Workshop 5: Equity Finance Flashcards
What is capital?
Funds available to run business of a company
What is the definition of ‘share capital’?
Money raised by the issue of shares, which is contributed towards by investors in company and represented as ‘shares’, which are issues to these investors
What is ‘working capital’?
Funds needed to keep the business going
What can ‘share capital’ also be known as?
Equity finance
What does a shareholder have by way of investing into the company and becoming a part owner?
Voting rights
What does s 542(1) and (2) postage regarding the validity of shares?
(1) shares in a limited company having a share capital must have a fixed nominal value
(2) allotment of share that does not have a fixed nominal value is void
What is meant by the term ‘premium’?
The excess over nominal value of a share
TRUE OR FALSE
Nominal value represents a unit ownership rather than the value of the share
True
What are the common nominal values for ordinary shares?
1p, 5p or £1
What is the ‘issues share capital’?
Where can this be found?
The amounts of shares in issue at any time, shown in the vompany’s balance sheet in its accounts
What two components make up a company’s ISC?
- Subscriber shares
- Shares issues after the company has been incorporated to new or existing shareholders
What are ‘subscriber shares’?
Shares purchased by the first members of the company
What are ‘allotted shares’?
S 558 CA 2006 defined shares to be allotted when one acquires the unconditional right to be included in the company’s register of members regarding those shares
What is the ‘paid up share capital’?
The amount of nominal capital paid
TRUE OR FALSE
The amounts of share capital outstanding can be demanded only 5 years after having the shares
False, it can be demanded by the company at any time
What does a payment being ‘called’ mean?
When a company demands the payment of share capital
What is the definition of ‘called up share’?
Combined numbers of calls made on a company’s shares and existing paid-up share capital - rarely used as shares are rarely not fully paid up [on issue]
What are ‘treasury shares’?
Shares that have been brought back by the company and held ‘in treasury’
What is special about treasury shares in the sale of them?
They are ‘transferred’, not issued shares
Can shares in treasury be sold?
Yes
What are the names of the eight classes of shares?
- Ordinary shares
- Redeemable shares
- Preference shares
- Non-voting shares
- Employees shares
- Cumulative shares
- Convertible shares
- Deferred share
What is the main underlying reason as to why there are different classes of shares?
Each class of shares have different entitlements of
- Voting
- Dividends
- Return of capital when wound up
Where can you find the rights of the share class you’ve invested in?
In the company’s Model Articles
What is the most commonly allotted shares?
Ordinary shares
What type of shares are issues if a company’s shares are issued without differentiation?
Ordinary shares
What three rights do ordinary shares carry?
- Right to vote in general meeting
- Right to a dividend if one is declared
- Right to a portion of any surplus assets of the company on a winding up
What three things could a preference share give the holiday a preference of payment to?
- Payment of dividend
- Payment of return of capital on wind of company
- Both
TRUE OR FALSE
Equivalent payment of dividends, return of capital or both will be award to a preference shareholder after awarded to ordinary shareholder
False
Do preference shares have voting or non-voting rights attached?
Non-voting, but important to check rights set out in MA, as these shares can be issued with voting rights
How is the preference to a dividend usually expressed?
As a percentage of the par nominal value of the share
E.g., 5% of £1 preference share
How is the preference to a dividend usually expressed where the preference share has been issued at a premium where it is intended the fixed dividend will be paid based on amount the share was subscribed to?
The share rights in the MA must expressly state that the dividend is to be calculated as a percentage of the total subscription price per preference share
What are the ‘cumulative preference shares’ that are generally assumed?
Where a dividend is not declared for a particular year, but is able to be paid when carried over into the following year
What are the characteristics of ‘deferred shares’?
What are deferred shareholders sometimes entitled to?
- Carry no voting rights
- Carry no ordinary dividend
Sometimes entitled to a share of surplus profits after other dividends have been paid
When are deferred shares issued?
