Amendment Tracking
Companies Act — Changes
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Amendment Diff
2013 Revision → 2016 Revision
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s.1Short title
MODIFIEDThis Law may be cited as the Companies Law (2016 Revision).
s.2Definitions and interpretation
MODIFIED(1) In this Law- “Authority” means the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority established under section 3(1) of the Monetary Authority Law (2016 Revision) and includes a person acting under the Authority’s authorisation; “bearer share” means a share in the capital of any company incorporated in the Islands which- (a) is represented by a certificate that does not record the owner’s name; and (b) is transferable by delivery of the certificate; “certified translator” means a person whose interpretation or translation competence has been tested and approved by a professional association or governmental body or any other person determined by the Registrar; “Court” means the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands; “company” except where the context excludes exempted companies, means a company formed and registered under this Law or an existing company; “currency” includes the ECU and any unit of account used at any time by the European Monetary Fund; “custodian” means- (a) “an authorised custodian” who is a person licensed under the Companies Management Law (2003 Revision) to act as a custodian of bearer shares or a bank or trust company licensed under the Banks and Trust Companies Law (2013 Revision); or (b) “a recognised custodian” which is an investment exchange or clearing organisation operating a securities clearance or settlement system and carrying on business in a country specified in
s.3Registrar
MODIFIED(1) The Governor shall, by instrument under the Public Seal, appoint a Registrar and a Deputy Registrar of Companies for the purposes of this Law, and the Deputy Registrar may, in the absence of the Registrar, act as Registrar for all purposes of this Law. (2) Without divesting the Registrar of any of his powers or duties the Minister charged with responsibility for Financial Services may authorise by name any officer in the Registrar’s department to exercise and perform any of such powers and duties under the direction and control of the Registrar and may, at any time, vary or revoke such authorisation.
s.4Signature of Registrar
MODIFIED(1) Any document purporting to bear the signature of the Registrar or of an officer authorised in accordance with section 3(2) shall be deemed, until the 2015 Revision 2016 Revision Registrar Signature of Registrar Companies Law (2016 Revision) 16 contrary is proved, to have been duly given, made or issued by the authority of the Registrar. (2) In subsection (1)- “signature” includes a facsimile of a signature however reproduced and a digital signature.
s.5Mode of forming company
MODIFIEDAny one or more persons associated for any lawful purpose may, by subscribing their names to a memorandum of association, and otherwise complying with this Law in respect of registration, form an incorporated company, with or without limited liability.
s.6Mode of limiting liability of members
MODIFIEDThe liability of the members of a company formed under this Law may, according to the memorandum of association, be limited either to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares respectively held by them, or to such amount as the members may respectively undertake by the memorandum of association to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of its being wound up.
s.7Memorandum of association
MODIFIED(1) The memorandum of association shall, subject to subsections (2), (3) and (4) and to sections 8 and 9, contain- (a) the name of the proposed company which in the case of an exempted company, may be preceded by or followed with a dual foreign name, with the addition, in the case of any company not being an exempted company or a company formed on the principle of having no limit placed on the liability of its members, in this Law referred to as an “unlimited company”, of the word “Limited” or the abbreviation “Ltd.” as the last word in such name; and (b) the part of the Islands in which the registered office of the company is proposed to be situate. (2) No subscriber shall take less than one share. (3) Each subscriber of the memorandum of association shall write opposite to his name the number of shares he takes. (4) The memorandum of association may specify objects for which the proposed company is to be established and may provide that the business of the company shall be restricted to the furtherance of the specified objects. If no objects are specified or if objects are specified but the business of the company is not restricted to the furtherance of those objects, then the company shall have full power and the authority to carry out any object not prohibited by this or any other Law. Mode of forming company Mode of limiting liability of members Memorandum of association Companies Law (2016 Revision) 17
s.9Company limited by guarantee
MODIFIED(1) Subject to subsection (2), where a company is formed on the principle of having the liability of its members limited to such amount as the members respectively undertake to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of the same being wound up, (in this Law referred to as a company limited by guarantee), the memorandum of association shall also contain a declaration that each member undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company, in the event of the same being wound up during the time that he is a member, or within one year afterwards, for payment of the debts and liabilities of the company contracted before the time at which he ceases to be a member, and of the costs, charges and expenses of the winding up of the company, and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories amongst themselves, such amount as may be required, not exceeding a specific amount to be therein named. Company limited by shares Company limited by guarantee Companies Law (2016 Revision) 18 (2) Where such a company has more than one class of member, the memorandum of association may contain a declaration that in a winding up of the company the amount of the undertaking of the members of a particular class shall be unlimited. (3) A company limited by guarantee may have a share capital.
