Companies (Compromises, Arrangements & Amalgamations) Rules, 2016

Companies (Compromises, Arrangements & Amalgamations) Rules, 2016

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has finally notified the ‘Companies (Compromises, Arrangements & Amalgamations) Rules, 2016 to be effective  from 15 Dec. 2016, as under:

                                            MCA Notification dt. 14 Dec. 2016

G.S.R. 1134(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 469 read with sections 230 to 233 and sections 235 to 240 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely:-

1. Short Title and Commencement. –

(1) These rules may be called the Companies (Compromises, Arrangements and Amalgamations) Rules, 2016.

(2) They shall come into force with effect from 15th December, 2016.

2. Definitions.-

(1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires.-

(a) “Act” means the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013);

(b) “Annexure” means the annexure to these rules;

(c) “Form” means a form set forth in annexure “A” to these rules which shall be used for the matter to which it relates, and includes an electronic version thereof;

(d) “Liquidator” means the Liquidator appointed under the Act or under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (31 of 2016);

(2) All other words and expressions used in these rules but not defined herein, and defined in the Act or in the Companies (Specification of Definitions Details) Rules, 2014 or in the National Company Law Tribunal Rules, 2016, shall have the same meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act or in the said rules.

3. Application for order of a meeting. –

(1) An application under sub-section (1) of section 230 of the Act may be submitted in Form no. NCLT-1 (appended in the National Company Law Tribunal Rules, 2016) along with:-

(i) a notice or admission in Form No. NCLT-2 (appended in the National Company Law Tribunal Rules, 2016);

(ii) an affidavit in Form No. NCLT-6 (appended in the National Company Law Tribunal Rules, 2016);

(iii) a copy of scheme of compromise or arrangement, which should include disclosures as per sub-section (2) of section 230 of the Act; and

(iv) fee as prescribed in the Schedule of Fees.

(2) Where more than one company is involved in a scheme in relation to which an application under sub-rule (1) is being filed, such application may, at the discretion of such companies, be filed as a joint-application.

(3) Where the company is not the applicant, a copy of the notice of admission and of the affidavit shall be served on the company, or, where the company is being wound up, on its liquidator, not less than fourteen days before the date fixed for the hearing of the notice of admission.

(4) The applicant shall also disclose to the Tribunal in the application under sub-rule (1), the basis on which each class of members or creditors has been identified for the purposes of approval of the scheme.

4. Disclosures in application made to the Tribunal for compromise or arrangement – Creditors Responsibility Statement. –

For the purposes of sub-clause (i) of clause (c) or sub-section (2) of section 230 of the Act, the creditor’s responsibility statement in Form No. CAA.1 shall be included in the scheme of corporate debt restructuring.

Explanation:- For the purpose of this rule, it is clarified that a scheme of corporate debt restructuring as referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 230 Of the Act shall mean a scheme that restructures or varies the debt obligations of a company towards its creditors.

5. Directions at hearing of the application.-

Upon hearing the application under sub-section (1) of section 230 of the Act, the Tribunal shall, unless it thinks fit for any reason to dismiss the application, give such directions as it may think necessary in respect of the following matters:-

(a) determining the Class or classes Of creditors or of members whose meeting Or meetings have to be held for considering the proposed compromise or arrangement; or dispensing with the meeting or meetings for any class or classes of creditors in terms of sub-section (9) of section 230;

(b) fixing the time and place of the meeting or meetings;

(c) appointing a Chairperson and scrutinizer for the meeting or meetings to be held, as the case may be and fixing the terms of his appointment including remuneration;

(d) fixing the quorum and the procedure to be followed at the meeting or meetings, including voting in person or by proxy or by postal ballot or by voting through electronic means;

Explanation.- For the purposes of these rules, “voting through electronic means” shall take place, mutatis mutandis, in accordance with the procedure as specified in rule 20 of Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014.

(e) determining the values of the creditors or the members, or the creditors or members of any class, as the case may be, whose meetings have to be held;

(f) notice to be given of the meeting Or meetings and the advertisement of such notice;

(g) notice to be given to sectoral regulators or authorities as required under sub-section (5) of section 230;

(h) the time within which the chairperson of the meeting is required to report the result of the meeting to the Tribunal; and

(i) such other matters as the Tribunal may deem necessary.

6. Notice of meeting. –

(1) Where a meeting Of any class or classes of creditors or members has been directed to be convened, the notice of the meeting pursuant to the order of the Tribunal to be given in the manner provided in sub-section (3) of section 230 of the Act shall be in Form No. CAA.2 and shall be sent individually to each of the creditors or members.

(2) The notice shall be sent by the Chairperson appointed for the meeting,  or, if the Tribunal so directs, by the company (or its liquidator), or any other person as the Tribunal may direct, by registered post or speed post or by courier or by e-mail or by hand delivery or any Other mode as directed by the Tribunal to their last known address at least one month before the date fixed for the meeting.

Explanation: – It is hereby clarified that the service of notice of meeting shall be deemed to have been effected in case of delivery by post, at the expiration of forty eight hours after the letter containing the same is posted,

(3) The notice of the meeting to the creditors and members shall be  accompanied by a copy of the scheme Of compromise or arrangement and a statement disclosing the following details of the compromise or arrangement, if such details are not already included in the said scheme:

(i) details of the order of the Tribunal directing the calling, convening and conducting or the meeting:

(a) date of the Order;

(b) date, time and venue of the meeting.

(ii) details of the company including:

 (a) Corporate Identification Number (CIN) or Global Location Number (GLN) of the company;

(b) Permanent Account Number (PAN);

(c) name of the company;

(d) date of incorporation;

(e) type of the company (whether public or private or one-person company) ;

(f) registered office address and e-mail address;

(g) summary of main object as per the memorandum of association; and main business carried on by the company;

(h) details of change or name, registered office and objects of the company during the last five years;

(i) name or the stock exchange (s) where securities of the company are listed, if applicable;

(j) details of the capital structure of the company including authorised, issued, subscribed and paid up share capital; and

(k) names of the promoters and directors along with their addresses.

(iii) if the scheme of compromise or arrangement relates to more than one company, the fact and details of any relationship subsisting between such companies who are parties to such scheme of compromise or arrangement, including holding, subsidiary or of associate companies;

(iv) the date of the board meeting at which the scheme was approved by the board of directors including the name of the directors who voted in favour of the resolution, who voted against the resolution and who did not vote or participate on such resolution;

(v) explanatory statement disclosing details Of the scheme of compromise or arrangement including:-

(a) parties involved in such compromise or arrangement;

(b) in case of amalgamation or merger, appointed date, effective date, share exchange ratio (if applicable) and other considerations, if any ;

(c) summary of valuation report (if applicable) including basis of valuation and fairness opinion Of the registered valuer, if any, and the declaration that the valuation report is available for inspection at the registered office of the company;

(d) details of capital or debt restructuring, if any;

(e) rationale for the compromise or arrangement;

(f) benefits of the compromise or arrangement as perceived by the Board of directors to the company, members, creditors and others (as applicable) ;

(g) amount due to unsecured creditors.

(vi) disclosure about the effect of the compromise or arrangement on:

(a) key managerial personnel;

(b) directors;

(c) promoters;

(d) non-promoter members;

(e) depositors;

(f) creditors;

(g) debenture holders;

(h) deposit trustee and debenture trustee;

(i) employees of the company:

(vii) Disclosure about effect of compromise or arrangement on material interests of directors, Key Managerial Personnel (KMP) and debenture trustee.

Explanation – For the purposes of these rules it is clarified that-

(a) the term ‘interest’ extends beyond an interest in the shares of the company, and is with reference to the proposed scheme of compromise or arrangement.

(b) the valuation report shall be made by a registered valuer, and till the registration of persons as valuers is prescribed under section 247 of the Act, the valuation report shall be made by an independent merchant banker who is registered with the Securities and Exchange Board or an independent chartered accountant in practice having a minimum experience of ten years,

(viii) investigation or proceedings, if any, pending against the company under the Act.

