Section 185 of Companies Act,
2013 has ben completely substituted by New Section 185 under Companies
Amendment Act, 2017 (CA, 2017 got president assent on 3rd January,
2018 and was notified on 07th May 18. Due to Complete substitution there are
many changes under this section as mentioned below.
Crux of new amendment
Who can
avail the Loan/ guarantee/ Security from a Company
|
Old
Provision
|
New
Provision
|
Any
Private Company in which such Director is a Director or Member
|
NO
|
YES
(subject
to condition)
|
Any
Body Corporate at the general meeting of which at least 25% of voting capital
is exercisable by any such Director or 2 or more of such Director
|
NO
|
YES
(subject
to conditions)
|
Any
Body Corporate the Director, MD, Manager are accustomed to act in accordance
with the directions of the Board or any Director or Directors of the lending
Company
|
NO
|
YES
(subject
to conditions)
|
Section 2 of Companies Act, 2013, does not define “loan”.
Section 185(1): This sub-section restrict only
for Loan/ Guarantee/ Securities to Individuals not Companies or Body
Corporates.
Section 185(2): This Sub section allows by
passing of Special Resoluion to give loan to (Private Company, Body Corporate
in which directors of lender Company are Directors or Shareholders) (inserted
via CA,2017)
Section 185(3): This sub section permits loans by Holding to wholly owned
subsidary without complying with conditions given u/s 185(2).
Language of Section 185:
(1) No Company ( Private & Public)
· Directly
or Indirectly
· Advanced
any loan, including Book Debt
· Or
any Guarantee or provide any security in connection with any loan taken by
Following Persons
i.
Any director of Company, or
ii.
Any director of a Company which is its Holding Company, or
iii.
Any partner of Director of lender company, or
iv.
Any relative of Directors of Lender Company, or
v.
Any firm in which any of Director of Lending Company is Director, or
vi.
Any firm in which any relative of Director of lending Company is Director.
Points to be Kept
in Mind while Complying according to this Section
a) This Subsection
applicable on Public Limited as well as Private Limited Company (whether small,
OPC, Start ups etc.)
b) Guarantee or
Security in respect of only ‘Loan’ is covered.
c) Only
individuals/ firms are covered in sub section 1. Companies / body corporates
are not covered in above sub section
(2) Following
loan can be given by company to Any Person in whom directors are interested after fulfilling the
Conditions
mentioned below:
· Advance
any loan, including loan represented by a book debt
· Give
any guarantee in connection with any loan taken
· Provide
any security in connection with any loan taken
Any Person:
i.
Any Private Company of which any such Director is a Director or member;
ii.
Body Corporate in which 25% or more voting power rests with one or more
directors;
iii.
Body Corporate whose Board accustomed to act on directions of BOD or Directors
of lending company
Conditions:
i.
Special Resolution passed by the Company in General Meeting.
ii.
The loans are utilized by the borrowing company for its principal business
activities.
(3) Restrictions of Sub Section (1)
and (2) shall not be applicable on following transactions:
i.
Any loan made by a Holding
Company to its Wholly own Subsidiary Company or any guarantee given or
security provided by a Holding Company in respect of any loan made to its
wholly own subsidiary Company Give any guarantee in connection with any loan
taken
ii.
Any
guarantee given or security provided by a Holding Company in respect of Loan
made by any Bank or financial institution to its subsidiary Company.
Check whether loan is in limit u/s 186(2) if not
then whether Special Resolution for such has been passed or not. Limites as
mentioned below:
§ 60% of Paid up share
capital + Free Reserve + Securities Premium Account OR
§ 100% of Free Reserve +
Securities Premium Account
As per Section 186(4) Company shall disclose in the
Financial statement full particular of Loan/ G/ S and purpose for which such
L/G/S is proposed to be utilised by borrower
Interest on Loan u/s 186 (7): Loan shall be given at a rate of interest not lower than the
prevailing yield of one year, three year, five year or then year Government
security closest to the tenor of the laon.
Other sections
Section 177 (4) (v): Every Audit Committee
shall scrutiny of inter-corporate loans and investments.
Section 179(3) (e): The Board
of Directors of a company shall exercise the power to invest the funds of the
company by means of resolutions passed at meetings of the Board,
(Credits: This article was originally published by CS
Divesh Goyal)