The Companies Acts 1985 to 1989
Table A
Regulations for the Management of a Company Limited by Shares
As amended by the Companies Act 1985 (Electronic Communications) Order 2000.
Regulations for the Management of a Company Limited by Shares
(As prescribed by the Companies (Tables A to F) Regulations 1985 as amended
by the Companies (Tables A to F) (Amendment) Regulations 1985) and the Companies
Act 1985 (Electronic Communications) Order 2000.
Interpretation
1. In these regulations-
"the Act" means the Companies Act 1985 including any statutory modification
or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force.
"the articles" means the articles of the company.
"clear days" in relation to the period of a notice means that period
excluding the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given and the day
for which it is given or on which it is to take effect.
"communication" means the same as in the Electronic Communications
Act 2000,
"electronic communication" means the same as in the Electronic Communications
Act 2000".
"executed" includes any mode of execution.
"office" means the registered office of the company.
"the holder" in relation to shares means the member whose name is
entered in the register of members as the holder of the shares.
"the seal" means the common seal of the company.
"secretary" means the secretary of the company or any other person
appointed to perform the duties of the secretary of the company, including a
joint, assistant or deputy secretary.
"the United Kingdom" means Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Unless the context otherwise requires, words or expressions contained in these
regulations bear the same meaning as in the Act but excluding any statutory
modification thereof not in force when these regulations become binding on the
company.
Share capital
2. Subject to the provisions of the Act and without prejudice to any rights
attached to any existing shares, any share may be issued with such rights or
restrictions as the company may by ordinary resolution determine.
3. Subject to the provisions of the Act, shares may be issued which are to be
redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the company or the holder
on such terms and in such manner as may be provided by the articles.
4. The company may exercise the powers of paying commissions conferred by the
Act. Subject to the provisions of the Act, any such commission may be satisfied
by the payment of cash or by the allotment of fully or partly paid shares or
partly in one way and partly in the other.
5. Except as required by law, no person shall be recognised by the company as
holding any share upon any trust and (except as otherwise provided by the articles
or by law) the company shall not be bound by or recognise any interest in any
share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder.
Share certificates
6. Every member, upon becoming the holder of any shares, shall be entitled without
payment to one certificate for all the shares of each class held by him (and,
upon transferring a part of his holding of shares in any class, to a certificate
for the balance of such holding) or several certificates each for one or more
of his shares upon payment for every certificate after the first of such reasonable
sum as the directors may determine. Every certificate shall be sealed with the
seal and shall specify the number, class and distinguishing numbers (if any)
of the shares to which it relates and the amount or respective amounts paid
up thereon. The company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate
for shares held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate to
one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them.
7. If a share certificate is defaced, worn-out, lost or destroyed, it may be
renewed on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and payment of the
expenses reasonably incurred by the company in investigating evidence as the
directors may determine but otherwise free of charge, and (in the case of defacement
or wearing out) on delivery up of the old certificate.
Lien
8. The company shall have a first and paramount lien on every share (not being
a fully paid share) for all moneys (whether presently payable or not) payable
at a fixed time or called in respect of that share. The directors may at any
time declare any share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of
this regulation. The company's lien on a share shall extend to any amount payable
in respect of it.
9. The company may sell in such manner as the directors determine any shares
on which the company has a lien if a sum in respect of which the lien exists
is presently payable and is not paid within fourteen clear days after notice
has been given to the holder of the share or to the person entitled to it in
consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder, demanding payment and
stating that if the notice is not complied with the shares may be sold.
10. To give effect to a sale the directors may authorise some person to execute
an instrument of transfer of the shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions
of, the purchaser. The title of the transferee of the shares shall not be affected
by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings in reference to the
sale.
11. The net proceeds of the sale, after payment of the costs, shall be applied
in payment of so much of the sum for which the lien exists as is presently payable,
and any residue shall (upon surrender to the company for cancellation of the
certificate for the shares sold and subject to a like lien for any moneys not
presently payable as existed upon the shares before the sale) be paid to the
person entitled to the shares at the date of sale.
Calls on shares and forfeiture
12. Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make calls upon the
members in respect of any moneys unpaid on their shares (whether in respect
of nominal value or premium) and each member shall (subject to receiving at
least fourteen clear days' notice specifying when and where payment is to be
made) pay to the company as required by the notice the amount called on his
shares. A call may be required to be paid by instalments. A call may, before
receipt by the company of any sum due thereunder, be revoked in whole or in
part and payment of a call may be postponed in whole or part. A person upon
whom a call is made shall remain liable for calls made upon him notwithstanding
the subsequent transfer of the shares in respect whereof the call was made.
13. A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution
of the directors authorising the call was made.
14. The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay
all calls in respect thereof.
15. If a call remains unpaid after it becomes due and payable the person from
whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the
day it became due and payable until it is paid at the rate fixed by the terms
of allotment of the share or in the notice of the call or, if no rate is fixed,
at the appropriate rate (as defined by the Act) but the directors may waive
payment of the interest wholly or in part.
