1.3 Business - Incorporation Flashcards
Who is a promoter?
Roles
- Business idea
- Formation of Co (deals with docs, CA reqs)
=> Meets necessary steps to accomplish formation
NOT purely acting in professional capacity
- E.g. Cannot be Solicitor/Accountant
Who may be liable to pre-incorporation contracts?
NOT Company
- NOT incorporated (NO capacity) => NOT legal entity
Agent
- Personally liable (s. 51 CA 2006)
- UNLESS contrary agreement
How can promoter avoid liability?
[Royal Mail Estates v Maple Teesdale]
- TP could allow Contracting Party to waive Promoter’s personal liability (explicit + clear wording required)
Waiver unlikely => Thus should not enter such contracts anyway
Promoter’s options
- Include contract provision allowing other party to sue Company [Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999]
- Prepare contract drafts after incorporation
- Enter novation agreement/Assign contract (consent may be required, Promoter may be liable until then)
- Purchase ‘shelf company’ > Co can contract w/o waiting for incorporation
What is the difference between a Tailor Made and Shelf Company?
Tailor-Made Company
- Meet Client’s specific requirements when incorporated
- E.g. Bepsoke AA
- More common
Shelf Company
- Formed (not traded)
- Constitution provisions > Amendable (once Client buys Co)
- Incorporated by law stationers/Co formation agents/Solicitors
- Transfer to Client
- Less common
What steps should be taken to incorporate Companies?
1) Form IN01
2) One or more persons
- Subscribing names to memorandum of association
- Complying with CA
3) Articles of Association as chosen
4) Further Statement of Compliance
- Confirmation that Subscribers complied w/ CA (s. 13) registration reqs
=> Registrar of Companies will inspect docs + ensure reqs satisfied => Issue Certificate of Incorporation => Co exists
What is required in Form IN01 before incorporation?
Fee
Memorandum
Articles
Details
- Co’s proposed name
- Co’s proposed situation of registered office (E&W/Wales/Scotland/N. Ireland)
- Limited liability? (typically is) > Limited by shares/guarantee?
- Public/Private Co?
- Statement of share capital and initial shareholdings
- Statement of Co’s proposed officers
- Statement of initial significant control
- Statement of registered office > Intended address
- Copy of proposed AA (to extent not supplied by default application of Model Articles)
What Company names should not be used?
Offensive/Criminal offence (SoS’s opinion)
Names with ‘Limited’ or ‘Ltd’ at end (for private limited companies)
NOT already registered Co’s names
NOT names connected to Gov/Local authority
- ‘England’, ‘Chartered’, ‘Royal’, ‘Natural’
- UNLESS SoS approval
NOT names containing sensitive/restrictive words
- Board/Charity/Fund/Insurance/Trust
- UNLESS SoS approval
NOT names already used/similar names
- Otherwise could sue in tort for ‘passing off’ (but must prove affected by similarity)
Should Model Articles be included in the application for registration?
If Co adopts Model Articles w/ NO changes => NO Model Articles to be attached
If Co adopts Model Articles w/ changes or additions => Changes/Additions to be attached
If Co adopts entirely bespoke articles => Bespoke articles to be attached
What is the Objects Clause?
Defines
- Purpose of formation
- Activities permitted to perform
Can Objects Clause be restricted?
NOT restricted generally
Only if Articles specifically restrict (s. 31(1) CA)
- New Cos/Existing Cos
Charity > Must restrict
How can a limited company’s registered office be maintained?
UK registered office (s. 86 CA)
- Send comms, notice
- If doc sent to office => Service is effective (s. 1139 CA)
How can the registered office address be changed?
1) Notice to Registrar
2) File within 14 days of change
3) Registrar to register notice > Change takes effect
- BUT can still validly serve doc to previous address until 14 days ends after registration
What are the rules for initial shareholdings?
Dictates who owns Co
Min: At least one share
Max: NOT limited
- BUT Articles can restrict by including clause > Limit no. SHs
- Before CA 2006 > Must include Authorised Share Capital
- After CA 2006 > Must only state that Co issued Statement of Capital detailing no. shares in each class issued > Useful if Co likely to allocate shares to TP at later date (raise funds)
What issues are raised at the first board meeting after incorporation?
Appoint bankers + create bank accounts
Appoint auditors (if required)
Amend automatically designated accounting reference date (if required)
Register Co for tax at HMRC (if actively trading)
Approve executory Ds’ service contracts
- SH approval required > General meeting required
Update Co’s registry entries
- By secretary/professional advisers
How must Company name be published?
(Company, LLP and Business Regulations 2015, Part 6)
Display name (Parts 21, 22, 29)
- Registered office
- Where carrying on business
- Where keeping available for inspection Co’s records (other than registered office)
Items (Part 24)
- Business letters (if includes D’s name > Must include ALL Ds) (Part 26)
- Notices
- Official publications
- Order forms
- Invoices
- Cheques, receipts
- Business comms + docs, order forms, websites > Include 1) Country of registration, 2) Registered number, 3) Address of registered office (Part 25)