Corporatisation Prospects for Unregistered Entities – Amendment in Section 366 of the Companies Act, 2013

By Pammy Jaiswal (corplaw@vinodkothari.com)

Partner, Vinod Kothari and Company

Background

By virtue of the enforcement notification of MCA dated 5th July, 2018[1], the proposed change under section 75 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017 (‘Amendment Act’) relating to section 366 of the Companies Act, 2013 (‘Act, 2013’) has been notified with effect from 15th August, 2018. Further, MCA vide its notification dated 5th July, 2018[2] has also brought the Companies (Authorised to Register) Second Amendment Rules, 2018 (‘Amendment Rules’). The said Amendment Rules shall also come into force from 15th August, 2018.

The section deals with registration of unregistered entities like partnership firms, LLPs, cooperative societies and such other entities, as a company under the Act, 2013. The amendment paves way for such entities having two or more members to get themselves registered under the Act, 2013 either as a company limited by guarantee, company limited by shares or unlimited companies.

The article endeavours to briefly discuss the amendment impact under the section and also Amendment Rules.

Conversion into a company under the Act, 2013 now possible with 2 members

Unregistered entities like LLPs, partnership firms, societies, etc. with two or more members can with effect from 15th August, 2018 onwards opt for conversion into a company limited by liability or guarantee or with unlimited liability in accordance with the provisions of Part XXI of the Act, 2013.

Legal Aspects – Not a Transfer

Registration of unregistered entities under the Act, 2013 does not tantamount to transfer at all as the same take place as operation by law and is not inter-vivos between the parties. The said arrangement is not a transfer but a mere conversion wherein old entity is transformed into a new registered company under the Act, 2013.

Further, as per section 47 (xiii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, transfer of capital asset or intangible asset by a firm to a company as a result of succession of the firm by a company in the business carried on by the firm subject to certain conditions as prescribed thereunder shall not be treated as transfer at all. The same was also held in the case of M/s. Vishal Containers P. Ltd. v. Assessee[3].

No Stamp Duty Implication on Conversion

Stamp duty is payable on transfer of property or conveyance. Section 3 of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 (‘Stamp Act’) spells out the applicability of the instruments chargeable with stamp duty. Further, section 2 (14) of the Stamp Act defines instrument as “every document by which any right or liability is, or purports to be, created, transferred, limited, extended, extinguished or recorded:”

Nowhere under the Stamp Act does it provides for payment of stamp duty on vesting of property. Various courts of law have also firmly taken the aforesaid view. Extracts of some of the matters are given below:

  1. In the matter of Vali Pattabhirama Rao Vs. Sri Ramanuja Ginning and Rice Factory (P) Ltd. AIR 1984; Andhra Pradesh 176[4]; it was stated that

“The Division Bench of Andhra Pradesh High Court relying on Section 575 of the Companies Act, 1956 has held that if a partnership firm registered as a company, there was a statutory vesting including of all immovable property and no separate conveyance was required for the same;”

  1. In the matter of UOI Vs. Mahalaxmi Saw Mills P. Limited[5]; LPA No.2514-15/2005;

“If no conveyance deed is required for vesting of a property from a partnership firm to a company, it could not be said that any transfer of the property takes place which would require levy of unearned increase;”

As a result of the aforesaid amendment a partnership firm with even 2 persons can be converted into a company. This promotes corporatisation particularly in case of a property owning partnership. Section 368 of the Act, 2013 clearly states the following:

All property, movable and immovable (including actionable claims), belonging to or vested in a company at the date of its registration in pursuance of this Part, shall, on such registration, pass to and vest in the company as incorporated under this Act for all the estate and interest of the company therein.”

On reading of the aforesaid section it becomes clear and evident that the property comes into the company without any conveyance, and the company thereby becomes transferable by transfer of shares. Accordingly, there is no stamp duty at the time of conversion as there is vesting of property. The effect of the section is that there is an automatic vesting and divesting. The old entity is divested of the properties and the newly converted company is vested with the properties. The vesting being statutory, no registered instrument of transfer is necessary. Accordingly, one can expect increase in the corporatisation since the amendment shall give impetus to property owning partnership forms, LLPs, and other unregistered entities to go for incorporating companies under the Act, 2013.

