COMPANIES ACT 2016 - debenture 《2016 年公司法》 - 公司债券

COMPANIES ACT 2016 - debenture 《2016 年公司法》 - 公司债券

COMPANIES ACT 2016
“debenture” includes debenture stock, bonds, sukuk, notes and any other securities of a corporation whether constituting a charge on the assets of the corporation or not;

A debenture is a debt instrument issued by a corporation to raise funds from investors. Unlike shares, a debenture does not confer ownership in the company. Instead, it represents a contractual obligation by the corporation to repay the principal amount borrowed together with any agreed interest, profit, or other returns according to the terms of the security.
The Companies Act 2016 adopts a broad definition of debenture, covering various forms of corporate debt securities, whether or not they are secured by the company's assets.

Types of Debentures
The definition includes, but is not limited to:
1. Debenture Stock
A form of long-term debt that may be issued in a consolidated amount rather than as individual debentures. Holders are entitled to repayment and any agreed return under the terms of the issue.
2. Bonds
Debt securities issued by a corporation to investors, requiring repayment of the principal together with interest upon maturity or in accordance with the bond terms.
3. Sukuk
Islamic financial securities structured in accordance with Shariah principles. Unlike conventional bonds, sukuk generally represent ownership or beneficial interests in underlying assets, projects, or investments rather than a simple debt obligation.
4. Notes
Short-term or medium-term debt securities issued by a corporation to obtain financing, subject to specified repayment terms.
5. Other Corporate Securities
Any other debt-related securities issued by a corporation that create an obligation to repay investors or provide returns, regardless of their specific designation.

Secured and Unsecured Debentures
A debenture may be:
Secured Debenture
A secured debenture is backed by a charge or mortgage over the corporation's assets. If the corporation defaults, the debenture holders may enforce their security against the charged assets.
Example:
A company issues RM20 million in secured debentures, granting a fixed charge over its factory and machinery as security.

Unsecured Debenture
An unsecured debenture is not secured by any specific company asset. Debenture holders rely solely on the corporation's creditworthiness and contractual obligation to repay.
Example:
A listed company issues unsecured notes to institutional investors without creating any charge over its assets.

Key Characteristics
A debenture generally:
  • Represents borrowed capital rather than ownership;
  • Creates a contractual obligation to repay the principal amount;
  • May carry interest or other agreed returns;
  • May be secured or unsecured;
  • Has a specified maturity date or repayment schedule; and
  • Does not ordinarily confer shareholders' voting rights.

Practical Examples
Example 1 – Corporate Bond
ABC Berhad issues RM100 million worth of five-year bonds with an annual interest rate of 4.5%.
The bonds are debentures under the Companies Act 2016 because they are corporate debt securities.

Example 2 – Sukuk Issuance
XYZ Islamic Berhad issues RM500 million in sukuk to finance the construction of a new manufacturing facility.
The sukuk falls within the statutory definition of a debenture.

Example 3 – Unsecured Notes
A corporation issues three-year unsecured notes to institutional investors without granting security over any assets.
Although no charge is created, the notes remain debentures under the Companies Act 2016.

Rights of Debenture Holders
Depending on the terms of the issue, debenture holders may have the right to:
  • Receive repayment of the principal amount upon maturity;
  • Receive periodic interest or profit distributions;
  • Enforce security where the debenture is secured;
  • Receive information specified in the debenture terms; and
  • Exercise contractual rights upon the corporation's default.
Unlike shareholders, debenture holders are generally creditors of the corporation and do not acquire ownership or voting rights solely by holding debentures.

Compliance Requirements
Corporations issuing debentures should ensure that:
  • The issue complies with the Companies Act 2016 and any applicable securities laws;
  • The terms and conditions of the debenture are properly documented;
  • Any security interests are validly created and registered where required;
  • Debenture holders receive the rights and protections provided under the issue documents and applicable law; and
  • All repayment obligations are honoured in accordance with the agreed terms.

Importance
Debentures are an important source of corporate financing because they:
  • Enable corporations to raise capital without issuing shares;
  • Provide investors with fixed-income investment opportunities;
  • Support business expansion and long-term financing;
  • Offer flexibility through both conventional and Islamic financing structures; and
  • Facilitate capital market development while protecting the rights of corporate creditors under the Companies Act 2016.  

