Company Law

Procedure for Incorporation of a NewCo:

As part of Government of India’s Ease of Doing Business initiatives, MCA has, effective 23-Feb-2020, notified new integrated Web Forms christened ‘SPICe+’ and ‘AGILE Pro’ replacing the existing ‘SPICe’ and ‘AGILE’.

Introduction of new forms:

SPICe+ :

  • SPICe+ Web form is a post-login service
  • In case no. of subscribers and/or directors to eMoA and eAoA is up to 20 and all such subscribers and/or directors have DIN/PAN, it is mandatory for each one of them to obtain a DSC

Part A

similar to RUN for name reservation for NewCo

Part B

Similar to earlier SPICe

  • Incorporation & DIN allotment, if applicable
  • No change
  • PAN, TAN
  • Mandatory, no change

AGILE-PRO (Application for GSTIN, ESIC & EPFO registration, Profession tax registration for Maharashtra and Opening of bank account)

  • EPFO registration, ESIC registration
  • Mandatory (earlier, it was part of SPICe, but optional). However, 2{compliance requirements pursuant to these registrations will trigger only on crossing the respective threshold limits}
  • Profession Tax registration (for the state of Maharashtra only)
  • Newly introduced, Mandatory
  • Opening of Bank Account for the Company
  • Newly introduced, Mandatory. Banks are required to be selected from the drop down menu only. 3{At present, only Punjab National Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank are listed. But gradually it is proposed to have 16 PSU / other scheduled banks.
  • Once NewCo is incorporated at MCA portal and COI and PAN has been successfully generated, required information will be forwarded to the respective bank for processing of form. Once the data is successfully validated by the bank, an account number would be generated and communicated by the respective bank to the NewCo’s/Authorized signatory’s email id. However, the bank’s KYC, BR for operation of the account etc. will have to be dealt with by the NewCo separately, and such bank account will be operational only after completing all the formalities of the respective bank.
  • Subsequently, if the NewCo feels it necessary / appropriate, this bank account can be closed, new accounts can be opened with any bank}.
  • Allotment of GSTIN
    (if so applied for)
  • No change – same as was part of erstwhile SPICe; it is optional

Incorporation process initiated BEFORE 23-Feb-2020 i.e. name application / incorporation application filed before 23-Feb-2020 ⟶ Submit/ resubmit, as the case may be, in eForm SPICe along with AGILE

Incorporation process initiated AFTER 23-Feb-2020

Alternative 1:

file web based Part A of Form SPICe+

reservation / approval of name of the NewCo

File Part B of SPICe+ alongwith AGILE Pro

The approved name and related incorporation details as submitted in Part A of SPICe+, would be automatically Pre-filled in all linked forms also viz., AGILE-PRO, eMoA, eAoA, URC-1, INC-9 (as applicable)

Alternative 2:

file web based Part A as well as Part B of Form SPICe+alongwithAGILE Pro

The basic documents for incorporation have remained unchanged (given below). MCA has attempted to explain / clarify host of queries through help kits and FAQs. It is advisable to thoroughly go through the eForms, their respective help kits (accessible only after MCA login, under ‘MCA Services’ -> ‘SPICe+’), as well as FAQs (accessible without MCA login) on MCA portal for guidance on any incorporation related matter as these are very dynamic at the moment.

Procedure for Incorporation of a NewCo is summarized below:

1.

Reservation of name of NewCo

[Not mandatory] [S. 4(4), (5), R.9]

  • Submit application for reservation of name in Part A of SPICe+on MCA portal
  • Proposed name of the NewCo may either be approved or rejected, as the case may be, by RoC, Central Registration Centre
    • re-submission within 15 days allowed for rectification of the defects, if any,
  • No need to use DSC
  • If approved, name of the proposed NewCo will be reserved for 20 days from the date of approval

2.