(ix) details of the availability of the following documents for obtaining extract from or for making or obtaining copies of or for inspection by the members and creditors, namely:

(a) latest audited financial Statements of the company including consolidated financial statements;

(b) copy of the order of Tribunal in pursuance of which the meeting is to be convened or has been dispensed with;

(c) copy of scheme of compromise or arrangement;

(d) contracts or agreements material to the compromise or arrangement;

(e) the certificate issued by Auditor of the Company to the effect that the accounting treatment, if any, proposed in the scheme of compromise or arrangement is in conformity with the Accounting Standards prescribed under Section 133 of the Companies Act, 2013; and

(f) such other information or documents as the Board or Management believes necessary and relevant for making decision for or against the scheme;

(x) details of approvals, sanctions or no-objection(s), if any, from regulatory or any other governmental authorities required, received or pending for the proposed scheme of compromise or arrangement.

(xi) a statement to the effect that the persons to whom the notice is sent may vote in the meeting either in person or by proxies, or where applicable, by voting through electronic means.

Explanation- For the purposes of this rule, disclosure required to be made by a company shall be made in respect of all the companies, which are part of the compromise or arrangement.

7.  Advertisement of the notice of the meeting.-

The notice of the meeting under sub-section (3) of Section 230 of the Act shall be advertised in Form No. CAA.2 in at least One English newspaper and in at least one vernacular newspaper having wide circulation in the State in which the registered office of the company is situated, or such newspapers as may be directed by the Tribunal and shall also be placed, not less than thirty days before the date fixed for the meeting, on the website of the company (if any) and in case of listed companies also on the website of the SEBI and the recognized stock exchange where the securities of the company are listed:

Provided that where separate meetings of classes of creditors or members are to be held, a joint advertisement for such meetings may be given.

8. Notice to statutory authorities.-

(1) For the purposes of sub-section (5) of section 230 of the Act, the notice shall be in Form No. CAA.3 and shall be accompanied with a copy of the scheme of compromise Or arrangement, the explanatory statement and the disclosures mentioned under rule 6, and shall be sent to.-

(i) the Central Government, the Registrar of Companies, the Income-tax authorities, in all cases;

(ii) the Reserve Bank of India, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the Competition Commission of India, and the stock exchanges, as may be applicable ;

(iii) Other sectoral regulators or authorities, as required by Tribunal.

(2) The notice to the authorities mentioned in sub-rule (l) shall be sent forthwith, after the notice is sent to the members or creditors of the company, by registered post or by speed post or by courier or by hand delivery at the office of the authority.

(3) If the authorities referred to under sub-rule (1) desire to make any representation under sub-section (5) of section 230, the same shall be sent to the Tribunal within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt or such notice and copy of such representation shall simultaneously be Sent to the concerned companies and in Case no representation is received within the stated period of thirty days by the Tribunal, it shall be presumed that the authorities have no representation to make on the proposed scheme of compromise or arrangement.

9. Voting.-

The person who receives the notice may within one month from  the date of receipt of the notice vote in the meeting either in person or through proxy or through postal ballot or through electronic means to the adoption of the scheme of compromise and arrangement.

Explanation. For the purposes of voting by persons who receive the notice as shareholder or creditor under this rule-

(a) “shareholding” shall mean the shareholding of the members of the class who are entitled to vote on the proposal; and

(b) “outstanding debt” shall mean all debt owed by the company to the respective class or classes of creditors that remains outstanding as per the latest audited financial statement, or if such statement is more than six months old, as per provisional financial statement not preceding the date of application by more than six months.

10. Proxies:-

(1) Voting by proxy shall be permitted, provided a proxy in the prescribed form duly signed by the person entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is filed with the company at its registered office not later than 48 hours before the meeting.

(2) Where a body corporate which is a member Or creditor (including holder of debentures) of a company authorises any person to act as its representative at the meeting, of the members or creditors of the company, or of any class of them, as the case may be, a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors or other governing body of such body corporate authorising such person to act as its representative at the meeting, and certified to be a true copy by a director, the manager, the secretary, or other authorised officer of such body corporate shall be lodged with the company at its registered office not later than 48 hours before the meeting.

(3) No person shall be appointed as a proxy who is a minor.