16. An amount payable in respect of a share on allotment or at any fixed date,
whether in respect of nominal value or premium or as an instalment or call,
shall be deemed to be a call and if it is not paid the provisions of the articles
shall apply as if that amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call.
17. Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make arrangement on
the issue of shares for a difference between the holders in the amounts and
times of payment of calls on their shares.
18. If a call remains after it has become due and payable the directors may
give to the person from whom it is due not less than fourteen clear days' notice
requiring payment of the amount unpaid together with any interest which may
have accrued. The notice shall name the place where payment is to be made and
shall state that if the notice is not complied with the share sin respect of
which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited.
19. If the notice is not complied with any share in respect of which it was
given may, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited
by a resolution of the directors and the forfeiture shall include all dividends
or other moneys payable in respect of the forfeited shares and not paid before
the forfeiture.
20. Subject to the provisions of the Act, a forfeited share may be sold, re-allotted
or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the directors determine
either to the person who was before the forfeiture the holder or to any other
person and at any time before sale, re-allotment or other disposition, the forfeiture
may be cancelled on such terms as the directors think fit. Where for the purposes
of its disposal a forfeited share is to be transferred to any person the directors
may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the share
to that person.
21. A person any of whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a member
in respect of them and shall surrender to the company for cancellation the certificate
for the shares forfeited but shall remain liable to the company for all moneys
which at the date of forfeiture were presently payable by him to the company
in respect of those shares with interest at the rate at which interest was payable
on those moneys before the forfeiture or, if no interest was so payable, at
the appropriate rate (as defined in the Act) from the date of forfeiture until
payment but the directors may waive payment wholly or in part or enforce payment
without any allowance for the value of the shares at the time of forfeiture
or for any consideration received on their disposal.
22. A statutory declaration by a director or the secretary that a share has
been forfeited on a specified date shall be conclusive evidence of the facts
stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the share and
the declaration shall (subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer
if necessary) constitute a good title to the share and the person to whom the
share is disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration,
if any, nor shall his title to the share be affected by any irregularity in
or invalidity of the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture or disposal
of the share.
Transfer of shares
23. The instrument of transfer of a share may be in any usual form or in any
other form which the directors may approve and shall be executed by or on behalf
of the transferor and, unless the share is fully paid, by or on behalf of the
transferee.
24. The directors may refuse to register the transfer of a share which is not
fully paid to a person of whom they do not approve and they may refuse to register
the transfer of a share on which the company has a lien. They may also refuse
to register a transfer unless -
(a) it is lodged at the office or at such other place as the directors may appoint
and is accompanied by the certificate for the shares to which it relates and
such other evidence as the directors may reasonably require to show the right
of the transferor to make the transfer;
(b) it is in respect of only one class of shares; and
(c) it is in favour of not more than four transferees.
25. If the directors refuse to register the transfer of a share , they shall
within two months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the company
send to the transferee notice of the refusal.
26. The registration of transfers of shares or of transfers of any class of
shares may be suspended at such times and for such periods (not exceeding thirty
days in any year) as the directors may determine.
27. No fee shall be charged for the registration of any instrument of transfer
or other document relating to or affecting the title to any share.
28. The company shall be entitled to retain any instrument of transfer which
is registered, but any instrument of transfer which the directors refuse to
register shall be returned to the person lodging it when notice of the refusal
is given.
Transmission of shares
29. If a member dies the survivor or survivors where he was a joint holder,
and his personal representatives where he was a sole holder or the only survivor
of joint holders, shall be the only persons recognised by the company as having
any title to his interest; but nothing herein contained shall release the estate
of a deceased member from any liability in respect of any share which had been
jointly held by him.
30. A person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy
of a member may, upon such evidence being produced as the directors may properly
require, elect either to become the holder of the share or to have some person
nominated by him registered as the transferee. If he elects to become the holder
he shall give notice to the company to that effect. If he elects to have another
person registered he shall execute an instrument of transfer of the share to
that person. All the articles relating to the transfer of shares shall apply
to the notice or instrument of transfer as if it were an instrument of transfer
executed by the member and the death or bankruptcy of the member had not occurred.
31. A person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy
of a member shall have the rights to which he would be entitled if he were the
holder of the share, except that he shall not, before being registered as the
holder of the share, be entitled in respect of it to attend or vote at any meeting
of the company or at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of shares
in the company.
Alteration of share capital
32. The company may by ordinary resolution -
(a) increase its share capital by new shares of such amount as the resolution
prescribes;
(b) consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of larger
amount than its existing shares;
(c) subject to the provisions of the Act, sub-divide its shares, or any of them,
into shares of smaller amount and the resolution may determine that, as between
the shares resulting from the sub-division, any of them may have any preference
or advantage as compared with the other; and
(d) cancel shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have
not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of
its share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled.
33. Whenever as a result of a consolidation of shares any members would become
entitled to fractions of a share, the directors may, on behalf of those members,
sell the shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable
to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Act, the company)
and distribute the net proceeds of sale in due proportion among those members,
and the directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer
of the shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The
transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money
nor shall his title to the shares be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity
of the proceedings in reference to the sale.
