Audit of a Share Capital.
A private limited company has two types of share capital:
• Equity share capital
• Preference share capital
EQUITY SHARE CAPITAL
This type of share capital is that part of capital that is not a preferential. In other words it is the basic kind of capital or an ordinary share capital.
PREFERENTAL SHARE CAPITAL
This part of capital has the following characteristics:
• It carries a preferential right as to the payment of dividend over other type of capital.
• It carries the preferential right as to payment of capital in case of winding up or repayment of capital over the over the other type of capital.
SPECIAL POINTS IN AUDIT OF SHARE CAPITAL
In case of share capital issued by the company following points merit consideration of the auditor:
• Authorization of the issue – Auditor should check the minutes of the meeting of the board of directors to check the authorization of the terms of the terms of the issue of share capital.
• Vouching share applications – Auditor should test check the share application forms and vouches their respective entries in the cashbook.
• Legal requirement – It should be checked that the legal requirements as laid down by the companies act, sebi and other regulatory bodies are met.
• Compilation requirements – Auditor should check that various compilation requirement of various statements with the registrar of companies are met with.
• While doing the audit of share capital auditor should vouch the following carefully
o Memorandum of association
o Articles of association
o Minutes of the directors meetings
o Prospectus
o Share application form
o Letters of allotment
o Letters of refund
o Share registers
o Cashbook
o Ledger accounts.
ISSUE OF SHARES AT A PREMIUM
When a company issues its share at a premium, auditor should take care of the following points:
• He should check the prospectus
• He should check the articles of association
• He should check the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors.
• All the above should authorize the issue of shares at a premium.
• The receipt of premium should be vouched with the respective entries in the books of accounts
• It should be vouched that the share premium account should be used for the authorized purposes only.