(4) The proxy of a member or creditor blind or incapable of writing may be accepted if such member or creditor has attached his signature or mark thereto in the presence of a witness who shall add to his signature his description and address : provided that all insertions in the proxy are in the handwriting or the witness and such witness shall have certified at the foot of the proxy that all such insertions have been made by him at the request and in the presence of the member or creditor before he attached his signature or mark.

(5) The proxy of a member or creditor who does not know English may be accepted if it is executed in the manner prescribed in the preceding sub-rule and the witness certifies that it was explained to the member or creditor in the language known to him, and gives the member’s or creditor’s name in English below the signature.

11. Copy of compromise or arrangement to be furnished by the company.-

Every creditor or member entitled to attend the meeting shall be furnished by the company, free of charge, within one day on a requisition being made for the same, with a copy of the scheme of the proposed compromise or arrangement together with a copy of the statement required to be furnished under section 230 of Act.

12. Affidavit of service. –

(l) The Chairperson appointed for the meeting of the company or other person directed to issue the advertisement and the notices of the meeting shall file an affidavit before the Tribunal not less than seven days before the date fixed for the meeting or the date of the first of the meetings, as the case may be, stating that the directions regarding the issue of notices and the advertisement have been duly complied with.

(2) In case of default under sub-rule (1), the application along with copy of the last order issued shall be posted before the Tribunal for such orders as it may think fit to make.

13. Result of the meeting to be decided by voting. –

(1) The voting at the meeting or meetings held in pursuance of the directions of the Tribunal under Rule 5 on all resolutions shall take place by poll or by voting through electronic means.

(2) The report of the result of the meeting under sub – rule (l) shall be in Form No. CAA.4 and shall state accurately the number of creditors or class of creditors or the number or members or class of members, as the case may be, who were present and who voted at the meeting either in person or by proxy, and where applicable, who voted through electronic means, their individual values and the way they voted.

14.  Report of the result of the meeting by Chairperson.-

The Chairperson of the meeting (or where there are separate meetings, the Chairperson of each meeting) shall, within the time fixed by the Tribunal, or where no time has been fixed, within three days after the conclusion of the meeting, submit a report to the Tribunal on the result of the meeting in Form No. CAA.4.

15. Petition for confirming compromise or arrangement. –

(1) Where the proposed compromise or arrangement is agreed to by the members or creditors or both as the case may be, with or without modification, the company (or its liquidator), shall, within seven days of the filing of the report by the Chairperson, present a petition to the Tribunal in Form No. CAA.5 for sanction of the scheme of compromise or arrangement,

(2) Where a compromise or arrangement is proposed for the purposes of or in connection with scheme for the reconstruction of any company or companies, or for the amalgamation of any two or more companies, the petition shall pray for appropriate orders and directions under section 230 read with section 232 of the Act.

(3) Where the company fails to present the petition for confirmation of the compromise or arrangement as aforesaid, it shall be open to any creditor or member as the case may be, with the leave of the Tribunal, to present the petition and the company shall be liable for the cost thereof.

16. Date and notice of hearing.-

(1) The Tribunal shall fix a date for the hearing of the petition, and notice of the hearing shall be advertised in the same newspaper in which the notice of the meeting was advertised, or in such other newspaper as the Tribunal may direct, not less than ten days before the date fixed for the hearing,

(2) The notice of the hearing of the petition shall also be served by the Tribunal to the objectors or to their representatives under sub-section (4) or section 230 of the Act and to the Central Government and other authorities who have made representation under rule 8 and have desired to be heard in their representation.

17. Order on petition.-

(1) Where the Tribunal sanctions the compromise or arrangement, the Order shall include such directions in regard to any matter or such modifications in the compromise or arrangement as the Tribunal may think fit to make for the proper working of the compromise or arrangement.

(2) The order shall direct that a certified copy of the same shall be filed with the Registrar of Companies within thirty days from the date of the receipt of copy of the order, or such other time as may be fixed by the Tribunal.

(3) The order shall be in Form No. CAA. 6, with such variations as may be necessary.

