GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS
NEW DELHI

GENERAL CIRCULAR NO

03/2014, Dated: February 14, 2014

To

All Regional Directors,
All Registrar of Companies,
All Stakeholders

Subject: Clarification with regard to Section 185 of the Companies Act, 2013.

Sir,

This Ministry has received number of representations on the applicability of Section 185 of the companies Act, 2013 with reference to loans made, guarantee given or security provided under Section 372A of the Companies Act, 1956. The issue has been examined with reference to applicability of Section 372A of the Companies Act, 1956 vis-a-vis Section 185 of the Companies Act, 2013, Section 372A of the Companies Act, 1956. Specifically exempts any loans made, any guarantee given or security provided or any investment made by a holding company in respect of any loan taken by its subsidiary. Whereas, Section 185 of the company in respect of any loan taken by its subsidiary company except in the ordinary course of business.

2. In order to maintain harmony with regard to applicability of Section 372A of the Companies Act, 1956 till the same is repealed and Section 185 of the Companies Act, 2013 is notified, it is hereby clarified that any guarantee given or security provided by a holding company in respect of loans made by a bank or financial institution to its subsidiary company, exemption as provided in clause (d) of sub-section (8) of Section 372A of the Companies Act, 1956 shall be applicable till Section 186 of the Companies Act, 2013 is notified. This clarification will, however, be applicable to cases where loans so obtained are exclusively utilized by the subsidiary for its principal business activities.

NO.1/12/2013-CL.V

(K. M. S. Narayanan)
Assistant Director (Policy)