34. Subject to the provisions of the Act, the company may by special resolution
reduce its share capital, any capital redemption reserve and any share premium
account in any way.
Purchase of own shares
35. Subject to the provisions of the Act, the company may purchase its own shares
(including any redeemable shares) and, if it is a private company, make a payment
in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own shares otherwise than out
of distributable profits of the company or the proceeds of a fresh issue of
shares.
General meetings
36. All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called
extraordinary general meetings.
37. The directors may call general meetings and, on the requisition of members
pursuant to the provisions of the Act, shall forthwith proceed to convene an
extraordinary general meeting for a date not later than eight weeks after receipt
of the requisition. If there are not within the United Kingdom sufficient directors
to call a general meeting, any director or any member of the company may call
a general meeting.
Notice of general meetings
38. An annual general meeting and an extraordinary general meeting called for
the passing of a special resolution or a resolution appointing a person as a
director shall be called by at least twenty-one clear days' notice. All other
extraordinary general meetings shall be called by at least fourteen clear days'
notice but a general meeting may be called by shorter notice if it is so agreed
-
(a) in the case of an annual general meeting, by all the members who are entitled
to attend and vote thereat; and
(b) in the case of any other meeting by a majority in number of the members
having a right to attend and vote being a majority together holding not less
than ninety-five per cent. in nominal value of the shares giving that right.
The notice shall specify the time and place of the meeting and the general nature
of the business to be transacted and, in the case of an annual general meeting,
shall specify the meeting as such.
Subject to the provisions of the articles and to any restrictions imposed on
any shares, the notice shall be given to all the members, to all persons entitled
to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member and to the
directors and auditors.
39. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non-receipt
of notice of a meeting by, any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate
the proceedings at that meeting.
Proceedings at general meetings
40. No business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present.
Two persons entitled to vote upon the business to be transacted, each being
a member or a proxy for a member or a duly authorised representative of a corporation,
shall be a quorum.
41. If such a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed
for the meeting, or if during a meeting such a quorum ceases to be present,
the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same
time and place or to such time and place as the directors may determine.
42. The chairman, if any, of the board of directors or in his absence some other
director nominated by the directors shall preside as chairman of the meeting,
but if neither the chairman nor such other director (if any) be present within
fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting and willing
to act, the directors present shall elect one of their number to be chairman
and, if there is only one director present and willing to act, he shall be chairman.
43. If no director is willing to act as chairman, or if no director is present
within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the
members present and entitled to vote
shall choose one of their number to be chairman.
44. A director shall, notwithstanding that he is not a member, be entitled to
attend and speak at any general meeting and at any separate meeting of the holders
of any class of shares in the company.
45. The chairman may, with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present
(and shall if so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to
time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at an adjourned
meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the
meeting had the adjournment not taken place. When a meeting is adjourned for
fourteen days or more, at least seven clear days' notice shall be given specifying
the time and place of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business
to be transacted. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice.
46. A resolution put to the vote of meeting shall be decided on a show of hands
unless before, or on the declaration of the result of, the show of hands a poll
is duly demanded -
(a) by the chairman; or
(b) by at least two members having the right to vote at the meeting; or
(c) by a member or members representing not less than one-tenth of the total
voting rights of all the members having the right to vote at the meeting; or
(d) by a member or members holding shares conferring a right to vote at the
meeting being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not
less than one-tenth of the total sum paid up on all the shares conferring that
right;
and a demand by a person as proxy for a member shall be the same as a demand
by the member.
47. Unless a poll is duly demanded a declaration by the chairman that a resolution
has been carried or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost,
or not carried by a particular majority and an entry to that effect in the minutes
of the meeting shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the
number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.
48. The demand for a poll may, before the poll is taken, be withdrawn but only
with the consent of the chairman and a demand so withdrawn shall not be taken
to have invalidated the result of a show of hands declared before the demand
was made.
49. A poll shall be taken as the chairman directs and he may appoint scrutineers
(who need not be members) and fix a time and place for declaring the result
of the poll. The result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of
the meeting at which the poll was demanded.
50. In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a
poll, the chairman shall be entitled to a casting vote in addition to any other
vote he may have.
51. A poll demanded on the election of a chairman or on a question of adjournment
shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken
either forthwith or at such time and place as the chairman directs not being
more than thirty days after the poll is demanded. if a poll is demanded before
the declaration of the result of a show of hands and the demand is duly withdrawn,
the meeting shall continue as if the demand had not been made.
52. No notice need be given of a poll not taken forthwith if the time and place
at which it is to be taken are announced at the meeting at which it is demanded.
in any other case at least seven clear days' notice shall be given specifying
the time and place at which the poll is to be taken.
53. A resolution in writing executed by or on behalf of each member who would
have been entitled to vote upon it if it had been proposed at a general meeting
at which he was present shall be as effectual as if it had been passed at a
general meeting duly convened and held and may consist of several instruments
in the like form each executed by or on behalf of one or more members.
