Handbook on Investments, Loans, Guarantees, Securities, Deposits, Debentures and Preference Shares under Companies Act, 2013 – 2026 Edition by Dr. K R Chandratre, updated by CS Gaurav Pingle

This book consists of law and comprehensive commentary on the topics relating to Investments, Loans, Guarantees, Securities, Deposits, Debentures and Preference Shares under the Companies Act, 2013 and the Rules made thereunder. The idea behind this handbook is that all relevant topics having common themes and significant practical importance and which fall under the broad head of investments, loans and borrowings, should be put together in one single book setting out legal and procedural framework. Along with the comprehensive commentary on the said topics, there is reference to several important Indian and English case laws, the emphasis being on the interpretative aspects of the said provisions.

For the topics relating to loans, guarantees and securities, the book provides for relevant provisions of the Contract Act, 1872 along with important and relevant case laws. This will help the readers (professionals or students) in better understanding of the concepts under the Companies Act. CS Dr. K. R. Chandratre (Past President, ICSI) has written the original manuscript of this book and this book has been a great value addition to the corporates and professionals. The topics covered in the book are relevant for each and every company in India, whether listed or unlisted, private or public and irrespective of the size of the operations of the company.

In this edition, there is a reference to few important case laws under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. There are several provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code which have direct or indirect references to the provisions of the Companies Act, example – status of preference shareholder – whether shareholder or financial debtor, whether compulsory convertible debentures or preference shares is financial debt or investment in the company, whether share application money pending allotment amounts to financial debt or not, etc. On these issues, there are several judgments of the Supreme Court, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) and National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) which will help the readers in the understanding the interplay to the certain provisions of the Companies Act and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

In this edition, there is also a reference to few important and relevant SEBI Regulations i.e. SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2018 and SEBI (Issue and Listing of Non-Convertible Securities) Regulations, 2021. In these Regulations, there is reference to issue of convertible securities, non-convertible redeemable preference shares, non-convertible debt securities in different kinds of issues i.e. initial public offer, further public offer, private placement/preferential issue, rights issue, qualified institutional placements. In the Chapter relating to Debentures, there is a reference to the certain important provisions relating to SEBI (Debenture Trustees) Regulations, 1993 along with recent amendments in October 2025. In the book, there is also discussion on the social bonds, sustainability bonds and sustainability-linked bonds, which together with green debt securities, are termed Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Debt Securities.

There is also a reference to exemptions granted by the MCA to private companies, Nidhi companies, companies incorporated under section 8 of the Companies Act, etc. This will help the professionals in identifying the applicability of the said provisions and ensure its application in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act and the Rules. For certain complex issues, there is a reference and analysis of the relevant MCA Circulars/Department of Company Affairs (DCA) Circulars.