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Restrictions on Sweat Equity Shares

Last updated : April 13th, 2018 01:07 am

Restrictions on Sweat Equity Shares

Sweat equity shares are equity shares issued by a company to its directors or employees at a discount for consideration, other than cash, for providing know-how or making available intellectual property rights like copyright, patent or trademark or other value additions. Sweat equity shares of a company can be issued by passing a special resolution with a detailed explanatory statement. However, all issue of sweat equity shares by a company are subject to the following restrictions:

Restrictions on Recipient

• Sweat equity shares can be issued only to a permanent employee of the company who has been working in India or outside India, for atleast the last one year with the company;
• A director of the company, whether whole-time director or not;
• The person to whom sweat equity shares are being issued must provide significant value addition to the company. Value addition means actual or anticipated economic benefits derived or to be derived by the company from an expert or professional for providing know-how or making available rights in the nature of intellectual property rights.

Restrictions on Issue

• The issue of sweat equity shares must be authorised by a special resolution passed by the company;
• The special resolution authorising issue of sweat equity shares should only be valid for one year from the date of passing of the resolution;
• The rights, limitations, restrictions and provisions applicable to the sweat equity shares holders must also rank pari passu with other equity shareholders.
• Sweat equity shares to be issued must be valued at a price determined by a registered valuer as the fair value giving justification for such valuation.
• The valuation of intellectual property rights or of know-how or value addition for which sweat equity shares are to be issued, must be carried out by a registered valuer, who will also provide a proper report addressed to the Board of Directors with justification for such valuation.

Restrictions Pre & Post Issue

• Sweat equity shares issued to directors or employees should be locked-in and non-transferable for a period of three years from the date of allotment. The lock-in period and expiry of lock-in period must be stamped in bold or mentioned in any other prominent manner on the share certificate.
• A company cannot issue sweat equity shares for more than 15% of the existing paid-up equity share capital in a year or shares of the issue value of Rs.5 crores, whichever is higher.
• The issuance of sweat equity shares in a company can also not exceed 25% of the paid-up equity capital of the company at anytime.
• On issuing sweat equity shares, a register of sweat equity shares must be maintained by the company at its registered office.