18. Application for directions under section 232 of the Act.-

(1) Where the compromise or arrangement has been proposed for the purposes of or in connection with a scheme for the reconstruction of any company or companies or the amalgamation of any two or more companies, and the matters involved cannot be dealt with or dealt with adequately on the petition for sanction of the compromise or arrangement, an application shall be made to the Tribunal under section 232 of the Act, by a notice of admission supported by an affidavit for directions of the Tribunal as to the proceedings to be taken.

(2) Notice of admission in such cases shall be given in such manner and to such persons as the Tribunal may direct.

19. Directions at hearing of application.-

Upon the hearing of the notice of admission given under rule 18 or upon any adjourned hearing thereof, the Tribunal may make such order or give such directions as it may think fit, as to the proceedings to be taken for the purpose of reconstruction or amalgamation, as the case may be, including, where necessary, an inquiry as to the creditors of the transferror company and the securing of the debts and claims or any Of the dissenting creditors in such manner as the Tribunal may think just and appropriate.

20. Order under section 232 of the Act. –

An order made under section 232 read with section 230 of the Act shall be in Form No.CAA.7 with such variation as the circumstances may require

21. Statement of compliance in mergers and amalgamations.-

For the purpose of sub-section (7) of section 232 of the Act, every company in relation to which an order is made under sub-section (3) of section 232 Of the Act shall until the scheme is fully implemented, file with the Registrar of Companies, the statement in Form No. CAA.8 along with such fee as specified in the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014 within two hundred and ten days from the end of each financial year.

22. Report on working of compromise or arrangement.-

At any time after issuing an order sanctioning the compromise or arrangement, the Tribunal may, either on its own motion or on the application of any interested person, make an order directing the company or where the company is being wound-up, its liquidator, to submit to the Tribunal within such time as the Tribunal may fix, a report on the working of the said compromise or arrangement and on consideration Of the report, the Tribunal may pass such orders or give such directions as it may think fit.

23. Liberty to apply.-

(1) The company, or any creditor or member thereof, or in case of a company which is being wound-up, its liquidator, may, at any time after the passing of the order sanctioning the compromise or arrangement, apply to the Tribunal for the determination of any question relating to the working of the compromise or arrangement.

(2) The application shall in the first instance be posted before the Tribunal for directions as to the notices and the advertisement, if any, to be issued, as the Tribunal may direct.

(3) The Tribunal may, on such application, pass such orders and give such directions as it may think fit in regard to the matter, and may make such modifications in the compromise or arrangement as it may consider necessary for the proper working thereof, or pass such Orders as it may think fit in the circumstances of the case.

24. Liberty of the Tribunal.-

(1) At any time during the proceedings, if the Tribunal hearing a petition or application under these Rules is of the opinion that the petition or application or evidence or information or statement is required to be filed in the form of affidavit, the Same may be ordered by the Tribunal in the manner as the Tribunal may think fit.

(2) The Tribunal may pass any direction(s) or order or dispense with any procedure prescribed by these rules in pursuance of the object of the provisions for implementation of the scheme of arrangement or compromise or restructuring or otherwise practicable except on those matters specifically provided in the Act.

25. Merger or Amalgamation of certain companies.-

(1) The notice of the proposed scheme, under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 233 of the Act, to invite objections or suggestions from the Registrar and Official Liquidator or persons affected by the scheme shall be in Form No. CAA.9.

(2) For the purposes of clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 233 of the Act the declaration of solvency shall be filed by each of the companies involved in the scheme or merger or amalgamation in Form No. CAA.10 along with the fee as provided in the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014, before convening the meeting of members and creditors for approval of the scheme,

(3) For the purposes of clause (b) and (d) of sub-section (1) of section 233 of the Act, the notice of the meeting to the members and creditors shall be accompanied by –

(a) a Statement, as far as applicable, referred to in sub-section (3) of section 230 of the Act read with sub-rule (3) of rule 6 hereof;

(b) the declaration of solvency made in pursuance of clause (c) of subsection (1) of section 233 of the Act in Form No. CAA.10;

(c) a copy of the scheme.

(4) (a) For the purposes of sub-section (2) or section 233 Of the Act, the transferee company shall, within seven days after the conclusion or the meeting of members or class of members or creditors or class Of creditors, file a copy of the scheme as agreed to by the members and creditors, along with a report of the result of each or the meetings in Form No. CAA.11 with the Central Government, along with the fees as provided under the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014.