Name of the NewCo
[S. 4(2), (3), R.8]

{Please also refer Special measures incl. Key CoVID 19 effects}

The name of the proposed NewCo should not -

  • be identical with or resemble too nearly to the name of an existing Co; or
  • be such that its use by the Co —
    • will constitute an offence under any law for the time being in force; or
    • is undesirable in the opinion of the CG
  • contain any word or expression which is likely to give the impression that the Co is in any way connected with, or having the patronage of, the CG, any SG, or any local authority, corporation or body constituted by the CG or any SG under any law for the time being in force; or such word or expression, as may be prescribed, unless the previous approval of the CG has been obtained for the use of any such word or expression.

3.

Memorandum and Articles of Association of the NewCo

[S. 6, S. 7(1)(a), R.13]

  • Provisions of Co Act 2013 as amended from time to time override MoA, AoA, etc. Any provision contained in the MoA, AoA, agreement or resolution shall, to the extent to which it is repugnant to the provisions of Co Act 2013, become or be void, as the case may be.
  • MoA & AoA shall be duly signed by all the subscribers to the MoA in the prescribed manner:
    • signed by each subscriber
    • add his name, address, description and occupation, if any,
    • in the presence of at least 1 witness who shall attest the signature and shall likewise sign and add his name, address, description and occupation, if any, and
  • If a subscriber is illiterate, he shall affix his thumb impression or mark which shall be described as such by the person, writing for him, who shall place the name of the subscriber against or below the mark and authenticate it by his own signature and he shall also write against the name of the subscriber, the number of shares taken by him. Such person shall also read and explain the contents of the MoA and AoA to the subscriber and make an endorsement to that effect on the MoA and AoA.

If the subscriber is ↓

the MoA and AoA shall be signed by:

a body corporate

director, officer or employee of the body corporate duly authorized in this behalf by a resolution of the BoD of the body corporate

a LLP

a partner of the LLP, duly authorized by a resolution approved by all the partners of the LLP

in either case, the person so authorized shall not, at the same time, be a subscriber to the MoA and AoA

• If subscriber is a foreign national residing outside India:-

in a country

his signatures and address on the MoA and AoA and proof of identity shall be:

in any part of the Commonwealth

notarized by a Notary (Public) in that part of the Commonwealth

which is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention 1961

notarized before the Notary (Public) of the country of his origin and be duly apostillised in accordance with the said Hague Convention

outside the Commonwealth and which is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention 1961

notarized before the Notary (Public) of such country and the certificate of the Notary (Public) shall be authenticated by a Diplomatic or Consular Officer empowered in this behalf u/s 3 of the Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oaths and Fees) Act 1948 or, where there is no such officer, by any of the officials mentioned in S. 6 of the Commissioners of Oaths Act 1889, or in any Act amending the same

If such foreign national visited India and intended to incorporate a company, in such case the incorporation shall be allowed if, he/she is having a valid Business Visa.

The requirement of Business Visa shall not be applicable to Person of Indian Origin, Overseas Citizen of India.

4.

Declaration by a practicing professional and by a first director/manager/secretary of the NewCo

[S. 7(1)(b), R.14]

Declaration by a practicing professional (advocate/CA/cost accountant/CS) who is engaged in the formation of the NewCo - that all the requirements of Co Act and the rules made thereunder in respect of registration and matters precedent or incidental thereto have been complied with

(This forms part of the eForm itself, certified by the professional and hence no separate declaration required)

5.

Declaration from each of the subscribers and first directors
[S. 7(1)(c), R.15]

Declaration from each of the subscribers and first directors in Form No. INC 9, stating that he is not convicted of any offence in connection with the promotion, formation or management of any company, or that he has not been found guilty of any fraud or misfeasance or of any breach of duty to any company under Co Act or any previous company law during the preceding 5 years and that all the documents filed with the Registrar for registration of the company contain information that is correct and complete and true to the best of his knowledge and belief

INC-9 shall be auto-generated in pdf format and would have to be submitted only in electronic form in all cases, except where: (i) Total number of subscribers and/or directors is > 20 and/or (ii) Any such subscribers and/or directors has neither DIN nor PAN

6.

