Top 5 Companies in IEPF with Highest Unclaimed Shares

 

Top 5 Companies in IEPF with Highest Unclaimed Shares

The Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) in India protects dividends and shares that go unclaimed.  When investors fail to claim dividends for seven consecutive years, the related shares are transferred to the IEPF’s demat account as per Section 124(6) of the Companies Act, 2013. While the goal is to protect investor wealth, the volume of unclaimed shares with certain companies is surprisingly high.


In this blog, we explore the Top 5 companies in IEPF with the largest value of unclaimed shares and understand why these cases happen.


1. Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)

Reliance Industries tops the list in several IEPF reports due to its long-standing shareholder base and decades of dividend history. Many small shareholders from the 1980s and 1990s lost touch with their holdings due to relocation, outdated contact details, or physical share certificate issues. With thousands of crores in market value now parked under IEPF, RIL is a prime example of how legacy investments can slip into dormancy.


2. ITC Limited

The ITC's investor base is multigenerational and diverse. A significant number of unclaimed shares result from old family holdings where succession formalities were never completed. Since ITC has been consistently paying dividends, even small unclaimed amounts snowball into large figures over time. The company publishes an updated list of unclaimed dividends on its website, as required by MCA guidelines.


3. Tata Steel Limited

The shareholder records of Tata Steel, one of the the oldest listed companies in India, go back more than a century. Many dormant accounts stem from historical paper-based shareholding and corporate restructuring over the decades. As shares appreciate in value, their transfer to IEPF often surprises heirs who were unaware of their existence. Tata Steel works closely with IEPF to assist claimants in recovering their rightful holdings.


4. Infosys Limited

Infosys, a pioneer in India’s IT revolution, also sees a notable number of unclaimed shares in IEPF. Often, employees who received ESOPs or early investors in the 1990s did not dematerialize their shares or update bank details after moving abroad. This highlights the importance of keeping shareholder information updated, especially for globally mobile investors.


5. Larsen & Toubro (L&T)

L&T’s diverse business portfolio attracts a wide spectrum of investors, from institutional to small retail shareholders. Over time, many dormant holdings — especially from the engineering workforce who received shares decades ago — have made their way into IEPF. The company actively publishes investor notices in newspapers to minimize future transfers.


Why So Many Shares End Up in IEPF

Failure to update address or bank details


Death of shareholder without nomination


Lost or damaged share certificates


Lack of awareness about dividend timelines


Final Thoughts

The Top 5 companies in IEPF remind us that even reputable, long-standing companies are not immune to unclaimed share issues. Investors should proactively monitor their holdings, update personal information, and check the IEPF portal regularly. By staying vigilant, you can ensure your investments never join the growing list of unclaimed assets.

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