CHOICE OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS Flashcards
What are the different types of Business Organizations?
- Companies
- Sole Proprietorship
- Partnership
- Business names
Who may not form a company?
- An Infant(under the age of 18 except two other adults have subscribed to the memo with him)
- A person of unsound mind
- An undischarged bankrupt
- Persons disqualified under section 281 and 283 of CAMA from being a director
- A company under liquidation
SECTION 20 CAMA
What are the advantages of companies as a business organization?
- Perpetual Succession
- Limited Liability
- Availability of funds
- Management
- Legal Personality
What are the types of companies?
- Private Company Limited by shares(Ltd)
- Public Company Limited by shares(Plc)
- Private Company Limited by guarantee(Ltd/Gte)
- Private Unlimited Companies
- Public Company Limited by Guarantee
- Public Unlimited company
What is a Company Limited by Shares?
A limited liability company is a company having the liability of its members at winding up limited by the memorandum to the amount, if any remaining unpaid on the shares held by
them.
What are the features of a Private Company?
- Limited Liability
- The minimum issued share capital shall not be less than 100k Section 27(2)a
- Not required to hold statutory meeting-SEC 235
- Preemptive rights-S 142
- Written Resolutions for meetings Section 259
- A single person may form a private company-S 18(2)
- The name ends with “ltd”-S 29
- Appointment of over-age directors-Sec 287
- No special resolution needed for removal of secretaries
- Financial statements are not published
11.Appointment of multiple directors through a single resolution-S 235
SECTION 22
What are the features of a public company?
- A minimum of 2 members to start up-No maximum
- The minimum issued share capital is N2 million
- Statutory meeting is compulsory
- Procedure for removal of secretary-SECTION 333
- Invitation to the public to subscribe to its shares
- The name ends with “Plc”
- Public companies cannot appoint overaged directors without giving special notice
- Qualifications for secretaries- SEC 332
When is a public company suitable?
- Where 50 persons or more wants to join in the formation of the company
- Where the public can be invited to subscribe to its shares
- Where having a close relationship is not the main drive for forming a company
- Where there is relatively large capital of N2,000,000 to start up.
- Where the sector requires that the company must be a public company before it can operate
- Where a growing medium or large-scale business needs to acquire incorporated status
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A PRIVATE AND PUBLIC COMPANY?
- Written Resolutions
- Appointment of secretaries(the requirements)
- Minimum issued share capital
- Members(1-50)(2-unlimited)
- Appointment of over-aged directors
- Transfer of shares to the public
- Statutory meeting-SEC 235
- Mode of voting(single resolution for multiple directors)-SEC 287
- Removal of secretaries
- Register of secretaries-SEC 336
What is the 1st Guarantee clause in a company limited by guarantee?
“The income and property of the company shall be applied solely to the promotion of its objects and no part shall be transferred directly or indirectly except with the permission of the commission”
SECTION 26(1)
Features of a company limited by guarantee?
- There is no share capital
- They can do business but not with the aim of making profit or capital
- Consent of the AG is required
- Amount of liability the members will take in the event of the company being wound up is N100,000
- Cypress-Transfer the company’s assets to another company in the event of winding up.
- Ends with “GTE”
- Must contain Guarantee clauses
SECTION 26 CAMA
What is the 2nd liability clause in a company limited by guarantee?
“Each member shall undertake to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of the company being wound up, while he is still a member (or within one year after he ceases to be a member) for the payment of debts and liabilities and the cost of winding up, such amount as may be required not exceeding a specified amount and minimum of 100,000”
Difference between company limited by shares and company limited by guarantee?
- LTD is profit oriented, GTE is not.
- LTD members are entitled to dividend when declared, GTE dividend goes back to the company.
- Consent of the AG is not needed to register a LTD, consent of AG is needed to register a GTE
- GTE members are only liable to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of its being wound up. LTD members are liable at anytime
- Ends with GTE, ends with LTD
- LTD pay taxes, GTE do not pay taxes
Who can register a company?
- Chartered Accountants
- Legal Practitioners
- Chartered Secretaries
ALSO by the provisions of companies regulations - First subscribers
- First directors
Difference between statement of compliance and statutory declaration of compliance?
Previously, the old CAMA required that a statutory declaration of compliance must be made by a LEGAL PRACTITIONER of a company formally to a notary public
This has been replaced with statement of compliance(that can be made by an applicant or his agent)-SEC 40 CAMA