Company Law Assignment: Jamia Millia Islamia
Company Law Assignment: Jamia Millia Islamia
Company Law Assignment: Jamia Millia Islamia
COMPANY LAW
ASSIGNMENT
PROJECT - PROFILE
“STATEMENT IN LEU OF
PROSPECTUS & REMEDIES FOR
MISREPRESENTATION &
PROSPECTUS”
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AZEEM MIAN!
COMPANY LAW ASSIGNMENT
JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA
SYNOPSIS
INTRODUCTION
Where a company intends to issue a public appeal for subscription of its shares or debentures, it is
essential for it to issue a prospectus. Section 25 of the companies Act, 2013 requires that no
application for shares or debentures of a company can be invited unless the appeal is accompanies
with a prospectus.
A public company may issue securities to public through public offer which is referred to as
prospectus.1 A private company may issue securities by way of rights issue or bonus issue to the
existing share-holders, through issue of prospectus.2
In Pramatha Nath Sanyal v. Kali Kumar Dutt, the company inserted an advertisement in a
newspaper stating, “Some shares are still available for sale according to the terms of the
prospectus of the company which can be obtained on application.” It was held that the
advertisement constituted a prospectus as it invited the public to purchase shares. The directors
were, therefore, penalized for not complying with the requirements a copy thereof with the
Registrar of Companies under Section 27 (9) of the Companies Act, 2013.
1
Section 23 (1) of Companies Act, 2013
2
Section 23 (2).
3
Section 31 Explanation
.
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4
‘Abridged prospectus’ means a memorandum containing such features of a prospectus as may be specified by
Securities & Exchanged Board (SEBI) by making regulations in this behalf [Section 2 (1)].
5
1929 AC 158
6
(1956) 1 WLR 237
7
(1911) 1 CH 573.
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to persons approved by the directors, the offer so made shall not be regarded as one made to the
public.
8
Section 30 of the Companies Act, 2013
9
(1860) 3 LT 651
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Every prospectus must be dated.10 This provides prima facie evidences of the date of its
publications. The date on the prospectus shall, unless contrary is proved, be taken as the date of
publication of prospectus.
A copy of prospectus has to be filed with the registrar of Companies before its publications. The
copy sent for registration must be signed by every persons who is named as director or proposed
director of the company or by his agent authorized in writing. Where the prospectus is issued in
one or more language, a copy of it as issued in each language should be delivered to the registrar.11
CONTENTS OF PROSPECTUS
The prospectus must contain a statement that a copy has been delivered for registration, indicating
the requisite documents delivered therewith. It must be issued within ninety days of its
registration,12 either by newspaper advertisement or otherwise.
Section 26 of the Act requires that if the prospectus includes a statement purporting to be made by
an expert, his consent in writing should be obtained and this fact be stated in the prospectus. It
should also state that the consent has not been withdrawn. The term ‘expert’ has been defined in
Section 2 (38) of Companies Act, 2013 and includes “an engineer, a valuer, an accountant and any
other person whose profession gives authority to a statement made by him”. The expert should not
10
Section 26 (1).
11
Emperor v. Bengal Salt Co., air 1936 Cal 33.
12
Section 26 (8) of the Companies Act, 2013
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be one who himself engaged or interested in the formation, promotion or management of the
company. In other words, he should be unconnected with the formation or management of the
company.
Section 26 further cast a statutory duty upon the company to disclose matters specified in Part I
of the chapter III and for private placement, compliance with the provision of Part II of the 2013
Act id required. ‘Private placement’ means any offer of securities or invitation to subscribe
securities to select of persons by a company (other than by way of public offer) through issue of a
private placement offer letter and which satisfied the conditions specified in the respective clause.
Other matters to be stated in the prospectus are as follows;
(1) The main objects of the company including the details about the signatories to the
memorandum of association of the company. This is, however, not necessary when the
prospectus is issued merely as a newspaper advertisement.13
(2) The number and classes of shares and the interest of the share-holders in the property and
profits of the company. In case of redeemable preference shares, the date of redemption or
the notice period for redemption and the proposed method of redemption.