Votes of members
54. Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any shares, on a show
of hands every member who (being an individual) is present in person or (being
a corporation) is present by a duly authorised representative, not being himself
entitled to vote, shall have one vote and on a poll every member shall have
one vote for every share of which he is the holder.
55. In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior who tenders a vote,
whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes
of the other joint holders; and seniority shall be determined by the order in
which the names of the holders stand in the register of members.
56. A member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction
whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder
may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his receiver, curator
bonis or other person authorised in that behalf appointed by that court, and
any such receiver, curator bonis or other person may, on a poll, vote by proxy.
Evidence to the satisfaction of the directors of the authority of the person
claiming to exercise the right to vote shall be deposited at the office, or
at such other place as is specified in accordance with the articles for the
deposit of instruments of proxy, not less than forty-eight hours before the
time appointed for holding the meeting at which the right to vote is to be exercised
and in default the right to vote shall not be exercised.
57. No member shall vote at any general meeting or at any separate meeting of
the holders of any class of shares in the company, either in person or by proxy,
in respect of any share held by him unless all moneys presently payable by him
in respect of that share have been paid.
58. No objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter except at
the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is tendered,
and every vote not disallowed at the meeting shall be valid. Any objection made
in due time shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final
and conclusive.
59. On a poll votes may be given personally or by proxy. A member may appoint
more than one proxy to attend on the same occasion.
60. The appointment of a proxy shall be executed by or on behalf of the appointor
and shall be in the following form (or in a form as near thereto as circumstances
allow or in any other form which is usual or which the directors may approve)
-
"............................................ PLC/Limited
I/We,................................. of.......................................,
member/members of the above-named company, hereby appoint...................................
of........................................, or failing him,........................................of.....................................,
as my our proxy to vote in my/our name[s] and on my/our behalf at the annual/extraordinary
general meeting of the company to be held on.....................19.........,
and at any adjournment thereof.
Signed on .................19........"
61. Where it is desired to afford members an opportunity of instructing the
proxy how he shall act the appointment of a proxy shall be in the following
form (or in a form as near thereto as circumstances allow or in any other form
which is usual or which the directors may approve) -
"............................................ PLC/Limited
I/We,................................. of.......................................,
member/members of the above-named company, hereby appoint...................................
of........................................, or failing him,........................................of.....................................,
as my our proxy to vote in my/our name[s] and on my/our behalf at the annual/extraordinary
general meeting of the company to be held on.....................19.........,
and at any adjournment thereof.
This form is to be used in respect of the resolutions mentioned below as follows:
Resolution No. 1 *for *against
Resolution No. 2 *for *against
*Strike out whichever is not desired.
Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy may vote as he thinks fit or abstain
from voting.
Signed this...................day of......................19......."
62. The appointment of a proxy and any authority under which it is executed
or a copy of such authority certified notarially or in some other way approved
by the directors may -
(a) in the case of an instrument in writing be deposited at the office or at
such other place within the United Kingdom as is specified in the notice convening
the meeting or in any instrument of proxy sent out by the company in relation
to the meeting not less than forty-eight hours before the time for holding the
meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes
to vote; or
(aa) in the case of an appointment contained in an electronic communication,
where an address has been specified for the purpose of receiving electronic
communications -
(i) in the notice convening the meeting, or
(ii) in any instrument of proxy sent out by the company in relation to the meeting,
or
(iii) in any invitation contained in an electronic communication to appoint
a proxy issued by the company in relation to the meeting,
be received at such address not less than 48 hours before the time for holding
the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the appointment
proposes to vote;
(b) in the case of a poll taken more than forty-eight hours after it is demanded,
be deposited or received as aforesaid after the poll has been demanded and not
less than twenty-four hours before the time appointed for the taking of the
poll; or
(c) where the poll is not taken forthwith but is taken not more than forty-eight
hours after it was demanded, be delivered at the meeting at which the poll was
demanded to the chairman or to the secretary or to any director;
and an instrument of proxy which is not deposited, delivered or received in
a manner so permitted shall be invalid.
In this regulation and the next, "address", in relation to electronic
communications, includes any number or address used for the purposes of such
communications.
63. A vote given or poll demanded by proxy or by the duly authorised representative
of a corporation shall be valid notwithstanding the previous determination of
the authority of the person voting or demanding a poll unless notice of the
determination was received by the company at the office or at such other place
at which the instrument of proxy was duly deposited or, where the appointment
of the proxy was contained in an electronic communication, at the address at
which such appointment was duly received before the commencement of the meeting
or adjourned meeting at which the vote is given or the poll demanded or (in
the case of a poll taken otherwise than on the same day as the meeting or adjourned
meeting) the time appointed for taking the poll.
Number of directors
64. Unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution, the number of directors
(other than alternate directors) shall not be subject to any maximum but shall
be not less than two.
Alternate directors
65. Any director (other than an alternate director) may appoint any other director,
or any other person approved by resolution of the directors and willing to act,
to be an alternate director and may remove from office an alternate director
so appointed by him.