The position would be different where the company incorporated had come into existence even while the firm existed and a separate agreement of transfer was entered into between the directors of the company and partners of the firm. Stewart & amp; Co. Ltd. v. C. Machertech; AIR 1963 Cal 198 (DB).

Conclusion

While various changes have been brought by way of the Amendment Act, one of the important changes have been under section 366. By reducing the number from seven to two, the Amendment Act encourages the unregistered entities to register themselves as companies under the Act, 2013 with the same set of owners without the undue harassment of identifying and inducting new members in such unregistered entity. As a result of the change one may find increase in corporatisation which in turn promotes commercialisation and improved governance.


[1] http://www.mca.gov.in/Ministry/pdf/CommencementNotification0507_06072018.pdf

[2] http://www.mca.gov.in/Ministry/pdf/CompaniesAuthorisedRegister_06072018.pdf

[3] https://indiankanoon.org/doc/79837376/

[4] https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1299049/

[5] http://lobis.nic.in/ddir/dhc/RSE/judgement/23-12-2015/RSE23122015LPA25142005.pdf

 

2 replies
  1. CA Ravi Kumar Agrawal
    CA Ravi Kumar Agrawal says:

    I was lucky to find your article titled Corporatisation Prospects for Unregistered Entities – Amendment in Section 366 of the Companies Act, 2013 just when I needed a authoritative reference on the subject. Thanks a Lot for that write up.

    I have some queries with reference to firms converting into company under Part IX of the Companies Act, if you may kindly answer these I shall be grateful to you

    1. The incorporation certificate given by MCA upon incorporation, after full compliance of Section 366 of the Companies Act 2013 read with applicable rules, does not contain any reference of this fact that the company is incorporated Under Part IX of the Companies Act . In such a situation how can we convince the revenue authorities (for the purpose of up-dation of name of owner in Land records) that it is infact a conversion of firm and not a case of company taking over the business of the firm ?

    2. After incorporation all assets and liabilities of the firm Vests in the company and company is required to allot shares to the partners in the same proportion in which they held capital in the firm prior to conversion. Whether such allotment shall be made compulsorily by way of preferential allotment U/s. 62(1)(c) or can it made U/s. 62(1)(a) by way of Right issue (since those partners have become subscribers to MOA and already hold shares)

    3. When shares are allotted for consideration other than in cash then an agreement or contract executed in writing for allotting securities for consideration other than cash and a Valuation report of such consideration is required to be attached. In this case too since shares will be allotted for consideration other than case so whether an agreement for conversion and valuation of assets of firm will still be required (even though it is a case of conversion and not take over) ?

    Your guidance on the above issues is humbly requested.

    Thanking you
    Yours truly
    CA Ravi Kumar Agrawal
    FCA, DISA
    M. No. 059036
    Mobile No. 9329351252

    Reply
  2. Ashish Kumar Gupta
    Ashish Kumar Gupta says:

    A Partnership firm was converted into Company in November 2019. The Networth of firm was around 25 cr. BUT the Company was registered with initial capital of Rs. 10 lacs only, with a view to increase the Capital after Incorporation. The Company was incorporated u/ Sec. 366 only mentioning all Assets & Liabilities, existing work of firm, shall be of Company post Incorporation
    As the Networth of firm includes BGs, FDs and other non cash assets also, it took time to realise all assets and increase the Paid up of Company which finally completed in March 2021 due to various factors including COVID lockdown and delays.

    My Query(ies):

    1.As increase in Capital of Company delayed and total balance sheet size of firm was transferred in Company by March 2021, is there any default on part of Company;
    2. Due to procedural and other delays, the firm ceased to exist only by March 2021 and not in November 2019, consequences of the same;
    3. Can Networth of Firm be counted as of Company for F.Y. 31.03.2020

    Reply

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