Brief Introduction:
In today’s era, we all must have heard the term ‘Section 8 Companies’ which are a categorized as Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
The Companies Act, 2013 defines a Section 8 Company as one whose objectives is to promote commerce, art, science, sports, education, research, social welfare, religion, charity, protection of environment or any such similar objects.
A Section 8 Company could be classified as Private Company limited by shares or limited by guarantee Or Public Company limited by shares or limited by guarantee.
Sub-Section (4)(ii) of Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 provides that a Section 8 Company may convert itself into a Company of any kind only after complying with certain conditions as prescribed in the Act.
Let us understand the procedure of conversion of Section 8 Company into Private Limited Company:
In order to convert a Section 8 Company into a Private Limited Company, the provisions of Rule 21, 22 and 23 of the Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014 has to be complied with. The step by step procedure for such conversion are as follows:
1. Issuance of notice along with agenda and notes to agenda for holding Board Meeting by the Section 8 Company;
2. Holding Board Meeting for approval of such conversion and issuance of notice of General Meeting;
3. Convening a General Meeting-
The Section 8 company shall pass a special resolution at a general meeting for approval of such conversion.
Information to be set out in the explanatory statement annexed to the notice convening the general meeting are as follows:
4. Filing e-form MGT 14:
A certified true copy of the special resolution along with a copy of the Notice convening the meeting including the explanatory statement shall be filed with the Registrar in Form No.MGT.14 along with the fee.
5. Filing of Form INC 18:
The company shall file an application in Form No.INC.18 with the Regional Director with fees.
Information/Documents to be attached with the form no. INC 18:
Reproduced sub rule (2) of rule 22 for quick reference:
“The company shall send a copy of the notice, simultaneously with its publication, together with a copy of the application and all attachments by registered post or hand delivery, to the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax having jurisdiction over the company, Income Tax Officer who has jurisdiction over the company, the Charity Commissioner, the Chief Secretary of the State in which the registered office of the company is situated, any organisation or Department of the Central Government or State Government or other authority under whose jurisdiction the company has been operating and if any of these authorities wish to make any representation to Regional Director, it shall do so within sixty days of the receipt of the notice, after giving an opportunity to the Company.”
Note: A copy of the application with annexures as filed with the Regional Director shall also be filed with the Registrar of Companies in e-form GNL 2.
6. Filing of Form INC 19 (NEWSAPAPER ADVERTISEMENT):
The Section 8 company shall, within a week from the date of submitting the application to the Regional Director in form INC 18 shall publish an advertisement at its own expense in Form No INC 19 and a copy of the notice, as published, shall be sent forthwith to the Regional Director.
Advertisement shall be published at least once in a vernacular newspaper in which the registered office of the company is situated, and having a wide circulation in that district, and at least once in English language in an English newspaper having a wide circulation in that district and shall also be published on the website of the company, if any.
7. Post Approval of Regional Director:
The Company shall convene a general meeting of its members to pass a special resolution for amending its memorandum of association and articles of association as required under the Act consequent to the conversion of the section 8 company into a private limited company.
8. Filing of Form INC 20:
The company shall file with the Registrar-
The Registrar shall register the documents and issue the fresh Certificate of Incorporation (COI).
Article Conversion of Sec 8 Company to private limited company “Vary well and vary systemically explained. Great.