(b) Copy of the scheme shall also be filed, along with Form No. CAA.11 with –

(i) the Registrar of Companies in Form No. GNL-1 along with fees provided under the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014; and

(ii) the Official Liquidator through hand delivery or by registered post or speed post.

(5) Where no objection or suggestion is received to the scheme from the Registrar of Companies and Official Liquidator or where the objection or suggestion of Registrar and Official Liquidator is deemed to be not sustainable and the Central Government is of the opinion that the scheme is in the public interest or in the interest Of creditors, the Central Government. shall issue a confirmation order of such scheme of merger or amalgamation in Form No. CAA. 12.

(6) Where objections or suggestions are received from the Registrar of Companies or Official Liquidator and the Central Government is of the opinion, whether on the basis of such objections or otherwise, that the scheme is not in the public interest or in the interest of creditors, it may file an application before the Tribunal in Form No. CAA.13 within sixty days or the receipt or the scheme Stating its objections or opinion and requesting that Tribunal may consider the scheme under section 232 of the Act.

(7) The confirmation order of the scheme issued by the Central Government or Tribunal under sub-section (7) of section 233 of the Act, shall be filed, within thirty days of the receipt of the order of confirmation, in Form INC-28 along with the fees as provided under Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014 with the Registrar of Companies having jurisdiction over the transferee and transferror companies respectively.

(8) For the purpose of this rule, it is clarified that with respect to schemes of arrangement or compromise falling within the purview of section 233 of the Act, the concerned companies may, at their discretion, opt to undertake such schemes under sections 230 to 232 of the Act, including where the condition prescribed in clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 233 of the Act has not been met.

26. Notice to dissenting shareholders for acquiring the shares.-

For the purposes of sub-section (1) of section 235 of the Act, the transferee company shall send a notice to the dissenting shareholder(s) or the transferror company, in Form No. CAA.14 at the last intimated address of such shareholder, for acquiring the shares of such dissenting shareholders.

27. Determination of price for purchase of minority shareholding.-

For the purposes of sub-section (2) of section 236 of the Act, the registered valuer shall determine the price (hereinafter called as offer price) to be paid by the acquirer, person or group of persons referred to in sub-section (1) Of section 236 of the Act for purchase of equity shares of the minority shareholders of the company, in accordance With the following rules:

(1) In the case of a listed company,-

(i) the Offer price shall be determined in the manner as may be specified by the Securities and Exchange Board or India under the relevant regulations framed by it, as may be applicable; and

(ii) the registered valuer shall also provide a valuation report on the basis Of valuation addressed to the Board of directors of the company giving justification for such valuation.

(2) In the case of an unlisted company and a private company,

(i) the offer price shall be determined after taking into account the following factors:-

(a) the highest price paid by the acquirer, person or group of persons for acquisition during last twelve months;

(b) the fair price of shares of the company to be determined by the registered valuer after taking into account valuation parameters including return on net worth, book value of shares, earning per share, price earning multiple vis-a-vis the industry average, and such other parameters as are customary for valuation of shares of such companies; and

(ii) the registered valuer shall also provide a valuation report on the basis of valuation addressed to the board of directors of the company giving justification for such valuation.

28. Circular containing scheme of amalgamation or merger.-

(1) For the purposes of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 238 of the Act, every circular containing the offer of scheme or contract involving transfer of shares or any class of shares and recommendation to the members of the transferror company by its directors to accept such offer, shall be accompanied by such information as set out in Form No. CAA.15.

(2) The circular shall be presented to the Registrar for registration.

29. Appeal under sub-section (2) of section 238 of the Act.-

Any aggrieved party may file an appeal against the order of the Registrar of Companies refusing to register any circular under sub-section (2) of section 238 of the Act and the said appeal shall be in the Form No. NCLT.9 (appended in the National Company Law Tribunal Rules, 2016) supported with an affidavit in the Form No. NCLT.6 (appended in the National Company Law Tribunal Rules, 2016).

Annexure

[See Rule 2(1)(c)]

(Please refer attachment for Form No. CAA.1 to CAA.15)