The Companies (2nd Amendment ) ordinance - 2019

Important features of the Ordinance are:

• Re-categorisation of certain Offences:
  The 2013 Act contains 81 compoundable offences punishable with fine or imprisonment, or both. These offences are heard by courts. The Ordinance re-categorizes 16 of these offences as civil defaults, where adjudicating officers (nominated by the central government) may now impose penalties instead.
  These offences include:
  • failure to file annual return
  • issuance of shares at a discount


• Issue of shares at a discount:
  The Act prohibits a company from issuing shares at a discount, except in certain cases. On failure to comply, the company is responsible to pay a fine between one lakh rupees and five lakh rupees every officer in default may be punished with imprisonment up to six months or fine ranging from lakh rupees to five lakh rupees. The Ordinance changes this to remove imprisonment for officers as a punishment. Further, the company and every officer in default will be responsible to pay a penalty equal to the amount raised by the issue of shares at a discount or five lakh rupees, whichever is lower. The company will also be responsible to refund the money received with interest at 12% per annum from the date of issue of the shares.


• Commencement of business:
  The Ordinance states that a company may not commence a business unless it
  • files a verification of its registered office address with the Registrar of Companies within 30 days of incorporation. If a company fails to fulfill these provisions and is found not to be carrying out any business, the name of the Company may be removed from the Register of Companies
  • files a declaration within 180 days of incorporation, confirming that every subscriber to the Memorandum of the company has paid the value of shares agreed to be taken by him


• Registration of charges:
  The Act needs companies to register charges (such as mortgages) on their property within 30 days of the creation of charge. The Registrar may allow the registration within 300 days of creation. If the registration is not accomplished within 300 days, the company is needed to seek an extension of time from the central government.


• The Ordinance changes this to allow registration of charges:
  • within 60 days if the charge is created after the Ordinance, or
  • within 300 days if the charge is created before the Ordinance.
  If the charge under the first category is not registered within 300 days, it must be done within six months from the date of the Ordinance. If the charge under the second category is not registered within 60 days, the Registrar may grant another 60 days for registration.


• Change in approving authority:
  Under the Act, a change in the period of financial year for a company linked with a foreign company, has to be approved by the National Company Law Tribunal. Similarly, any modification in the incorporation document of a public company which has the effect of converting it to a private company has to be approved by the Tribunal. These powers have been transferred to the central government.


• Declaration of beneficial ownership:
  If a person holds a beneficial interest of at least 25% shares in a company or exercises significant influence or leash over the company, he is required to make a declaration of his interest. Under this Ordinance, failure to declare this interest is punishable with a fine between one lakh rupees and ten lakh rupees, along with a continuing fine for every day of default.


• Compounding:
  Under the Act, a regional director can settle offences with a penalty of up to five lakh rupees. The Ordinance increases this ceiling to Rs 25 lakh.