Shareholder Rights Flashcards
Explain the purpose of a shareholders’ agreement.
A shareholders’ agreement aims to minimize the effects of majority rule by outlining how the company is to be run and how shareholders will vote on certain matters.
How might a shareholders’ agreement affect decision-making in a company?
A shareholders’ agreement can require unanimous consent from all shareholders for certain decisions, such as the removal of a director, thereby protecting minority interests.
How does s 33 CA 2006 affect members’ rights?
s 33 CA 2006 allows members to sue if their membership rights are infringed, providing a legal basis for enforcement.
Define the usual remedy for breach of s 33 CA 2006.
The usual remedy for breach of s 33 CA 2006 is damages.
Describe the enforceability of rights that are not membership rights under section 33.
Rights of members that are not classified as membership rights are not enforceable under section 33.
What should members do to protect their rights that are not membership rights?
Members should ensure that any rights not classified as membership rights are documented in a separate contract, such as a shareholders’ agreement.
List examples of membership rights that are enforceable under section 33 CA 2006.
Examples include the right to a dividend once declared, the right to share in surplus capital on winding up, the right to vote at meetings, and the right to receive notice of general meetings and annual general meetings.
Do membership rights include the right to be appointed as a company’s solicitor?
No, the right to be appointed as a company’s solicitor is not considered a membership right.
How does a Shareholders’ Agreement address the issue of new and departing shareholders?
A Shareholders’ Agreement typically includes provisions that outline the process for admitting new shareholders and the terms under which departing shareholders can sell or transfer their shares.
Explain the privacy aspect of Shareholders’ Agreements.
Shareholders’ Agreements can be kept private and are not publicly disclosed unless explicitly referenced in the Articles of the company.
What is a key difference between Shareholders’ Agreements and Articles of Association?
A key difference is that Shareholders’ Agreements are private contracts among shareholders, while Articles of Association are public documents that govern the company.
Explain the implications of a company being a party to a Shareholders’ Agreement.
A company can be a party to a Shareholders’ Agreement, but it should avoid provisions that limit its ability to exercise statutory powers.
Describe the role of a Shareholders’ Agreement in enforcing provisions between shareholders.
A Shareholders’ Agreement provides a right of action that allows one member to enforce the provisions directly against another, which may not be possible under the Articles.
Define the term ‘right of action’ in the context of Shareholders’ Agreements.
A right of action allows a shareholder to enforce the terms of the Shareholders’ Agreement against another member, providing a legal basis for claims.
What happens if a term of a Shareholders’ Agreement is breached?
If breached, it can be enforced under general contract law principles, allowing the aggrieved shareholder to claim for breach of contract or seek an injunction.
Explain the significance of section 994 petitions in relation to Shareholders’ Agreements.
While a Shareholders’ Agreement can help prevent the need for s 994 petitions for unfair prejudice, it cannot completely stop a disgruntled shareholder from filing such a petition.
Define the implications of passing a removal resolution without required unanimity.
If a removal resolution is passed without the required unanimity but with a simple majority, the resolution is still valid, and the director can claim breach of the shareholders’ agreement against the other shareholders.
How do amendments to shareholders’ agreements differ from changes to a company’s articles of association?
Amendments to shareholders’ agreements require unanimous approval from all parties, while changes to a company’s articles of association can be made with a special resolution requiring 75% approval.
Explain the right of veto in the context of shareholders’ agreements.
The requirement for unanimous approval to amend a shareholders’ agreement gives minority parties a right of veto over any proposed changes.
Describe the rights of any shareholder under CA 2006.
Any shareholder has the right to receive notice of a General Meeting, appoint a proxy to attend a General Meeting, vote at a General Meeting (if they hold voting shares), receive a dividend (if declared), receive a copy of the company’s accounts, inspect minutes and company registers, ask the court to prevent a breach of directors’ duties, commence a derivative claim, bring a petition for unfair prejudice, and bring a petition for just and equitable winding up.
Define the right to receive a copy of the company’s accounts under CA 2006.
The right to receive a copy of the company’s accounts under CA 2006 allows shareholders to access the financial statements and reports of the company, ensuring transparency and accountability.
What action can shareholders take if they believe there is a breach of directors’ duties?
Shareholders can ask the court to prevent a breach of directors’ duties.
Explain the process for a shareholder to commence a derivative claim under CA 2006.
A shareholder can commence a derivative claim under section 260 of CA 2006, which allows them to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the company against directors for actions that are detrimental to the company.
What is the significance of the right to bring a petition for unfair prejudice?