Particulars of every subscriber along with proofs [S. 7(1)(e), R.16]

I. Particulars of every (individual) subscriber to be filed at the time of incorporation of NewCo:

(a) Name (including surname or family name) and recent Photograph affixed and scan with MOA and AOA; (b) Father’s/Mother’s/name; (c) Nationality; (d) Date of Birth; (e) Place of Birth (District and State); (f) Educational qualification; (g) Occupation; (h) Income-tax PAN;

(i) Permanent residential address and also Present address (Time since residing at present address and address of previous residence address (es) if stay of present address is < 1 year), Similarly the office/business addresses; (j) Email id of Subscriber; (k) Phone No. of Subscriber; (l) Fax no. of Subscriber (optional)

Information related to (i) to (l) shall be of the individual subscriber and not of the professional engaged in the incorporation of the NewCo;

(m) Documents

Proof of Identity:

For Indian Nationals:

PAN Card (mandatory)

and

Voter’s ID card/Passport copy/Driving License copy/UIN

For Foreign nationals and Non-Resident Indians:

Valid International Passport (mandatory)

Residential proof

Bank Statement, Electricity Bill, Telephone/Mobile Bill ⟶ not > 2 months old as of the date of filing

In case the subscriber is already holding a valid DIN, and the particulars provided therein have been updated as on the date of application, and the declaration to this effect is given in the application, the proof of identity and residence need not be attached.

Proof of nationality

in case the subscriber is a foreign national

(p) If the subscriber is already a director or promoter of a company(s), the particulars relating to -

  1. Name of the company;
  2. Corporate Identity Number;
  3. Whether interested as a director or promoter;

II. Particulars of every (body corporate) subscriber to be filed at the time of incorporation of NewCo:

  1. CIN or Registration number of the body corporate, if any; (b) GLN, if any; (c) the name of the body corporate; (d) the registered office address or principal place of business; (e) E-mail Id;

if the body corporate is

certified true copy of the resolution, specifying inter alia

  • the authorization to subscribe to MoA of the proposed NewCo and
  • to make investment in the proposed NewCo,
  • the number of shares proposed to be subscribed by the body corporate,↓

a company

passed by BoD, and also specifying

  • the name, address and designation of the person (director, officer or employee of the company – as per R.13) authorized to subscribe to MoA

a LLP or partnership firm

agreed to by all the partners, and also specifying

  • the name of the partner authorized to subscribe to MoA

(h) the subscribers’ particulars as specified at I. above for the person subscribing for body corporate;

(i) in case of foreign bodies corporate, the details/documents relating to -

  • the copy of its certificate of incorporation; and
  • the registered office address

7.

Particulars of each of the first directors

[S. 7(1)(f), (g), R.17]

Particulars of each of the first directors of NewCo, his interest in other firms or bodies corporate along with his consent to act as director of NewCo

8.

Registered office address

[S. 7(1)(d), S. 12, R.25, R. 38(7),(8)]

  • In case, correspondence address of the proposed NewCo given in Form No. INC 32 (SPICe+) is its registered office ⟶ no need to separately file Form No. INC 22
  • For verification of the registered office pursuant to R. 25(2) any of the following documents be attached to Form No. INC 32 (SPICe+) at the time of incorporation:-
    • the registered document of the title of the premises of the registered office in the name of the Co ; OR the notarized copy of lease or rent agreement in the name of the Co along with a copy of rent paid receipt not older than 1 month;
    • the authorization from the owner or authorized occupant of the premises along with proof of ownership or occupancy authorization, to use the premises by the Co as its registered office; and
    • the proof of evidence of any utility service like telephone, gas, electricity, etc. depicting the address of the premises in the name of the owner or document, as the case may be, which is not older than 2 months.