(3) Names, addresses, descriptions and occupations of the directors. The qualification shares,
if any, held by the directors and terms of their appointment, remuneration and
compensation for loss of office etc.
(4) Where shares are offered to the public, the minimum subscription amount which, in the
opinion of the directors or signatories of the memorandum must be raised by the issue of
shares offered to the public for subscription to provide for the purchase price of any
property acquired or to be acquired, preliminary expenses, underwriting commission,
repayment of loans etc.
(5) The time of the opening of the subscription list.
(6) The amount payable on application and allotment on each share and if any prospectus was
issued within two years, the details of the shares subscribed for and allotted.
(7) Particulars of any options to subscribe for shares or debentures, including the time for
exercise or option, the price to be paid and the consideration given for the option, and the
persons entitled to the option.
(8) Particulars of shares and debentures issued as fully or partly paid up in the preceding two
years otherwise than in cash, and the consideration for such issue, and of any shares issued
or to be issued at a premium.
(9) The names of underwriters, if any, and the opinion of the directors that the resources of the
underwriters are sufficient to discharge their obligations.
(10) Particulars about vendors from whom any property has been or is to be acquired by
the company and the price whereof is to be paid out of the proceeds of the issue.
(11) The amount or rate of underwriting commission.
(12) The amount or estimate of preliminary expenses and the expenses of the issue, by
whom paid or payable.
13
Section 30 of companies Act, 2013
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(13) The amount paid or benefit given within two preceding years to the promoters of
the company.
(14) Particulars of every contract appointing or fixing the remuneration of a managing
director or manager whenever entered into, and every other material contract, unless made
inn ordinary course of business or more two previous years.
(15) The names and addresses of the auditors of the company, if any.
(16) Particulars as to interest of every director or promoter in the promotion or property
of the company within two years of date of prospectus.
(17) Where the shares are of more than one class, the rights of voting and the rights as
to capital and dividend attached to the several classes of shares.
(18) The restrictions, if any, imposed by the articles upon the members in respect of their
right to participate at company meeting and to transfer shares or upon the directors in
respect of their powers of management.
(19) In case of existing companies, the length of time during which the company has
been carrying on its business; and if the company proposes to acquire a business which has
been carried on for less than three years, the length of time during which such business has
been carried on.
(20) If any reserves or profits of the company or any of its subsidiaries have been
capitalized, particulars of capitalization and surplus arising from e-valuation of the assets
of the company.
(21) A reasonable time and place at which copies of all accounts on which the report of
thy auditor is based, may be inspected.
In addition to the matters stated above, the following Reports14 must also be set out in the
prospectus:
(1) A report by the auditor of the company relating to profits and losses and assets and
liabilities of the company for each of the five financial years before the issue of the
prospectus. The report must refer to the rates of dividends, if any, paid by the company in
respect of each class of shares for each of the said years. The report of then auditors must
also state separately the profits and losses of the company’s subsidiaries and also combined
profits and losses.
(2) If the company proposes to acquire any business, a report should be made by a chartered
accountant, whose name should be disclosed, upon the profits and losses of the business
for each of the five years before the date of the prospectus and assets and liabilities of the
business.
(3) Reports about the business and translation to which the proceeds of the securities are to be
applied directly or indirectly.
14
Section 26 (1)(b)
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15
Per Kindersely V.C. in New Burnwick & Canada Rly., and Land Co. v. Muggeridge, (1860) 3 LT 651
16
(1867) 17 LT 527
17
Section 25 (1) of the Companies Act, 2013
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(ii) Since the offer for sale is a ‘Deemed Prospectus’, it must be registered under Section
26 of the Act. The copy sent for registration is to be signed by the persons making the
offer as if they were named as directors of the company. If the offer for sale is made by
a company or a firm, at least two directors or half the number of partners, as the case
may be, must sign the prospectus.
