Acceptance Of Deposits: Section 73 to 76 of the Companies Act 2013

ACCEPTANCE OF DEPOSITS SECTION 73 TO 76 OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2013 (HEREIN AFTER CALLED THE ACT) READ WITH RULES MADE UNDER CHAPTER V OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2013

Deposit is one of the sources available with a company to raise funds for meeting its short term and long-term fund requirements.

Section 73 to 76 of the Companies Act 2013 (herein after called the Act) read with Rules made under Chapter V of the Companies Act, 2013 regulate the invitation and acceptance of deposits.

As per the Companies Act 2013, “deposit” includes any receipt of money by way of deposit or loan or in any other form, by a company, but does not include such categories of amount as may be prescribed under Rule 2(c) of the Companies (Acceptance of Deposit) Rules, 2014.

Few transactions are Exempted deposits out of the transactions as specified in Rule 2(1)(c) of Acceptance of deposits. These transactions are general and coming into day to day operation of the Company:

1. Amount received by a Company from any other company [which is normally termed as Inter Corporate Deposits (ICD)].

2. Amount received pursuant to an offer towards subscription to any securities, including share application money or advance, pending allotment

Exception: If the securities not allotted within 60 days from the date of receipt of the application money or advance and such amount is not refunded to the subscribers within 15 days from the date of completion of 60 days,

3. Any amount received as a loan or facility from any Bank or Financial Institution.

4. Amount brought in by promoters as unsecured loans in stipulation of any lending Financial Institution or Banks subject to:

(a) Loan is brought in pursuance of stipulation imposed by lending institutions on promoters to contribute such finance; and
(b) Loan is provided by the promoters themselves and/or by their relatives.
(c) Exemption available only till loans are repaid and not thereafter.

5. Business advances (amount received in the course of, or for the purposes of, the business of the company):

For supply of goods or provision of services provided that such advance is appropriated against supply of goods or provision of services within a period of 365 days. However, if the advance is subject matter of any legal proceedings before any court of law the limit of 365 days would not be applicable.

(a) In connection with consideration for an immovable property, provided that such advance is adjusted as per agreement or arrangement.

(b) Security deposit for performance of contract for supply of goods or provision of services. 

(c) Advance under long term projects for supply of capital goods.

6. Bonds / debenture secured by first charge on any assets (excluding intangible assets) or convertible into shares within 5 years.

7. Any amount received from a person who is: - 

• a director of the company (both Public and Private) or
• a relative of the director of the Private company

Provided that the director of the company or relative of the director of the company give declaration in writing that amount is not given out of fund borrowed by him from other and company shall disclose the details of money so accepted in the Board’s report.

Applicability

Provisions under section 73 to 76 of the Companies Act 2013 and the company’s acceptance of Deposits Rules, 2014 shall apply to all companies Except: -

• Banking Companies
• NBFCs registered with RBI
• Notified companies, by central Government after consultation with RBI.

Company can accept the deposits from members as well as from public in accordance to section 73 to 76 of companies Act 2013.

PRIVATE COMPANY CAN TAKE DEPOSIT CAN BE CATEGORIZED AS UNDER

1. Start up Company: It can take deposits without any limit.
2. Other than Start Up Company: It can take deposits without any limit, if the below mention conditions are satisfied:

The Conditions for private company for accepting deposits from members without any Limit is as under:

(a) which is not an associate or a subsidiary company of any other company; 

(b) the borrowings of such a company from banks or financial institutions or anybody corporate is less than twice of its paid-up share capital or fifty crore rupees, whichever is less; and 

(c) such a company has not defaulted in the repayment of such borrowings subsisting at the time of accepting deposits under section 73

Other than abovementioned Private Companies Limit of acceptance of deposit is up to 100% of its paid-up capital, Securities Premium and Free Reserve, i.e. Net Worth of the Company

Specified IFSC Public Companies can accept deposit is up to 100% of its paid-up capital, Securities Premium and Free Reserve, i.e. Net Worth of the Company

Specified IFSC Public company Companies

An unlisted public company which is licensed to operate by RBI or SEBI or IRDA from the International Financial Services Centre located in an approved multi services SEZ set up under the Special economic Zones Act, 2005.

Eligible Public Companies can accept deposit is up to 10% of its paid-up capital, Securities Premium and Free Reserve, i.e. Net Worth of the Company

Eligible Public Companies are

• A public company having a net worth of not less than Rs.100 Crore or
• Turnover not less than Rs. 500 Crore

Other Public Companies can accept deposit is up to 35% of its paid-up capital, Securities Premium and Free Reserve, i.e. Net Worth of the Company

Other Public Companies

• A public company other than
• Specified IFSC Public company
• Eligible Company

COMPLIANCES FOR ACCEPTING DEPOSITS FROM MEMBERS BY PRIVATE COMPANIES WHICH ARE COVERED UNDER THE EXEMPTION NOTIFICATION

Take an approval of member by Passing Ordinary resolution in General Meeting

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Company shall accept the deposit or renew any deposit whether secured or unsecured only if intending depositor given application containing a declaration that deposit is not made out of borrowed fund.

