2.4.39:Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016.

39. Approval of resolution plan.

A prospective resolution applicant in the final list may submit resolution plan or plans prepared in accordance with the Code and these regulations to the resolution professional electronically within the time given in the request for resolution plans under regulation 36B along with

(a) an affidavit stating that it is eligible under section 29A to submit resolution plans

  an undertaking that it will provide for additional funds to the extent required for the purposes under sub-regulation (1) of regulation 38; and

(c) an undertaking by the prospective resolution applicant that every information and records provided in connection with or in the resolution plan is true and correct and discovery of false information and record at any time will render the applicant ineligible to continue in the corporate insolvency resolution process, forfeit any refundable deposit, and attract penal action under the Code.

The resolution professional may, if envisaged in the request for resolution plan-

(a)allow modification of the resolution plan received under sub-regulation (1), but not more than once; or

(b)use a challenge mechanism to enable resolution applicants to improve their plans.

The committee shall not consider any resolution plan-

(a) received after the time as specified by the committee under regulation 36B; or

(b) received from a person who does not appear in the final list of prospective resolution applicants; or

(c) does not comply with the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 30 and sub-regulation (1).

A resolution plan which does not comply with the provisions of sub-regulation (1) shall be rejected.

(1) A resolution applicant shall endeavour to submit a resolution plan prepared in accordance with the Code and these Regulations to the resolution professional, thirty days before expiry of the maximum period permitted under section 12 for the completion of the corporate insolvency resolution process.

The resolution professional shall submit to the committee all resolution plans which
comply with the requirements of the Code and regulations made thereunder along with the details of following transactions, if any, observed, found or determined by him:—

(a) preferential transactions under section 43;

(b) undervalued transactions under section 45;

(c) extortionate credit transactions under section 50; and

(d) fraudulent transactions under section 66, and the orders, if any, of the adjudicating authority in respect of such transactions.

(a) evaluate the resolution plans received under sub-regulation (2) as per evaluation matrix;

(b) record its deliberations on the feasibility and viability of each resolution plan; and

(c) vote on all such resolution plans simultaneously.

Where only one resolution plan is put to vote, it shall be considered approved if it receives requisite votes.

Where two or more resolution plans are put to vote simultaneously, the resolution plan,which receives the highest votes, but not less than requisite votes,shall be considered as approved:

Provided that where two or more resolution plans receive equal votes, but not less than requisite votes, the committee shall approve any one of them, as per the tie-breaker formula announced before voting:

Provided further that where none of the resolution plans receives requisite votes,the committee shall again vote on the resolution plan that received the highest votes, subject to the timelines under the Code.

Illustration. – The committee is voting on two resolution plans, namely, A and B, simultaneously. The voting outcome is as under:

The committee shall evaluate the resolution plans received under sub-regulation (1) strictly as per the evaluation matrix to identify the best resolution plan and may approve it with such modifications as it deems fit:

Provided that the committee shall record the reasons for approving or rejecting a resolution plan

(3) The committee may approve any resolution plan with such modifications as it deems fit.

The resolution professional shall endeavour to submit the resolution plan approved by the committee to the Adjudicating Authority at least fifteen days before the maximum period for completion of corporate insolvency resolution process under section 12, along with a compliance certificate in Form H 

The resolution professional shall submit the resolution plan approved by the committee to the Adjudicating Authority, at least fifteen days before the expiry of the maximum period permitted under section 12 for the completion of the corporate insolvency resolution process, with the certification that-

(a) the contents of the resolution plan meet all the requirements of the Code and the
Regulations; and

(b) the resolution plan has been approved by the committee:

Provided that the timeline specified in this sub-regulation shall not apply to an ongoing corporate insolvency resolution process which has completed 130th day from its commencement date.

(4) The resolution professional shall submit the resolution plan approved by the committee to the Adjudicating Authority with the certification that:

(a) the contents of the resolution plan meet all the requirements of the Code and the Regulations; and

(b) the resolution plan has been approved by the committee.

(5) The resolution professional shall forthwith send a copy of the order of the Adjudicating Authority approving or rejecting a resolution plan to the participants and the resolution applicant.

The resolution professional shall, within fifteen days of the order of the Adjudicating Authority approving a resolution plan, intimate each claimant, the principle or formulae, as the case may be, for payment of debts under such resolution plan:

Provided that this sub-regulation shall apply to every corporate insolvency resolution process ongoing and commencing on or after the date of commencement of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) (Fifth Amendment) Regulations, 2020.

(6) A provision in a resolution plan which would otherwise require the consent of the members or partners of the corporate debtor, as the case may be, under the terms of the constitutional documents of the corporate debtor, shareholders’ agreement, joint venture agreement or other document of a similar nature, shall take effect notwithstanding that such consent has not been obtained.

(7) No proceedings shall be initiated against the interim resolution professional or the resolution professional, as the case may be, for any actions of the corporate debtor, prior to the insolvency commencement date.