    《2016 年公司法》

    公司债券(Debenture)

    “公司债券”(Debenture) 包括债券股(Debenture Stock)债券(Bonds)伊斯兰债券(Sukuk)票据(Notes),以及公司发行的任何其他证券(Securities),无论该等证券是否构成对公司资产的押记(Charge)


    公司债券(Debenture) 是公司为筹集资金而向投资者发行的一种债务融资工具(Debt Instrument)

    股份(Shares)不同,公司债券不会赋予持有人公司的所有权。相反,它代表公司根据债券条款,承担向投资者偿还借款本金,并支付约定的利息、利润或其他回报的合同义务。

    《2016 年公司法》对**公司债券(Debenture)**采取广义定义,涵盖各种形式的公司债务证券,不论有关债券是否以公司资产作为担保。


    公司债券的类型(Types of Debentures)

    《2016 年公司法》所称的公司债券包括但不限于以下类型:

    1. 债券股(Debenture Stock)

    债券股是一种长期债务融资工具,通常以整体金额发行,而非个别债券。

    持有人有权根据发行条款,于到期时收回本金及取得约定的利息或其他回报。


    2. 债券(Bonds)

    债券是公司向投资者发行的债务证券。

    公司须依照债券条款,于到期日或约定时间偿还本金及支付利息。


    3. 伊斯兰债券(Sukuk)

    伊斯兰债券是依据**伊斯兰教法(Shariah)**设计的融资工具。

    与传统债券不同,Sukuk 一般代表投资者对相关资产、项目或投资的所有权或受益权,而非单纯的债务关系。


    4. 票据(Notes)

    票据是公司发行的短期或中期债务融资工具,并按照约定的还款条款偿还本金及其他应付款项。


    5. 其他公司债务证券(Other Corporate Securities)

    凡公司发行、具有偿还本金或向投资者支付回报义务的其他债务证券,不论其名称为何,均属于《2016 年公司法》所定义的公司债券。


    有担保及无担保公司债券(Secured and Unsecured Debentures)

    有担保公司债券(Secured Debenture)

    有担保公司债券是指以公司资产设立**押记(Charge)按揭(Mortgage)**作为担保的公司债券。

    若公司违约,债券持有人可依法对有关担保资产行使追偿权。

    例子:

    某公司发行 RM2,000 万有担保公司债券,并以其工厂及机器设备设立固定押记(Fixed Charge)作为担保。


    无担保公司债券(Unsecured Debenture)

    无担保公司债券并无任何特定资产作为担保。

    债券持有人主要依赖公司的信用状况及其依照债券条款履行还款义务。

    例子:

    一家上市公司向机构投资者发行无担保票据(Unsecured Notes),但并未对任何公司资产设立押记。


    主要特征(Key Characteristics)

    公司债券一般具有以下特点:

  • 属于借入资本(Borrowed Capital),而非公司所有权;
  • 公司依法承担偿还本金的合同责任;
  • 可支付利息、利润或其他约定回报;
  • 可属于有担保或无担保债务;
  • 一般设有到期日或还款时间表;以及
  • 持有人通常不享有股东的表决权。

  • 实务示例(Practical Examples)

    例子一:公司债券(Corporate Bond)

    ABC Berhad 发行总值 RM1 亿、期限五年、年利率 4.5% 的公司债券。

    由于该债券属于公司发行的债务证券,因此属于《2016 年公司法》所定义的公司债券(Debenture)


    例子二:发行伊斯兰债券(Sukuk Issuance)

    XYZ Islamic Berhad 发行总值 RM5 亿 的伊斯兰债券(Sukuk),用于兴建新的制造厂房。

    根据《2016 年公司法》,该 Sukuk 属于**公司债券(Debenture)**的定义范围。


    例子三:发行无担保票据(Unsecured Notes)

    某公司向机构投资者发行为期三年的无担保票据,并未以任何资产提供担保。

    虽然没有设立押记,该等票据仍属于《2016 年公司法》所定义的公司债券(Debenture)


    公司债券持有人的权利(Rights of Debenture Holders)

    根据债券发行条款,债券持有人一般可享有以下权利:

  • 于到期时收回本金(Receive Repayment of Principal upon Maturity);
  • 定期收取利息或利润分配(Receive Periodic Interest or Profit Distributions);
  • 如属于有担保债券,可执行有关担保权益(Enforce Security);
  • 获得债券条款规定应提供的资料(Receive Information Specified in the Debenture Terms);以及
  • 当公司违约时,依法行使债券契约赋予的权利(Exercise Contractual Rights upon Default)。
  • 与股东不同,公司债券持有人一般属于公司的债权人(Creditor),仅因持有公司债券,并不会取得公司的所有权或股东表决权。


    合规要求(Compliance Requirements)

    发行公司债券的公司应确保:

  • 债券发行符合《2016 年公司法》及适用的证券法例;
  • 债券条款及条件已妥善制定及记录;
  • 如设有担保权益,应依法有效设立,并于有需要时完成登记;
  • 债券持有人依法享有发行文件及适用法律赋予的权利及保障;以及
  • 公司按照约定条款履行所有本金、利息或利润的偿还责任。

  • 重要性(Importance)

    公司债券(Debenture) 是企业融资的重要工具,其主要作用包括:

  • 让公司无需发行股份即可筹集资金;
  • 为投资者提供固定收益投资机会;
  • 支持企业扩充业务及长期融资;
  • 提供传统融资及伊斯兰融资两种灵活融资模式;以及
  • 促进马来西亚资本市场的发展,同时保障公司债权人在《2016 年公司法》下所享有的合法权益。