(iii) The place and time at which relevant contracts may be inspected must also be stated in
the deemed prospectus.
18
Section 27 (2)
19
Section 26 (8), The quantum of fine is Rs. 50,000 which may be extend to three lakh rupees and also
imprisonment
20
Section 26 (4)
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It must be stated that for mere omission, not being deliberate falsity, the subscriber for shares
or debentures has no right to rescind the allotment nor any other remedy against the company. He
can, however, claim damages for loss suffered against the directors or other persons responsible
for omission. In order to succeed, he has to prove that he applied for shares or debentures on the
faith of the prospectus and would not have done so if the prospectus had complied with the
provision of Section 56 of the Act.21
FRAUDULENT MIS-STATEMENTS
Any person who has been induced to invest money in a company relying on a fraudulent statement
in the progress can sue the director of the person responsible for issuing it and claim damages. In
order to prove a fraud the aggrieved investors has to prove that the false representation was made
by the company (a) knowingly, or (b) without belief in its truth, or (c) recklessly whether it be
false or true.22 Thus a fraud may be committed by reckless and careless statement in the prospectus
without bothering about the truth or false of it.23
A statement included in the prospectus shall be deemed to be untrue, if the statement is
misleading in the form and content in which it is included. It also provides that where the omission
from a prospectus of any matter is calculated to mislead, the prospectus shall be deemed, in respect
of such omission, to be a prospectus in which an untrue statement is included. Thus, it would be
seen that the law ascribes a wider meaning to the term ‘fraud’ or ‘untrue statement’.
Regarding liability for fraudulent mis-statements in the prospectus, following generalizations
may provide sufficient guidelines to proceed in an action for fraud or deceit.
Firstly, the aggrieved party has to prove that the person making the suggestion knew that what he
is stating in the prospectus is not true or did not believe it to be true or it is an active concealment
of some material fact.24 However, if a person making the statement honestly believes it to be true,
he is not guilty of fraud even if the statement is not true. This principle has been enunciated by
House of Lords in Deery v. Peek.25 The fact of the case are as follows:
A special Act incorporating a tramway company provided that carriages might be moved by
animal power and, with the consent of the Board of Trade, by steam power. The directors issued a
prospectus stating that by their special Act, the company had the right to use steam power instead
of horses and this would bring about considerable saving. No reference was made to the Board of
Trade who refused their consent. Consequently the company had to wound up. The plaintiff having
taken shares on the faith of the statement brought an action for deceit against the directors. The
court held that directors were not liable for they honestly believed that once the Act of parliament
had authorized the use of steam, the consent of the Board of Trade was almost certain.
21
In Re south of England Natural Gas & Petroleum Co. Ltd., (19110 1 Ch 573
22
Lord Herschell in Derry v. Peek, (1889) 14 AC 337.
23
Edgington v. Fitznaurice, (1885) 29 Ch D 459 (465)
24
Section 17 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872
25
(1889) 14 AC 337
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Secondly, the false representation must relate to some existing facts which are material to the
contract of purchasing shares. The case of Edgington v. Fitznaurice,26 illustrates thin point further.
In this case, the directors of a company issued a prospectus inviting subscriptions for
debentures, they stated in the prospectus that the objects of issue of debentures were to complete
alterations in the building of the company and to purchase horses and vans to expand the trade of
the company. It was found that the real object of the loan was to enable the directors to pay-off
pressing liabilities. The plaintiff took debentures relying upon the statement in the prospectus. The
company became insolvent, therefore the plaintiff sued the directors for fraud. Held that the
directors had misrepresented through the statement in the prospectus which was materials to the
contract.
In S. Chatterjee v. T.B. Sarwate,27 the directors was held liable for fraud in the prospectus.
