Comprehensive Guide to Companies Act, 2013 – Meaning | Features | Classification

The Companies Act, 2013 is a comprehensive legislation enacted by the Indian Parliament to govern and regulate the incorporation, functioning, and dissolution of companies in India. It replaced the Companies Act of 1956 and aims to improve corporate governance, enhance transparency, and ensure accountability within the corporate sector. The Act establishes legal frameworks and guidelines on various aspects, such as the incorporation process, the rights and responsibilities of directors and shareholders, financial disclosures, mergers and acquisitions, and the winding up of companies. Additionally, it introduced new concepts like One Person Company (OPC), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and stricter compliance requirements to align with modern business practices.

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Meaning and Features of Company
3. Corporate Veil Theory
4. Classification of Companies Under the Act

1. Introduction

1.1 Need for Companies Act, 2013

The Companies Act, 2013 was preceded by the Companies Act, 1956. A need was felt to replace the Companies Act, 1956 with a new legislation due to the changes in the economic environment in India as well as abroad.

The Companies Act, 2013 contains 470 sections and seven schedules which has been divided into 29 chapters. A substantial part of this Act is in the form of Companies Rules. The Companies Act, 2013 seeks to make our corporate regulations more contemporary. It aims to:

• Consolidate and amend the law relating to the companies.
• Meet the changed national and international economic environment.
• Accelerate the expansion and growth of our economy.
• Increase accountability in corporate governance.
• Simplify law and regulations (Reduced Sections).
• Strengthen the interests of minority investors.
• Legislate the role of whistle-blowers.
• Speedy settlement of company disputes (NCLT/NCLAT).
• Impose stringent punishment for violations and mismanagement.

1.2 Applicability

Applicability of the Companies Act, 2013:

• As per Section 1(4), it applies to:

1. 1. Companies incorporated under this Act or under any previous company law
   2. Insurance companies, except if inconsistent with Insurance Act, 1938 or Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority Act, 1999
   3. Banking companies, except if inconsistent with the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949
   4. Companies engaged in generation or supply of electricity, except if inconsistent with Electricity Act, 2003
   5. Other company governed by any special Act, except if inconsistent with provisions of such special Act
   6. Such body corporate, incorporated by any Act, as CG may, by notification specify, subject to exceptions, modifications or adaptation.

• It extends to the whole of India [Section 1(2)]

2. Meaning and Features of Company

2.1 Meaning

As defined in the Companies Act, 2013, a “Company” means a company incorporated under this Act or under any previous company law [Sec. 2(20)].

Lord Justice Lindley has defined a company as

“An association of many persons who contribute money or money’s worth to a common stock and employed it in some trade or business and who share the profit or loss arising there from. The common stock so contributed is denoted in money and is the capital of the company. The persons who contributed it or to whom it belongs are members. The proportion of capital to which each member is entitled is his share. The shares are always transferable, although the right to transfer them may be restricted.”

According to Chief Justice Marshall, “a corporation is an artificial being, invisible, intangible, existing only in contemplation of law. Being a mere creation of law, it possesses only those properties which the charter of its creation confers upon it, either expressly or as accidental to its very existence.

In the words of professor Haney “A company is an incorporated association, which is an artificial person created by law, having a separate entity, with a perpetual succession and a common seal.” This definition sums up the meaning as well as the features of a company succinctly.

2.2 Features of Company

2.2.1 Separate Legal Entity

When a company is registered, it becomes a separate legal personality. It comes to have almost the same rights and powers as a human being. Its existence is distinct and separate from that of its members. A company can own property, have bank account, raise loans, incur liabilities and enter into contracts.

It is a different person altogether from the subscribers to the memorandum of association. Its personality is distinct and separate from the personality of those who compose it. Even members can contract with company, acquire right against it or incur liability to it.

Illustration: Lee, a qualified pilot held all but one of the shares in the company and by the articles was appointed director of the company and the chief pilot. The life of the employees of the company was insured by an insurer. Lee died while piloting the company’s aircraft and his widow claimed compensation for his death, in the course of his employment. Insurers challenged the claim on the ground that no compensation was due to Lee, as Lee and Lee Air Farming Limited was one and the same person. Held, there was a valid contract of service between Lee and the company and Lee was therefore, an employee. Lee was a separate person from the company and so compensation was due to the widow. The magic of corporate personality enabled Lee to be the master and servant at the same time. Mrs Lee’s contention was upheld. [Lee v. Lee Air Farming Limited (1960)].

