SEC Form 6-K filed by ICICI Bank Limited

The attached is being provided by ICICI Bank Limited (the “Bank”) FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and is not to be construed, and does not purport to be, an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, the Depositary (the “Depositary”), has not reviewed the enclosed, and expressly disclaims any responsibility for, and does not make any recommendation with respect to, the Bank or the matters and/or transactions described or referred to in the enclosed documentation. Furthermore, neither the Depositary nor any of its officers, employees, directors, agents or affiliates controls, is responsible for, endorses, adopts, or guarantees the accuracy or completeness of any information provided at the Bank’s request or otherwise made available by the Bank and none of them are liable or responsible for any information contained therein.

 

Registered Holders have no voting rights with respect to the Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their American Depositary Shares. The instructions of Registered Holders shall not be obtained with respect to the voting rights attached to the Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective ADSs. In accordance with the Governmental Approval, the Depositary is required, at the direction of the Board of Directors of the Bank (the “Board”), to vote as directed by the Board.

The matters referred to in the attached are being made with respect to the securities of an Indian company. The proposed action is subject to the disclosure requirements of India, which are different from those of the United States.

 

It may be difficult for you to enforce your rights and any claim you may have arising under the U.S. federal securities laws, since the issuer is located in India, and some or all of its officers and directors may be residents of India. You may not be able to sue an Indian company or its officers or directors in an Indian court for violations of the U.S. securities laws. It may be difficult to compel an Indian company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a U.S. court’s judgment.

 

Capitalized terms used in this notice but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Deposit Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2000 (as amended) between the Bank, the Depositary and all Registered Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time of Receipts issued thereunder.

NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to the provisions of Section 110 read with Section 108 and all other applicable provisions, if any, of the Companies Act, 2013 including any statutory amendment(s), modification(s), variation(s) or re-enactment(s) thereof for the time being in force (“the Act”), read with Rule 20 and Rule 22 of the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014, as amended (“Rules”), Regulation 44 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, as amended (“SEBI Listing Regulations”), read with General Circular No. 14/2020 dated April 08, 2020; General Circular No. 17/2020 dated April 13, 2020 and other relevant circulars, including General Circular No. 09/2024 dated September 19, 2024 issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India (“MCA Circulars”), Secretarial Standard-2 on General Meetings issued by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India and any other applicable laws, rules and regulations (including any statutory amendment(s), modification(s), variation(s) or re-enactment(s) thereof, for the time being in force), the Resolution appended herein below for appointment of Mr. Punit Sood as an Independent Director is proposed to be passed as Special Resolution by the Members of ICICI Bank Limited (“Bank”/“Company”) by way of Postal Ballot through electronic voting (“remote e-voting”) process only.

 

The proposed Resolution and Explanatory Statement setting out material facts as required in terms of Section 102 of the Act read with the Rules and MCA Circulars are appended below seeking consent of the Members of the Bank through remote e-voting.

 

In compliance with Regulation 44 of the SEBI Listing Regulations and pursuant to the provisions of Sections 108 and 110 of the Act read with Rules and MCA Circulars, the Bank is sending this Postal Ballot Notice in electronic form only and has extended only remote e-voting facility for its Members, to enable them to cast their votes electronically instead of submitting the Postal Ballot form. Accordingly, the hard copy of this Postal Ballot Notice along with Postal Ballot forms and pre-paid business envelope will not be sent to the Members for this Postal Ballot. The Bank has appointed KFin Technologies Limited

(“KFintech”) for facilitating remote e-voting to enable the Members to cast their votes electronically. The instructions for remote e-voting are appended to this Postal Ballot Notice under the head ‘Instructions for remote e-voting’ at Note 9, which the Members are requested to carefully read. In accordance with the MCA Circulars, the Bank has made necessary arrangements to enable the members to register their email address. Those members who have not yet registered their email address, are requested to register the same by following the procedure set out in Note 9 in this Postal Ballot Notice.