Thirdly, in order to succeed in an action for fraud in prospectus it is necessary that the plaintiff
should have taken the shares or debentures directly from the company by allotment and not from
any intermediary agency or open market. This in other words means that only the allottees can
have remedy against the directors. This rule was for the first time laid down in Peeks v. Gurney.28
In this case, the defendants issued a prospectus containing fraudulent statement on behalf of
the company. The plaintiff received a copy of it but did not take any shares originally from the
company. A few months after the allotment, he purchased 2000 shares on the stock on the Stock
Exchange. His action for deceit against the directors failed because he was not the initial allottee
acting on the statement contained in the prospectus. The court held that liability to allottees does
not follow the shares in the hands of subsequent tranferees.it was held that the function of
prospectus had exhausted with the allotment of shares or debentures by the company.
Fourthly, in the absence of a contractual relationship a person who makes a statement owes a
duty of care to anyone whom he knows or has reasonable grounds for expecting will rely on his
statement. If he fails in that duty of care and the party which is misled suffers loss, he shall be
liable for negligence.29
26
(1885) 29 Ch D 459
27
AIR 1960 MP 322.
28
(1873) 43 LJ Ch 19. See also Collins v. Associated Grayhound Racecourses Ltd., (1930) 1 Ch. 1.
29
Hedley Byrne & Co. Ltd. v. Heller & Partners Ltd., (1964) A C 465 (HL)
COMPANY LAW ASSIGNMENT
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prospectus and sustained any loss or damages may sue for compensation, all or any of the
following:
(a) The directors at the time of issue;
(b) Persons named in the prospectus as present or future directors;
(c) The promoters;
(d) Persons who have authorized the issue of prospectus; and
(e) An expert referred to in sub-sections (5) on Section 26.
The burden of proof, however, lies on the allottees to show that he has been misled by the
mis-statement in the prospectus and incurred loss.
Again, the mis-representation should be in respect of some material fact. What is a material
statement of fact shall, however, depend upon the circumstances of each case. Thus a statement in
the prospectus that a particular mine was in operation and making large profits,30 and that no
promotion money was to be paid,31 were held to be material statements of fact and the directors
were held liable for making untrue statement.
It should, however, be noted that Section 62 provides no remedy against the company.
Therefore, action must be taken against persons falling within one of the categories stated above.
But where a person has subscribed for shares or debentures of a company relying on the prospectus
which contained an untrue or misleading but not fraudulent statement; he may repudiate the
contract and sue the company for the return of money paid to it. This remedy is merely an ordinary
contractual remedy available to any person who has been induced by a mis-representation to make
a contract.32
30
Reese River Silver Mining Co. v. Smith, (1869) LR 4 HL 64.
31
Lodwick v. Earl of Perth
32
Sen Gupta, B.K. : Company Law, (2nd Ed. 1990) p. 85
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33
(1889) 14 AC 337
34
Section 35 (1)
35
(1900) 1 Ch 421.
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36
Explanation to Section 17 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872
37
(1982) 3 Ch. 1.
38
AIR 1950 ALL 508.
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cover page contained a statement printed in red ink that “the managing agents with their friends,
promoters and directors have already promised to subscribed shares worth rupees six lakh”., but
in fact they had taken much less than that value. It was not held to be a misrepresentation of facts.
At times the prospectus may contain an ambiguous statement capable of bearing two meaning
one of which true while the other untrue. In such a situation the subscriber can recover if he entered
into the contract relying on untrue part of the statement and the company cannot take the plea that
he ought to have put reliance on true part of the statement. This is explained in the case of Smith
v. Chedwick,39. In this the prospectus of a company which was under formation to take over certain
iron works contained a statement, “the present value of the turnover is Euro 1,000,000 sterling per
annum”. Now, if the statement meant that the works had actually in one year turned out produce
worth more than a million, it was untrue. But if it meant that works were capable of turning out
that amount of produce, it was true. The court held the directors liable as the plaintiff had relied
on the untrue part of the statement and was thus misled.