s.10Memorandum of association may be altered
MODIFIEDSubject to section 13, a company may, by special resolution, alter its memorandum of association with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein.
s.11Address of registered office may be changed
MODIFIED(1) A company may, by resolution of the directors, change the address of the registered office of the company to another address in the Islands, and shall, within thirty days from the date on which the resolution is made, file with the Registrar a certified copy of the resolution of the directors authorising the change together with the prescribed amendment fee. (2) Until subsection (1) is complied with, the company shall not be deemed to have complied with this Law with respect to having a registered office.
s.12Signature and effect of memorandum of association
MODIFIEDThe memorandum of association shall be signed by each subscriber in the presence of and be attested by at least one witness. It shall, when registered, bind the company and the members thereof to the same extent as if each member had subscribed his name and affixed his seal thereto and there were in the memorandum contained on the part of himself, his heirs, executors and administrators, a covenant to observe all the conditions of such memorandum, subject to this Law, and all monies payable by any member to the company under such memorandum shall be deemed to be a debt due from such member to the company.
s.13Power of company limited by shares to alter its share capital
MODIFIED(1) A company limited by shares or a company limited by guarantee and having a share capital, if so authorised by its articles, may alter the conditions of its memorandum to- (a) increase its share capital by new shares of such amount as it thinks expedient: Provided that an exempted company having no shares of a fixed amount may increase its share capital by such number of shares without nominal or par value, or may increase the aggregate consideration for which such shares may be issued, as it thinks expedient; (b) consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of larger amount than its existing shares; (c) convert all or any of its paid-up shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into paid-up shares of any denomination; (d) subdivide its shares or any of them, into shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the memorandum, so, however, that in Memorandum of association may be altered Address of registered office may be changed Signature and effect of memorandum of association Power of company limited by shares to alter its share capital Companies Law (2016 Revision) 19 the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; and (e) cancel shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution in that behalf, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled or, in the case of shares without nominal or par value, diminish the number of shares into which its capital is divided. (1A) Paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) shall have no application to shares without nominal or par value. (2) The powers conferred by subsection (1) may not be exercised except by a resolution of the members of the company. (3) If a currency in which any of the capital of a company limited by shares or by guarantee is replaced by the euro, the provisions of the company’s memorandum of association and articles of association shall automatically be altered so as to re-denominate in euros the capital that is denominated in the replaced currency, at the conversion rate specified in, or otherwise calculated in accordance with, the relevant regulations adopted by the Council of the European Union, and the company, by resolution of the directors, may- (a) take such action to round up or down the euro nominal or par value of each share in the company or the euro guarantee amount to such multiple of the euro as the directors may deem appropriate; (b) notwithstanding the requirement for a special resolution in section 31, if the name of the company includes a reference to a currency replaced by the euro, or an abbreviation thereof- (i) alter the name of the company to delete the reference or to substitute the reference with a reference to the euro or an abbreviation thereof; and (ii) add such further distinguishing wording as the directors consider appropriate; and (c) if the memorandum of association or articles of association of the company include a reference or references to a currency replaced by the euro, alter any or all such references in either or both of the memorandum of association and the articles of association by substituting such references with references to the euro or an abbreviation thereof. (4) A company may, by resolution of the directors, reverse or vary the re- denomination of currency or any other action taken under subsection (3). Companies Law (2016 Revision) 20 (5) A copy of any resolution passed under subsection (3) or (4) shall be forwarded to the Registrar within fifteen days and shall be recorded by him. (6) A cancellation of shares or a rounding down of the nominal or par value of shares under this section shall not be deemed to be a reduction of share capital within the meaning of this Law. (7) If any action is taken by the company under paragraph (a) of subsection (3) to- (a) round up the euro nominal or par value of any issued share in the company, then an amount equal to the increase in nominal or par value of that share shall be transferred from the share premium account or from the profit and loss account (as the directors shall, in their discretion, determine) and shall thereafter be deemed to be and treated as paid up share capital of the company; or (b) round down the euro nominal or par value of any issued share in the company, then an amount equal to the decrease in the nominal or par value of that share shall be transferred from the paid up share capital of the company to the share premium account and shall thereafter be deemed to be and treated as share premium for the purposes of this Law.