(8) A person in charge of the management or control of the business and operations of the corporate debtor after a resolution plan is approved by the Adjudicating Authority, may make an application to the Adjudicating Authority for an order seeking the assistance of the local district administration in implementing the terms of a resolution plan.

A creditor, who is aggrieved by non-implementation of a resolution plan approved under sub-section (1) of section 31, may apply to the Adjudicating Authority for directions.

(1) The interim resolution professional or the resolution professional, as the case may be, shall preserve copies of all such records which are required to give a complete account of the corporate insolvency resolution process.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the obligations under sub-regulation (1), the interim resolution professional or the resolution professional, as the case may be, shall preserve copies of records relating to or forming the basis of: –

(a) his appointment as interim resolution professional or resolution professional, including the terms of appointment;

(b) handing over / taking over of the assignment;

(c) admission of corporate debtor into corporate insolvency resolution process;

(d) public announcement; (e) the constitution of committee and meetings of the committee;

(f) claims, verification of claims, and list of creditors;

(g) engagement of professionals, registered valuers, and insolvency professional entity, including work done, reports etc., submitted by them;

(h) information memorandum;

(i) all filings with the Adjudicating Authority, Appellate Authority and their orders;

(j) invitation, consideration and approval of the resolution plan;

(k) statutory filings with Board and insolvency professional agencies;

(l) correspondence during the corporate insolvency resolution process;

(m) insolvency resolution process cost; and

(n) preferential, undervalued, extortionate credit transactions or fraudulent or wrongful trading.

(3) The interim resolution professional or the resolution professional shall preserve:

(a) electronic copy of all records (physical and electronic) for a minimum period of eight years; and
(b) a physical copy of records for a minimum period of three years;

from the date of completion of the corporate insolvency resolution process or the conclusion of any proceeding relating to the corporate insolvency resolution process, before the Board, the Adjudicating Authority, Appellate Authority or any Court, whichever is later.

(4) The interim resolution professional or the resolution professional shall preserve the records at a secure place and shall be obliged to produce records as may be required under the Code and the Regulations.

Explanation – The records referred to in this regulation includes records pertaining to the period of a corporate insolvency resolution process during which the interim resolution professional or the resolution professional acted as such, irrespective of the fact that he did not take up the assignment from its commencement or continue the assignment till its conclusion.

 .-The interim resolution professional or the resolution professional, as the case may be, shall preserve a physical as well as an electronic copy of the records relating to corporate insolvency resolution process of the corporate debtor 

(1) While approving a resolution plan under sub-section (4) of section 30 or deciding to liquidate the corporate debtor under sub-section (2) of section 33, the committee may make a best estimate of the amount required to meet liquidation costs, in consultation with the resolution professional, in the event an order for liquidation is passed under section 33.

(2) The committee shall make a best estimate of the value of the liquid assets available to meet the liquidation costs, as estimated in sub-regulation (1).

(3) Where the estimated value of the liquid assets under sub-regulation (2) is less than the estimated liquidation costs under sub-regulation (1), the committee shall approve a plan providing for contribution for meeting the difference between the two.

(4) The resolution professional shall submit the plan approved under sub-regulation (3) to the Adjudicating Authority while filing the approval or decision of the committee under section 30 or 33, as the case may be.

Explanation.- For the purposes of this regulation, ‘liquidation costs’ shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (ea) of sub-regulation (1) of regulation (2) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016.

(1)While deciding to liquidate the corporate debtor under section 33, the committee shall examine whether to explore compromise or arrangement as referred to under sub -regulation (1) of regulation 2B of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Liquidation Process) Regulation, 2016 and the resolution professional shall submit the committee’s recommendation to the Adjudicating Authority while filing application under section 33.

(2)Where a recommendation has been made under sub-regulation (1), the resolution professional and the committee shall keep exploring the possibility of compromise or arrangement during the period the application to liquidate the corporate debtor is pending before the Adjudicating Authority.

(1) While approving a resolution plan under section 30 or deciding to liquidate the corporate debtor under section 33, the committee may recommend that the liquidator may first explore sale of the corporate debtor as a going concern under clause (e) of regulation 32 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016 or sale of the business of the corporate debtor as a going concern under clause (f) thereof, if an order for liquidation is passed under section 33.

(2) Where the committee recommends sale as a going concern, it shall identify and group the assets and liabilities, which according to its commercial considerations, ought to be sold as a going concern under clause (e) or clause (f) of regulation 32 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016.

(3) The resolution professional shall submit the recommendation of the committee under sub-regulations (1) and (2) to the Adjudicating Authority while filing the approval or decision of the committee under section 30 or 33, as the case may be.”.

While approving a resolution plan under section 30 or deciding to liquidate the corporate debtor under section 33, the committee may, in consultation with the resolution professional, payable to the liquidator, if an order for liquidation is passed under section 33, for –

(a) the period, if any, used for compromise or arrangement under section 230 of the Companies Act, 2013;

(b) the period, if any, used for sale under clauses (e) and (f) of regulation 32 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016; and

(c) the balance period of liquidation.”.