39
(1884) 9 AC 187
40
(1911) 81 LJ Ch 63.
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41
Section 447 of the Companies Act, 2013
42
See Peek v. Gurney, (1873) 43 LJ Ch 19; Andrews. V. Mockford, (1869) 1QB 372
43
Kiran Mehta v. Universal Luggage Manufacturing Co. Ltd., (1988) 63 Camp Cas 398.
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44
AIR 2002 SC 2653
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JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA
the offer for investment was made to NRIs in U.S.A. The) was not at all attracted because the
Section requires registration of prospectus before it is passed by the existing company or an
intended company since no prospectus was issued by the accused persons.
The High Court declined to quash the complaint and drop the case against the accused persons
holding that the allegations were serious in nature and could be decided only when all the
documents relied upon by the complainant are duly examined, which can only be done after
appropriate evidence and examination of witnesses by the Trial Court. The Court also referred to
the case of State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal,45 wherein the Apex Court has ruled that the power of
quashing a criminal proceeding in exercise of the inherent power under Section 482 of Cr.P.C
should be exercised sparingly in rarest of rare cases and it should not be used arbitrarily. As regards
claim of the accused persons that they are citizens of USA and hence the provisions of Companies
Act were not attracted in their case, the High Court took the view that this fact had to be ascertained
from the evidence to be led by parties at the trial of the case. The appellants filed an appeal in the
Supreme Court against this order of the High Court.
The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and observed that from the complaint petition and
the materials produced by the complainant and in the light of provisions in Sections 60, 63. 68 and
68A of the Companies Act, 195646 it cannot be said that the allegations made in the complaint
taken entirely do not make out, even prima facie, any of the offences alleged in the complaint
petition. The allegations made are serious and relate to a power company registered under the
Companies Act having its head office in India. Whether the appellants were or were not citizens
of India at the time of commission of the offences are questions to be considered on the basis of
evidence to be placed before the Trial Court. Therefore, in the context of the facts and
circumstances of the case, the High Court was right in declining to quash the complaint petition
and proceedings initiated on its basis. In result, this appeal being devoid of any merit is dismissed.
45
AIR 1992 SCW 237
46
The corresponding sections in the Companies Act, 2013 are Sections 26, 34. 36 and 38.
47
Mukesh Malhotra v. SEBI, (2005) 124 Comp Cas 336 (SAT)
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JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA
the creditors and depositors, the Central Government had taken the power under Section 58-A of
Companies Act, 1956 to regulate acceptance of deposits in consultation with the Reserve Bank of
India. Protection to unsecured creditors i.e. depositors was provided in the Companies
(Amendment) Act, 1974 whereby Section 58-A were inserted. Section 58-A (now Section 73 of
the 2013 Act) provide that the Central Government, may in consultation with the Reserve Bank of
India prescribe the limits up to which, the manner in which and the conditions subjects to which
deposits may be invited or accepted by a computer either from the public or rom its members.
The advertisement meant for inviting deposits under Section 73 of the Companies Act, 2013
must include a statement indicating the financial position of the company in prescribed form.48
The Central Government, in Consultation with the Reserve Bank of India have formed
separate rules known as the Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 1975 which came into
force on 3rd Feb, 1975.
It must be stated that the main purpose of regulating acceptance of deposits by non-banking
non-financial companies is to keep the magnitude of these deposits within limits and to control
and regulate deposits outside the banking system in the interest of public in general and depositors
in particulars.
The Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 1975 also contain provisions relating to
repayment and renewals of deposits accepted by companies before 1975. The provision of Section
73, however, do not apply in case of banking companies or such other companies as the Central
Government, in consultation of the Reserve Bank of India, may notify.
