Practice Qs Flashcards
Geary & Smith, a firm of accountants, acted on the audit of Musica Ltd and, owing to the negligence of the audit team manager, misrepresented the company’s financial position. Geary & Smith had known that Moments Musicaux plc had been promised a set of the audited accounts as soon as they were available in order to assist it in proposing a takeover bid price that would be acceptable to the shareholders in Musica Ltd.
Can Moments Musicaux plc sue Geary & Smith in the tort of negligence?
a) No, because its loss is purely financial and it should have carried out its own professional investigation into the accuracy of the accounts.
b) No, because no duty of care is owed to potential investors, only to the existing body of shareholders as a whole.
c) Yes, because when a takeover is anticipated, a special relationship arises between accountants and all recipients of the accounts.
d) Yes, because Moments Musicaux plc was a bidder known to Geary & Smith to be highly likely to rely on the accounts.
d
The facts are similar to Galoo Ltd v Bright Grahame Murray 1995. In such circumstances, the court is likely to consider that the accounts were prepared for the purpose of assisting the takeover and
not just for audit purposes.
Derry plans to incorporate his business, a sports shop on Bromley High Street, as Sports International Ltd, but his business partner, Thelma, is worried about the choice of name. She seeks your advice on two points
a) Is the word ‘International’ in the proposed name prohibited?
b) Could Thelma, who will own 60% of the shares in the new company, ensure a voluntary change of name at a later date?
a) No
But the approval of the Secretary of State is required and is unlikely to be given in this case
b) No.
A special resolution (75%) is required for a change of name.
Are the following statements true or false?
a) Public companies must publish the results of polls at general meetings on a website.
b) Proxies cannot be included in determining whether a quorum is present.
a) False.
This is true for quoted companies only.
b) False.
Edwina has been appointed as administrator for Eggsell Ltd.
Within how many weeks is she obliged to hold a creditors’ meeting (assuming that no
exceptions apply and that she is required to hold one)?
6 weeks.
10 weeks.
12 weeks.
3 months.
10 weeks
No creditors’ meeting is necessary where the administrator considers there to be insufficient property to make a distribution to unsecured creditors over and above the ‘ring-fenced asset distribution’ set out in the Insolvency Act 1986 and at least 10% creditors do not require one.
Within what time period must a private company give notice of its refusal to register a requested transfer of its shares?
2 months. It must also give reasons for its refusal
In some cases, a worker may intend to disclose wrongdoing by his employer to someone outside the workplace, for example the police or the NCA. In such cases, the disclosure will be protected by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 if it is reasonable in all the circumstances and is not made for personal gain. In addition, the worker will need to satisfy one of several other criteria in order to
receive the protection of the Act (assuming that the matter disclosed is a qualifying disclosure within the Act).
Which one of the following is not one of those criteria and will not, therefore, afford the statutory protection?
a) Reasonably believing that he would be victimised if he raised the matter internally.
b) The fact that he had already raised the matter internally.
c) The fact that the matter was of a serious criminal nature.
d) Reasonably believing that a cover-up was likely and there was no prescribed person to whom disclosure could be made.
c
Is not a minimum criteria
As a general rule, accountants have a duty to report any suspicion or knowledge of money laundering that they have, or face criminal liability under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
However, does this duty to report apply in the following situations?
a) Where the accountant is acting as an insolvency practitioner?
b) Where the accountant is involved in giving tax advice and the alleged offence is committed by a third party and not their client?
a) Yes
b) Yes
Can an independent contractor claim wrongful dismissal?
No, only employees can
What are the three critical aspects of a contract of employment
- Personal service
- Control over employee
- Mutuality of obligations
Hilary is employed by Howard in his restaurant. Howard deducts tax and national insurance from her monthly salary. She is entitled to paid sick leave of up to 10 weeks per year. She is given at least 48 hours’ notice of when she is required to work and Howard is required to ask Hilary to work before offering the work to the other non-permanent staff. Hilary wears a uniform provided by Howard, bearing the name of the restaurant.
Is Hilary an employee or an independent contractor?
a) She is an employee because she is paid after deductions for tax and national insurance.
b) She is an independent contractor because she works for Howard on an as-and-when-required basis.
c) She is an employee because she wears a uniform supplied by Howard and is entitled to sick leave.
d) She is an independent contractor because she is free to work for other employers when she is not working for Howard.
b
The obligation to work as-and-when required means that mutuality of obligations is not present and
she cannot, therefore, be an employee.
Edward has been working for Claire for six and a half years. His contract provides for his employment to be terminated on the giving of one month’s notice. Claire hands him written notice terminating his employment ‘one month from now’.
Has sufficient notice been given?
a) Yes. Notice has been given in accordance with Edward’s contract.
b) Yes. Edward’s length of continuous employment entitles him to not less than one month’s notice.
c) No. Edward is entitled to not less than six weeks’ notice.
d) No. Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, the minimum period of notice to which Edward is
entitled is six and a half weeks.
c
Half weeks do not apply
Is an employer obliged to provide a written statement of the reasons for a dismissal?
No - not unless the employee requests one within 14 days of their dismissal
Under the Employment Rights Act 1996 lack of capability on the part of the employee is a potentially fair reason for dismissal which can be put forward by an employer, subject to the requirement that the employer must have acted reasonably in the circumstances.
Which of the following is NOT protected by the statutory provisions regulating unfair
dismissal on the grounds of lack of capability?
a) A part-time employee who has worked for Primefoods Ltd for 3 years.
b) A full-time employee who has worked for Fastfoods Ltd for 6 months and then Primefoods Ltd for 18 months after Fastfoods’ business was transferred to Primefoods Ltd.
c) A full-time employee whose contract of employment requires them to work for Primefoods Ltd’s sister company in France.
d) An employee who has worked for Primefoods Ltd for 3 years but during that time spent 6 months
in the armed services.
c
The Employment Rights Act 1996 originally provided that employees who ordinarily work outside Great Britain were excluded. Although this provision was repealed in 1999, generally speaking, it can be said that those who work outside Great Britain are excluded from the Act’s protection. (The
judiciary now has the task of deciding, on a case by case basis, whether an employee is excluded, generally based on the strength of the link with Great Britain.)
Can a registered company be
a) A data controller?
b) A data subject?
a) Yes
b) No - only individuals can be data subjects
Pamela and Rhiannon work for Hammer House Ltd and have just been told by their boss that they are no longer required and should clear their desks immediately. Their contracts provide for one month’s notice and no wrongdoing has been alleged. There is no question of redundancy. Pamela has been working at Hammer House for two years and Rhiannon for nine months.
a) Can Pamela claim for both unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal?
b) Can Rhiannon claim wrongful dismissal in an employment tribunal?
a) Yes
b) Yes
Assuming her claim is for less than a prescribed amount, employment tribunals have a concurrent jurisdiction with the courts. (She cannot claim unfair dismissal, because she has insufficient continuous employment in accordance with the Employment Rights Act 1996).
True or false;
Under criminal law, the victim of the crime is not entitled to damages from the guilty party
True
Damages is not an available remedy under criminal law
All of the following contracts except one must be in the form of a deed. Which one is the exception?
a) Contract for the transfer of land
b) Contract for consumer credit
c) Contract for a lease over 3 years
d) Contract for the regular payment of a donation to charity
b) A contract for consumer credit must be in writing but not as a deed
Prunella agrees to pay Paul £500 if Paul will landscape Phillip’s garden. There is no agency relationship and the rights of third parties act does not apply.
Who may enforce the terms of the contract?
a) Prunella, Paul and Phillip
b) Prunella and Phillip only
c) Pail and Phillip only
d) Prunella and Paul only
d) Prunella and Paul only
Phillip has given no consideration and is not a party in the contract, thus, he has no rights to enforce
Is the payment of £1 per year as rent for a house valid consideration?
Yes - consideration need not be adequate but it must be sufficient
True or false;
Acceptance must always be communicated to the offeror in order to be effective
False
This can be waived & acceptance inferred from conduct
True or false;
a) Anticipatory breaches may be implied from conduct and need not be explicit
b) If an innocent party elects to treat the contract as discharged, they waive the right to claim damages from the party at fault
a) True
b) False
They may treat the contract as discharged AND sue for damages
True or false;
a) Damages for breach of contract are primarily intended to restore the injured party to the same position they were in at the time the contract was made
b) The claimant is required to take every opportunity to mitigate their loss arising as a consequence of a breach of contract
a) False
Damages are intended to put the party in the position they would have been had the contract been performed
b) False
The claimant is required to taker only reasonable steeps not ones that carry undue risk or that are discreditable
All of the following statements are examples of lawful excuses for not performing under a contract except one, which?
a) Performance by one party is rejected by another
b) Non-performance occurs but is agreed by both parties
c) One party makes it impossible to perform
d) Performance is impossible when the contract is made
d) If performance is impossible when the contract is MADE then there is usually no contract at all
Which of the following is not necessary to be shown by a claimant in order to succeed in an action for negligence
a) That the defendant owed them a duty of care
b) That the defendant was in breach of a duty of care
c) That the claimant suffered injury, damage or loss as a result of the breach of that duty of care
d) That the damage was not too remote
d) Whether the damage was too remote is a matter for the court to decide in assessing damages once negligence has been shown
Can a company agree to indemnify auditors against negligence?
