Mandatory tender offer rule

19.2.1. Any person or group of persons acting in concert, who intends to acquire fifteen percent (15 %) of equity securities in a public company in one or more transactions within a period of twelve (12) months, shall file a declaration to that effect with the [Securities and Exchange] Commission.19.2.2. Any person or group of persons acting in concert, who intends to acquire thirty five percent (35%) of the outstanding voting shares or such outstanding voting shares that is sufficient to gain control of the board in a public company in one or more transactions within a period of twelve (12) months, shall disclose such intention and contemporaneously make a tender offer for the percentage sought to all holders of such securities within the said period.

If the tender offer is oversubscribed, the aggregate amount of securities to be acquired at the close of such tender offer shall be proportionately distributed across selling shareholders with whom the acquirer may have been in private negotiations and other shareholders. For purposes of SRC Rule 19.2.2, the last sale that meets the threshold shall not be consummated until the closing and completion of the tender offer.

19.2.3. Any person or group of persons acting in concert, who intends to acquire thirty five percent (35%) of the outstanding voting shares or such outstanding voting shares that is sufficient to gain control of the board in a public company through the Exchange trading system shall not be required to make a tender offer even if such person or group of persons acting in concert acquire the remainder through a block sale if, after acquisition through the Exchange trading system, they fail to acquire their target of thirty five percent (35%) or such outstanding voting shares that is sufficient to gain control of the board.

19.2.4. Any person or group of persons acting in concert, who intends to acquire thirty five percent (35%) of the outstanding voting shares or such outstanding voting shares that is sufficient to gain control of the board in a public company directly from one or more stockholders shall be required to make a tender offer for all the outstanding voting shares. The sale of shares pursuant to the private transaction or block sale shall not be completed prior to the closing and completion of the tender offer.

19.2.5. If any acquisition that would result in ownership of over fifty percent (50%) of the total outstanding equity securities of a public company, the acquirer shall be required to make a tender offer under this Rule for all the outstanding equity securities to all remaining stockholders of the said company at a price supported by a fairness opinion provided by an independent financial advisor or equivalent third party. The acquirer in such a tender offer shall be required to accept all securities tendered. (Rule 19, 2015 SRC Rules, https://ift.tt/3tmFpsX)