2.2.2 Perpetual Succession

A company has a continued existence and it can be wound up only as per law. A company being a separate legal entity is not affected by the death, insolvency, lunacy etc. of any or all of its members. In case of the death or insolvency of a member, the shares held by him shall be transmitted to his nominee/legal representative or official assignee/official receiver. Even if all the members of a company die, the company survives. Thus, “Members may come and go, but the company goes on forever.”

2.2.3 Limited Liability

The liability of a member depends upon the kind of company of which he is a member. Thus, in the case of a limited liability company, the liability of the members of the company is limited to the extent of the nominal value of shares held by them. In no case can the shareholders be asked to pay anything more than the unpaid value of their shares.

Note: The liability of members of companies limited by guarantee and unlimited companies are different.

2.2.4 Artificial Legal Person

A company is a legal or judicial person as created by law. It is an artificial person as it is created by a process other than natural birth. It is a person since it is clothed with all the rights of an individual.

It can do everything which any natural person can do except be sent to jail, take an oath, marry or practice a learned profession. Hence, it is a legal person in its own sense.

As the company is an artificial person, it can act only through some human agency, viz., directors. The directors cannot control affairs of the company and act as its agency, but they are not the “agents” of the members of the company.

The directors can either on their own or through the common seal (of the company) can authenticate its formal acts.

Thus, a company is called an artificial legal person.

2.2.5 Separate Property

The company being a separate legal entity can own property, have banking account, raise loans, incur liabilities and enter into contracts. The shareholders are not the private or joint owners of the company’s property. A member does not even have an insurable interest in the property of the company.

Illustration: M was the holder of nearly all (except one) shares of a timber company. He was also a major creditor of the company. M Insured the company’s timber in his own name. The timber was lost in a fire. M claimed insurance compensation. Held, the insurance company was not liable to him as no shareholder has any right to any item of property owned by the company, for he has no legal or equitable interest in them. [Macaura v. Northern Assurance Co. Limited (1925)].

In the above case, if the timber was insured in the name of company then the company claim compensation.

2.2.6 Common Seal

A company being an artificial person cannot sign a document as a natural person can do. The common seal is a seal used by a company as a substitute for a signature. The provision of a common seal has been made optional for a company. It is a metal seal on which the name of the company is engraved [Section 12(3)(b)].

In case a company does not have a common seal, the authorization is made as per the articles. Table F of the articles states that such authorization shall be by two directors or by a director and the Company Secretary, wherever the company has appointed a Company Secretary.”

2.2.7 Separation of ownership from management

The shareholders who are the owners of the share capital of the company and they bear risk but they do not actually manage the company. The management is vested in the board of directors who are elected by the shareholders

2.2.8 Can sue and be sued

A company can sue others and it can be sued by others in its own name. Members are not liable for the acts of company.

2.2.9 Transferability of shares

The capital of a company is divided into shares. Shares of a company are movable property, transferable subject to certain conditions which may be provided in the articles.

3. Corporate Veil Theory

3.1 Corporate Veil

From the juristic point of view a company is a legal person distinct from its members (Salomon v. Salomon & Co. Ltd.). This principle may be referred to as the veil of incorporation. The effect of his principle is that there is a fictional veil between the company and its members. Corporate Veil refers to a legal concept whereby the company is identified separately from the members of the company. Thus, the shareholders are protected from the acts of the company.

(Veil is a piece of fine material worn by women to protect or conceal the face.)

Illustration: In Salomon vs. Salomon & Co. Ltd. the House of Lords laid down that a company is a person distinct and separate from its members. In this case, Salomon incorporated a company named “Salomon & Co. Ltd.”, with seven subscribers consisting of himself, his wife, four sons and one daughter. This company took over the personal business assets of Salomon for £ 38,782 and in turn, Salomon took 20,000 shares of £ 1 each, debentures worth £ 10,000 of the company with charge on the company’s assets and the balance in cash. His wife, daughter and four sons took up one £ 1 share each. Subsequently, the company went into liquidation due to general trade depression. The unsecured creditors to the tune of £ 7,000 contended that Salomon could not be treated as a secured creditor of the company, in respect of the debentures held by him, as he was the managing director of the company, and the company and Solomon were one and the same person. It was held:

“The Company is at law a different person altogether from the subscribers to the memorandum, and though it may be that after incorporation the business is precisely the same as it was before and the same persons are managers, and the same hands receive the profits, the company is not in law the agent of the subscribers or trustees for them. Nor are the subscribers, as members, liable, in any shape or form, except to the extent and in the manner provided by the Act.”