 

The Board of Directors of the Bank, at its Meeting held on October 26, 2024 has appointed Mr. P. N. Parikh (FCS No.: 327, COP No.: 1228) of Parikh Parekh & Associates, Practising Company Secretaries or failing him Ms. Jigyasa N. Ved (FCS No.: 6488, COP No.: 6018) of Parikh Parekh & Associates, Practising Company Secretaries as the Scrutinizer to scrutinize the Postal Ballot remote e-voting process in a fair and transparent manner. Members holding equity shares of the Bank on the Cut-off Date mentioned in this Postal Ballot Notice are requested to carefully read the instructions in this Postal Ballot Notice and record their assent (FOR) or dissent (AGAINST) through the remote e-voting process not later than 5:00 p.m. IST on Friday, November 29, 2024, failing which it will be strictly considered that no reply has been received from the Member.

 

After completion of scrutiny of the votes, the Scrutinizer will submit the report to the Chairman of the Bank or a person authorized by him in writing, who shall countersign the same. The Chairman or a person authorised by him shall declare the results of Postal Ballot remote e-voting. The results of Postal Ballot shall be declared on or before Monday, December 2, 2024 at any time before 5:00 p.m. IST and alongwith the Scrutinizer’s Report shall be displayed at the Registered Office as well as the Corporate Office of the Bank, and uploaded on the Bank’s website at https://www.icicibank.com/about-us/voting-result as well as on the website of KFintech at https://evoting.kfintech.com. The Results shall also be simultaneously forwarded to the Stock Exchanges within the timelines specified in the SEBI Listing Regulations.

The proposed Special Resolution, if approved, shall be deemed to have been passed on the last date of remote e-voting, i.e. Friday, November 29, 2024.

 

SPECIAL BUSINESS

 

Resolution No. 1:

 

Appointment of Mr. Punit Sood (DIN: 00033799) as an Independent Director with effect from October 1, 2024

 

To consider and, if thought fit, to pass, the following Resolution as a Special Resolution:

 

RESOLVED THAT pursuant to the provisions of Sections 149, 150, 152, 160, read with Schedule IV and all other applicable provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 read with the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014, other applicable rules, if any, and applicable provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (including any statutory amendment(s), modification(s), variation(s) or re-enactment(s) thereof for the time being in force) and the rules, circulars and guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, Mr. Punit Sood (DIN: 00033799), who was appointed as an Additional Independent Director of ICICI Bank Limited (“Bank”), with effect from October 1, 2024 and in respect of whom the Bank has received a notice in writing from a member proposing his candidature for the office of Director, be and is hereby appointed as an Independent Director of the Bank, not liable to retire by rotation, for a term of five years with effect from October 1, 2024.

 

By Order of the Board

For ICICI Bank Limited

 

 

	Prachiti Lalingkar
Place: Mumbai	Company Secretary
Date: October 26, 2024	ACS: 20744

 

NOTES:

 

1.

The Explanatory Statement pursuant to Section 102(1) of the Companies Act, 2013 (“the Act”) read with Rule 20 and Rule 22 of the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014, setting out material facts in respect of the aforesaid resolution is annexed hereto.

 

2.

This Postal Ballot Notice is being published/displayed for all the Members, whose name appear in the Register of Members/Register of Beneficial Owners as received from the Depositories i.e. National Securities

Depository Limited (“NSDL”)/Central Depository Services (India) Limited (“CDSL”) as on Monday, October 28, 2024 and is being sent only to the Members who already have their email address registered with the KFintech (Registrar & Share Transfer Agent of the Bank for equity shares)/Bank/Depositories, in accordance with the provisions of the Act read with the Rules made thereunder and MCA Circulars. A person who is not a Member as on Monday, October 28, 2024, should treat this Postal Ballot Notice for information purpose only. A copy of this Postal Ballot Notice is also available on the website of the Bank at https://www.icicibank.com/about-us/notice, website of the Stock Exchanges i.e. BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited at www.bseindia.com and www.nseindia.com respectively and on the website of KFintech at https://evoting.kfintech.com.