66. An alternate director shall be entitled to receive notice of all meetings
of directors and of all meetings of committees of directors of which his appointor
is a member, to attend and vote at any such meeting at which the director appointing
him is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of
his appointor as a director in his absence but shall not be entitled to receive
any remuneration from the company for his services as an alternate director.
But it shall not be necessary to give notice of such a meeting to an alternate
director who is absent from the United Kingdom.
67. An alternate director shall cease to be an alternate director if his appointor
ceases to be a director; but, if a director retires by rotation or otherwise
but is reappointed or deemed to have been reappointed at the meeting at which
he retires, any appointment of an alternate director made by him which was in
force immediately prior to his retirement shall continue after his reappointment.
68. Any appointment or removal of an alternate director shall be by notice to
the company signed by the director making or revoking the appointment or in
any other manner approved by the directors.
69. Save as otherwise provided in the articles, an alternate director shall
be deemed for all purposes to be a director and shall alone be responsible for
his own acts and defaults and he shall not be deemed to be the agent of the
director appointing him.
Powers of directors
70. Subject to the provisions of the Act, the memorandum and the articles and
to any directions given by special resolution, the business of the company shall
be managed by the directors who may exercise all the powers of the company.
No alteration of the memorandum or articles and no such direction shall invalidate
any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if that alteration
had not been made or that direction had not been given. The powers given by
this regulation shall not be limited by any special power given to the directors
by the articles and a meeting of directors at which a quorum is present may
exercise all powers exercisable by the directors.
71. The directors may, by power of attorney or otherwise, appoint any person
to be the agent of the company for such purposes and on such conditions as they
determine, including authority for the agent to delegate all or any of his powers.
Delegation of directors' powers
72. The directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting
of one or more directors. They may also delegate to any managing director or
any director holding any other executive office such of their powers as they
consider desirable to be exercised by him. Any such delegation may be made subject
to any conditions the directors may impose, and either collaterally with or
to the exclusion of their own powers and may be revoked or altered. Subject
to any such conditions, the proceedings of a committee with two or more members
shall be governed by the articles regulating the proceedings of directors so
far as they are capable of applying.
Appointment and retirement of directors
73. At the first annual general meeting all the directors shall retire from
office, and at every subsequent annual general meeting one-third of the directors
who are subject to retirement by rotation or, if their number is not three or
a multiple of three, the nearest to one-third shall retire from office; but,
if there is only one director who is subject to retirement by rotation, he shall
retire.
74. Subject to the provisions of the Act the directors to retire by rotation
shall be those who have been longest in office since their last appointment
or reappointment, but as between persons who became or were last reappointed
directors on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree
among themselves) be determined by lot.
75. If the company, at the meeting at which a director retires by rotation,
does not fill the vacancy the retiring director shall, if willing to act, be
deemed to have been reappointed unless at the meeting it is resolved not to
fill the vacancy or unless a resolution for the reappointment of the director
is put to the meeting and lost.
76. No person other than a director retiring by rotation shall be appointed
or reappointed a director at any general meeting unless -
(a) he is recommended by the directors; or
(b) not less than fourteen not more than thirty-five clear days before the date
appointed for the meeting, notice executed by a member qualified to vote at
the meeting has been given to the company of the intention to propose that person
for appointment or re-appointment stating the particulars which would, if he
were so appointed or re-appointed, be required to be included in the company's
register of directors together with notice executed by that person of his willingness
to be appointed or reappointed.
77. Not less than seven nor more than twenty-eight clear days before the date
appointed for holding a general meeting notice shall be given to all who are
entitled to receive notice of the meeting of any person (other than a director
retiring by rotation at the meeting) who is recommended by the directors for
appointment or reappointment as a director at the meeting or in respect of whom
notice has been duly given to the company of the intention to propose him at
the meeting for appointment or reappointment as a director. The notice shall
give the particulars of that person which would, if he were so appointed or
reappointed, be required to be included in the company's register of directors.
78. Subject as aforesaid, the company may by ordinary resolution appoint a person
who is willing to act to be a director either to fill a vacancy or as an additional
director and may also determine the rotation in which any additional directors
are to retire.
79. The directors may appoint a person who is willing to act to be a director,
either to fill a vacancy or or as an additional director, provided that the
appointment does not cause the number of directors to exceed any number fixed
by or in accordance with the articles as the maximum number of directors. A
director so appointed shall hold office only until the next following annual
general meeting and shall not be taken into account in determining the directors
who are to retire by rotation at the meeting. If not reappointed at such annual
general meeting, he shall vacate office at the conclusion thereof.
80. Subject as aforesaid, a director who retires at an annual general meeting
may, if willing to act, be reappointed. If he is not reappointed, he shall retain
office until the meeting appoints someone in his place, or if it does not do
so, until the end of the meeting.
