6 - BL - Shares Flashcards
Do shares in a company have to have a fixed nominal value?
Yes - s542(1) CA 2006
What are subscriber shares?
Shares purchased by the first members of a company
When are shares ‘Allotted’?
Shares are allotted when a person acquires an unconditional right to be included on the company’s register of members in respect of those shares
What are Treasury Shares
Shares bought back by the comapny itself
What rights are attached to ‘Ordinary Shares’
- a right to vote at general meetings
- a right of dividend
- a right to surplus on winding up
“shares other than shares that as respects dividends and capital carry a right to participate only up to a specified amount in a distribution”
What are Preference shares
Shares that have a preference when paying a dividend or a return of capital. Normally a set percentage of the share value
Normally cumulative
What are Participating Preference Shares?
May participate in surplus profits and/or surplus assets in the company on winding up.
NOTE: does not relate to voting rights
How can a company vary its existing class rights?
- 75% of the members in that class agree in writing
OR - special resolution passed at a separate general meeting of holders of that class.
What can members of a class do if they object to the variation?
-Shareholder holding 15% of the relevant shares may
- apply to the court
- within 21 days
-of the resolution to have a variation cancelled.
Following the application, the variation will not take effect unless and until it is confirmed by the court.
The court will not approve the variation if it feels that it unfairly prejudices the shareholders of the class in question.
What is a ‘Final dividend’?
Approved by an ordinary resolution following the financial year end.
What is an ‘Interim Dividend’
The directors may pay an interim dividend if the company has sufficient distributable profits. The can be paid without an ordinary resolution.
What is the difference between an allotment, transmission and transfer of shares?
- Allotment is where the company issues new shares in return for the subscription.
- Transmission is an automatic process in the event of death or bankruptcy.
- Transfer is the transfer of existing shares.
What should be included in a prospectus?
all information necessary to enable investors to make an informed assessment of the
- financial status of the company and
- the rights attaching to the shares.
When can directors refuse to register.
- must give reason unless
- they believe the transfer to be fraudulent.
Are there pre-emption rights on transfers in the standard MA’s
No.
Note this is a transfer not an allotment
What is required for a share transfer?
- stock transfer form signed by transferor and
- share certificate
- given to the new shareholder.
When does beneficial & legal ownership pass to the new shareholder?
- Beneficial title passes on the execution of the stock transfer form.
- Legal title passes on the registration of the member as the owner of those shares in the register of members of the company. A new share cert will be issued within 2 months
How does stamp duty work?
Stock transfer form must be stamped before the new owner can be registered as the holder of those shares.
If over £1,000 a 0.5% fee is charged.
Which companies will have an authorised share capital by default?
- Companies formed before 1 October 2009 i.e. under CA 1985.
Authorised share capital acted as a ceiling on the number of shares a company could issue. The cap must be removed if the company wishes to issue further shares.
What is the process for allotting new shares?
- 1) Remove Cap (if applicable)
- 2) Give Dir permission to Allot
- 3) Remove Pre-emption Rights
- 4) Create new share class (if needed)
Remove Cap
How can you remove an authorised share capital cap?
CA 1985 - amend company articles by ORDINARY RESOLUTION
CA 2006 - amend company articles by SPECIAL RESOLUTION (company must have added a cap to its articles)
Give Dir permission to Allot
What do the directors need to do to allot?
requires a board resolution:
Private companies with only one class of shares:
- CA 2006 - s.550 CA 2006 directors have automatic power to allot for (doesn’t include making a new class).
- CA 1985 - directors need an ordinary resolution to rely on s.550 CA 2006 above.
For all others:
- an ordinary resolution is required to allow the directors to allot
Remove Pre-emption Rights
What does first refusal mean when considering an allotment of new EQUITY SECURITIES?
- ‘right of first refusal should be offered to the current shareholders on a pro-rat basis.
- s.561 CA 2006 contains pre-emption rights. Removal of pre-emption rights requires a SPECIAL RESOLUTION.
Remove Pre-emption Rights
What are ‘equity securities’?
Shares other than shares that as respects dividends AND capital carry a right to participate only up to a specified amount.
(Any shares other than fixed preference shares)