slide 1: Incorporating features of One Person Company across the world
In this blog we have discussed about the incorporating features of one person companies and their
advantages in world-wide.
One person companies are not provided under the companies Act 1956. It was introduced by the
Companies Act 2013. One Person Company the name itself suggest that it should contain only one
member. An OPC is a vehicle that seeks remedies to solve problems faced by companies such as Sole
proprietorships. It has the unlimited liability and able to balance the extensive requirements of
incorporating and running business. Therefore one person companies will be best choice of business for
the person who wish to start a business venture with the structural and organizational advantages.
Several countries have already recognized the ability of individuals forming a company before the
enactment of the new Companies Act in 2013. Furthermore members of a companies are nothing but
subscribers to its memorandum of association MOA or its shareholders. Therefore OPC is a company
that has only one shareholder as its member. Such companies are generally created when there is only
one founder or promoter for the business. Entrepreneurs whose businesses lies in early stages can start
OPCs instead of sole proprietorship business because they provide several advantages.
Incorporating History of OPC:
The concept of OPC was first recommended by the experts committee of Dr. JJ Irani in 2005. Chiefly the
committee decided to classify the companies based on size members and the control. In reference to the
OPC it is said that “it is the time that entrepreneurial capabilities of the people are given an outlet for the
participation in the economical activates”. Moreover it is also recommended that a simpler rule through
exemptions be made applicable to OPCs in order that an entrepreneur is not required to expend excessive
time and resources on procedure that could otherwise be applied to its business activities.
Major counterparts of Indian OPCs are found in Europe United States and Australia have resulted in
strengthening the economies of the countries. OPC will give businessmen all the benefits that a private
business will give. OPCs provides the opportunity to people to take advantage of the unique
characteristics of a company while remaining independent.
Reason for the formation:
Under the old companies act there was a requirement of at least two people to form a private limited
companies. Hence this is considered to be the major difficulty for those business people who wish to start
the business alone. The only option will be going for a private limited companies or public limited
companies with seven members. The reason why a private limited company necessarily have at least two
people is to differentiate it from a sole proprietorship which any individual could start on his own
consensus.
To over this problem the companies started by individuals on appointing directors. They were given only
one share which is mandatory to become the member of the companies. The rest of the shares are
retained by the owner of the company. The idea of OPC was for the first time in the year 2009 but
unfortunately the idea could not cope up itself into something concrete. Then again in 2012 efforts were
made to implement the idea and it became a reality with the introduction of the Companies Act 2013.
Features of a One Person Company
slide 2: Some of the general features of a one-person company:
Private company:
Section 31c of the Companies Act says that a single person can form a company for any lawful purpose.
It further describes OPCs as private companies.
Single member:
One person companies should have only one member or shareholder unlike other private companies.
Nominee:
A unique feature of OPCs that separates it from other kinds of companies is that the sole member of the
company has to mention a nominee while registering the company.
No perpetual succession:
Since there is only one member in an OPC his death will result in the nominee choosing or rejecting to
become its sole member. This does not happen in other companies as they follow the concept of perpetual
succession.
Minimum one director:
OPCs need to have minimum one person the member as director. They can have a maximum of 15
directors.
No minimum paid-up share capital:
Companies Act 2013 has not prescribed any amount as minimum paid-up capital for OPCs.
Special privileges:
OPCs enjoys privileges and exemptions under the Companies Act compared to other companies.
Who can form a one person company
Only a ‘natural person’ who is an Indian citizen and resident in India i.e. a person who has stayed in India
for a period of not less than one hundred and eighty two days during the immediately preceding one
calendar year can incorporate a One Person Company and a nominee for the sole member of a One Person
Company.
AS PER ONE PERSON COMPANY RULE 3 OF COMPANIES INCORPORATION RULES 2014
A person cannot incorporate more than one OPC or be the nominee of more than One Person Company
A minor shall not become member or nominee of the One Person Company or can hold share with
beneficial interest.
Company cannot be incorporated or converted into a company under section 8 of the Act.
slide 3: Company cannot carry out Non-Banking Financial Investment activities including investment in securities
of anybody corporate.
No such company can convert voluntarily into any kind of company unless two years have expired from
the date of incorporation of One Person Company except when threshold limit paid up share capital is
increased beyond fifty lakh rupees or its average annual turnover during the relevant period exceeds two
crore rupees.
Privileges of One Person Companies:
OPC enjoys the following privileges under the Companies Act:
They do not have to hold annual general meetings.
Their financial statements need not include cash flow statements.
Annual returns are not signed by the company secretary only directors can do so.
Provisions relating to independent directors do not apply to them.
Their articles can provide for additional grounds for vacation of a director’s office.
Several provisions relating to meetings and quorum do not apply to them.
They can pay more remuneration to directors than compared to other companies.
Membership in One Person Companies
Only natural persons who are Indian citizens and residents are eligible to incorporate a one person
company in India. The same condition applies to nominees of OPCs. Further such a natural person cannot
be a member or nominee of more than one OPC at any point of time.
It is important to note that only natural persons can become members of OPCs. This does not happen in
the case of companies wherein companies themselves can own shares and be members. Further the law
prohibits minors from being members or nominees of OPCs.
Conversion of OPCs into other Companies:
Under the rules regulation the formation of one person companies the OPC cannot be converted into
Section 8 companies because the section 8 companies have the charitable objectives. Furthermore OPCs
can be converted into all other kinds of companies until the expiry date of 2 years for the date of company
incorporation. An OPC will be terminated if its paid-up share capital of the company exceeds 50 lakh or
either the average annual turnover of the company exceeds 2 crores. In such a case the OPC will be
convert into a private or public limited company. The company can obtain no objection certificate and
the resolution should be filed with the registrar of companies within 30 days in Form no. MGT14.
One Person Company as a Global Perspective:
Although OPC is a recent concept in India it has been widespread in the United Kingdom for many years
by Lord Herschel in the renowned case of Saloman v. Saloman Co. Ltd where he acknowledged the idea
of a one-person company as lawful. Further under Section 7 of the UK Companies Act 2006 a one-person
public and a private company can be formed by complying with the registration and Memorandum of
slide 4: Association requirements as laid down in the UK Act. Similarly in the United States almost all states
issues license for single member limited liability companies with different state-specific laws. Amongst
Asian countries Pakistan Singapore and China adopted OPC in their legal systems in 2003 2004 and 2005
respectively.
Conclusion:
Therefore a One Person Company will be an efficient vehicle for entrepreneurs as it combines the benefits
of a sole proprietorship with that of a company. We Smartcorp are the leading business service providers
in Tirupur. We have experts team for providing full guidance to our valuable clients. Transparent pricing
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