Disqualification and removal of directors
81. The office of a director shall be vacated if -
(a) he ceases to be a director by virtue of any provision of the Act or he becomes
prohibited by law from being a director; or
(b) he becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors
generally; or
(c) he is, or may be, suffering from mental disorder and either -
(i) he is admitted to hospital in pursuance of an application for admission
or treatment under the Mental Health Act 1983 or, in Scotland, an application
for admission under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960, or
(ii) an order is made by a court having jurisdiction (whether in the United
Kingdom or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder for his detention
or for the appointment of a receiver, curator bonis or other person to exercise
powers with respect to his property or affairs; or
(d) he resigns his office by notice to the company; or
(e) he shall for more than six consecutive months have been absent without permission
of the directors from meetings of the directors held during that period and
the directors resolve that his
office be vacated.
Remuneration of directors
82. The directors shall be entitled to such remuneration as the company may
by ordinary resolution determine and, unless the resolution provides otherwise,
the remuneration shall be deemed to accrue from day to day.
Directors' expenses
83. The directors may be paid all travelling, hotel and other expenses properly
incurred by them in connection with their attendance at meetings of directors
or committees of directors or general meetings or separate meetings of the holders
of any class of shares or of debentures of the company or otherwise in connection
with the discharge of their duties.
Directors' appointments and interests
84. Subject to the provisions of the Act, the directors may appoint one or more
of their number to the office of managing director or to any other executive
office under the company and may enter into an agreement or arrangement with
any director for his employment by the company or for the provision by him of
any services outside the scope of the ordinary duties of a director. Any such
appointment, agreement or arrangement may be made upon such terms as the directors
determine and they may remunerate any such director for his services as they
think fit. Any appointment of a director to an executive office shall terminate
if he ceases to be a director but without prejudice to any claim to damages
for breach of the contract of service between the director and the company.
A managing director and a director holding any other executive office shall
not be subject to retirement by rotation.
85. Subject to the provision of the Act, and provided that he has disclosed
to the directors the nature and extent of any material interest of his, a director
notwithstanding his office -
(a) may be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement
with the company or in which the company is otherwise interested;
(b) may be a director or other officer of, or employed by, or a party to any
transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, any body corporate
promoted by the company or in which the company is otherwise interested; and
(c) shall not, by reason of his office, be accountable to the company for any
benefit which he derives from any such office or employment or from any such
transaction or arrangement or from any interest in any such body corporate and
no such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the ground
of any such interest or benefit.
86. For the purposes of regulation 85 -
(a) a general notice given to the directors that a director is to be regarded
as having an interest of the nature and extent specified in the notice in any
transaction or arrangement in which a specified person or class of persons is
interested shall be deemed to be a disclosure that the director has an interest
in any such transaction of the nature and extent so specified; and
(b) an interest in which a director has no knowledge an of which it is unreasonable
to expect him to have knowledge shall not be treated as an interest as his.
Directors' gratuities and pensions
87. The directors may provide benefits, whether by the payment of gratuities
or pensions or by insurance or otherwise, for any director who has held but
no longer holds any executive office or employment with the company or with
any body corporate which is or has been a subsidiary of the company or a predecessor
in business of the company or of any such subsidiary, and for any member of
his family (including a spouse and a former spouse) or any person who is or
was dependent on him, and may (as well before as after he ceases to hold such
office or employment) contribute to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase
or provision of any such benefit.
Proceedings of directors
88. Subject to the provisions of the articles, the directors may regulate their
proceedings as they think fit. A director may, and the secretary at the request
of a director shall, call a meeting of the directors. It shall not be necessary
to give notice of a meeting to a director who is absent from the United Kingdom.
Questions arising at a meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the
case of an equality of votes, the chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
A director who is also an alternate director shall be entitled in the absence
of his appointor to a separate vote on behalf of his appointor in addition to
his own vote.
89. The quorum for the transaction of the business of the directors shall be
fixed by the directors and unless so fixed shall be two. A person who holds
office only as an alternate director shall, if his appointor is not present,
be counted in the quorum.
90. The continuing directors or a sole continuing director may act notwithstanding
any vacancies in their number, but if the number of directors is less than the
number fixed as the quorum, the continuing directors or director may act only
for the purpose of filling vacancies or of calling a general meeting.
91. The directors may appoint one of their number to be the chairman of the
board of directors and may at any time remove him from that office. Unless he
is unwilling to do so, the director so appointed shall preside at every meeting
of directors at which he is present. But if there is no director holding that
office, or if the director holding it is unwilling to preside or is not present
within five minutes after the time appointed for the meeting, the directors
present may appoint one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
92. All acts done by a meeting of directors, or of a committee of directors,
or by a person acting as a director shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards
discovered that there was a defect in the appointment of any director or that
any of them were disqualified from holding office, or had vacated office, or
were not entitled to vote, be as valid as if every such person had been duly
appointed and was qualified and had continued to be a director and had been
entitled to vote.
93. A resolution in writing signed by all the directors entitled to receive
notice of a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors shall be as
valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of directors or (as
the case may be) a committee of directors duly convened and held and may consist
of several documents in the like form each signed by one or more directors;
but a resolution signed by an alternate director need not also be signed by
his appointor and, if it is signed by a director who has appointed an alternate
director, it need not be signed by the alternate director in that capacity.
