4. Directors Flashcards
What is a ‘De Facto Director’
(1) NOT validly appointed as a director
(2) Purports to be a director
What is a ‘Shadow Director’ ?
(1) NOT validly appointed as a director
(2) Does NOT purport to be a director BUT exerts influence / control over the company
What is the minimum number of directors for:
(a) Private company
(b) Public company
(a) Private - 1
(b) Public - 2
How many ‘human’ directors (i.e. not a company) must a public and private company have?
At least 1
What are the 4 requirements of a person to be a ‘human’ director?
(1) 16 or over
(2) Mentally / physically capable
(3) NOT bankrupt
(4) NOT disqualified from being a director
How are the initial / first director(s) appointed?
Automatically on incorporation - named on the form IN01
How many directors does the Model Articles assume and what is the rational behind this?
2
Why? - meet Quorum requirements in a BM
Under the Model Articles, what 2 groups of people can appoint a director and what must they each pass to do this?
(1) Directors - Board Resolution (BR)
(2) Shareholders - Ordinary Resolution (OR)
What is an ‘Executive Director’?
Director + Employee (of company)
What is a ‘Non-Executive Director’?
Director + NOT Employee (of company)
To appoint a ‘Non-executive Director’, they must be appointed as a Director.What 2 resolutions can be used to do this?
BR or OR
To appoint an ‘Executive Director’, they must be appointed as both a Director and then as an employee. What resolutions are required to do this?
Director - BR or OR
Employee - BR
What 3 steps must be taken after a new Director has been appointed?
(1) NOTIFY COMPANIES HOUSE within 14 days of the appointment by form AP01 (human) or AP02 (company)
(2) Enter director on its REGISTER OF DIRECTORS
(3) Enter director on its REGISTER OF DIRECTORS’ RESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES
When must Companies House be notified of the appointment of a new Director?
Within 14 days (of appointment)
What form is used for the appointment of a new director who is:
(1) Human
(2) Company
(1) AP01
(2) AP02
What type of duty do directors have to a company?
Fiduciary
What is Director’s Duty under s171?
Duty to act within company’s constitution (i.e. ARTICLES) and exercise their power for PROPER PURPOSES
Under s171 - the duty to act within company’s constitution (i.e. Articles) and exercise their power for proper purposes. What is the meaning of ‘exercise their power for a proper purpose’?
Director’s should act in the best interests of the company (NOT their personal interests)
Under s172 - Duty to promote the success of the company. What type of test is used to judge if a director did this?
Subjective (i.e. did the director in GOOD FAITH believe it would promote the success of the company?)
What is Director’s Duty under s172?
Duty to promote the SUCCESS of the company
Under a breach of s172 - Duty to promote the success of the company - is it likely to be established?
No (subjective test - did the director in GOOD FAITH believe it would promote the success of the company?)
What is Director’s Duty under s173?
Duty to exercise INDEPENDENT judgment
Is taking professional legal / financial advice a breach of a director’s duty under s173 -Duty to exercise independent judgment?
No
What is Director’s Duty under s174?
Duty to exercise REASONABLE care, skill and diligence (CSD)
Under Director’s duty s174 - Duty to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence -
What standard will a director be held to?
Reasonably diligent person
Under Director’s duty s174 - Duty to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence - a director will be held to the standard of a ‘reasonably diligent person’.
(1) What 2 components make up this test?
(2) Is each component subjective or objective?
(1) OBJECTIVE - knowledge, skill and experience that may REASONABLY be expected of a director in a similar position
(2) SUBJECTIVE - Raised based on the ACTUAL LEVEL of knowledge, skill and experience the person has