This chapter addresses what is known as the capital maintenance doctrine—a series of rules designed to protect the company’s creditors by ensuring that capital is maintained and not returned to the company’s members. Any limited company can reduce its share capital by passing a special resolution followed by court confirmation. A private company can reduce its share capital by passing a special resolution supported by a solvency statement. On the other hand, public companies are generally prohibited from providing financial assistance to others to acquire their shares. Meanwhile, a company can generally only pay a dividend out of distributable profits. The typical three-stage process for paying dividends is that the directors recommend an amount to be distributed by way of dividend; the company declares the dividend by passing an ordinary resolution; and the dividend is paid out.
Chapter
17. The maintenance of capital
Chapter
22. The doctrine of capital maintenance
This chapter discusses the doctrine of capital maintenance which precludes the return of capital, directly or indirectly, to the shareholders ahead of a winding up of the company. The discussion covers 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. Purchase and redemption schemes (buy-backs) are common transactions and are discussed in detail as is the procedure for a reduction of capital. The key issue for creditors, however, is the risk posed by distributions to members and much of the chapter is devoted to discussing the distribution rules laid down in CA 2006, Part 23 and the common law. The chapter discusses the rules as to distributable profits and the liability of directors in the case of improper distributions and, in particular, their liability for dividends improperly declared.
Chapter
4. Shares and Shareholders
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
9. Share Capital
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. This chapter examines the law on share capital for public and private companies. The doctrine of capital maintenance ensures that the company has raised the capital it claims to have raised; and that the capital is not subsequently returned, directly or indirectly, to the shareholders. There is a great deal of (mainly statutory) law surrounding this doctrine This chapter considers the capital maintenance doctrine itself and many related topics, including: the issue of shares for non-cash consideration, issue of shares at a discount, reduction of capital, purchase of a company’s own shares, redeemable shares, payment of dividends, and financial assistance by a company for the purchase of its own shares.
