Astec LifeSciences Limited has issued an important notice to its shareholders regarding the potential transfer of equity shares to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) due to unclaimed dividends. Shareholders who have not claimed their dividends for seven consecutive years, starting from the financial year 2018-19, are at risk of having their shares transferred.
The company has informed shareholders that, in accordance with Section 124(5) of the Companies Act, 2013, and the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016, unclaimed dividends for a period of seven years must be transferred to the IEPF. Additionally, Section 124(6) mandates that all shares associated with unclaimed dividends for the same period are also subject to transfer to the IEPF.
Astec LifeSciences has completed the dispatch of notices to the affected shareholders as of 20th May 2026. The notice provides details on how shareholders can claim their unclaimed dividends before the deadline of 26th August 2026. Shareholders are urged to contact Bigshare Services Private Limited, the company’s registrar and share transfer agent, to claim their dividends by 7th August 2026.
For those holding shares in physical form, the company will issue duplicate share certificates for transfer to the IEPF, rendering the original certificates non-negotiable. Shareholders with electronic holdings will see their demat accounts debited for the shares transferred to the IEPF.
After the transfer, shareholders can reclaim both their unclaimed dividends and shares by submitting an online application using the e-Form IEPF-5, followed by a physical submission to the company’s nodal officer or Bigshare Services for verification.
Astec LifeSciences has made the details of unclaimed dividends available on its website and encourages shareholders to take immediate action to prevent the compulsory transfer of their shares to the IEPF.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a regulatory filing submitted to the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE).