Directors' duties and responsibilities Flashcards
What is the difference between a director and a shareholder?
- Director manages company on day to day (agency) basis and owes duties to the company
- Shareholder owns (shares in) the company and can control key decisions through shareholder resolutions
Common for them to be the same people
Agency = company is inanimate so directors responsible for managing company through agency relationship
Are directors accountable to the shareholders directly?
No - they are accountable to the company itself
So accountable to shareholders but not technically
On what matters can directors make decisions on?
- Any that are not reserved by the CA or Articles for the shareholders (company name, amending Articles, removing directors)
- Board usually free under Articles to make decisions on behalf of company on all other matters (MA 3): employ/remunerate individuals, enter into contracts, buy and sell company property, borrow from banks, putting together accounts and supplying auditors
MA 5 allows the board to delegate particular decision to one director/committee e.g. HR director is delegated decision-making re HR decisions of company
How are directors held to account?
Actions and powers regulated by statute to ensure companies are run for the benefit of shareholders
What is the minimum number of directors for a company?
- Ltd = at least 1 director
- Plc = at least 2 directors
No maximum - can be inserted into Articles
Must every director be a natural person?
A company can be appointed as a director, but every company must have at least one director who is a natural person so can aid accountability
How old must you be to be a director?
16
What is the difference between a de facto and a de jure director?
- De jure = validly appointed at law
- De facto = someone who assumes to act as director but has not been validly appointed
What applies to de facto the same way as it does de jure?
Fiduciary duties and liabilities
What is a shadow director (and what will not be a shadow director)? Will CA and IA provisions apply equally to them?
- A person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of the company are accustomed to act
- Professional advisors will not be shadow directors (accountants etc.)
- Most provisions in CA and IA apply equally to shadow directors
Legislation designed to ensure anyone acting as a director - even if not technically one e.g. a friend of director giving advice from ‘behind scenes’ which directors follow - is subject to duties/restrictions applying to all directors
What is the difference between an executive and non-executive director?
- Executive = appointed to office and spends majority/all working time on business as officer/employee
- Non-executive = not employee and does not take part in day-to-day running but provides independent advice
What are alternate directors and will duties apply to them?
- Individual who will take place of director when one or more is absent and has their voting powers (fellow director/someone appointed by BR)
- Is considered duties will apply
Becoming increasingly rare due to technology and written resolutions
What does a company secretary do and not do?
- Does: keep company books up-to-date, produce minutes, make filings at CH
- Does not: take decisions on behalf of company (that is director and shareholder domain)
What are the requirements for a secretary for a Plc and Ltd?
- Plc = must have company secretary
- Ltd = not required to have company secretary unless required by articles
If Ltd has no secretary, director/authorised person can carry out roles
How qualified must the company secretary be?
Must have the requisite knowledge and experience and one of the qualifications set out in s273(2)
Responsibility of directors to check qualifications
What is the procedure for the appointment of directors in the CA 2006?
There is not one! Governed by the Articles
What are the two ways companies can appoint a director under the MA?
(Model Articles)
- By OR of shareholders; or
- By a decision of the directors (majority)
Second is easier
Is an executive director an employee of the company? Do they have an automatic entitlement to be paid?
- Are an employee - sign a ‘service contract’ containing terms/conditions of employment, remuneration, notice provisions etc. (determined by board)
- No automatic entitlement to be paid (determined subject to Articles)
What obligations does a company have re its service contracts?
Keep at registered office for inspection by members
What approval is required of a director’s service contract?
- Will generally only require approval of BR
- Shareholder approval required for long-term service contracts
What must be maintained at registered office and what must CH Registrar be notified of?
- Must maintain register of directors and secretary at registered office
- Must notify Registrar at CH of changes to directors
What information about directors is available for inspection by the public and its members?
- Information at CH available for inspection by the public
- Register at registered office available for inspection on request by any member of company without charge and by any other person (public) on payment of a fee
When can a company refuse the request from public/member to inspect information e.g. register of members?
If they believe the request is not made for a ‘proper purpose’
If the company believes the request is not for proper purpose, what should they do?
Apply to court to refuse request within 5 working days of receiveing it and notify the person making the request
What address of the director’s will be available for the public generally in the register?
Only a service address - either director’s residential address or company’s registered office
Individual directors (not secretaries) still have to provide residential address (s165) but this is kept on a secure register not open to public inspection
What disclosure re (past) director’s remuneration is required on company’s annual accounts?
- Director’s salaries, bonus payments and pension entitlements
- Compensation paid to directors and past directors for loss of office
What other payments to/received by whom must be disclosed on annual accounts?
Two types
Payments made to/received by:
- Person connected to a director or
- Body corporate controlled by director
How is a director removed by shareholders? Can the board remove?
- By OR
- Board cannot remove unless Articles provide
What notice is required for a removal resolution?
Special notice - 28 days
Can directors vote in the OR to remove them?
Yes!
What are the other ways a director may vacate from office?
- Resignation by notice (+ non-obligatory BR accepting resignation)
- Automatic termination (disqualified, bankrupt, physically/mentally incapable and will remain so for 3+ months)
- Disqualification w/o leave of court (for fraudulent/wrongful trading, persistent breaches of company law)
- Retirement by rotation
What is the maximum disqualification period?
15 years
What is retirement and reappointment and which articles is it required by?
As part of retirement by rotation
MA for plcs - require retirement and reappointment of directors by members every 3 years (all directors of listed companies subject to annual re-election)
What must happen at CH when director leaves office?
Update company’s register of directors and give notice to CH by filing form TM01
What kind of directors are subject to directors’ duties (s170-177)?
All
If a directors’ duty is breached, who is the C?
The company! As a wrong has been done to the company
What are the 7 general duties of directors?
- Duty to act within powers (s171)
- Duty to promote success of company for benefit of members as a whole (s172)
- Duty to exercise independent judgement (s173)
- Duty to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence (s174)
- Duty to avoid conflicts of interest (s175)
- Duty not to accept benefits from TPs (s176)
- Duty to declare interest in a proposed transaction (s177)
What are the 2 separate duties within the duty to act within powers?
S171
- Act within company’s constitution (in accordance with articles e.g. not borrow more than articles allow w/o shareholder approval)
- Exercise powers for purposes for which they are conferred (not for personal gain)
What is meant by the duty requiring directors to act in the ‘best interests’ of the company?
S172
Must act in a way which they consider, in good faith, is most likely to promote benefit of its members as a whole; i.e. long-term increase in value
What are the non-exhaustive and often conflicting matters included under s172 and how do they compare to duty to shareholders?
- Is secondary to shareholders - but considered as part of ‘enlightened shareholder value’ (balance between maximising shareholder profits and wider stakeholder interests)
- List includes: likely long-term consequences of any decision; employees’ interests; the need to foster relationships with suppliers, customers and others; the impact of the company’s operations on the community and the environment; the desirability of the company’s maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct; the need to act fairly as between the members of a company
Common sense approach usually taken - minutes should show consideration has been given to s172 duty when taking decisions