Yes
True or false;
Under the partnership act, a partner can be expelled for any reason
False, must be in good faith for a good reason
True or false,
Under the Partnership Act,
a) A partner has unfettered access to the firm’s books
b) The partners share the capital, profit and losses in proportion to their initial capital contribution
a) True
b) False - p/l shared equally
When a private company limited by shares registers, must it submit a trading certificate?
No - this is a requirement for public companies
Is a company required to keep a register of its director’s personal addresses?
Is a company required to keep a list of debenture holders?
Yes - but must not be made public
No- but if it does must be available for inspection
True or false;
a) When a company applies for registration, a copy of its proposed articles must be supplied to the registrar
b) A certificate of incorporation is conclusive evidence that a company ahs been registered in accordance with the companies act
a) False - model articles will apply if not
b) True
True or false;
a) The duties owed by a defacto director are the same as those of a properly appointed director
b) Directors are agents of the members of a company
c) The statutory duty of a director to disclose any interest that they have in a proposed transaction or arrangement with the company does not apply to shadow directors
d) Is petitioning the court for winding up on the just and equitable ground available to any member regardless of the size of his shareholding?
e) A director is required to exercise their powers subject to any directions given by ordinary resolution
f) Directors can be found guilty of fraudulent trading even if their company has not been wound up
g) Directors can only be fount to have committed wrongful trading if their company has been wound up
a) True
b) False
c) False - all directors duties apply to shadow directors also
d) Yes
e) False - a director is not an agent of the shareholders and is not liable to act as instructed by them
f) True
g) True
Indicate whether the following actions require an ordinary or special resolution;
a) The change of a companies name
b) The removal of a director
c) The removal of an auditor
d) A change in articles
e) A reduction of the companies share capital
a) Special resolution
b) Ordinary resolution
c) Ordinary resolution
d) Special resolution
e) Special resolution
Which type of share carries the right to demand a dividend
a) Ordinary share
b) Preference share
c) Both
d) Neither
d) Neither - both have the right to receive but not demand
What percentage holders of a class of shares can apply to the court to have a variation cancelled
15%
How is the authority to allot shares required to be given to directors of a plc
a) By ordinary resolution
b) By special resolution
c) By articles of association
- a & c
- b & c
- c
- b
1
What is a debenture?
a) A charge over a company’s goodwill
b) The registration document used to register a fixed or floating charge
c) A document that records the terms of any loan
d) A document that records the terms of any secured loan
c - the written acknowledgement of a secured or unsecured loan is called a debenture
True or false;
a) Once approved, a company voluntary arrangement becomes binding on all creditors
b) How long does a CVA usually last?
a) False - preferred and secured creditors are not bound by the CVA
b) 3-5 Years
Which of the following parties nominates the liquidators in a creditors’ voluntary liquidation?
a) Members
b) Creditors
c) Neither
d) Both
c) Directors nominate, creditors must approve
On compulsory winding up, who will the court usually appoint?
a) The secured creditor owed the most money
b) The auditor
c) The official receiver
d) The insolvency practitioner
c) - may be replaced by IP later
Who can apply for a debtors bankrupcy online?
a) The debtor themselves
b) Any creditor owed £750 +
c) A supervisor of an IVA
- a
- b & c
- c
d. a & c
- Third parties must petition the court
Who can apply for a debtors bankruptcy online?
a) The debtor themselves
b) Any creditor owed £750 +
c) A supervisor of an IVA
- a
- b & c
- c
d. a & c
- Third parties must petition the court
In order to receive protection under the whistleblowing provisions of PIDA, does a person have to be an employee?
No, they have to be a worker, which is wider than an employee but does not cover self employed
Which of the following best defines insider dealing;
a) Dealing in securities while in possession of inside information as an insider, the securities being price-affected by the information
b) Acquiring securities with the benefit of price-sensitive information obtained as an insider
c) Being an insider and in possession of confidential information about the likely effect of dealings on the price of securities
a
Which of the following can be included as a separate document, rather than as part of the written statement of prescribed particulars as given to an employee
a) The names of the employee and employer
b) A brief job description
c) The notice period for termination of the employment
d) Whether any service with a previous employer forms part of the employee’s period of continuous employment
c
All except one of the following are parts of the common law duty of an employer to protect their employees against reasonably foreseeable risks to their health, safety and welfare at work
Which is the exception
a) The duty to provide a safe system of work
b) The duty to provide reasonably competent employees
c) The duty to protect an employees personal property while they are engaged in performing their contractual duties
d) The duty to provide safe plant and appliances
c
Which of the following national insurance contributions are employers obliged to pay on behalf of their employees
a) Class 1 Primary
b) Class 1 Secondary
c) Class 2
d) Class 4
b
Employees pay Class 1 primary. Self employed pay class 2 & 4
True or false;
a) The data protection act applies to computer based and electronically stored information only
b) Data is regulated by the data protection act if merely opinions about the data subject is held rather than facts about them
c) if a company breaches the data protection act, they may be fined up to 20 m or 4% of turnover, receive a criminal conviction and a court order to erase all databases
a) False
b) True
c) False; destruction of databases is not a potential penalty under the act
All except one of the following constitute personal data under the data protection act, which is the exception?
a) The fact a person is persistently late for work
b) The fact a person’s corporate employer is on the verge of insolvency
c) An opinion that someone is good at their job
d) The intention to promote an employee within 6 months
b - the act only applies to data about individuals
Which of the following statements concerning the Information Commissioner is correct;
a) They have the right to seize hardware containing inaccurate data
b) They must be informed about every data breach within 72 hours
c) They only regulate data protection in the UK
d) They have the power to issue unlimited fines to organise data breaches
c
they only have to be notified of data breaches that affect the rights and freedoms of individuals
1) Which of the following ICC Incoterms places the maximum obligations on the seller?
2) Which of the following ICC Incoterms places the minimum obligations on the seller?
a) DAP
b) DDP
c) CPT
d) CFR
e) EXW
1) a
2) e
Shareholders representing what minimum percentage of the nominal value of shares with voting rights must agree to notice shorter than 14 days for a general meeting?
90%
Directors must avoid conflicts of interest unless they are authorised by the company’s other directors.
a) Can directors authorise such a conflict in a private company (in the absence of any provisions in the articles)?
b) Can directors authorise such a conflict in a public company (in the absence of any provisions in the articles)?
a) Yes
b) No, Articles must expressly allow
True or false,
The sole director of a company can also be the company secretary
True
a) After being appointed as administrator, how many days does that administrator have to make their requirements for statements known to the company’s officers and employees?
b) How many days do the officers and employees have to comply with the request?
a) 7 days
b) 11 days
With regard to members’ voluntary winding up of a company,
The declaration of solvency must be made by
a) The majority of directors
b) The directors acting unanimously
In appointing a liquidator, the company must pass
c) An ordinary resolution
d) A special resolution
a
d
Can a person petition the court for their own bankruptcy?
No - they can apply online
a) Can the criminal offence of fraudulent trading be committed by the director of a company even if the company is not in liquidation?
b) Can the civil offence of fraudulent trading be committed by the director of a company even if the company is not in liquidation?
c) Can the criminal offence of fraudulent trading be committed where the business is carried on for any fraudulent purpose?
a) Yes
b) No
c) Yes
Must a contract of employment be in writing?
No
Is an independent contractor entitled to protection under health and safety legislation?
Yes
a) If an employer fairs to provide a written statement of employment particulars, are they liable to criminal charges; fine / imprisonment?
b) Does an employer face civil liability for this - even if the written contract of employment covers the matters that should have been contained?
a) No
b) No
Are the following implied duties of the employer in a contract of employment;
a) To assess the employee’s performance on an annual basis
b) To pay reasonable remuneration
a) No
b) Yes
When calculating the basic award for unfair dismissal, which of the following will be considered?
a) Age of employee
b) Length of service
c) Employee’s conduct
d) Redundancy payments made to employee
all factors
What is the usual remedy for unfair dismissal?
a) Damages
b) Compensatory award
What is the usual remedy for wrongful dismissal?
c) Damages
d) Compensatory award
B
c
Within what time period following the date of dismissal must a person claim for redundancy?
6 months
Which of the following can be included as a separate document, rather than as part of the written statement of prescribed particulars given to an employee?
a) The names of employer and employee
b) A brief job description
c) Whether any services from a previous employer must be continued
d) The notice period
d
Is a redundancy payment calculated in the same way as the basic award for unfair dismissal?
yes - based on age and length of service
When making a qualifying disclosure, does the person need some documentary evidence of the matter complained of?
No - reasonable belief will suffice
With regard to the offence of fraud, is it necessary to show that the defendant intended to make a gain for themselves or another person?
No - they can also intent to cause loss for another person
Can you be guilty of insider dealing even if the person you disclose information to does not deal?
Yes - it is irrelevant whether any dealing takes place if a person encourages another to deal
Which of the following is the correct definition for money laundering;
a) It is the process by which the proceeds of illegal activity are disposed of into apparently legitimate business activities
b) It is the process by which monies are transferred from business to business or place to place in order to conceal their origin
c) It is the process by which the proceeds of crime are converted into assets which appear to have a legitimate origin
c
Is disclosing information in the course of employment an offence of insider dealing?
No
It can be an offense of disclosing inside information - assuming you do not also encourage that person to buy
How does pharming differ from phishing?
Phishing is based on legitimate looking emails - pharming is based on legitimate looking websites
a) What is spear phishing?
b) What is online relationship fraud?
a) Targeting particular groups of individuals in an attempt to increase the success rate
b) Building a relationship with the victim and persuading them to give personal details or money