This chapter examines the controls imposed on return of a company’s capital to its members, first by considering the common law general principle that return of capital to shareholders is illegal unless permitted by statute. It then discusses the problem of how to distinguish between a legal distribution of profits and an illegal return of capital; transfer of profits to a capital redemption reserve and use of profits to pay up bonus shares; company’s issuance and redemption of redeemable shares or purchase of its own shares; purchased shares as treasury shares; and how a company may reduce its issued share capital by special resolution. The chapter also looks at capitalisations and employees’ share schemes. It includes analysis of three court cases that are particularly significant to distributions and the maintenance of capital.
Chapter
This chapter examines the controls imposed on return of a company’s capital to its members, first by considering the common law general principle that return of capital to shareholders is illegal unless permitted by statute. It then discusses the problem of how to distinguish between a legal distribution of profits and an illegal return of capital; transfer of profits to a capital redemption reserve and use of profits to pay up bonus shares; company’s issuance and redemption of redeemable shares or purchase of its own shares; purchased shares as treasury shares; and how a company may reduce its issued share capital by special resolution. The chapter also looks at capitalisations and employees’ share schemes. It includes analysis of three court cases that are particularly significant to distributions and the maintenance of capital.
Chapter
The Concentrate Questions and Answers series offers the best preparation for tackling exam questions and coursework. Each book includes typical questions, suggested answers with commentary, illustrative diagrams, guidance on how to develop your answer, suggestions for further reading, and advice on exams and coursework. Shareholders in a company own shares, but the nature of a share and the rights of a shareholder are not easily defined. This chapter discusses the definition and characteristics of a share; the differences between different types of share, particularly ordinary and preference shares; allotment of shares and pre-emption rights; return of capital; and variation of class rights.
Chapter
Lee Roach
This chapter assesses what share capital is. A share is an item of property that confers upon its holder rights as set out in the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006) and the constitution. A public company must have an allotted share capital of at least £50,000, while private companies are not subject to a minimum share capital requirement. Who has the power to allot shares depends upon the type of company, the class of share being allotted, and how many other classes of shares the company has. However, shareholders generally have a right of pre-emption meaning that, when a company issues new shares, they have to first be offered to the existing shareholders. Meanwhile, a transfer of shares occurs where a shareholder sells or gifts his shares to another, while a transmission of shares usually occurs where shares pass from one person to another due to the operation of law.
Chapter
This chapter assesses what share capital is. A share is an item of property that confers upon its holder rights as set out in the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006) and the constitution. A public company must have an allotted share capital of at least £50,000, while private companies are not subject to a minimum share capital requirement. Who has the power to allot shares depends upon the type of company, the class of share being allotted, and how many other classes of shares the company has. However, shareholders generally have a right of pre-emption, meaning that, when a company issues new shares, they have to first be offered to the existing shareholders. Meanwhile, a transfer of shares occurs where a shareholder sells or gifts their shares to another, while a transmission of shares usually occurs where shares pass from one person to another due to the operation of law.
Chapter
This chapter discusses doctrine of capital maintenance. The doctrine of capital maintenance is essentially a collection of rules designed to ensure, first, that a company obtains the capital which it has purported to raise; and secondly, that that capital is maintained, subject to the exigencies of the business, for the benefit and protection of the company's creditors and the discharge of its liabilities. In particular, the doctrine of capital maintenance precludes the return of capital, directly or indirectly, to the shareholders ahead of a winding up of the company. The discussions cover the purchase and redemption of a company's own shares; reduction of capital; distributions to the members; and financial assistance by a company for the acquisition of its own shares.
Chapter
This chapter discusses the details of the various obligations on companies that wish to issue and allot shares, provide debentures and charges over the company’s assets, and provide guidance on the maintenance of the company’s finances. It continues from the discussion of the administration of the company to consider the broad issue of corporate governance and identifies how a company may raise capital, while also considering the obligations placed on the directors to protect and maintain the capital of the company for its members. To appreciate the effects of the Companies Act (CA) 2006 on companies, it is important to understand the rules regarding the issuing of shares and granting of debentures to protect the company and the creditors from abuse, and how dividends are to be agreed upon and provided to shareholders.
Chapter
This chapter discusses some of the procedures to be followed when transferring some or all of a company member’s shares to another person, for sales on and off the London Stock Exchange, transfers of all or a part of a member’s holding and transfers of certificated and uncertificated shares. After describing share certificates and uncertificated shares, the chapter considers the problem of who should bear the loss when a transfer of shares is forged or fraudulent. It also explores transmission of shares on death or bankruptcy.
