Incorporation of Company
According to Prof. L.H. Haney, “Company is an artificial person created by law having separated entity with a perpetual succession and common seal”. According to Justice Lindley a company means association of persons who contribute in shape of money or money’s worth to a common stock and employ it for some specific purpose.
There are three main activities of a business
1. Merchandising activities. This involve activities deal with goods in a ready to sell condition.
2. Manufacturing Activities. This involve from purchase to raw material and put labor and factory overhead on the raw material and produce a product.
3. Services Activities. This involve banking, education, insurance and training activities.
Incorporation of Company:
(1) There shall be filed with the Registrar within whose jurisdiction the registered office of a company is proposed to be situated, the following documents and information for registration, namely:—
Comment:
Application for Incorporation of Companies.-
An application for registration of a company shall be filed, with the Registrar within whose jurisdiction the registered office of the company is proposed to be situated, in Form No.INC-32 (SPICe) along with the fee as provided under the Companies (Registration offices and fees) Rules, 2014;
Provided that in case pursuing of any of the objects of a company requires registration or approval from Sectoral regulators such as the Reserve Bank of India, the Securities and Exchange Board, registration or approval, as the case may be, from such regulator shall be obtained by the proposed company before pursuing such objects and a declaration in this behalf shall be submitted at the stage of incorporation of the company]
Amendment: Substituted by The Companies (Incorporation) Amendment Rules, 2018 :- Original Content
- the memorandum and articles of the company duly signed by all the subscribers to the memorandum;
Comment:
Signing of Memorandum and Articles.
The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company shall be signed in the following manner, namely:-
(1) The memorandum and articles of association of the company shall be signed by each subscriber to the memorandum, who shall add his name, address, description and occupation, if any, in the presence of at least one witness who shall attest the signature and shall likewise sign and add his name, address, description and occupation, if any and the witness shall state that “I witness to subscriber/subscriber(s), who has/have subscribed and signed in my presence (date and place to be given); further I have verified his or their Identity Details (ID) for their identification and satisfied myself of his/her/their identification particulars as filled in”
(2) Where a subscriber to the memorandum is illiterate, he shall affix his thumb impression or mark which shall be described as such by the person, writing for him, who shall place the name of the subscriber against or below the mark and authenticate it by his own signature and he shall also write against the name of the subscriber, the number of shares taken by him.
Explanation.- For the purposes of sub-rule (1) and sub-rule (2), the type written or printed particulars of the subscribers and witnesses shall be allowed as if it is written by the subscriber and witness respectively so long as the subscriber and the witness as the case may be appends his or her signature or thumb impression, as the case may be.]
(3) Such person shall also read and explain the contents of the memorandum and articles of association to the subscriber and make an endorsement to that effect on the memorandum and articles of association.
(4) Where the subscriber to the memorandum is a body corporate, the memorandum and articles of association shall be signed by director, officer or employee of the body corporate duly authorized in this behalf by a resolution of the board of directors of the body corporate and where the subscriber is a Limited Liability Partnership, it shall be signed by a partner of the Limited Liability Partnership, duly authorized by a resolution approved by all the partners of the Limited Liability Partnership:
Provided that in either case, the person so authorized shall not, at the same time, be a subscriber to the memorandum and articles of Association.
(5) Where subscriber to the memorandum is a foreign national residing outside India-
(a) in a country in any part of the Commonwealth, his signatures and address on the memorandum and articles of association and proof of identity shall be notarized by a Notary (Public) in that part of the Commonwealth.
(b) in a country which is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, 1961, his signatures and address on the memorandum and articles of association and proof of identity shall be notarized before the Notary (Public) of the country of his origin and be duly apostillised in accordance with the said Hague Convention.
(c) in a country outside the Commonwealth and which is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, 1961, his signatures and address on the memorandum and articles of association and proof of identity, shall be notarized before the Notary (Public) of such country and the certificate of the Notary (Public) shall be authenticated by a Diplomatic or Consular Officer empowered in this behalf under section 3 of the Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oaths and Fees) Act, 1948 (40 of 1948) or, where there is no such officer by any of the officials mentioned in section 6 of the Commissioners of Oaths Act, 1889 (52 and 53 Vic.C.10), or in any Act amending the same;
(d) visited in India and intended to incorporate a company, in such case the incorporation shall be allowed if, he/she is having a valid Business Visa.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this clause, it is hereby clarified that, in case of Person is of Indian Origin or Overseas Citizen of India, requirement of business Visa shall not be applicable.
Amendment: Inserted by Notification Companies (Incorporation) Third Amendment Rules, 2016 Dated 27th July, 2016.
