Top 5 Companies in IEPF with Highest Unclaimed Shares

 

Top 5 Companies in IEPF with Highest Unclaimed Shares (2025 Updated Guide)

The Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) has accumulated crores worth of unclaimed shares over the past decade. These unclaimed assets belong to investors who may have forgotten their holdings, ignored dividend updates, changed addresses, or lost physical share certificates. As a result, many well-known companies now have huge volumes of shares and dividends transferred to the IEPF Authority.

In this updated 2025 guide, we explore the Top 5 companies with the highest unclaimed shares in IEPF, helping investors understand where most dormant investments lie and why timely action is crucial.


1. Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)

Reliance continues to hold one of the highest volumes of unclaimed shares in the IEPF. With millions of investors across India, many shareholders have old physical certificates or outdated KYC details. Multiple corporate actions—bonus issues, split shares, and dividend payouts—have further added to the confusion for long-term investors. As a result, thousands of folios are still pending IEPF claim recovery.


2. Tata Steel

Tata Steel is another major company with a significant number of unclaimed shares transferred to IEPF. Many accounts were abandoned due to relocation of shareholders, unlinked bank accounts, or missing dividend intimation. The company frequently reports high volumes of unclaimed dividends and shares that move to IEPF after the mandatory 7-year period. Many cases involve inherited shares where family members were unaware of the investment.


3. ITC Limited

ITC, with its large and diverse investor base, has seen a steady rise in unclaimed dividends and shares over the years. Since ITC has consistently declared dividends, even a single missed dividend can eventually result in the shares being transferred to IEPF. Most investors lose access due to outdated signature records, old physical share certificates, or non-updated KYC details. This makes ITC one of the top contributors to unclaimed holdings in IEPF.


4. Larsen & Toubro (L&T)

L&T, one of India’s largest engineering conglomerates, has a high number of unclaimed shares due to past mergers, acquisitions, and corporate restructuring. Many investors who purchased shares decades ago have lost track of their certificates or failed to update their demat details. The company’s annual report consistently highlights a large volume of unclaimed dividends eventually transferred to the IEPF Authority.


5. Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)

HUL is a household name, yet thousands of investors have unclaimed shares sitting with the IEPF. The primary reasons include non-transfer of old physical shares, mismatched signatures, and lack of awareness about changes in corporate communication methods. Since HUL frequently issues dividends, even minor negligence can result in seven consecutive unclaimed dividends leading to IEPF transfer.


Why These Companies Top the List?

  • Large and old shareholder base

  • High dividend frequency

  • Multiple corporate actions over the years

  • Investors unaware of legacy physical certificates

  • Failure to update PAN, bank, or demat details


Conclusion

The companies listed above account for some of the highest unclaimed shares in IEPF, showcasing how easily investors can lose track of long-term investments. If you or your family members have ever invested in these popular companies, it is wise to verify your holdings and start the IEPF recovery process immediately.

With proper documentation and timely filing of IEPF Form-5, investors can reclaim their rightful shares and dividends. For hassle-free assistance, services like Care4Share help make IEPF recovery smooth, quick, and accurate.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Smart Money Habits in Your 20s, 30s, and 40s | Ultimate Financial Planning Guide

How to Reclaim Unclaimed Dividends from Multiple Companies

Top10 Benefits of EPF for salaried employees - supporting page