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Microlesson · 5-min read

Deemed Prospectus (Sec 25)

# Deemed Prospectus — Section 25

## Concept

A deemed prospectus is a document by which an offer for sale to the public is made — even though the offer is made by someone other than the company (typically an issuing house or intermediary). The law treats this document as if it were a prospectus issued by the company.

## When is an Allotment Treated as a Deemed Public Offer?

Allotment of securities is treated as a public offer if either condition is met:

1. Securities are offered to the public within 6 months of allotment; OR

2. Full consideration for the securities has not been received by the company at the date when the offer to the public is made.

## Contents Required in a Deemed Prospectus

1. All contents required for a prospectus under Sec 26;

2. Net amount of consideration received or to be received by the company;

3. Time and place where the contracts can be inspected.

## Deemed Directors

  • Persons making the offer are named as directors in the deemed prospectus.
  • They are subject to penalties for misstatements in the deemed prospectus.

## Signatory Requirements

EntitySigned By
CompanyAt least 2 directors
FirmAt least half of the partners

## Legal Liabilities

All provisions on:

  • Misstatements,
  • Required contents,
  • Civil and criminal liabilities,

…apply to the deemed prospectus, in addition to the liability of the company offering securities.

## Special Rule — Rights Issue with Renunciation

If a rights issue is made to existing members with the right to renounce and the number of others (renouncees) exceeds 50, it also becomes a deemed prospectus. (SEBI v. Kunnamkulam Paper Mills Ltd.)

## Memory Aid — Two Triggers

Trigger 1: 6-month rule — public offer within 6 months of allotment.

Trigger 2: Money rule — full consideration not yet received at time of public offer.

Worked example

### Example 1

Example 1: A company allots shares to an issuing house on 1st January 2026, and the issuing house offers them to the public on 1st May 2026. Is this a deemed public offer?

Answer: Yes. Since the offer to public is within 6 months of allotment, the document used by the issuing house becomes a deemed prospectus.

### Example 2

Example 2: A rights issue is made to existing members with a right of renunciation. 75 renouncees come in. What is the effect?

Answer: Per SEBI v. Kunnamkulam Paper Mills Ltd., since renouncees exceed 50, the rights issue document is treated as a deemed prospectus.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Forgetting that either of the two triggers (6-month or unpaid-consideration) is enough — they are alternatives, not cumulative.
  • Confusing deemed prospectus with shelf prospectus — completely different concepts.
  • Missing the signatory requirement (2 directors for a company; half partners for a firm).
  • Overlooking the 'more than 50 renouncees' trigger from the Kunnamkulam Paper Mills case.
Bare-Act text Section 25 · Companies Act, 2013 · click to expand
Section 25(1): Where a company allots or agrees to allot any securities of the company with a view to all or any of those securities being offered for sale to the public, any document by which the offer for sale to the public is made shall, for all purposes, be deemed to be a prospectus issued by the company; and all enactments and rules of law as to the contents of prospectus and as to liability in respect of mis-statements, in and omissions from, prospectus, or otherwise relating to prospectus, shall apply.
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