The Companies Act, 2013 regulates the incorporation, responsibilities, governance, and dissolution of companies in the country. Section 233 of the Companies Act, 2013 provides for merger or amalgamation of certain companies (Fast Track Merger) through approval of Central Government [Delegated to Regional Directors].  Section 233(1) of the Companies Act, 2013 allows mergers/demergers between (i) two or more small companies and (ii) holding company and its wholly owned subsidiary.  Section 233 empowers Central Government (MCA) to prescribe, by way of rules, additional classes of companies who can avail such fast track process.

In order to facilitate ease of doing business and allow small companies and start-up companies to avail such fast track procedure, amendment was made in the year 2021 in the Companies (Compromises, Arrangements and Amalgamations) Rules, 2016 (CAA Rules) to extend the scope of fast track process for merger/demergers between (a) two or more start-up companies and (b) one or more start-up company with one or more small company.  Subsequently through amendment made in CAA Rules in September, 2024, merger of a transferor foreign company incorporated outside India being a holding company with the transferee Indian company being its wholly owned subsidiary company incorporated in India (reverse flipping) has also been allowed through fast track merger procedure.

Pursuant to Para 101 of the Budget Speech (2025-2026), it was decided to further enhance the scope of such mergers. For this purpose, the CAA Rules have been amended on 4^th September, 2025 after holding stakeholders consultations. Through this amendment mergers/demergers in respect of following additional classes of companies have been included in rule 25 of such rules for availing the fast track merger/demerger procedure:-

(a) Two or more unlisted companies (other than section 8 companies) which meet prescribed thresholds of outstanding loans, debentures or deposits; 

(b) Holding company and subsidiary companies excluding cases where transferor company is a listed company;

(c) Two or more subsidiaries of the same holding company excluding cases where transferor company is a listed company.

The relevant amendment notification (Gazette Notification no. G.S.R 603 (E) dated 04.09.2025)

Fast track merger eligibility expanded to include additional unlisted and intra group company consolidations under eased procedural rules. The CAA Rules amendment expands the fast track merger route to permit mergers/demergers among: two or more unlisted companies (excluding section 8 companies) meeting prescribed thresholds for outstanding loans, debentures or deposits; holding company and its subsidiary companies except where the transferor is a listed company; and two or more subsidiaries of the same holding company, likewise excluding cases with a listed transferor.