- a declaration in the prescribed form by an advocate, a chartered accountant, cost accountant or company secretary in practice, who is engaged in the formation of the company, and by a person named in the articles as a director, manager or secretary of the company, that all the requirements of this Act and the rules made thereunder in respect of registration and matters precedent or incidental thereto have been complied with;
Comment:
Declaration by Professionals
For the purposes of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 7, the declaration by an advocate, a Chartered Accountant, Cost accountant or Company Secretary in practice shall be in Form No. INC.8. Explanation (i) “chartered accountant” means a chartered accountant as defined in clause (b) of sub section 1 of section 2 of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 (ii) “Cost Accountant” means a cost accountant as defined in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 and (iii) “company secretary” means a “company secretary” or “secretary” means as defined in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Company Secretaries Act, 1980.
- a declaration from each of the subscribers to the memorandum and from persons named as the first directors, if any, in the articles that he is not convicted of any offence in connection with the promotion, formation or management of any company, or that he has not been found guilty of any fraud or misfeasance or of any breach of duty to any company under this Act or any previous company law during the preceding five years and that all the documents filed with the Registrar for registration of the company contain information that is correct and complete and true to the best of his knowledge and belief;
Comment:
Substituted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017– Amendment Effective From 27th July 2018. In section 7 in sub-section (1), in item (c) for the words “an affidavit”, the words “a declaration” shall be substituted.
(d) the address for correspondence till its registered office is established;
(e) the particulars of name, including surname or family name, residential address, nationality and such other particulars of every subscriber to the memorandum along with proof of identity, and in the case of a subscriber being a body corporate, such particulars.
Comment:
Particulars of Every Subscriber to be Filed with the Registrar at the Time of Incorporation.
(1) The following particulars of every subscriber to the memorandum shall be filed with the Registrar-
(a) Name (including surname or family name) and recent Photograph affixed and scan with MOA and AOA:
(b) Father’s/Mother’s/ name:
(c) Nationality:
(d) Date of Birth:
(e) Place of Birth (District and State):
(f) Educational qualification:
(g) Occupation:
(h) Income-tax permanent account number:
(i) Permanent residential address and also Present address (Time since residing at present address and address of previous residence address (es) if stay of present address is less than one year) similarly the office/business addresses :
(j) Email id of Subscriber;
(k) Phone No. of Subscriber;
(l) Fax no. of Subscriber (optional)
Explanation.- information related to (i) to (l) shall be of the individual subscriber and not of the professional engaged in the incorporation of the company;
(m) Proof of Identity:
For Indian Nationals:
PAN Card ( mandatory) and any one of the following
Voter’s identity card
Passport copy
Driving License copy
Unique Identification Number (UIN)
For Foreign nationals and Non Resident Indians
Passport
Explanation.- In case the subscriber is already holding a valid DIN, and the particulars provided therein have been updated as on the date of application, and the declaration to this effect is given in the application, the proof of identity and residence need not be attached.]
(n) Residential proof such as Bank Statement, Electricity Bill, Telephone / Mobile Bill: Provided that Bank statement Electricity bill, Telephone or Mobile bill shall not be more than two months old;
(o) Proof of nationality in case the subscriber is a foreign national.
(p) If the subscriber is already a director or promoter of a company(s), the particulars relating to-
(i) Name of the company;
(ii) Corporate Identity Number;
(iii) Whether interested as a director or promoter;
(q) 3[Omitted]
(2) Where the subscriber to the memorandum is a body corporate, then the following particulars shall be filed with the Registrar-
(a) Corporate Identity Number of the Company or Registration number of the body corporate, if any
(b) GLN, if any;
(c) the name of the body corporate
(d) the registered office address or principal place of business;
(e) E-mail Id;
(f) if the body corporate is a company, certified true copy of the board resolution specifying inter alia the authorization to subscribe to the memorandum of association of the proposed company and to make investment in the proposed company, the number of shares proposed to be subscribed by the body corporate, and the name, address and designation of the person authorized to subscribe to the Memorandum;
(g) if the body corporate is a limited liability partnership 4[Omitted], certified true copy of the resolution agreed to by all the partners specifying inter alia the authorization to subscribe to the memorandum of association of the proposed company and to make investment in the proposed company, the number of shares proposed to be subscribed in the body corporate, and the name of the partner authorized to subscribe to the Memorandum;
(h) the particulars as specified above for subscribers in terms of clause (e) of sub- section (1) of section 7 for the person subscribing for body corporate;
(i) in case of foreign bodies corporate, the details relating to-
(i) the copy of certificate of incorporation of the foreign body corporate; and
(ii) the registered office address.
