ON THE BASIS OF INCORPORATION
Statutory companies
These are the companies which are created by a special Act of the legislature e.g. RBI, SBI, LIC, etc. These are mostly concerned with public utilities as railways, tramways, gas and electricity companies and enterprises of national level importance.
Registered companies
These are the companies which are formed and registered under the Companies Act, 1956.
ON THE BASIS OF LIABILITY
1)Companies with limited liability:
LIMITED BY SHARES:
Where the liability of the members of a company is limited to the amount unpaid on the shares, it is known as a company limited by shares. If the shares are fully paid, the liability of the members holding such shares is nil. It may be a public or a private company
LIMITED BY GUARANTEE:
Where the liability of the members of a company is limited to a fixed amount which the members undertake to contribute to the assets of a company in the event of its being wound up, the company is called a company limited by guarantee.
These companies are not formed for the purpose of profit but for the promotion of art, science, charity, sports or for some similar purposes. They may or may not have a share capital.
2) Companies with unlimited liability
Sec 12 specifically provides that any 7 or more persons may form an incorporated company with or without limited liability. In such case every member is liable for the debts of the company.
An unlimited company may or may not have a share capital. If it has a share capital, it may be a public company or a private company. It must have its own Articles of Association
ON THE BASIS OF NUMBER OF MEMBERS
PRIVATE COMPANY
A company which has a minimum paid-up capital of Rs 1,00,000 or such higher paid-up capital as may be prescribed, and by its articles
a.Restricts the right to transfer its shares, if any
b.Limits the number of its members to 50.
c.Prohibits any invitation to the public to subscribe for any shares in, or debentures of, the company
d.Prohibits any invitation or acceptance of deposits from persons other than its members, directors or their relatives.
PUBLIC COMPANY:
A public company means a company which-
(a)has a minimum paid-up capital of Rs. 5 lakh or such higher paid-up capital, as may be prescribed;
(b)is a private company which is a subsidiary of a company which is not a private company;
Every public company, existing on the commencement of the Companies Act, 2000, with a paid-up capital of less than Rs. 5 lakh, within a period of two years from such commencement, enhance its paid-up capital to Rs. 5 lakh.
ON THE BASIS OF CONTROL
Holding companies
A company is known as the holding company of another company if it has the control over that other company. A company is deemed to be the holding company of another if, but only if, that other is its subsidiary.
Subsidiary company
A company is known as a subsidiary of another company when control is exercised by the holding company over the former called a subsidiary company.
ON THE BASIS OF OWNERSHIP
Government company -
A government company means any company in which not less than 51% of the paid-up share capital is held by
a) The central government, or
b) Any state government, or governments, or
c) Partly by the central government and partly by one or more state government.
Foreign company
It means any company incorporated outside India which has an established place of business in India. Where a minimum of 50% of the paid-up share capital of a foreign company is held by one or more citizens of India or/and by one or more bodies corporate incorporated in India, whether singly or jointly, such company shall comply with such provisions as may be prescribed as if it were an Indian company.
Statutory companies
These are the companies which are created by a special Act of the legislature e.g. RBI, SBI, LIC, etc. These are mostly concerned with public utilities as railways, tramways, gas and electricity companies and enterprises of national level importance.
Registered companies
These are the companies which are formed and registered under the Companies Act, 1956.
ON THE BASIS OF LIABILITY
1)Companies with limited liability:
LIMITED BY SHARES:
Where the liability of the members of a company is limited to the amount unpaid on the shares, it is known as a company limited by shares. If the shares are fully paid, the liability of the members holding such shares is nil. It may be a public or a private company
LIMITED BY GUARANTEE:
Where the liability of the members of a company is limited to a fixed amount which the members undertake to contribute to the assets of a company in the event of its being wound up, the company is called a company limited by guarantee.
These companies are not formed for the purpose of profit but for the promotion of art, science, charity, sports or for some similar purposes. They may or may not have a share capital.
2) Companies with unlimited liability
Sec 12 specifically provides that any 7 or more persons may form an incorporated company with or without limited liability. In such case every member is liable for the debts of the company.
An unlimited company may or may not have a share capital. If it has a share capital, it may be a public company or a private company. It must have its own Articles of Association
ON THE BASIS OF NUMBER OF MEMBERS
PRIVATE COMPANY
A company which has a minimum paid-up capital of Rs 1,00,000 or such higher paid-up capital as may be prescribed, and by its articles
a.Restricts the right to transfer its shares, if any
b.Limits the number of its members to 50.
c.Prohibits any invitation to the public to subscribe for any shares in, or debentures of, the company
d.Prohibits any invitation or acceptance of deposits from persons other than its members, directors or their relatives.
PUBLIC COMPANY:
A public company means a company which-
(a)has a minimum paid-up capital of Rs. 5 lakh or such higher paid-up capital, as may be prescribed;
(b)is a private company which is a subsidiary of a company which is not a private company;
Every public company, existing on the commencement of the Companies Act, 2000, with a paid-up capital of less than Rs. 5 lakh, within a period of two years from such commencement, enhance its paid-up capital to Rs. 5 lakh.
ON THE BASIS OF CONTROL
Holding companies
A company is known as the holding company of another company if it has the control over that other company. A company is deemed to be the holding company of another if, but only if, that other is its subsidiary.
Subsidiary company
A company is known as a subsidiary of another company when control is exercised by the holding company over the former called a subsidiary company.
ON THE BASIS OF OWNERSHIP
Government company -
A government company means any company in which not less than 51% of the paid-up share capital is held by
a) The central government, or
b) Any state government, or governments, or
c) Partly by the central government and partly by one or more state government.
Foreign company
It means any company incorporated outside India which has an established place of business in India. Where a minimum of 50% of the paid-up share capital of a foreign company is held by one or more citizens of India or/and by one or more bodies corporate incorporated in India, whether singly or jointly, such company shall comply with such provisions as may be prescribed as if it were an Indian company.