9.

Registration/approval from other sectoral regulators

[Proviso to R. 12]

In case pursuing of any of the objects of NewCo requires registration/approval from sectoral regulators such as RBI, SEBI ⟶ registration or approval, as the case may be, from such regulator shall be obtained by the proposed NewCo before pursuing such objects and a declaration in this behalf shall be submitted at the stage of incorporation of NewCo

10.

Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus (SPICe+)

[R. 38]

• Filings in respect of incorporation of a NewCo:

incorporation of a S. 8 NewCo

File Form No. INC 32 (SPICe+), and Form No. INC 13 (MoA) & Form No. INC 31 (AoA) as attachments and the linked Form AGILE Pro

incorporation of a NewCo having >7 subscribers OR any of the subscriber to the MOA/AOA is signing at a place outside India

File Form No. INC 32 (SPICe+)and the linked Form AGILE Pro

MOA/AOA in the respective formats as specified in Table A to J in Schedule I (scanned copy of duly executed and authenticated) shall be filed with Form No. INC 32 (SPICe+) without filing eForm Nos. INC 33 and INC 34

incorporation of NewCo other than mentioned above

File

  • Application in Form No. INC 32 (SPICe+) along with
  • e-Memorandum of Association (e-MOA) in Form No. INC 33 and
  • e-Articles of association (e-AOA) in Form no. INC 34, and
  • the linked Form AGILE Pro

The subscribers and witness/(es) shall affix their digital signatures to the e-MoA and e-AoA.

Affixing recent photograph shall not apply in case of e-MoA and e-AoA.

  • Application for allotment of DIN up to 3 Directors, reservation of a name, incorporation of NewCo and appointment of Directors of the proposed OPC, Private Co, Public Co and a S. 8 Co are clubbed in Form No. INC 32 (SPICe+)
  • No registration fees payable in respect of Form No. INC 32 (SPICe+) in respect of incorporation of NewCo:
    • with nominal capital of <4 15 lakhs; or
    • not having a share capital whose number of members as stated in its AoA does not > 20
  • RoC may give 2 chances of resubmission for further information or remove defects or incompleteness, each of 15 days from the date of intimation, not >30 days in aggregate
  • The Certificate of Incorporation of NewCo shall be issued by RoC in Form No. INC 11 inter alia mentioning CIN, PAN & TAN of the NewCo

11.

Additional requirement for incorporation of a S. 8 Co with Charitable objects, etc. [R. 19]

  • Declaration in Form No. INC 14 by an Advocate or practicing CA/CS/Cost Accountant
  • Estimated future annual income and expenditure for next 3 years specifying sources of income and objects of the expenditure
  • Declaration by each of the promoters in Form No. INC 15

Effective 15-Aug-2019, Application by promoters for license u/s 8 at the time of incorporation is also forming part of Form INC 32 (SPICe/ SPICe+, as the case may be) which is the form for incorporation. Accordingly final executed MoA and AoA are required to be attached to Form INC 32 (SPICe+) as against draft MoA & AoA in Form No. INC 12 earlier.

Application for license u/s 8 by existing Cos u/R 20 will continue to be made in Form No. INC 12

12.

OPC [R.4]

  • prior written consent of a nominee of the Subscriber in Form No. INC 3
    • Nominee ⟶ a person, who shall, in the event of the subscriber’s death or his incapacity to contract, become the member of that OPC

13.

5Commencement of business etc [R.10A]

{Please also refer Special measures incl. Key CoVID 19 effects}

  • A Co incorporated on or after 2-Nov-2018 and having share capital shall not commence any business or exercise any borrowing power unless :
    • a declaration is filed by a director within 180 days of the date of incorporation of the Co, with RoC that every subscriber to the MoA has paid the value of the shares agreed to be taken by him on the date of making of such declaration; and
    • the Co has filed with the RoC a verification of its registered office as provided in S.12(2)