s.14Special resolution for reduction of share capital
MODIFIED(1) Subject to section 37 and to confirmation by the Court, a company limited by shares or a company limited by guarantee and having a share capital may, if so authorised by its articles, by special resolution reduce its share capital in any way, and in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power) may- (a) extinguish or reduce the liability on any of its shares in respect of share capital not paid up; (b) either with or without extinguishing or reducing liability on any of its shares, cancel any paid-up share capital which is lost or unrepresented by available assets; or (c) either with or without extinguishing or reducing liability of any of its shares, pay off any paid-up share capital which is in excess of the needs of the company, and may, if and so far as is necessary, alter its memorandum by reducing the amount of its share capital and of its shares accordingly. (2) A special resolution under subsection (1) is, in this Law, referred to as “a resolution for reducing share capital”.
s.15Section 15
MODIFIED(1) Where a company has passed a resolution for reducing share capital, it may apply by petition to the Court for an order confirming the reduction. Special resolution for reduction of share capital Application to court for confirming order, objections by creditors Companies Law (2016 Revision) 21 (2) Where the proposed reduction of share capital involves either diminution of liability in respect of unpaid share capital or the payment to any shareholder of any paid-up share capital, and, in any other case, if the Court so directs, subject to subsection (3), the following shall have effect- (a) every creditor of the company who at the date fixed by the Court is entitled to any debt or claim which, if that date were the commencement of the winding up of the company, would be admissible in proof against the company, shall be entitled to object to the reduction; (b) the Court shall settle a list of creditors so entitled to object, and for that purpose shall ascertain as far as possible without requiring an application from any creditor, the names of those creditors and the nature and amount of their debts or claims, and may publish notices fixing a day or period on or within which creditors not entered on the list are to claim to be so entered or are to be excluded from the right of objecting to the reduction; and (c) where a creditor entered on the list whose debt or claim is not discharged or has not determined does not consent to the reduction, the Court may, if it thinks fit, dispense with the consent of that creditor, on the company securing payment of his debt or claim by appropriating as the Court may direct, the following amount- (i) if the company admits the full amount of the debt or claim, or, though not admitting it, is willing to provide for it, then the full amount of the debt or claim; or (ii) if the company does not admit and is not willing to provide for the full amount of the debt or claim, or, if the amount is contingent or not ascertained, then an amount fixed by the Court after the like enquiry and adjudication as if the company were being wound up by the Court. (3) Where a proposed reduction of share capital involves either the diminution of any liability in respect of unpaid share capital or the payment to any shareholder of any paid-up share capital the Court may, if having regard to any special circumstances of the case it thinks proper so to do, direct that subsection (2) shall not apply as regards any class or any classes of creditors.
s.16Section 16
MODIFIED(1) The Court, if satisfied with respect to every creditor of the company who under section 15 is entitled to object to the reduction, that either his consent to the reduction has been obtained or his debt or claim has been discharged or has determined, or has been secured, may make an order confirming the reduction on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit. (2) Where the Court makes any such order, it may- Order confirming reduction and powers of Court on making such order Companies Law (2016 Revision) 22 (a) if for any special reason it thinks proper so to do, direct that the company shall, during such period, commencing on or at any time after the date of the order, as is specified in the order, add to its name as the last word thereof the words “and reduced”; and (b) require the company to publish as the Court directs the reasons for reduction or such other information in regard thereto as the Court may think expedient with a view to giving proper information to the public, and, if the court thinks fit, the causes which led to the reduction. (3) Where a company is ordered to add to its name the words “and reduced”, those words shall, until the expiration of the period specified in the order, be deemed to be part of the name of the company.
s.17Registration of order and minute of reduction
MODIFIED(1) The Registrar, on delivery to him of a copy of an order of the Court confirming the reduction of the share capital of a company, and of a minute approved by the Court, showing, with respect to the share capital of the company as altered by the order, the amount of the share capital, the number of shares into which it is to be divided and the amount of each share, and the amount, if any, at the date of the registration of the order and minute deemed to be paid up on each share, shall register the order and minute. (2) On the registration of the order and minute, and not earlier, the resolution for reducing share capital as confirmed by the order so registered shall take effect. (3) Notice of the registration shall be published in such manner as the Court may direct. (4) The Registrar shall certify under his hand the registration of the order and minute, and his certificate shall be conclusive evidence that all the requirements of this Law with respect to reduction of share capital have been complied with, and that the share capital of the company is such as is stated in the minute. (5) The minute, when registered, shall be deemed to be substituted for the corresponding part of the memorandum, and shall be valid and alterable as if it had been originally contained therein.
