Company Law

Acceptance of Deposits [Ch. V]

1.

“Deposit” [R. 2(1)(c)]

includes any receipt of money by way of a deposit or loan in any other form, by a company but excludes

any amount received:

  • From CG/SG, or from any other source whose repayment is guaranteed by CG/SG.
  • From Foreign Governments, foreign or international banks, multilateral financial institutions subject to provisions of FEMA 1999.
  • as a loan or facility from any banking Co or from SBI or any of its subsidiary banks.
  • as a loan or financial assistance from PFIs notified by CG, or Insurance Cos or Scheduled Banks.
  • against issue of commercial paper or any other instruments issued in accordance with the guidelines issued by the RBI.
  • by a Co from any other Co
  • against an offer made towards subscription to any securities, including share application money or advance towards allotment.
    • Amount so received shall be considered as deposit if,
      • Co fails to allot such securities within 60 days, and
      • Money so received is not refunded within 15 days from the end of such 60 days.
  • From director of the Co with declaration that it is not given out of borrowings or accepting loans from others.
  • raised by the issue of bonds or debentures
    • secured by a first charge or a charge ranking pari passu on any assets referred in Schedule III excluding intangible assets; or
    • compulsorily convertible into shares of the Co within 10 years.
  • from an employee of the Co not exceeding his annual salary in the nature of non – interest bearing security deposit.
  • (Any non-interest bearing amount) received and held in trust.
  • in the course of, or for the purposes of, the business of the Co, as an advance -
    • for the supply of goods or provision of services provided such advance is appropriated against supply of goods or provision of services within 365 days from date of acceptance of advance
    • in connection with consideration for an immovable property under an agreement or arrangement.
    • received under long-term projects for supply of capital goods.
    • towards consideration for providing future services in the form of a warranty or maintenance contract as per written agreement/arrangement
    • received and as allowed by any sectoral regulator or in accordance with directions of CG/SG
    • for subscription towards publication
    • As security deposit for the performance of the contract for supply of goods or provision of services
  • Any amount brought in by the promoters of the Co by way of unsecured loan in pursuance of the stipulation of any lending FI or a bank.
  • Any amount accepted by a Nidhi Co in accordance with the rules made u/s. 406 of the Co Act, 2013
  • Any amount received by way of subscription in respect of a chit under Chit Fund Act, 1882
  • An amount up to  25 lakhs received by a 14 start-up Co by way of a convertible note (convertible into equity or repayable within 5 years).
  • Any amount received from AIF, Domestic Venture Capital Funds, Infrastructure Investment Funds, MF registered with SEBI

2.

“Depositor” [R. 2(1)(d)]

means –

  • any member of the Co who has made a deposit with the Co u/s. 73(2); or
  • any person who has made a deposit with an eligible Co u/s. 76

3.

Who can accept deposit

From members [S .73(2)]➔

A (any) Co

From any person other than its members[S. 76]➔

Only Eligible Co i.e.

  • public Co having
    • networth NOT < ₹ 100 crores and
    • turnover NOT < ₹ 500 crores
  • which has obtained prior consent by Spl Reso, which is also filedwith the RoC

subject to compliance with the relevant provisions

4.

Quantum and Term of Deposits which can be accepted by Companies other than Eligible companies from MEMBERS [R. 3(1), (3)]

Deposits having tenure

Maximum Deposit which can be accepted/renewed, as % of (Paid-up share capital + Free reserves + Securities Premium A/c)

> 6 months, but ≤ 36 months

not specified

> 3 months, but < 6 months ➔

(to meet short term requirement of funds)

*NOT >10%

Total

  • 15Specified IFSC Public Co: NOT >100%
  • * Private Co: NOT > 100%
  • Other Cos: NOT >35%

* aforesaid maximum limit not applicable to the following Private Cos:

  • Start-up Private Co (for 5 years from the date of incorporation);
  • Private Co:
    • not being an associate/subsidiary of any other Co
    • borrowings from banks/FIs/body corporate < Minimum of [(2 *(paid-up share capital), or ₹ 50 crores]
    • which has not defaulted in repayment of such borrowings subsisting at the time of accepting deposit u/s. 73 (i.e. from members)

5.

Quantum of Deposits which can be accepted by Eligible Co [R. 3(1), (4)]

Deposits having tenure

Maximum Deposit which can be accepted/renewed, as % of (Paid-up share capital + Free reserves + Securities Premium A/c)

≥ 6 months, but ≤ 36 months

not specified

≥ 3 months, but < 6 months 

(to meet short term requirement of funds)

NOT >10%

From Members 

NOT >10%

Total

NOT > 25%

6.

Quantum of Deposits by Govt. Co[R. 3(5)]

Deposits

Maximum Deposit which can be accepted/renewed, as % of (Paid-up share capital + Free reserves + Securities Premium A/c)

From persons other than members➔

NOT >35%

7.

16 Conditions in brief [S. 73(2)]

  • Pass a resolution in GM [S. 73(2)]
  • Issue a Circular (in case of acceptance of deposit from members) [S. 73(2)(a), 
    R. 4(1)]/Circular in the form of an advertisement (in case of acceptance of deposit by an Eligible Co) [R. 4(2)] and file it with the RoC within 30 days of before the issue of circular [S. 73(2)(b) R. 4(5)]
  • Rate of interest and brokerage on acceptance/renewal of deposits shall not exceed the maximum rate of interest or brokerage provided by RBI for acceptance of deposits by NBFCs. [R. 3(6)]
  • ACo inviting secured deposit shall provide security for the due repayment of deposit and interest thereon by way of charge on its assets excluding intangible assets. The security (not being in the nature of a pledge) shall be created in favour of a trustee for the depositors [S. 73(2)(d) R. 6(1)].
  • If deposits are unsecured or partly secured➔ state that such deposits are ‘unsecured deposits’ in circular, form, advertisements, invitation etc. [S. 73(2)(f) proviso]
  • Maintain liquid assets and create a separate bank a/c called Deposit Repayment Reserve a/c and deposit therein on or before 30th April each year 17NOT < 20% of the amount of its deposits maturing during the following FY, which shall not be utilised for any purpose other than for the repayment of deposits [S. 73(2)(c), R. 13].
    • amount remaining deposited shall not at any time fall below 20% of the amount of deposits maturing during the FY

8.

Return in Form DPT-3 [R. 16 & 16A]

Co accepting deposit ↓

Co (except Govt Co) accepting exempt deposit ↓

30-Jun every year, duly audited by Auditor of the Co

  • O/s receipt or loan from 1-Apr-14 till 31-Mar-19 ➔ within 90 days from 31-Mar-19
  • O/s as on 31-Mar ➔ 30-Jun every year, (duly audited by Auditor of the Co)