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Alteration of Memorandum of Association

Alteration of Memorandum of association involves compliance with detailed formalities and prescribed procedure. Alternations to the extent necessary for simple and fair working of the company would be permitted. Alterations should not be prejudicial to the members or creditors of the comapany and should not have the effect of increasing the liability of the members and the creditors.

Contents of the Memorandum of association can be altered as under :

1. Change of name

A company may change its name by special resolution and with the approval of the Central Government signified in writing . However, no such approval shall be required where the only change in the name of the company is the addition there to or the deletion there from, of the word “Private”, consequent on the conversion of a public company into a private company or of a private company into a public company. (Sec. 21)

By ordinary resolution. If through inadvertence or otherwise, a company is registered by a name which, in the opinion of the Central Government, is identical with or too nearly resembles the name of an existing comapany, it may change its name by an ordinary resolution and with the previous approval of the Central Government signified in writing. [Sec. 22(1) (a)].

Registration of change of name. Within 30 days passing of the resolution, a copy of the order of the Central Government’s approval shall also be field with the Registrar within 3 months of the order. The Registrar shall enter the new name in the Register of Companies in place of the former name and shall issue a fresh certificate of incorporation with the necessary alterations. The change of name shall be complete and effective only on the issue of such certificate. The Registrar shall also make the necessary alteration in the company’s memorandum of association (Sec. 23)

The change of name shall not affect any right or obligations of the company or render defective any legal proceeding by or against it. (Sec. 23).

2. Change of Registered Office

This may involve :​

a) Change of registered office from one place to another place in the same city, town or village. In this case, a notices is to be give within 30 days after the date of change to the Registrar who shall record the same.

b) Change of registered office from one town to another town in the same State. In this case, a special resolution is required to be passed at a general meeting of the shareholders and a copy of it is to be filed with the Registrar within 30 days. The within 30 days of the removal of the office. A notice has to be given to the Registrar of the new location of the office.

c) Change of Registered Office from one State to another State to another State.

Section 17 of the Act deals with the change of place of registered office form one State to another State. According to it, a company may alter the provision of its memorandum so as to change the place of its registered office from one State to another State for certain purposes referred to in Sec 17(1) of the Act. In addition the following steps will be taken.

Special Resolution

For effecting this change a special resolution must be passed and a copy there of must be filed with the Registrar within thirty days. Special resolution must be passed in a duly convened meeting.

Confirmation by Central Government

The alteration shall not take effect unless the resolution is confirmed by the Central Government.

The Central Government before confirming or refusing to confirm the change will consider primarily the interests of the company and its shareholders and also whether the change is bonafide and not against the public interest. The Central Government may then issue the confirmation order on such terms and conditions as it may think fit.

3. Alteration of the Object Clause

The Company may alter its objects on any of the grounds (I) to (vii) mentioned in Section 17 of the Act.

The alteration shall be effective only after it is approved by special resolution of the members in general meeting with the Companies Amendment Act, 1996, for alteration of the objects clause in Memorandum of Associations sanction of Central Government is dispensed with.

Limits of alteration of the Object Clause

The limits imposed upon the power of alteration are substantive and procedural. Substantive limits are provided by Section 17 which provides that a company may change its objects only in so far as the alteration is necessary for any of the following purposes:

1. To enable the company to carry on its business more economically or more effectively;
2. To enable the company to attain its main purpose by new or improved means;
3. To enlarge or change the local area of the company’s operation;
4. To carry on some business which under existing circumstances may conveniently or advantageously be combined with the business of the company;
5. To restrict or abandon any of the objects specified in the memorandum
6. To sell or dispose of the whole, or any part of the undertaking of the company;
7. To amalgamate with any other company or body of persons. Alterations in the objects is to be confined within the above limits for otherwise alteration in excess of the above limitations shall be void.

A company shall file with the registrar a special resolution within one month from the date of such resolution together with a printed copy of the memorandum as altered. Registrar shall register the same and certify the registration. [Sec. 18].

Effect of non Registration with Registrar 

Any alteration, if not registered shall have no effect. If the documents required to be filed with the Registrar are not filed within one month, such alteration and the order of the Central Government and all proceedings connected therewith shall at the expiry of such period become void and inoperative. The Central Government may, on sufficient cause show, revive the order on application made within a further period of one month [Sec. 19]

4. Alteration of Capital Clause

The procedure for the alteration of share capital and the power to make such alteration are generally provided in the Articles of Association If the procedure and power are not given in the Articles of Associational, the company must change the articles of association by passing a special resolution. If the alteration is authorized by the Articles, the following changes in share capital may take place :

1. Alteration of share capital [Section 94-95]

2. Reduction of capital [Section 100-105]

3. Reserve share capital or reserve liability [Section 99]

4. Variation of the rights of shareholders [Section 106-107]

5. Reorganization of capital [Section 390-391]

5. Alteration of Liability Clause

Ordinarily the liability clause cannot be altered so as to make the liability of members unlimited. Section 38 states that the liability of the members cannot be increased without their consent. It lays down that a member cannot by changing the memorandum or articles, be made to take more shares or to pay more the shares already taken unless he agrees to do so in writing either before or after the change.

A company, if authorized by its Articles, may alter its memorandum to make the liability of its directors or manager unlimited by passing a special resolution. This rule applies to future appointees only. Such alteration will not effect the existing directors and manager unless they have accorded their consent in writing. [Section 323].

Section 32 provides that a company registered as unlimited may register under this Act as a limited company. The registration of an unlimited company as a limited company under this section shall not affect any debts, liabilities, obligations or contracts incurred or entered into by the company before such registration.