94. Save as otherwise provided by the articles, a director shall not vote at
a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors on any resolution concerning
a matter in which he has, directly or indirectly, an interest or duty which
is material and which conflicts or may conflict with the interests of the company
unless his interest or duty arises only because the case falls within one or
more of the following paragraphs:
(a) the resolution relates to the giving to him of a guarantee, security, or
indemnity in respect of money lent to, or an obligation incurred by him for
the benefit of, the company or any of its subsidiaries;
(b) the resolution relates to the giving to a third party of a guarantee, security,
or indemnity in respect of an obligation of the company or any of its subsidiaries,
or by virtue of his being, or intending to become, a participant in the underwriting
or sub-underwriting of an offer of any such shares, debentures, or other securities
by the company or any of its subsidiaries for subscription, purchase or exchange.
(c) his interest arises by virtue of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe
for any shares, debentures or other securities of the company or any of its
subsidiaries, or by virtue of his being, or intending to become, a participant
in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of an offer of any such shares, debentures
or other securities of the company or any of its subsidiaries for subscription,
purchase or exchange;
(d) the resolution relates in any way to a retirement benefits scheme which
has been approved, or is conditional upon approval, by the Board of Inland Revenue
for taxation purposes.
For the purposes of this regulation, an interest of a person who is, for any
purpose of the Act (excluding any statutory modification thereof not in force
when this regulation becomes binding on the company), connected with a director
shall be treated as an interest of the director and, in relation to an alternate
director, an interest of his appointor shall be treated as an interest of the
alternate director without prejudice to any interest which the alternate director
has otherwise.
95. A director shall not be counted in the quorum present at a meeting in relation
to a resolution on which he is not entitled to vote.
96. The company may by ordinary resolution suspend or relax to any extent, either
generally or in respect of any particular matter, any provision of the articles
prohibiting a director from voting at a meeting of directors or of a committee
of directors.
97. Where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment of two
or more directors to offices or employments with the company or any body corporate
in which the company is interested the proposals may be divided and considered
in relation to each directors separately and (provided he is not for another
reason precluded from voting) each of the directors concerned shall be entitled
to vote and be counted in the quorum in respect of each resolution except that
concerning his own appointment.
98. If a question arises at a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors
as to the right of a director to vote, the question may, before the conclusion
of the meeting, be referred to the chairman of the meeting and his ruling in
relation to any director other than himself shall be final and conclusive.
Secretary
99. Subject to the provisions of the Act, the secretary shall be appointed by
the directors for such term, at such remuneration and upon such conditions as
they may think fit; and any secretary so appointed may be removed by them.
Minutes
100. The directors shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose
_
(a) of all appointments of officers made by the directors; and
(b) of all proceedings at meetings of the company, of the holders of any class
of shares in the company, and of the directors, including the names of the directors
present at each such meeting.
The seal
101. The seal shall only be used by the authority of the directors or of a committee
of the directors authorised by the directors. The directors may determine who
shall sign any instrument to which the seal is affixed and unless otherwise
so determined it shall be signed by a director and by the secretary or by a
second director.
Dividends
102. Subject to the provisions of the Act, the company may by ordinary resolution
declare dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the members, but
no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the directors.
103. Subject to the provisions of the Act, the directors may pay interim dividends
if it appears to them that they are justified by the profits of the company
available for distribution. If the share capital is divided into different classes,
the directors may pay interim dividends on shares which confer deferred or non-preferred
rights with regard to dividend as well as on shares which confer preferential
rights with regard to dividend, but no interim dividend shall be paid on shares
carrying deferred or non-preferred rights if, at the time of payment, any preferential
dividend is in arrear. The directors may also pay at intervals settled by them
any dividend payable at a fixed rate if it appears to them that the profits
available for distribution justify the payment. Provided the directors act in
good faith they shall not incur any liability to the holders of shares conferring
preferred rights for any loss they may suffer by the lawful payment of an interim
dividend on any shares having deferred or non-preferred rights.
104. Except as otherwise provided to the rights attached to shares, all dividends
shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the shares on
which the dividend is paid. All dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately
to the amounts paid up on the shares during any portion or portions of the period
in respect of which the dividend is paid; but, if any share is issued on terms
providing that it shall rank for dividends as from a particular date, that share
shall rank for dividend accordingly.
105. A general meeting declaring a dividend may, upon the recommendation of
the directors, direct that it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution
of assets and, where any difficulty arises in regard to the distribution, the
directors may settle the same and in particular may issue fractional certificates
and fix the value for distribution of any assets and may determine that cash
shall be paid to any member upon the footing of the value so fixed in order
to adjust the rights of members and may vest any assets in trustees.
106. Any dividend or other moneys payable in respect of a share may be paid
by cheque sent by post to the registered address of the person entitled, if
two or more persons are the holders of the share or are jointly entitled to
it by reason of the death or bankruptcy of the holder, to the registered address
of that one of those persons who is first named in the register of members or
to such person and to such address as the person or persons entitled may in
writing direct and payment of the cheque shall be a good discharge to the company.
Any joint holder or other person jointly entitled to a share as aforesaid may
give receipts for any dividend or other moneys payable in respect of the share.
