Equity shares with differential voting rights (DVRs) are the kind of shares issued by a company that offers shareholders varying levels of the voting power. This means that some shareholders have more voting power than others and this can significantly impact the control and decision-making capabilities of the company.
Shares issued with differential rights shall not exceed 74% of the total voting power, including voting power in respect of equity shares with differential rights issued at any point of time.
| 2 min read. The shares with Differential Voting Rights (DVRs) in a company means those shares that give the holder of the shares the differential rights related to voting, i.e. either more voting rights or less voting rights compared to the ordinary shareholders of the company.
The company/startup should pass an Ordinary Resolution for the issuance of DVRs in the General Meeting of the shareholders. The voting power of DVRs equity shares should not exceed 74% of the total voting powers. There should be no default in filing the annual returns by the startups for the past three financial years.
Example scenario A Tata Motor DVR has 10% voting rights compared to an ordinary Tata Motor share. (1 voting right per share.) (1 voting right for every 10 shares held.)
Disadvantages Of DVR Shares are as follows: Lower voting rights, reducing influence in company decisions. Potentially less liquid, making them harder to sell. May be viewed as less attractive to certain investors who value voting power.
A company may issue equity shares which carry rights only with respect to dividend and do not carry any voting rights. Superior voting right means any right that gives the shareholder more than one vote per share.
Issue of Prospectus, Receiving Applications, Allotment of Shares are three basic steps of the procedure of issuing the shares. The process of creating new shares is known as Allocation or allotment.