Question

Explain the guidelines of SEBI for creating the Debenture Redemption Reserve.

Answer 1

The following are the main points of SEBI’s guidelines for creation of Debenture Redemption Reserve (DRR).

1. Every company that issues debentures with a maturity of more than 18 months shall create DRR.

2. An amount equal to 50% of debenture issued shall be transferred to DRR before starting redemption of debentures.

3. Creation of DRR is applicable only for Non-Convertible Debentures and for non-convertible part of Partly Convertible Debentures.

4. Any withdrawal from DRR is allowed only after 10% of debentures are redeemed.

Thus, as per the SEBI’s guidelines, 50% of the debentures issued should be redeemed out of the profits that are transferred to DRR and the remaining 50% of the debentures issued can be redeemed either out of profits or out of capital. Hence, no company can redeem all the debentures issued purely out of the capital.

As per the SEBI’s guidelines the following companies are exempted from the creation of DRR.

1. Infrastructure companies (i.e. those companies that are engaged in the business of developing, maintaining and operating infrastructure facilities)

2. A Company that issues debentures with a maturity up to 18 months