Thus, this case clearly established that company has its own existence and as a result, a shareholder cannot be held liable for the acts of the company even though he holds virtually the entire share capital. The whole law of corporation is in fact based on this theory of separate corporate entity.

3.2 Lifting of Corporate Veil

‘Lifting the veil’ means looking behind the company as a legal person i.e.; disregarding the corporate entity and paying regard instead to the realities behind the legal form. Where the courts ignore the corporate personality and concern themselves directly with the members or directors, the corporate veil may be said to have been lifted.

The following are the cases where company law disregards the principle of corporate personality or the principle that the company is a legal entity distinct and separate from its shareholders or members:

• To determine the character of the company i.e. to find out whether company is an enemy or a friend

Daimler Company was incorporated in London. Its majority shareholders and directors were Germans. On declaration of war between England and Germany in 1914 it was held that the company was a German company. Accordingly, the suit filed by the company to recover a trade debt was dismissed on the ground that such payment would amount to trading with enemy. [Daimler Company Ltd. v. Continental Tyre & Rubber Co. (Great Britain) Ltd. [1916] 2 AC 307.]

Of course, unlike a natural person, a company does not have mind or conscience; therefore, it cannot be a friend or foe. It may, however, be characterised as an enemy company, if its affairs are under the control of people of an enemy country. For this purpose, the Court may examine the character of the persons who are really at the helm of affairs of the company.

• Company is formed to evade taxes

Where corporate entity is used to evade or circumvent tax, the Court can disregard the corporate entity.

D formed four private companies and transferred his investments to them. D took pretended loans from the companies, which he never repaid. In a legal proceeding the corporate veils of all the companies were lifted and the incomes of the companies treated as if they were of D. The Court decided that the private companies were a sham and the corporate veil was lifted to decide the real owner of the income [Sir Dinshaw Maneckjee Petit, Re AIR 1927 Bom. 371]. Also, affirmed in CIT v. Sri Meenakshi Mills
Ltd. AIR 1967 SC 819.

• Company is formed to avoid a legal obligation/welfare legislation

If the sole purpose for the formation of the company was to use it as a device to reduce the amount to be paid by way of bonus to workmen, the Supreme Court upheld the piercing of the veil to look at the real transaction.

“A Limited” purchased shares of “B Limited” by investing a sum of ` 4,50,000. The dividend in respect of these shares was shown in the profit and loss account of the company, year after year. It was taken into account for the purpose of calculating the bonus payable to workmen of the company. Sometime in 1968, the company transferred the shares of B Limited, to C Limited a subsidiary, wholly owned by it. Thus, the dividend income did not find place in the Profit & Loss Account of A Ltd., with the result that the surplus available for the purpose for payment of bonus to the workmen got reduced. Thus, the Supreme Court disregarded the separate existence of the subsidiary company. The new company so formed had no assets of its own except those transferred to it by the principal company, with no business or income of its own except receiving dividends from shares transferred to it by the principal company and serving no purpose except to reduce the gross profit of the principal company so as to reduce the amount paid as bonus to workmen. The Workmen Employed in Associated Rubber Industries Limited, Bhavnagar v. The Associated Rubber Industries Ltd., Bhavnagar and another.

Note: Bonus is paid as a percentage of profits.

• Formation of subsidiaries to act as agents

A company may sometimes be regarded as an agent or trustee of its members, or of another company, and may therefore be deemed to have lost its individuality in favour of its principal. Here the principal will be held liable for the acts of that company.

A transport company wanted to obtain licences for its vehicles, but could not do so if applied in its own name. It, therefore, formed a subsidiary company, and the application for licence was made in the name of the subsidiary. The vehicles were to be transferred to the subsidiary company. Held, the parent and the subsidiary were one commercial unit and the application for licences was rejected. [Merchandise Transport Limited v. British Transport Commission (1982)]

• Company formed for fraud/ improper conduct or to defeat law

The corporate veil may be lifted if the company is formed to

1. 1. 1. defeat the law;
      2. defraud creditors;
      3. avoid legal obligations (arising by way of a contract).

