach where creditors lead a time-bound process that is intended to revive and rehabilitate companies and stands in stark contrast to the experience with SICA where most companies were wound up. By taking the process of corporate resolution out of the hands of the company’s board and management, the Code seeks to avoid problems of moral hazard. In terms of the institutional set up, the Code assigns the oversight responsibility to the NCLT (and the NCLAT).
IBC AND CREDIT MARKET
Credit Culture provides a unique blend that keeps the credit method united and forms the crucial foundation of Credit discipline. A county’s credit culture wields a strong influence on the bank’s lending and credit risk management system. Credit culture of a bank is defined by the policies set out by the bank which influences practices and management attitude of the bank. The impugned polices further categorically set out the lending environment and determines the lending behaviour of the bank. The ultimate goal of credit culture is to build a risk management system that in a way foster a good banking system and build right foundation for fostering the economy as well. Considering the complex and extensive banking regime, credit culture plays an indispensable role in the lending institution. IBC fosters an environment where credits can be generated from the domestic market and investments can be drawn from the international market.
Enactment of the Code aimed at enforcing discipline in the country’s credit culture. There is a well planted notion in the defaulter’s mind that in case there is a financial default, Corporate debtor will not be provided with an “automatic-rescue package”. There is a notion of security in the mind of creditors that in case of a default in payment, the dispute does not ends by dragging the debtors to court for the repayment of loan and get struck in the shackles of litigation with unimaginable set of issues. The Resolution proceedings in IBC were designed by bypassing the cumbersome, inefficient, subjective and debtor-friendly model. IBC has ushered a simple and creditor friendly model which has certainty and ensures value maximization of the assets for the benefit of stakeholders in Time bound manner. The present framework ensures that the lenders are paid on time, imbibing a credit culture in the mind of investors. This in turn is a contributing factor in the rise of India’s ranking in Ease of Doing Business Index from lowly 42 in 2014 to 63 in 2019. Thus, making India a favourable destination for Foreign Investment. IBC makes efforts to bring best out of a situation of a financial default with a creditor friendly approach.
INCLUSION OF PERSONAL GUARANTORS AND CORPORATE GUARANTORS
Jurisprudence of any legislation evolves over a period of time and IBC was no exception. Since the inception of the code, it has been exposed to prolific legislative and judicial reforms. The latest and perhaps the most significant development was driven by the Notification dated 15th November 2019, wherein the Central Government enacted part III of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. Thus, bringing Personal Guarantors to Corporate Debtors, Insolvency and Bankruptcy proceedings of Individuals within the sweep of IBC. The notification explicitly mentions that the provisions of part-III of the Code have been enforced as far as they are applicable to the Guarantors. The validity of this notification was upheld by the apex court in the case of Lalit Kumar Jain v. Union of India.
Financial instruments are in-principle designed to mitigate the risks pertaining to repayment of debt. By mitigating such risks, the regime aims to furnish more assurance among the investors and expanding resources for the beneficiary of borrowers. The customary practices involved in such credit enhancement scheme is by providing sureties against the risk to qualifying borrowers. This not only schematize introduction of large-scale lending operations but also introduces new borrowers to the market. Further ensuring a steady flow of liquidity in the market.
As a pre-requisite for banks to provide loans it requires guarantees to be given by the Guarantors. Historically, India is the economy where a large part of Companies (listed/unlisted) are run by the Owners/Promoters. Generally, Banks ensure the guarantee of the Promoters to ensure their skin in the game. In absence of any efficacious forum to enforce personal guarantees which comes like a shadow with insolvency of the corporate debtor for which the guarantee has been given. It was a prolific step to enable rehabilitation and bankruptcy proceedings against personal guarantors. This will allow the creditors to run recovery proceedings against creditors and guarantors simultaneously before the same Adjudicating Authority of the NCLT having territorial jurisdiction.
IBC: SATISFACTORY EXIT ROUTE FOR BUSINESS
Any entity in the market requires freedom at three instances namely, a hassle-free entry, free competition ensuring a level playing field for all the players, and a smooth exit. Entities must have freedom to indulge in the business till they remain resourceful. On accounting several losses, they can vacate the field for newer and more efficient entities. Thus, ensuring the proper allocation and redirection of resources. For proper allocation of resources, it is crucial for a mechanism to exist wherein the defunct firms can leave the space and relocate the idle resources in orderly manner for newer players. At the same time, India being an Economy supporting Start-ups it brings a sense of security within the newly established entities that their withdrawal from the business will not leave them with tons of obligations taking a lifetime to repay. Such a mechanism is envisaged in the form of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. The pre-IBC regime neither had an efficient rescue mechanism nor a satisfactory exit route for business.
