“Fast-Track Mergers in India 2025: New MCA Rules & Compliance Checklist”

1) Policy shift in one line

MCA’s Companies (Compromises, Arrangements and Amalgamations) Amendment Rules, 2025 (G.S.R. 603(E), 04-09-2025) transform Section 233 from a small-company tool into a mainstream, time-bound, form-driven route that now also covers demergers/divisions/transfer of undertakings for specified classes—shifting approval to the Regional Director (RD) and away from NCLT except where objections arise.

2) Eligibility—now broader, with bright-line inclusions (and implied exclusions)

Newly covered combinations

• Unlisted companies with borrowings up to ₹200 crore (no defaults + auditor certification of the debt threshold).

• Holding–subsidiary mergers where transferor is unlisted (holding may be listed or unlisted).

• Cross-subsidiary mergers (between unlisted group entities under the same parent).

• Inbound cross-border: foreign holding company into its wholly-owned Indian subsidiary.

  
  

Re-scoped transaction types

• Demergers, divisions, and transfer of undertaking brought into the fast-track ambit for eligible companies; safeguards under s.232(3) still apply.

  
  

Practical read-across: mid-market, family-owned groups and inbound structures get a non-NCLT, document-first pathway—ideal for pre-IPO clean-ups, simplifications, hive-offs and debt-conscious reorganisations.

3) Regulator interface—front-loaded diligence

For regulated companies (or those with listed parents/entities in the chain), there are additional notifications/annexures. At minimum, listed companies must notify stock exchanges and annex a statement addressing regulator objections/suggestions to the scheme filing. Expect RBI/SEBI/IRDAI/PFRDA touchpoints depending on sector.

4) Process is now form-tight & timeline-bound

• Forms CAA-9 to CAA-12 are revised (solvency, auditor, stakeholder approvals).

• CAA-10 toughened: evidence-backed solvency; notarised and supported with audited figures in demerger/division context.

• New CAA-10A for unlisted company mergers—auditor certification that the ₹200 crore debt threshold and no-default condition are met.

• Hard timelines: file the scheme within 15 days of member/creditor approvals; objection window 30 days.

  
  

5) Approval mechanics—unchanged thresholds, clarified pathway

Members: 90% consent; Creditors: 9/10th in value → file to RD/ROC/OL; if no objection → RD approves; if objection → NCLT. Post-approval filing with ROC completes legal effect (dissolution of transferor; vesting; share issuance).

6) Why this is commercially big

• Time & cost: matters can compress from 12–18 months (NCLT) to a few months (RD), if filings are clean and regulators aligned.

• Global parity: converges with EU/Singapore-style intra-group simplifications and inbound merger norms.

  
  

Compliance Checklists

A. Eligibility & Deal-scoping checklist

1. Corporate profile

   • Are both companies eligible under Section 233 fast-track? (See unlisted ₹200 cr debt, holding-subsidiary, cross-subsidiary unlisted, inbound foreign parent → WOS India).

2. Transaction type

   • Is it a merger, demerger, division, or transfer of undertaking that qualifies?

3. Debt condition (unlisted route)

   • Aggregate borrowings ≤ ₹200 crore; no defaults; plan CAA-10A auditor certification.

4. Listed/regulated angle

   • If listed/regulated, map stock-exchange notices and sector-regulator statements to be annexed.

     
     

B. Board & Scheme pack—documents to finalise before filings

• Board resolutions (each entity) approving the draft scheme and authorising signatories. (Process reference)

• Draft Scheme: clear appointed date, share exchange, accounting, treatment of reserves, and effects.

• Solvency & audited numbers for the relevant forms (see C below).

• Stakeholder statements addressing any sector-regulator suggestions/objections (if applicable).

  
  

C. Forms & certifications (the heart of the new regime)

• CAA-9 to CAA-12: use revised templates—ensure exact data points match auditor workpapers and scheme extracts.

• CAA-10 (mergers/demergers/divisions):

  • Notarised solvency declaration + audited assets & liabilities + auditor’s report (stricter than before).

• CAA-10A (unlisted mergers):

  • Auditor-certified compliance with ₹200 crore debt cap and no-default condition.

    
    

D. Member & creditor approvals

• Members: secure 90% consent—plan notice, explanatory statement, and tabulation ready for RD review.

• Creditors: obtain 9/10th in value approval—be ready with cut-off date, value mapping, and minutes.

  
  

E. Regulatory & authority interface

• Stock exchanges (if listed): prompt intimation and annexed statement addressing objections/suggestions.

• Sector regulators (RBI/SEBI/IRDAI/PFRDA): identify any prior-review or no-objection expectations; document responses for the RD file.

• ROC/OL/RD: scheme + forms filing; be prepared for queries in the 30-day window.

  
  

F. Timelines & filings (critical path)

1. File scheme + solvency with ROC after Board approvals, using revised forms.

2. Obtain member (90%) and creditor (9/10th) approvals.

3. File scheme to RD/ROC/OL within 15 days of approvals; monitor 30-day objection window.

4. If no objection → RD approval; otherwise reference to NCLT.

5. File approved scheme with ROC; implement vesting, dissolution, and share issuance.

   
   

G. Execution risks & mitigations (what RDs/OLs actually flag)

• Debt cap evidence: ensure CAA-10A ties to loan ledgers, sanction letters, and no-default confirmations; mis-tags trigger queries.

• Solvency depth: CAA-10 should reconcile to latest audited numbers; notarisation gaps stall schemes.

• Stakeholder thresholds: keep crisp counting methodology for 90%/9-10th with working sheets; OLs ask for this.

• Regulator commentary: if listed/regulated, pre-draft the “objection/suggestion” response and annex it to avoid deferrals.

  
  

H. Inbound cross-border (foreign parent → Indian WOS) – special focus

• Confirm it fits the Section 233 fast-track scope (this is a newly included case).

• Build an India-facing scheme: valuation/consideration mechanics, capital issuance, and post-merger shareholding disclosures sized to RD expectations.

• Prepare a regulator note explaining compliance posture and attach to the filing (good practice even where no explicit pre-clearance is mandated).

  TLC's Comment:

  The 2025 Amendment significantly broadens the utility of Section 233 of the Act by extending it beyond small company mergers to mid-market, group, and even inbound cross-border reorganisations. The 2025 Amendment also introduces demergers and transfers of undertakings into the fast-track regime for eligible companies, thereby facilitating transactions and making reorganisations easier. While this is a welcome step towards modernising India’s restructuring framework and easing NCLT bottlenecks, the real-world impact will depend on how seamlessly the new processes work in practice, and whether sectoral regulators adopt a facilitative approach. It is pertinent to note that there has been a steady wave of regulatory changes over the past decade to push India’s position in the global ease of doing business rankings and to make India a business-friendly jurisdiction. The 2025 Amendment surely amplify this intent and is a welcome move for both the industry and for practitioners alike as it would reduce both time and costs in processing restructuring transactions.