Transfer of shares to IEPF authority & recent amendments

In this piece of writing, we will discuss the concept and procedure for transfer of shares by the Company to 'Investor Education and Provident Fund', a fund established by Central Government under section 125 of the Companies act, 2013 for specific purpose and recent amendments by Central Government in Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016 (hereinafter further referred as IEPF Rules, 2016) issued by MCA via Notification [1] dated 13th October, 2017 and General circular[2] No 12/2017 dated October 16, 2017.

Prior to this, Lets discuss about the roots of this concept, which is arising from Section 124 of the Companies Act, 2013: 'Unpaid Dividend' which provides for transfer of unpaid/unclaimed dividend i.e. dividend which is not paid or claimed within 30 days from its date of declaration, then the company within 7 days shall transfer such amount to a special account namely 'Unpaid Dividend Account' which will be opened by Company in a schedule bank as per section 124(1) of the Act, 2013.

Further any amount transferred to 'Unpaid Dividend Account' remains unpaid or unclaimed for a period of 7 years from date of transfer, and then as per section 124 (5) same shall be transferred to ‘Investor Education and Provident Fund', a fund established by Central Government.

At last, pursuant to the provisions of section 124 (6) of the Companies Act, 2013 read with the IEPF Rules, 2016 as amended from time to time, the Company is mandated to transfer all the shares in the name of Investor Education and Provident Fund in respect of which dividends have not been paid or claimed for seven consecutive years or more.

The aforesaid procedure for transfer of shares by the Company to 'Investor Education and Provident Fund is explained below in diagrammatic format for better understanding:

Please Note: For the removal of doubts it is hereby clarified that in case any dividend is paid or claimed for any year during the said period of seven consecutive years, the share shall not be transferred to Investor Education and Protection Fund as per sub section 124 (6).

Question: Whether a shareholder, whose shares have been transferred to IEPF, can claim back shares and whether he can attend general meeting and vote thereat?

Answer: Yes, a shareholder (even their legal heirs & representative) can claim their shares transferred to IEPF by making an application in Form IEPF-5 to IEPF authority.

(Refer first proviso of sub section (6) of section 124 of the Act, read with Rule 7 of IEPF Rules, 2017)

As per MCA vide notification, following amendments have been carried in Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016:

PROCEDURE FOR TRANSFER OF SHARES BY THE COMPANY TO IEPF AUTHORITY:

1. Transfer of Shares by Company to IEPF Authority in DEMAT Account, within 30 days of completion of 7 years of the date of Dividend transferred to the 'Unpaid Dividend Account’.

2. Please note that:

a) Shares will not be transferred, if beneficial owner has encashed any dividend warrant during the last 7 years.

b) the period of seven years provided under sub-section (5) of section 124 has been completed or being completed during the period from 7th September, 2016 to 31st October, 2017, the due date of transfer of such shares shall be deemed to be 31st October, 2017.';it means that shares must be transferred within 30 days i.e till 30th November, 2017.

3. Board Resolution for authorising Company Secretary or any person for giving effect to necessary acts required to be done for such purpose.

4. Concerned Shareholder to be informed of such transfer to IEPF at 3 months before the due date of transfer of shares.

5. Newspaper advertisement to be given, prescribing the names of shareholders whose shares are proposed to be transferred and their complete details pertaining to shares along with websites address of company.

6. For effecting the transfer of shares:

a) If in DEMAT form- corporate actions form to be filed with depository
b) Where shares are in physical form:

i. the Company Secretary or the person authorized by the Board shall make an application, on behalf of the concerned shareholder, to the company, for issue of a new share certificate;

ii. a new share certificate for each such shareholder shall be issued and it shall be stated on the face of the certificate that 'Issued in lieu of share certificate No..... for the purpose of transfer to IEPF' and the same be recorded in the register maintained for the purpose.

iii. after issue of a new share certificate, the company shall inform the depository by way of corporate action to convert the share certificates into DEMAT form and transfer in favour of the Authority.

c) Company shall send a statement to the authority in IEPF -4 Form containing details of such transfer while affecting such transfer.

SAMPLE NOTICE GIVING EFFECT TO SUCH TRANSFER

NOTICE

Sub: Transfer of Shares of the Company to DEMAT Account of IEPF Authority.

Pursuant to the provisions of section 124 (6) of the Companies Act, 2013 read with the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016 as amended from time to time, the Company is mandated to transfer all the shares in the name of Investor Education and Provident Fund in respect of which dividends have not been paid or claimed for seven consecutive years or more.

In compliance with said Rules, the company has communicated individually to the concerned shareholders whose shares are liable to be transferred to the DEMAT account of IEPF Authority and also published in the Notices in the ___________________(English Newspaper) and ______________(Vernacular language newspaper) respectively to the effect. The company has also uploaded on websites www.__________________________under investors section, the details of shareholders whose shares are liable to be transferred to IEPF Authority. The Company shall take necessary steps to transfer the concerned shares held by such shareholders in physical or DEMAT form to the DEMAT account to the IEPF Authority within 30 days from the due date i.e. 30th November, 2017 in accordance with notification dated 13th October, 2017 and General circular No 12/2017 dated October 16, 2017 issued by MCA.

The shareholder may please note that no claim shall lie in against the company in respect of the shares and dividends thereof credited to the Account of IEPF Authority. On transfer of the dividends and shares to IEPF Authority, the shareholder may however claim the same y making an application IEPF Authority in Form IEPF-5 as per the procedure prescribed in the Rules.

In case the shareholders and queries on the subject Matter, they may contact the company Registrar and Transfer Agent___________________________(at given details)

For_____________________

(Company Secretary/Authorised Person)

Date :
Place:

DISCLAIMER: The entire contents of this document have been developed on the basis of relevant information and are purely the views of the authors. Though the authors have made utmost efforts to provide authentic information however, the authors expressly disclaim all or any liability to any person who has read this document, or otherwise, in respect of anything, and of consequences of anything done, or omitted to be done by any such person in reliance upon the contents of this document. READER SHOULD SEEK APPROPRIATE COUNSEL FOR YOUR OWN SITUATION. AUTHOR SHALL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY OF THE CONSEQUENCES DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.

The author is a Company Secretary from Nagpur (Maharashtra) and can also be contacted at csanjali.gorsia@gmail.com

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