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Microlesson · 5-min read

Declaration of Beneficial Interest in Shares

# Beneficial Interest in Shares [Section 89]

## Concept

Beneficial interest in a share includes (directly or indirectly) a person's right or entitlement to:

  • Exercise rights attached to such shares, or
  • Receive dividend or other distribution from such shares.

In other words, the registered owner may not always be the beneficial owner — the person actually entitled to economic benefits.

## Three Declarations Required

By WhomFormTriggerTime Limit
Registered owner (whose name is in register but who is NOT beneficial owner)MGT-4Entry of his name in registerWithin 30 days of entry
Person acquiring beneficial interest (true owner)MGT-5Acquisition of beneficial interestWithin 30 days of acquisition
Either, in case of change in beneficial interestChange in beneficial interestWithin 30 days of change

## Company's Obligation

  • Company shall note the declaration in its concerned register.
  • Company shall file return of declaration in Form MGT-6 with ROC within 30 days of receipt of declaration.

## Designated Person

  • Company shall designate a person — Company Secretary, KMP (other than CS), or every director (if no CS/KMP) — to furnish information of beneficial interest to ROC.
  • Details of designated person are to be reported in Annual Return.
  • Any change in designated person must be intimated to ROC.

## Consequence of Non-Declaration by Beneficial Owner

Rights attaching to such shares shall not be enforceable by any person.

## Penalties

DefaulterPenalty
Person failing to make declaration₹50,000 + ₹200/day after first day of default (max ₹5 lakhs)
Company failing to file return₹1,000/day during failure (max ₹5 lakhs for company; ₹2 lakhs for officer in default)

## Important Notes

  • Company's obligation to pay dividend to members is not affected in any case.
  • Section is not applicable to Government Company (if no default u/s 92 & 137) and any other person exempted by CG.

Worked example

### Example 1

Example 1: Mr. A is registered as a shareholder of 5,000 shares of XYZ Ltd, but the actual beneficial owner is Mr. B. What declarations are required?

Answer:

  • Mr. A (registered owner) must file Form MGT-4 with the company within 30 days of his name being entered in the register.
  • Mr. B (beneficial owner) must file Form MGT-5 with the company within 30 days of acquiring the beneficial interest.
  • XYZ Ltd must file Form MGT-6 with ROC within 30 days of receiving these declarations.

### Example 2

Example 2: A beneficial owner failed to file declaration. Can he later enforce voting rights on the shares?

Answer: No. If declaration is not made by the beneficial owner, rights on such shares shall NOT be enforceable by any person.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Confusing the three forms — MGT-4 (registered owner), MGT-5 (beneficial owner), MGT-6 (company's return to ROC).
  • Forgetting that all three declarations have the same 30-day window.
  • Assuming dividend obligation is suspended on non-declaration — it is NOT; only enforceability of rights is suspended.
  • Confusing Section 89 (beneficial interest declaration) with Section 90 (Significant Beneficial Owner — SBO).
Bare-Act text Section 89 · Companies Act, 2013 · click to expand
Where the name of a person is entered in the register of members as the holder of shares in a company but who does not hold the beneficial interest in such shares, such person shall make a declaration to the company specifying the name and other particulars of the person who holds the beneficial interest in such shares.
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