기업조직재편상 주식관련사채에 관한 몇 가지 고려사항- 전환사채와 신주인수권부사채를 중심으로 -

Equity-related bonds, such as convertible bonds and bonds with warrants, are widely used as financial investment instruments for smooth corporate funding purposes. The Capital Market and Financial Investment Services Act as recently amended provides systematic support for active mezzanine investment by PEFs, and listed companies can now issue conversion-type contingent capital securities. Equity-related bonds are basically bonds, but are characterized as having potential equity interests. Such dual nature of equity-related bonds may likely harm the interests of the holders thereof in the context of a merger and other corporate reorganization procedures, and may possibly create various legal uncertainties. In the context of a merger, it would be necessary to consider certain legal issues with respect to (i) whether, and the extent to which, convertible bonds, etc. issued by the dissolving company could be assumed and succeeded to by the surviving company after such merger, and (ii) changes in the matters required to be described in the merger agreement, to the extent that such changes are caused by the exercise of conversion rights, etc. Also, some issues also need to be considered regarding the extent to which holders of equity-related bonds including convertible bonds are protected in the merger process, and the effect that the exercise of conversion rights, etc. may have on the merger process. In the case of (horizontal) spin-off of a company, it would be necessary to consider (i) the legal restrictions in the course of applying, with respect to the convertible bonds, etc. issued by such company, the principle of freedom of allocation of the spun-off company’s assets, and (ii) the possibility of a change in the spin-off ratio and in the matters required to be described in the spin-off plan, in so far as such change may be caused by the exercise of conversion rights, etc. after the board of directors’ approval for the spin-off plan. Furthermore, it is also necessary to examine how the joint and several liabilities between the spun-off company and the new company will apply to the obligations borne in connection with the convertible bonds, etc. issued by the spun-off company. With respect to a comprehensive share exchange/transfer, some issues to consider include (i) the possibility of a change in the matters required to be described in the share exchange agreement or share transfer plan (such as the share exchange/transfer ratios) as a result of exercise of conversion rights, etc. under convertible bonds, etc. issued by the wholly-owned subsidiary and (ii) the discontinuation of the parent/wholly-owned subsidiary relationship. As noted above, in the course of corporate reorganization, many legal issues can be raised by convertible bonds, etc. which were issued by such company, and therefore it is necessary to explore ways to mitigate the related legal uncertainties, smoothly proceed with the corporate reorganization, and reasonably adjust the interests of holders of such convertible bonds, etc.. To that end, first of all, it would be desirable to insert relevant provisions in the subscription agreement for convertible bonds, etc., as well as securing provisions that would provide against the possibility of any change in the matters required to be described in the transaction documents for corporate reorganization (such as merger agreement and spin-off plan), so that the rights of the interested parties can be arranged in advance through contractual clauses. If clauses setting forth the rights of the holders of convertible bonds, etc. are not appropriately inserted, in advance, in the subscription agreement and the merger agreement, the company subject to corporate reorganization would need to (i) consult separately with the holders of convertible bonds, etc. to adjust the rights in a way that could mitigate the procedural uncertainties in the course of corporate reorganization that could arise from the exercise of conversion rights, etc. or (ii) appropriately control the exercise of conversion rights, etc. Furthermore, it would be necessary to carefully consider (i) amending applicable laws, such as the Commercial Code, to recognize the appraisal rights of the holders of convertible bonds issued by the dissolving company, etc. in connection with a merger as part of a corporate reorganization process, (ii) giving more flexibility to the calculation of the merger price, etc. of the company which is the subject of corporate reorganization, or (iii) the wholly-owning parent company, in a triangular merger or comprehensive share exchange/transfer, succeeding to the rights and obligations under the convertible bonds, etc. issued by the dissolving company or wholly-owned subsidiary.