CREDITOR-FRIENDLY NATURE
The present insolvency framework has experienced a move from a “Debtor-in-possession” model to “Creditor in Control” model. At the time of admission of insolvency petition, juncture at which the control and management of the defaulting company is transferred to the Committee of Creditors depicts the model of “Creditor in Control”.
Supreme Court in the case of Innovative Industries Ltd. v. ICICI Bank rejected a challenge to the insolvency proceedings mounted by the corporate debtor (Innovative Industries Ltd) and ruled in favour of the Financial Creditor (ICICI Bank), emphasizing the creditor friendly nature of the Code. By rejecting the time barred claim of the debtor, Court not only endorsed the creditor centric approach of the court, but also the time bound structure of the Code. The slant of the court ruling clearly demonstrates the need for a stringent corporate insolvency framework in India, which was answered by enactment of the Code.
The BLRC Report recognized that it is not a company’s ‘divine right’ to control the affairs of the firm. In case of any default in payment of debt, the control of the company must shift from the debtor to creditors. The erstwhile Code promoted a debtor-friendly regime, allowing defaulting debtors to secure a moratorium order and force write-downs on debt repayment. At the same time keeping the management of the defaulting company in the hands of the debtor, frustrating the efforts of the creditors including banks to realize their payment of dues by indulging in serial litigation.
Before the enactment of the Code, the non-adjudicatory forms of dispute resolution suffered high rates of failure. Which in turn resulted into continuing defaults committed by the borrowing entities. The management of the company continued to stay in the hands of the defaulting debtors which in turn became another reason for defaulters to continue to thwart the system. The Code was enacted focusing on finding a resolution and recognition of distressed financial assets which would otherwise face liquidation. This behavioural change has instilled a significantly increased sense of fiscal and credit discipline to better preserve economic value.
INCLUSION OF BANKS
IBC regime brings within its sweep not only guarantors and promoters but also keep a check on the Banks. It acts as an instrument which drives bank to refer specific cases of default against large borrowers for resolution.
With the legislation coming into force, an immediate step was taken by the government for the execution of the same. Subsequently, the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 was promulgated, now passed by Parliament, which introduced new clauses into the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 permitting the RBI to initiate action requiring banks to launch proceedings to resolve bad assets with specifically identified clients. In an attempt to resolve the crisis due to the ballooning Non-Performing Assets of Indian Banks, the Reserve Bank of India directed the concerned banks to initiate insolvency proceedings against such NPAs under the Code. The 12 selected stressed companies constituting 25% of the total NPAs, effectively constituted the test cases for implementation of the Code.
Thereinafter, creditors and on several other occasions corporate debtors had initiated proceedings for the resolution of the corporate debts though the procedure envisaged under the Code. Unpaid loans are only the tip of the iceberg of an ailing banking sector which pose a risk to the nation’s economic growth. The Code was effectively considered a panacea for the NPA problem that had distressed India’s banking sector.
Statistically, the economic survey report, 2020-2021 has reiterated the same view. Data reported by Reserve Bank of India has indicated a hike of 45.4% in the recovery of percentage of claims for scheduled commercial banks through IBC for the financial year 2019-20. This recovery number is the highest as compared to recovery through any other means and under any other legislations. The report further mentions the amount recovered by the scheduled commercial banks in IBC regime was 1.73 Lakh Crore. The amount being more than all the amounts recovered by all the other possible alternative mechanism available for the year 2019-20.
It is noteworthy to mention that inclusion of the Non-Banking Finance Institution is credit positive for India’s banks that are NBFI’s largest lenders. Until the enforcement of the IBC Regime, the only resolution framework for NBFIs was through liquidation.
ADJUDICATION VERSUS RESOLUTION
Within the IBC Regime, both creditors and debtors are empowered to initiate insolvency proceedings. The characteristic attribute of IBC lies to confirm the commercial feasibility of insolvency resolution. The Code also demarcates the commercial aspect from the judicial aspect. In turn it narrows down the role of adjudicating authority to facilitate the process envisaged under the Code rather than adjudicating on merits of the resolution.
The significant changes brought by the Code in the equation of Creditors and Debtors has redefined the fashion in which the credit market functions. The fear of the slipping away of control and management of the firm from the existing promoters and Corporate Debtor to the Committee of Creditors acts as a deterrence in the minds of the corporate debtor. This inevitable consequence of an Insolvency proceedings acts as deterrence mechanism and refrain the firm from operating below the optimum level of efficiency. Additionally, in case of defaults, it encourages the corporate debtor(s) to settle the dispute expeditiously with the creditor at the earliest, preferably outside the court.