The right to bring a petition for unfair prejudice allows shareholders to seek legal remedy if they believe their interests as shareholders are being unfairly treated or disregarded by the company.
How can shareholders dissolve a company?
CA 2006 allows shareholders to bring a petition for just and equitable winding up under section 122 of the Insolvency Act 1986, providing a legal avenue for shareholders to dissolve the company if it is deemed fair and just.
Describe the rights of shareholders holding 5% or more of shares.
Shareholders with 5% or more can require directors to call a General Meeting, require the circulation of written statements regarding proposed resolutions, and circulate a written resolution.
How can shareholders with 10% or more of shares influence voting?
Shareholders with 10% or more can demand a poll vote.
Define the power of shareholders holding over 25% of shares.
Shareholders with over 25% can block a special resolution, which requires 75% or more of the votes to pass.
What can shareholders with over 50% of shares do regarding ordinary resolutions?
Shareholders with over 50% can pass or block an ordinary resolution, which requires more than 50% of the votes to pass.
Explain the significance of a 75% shareholding in terms of special resolutions.
Shareholders with 75% or more can pass a special resolution, which requires 75% or more of the votes to be approved.
Explain the context in which Bushell v Faith clauses are commonly found.
These clauses are often found in the articles of association of smaller companies where directors have played a key role in establishing the company and expect to remain involved in its management.
Explain the significance of DAY 22 in the context of the Board’s decision-making process.
DAY 22 is significant as it is the latest day by which the Board must decide whether to call a General Meeting.
Define the timeline for shareholders to call a General Meeting if the Board does not cooperate after a section 303 notice.
If the Board does not call a General Meeting by Day 22, shareholders can call the GM themselves starting from Day 23, with the GM needing to be held within 3 months of the section 303 request.
What happens on Day 23 in relation to the Board’s control over the General Meeting process?
On Day 23, the Board loses control of the process, allowing unhappy shareholders to call the General Meeting.
Explain the significance of Day 38 in the context of the General Meeting process.
Day 38 is the deadline by which the General Meeting must be held if the Board does not call it, as it must occur within 3 months of the section 303 request.
(14 clear days notice after day 23)
Describe the process a company must follow upon receiving notice of a removal resolution proposal.
The company must immediately send a copy of the notice to the concerned director, even if the Board decides not to include the resolution on the agenda of a General Meeting.
How can a director respond to a removal resolution notice?
The director has the right to make written representations of reasonable length explaining why they should not be removed.
What happens to a director’s written representations regarding their removal?
Unless received too late, the representations should be circulated to the members of the company; if not circulated, they must be read out at the General Meeting.
Describe the purpose of a Bushell v Faith clause in the articles of association.
A Bushell v Faith clause may grant a director, who is also a shareholder, weighted voting rights at a general meeting, making it difficult for shareholders to pass an ordinary resolution to remove that director.
Define the significance of checking shareholders’ agreements in relation to Bushell v Faith clauses.
It is important to check shareholders’ agreements for similar provisions to understand any additional rights or restrictions regarding the removal of directors who are also shareholders.
What should be examined in the articles of association regarding a director’s shareholding upon removal?
The articles should be checked for transfer provisions that may govern the transfer of the outgoing director’s shareholding, typically requiring them to transfer their shares to other shareholders upon removal.
What is the latest day the Board must hold a General Meeting if it decides to call one?
The latest day for holding a General Meeting is DAY 50.
21 days to decide whether to hold GM + GM to be held within 28 days of calling it
How does a shareholders’ agreement interact with statutory rights under s 168 CA 2006?
A shareholders’ agreement may require unanimous consent for director removal, but it does not remove the statutory right of majority shareholders to remove a director under s 168 CA 2006.
Define the validity of a resolution passed under s 168 CA 2006 that contradicts a shareholders’ agreement.
A resolution passed by a simple majority under s 168 CA 2006 is still valid even if it contradicts the terms of a shareholders’ agreement.
What recourse does a director have if removed contrary to a shareholders’ agreement?
The director can claim against the other shareholders for breach of the shareholders’ agreement or apply to the court for an injunction to prevent the breach.
Explain the implications for a director who is also a shareholder in the context of a shareholders’ agreement.
A director who is also a shareholder has significant rights under a shareholders’ agreement, particularly regarding the requirement for unanimous consent for their removal.
Describe the circumstances under which a company may pay compensation for loss of office to a director.
A company may decide to pay compensation for loss of office to a director if the director leaves or loses their position, and such payments must be approved by the company’s shareholders unless certain conditions are met.