Question

Explain in brief the main categories in which the share capital of a company is divided.

Answer 1

The division of the share capital of a company into main categories is diagrammatically explained below.

1. Authorised Capital: It is an amount which is stated in the Memorandum of Association. It is the maximum amount that the company can raise by issuing shares. This maximum amount can be increased as per the procedures laid down in the Company Act.

2. Issued Capital: It is a part of authorised capital which is offered by the company to the general public for subscription. For example, if the authorised capital of a company is Rs 1,00,000 divided into Rs 10 per share, then the issued capital cannot be more than Rs 1,00,000.

3. Unissued Capital: It is a part of authorised capital that is not offered till now but can be offered to the general public in future. In the above example, if the issued capital is Rs 80,000, then the unissued capital is Rs 20,000.

4. Subscribed Capital: It is a part of issued capital that is actually subscribed by the general public. For example, if the company has issued 8,000 shares of Rs 10 per share and public has subscribed for 7,500 shares, then the subscribed share capital of the company amounts to Rs 75,000.

5. Unsubscribed Capital: It is that part of the issued capital that is not subscribed by the public. For example, in the above example, 500 shares were left unsubscribed, making an unsubscribed share capital of Rs 5,000.

6. Called up Capital: It is a part of subscribed capital that is called up by the Directors from the shareholders of a company to pay. For example, if the Directors call up Rs 6 out of Rs 10 (i.e. the face value of the share) from the shareholders of 10,000 to pay, then Rs 60,000 is regarded as called up share capital.

7. Uncalled up Capital: It is that part of subscribed capital which is not called up till now but can be called up in future as per the need of the company. For example, in the above example, Rs 4 were left uncalled from shareholders holding 10,000 shares, so Rs 40,000 is uncalled up share capital.

8. Paid up capital: It is that part of called up share capital which is actually received from the shareholders. If the entire called up money of Rs 4 on 1,000 shares has been received except from a shareholder holding 300 shares, then the paid up share capital is Rs 2,800 (Rs 4,000 − Rs 1,200). The amount of Rs 1,200 is called Call in Arrears that has been called up but is unpaid.

9. Reserved Capital: As per the Section 99 of the Company Act of 1956, a limited company may call up any portion of uncalled share capital in the event of winding up of the company to pay its creditors. This amount of uncalled share capital cannot be used for any other purpose and is reserved for paying back the creditors, that is why, such portion of share capital is called reserve capital.