 

3.

The Members of the Bank whose name appear in the Register of Members or in the Register of Beneficial Owners as received from the Depositories i.e. NSDL/ CDSL as on Monday, October 28, 2024, (including those Members who may not have received this Postal Ballot Notice due to non-registration of their email address with the KFintech/Bank/Depositories) only shall be entitled to vote in relation to the Resolution specified in the Postal Ballot Notice.

 

4.

Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 108, 110 and other applicable provisions of the Act, as amended, read with the Rule 20 of the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014 (as amended), MCA Circulars and in compliance with Regulation 44 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 as amended from time to time, the Bank is pleased to offer remote e-voting facility to all the Members of the Bank as on the Cut-off Date to cast their vote and transact the matter listed in the Postal Ballot Notice by electronic means. The Bank has appointed KFintech for facilitating remote e-voting to enable the Members to cast their votes electronically.

 

5.

Members holding shares in dematerialised form are requested to register/update their KYC details including email address with their respective Depository Participants. Members holding shares in physical form are requested to register/update their KYC details including email address by submitting duly filled and signed Form ISR-1 along with such other documents as prescribed in the Form to KFintech. Form ISR-1 is available on the website of the Bank at https://www.icicibank.com/about-us/invest-relations and on the website of KFintech at https://ris.kfintech. com/clientservices/isc/isrforms.aspx.

6.

The remote e-voting period commences on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. IST and ends on Friday, November 29, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. IST. The remote e-voting shall not be allowed beyond the said date and time. During this period, the Members of the Bank holding shares in physical form or in dematerialised form, as on the Cut-off date, being Monday, October 28, 2024, may cast their votes by remote e-voting in the manner and process set out herein below. The remote e-voting module shall be disabled for voting thereafter. Once the vote on a resolution is cast by the Member, the Member shall not be allowed to change it subsequently.

7.

The voting rights of the Members shall be in proportion to their shares in the total paid-up equity share capital of the Bank as on the Cut-off date i.e. Monday, October 28, 2024, subject to the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, as amended and other applicable regulations/guidelines.

 

8.

All the documents referred to in the accompanying Notice and Explanatory Statement, shall be available for inspection by the Members through electronic mode during the remote e-voting period of this Postal Ballot. Members who wish to inspect the documents are requested to send an email to [email protected] mentioning their name, demat account number/folio number.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

 

Members who are unable to retrieve User ID/ Password are advised to use Forgot User ID and Forgot Password option available at respective website.

 

Helpdesk details for Individual Shareholders holding securities in demat mode for any technical issues related to login through Depository i.e. NSDL and CDSL are as follows: 

Login type	Helpdesk details
Individual	Members facing any technical
Shareholders	issue in login can contact NSDL
holding securities	helpdesk by sending a request
in demat mode	at [email protected] or call at
with NSDL	022-4886 7000
Individual	Members facing any technical
Shareholders	issue in login can contact CDSL
holding securities	helpdesk by sending a request at
in Demat mode	helpdesk.evoting@cdslindia.
with CDSL	com or contact at toll free no.
	1800-21-09911

I(B) Information and Instructions for e-Voting by

(i)     Members other than Individuals holding shares of the Company in Demat Mode and

(ii)   Members holding shares of the Company in Physical Mode

 

i.

Launch internet browser by typing the URL: https://evoting.kfintech.com.

 

ii.

Enter the login credentials (i.e. User ID and password). In case of physical folio, User ID will be EVEN i.e. 8480, followed by folio number. In case of Demat account, User ID will be your DP ID and Client ID. However, if you are already registered with KFintech for e-voting, you can use your existing User ID and password for casting vote. If required, visit https://evoting.kfintech.com or contact toll-free number 1800-309-4001 from 9:00 a.m. (IST) to 6:00 p.m. (IST) for assistance on your existing password.