Chapter
This chapter discusses an essential feature of registered companies: that their shares are transferable. The discussion covers some of the procedures to be followed when transferring some or all of a company member’s shares to another person, for sales on and off the London Stock Exchange, transfers of all or a part of a member’s holding and transfers of certificated and uncertificated shares. After describing share certificates and uncertificated shares, the chapter considers the problem of who should bear the loss when a transfer of shares is forged or fraudulent. It also explores transmission of shares on death or bankruptcy.
Chapter
This chapter considers the statutory rules governing share capital requirements, especially the rules governing allotment of shares, payment for shares, and capital raising. Share capital rules are predominantly statutory and this chapter looks at the statutory framework on allotment including the authority of the directors to allot shares, the need for rights issues; the ability to accept a non-cash consideration; and the prohibitions on various types of consideration, in the case of public companies. Minimum capital requirements and the need to avoid issuing at a discount are considered. A key issue for public companies is whether to make an offer of their shares to the public or seek to have their shares traded on a public market. The regulatory framework for public offers of shares, essentially requiring a prospectus, is considered.
Chapter
This chapter discusses: the nature and classification of shares; classes of shares and class rights; the variation of class rights; the transfer of shares; competing claims to shares; the disclosure of substantial interests in shares; and the valuation of shares.
Chapter
This chapter begins with an overview of the company ‘capital’ and its importance. It then discusses: attracting capital and protecting both shareholders and creditors; terminology associated with legal capital; the legal nature of shares; the minimum capital requirements for company formation; limiting access to shares; offers to the public to purchase shares and remedies for misleading offers; and collecting in the company’s capital (issue of shares at a discount, issue of shares at a premium, and issue of shares in exchange for property).
Chapter
This chapter considers some of the major issues which the articles of association of a private company are likely to address and the way in which the articles of a company can be altered and any restrictions thereto. It covers provisions concerning shares and membership; provisions concerning meetings of shareholders; provisions concerning directors; single member companies; and alteration of articles.
Chapter
This chapter considers one way of becoming a shareholder of a company with a share capital: by taking shares from the company in exchange for a contribution of capital. The number and class of shares of the company that the member holds determines the extent of the member’s undertaking to contribute capital, and of entitlement to share in distributions and vote at meetings. Share allotment in exchange for a capital contribution is explained, and the need for public companies to have a minimum contributed capital is emphasised. The chapter also looks at possible remedies available to a person who has been induced to take an allotment of shares by a misrepresentation, including rescission of contract. Finally, it examines ways of altering a company’s share capital.
Chapter
This chapter focuses on public offering of shares as a source of finance for companies, with emphasis on the legal requirements to provide the necessary information to prospective investors. It also considers the importance of a marketplace for selling shares at the best possible price, as well as the regulation of the financial services industry by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. In addition, it discusses two controls on share offers to the public under the Companies Act 2006 with respect to payment of underwriting commission and repayment of subscribers’ money if a share offer is not completely successful. The chapter examines the regulatory regimes for securities markets, some of the main reasons or advantages for going public, the prospectus requirement and any exemptions to it and how the law deals with misleading statements and omissions in prospectuses.
Chapter
This chapter examines the nature of shares and the share capital of companies, and the provisions for the maintenance of capital as they apply to companies with a share capital. It begins by defining what a share is before moving on to discuss the classifications of share capital. The process by which shares are created is examined in detail, including an examination of the allotment and issuing of shares, the minimum capital requirement, and the company’s ability to issue different classes of share. The chapter then discusses the capital maintenance regime—a series of rules designed to protect the company’s creditors by preventing capital from being returned to shareholders (including the restructuring of share capital, and the rules relating to distribution of profits).
Chapter
This chapter considers the statutory rules governing share capital requirements, especially those relating to the allotment of, and payment for, shares. The share capital measures frequently reflect long-established common law rules. This chapter discusses: the rules in share capital requirements; issuing shares at par, premium, or a discount; alteration of share capital; allotment of shares; payment for shares; and capital raising.
Chapter
This chapter discusses the law on membership and incidents of membership. Membership of a company is governed by Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006), The discussion in this chapter covers classes of shares, class rights, share transfer and transmission, and the register of members.
Chapter
This chapter considers some of the major issues which the articles of association of a private company are likely to address and the way in which the articles of a company can be altered and any restrictions thereto. It covers provisions concerning shares and membership; provisions concerning meetings of shareholders; provisions concerning directors; single member companies; and alteration of articles.
Chapter
This chapter considers one way of becoming a shareholder of a company with a share capital: by taking shares from the company in exchange for a contribution of capital. The number and class of shares of the company that the member holds determines the extent of the member’s undertaking to contribute capital, and of entitlement to share in distributions and vote at meetings. Share allotment in exchange for a capital contribution is explained, and the need for public companies to have a minimum contributed capital is emphasised. The chapter also looks at possible remedies available to a person who has been induced to take an allotment of shares by a misrepresentation, including rescission of contract. Finally, it examines ways of altering a company’s share capital.