(f) the particulars of the persons mentioned in the articles as the first directors of the company, their names, including surnames or family names, the Director Identification Number, residential address, nationality and such other particulars including proof of identity and
Comment:
Particulars of First Directors of the Company and their Consent to Act as Such the particulars of each person mentioned in the articles as first director of the company and his interest in other firms or bodies corporate along with his consent to act as director of the company shall be filed in Form No.DIR.12 along with the fee as provided in the Companies (Registration offices and fees) Rules, 2014.
(g) the particulars of the interests of the persons mentioned in the articles as the first directors of the company in other firms or bodies corporate along with their consent to act as directors of the company in such form and manner.
Comment:
Particulars of First Directors of the Company and their Consent to Act as Such the particulars of each person mentioned in the articles as first director of the company and his interest in other firms or bodies corporate along with his consent to act as director of the company shall be filed in Form No.DIR.12 along with the fee as provided in the Companies (Registration offices and fees) Rules, 2014.
(2) The Registrar on the basis of documents and information filed under sub-section (1) shall register all the documents and information referred to in that sub-section in the register and issue a certificate of incorporation in the form to the effect that the proposed company is incorporated under this Act.
Comment: The Certificate of Incorporation shall be issued by the Registrar in Form No.INC-11 and the Certificate of Incorporation shall mention permanent account number of the company where if it is issued by the Income-tax Department-Amendment-Substituted by Companies (Incorporation) Amendment Rules, 2017 Dated 25th January, 2017.
(3) On and from the date mentioned in the certificate of incorporation issued under sub-section (2), the Registrar shall allot to the company a corporate identity number, which shall be a distinct identity for the company and which shall also be included in the certificate.
(4) The company shall maintain and preserve at its registered office copies of all documents and information as originally filed under sub-section (1) till its dissolution under this Act.
(5) If any person furnishes any false or incorrect particulars of any information or suppresses any material information, of which he is aware in any of the documents filed with the Registrar in relation to the registration of a company, he shall be liable for action under section 447.
Comment:
Notified Date of Section: 12/09/2013-MISCELLANEOUS-Punishment for Fraud.
447. Without prejudice to any liability including repayment of any debt under this Act or any other law for the time being in force, any person who is found to be guilty of fraud 1[involving an amount of at least ten lakh rupees or one per cent. of the turnover of the company, whichever is lower] shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less than the amount involved in the fraud, but which may extend to three times the amount involved in the fraud:
Provided that where the fraud in question involves public interest, the term of imprisonment shall not be less than three years. Provided further that where the fraud involves an amount less than ten lakh rupees or one per cent. of the turnover of the company, whichever is lower, and does not involve public interest, any person guilty of such fraud shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine which may extend to fifty lakh rupees or with both
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section—
(i) “fraud” in relation to affairs of a company or anybody corporate, includes any act, omission, concealment of any fact or abuse of position committed by any person or any other person with the connivance in any manner, with intent to deceive, to gain undue advantage from, or to injure the interests of, the company or its shareholders or its creditors or any other person, whether or not there is any wrongful gain or wrongful loss;
(ii) “wrongful gain” means the gain by unlawful means of property to which the person gaining is not legally entitled;
(iii) “wrongful loss” means the loss by unlawful means of property to which the person losing is legally entitled.
(6) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (5) where, at any time after the incorporation of a company, it is proved that the company has been got incorporated by furnishing any false or incorrect information or representation or by suppressing any material fact or information in any of the documents or declaration filed or made for incorporating such company, or by any fraudulent action, the promoters, the persons named as the first directors of the company and the persons making declaration under clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall each be liable for action under section 447.
*(7) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (6), where a company has been got incorporated by furnishing any false or incorrect information or representation or by suppressing any material fact or information in any of the documents or declaration filed or made for incorporating such company or by any fraudulent action, the Tribunal may, on an application made to it, on being satisfied that the situation so warrants,—
(a) pass such orders, as it may think fit, for regulation of the management of the company including changes, if any, in its memorandum and articles, in public interest or in the interest of the company and its members and creditors; or
(b) direct that liability of the members shall be unlimited; or
(c) direct removal of the name of the company from the register of companies; or
(d) pass an order for the winding up of the company; or
(e) pass such other orders as it may deem fit:
Provided that before making any order under this sub-section,—
(i) the company shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter; and
(ii) the Tribunal shall take into consideration the transactions entered into by the company, including the obligations, if any, contracted or payment of any liability.
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THE AUTHOR – CS DEEPAK SETH CAN BE REACHED AT CSDEEPAKSETH@GMAIL.COM
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