Methods including alteration of Share capital, variation of share-holder rights, sub division, consolidation, surrender and reissue/cancellation, reduction of share capital, with relevant legal provisions and accounting treatments for same

Alteration of share capital

Alteration of Share Capital refers to the changes in the existing capital structure of the firm. A company can alter its share capital only if it is authorized by its Articles of Association. An article of association is the document framed at the time of incorporation of the company to govern its internal affairs.

In case of public company, the shares are being subscribed from the public. So, the limited company has to make alteration of the memorandum of association clause also. There is a capital clause in the memorandum of association that contains the details regarding the amount of share capital that can be raised by the company during its lifetime. The capital clause has to be get altered by the registrar appointed under Companies Act 2013.

SECTION: 61 Way to Alter Share Capital

Section 61 of the Companies Act, 2013 states the five different ways to alter the share capital which are as follows:

Increase in Authorized Capital: Authorized Capital is also known as Registered or Nominal Capital. This is the capital with which company gets incorporated. The company can increase its share capital by altering its capital clause mentioned in the Memorandum of Association.  

Consolidation of Shares: The Company can also alter its share capital by consolidating the smaller denominations shares into larger denominations. In case there is any change regarding voting rights of shareholders results out of the consolidation, the permission of the tribunal or court is compulsory. In case of consolidation of shares, the following journal entry is passed:

Share Capital (Old) A/c    Dr.

     To Share Capital (New) A/c

Variation of share-holder right

Sub Division

A company can also alter its share capital by sub dividing the value of the shares held by the shareholders. Section 61 allows the company to sub-divide its shares of higher denominations into smaller denominations. The company can do so only if it is authorized by the memorandum of association. In case there is sub-division of partly paid-up shares, the condition to be fulfilled is that the difference between the paid-up amount and unpaid amount continues to be the same. This way of alteration of share capital results in the holding of a greater number of shares in the hands of the shareholders with low denomination. The journal entry to be passed in this method is as follows:

Share Capital (Old) A/c    Dr.

     To Share Capital (New) A/c

Consolidation

• Company can consolidate and divide its shares into shares of larger amount only if it is authorized by its Articles of Association and after obtaining approval of members by ordinary resolution. (Section 61(1)
• Company shall ensure that proposed consolidation and division of shares shall not result in change in the voting percentage of shareholders. Otherwise, Company shall be required to approach Tribunal (at present, Company Law Board) seeking permission for proposed consolidation and division of shares resulting in change in the voting percentage of shareholders (Proviso to Section 61(1)(b))
• A company may replace all the existing certificates by new certificates upon consolidation and division of shares subject to compliance with prescribed rules.

Surrender and Reissue/Cancellation

Cancel the unissued shares: the company can also cancel its unissued capital. But this does not leads to alteration of share capital. In this method, no journal entry is passed and no treatment is done in the books of the accounts.

Conversion of shares into stock: The Company can also alter its shares capital by converting the fully paid-up shares into the stock. Stock is the aggregate of fully paid-up shares.  The company can do so only if it is authorized by its articles of association. Also, the company can re convert its stock into shares.

The journal entries to be passed are as follows:

A) Conversion of shares into stock

Equity share capital A/c    Dr.

    To Equity Capital Stock A/c

B) Conversion of stock into shares

Equity Capital Stock A/c     Dr.

     To Equity Share Capital A/c

Reduction of share capital