 

iii.

After entering these details appropriately, click on “LOGIN”.

 

iv.

You wil now reach Password Change Menu wherein you are required to mandatorily change your password upon logging-in for the first time. The new password shall comprise of minimum 8 characters with at least one upper case (A- Z), one lower case (a-z), one numeric value (0-9) and a special character (@,#,$, etc.). The system will prompt you to change your password and update your contact details like mobile number, email ID, etc. on first login. You may also enter a secret question and answer of your choice to retrieve your password in case you forget it. It is strongly recommended that you do not share your password with any other person and that you take utmost care to keep your password confidential.

 

v.

You need to login again with the new credentials.

 

vi.

On successful login, the system will prompt you to select EVEN for ICICI Bank Limited.

 

vii.

On the voting page, enter the number of shares (which represents the number of votes) as on the cut-off date under “FOR/ AGAINST” or alternatively, you may partially enter any number in “FOR” and partially “AGAINST” but the total number in “FOR/ AGAINST” taken together shall not exceed your total shareholding as mentioned herein above.

You may also choose the option ABSTAIN. If the Member does not indicate either “FOR” or “AGAINST” it will be treated as “ABSTAIN” and the shares held will not be counted under either head.

 

i.

Members holding multiple folios/demat accounts shall choose the voting process separately for each folio/demat accounts.

 

ii.

You may then cast your vote by selecting an appropriate option and click on “Submit”.

 

iii.

A confirmation box will be displayed. Click “OK” to confirm else “CANCEL” to modify. Once you have voted on the Resolution, you will not be allowed to modify your vote. During the e-voting period, Members can login any number of times till they have voted on the Resolution.

 

iv.

In terms of provisions of Section 113 of the Act, the Institutional Investor/Corporate Members (i.e. other than Individuals, HUF, NRI etc.) are also required to send scanned certified true copy (PDF Format) of the Board Resolution/Power of Attorney/Authority Letter, etc., authorizing its representative on its behalf to cast its vote through remote e-voting together with attested specimen signature(s) of the duly authorised representative(s), to the Scrutinizer at [email protected] with a copy marked to [email protected]. The scanned image of the above-mentioned documents should be in the naming format “Corporate Name_EVEN”. The Institutional Investor/Corporate Members (i.e. other than Individuals, HUF, NRI, etc.) can also upload their Board Resolution/Power of Attorney/Authority Letter, etc. by clicking on “Upload Board Resolution/Authority Letter” displayed under E-Voting tab in their login.

 

Members whose email addresses are not registered with the Company/Depositories may send a request to [email protected] or to the Company Secretary at [email protected] for procuring User ID and Password for e-voting.

 

II.

Members can also update their mobile number and e-mail address in the “user profile details” in their e-voting login on https://evoting.kfintech.com, which may be used for sending further communication(s).

III.

Any Member who has forgotten the User ID and Password, may obtain/generate/retrieve the same from KFintech in the manner as mentioned below:

 

a.

If email address or mobile number of the Member is registered against Folio No./DP ID and Client ID, then on the home page of https://evoting.kfintech.com, the Member may click “Forgot Password” and enter Folio No. or DP ID and Client ID and PAN to generate password.

 

b.

Member may call on KFintech’s toll-free number 1800-309-4001 from 9:00 a.m. IST to 6:00 p.m. IST.

 

c.

Member may send an e-mail request to [email protected]. After due verification of the request, User ID and password will be sent to the Member.

 

d.

If the Member is already registered with KFintech’s e-voting platform, then he/she/ it can use his/her/its existing password for logging-in.

IV.

In case of any queries or issues or grievances relating to e-voting you may refer to the “Help” and “FAQs” sections/E-voting User Manual available through a dropdown menu in the “Downloads” section of KFintech’s website for e-voting: https://evoting.kfintech.com or send a request at [email protected] or contact Ms. C Shobha Anand, Vice President at [email protected]. Alternatively, Members may also write to the Company Secretary of the Bank at [email protected] or call on 022-4008 8900.

