4. Company Formation Flashcards
In law, the term person is used to denote either a _____ person or an _____ person
Natural, artificial
What are the four consequences of separate legal personality for a company?
- The company is liable for debts without limit and members’ liability is limited
- Perpetual succession arises as the company will need to be formally wound up
- The company itself can own property
- The company can sue, and be sued, in its own name
What is ‘lifting the veil’?
Rigid application of separate legal personality can sometimes produce harsh or inequitable results, so the law exceptionally ‘lifts the veil’ in order to expose the commercial reality of the situation
Give an example of lifting the veil (seven possibilities stated in BPP workbook)
- To produce a tax liability
- To give entitlement to compensation
- To prevent evasion of excise duty
- To reveal members’ true national identity and expose illegality
- Recognising the breakdown of a quasi-partnership relationship
- To prevent an evasion of existing contractual obligations
- To reveal national identity
In what four circumstances does statute require lifting of the veil?
- Where directors is disqualified
- Where a plc trades without a trading certificate
- Fraudulent trading
- Wrongful trading
What is the difference between unlimited and limited (guarantee and share) companies?
Unlimited companies: no limit on members’ liability. No need to file annual accounts, subject to certain conditions
Limited companies by guarantee: liability limited to the amount members contribute to the company’s assets in the event of it being wound up.
Limited companies by shares: liability limited to the amount of the nominal value unpaid on members’ shares held by them
When must a company re-register?
Moving from limited to unlimited or vice versa
A plc must have ______ liability
A ltd may have _____ or ____ liability
Limited
Limited, unlimited
A plc is subject to ______ _______ of share capital
A ltd has no minimum _______ _______
Authorised minimum
Share capital
When can a plc begin trading?
When can a ltd begin trading?
When it obtains a trading certificate
When it is incorporated
Can a plc offer securities to the public?
Can a ltd offers securities to the public?
Yes
No
Do plcs have loan rules? What are they?
Do ltd companies have loan rules? What are they?
Yes- loans to persons connected with directors and quasi-loans and credit transactions to directors or connected persons need members’ approval
No, unless associated with a public company
How many directors must a plc have?
How many directors must a ltd have?
2
1
Does a plc need a company secretary?
Does a ltd need a company secretary?
Yes
No
Can a plc pass written resolutions instead of holding a meeting?
Can a ltd pass written resolutions instead of holding a meeting?
No
Yes
Do plcs need to hold annual general meetings (AGMs)?
Do ltd companies need to hold annual general meetings (AGMs)?
Yes
No
Plcs must file accounts and reports within how many months after a general meeting?
Ltd companies must file accounts and reports within how many months after a general meeting?
Six months
Nine months
How often must plcs appoint auditors?
How often must ltd companies appoint auditors?
Each year if necessary
Existing auditors may be deemed to be reappointed
Do plcs have rules applied to their payment for shares? What are they?
Do ltd companies have rules applied to their payment for shares? What are they?
Yes- at least 25% must be paid up, amongst other rules
No
How must a plc handle reduction of capital?
How must a ltd firm handle reduction of capital?
Through special resolution confirmed by the court
Through special resolution and directors’ solvency statement