Chapter 3 " Directors" Flashcards
Who is a director ?
Director means a person appointed by members to manage all affairs of company.
What are the roles of director in a company?
1-ROLE AS FUDICIARY:
Directors must act in the best interests of the company and shareholders. Directors lack fiduciary behavior if he intentionally keeps the company and members at disadvantage.
2-ROLE AS AGENT:
Directors are agents of company, and act in accordance with articles of company.
What is the eligibility criteria of a director?
A director:
- must be a natural person:
- be a member (with certain exceptions)
- meet additional criteria if specified by articles.
What is ineligibility / Disqualification criteria of directors?
Act has specified following persons cannot become a director:
1- a person who is not a member.
2- a body corporate / company.
3- a minor.
4- a person with unsound mind.
5- a person who does not hold national tax number.
6- a person who is undischarged insolvent or has applied to court to be declared as insolvent and his application is pending.
7- A person who has been convicted by a court for an offense involving immorality.
8- a person who lacks fiduciary behavior as declared by a court during last 5 years.
9- a person who is disqualified from holding office under any provisions of Act.
For listed companies following persons are also disqualified:
1- who has been declared defaulter of a financial institution by a court.
2- a person or his spouse is a broker or is an officer / director of a brokerage house.
What penalty imposed bankrupt acting as a director?
IF an undischarged insolvent acts as a chief executive or director, he shall be liable to imprisonment upto 2 years or fine or both.
What are the minimum numbers of directors under the Act in case of 1-Single member company 2-Private company(other than SMC) 3-Public company_unlisted 4-Public company_listed 5-maximum number of directors
1- one 2- two 3- three 4- seven 5-Companies Act 2017 does not specified maximum number of directors. Articles or directors may decide any number of directors to be appointed.
What is Tenure / appointment of directors?
-First directors shall be appointed by subscribers of memorandum, and they shall hold office till the election of directors in first AGM.
-Subsequent directors shall be elected by members at general meeting, and they shall hold office for three years, unless he earlier dies or is disqualified or resigns.
However company limited by guarantee not having share capital may reduce this period through its Articles.
When is filing casual vacancy of directors required?
Filing casual vacancy is required if:
- company is limited company (to be filled within 90 days of occurrence) or,
- remaining directors are less than minimum number required by Law/Articles.
What is the procedure for election of directors for a company having share capital?
1-FIXATION OF NUMBERS DIRECTORS TO BE ELECTED:
existing directors shall fix the numbers atleast 35 days before the general meeting.
2-SEND NOTICE OF MEETING:
shall be sent to members atleast 21 before meeting.
3-FILING OF INTENTION TO BECOME DIRECTOR:
shall file notice of intention in writing with company atleast 14 days before relevant general meeting
4-LIST OF CANDIDATED TO BE TRANSMITTED TO MEMBERS:
all notices of intention received shall be transmitted to members atleast 7 days before general meeting.
5-IF NUMBER OF DIRECTORS IS EQUAL OR LESS THEN NUMBER FIXED:
All directors shall remain elected unopposed without poll.
6-IF NUMBER OF CANDIDATED EXCEEDS NUMBER FIXED:
- -poll shall be conducted
- every member shall have voted equal to “No of shares * No of directors to be elected’
- Candidate getting highest votes shall be declared as director, and then next candidate and so on until..
What is the procedure for election of directors for a company not having share capital?
Directors shall be elected by members in general meeting in the manner as provided in articles.
Discuss power/requirements of court to declare election of directors invalid?
Court may declare election of all directors or any one of them as invalid:
- If members holding 10% or more voting powers.
- apply to court within 30 days from date of election.
- it is provided that there has been material irregularity in the holding of the election
Discuss power of substantial acquirer to hold fresh election of directors?
- Required shareholding, he may apply to commission for fresh election.
- Within 30 days of request, company shall proceed fresh election.
- However number of directors fixed shall not be reduced.
- Listed company shall follow procedures specified by commission.
Who are the directors other than elected directors?
Nominee directors
- Nominee directors by Govt or body corporate
- Nominee directors by creditors
When will director shall cease to hold office?
A director shall cease to hold office if:
1- after appointment, he becomes subject to any of ineligibility criteria specified by Act.
2- he absents himself from three consecutive board meetings without seeking leave of absence.
3- he or any firm in which he is a partner or any private company in which he is a director:
a) obtains loan or guarantee from the company without fulfilling conditions of the Act.
b) accepts office of profit without approval of members. However…..
Can directors remove other directors?
Directors do not have powers to remove other directors. A director can be removed only by passing resolution in general meeting.