There has been catena of instances wherein the corporate debtors have resolved their dispute and repaid the debts immediately on the filing of the application before the concerned National Company Law Tribunal and sometimes even before the application is admitted for further proceedings.
Regarding the withdrawal of application, statistically since the inception of the Code 18,892 applications have been filed before the concerned NCLT. As many as 14,884 cases involving defaults of 5.15 lakh crore were withdrawn by September 2020 before these applications were admitted by the Adjudicating Authority and 897 processes were closed mid-way by December 2020. These statistics were reported by the Economic Survey Report, 2020-2021. It indicates that almost 83% of the cases of financial default by the Corporate Debtor are resolved even before the lis enters the very first stage of CIRP. This accounts for the behavioural shift among the defaulting parties. It is been four years since the inception of the Code, only 7% of the defaults have undergone the entire procedure envisaged under the Code resulting into Liquidation or Resolution.
In account of these statistics a likely option in future for resolving stressed assets is a pre-packaged insolvency resolution process. A proposal regarding the same is floated by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for the public views. The proposed regime enables the stressed companies to enter into negotiation of restructuring plans with creditors prior to the formal institution of insolvency proceedings. ‘Pre-Packs’ are existing mechanism in U.S. and U.K. jurisdiction ad recently notified in India. Such negotiations result in completion of resolution process quickly and discreetly. Enforcement of a statutory pre-pack regime will go a long way in resolution of stressed assets of the creditors.
WATERFALL MECHANISM WITHIN THE CODE
The conundrum of distribution prescribed within the Code follows a waterfall mechanism which essentially delineates the order in which the liquidation proceeds will be distributed within the different categories of shareholders. As per the principles for effective insolvency and Creditor/Debtor regime by World Bank, Insolvency regime of a country must provide for an equitable treatment of similarly situated creditors.
In a pool of creditors, secured creditors are given the preference in resolving their dues. Secured Credit is an essential part of the credit system, it drives economy and encourage entrepreneurship. Preferring Secured Creditor’s right and their claims and taxation dues promotes secured lending. IBC regime protects the Secured Creditor’s right in liquidation by permitting it to enforce its security (Security against which the credit is extended) by staying out in the liquidation process. Vide section 52 of the Code, the Secured Creditor need not to give up its security to the liquidation estate and can reinforce the same on its own for the realization of its dues. For realization of the credit owed to the Secured Creditors, they have two options provided upon the commencement of the liquidation proceedings. Firstly, either to relinquish the security interest and receive their share after the sale of the assets. Secondly, to stay outside the liquidation proceedings, and to recover the due credit by the exercising the right owed to the Secured Creditor in section 52 of the Code.
CONCLUSION
Taking an insight in the credit industry, India’s insolvency regime continues to achieve and surpass its objectives, assist in strengthening India’s credit environment, and further entrepreneurship in the country.
The Pre-IBC regime discouraged the lenders from lending their assets due to the inefficient resolution system. The lenders were also unsure of their recovery of debt which in a way reduced finance availability. There was a need of legislation which stops the practice of not-paying back the loan and getting away without penalty.
In the case of Binani cement, the NCLAT observed “Resolution of stressed assets” to be the first and foremost objective of the Code. The second being the “Maximization of the value of the assets of the Corporate Debtor”. The third objective being “promoting entrepreneurship, availability of credit and balancing interests”. This order of objective is sacrosanct. The code was enacted to foster the credit regime of the country.
The factors such as, passing the management of the debtor company in the hands of the company has always fostered the credit culture in the country. The Economic Survey Report, 2020-2021 has reiterated these factors as indispensable for bringing confidence within the investors.
IBC envisages certain provisions which ensures protection of the creditors, but not at the cost of causing damage to the debtors. In addition to the creditor centric approach of the Code, it can also be seen to protect debtors against the wilful frivolous petition brought by the Creditors just for the sake of pushing the debtor company in insolvency proceedings. Suspension of IBC for the stipulated duration once in a century crisis is one such move. Additionally, in the light of recently promulgated IBC Amendment Ordinance which came in force on 28th December, 2019 a corporate insolvency resolution plan (CIRP) application can only be filed jointly by 100 allottees under the same real estate project or 10 per cent of the total number of allottees under the same real estate project, whichever is less. The said move was brought in to ensure that creditors or stakeholders who have inordinate leverage over the real estate companies by being at par with the financial Creditors do not abuse the IBC Provisions. The code seeks to strike a balance between the creditors and debtors to foster the credit market in the Country.