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Company shall provide security by way of creating charge on the excluding intangible assets of the company for the repayment of the amount of deposit and interest thereon for an amount which shall not be less than the amount remaining unsecured by the deposit Insurance.

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Furnish a deposit receipt to the depositors within 21 days from the date of receipt of money or realisation of cheques.

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Company shall maintain register of deposit and make entries within 7 days from the date of issuance of the deposit receipt and such entries authenticated by a directors and company secretary of the company

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No company shall accept deposits from members which are repayable on demand or upon receiving a notice within a period of less than 6 months or more than 36 months from the from the date of acceptance or

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Exception – company may, accept or renew such deposits subject to the condition that Such deposits shall not exceed 10% paid up share capital and free reserves and securities premium account of the company, and Such deposits are repayable not earlier than 3 months from the date of such deposits or renewal

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No company shall invite or accept or renew any deposit in any form, carrying a rate of interest or pay brokerage thereon at a rate exceeding NBFC norms

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Form DPT-3 to be filed by company annually on or before 30th June, of every year and furnish the information contained therein as on the 31st day of the march of that year duly audited by auditor of the company

COMPLIANCES FOR ACCEPTING DEPOSITS FROM MEMBERS BY PRIVATE COMPANIES WHICH ARE COVERED UNDER THE EXEMPTION NOTIFICATION

Take an approval of member by Passing Ordinary resolution in General Meeting.

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Issue a circular in Form DPT-1 to its members and File a copy of the circular and statement with the Registrar within 30 days before the date of issue of the circular. Certificate of statutory auditors is required to be attached with DPT-1

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The company shall execute a deposit trust deed in Form DPT-2 at least seven days before issuing the circular in Form DPT-1

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In case of issue of secured deposits, provide security, way of a charge on its assets excluding intangible assets of the company for the repayment of the amount of deposit and interest thereon for an amount which shall not be less than the amount remaining unsecured by the deposit Insurance

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Deposit sum which shall not be less than 20% of the deposits maturing during a financial year and the financial year next following, and keep in a scheduled bank in a separate bank account to be called as deposit repayment reserve account

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Furnish a deposit receipt to the depositors within 21 days from the date of receipt of money or realisation of cheques

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Company shall maintain register of deposit and make entries within 7 days from the date of issuance of the deposit receipt and such entries authenticated by a directors and company secretary of the company

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No company shall accept deposits from members which are repayable on demand or upon receiving a notice within a period of less than 6 months or more than 36 months from the from the date of acceptance or

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Exception – company may, accept or renew such deposits subject to the condition that Such deposits shall not exceed 10% paid up share capital and free reserves and securities premium account of the company, and Such deposits are repayable not earlier than 3 months from the date of such deposits or renewal.

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No company shall invite or accept or renew any deposit in any form, carrying a rate of interest or pay brokerage thereon at a rate exceeding NBFC norms

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Form DPT-3 to be filed by company annually on or before 30th June, of every year and furnish the information contained therein as on the 31st day of the march of that year duly audited by auditor of the company

COMPLIANCE AS PER THE COMPANIES ACT 2013 FOR ACCEPTING DEPOSITS FROM PUBLIC

Pass special resolution and file the same with ROC before making any invitation to the Public.

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Obtain credit rating and file with ROC along with DPT 3

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Create Charge within 30 days of such acceptance on its assets of an amount not less than the amount of deposits accepted

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Issue a circular in Form DPT-1 in English language and in vernacular language and shall place such circular on its website, if any

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The company shall execute a deposit trust deed in Form DPT-2 at least seven days before issuing the circular.

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Furnish receipt within 21 days of amount received to the depositor. Deposit sum which shall not be less than 20% of the deposits maturing during a financial year and the financial year next following, and keep in a scheduled bank in a separate bank account to be called as deposit repayment reserve account.

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No company shall invite or accept or renew any deposit in any form, carrying a rate of interest or pay brokerage thereon at a rate exceeding NBFC norms

Penal rate of Interest

A company shall have to pay an interest of 18% p.a. for the overdue period of deposits, matured and claimed but remaining unpaid.

Punishment for contravention

If any company Accepts or invites or allows or causes any other person to accept or invite on its behalf any deposit in contravention of the manner or the conditions prescribed under section 73 or section 76 or rules made thereunder or Fails to repay the deposit or part thereof or any interest due thereon within the time specified under section 73 or section 76 or rules made thereunder or such further time as may be allowed by the Tribunal under section 73