 

By Order of the Board

For ICICI Bank Limited

 

 

	Prachiti Lalingkar
Place: Mumbai	Company Secretary
Date: October 26, 2024	ACS: 20744

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 102(1) OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2013 FORMING PART OF THE POSTAL BALLOT NOTICE

 

Item No. 1

 

Appointment of Mr. Punit Sood (DIN: 00033799) as an Independent Director with effect from October 1, 2024.

 

The Board of Directors of ICICI Bank Limited (“Bank”) at its meeting held on June 29, 2024 based on the recommendation of the Board Governance, Remuneration & Nomination Committee (“BGRNC”), approved the appointment of Mr. Punit Sood (DIN: 00033799) as an Additional Independent Director of the Bank, not liable to retire by rotation, for a period of five years with effect from October 1, 2024, subject to the approval of Members.

 

Mr. Sood possesses necessary skills, knowledge, experience and expertise required under Section 10A(2) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and relevant rules/regulations/circulars/notifications/guidelines/ clarifications issued from time to time by Reserve Bank of India (“RBI”) and has the key attributes necessary to be appointed as an Independent Director on the Board of the Bank.

 

The BGRNC and the Board have determined that Mr. Sood is a fit and proper person to hold the office as an Independent Director of the Bank as per the norms prescribed by RBI and is not debarred from being appointed as a Director by the Securities and Exchange Board of India or any other authority. Further, in the opinion of the Board and based on the declaration of independence submitted by him, Mr. Sood is a person of integrity, has the necessary knowledge, experience and expertise for being appointed as an Independent Director and fulfils the conditions specified in the Companies Act, 2013 (“Act”) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (“SEBI Listing Regulations“) for appointment as an Independent Director of the Bank.

 

In terms of the Companies (Creation and Maintenance of databank of Independent Directors) Rules, 2019 read with the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014, as amended from time to time, Mr. Sood has enrolled his name in the online databank of Independent Directors maintained by the Government of India.

Mr. Sood is not disqualified from being appointed as a Director in terms of Section 164 of the Act.

 

In terms of Section 160 of the Act, the Bank has received a notice from a Member signifying the intention to propose Mr. Sood as a candidate for the office of Independent Director of the Bank.

 

Given his skills, experience, expertise and stature, the Board considers it desirable and in the interest of and benefit to the Bank to appoint Mr. Sood as an Independent Director with effect from October 1, 2024 for a period until September 30, 2029.

 

Regulation 17(1C) of the SEBI Listing Regulations stipulates that approval of shareholders for appointment of a person on the Board of Directors by a listed entity, is to be taken at the next general meeting or within a time period of three months from the date of appointment, whichever is earlier. Further, as per Regulation 25(2A) of the SEBI Listing Regulations, the appointment of an Independent Director shall be subject to the approval of members by way of a Special Resolution. Keeping in view the above referred provisions, the approval of the Members of the Bank is being sought, by passing a Special Resolution, for the appointment of Mr. Sood as an Independent Director on the Board of the Bank.

 

The required details in terms of Regulation 36(3) of the SEBI Listing Regulations and Secretarial Standard on General Meetings are provided in Annexure I to this Notice.

 

The Board recommends the aforesaid Resolution for approval of the Members of the Bank.

 

None of the Directors, Key Managerial Personnel of the Bank and their relatives other than Mr. Sood and his relatives are concerned or interested, financially or otherwise, in the passing of the aforesaid Resolution.

 

The terms and conditions relating to the appointment of Mr. Sood would be available for inspection in electronic mode.

 

By Order of the Board

For ICICI Bank Limited

 

 

	Prachiti Lalingkar
Place: Mumbai	Company Secretary
Date: October 26, 2024	ACS: 20744