Section 71:
Debentures
(1) A company may issue debentures with an option to convert such debentures
into shares, either wholly or partly at the time of redemption:
Provided that the issue of debentures with an option to convert such debentures into shares, wholly or
partly, shall be approved by a special resolution passed at a general meeting.
(2) No company shall issue any debentures carrying any voting rights.
(3) Secured debentures may be issued by a company subject to such terms and conditions as may be
prescribed.
(4) Where debentures are issued by a company under this section, the company shall create a
debenture redemption reserve account out of the profits of the company available for payment of dividend
and the amount credited to such account shall not be utilised by the company except for the redemption of
debentures.
(5) No company shall issue a prospectus or make an offer or invitation to the public or to its
members exceeding five hundred for the subscription of its debentures, unless the company has, before
such issue or offer, appointed one or more debenture trustees and the conditions governing the
appointment of such trustees shall be such as may be prescribed.
(6) A debenture trustee shall take steps to protect the interests of the debenture-holders and redress
their grievances in accordance with such rules as may be prescribed.
(7) Any provision contained in a trust deed for securing the issue of debentures, or in any contract
with the debenture-holders secured by a trust deed, shall be void in so far as it would have the effect of
exempting a trustee thereof from, or indemnifying him against, any liability for breach of trust, where he
fails to show the degree of care and due diligence required of him as a trustee, having regard to the
provisions of the trust deed conferring on him any power, authority or discretion:
Provided that the liability of the debenture trustee shall be subject to such exemptions as may be
agreed upon by a majority of debenture-holders holding not less than three-fourths in value of the total
debentures at a meeting held for the purpose.
(8) A company shall pay interest and redeem the debentures in accordance with the terms and
conditions of their issue.
(9) Where at any time the debenture trustee comes to a conclusion that the assets of the company are
insufficient or are likely to become in sufficient to discharge the principal amount as and when it becomes
due, the debenture trustee may file a petition before the Tribunal and the Tribunal may, after hearing the
company and any other person interested in the matter, by order, impose such restrictions on the incurring
of any further liabilities by the company as the Tribunal may consider necessary in the interests of the
debenture-holders.
(10) Where a company fails to redeem the debentures on the date of their maturity or fails to pay
interest on the debentures when it is due, the Tribunal may, on the application of any or all of the
debenture-holders, or debenture trustee and, after hearing the parties concerned, direct, by order, the
company to redeem the debentures forth with on payment of principal and interest due thereon.
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(12) A contract with the company to take up and pay for any debentures of the company may be
enforced by a decree for specific performance.
(13) The Central Government may prescribe the procedure, for securing the issue of debentures, the
form of debenture trust deed, the procedure for the debenture-holders to inspect the trust deed and to
obtain copies thereof, quantum of debenture redemption reserve required to be created and such other
matters.
Notes:
1. Sub-section (11) omitted by Act 29 of 2020, s. 15 (w.e.f. 21-12-2020).