Section 58-A (9) of the Companies Act, 1956 (Section 73 of the 2013 Act) provided that
if a company has failed to repay any deposit or part thereof in accordance with the terms and
conditions of such deposits, the Company Law Board, may, if it is satisfied, either on its own
motion or on the application of a depositor, direct the company to make payment of such deposit
or part thereof forthwith or within such time as may be specified in the order. Tribunal may,
however, give a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the company or any person interested in
the matter.49
Consequent to the passing of the Companies Act, 2013, as per Section 73 of the Act, only
public companies having such net worth or turnover as may be prescribed, may invite accept or
renew deposits from the public as provided in Section 76 of the 2013 Act. Other Companies shall
not invite, accept or renew deposits from the public, other than the company’s members.
The new Act further makes deposit insurance compulsory for acceptance of deposits from
public or from its own members.
Section 76 of the Companies Act, 2013 provides that a company having net worth and
turnover of such amount as may be prescribed, may accept deposits from persons other than its
48
Section 73 of Companies Act, 2013 (Chapter V- Acceptance of Deposits from Public).
49
In Re Pure Drinks (New Delhi) Ltd., (1995) 83 Comp Cas 174 (CLB).
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members subject to compliance with the Section 73 (2) of the Companies Act, 2013 and subject to
rules made by the Central Government in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Such companies shall also be required to obtain credit rating from the recognised credit
rating agency for informing to the public about the credit rating at the time of invitation of deposits.
The credit has to be obtained every year during the tenure of deposit.
Section 75 of the Companies Act, 2013 contains new provisions relating to deposits
accepted before the commencement of the 2013 Act therefore, they are transitional provisions,
whereas Section 74 deals with repayment of deposits etc. accepted before the commencement of
the new Companies Act, 2013.
The Company Law Board (now Tribunal) in Vijay Kumar Gupta v. Eagle Paint &
Pigment Industries Ltd.,50 held that private companies cannot issue advertisement for inviting
deposits. When a company accepts deposits from its members or directors, it has to obtain a
declaration from them that they are not taking deposit as a debt on the company.
Rule 3-A promulgated by the Government under rule making power conferred by
Section 73 read with Section 469 of the Companies Act, 2013 requires a company to deposits or
invest a sum equal to at least ten percent of the amount maturing during the year in certain specified
accounts in a Scheduled Bank or in specified securities. This is kept in a free deposit in order to
protect the depositors and ensure that they get their refund readily. Some of the companies,51
challenged the validity of this rule but the Supreme Court rejected the petitions. It has been further
held that there is no violation of any fundamental right by these deposit rules.52
In Assistant Registrar of Companies v. R. Narayansawamy,53 it was held that the
offence of non-payment of deposit money is not a continuing offence and therefore subsequent
directors shall not be liable for earlier defaults.
50
(1997) 26 Comp LA 236 (CLB)
51
Notably the Delhi Cloth & General Mills, the Arvind Mills, the Modi Spinning and Weaving Mills etc. See also
Goetze (India) Ltd. v. Union of India, (1983) 4 SCC 166.
52
A.S.N. IYER V. Reserve Bank of India, (1984) 56 Comp. Cas. 352 (Mad).
53
(1985) 57 Com. Cas 787.
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Companies etc. but in spite of this exemption, it is mandatory for them to issue advertisement for
inviting deposits.
In Gopal Maheshwar v. Hawk Multi-Media (P) Ltd. Co.,54 the petitioner gave loan to the
respondent company at the interest rate of 18 per cent per annum. He filed a petition against the
respondent for non-payment of debt under Section 598-A of the Companies Act. Dismissing the
petition the Company Law Board held that this transaction cannot be treated as ‘public deposit’
and the respondent company had not given a receipt for the debt amount to the petitioner.
Therefore, it cannot be said that there has been violation of provision relating to public deposits in
this case.
54
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Online material source.
• SCC ONLINE
• LAWYERS CLUB
• THELEGALHIGHNESS
• SHODHGANGA
Book referred.
Thank
you!
COMPANY LAW ASSIGNMENT