Where the device of incorporation is adopted for some illegal or improper purpose, e.g., to defeat or circumvent law, to defraud creditors or to avoid legal obligations.

The defendant attempted to avoid completing the sale of his house to the plaintiff by transferring to a company formed for the purpose. The court ordered both the defendant and the company specifically to perform the contract with the plaintiff [Jones v. Lipman [1962] 11 ALL ER 442].

• To determine the technical competence of the company (Not covered in ICAI’s Study Material)

A company was formed as joint venture by other companies for purpose of telecom tender. The company was new but its major shareholders had vast experience in the field. However, tender evaluation company rejected the tender on the ground that the company has no experience in the field. Supreme Court held that experience of major shareholders can be considered as experience of the company, for purpose of awarding a tender or contract. [New Horizons Ltd. v. UOI (1997) 89 Comp Case 849 (SC)]

Note: Thus, corporate veil can be lifted even for the benefit of the company. This case is not covered in ICAI’s study material.

4. Classification of Companies Under the Act

4.1 Basis of Classification

The Companies Act of 2013 broadly classified companies into various classes.

• On the basis of number of members: A company may be incorporated as a one-person company, private company or a public company, on the basis of the number of members joining it.
• On the basis of liability: Again, based on liability, it may either be an unlimited company, or may be limited by shares or by guarantee or by both.
• On the basis of control: Companies can be classified as associate company, holding company and subsidiary company on the basis of control.
• On the basis of access to capital: A company may be classified as a Listed company or an Unlisted company.
• Other Classifications: Some other forms of classification of companies are Foreign Company, Government Company, Small company, Dormant company, Nidhi Company and Company formed for Charitable Objects.

3.2 On the basis of liability

• Company limited by shares“Company limited by shares” means a company having the liability of its members limited by memorandum, to amount, If any, unpaid on the shares respectively held by them; [i.e.; his personal property cannot be undertaken to meet company’s total debt]. [Sec. 2(22)]

The memorandum of association mentions whether the liability of the members is limited or not. In these companies there is a share capital divided into shares of fixed amount. The liability of the shareholder is limited to the nominal amount of the shares held by him.

Thus, if a person buys 100 shares of ` 10 each, his maximum liability is to the extent of ` 1,000 only. He cannot be asked to pay more than this amount. If he has paid ` 6 on each share, his remaining liability will be only ` 4 per share (i.e. 4 × 100 = ` 400). A majority of the companies in India belong to this category.

• “Company limited by guarantee” means a company having the liability of its members limited by the memorandum, to such amount as the members may respectively undertake to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of its being wound up [Sec. 2(21)].

Such an amount is called the Guarantee. The memorandum of association lays down the guarantee amount. No member is liable to pay more than the amount, which he has guaranteed to contribute.

These companies may or may not have a share capital. In the case of a guarantee company with a share capital, the members are required to purchase shares of fixed amount and also give a guarantee for a further sum in the event of winding up. Generally, guarantee companies are formed for non-trading purposes. Such as promotion of commerce, art, science, sports etc., and do not aim for profit. The Chambers of Commerce, charitable institutions, sport clubs, are generally organized as guarantee companies.

In Narendra Kumar Agarwal vs. Saroj Maloo, the Supreme Court has laid down that the right of a guarantee company to refuse to accept the transfer by a member of his interest in the company is on a different footing than that of a company limited by shares. The membership of a guarantee company may carry privileges much different from those of ordinary shareholders.

Common Features between guarantee company and company having share capital

The common features between a ‘guarantee company’ and ‘the company having share capital’ are legal personality and limited liability. In company limited by share, the member’s liability is limited by the amount remaining unpaid on the share, which each member holds. However in the company limited by guarantee the liability of members is limited to the amount guaranteed. Both of them have to state in their memorandum that the members’ liability is limited.

Difference Between guarantee company and company having share capital

• Unlimited Company: is defined as a company not having any limit on the liability of its members. Thus the members of an unlimited company have unlimited liability, but he will be entitled to claim contribution from other members. In such a company liability of member ceases on cessation of membership. If company is running & is not wound up the liability on the shares is the only liability which can be enforced by the company. [Sec. 2(92)].

