What is the Memorandum of Association?

The Memorandum of Association (MOA) is a legal document that sets out a company's objectives, scope, and constitution. It serves as the foundation charter of a company.

What are the key clauses of MOA?

The main clauses include the Name Clause, Registered Office Clause, Object Clause, Liability Clause, Capital Clause, and Association Clause.

How is MOA different from AOA?

The MOA defines the company's external objectives and scope, while the Articles of Association (AOA) regulate the internal management.

Memorandum of Association

Fri, Jul 04 2025

Shubham Bansal

What is MOA (Memorandum of Association)?

The Memorandum of Association (MOA) is an important legal document required for incorporating a company in India. It defines the company’s constitution, objectives, and scope of activities. The MOA acts as the foundation charter, describing how the company will interact with the outside world.

Key Elements of MOA

A Memorandum of Association typically contains the following clauses:

Name Clause

Specifies the legal name of the company.

Registered Office Clause

Indicates the state where the company’s registered office is situated.

Object Clause

Defines the main business activities and objectives.

Liability Clause

States the liability of members (limited or unlimited).

Capital Clause

Mentions the authorized share capital.

Association Clause

Includes a declaration of intent by subscribers to form the company.

Why is MOA Important?

It serves as the company’s charter document, binding the company to its stated objectives.
It guides investors, creditors, and stakeholders regarding the company’s scope.
Any act beyond the MOA’s objects is considered ultra vires (beyond powers) and void.

Difference from AOA

While the MOA defines the objectives and external relationships, the Articles of Association (AOA) outline the internal management rules of the company.

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