Business Law & Practice Flashcards
When will a partnership be liable to a third party?
if a partner acting within the scope of their actual or apparent authority, then this will bind the partnership as a whole
How are partners liable for debts and obligations of the partnership?
Partners are jointly and severally liable without limit
Is a new partner liable for debts incurred by the partnership before they became a partner?
No they are not
Is a retiring partner released from debts incurred by the partnership whilst they were partner?
No they are not
How can a retired partner protect themselves for being liable for future debts of the partnership?
The partner must give notice to third parties that they are leaving the partnership.
The partner must also not hold out as being partner (doing something which suggests he still holds position of partner, relied upon by someone who gives credit to the firm as the result)
What are two way in which a company is incorporated?
Incorporating a new company (tailor made)
Acquiring a company that has already been incorporated but which has not traded (shelf company)
For a new company to be incorporated, what documents must be sent to Companies House?
- Application to register the company (IN010
- memorandum of association
- Articles of Association (if they are not the model articles)
- the requisite fee
What resolution is required to change a company’s registered office?
Board Resolution
What type of resolution is needed to amend the articles of association and when must the amended articles be filed at Companies House?
Special Resolution and the amended articles must be filed at Companies House within 15 days
how many directors must a private or pulbic company have?
Private company: 1 director
Public Company: 2 director
What is hthe minimum quorum for a board resolution?
2
What majority is needed to pass a board resolution?
Simple majority (more than 50%)
How many days notice is needed to call a general meeting?
14 clear days (16 total)
When can short notice be called?
Majority in number of members
holiding at least 90% of the companys voting shares
When can shareholders call a general meeting?
Directors must call a GM when members holding at LEAST 5 % of the company paid up share capital
When can shareholders call a general meeting?
Directors must call a GM when members holding at LEAST 5 % of the company paid up share capital
How long do the directors have to call a GM once the shareholders ask them to?
They have 21 days to call a GM which then must be held within 28 days
What resolution is usually needed for the appointment of a non-executive director?
BR or OR
What resolution is need for the appointment of an executive director (with a service contract)?
BR
When will a director be held personally liable?
Personal guarantee, wrongful trading, fraudulent trading, misfeasance
What is the definition of wrongful trading?
Director of an insolvent company may be liable to contribute to assets of a company where the company continued to trade and they knew or ought to have concluded that there was no reaosnable prospect of avoiding insolvency proceedings
What is the definition for fraudulent trading?
Director of an insolvent company may be liable to contribute to the assets of a company where the company carried on business with intent to defraud creditors or for any fraudulent purposes
How long must a director service contract be for it to require shareholder approval?
MORE than two years for the guaranteed term and it requires an ordinary resolution
What type of resolution is needed for a substantial property transaction?
Ordinary resolution
What are the elements of a substantial property transaction?
- Acquisition/disposal of a non-cash asset where
- parties involved are the company and a director or person connected to the director
- asset is substantial
When is an asset considered substantial (in terms of substantial property transactions)
If value is £5k or less than it is never substantial
If value is over £100,000 it is always substantial
If value is between £100,000 and £5000 and is more than 10% of the companys net asset value, then it is substantial
Who is considered a person connected to a director?
Family (spouse and children etc)
- does not include siblings or grandparents
Body corporate: director and persons connected with the director who own at least 20% of the companys voting shares
What happens to the transaction if there is a breach of not attaining approval for a substantial property transaction?
The transaction is voidable
When does a loan to a director require shareholder approval?
When the loan is more than £10k and this requires an ordinary resolution
What notice is required to remove a director under s168 CA (by shareholders)?
Special notice of the ordinary resolution is required to be given to the company of the proposed resolution
Special notice means at least 28 days notice
What rights does a director who is being removed have?
Right to be informed and to make representations to argue against their removal (through written representations and the meeting itself)
W
What must the company do following the resignation or removal of a director?
updateTM01 as appropriate with companies house within 14 days
What is the role of the company secretary?
- keeping various records on the company
- filing documents at Companies House
- general administration of the company
What is a majority shareholder?
Those who individually hold more than 50% of the companies voting shares
What is a minority shareholder?
An individual who holds 50% or less of the companies voting shares
What are the three remedies for minority shareholders?
Petition for unfairly prejudicial conduct
Derivative action
Winding up on the just and equitable ground
When can shareholder petition for unfair prejudicial conduct?
Shareholder can bring a claim on their own behalf against the company if they believe the company has been prejudicial or unfair to them.
Eg refusing to pay dividends, exclusion from management, excessive pay)
What is a derivative action?
It is an action taken by a shareholder where the company is the proper claimant. It is brought for an act or omission of a direction (usually breach of directors duties)
If the company has unamended Model Articles and will have one class of shares before and after issue, what reoslution is needed?
A board resolution
If the company is issuing a new class of share, what authority is needed?
Special resolution
What are pre-emption rights?
Generally, on issue of new shares, they must first be offered to the existing members on the same or more favourable terms in proportion to their existing shareholdings. they have the right of refusal for a period of at least 14 days
How to disapply preemption rights?
Special resolution to disapply the preemption rights
What is the process for a company to buyback shares from a shareholder from profit and from capital?
If there are profits available, the buyback must be from profits.
Must enter into a contract with the shareholder, approved by the shareholders by ordinary resolution so must be available no fewer than 15 days before any general meeting
What resolution is needed for a company with unamended articles to borrow or grant security?
Board Resolution
What is the registration process for a charge?
The charge should be registered within 21 days of the creation of the charge and must include
- form Mr01
- certified copy of the charge document
- the relevant fee
What happens to a charge which is not registered in time?
The charge is void against a liquidator , administrator or any creditor of the company. the debt will be payable immediately but will be unsecured
What is the order of priority of security of charges of the same type?
Charge which has the earlier date of creation has priority
What is the order of priority of charges?
- Mortgage
- Fixed Charge
- Floating Charge
What does the top half of the balance sheet show?
Shows the value of the business at a particular point in time
Assets - Liabilities = Net Current Assets
What does the bottom half of the balance sheet show?
Shows what is owed to the owner at a particular point in time
Capital + Net Profit - Drawings