s.18Liability of members in respect of reduced shares
MODIFIED(1) In the case of a reduction of share capital, a member of the company, past or present, shall not be liable in respect of any share to any call or contribution exceeding in amount the difference, if any, between the amount of the share as fixed by the minute and the amount paid or the reduced amount, if any, which is to be deemed to have been paid on the shares, as the case may be: Provided that, if any, creditor entitled in respect of any debt or claim to object to the reduction of share capital is, by reason of his ignorance of the proceedings for reduction or of their nature and effect with respect to his claim, Registration of order and minute of reduction Liability of members in respect of reduced shares Companies Law (2016 Revision) 23 not entered on the list of creditors, and after the reduction the company is unable, within the meaning of this Law with respect to winding up by the Court, to pay the amount of his debt or claim, then- (a) every person who was a member of the company at the date of the registration of the order for reduction and minute shall be liable to contribute for the payment of that debt or claim an amount not exceeding the amount which he would have been liable to contribute if the company had commenced to be wound up on the day before the said date; and (b) if the company is wound up, the Court, on the application of any such creditor and proof of his ignorance as aforesaid, may if it thinks fit, settle accordingly a list of persons so liable to contribute, and make and enforce calls and orders on the contributories in a winding up. (2) Nothing in this section shall affect the rights of the contributories among themselves.
s.19Penalty for concealment of names of creditors
MODIFIEDA person who, being a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company - (a) wilfully conceals the name of any creditor entitled to object to the reduction; (b) wilfully misrepresents the nature or amount of the debt or claim of any creditor; or (c) aids, abets or is privy to any such concealment or misrepresentation as aforesaid, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term of one year, or to both. 20. There may, in the case of a company limited by shares, and there shall, in the case of a company limited by guarantee or unlimited, be registered with the memorandum, articles of association signed by the subscribers to the memorandum and prescribing regulations for the company.
s.20Articles prescribing regulations for companies
MODIFIEDAny person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member shall, upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be properly required by the directors, have the right either to be registered as a member in respect of the share or, instead of being registered himself, to make such transfer of the share as the deceased or bankrupt person could have made; but the directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the share by the deceased or bankrupt person before the death or bankruptcy. 21. A person becoming entitled to a share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of the holder shall be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the registered holder of the share, except that he shall not, before being registered as a member in respect of the share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the company. Forfeiture of Shares 22. If a member fails to pay any call or instalment of a call on the day appointed for payment thereof, the directors may, at any time thereafter during such time as any part of such call or instalment remains unpaid, serve a notice on him requiring payment of so much of the call or instalment as is unpaid, together with any interest which may have accrued. Companies Law (2016 Revision) 141 23. Such notice shall name a further day (not earlier than the expiration of fourteen days from the date of the notice) on or before which the payment required by the notice is to be made, and shall state that, in the event of non- payment at or before the time appointed, the shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. 24. If the requirements of such notice are not complied with, any share in respect of which the notice has been given may at any time thereafter, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the directors to that effect. 25. A forfeited share may be sold or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the directors think fit, and at any time before a sale or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the directors think fit. 26. A person whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a member in respect of the forfeited shares, but shall, notwithstanding, remain liable to pay to the company all moneys which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to the company in respect of the shares, but his liability shall cease if and when the company receives payment in full of the nominal amount of the shares. 27. A statutory declaration in writing that the declarant is a director of the company, and that a share in the company has been duly forfeited on a date stated in the declaration, shall be conclusive evidence of the facts therein stated as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the share. The company may receive the consideration, if any, given for the share on any sale or disposition thereof and may execute a transfer of the share in favour of the person to whom the share is sold or disposed of and he shall thereupon be registered as the holder of the share, and shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his title to the share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of the share. 28. The provisions of these regulations as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which by the terms of issue of a share becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the amount of the share, or by way of premium, as if the same had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. 29. The company may, by ordinary resolution, convert any paid-up shares into stock, and reconvert any stock into paid-up shares of any denomination. 30. The holders of stock may transfer the same, or any part thereof, in the same manner and subject to the same regulations as and subject to which the shares from which the stock arose might prior to conversion have been transferred, or as near thereto as circumstances admit; but the directors may, from time to time, fix the minimum amount of stock transferable and restrict or forbid the transfer of fractions of that minimum, but the minimum shall not exceed the nominal amount of the shares from which the stock arose. Companies Law (2016 Revision) 142 31. The holders of stock shall, according to the amount of the stock held by them, have the same rights, privileges and advantages as regards dividends, voting at meetings of the company and other matters as if they held the shares from which the stock arose, but no such privilege or advantage (except participation in the dividends and profits of the company) shall be conferred by any such aliquot part of stock as would not, if existing shares, have conferred that privilege or advantage. 