The liability of each member extends to the whole amount of the company’s debts and liabilities but he will be entitled to claim contribution from other members. In case the company has share capital, the articles of association must state the amount of share capital and the amount of each share. So long as the company is a going concern the liability on the shares is the only liability which can be enforced by the company.

The creditors can institute proceedings for winding up of the company for their claims. The official liquidator may call the members for their contribution towards the liabilities and debts of the company, which can be unlimited.

3.3 On the basis of the number of Members

3.3.1 One person company [Sec. 2(62)]

Section 2(62) of the Companies Act, 2013 defines One Person Company (OPC) as a company which has only one person as a member.

Companies Act, 2013 introduced a new class of companies which can be incorporated by a single person.

One person company has been introduced to encourage entrepreneurship and corporatization of business. OPC differs from sole proprietary concern in an aspect that OPC is a separate legal entity with a limited liability of the member whereas in the case of sole proprietary, the liability of owner is not restricted and it extends to the owner’s entire assets constituting of official and personal.

The procedural requirements of an OPC are simplified through exemptions provided under the Act in comparison to the other forms of companies.

According to section 3(1)(c) of the Companies Act, 2013, OPC is a private limited company with the minimum paid up share capital as may be prescribed and has atleast one member.

Important points related to a OPC (One Person Company)

• Only one person as member.
• Compulsory Nominee: The memorandum of OPC shall indicate the name of the other person, who shall, in the event of the subscriber’s death or his incapacity to contract, become the member of the company.
• Nominee shall give his prior written consent in prescribed form and the same shall be filed with Registrar of companies at the time of incorporation.
• Nominee may withdraw his consent.
• The member of OPC may at any time change the name of nominee by giving notice to the company and the company shall intimate the same to the Registrar.
• Any such change in the name nominee shall not be deemed to be an alteration of the memorandum.
• Only a natural person who is an Indian citizen and resident in India or otherwise (person who has stayed in India for a period of not less than 120 days during the immediately preceding financial year):

1. 1. shall be eligible to incorporate a OPC (i.e.; member);
   2. shall be a nominee for the sole member of a OPC.

• No person shall be eligible to incorporate more than one OPC or become nominee in more than one such company.
• No minor shall become member or nominee of the OPC or can hold share with beneficial interest.
• Such Company cannot be incorporated or converted into a company under section 8 of the Act. Though it may be converted to private or public companies in certain cases.
• Such Company cannot carry out Non-Banking Financial Investment activities including investment in securities of anybody corporate.
• The member can be the sole member and director.

3.3.2 Private Company [Sec. 2(68)]

“Private Company” means a company having a minimum paid-up share capital as may be prescribed, and which by its articles,—

• restricts the right to transfer its shares;
• except in case of One Person Company, limits the number of its members to two hundred;

Provided that where two or more persons hold one or more shares in a company jointly, they shall, for the purposes of this clause, be treated as a single member:

Provided further that—

1. 1. persons who are in the employment of the company; and
   2. persons who, having been formerly in the employment of the company, were members of the company while in that employment and have continued to be members after the employment ceased, shall not be included in the number of members; and

• prohibits any invitation to the public to subscribe for any securities of the company.

Important points related to a Private company:

• Minimum number of members – 2 (except if private company is an OPC, where it will be
• Maximum number of members – 200, excluding present employee-cum members and erstwhile employee-cum-members.
• Right to transfer shares restricted.
• Prohibition on invitation to subscribe to securities of the company.
• Small company and OPC can be formed only as a private company.

3.3.3 Small Company [Sec. 2(85)]

Small company means a company, other than a public company—

1. paid-up share capital of which does not exceed fifty lakh rupees or such higher amount as may be prescribed which shall not be more than ten crore rupees; and
2. turnover of which as per its last profit and loss account for the immediately preceding financial year does not exceed two crore rupees or such higher amount as may be prescribed which shall not be more than one hundred crore rupees:

Exceptions: This section shall not apply to:

A. holding company or a subsidiary company;

B. company registered under section 8; or

C. company or body corporate governed by any special Act.

As per Rules

Paid up capital and turnover of the small company shall not exceed rupees four crores and rupees forty crores respectively. [Companies (Specification of definition details) Amendment Rules, 2022, w.e.f. 15th September, 2022]