When worthless shares are required
What are ‘redeemable shares’?
Shares that are issued with the intention that the company will buy them back and cancel them if the future
What are ‘convertible shares’?
Shares that have the option to convert shares into a different class according to stipulated criteria
What is the difference between alloying and transferring shares?
Allotting - contract between company and new/existing shareholder where company agreed to issues shares in return for purchaser paying for subscription price
Transfer - contract between existing shareholder and purchaser where existing shares are sold
TRUE OR FALSE
The company is a part to a transfer of shares
False
Only in the exceptional circumstance where there is a sale out of treasure of treasury shares
What does s 775 CA 2006 mean regarding private companies limited by shares offering of shares?
They are limited to offering their shares to target investors only instead of the public, like PLCs
What is a ‘prospectus’ in the offering of shares to would-be investors?
Circular that explains details about the company as well as their investment, and how they should base their investment decision
It contains the necessary information to make an informed assessment of the company’s financial status and the rights attached to the shares
Will a prospectus be needed in the offering of shares by a private company?
Usually not, but the rules will need to still be considered each time
What two options of communications must be made by a company when issuing shares regarding financial promotions?
- Communications must be within an exemption from s 21 FSMA prohibition or
- Communications must show approval of financial promotions by authorised person appointed by FCA to approve financial promotions
What is the FSMA’s stance on financial promotion?
Financial promotion is the course of business to engage in investment activity is prohibited (s 21 FSMA)
What is the ‘transmission of shares’?
Which two scenarios may the transmission of shares occur?
Automatic process of the transmission of shares in either
- Death of a shareholder, their shares will pass to their PR
- In the bankruptcy of a shareholder, their shares automatically vest in their trustee in bankruptcy
Which two ways can shares be transferred from an existing shareholder to a new shareholder?
- By way of sale
- By gift
Are there restrictions on the extent shareholders can transfer their shares?
Yes - these restrictions are subject to MA
What are the two most common forms of restriction on shares?
- Directors’ power to refuse to register
- Pre-emption clauses (rights of first refusal)
What does Article 26(5) MA say about the directors power to refuse to register state?
Directors may be able to refuse to register the transfer of a share
If they refuse, the instrument of transfer must be returned to transferee shareholder with notice of refusal, unless director suspect proposed transfer to be fraudulent
TRUE OR FALSE
Under s 771CA 2006, a company must give reasons it refuses to register a transfer
True
What do pre-emption rights on transfer of shares instruct?
That shareholders must offer their shares to existing shareholders before offering to an outsider
What is the three step process for the method of transfer of shares?
- Fill, transferor sign and submit stock transfer form with share certificate to new shareholder
- Beneficial title and legal title passes on
- Have stock transfer form stamped before new owner can be registered as new shareholder
Who does the beneficial title of the shares pass on to in transferring shares?
Passes on to the execution of the stock transfer form
Who does the legal title of the shares pass on to in transferring shares?
Onto the registration of member as the owner of those shares in the register of members by the company
How much is the stamp duty?
Buyer pays 0.5% of the consideration, rounded to nearest £5
TRUE OR FALSE
No stamp duty payable if consideration is £1k or less
True
TRUE OR FALSE
Minimum stamp duty fee of £5 is payable where consideration is more than £1000
True
What it’s important regarding different legislation when considering the context of issuing of shares?
Why is this?
Whether the company has been incorporated under CA 2006 or CA 1985
Because there will be difference in the way the company issues shares
How many steps are there generally in the issuing of shares!?
5
What is step 1 in the procedure of issuing shares?
- You must check the MA for caps and limits on no. of shares that may be issued
What happens if a shareholder wishes to exceed the limit of shares issued?
The cap must either be removed or increased limit
What is the main difference between CA 2006 and CA 1985 regarding the requirement for an authorised share capital (“ASC”) ?
The 1985 requires companies to have the ASC in their MA, unless cap is removed
The 2006 does not require companies to have ASC in their MA