107. No dividend or other moneys payable in respect of a share shall bear interest
against the company unless otherwise provided by the rights attached to the
share.
108. Any dividend which has remained unclaimed for twelve years from the date
when it became due for payment shall, if the directors so resolve, be forfeited
and cease to remain owing by the company.
Accounts
109. No member shall (as such) have any right of inspecting any accounting records
or other book or document of the company except as conferred by statute or authorised
by the directors or by ordinary resolution of the company.
Capitalisation of profits
110. The directors may with the authority of an ordinary resolution of the company
-
(a) subject as hereinafter provided, resolve to capitalise any undivided profits
of the company not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or
not they are available for distribution) or any sum standing to the credit of
the company's share premium account or capital redemption reserve;
(b) appropriate the sum resolved to the capitalised to the members who would
have been entitled to it if it were distributed by way of dividend and in the
same proportions and apply such sums on their behalf either in or towards the
amounts, if any, for the time being unpaid on any shares held by them respectively,
or in paying up in full unissued shares or debentures of the company of a nominal
amount equal to that sum, and allot the shares or debentures credited as fully
paid to those members, or as they may direct, in those proportions, or partly
in one way and partly in the other: but the share premium account, the capital
redemption reserve, and any profits which are not available for distribution
may, for the purposes of this regulation, only be applied in paying up unissued
shares to be allotted to members credited as fully paid;
(c) make such provision by the issue of fractional certificates or by payment
in cash or otherwise as they may determine in the case of shares or debentures
becoming distributable under this regulation in fractions; and
(d) authorise any person to enter on behalf of all the members concerned into
an agreement with the company providing for the allotment to them respectively,
credited as fully paid, of any shares or debentures to which they are entitled
upon such capitalisation, any agreement made under such authority being binding
on all such members.
Notices
111. Any notice to be given to or by any person pursuant to the articles (other
than a notice calling a meeting of the directors) shall be in writing or shall
be given using electronic communications to an address for the time being notified
for that purpose to the person giving the notice.
In this regulation, "address", in relation to electronic communications,
includes any number or address used for the purposes of such communications.
112. The company may give any notice to a member either personally or by sending
it by post in a prepaid envelope addressed to the member at his registered address
or by leaving it at that address or by giving it using electronic communications
to an address for the time being notified to the company by the member. In the
case of joint holders of a share, all notices shall be given to the joint holder
whose name stands first in the register of members in respect of the joint holding
and notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all the joint holders. A member
whose registered address is not within the United Kingdom and who gives to the
company an address within the United Kingdom at which notices may be given to
him shall be entitled to have notices given to him or an address to which notices
may be sent using electronic communications, at that address, but otherwise
no such member shall be entitled to receive any notice from the company.
In this regulation and the next, "address", in relation to electronic
communications, includes any number or address used for the purposes of such
communications.
113. A member present, either in person or by proxy, at any meeting of the company
or of the holders of any class of shares in the company shall be deemed to have
received notice of the meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which
it was called.
114. Every person who becomes entitled to a share shall be bound by any notice
in respect of that share which, before his name is entered on the register of
members, has been duly given to a person from whom he derives his title.
115. Proof that an envelope containing a notice was properly addressed, prepaid
and posted shall be conclusive evidence that the notice was given. Proof that
a notice contained in an electronic communication was sent in accordance with
guidance issued by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators
shall be conclusive evidence that the notice was given. A notice shall, unless
the contrary is proved, be deemed to be given at the expiration of forty-eight
hours after the envelope containing it was posted or, in the case of a notice
contained in an electronic communication, at the expiration of 48 hours after
the time it was sent.
116. A notice may be given by the company to the persons entitled to a share
in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member by sending or delivering
it, in any manner authorised by the articles for the giving of notice to a member,
addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased,
or trustees of the bankrupt or by any like description at the address, if any,
within the United Kingdom supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming
to be so entitled. Until such an address has been supplied, a notice may be
given in any manner in which it might have been given if the death or bankruptcy
had not occurred.
Winding up
117. If the company is wound up, the liquidator may, with the sanction of an
extraordinary resolution of the company and any other sanction required by the
Act, divide among the members in specie the whole or any part of the assets
of the company and may, for that purpose, value any assets and determine how
the division shall be carried out as between the members or different classes
of members. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any
part of the assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the members
as he with the like sanction determines, but no member shall be compelled to
accept any assets upon which there is a liability.
Indemnity
118. Subject to the provisions of the Act but without prejudice to any indemnity
to which a director may otherwise be entitled, every director or other officer
or auditor of the company shall be indemnified out of the assets of the company
against any liability incurred by him in defending any proceedings, whether
civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in his favour or in which he is
acquitted or in connection with any application in which relief is granted to
him by the court from liability for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach
of trust in relation to the affairs of the company.
INCORPORATION SERVICES LIMITED
COMPANY REGISTRATION AGENTS
1 Saville Chambers, North Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8DF
E-mail info@incorporationservices.co.uk; Website: www.incorporationservices.co.uk
Tel: 0191 261 5545; Fax: 0191 261 4077
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