32. Such of the regulations of the company as are applicable to paid-up shares shall apply to stock, and the words “share” and “shareholder” therein shall include “stock” and “stockholder”. Alteration of Capital 33. The company may, from time to time by ordinary resolution, increase the share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such amount, as the resolution shall prescribe. 34. Subject to any direction to the contrary that may be given by the company in general meeting, all new shares shall, before issue, be offered to such persons as at the date of the offer are entitled to receive notices from the company of general meetings in proportion, as nearly as the circumstances admit, to the amount of the existing shares to which they are entitled. The offer shall be made by notice specifying the number of shares offered, and limiting a time within which the offer, if not accepted, will be deemed to be declined, and after the expiration of that time, or on receipt of an intimation from the person to whom the offer is made that he declines to accept the shares offered, the directors may dispose of those shares in such manner as they think most beneficial to the company. The directors may likewise so dispose of any new shares which (by reason of the ratio which the new shares bear to shares held by persons entitled to an offer of new shares) cannot, in the opinion of the directors, be conveniently offered under this article. 35. The new shares shall be subject to the same provisions with reference to the payment of calls, lien, transfer, transmission, forfeiture and otherwise as the shares in the original share capital. 36. The company may, by ordinary resolution- (a) consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of larger amount than its existing shares; (b) sub-divide its existing shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amounts than is fixed by the memorandum of association, subject nevertheless to section 13 of the Law; and (c) cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person. Companies Law (2016 Revision) 143 37. The company may, by special resolution, reduce its share capital and any capital redemption reserve fund in any manner and with, and subject to, any incident authorised and consent required by law. General Meetings 38. A general meeting shall be held once in every calendar year at such time (not being more than fifteen months after the holding of the last preceding general meeting) and place as may be resolved by the company in general meeting, or in default, at such time in the third month following that in which the anniversary of the company’s incorporation occurs, and at such place as the directors shall appoint. In default of a general meeting being so held, a general meeting shall be held in the month next following, and may be convened by any two members in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which meetings are to be convened by the directors. 39. Such general meetings shall be called ordinary general meetings; all other general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings. 40. The directors may, whenever they think fit, convene an extraordinary general meeting. If, at any time, there are not in the Island sufficient directors capable of acting to form a quorum, any director or any two members of the company may convene an extraordinary general meeting in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which meetings may be convened by the directors. Notice of General Meetings 41. Subject to section 60 of the Law relating to special resolutions, at least seven days’ notice (exclusive of the day on which the notice is served or deemed to be served, but inclusive of the day for which notice is given) specifying the place, day and hour of meeting and, in case of special business, the general nature of that business shall be given in manner hereinafter provided, or in such other manner, if any, as may be prescribed by the company in general meetings, to such persons as are, under the regulations of the company, entitled to receive such notices from the company; but with the consent of all the members entitled to receive notice of some particular meeting, that meeting may be convened by such shorter notice and in such manner as those members may think fit. 42. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non-receipt of a notice of a meeting by any member shall not invalidate the proceedings at any meeting. Proceedings at General Meetings 43. All business shall be deemed special that is transacted at any extraordinary meeting, and also all that is transacted at an ordinary meeting, with the exception of sanctioning a dividend, consideration of the accounts, balance sheets and the Companies Law (2016 Revision) 144 ordinary report of the directors and auditors, election of directors and other officers in the place of those retiring by rotation, and fixing of the remuneration of the auditors. 44. No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of members is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business; save as herein otherwise provided, three members personally present shall be a quorum. 45. If, within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of members, shall be dissolved; in any other case it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week, at the same time and place, and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting the members present shall be a quorum. 46. The chairman, if any, of the board of directors shall preside as chairman at every general meeting of the company.
s.21Section 21
MODIFIED(1) In the case of an unlimited company the articles must state the number of members with which the company proposes to be registered and, if the company has a share capital, the amount of share capital with which the company proposes to be registered. (2) In the case of a company limited by guarantee, the articles must state the number of members with which the company proposes to be registered.
s.24Alteration of articles by special resolution
MODIFIED(1) Subject to this Law and to the conditions contained in its memorandum, a company may, by special resolution, alter or add to its articles. (2) Any alteration or addition so made in the articles shall, subject to this Law, be as valid as if originally contained therein, and be subject in like manner to alteration by special resolution.
s.25Adoption and effect of articles of association
MODIFIED(1) If the memorandum of association is accompanied by articles of association the articles shall be signed by each subscriber to the memorandum in the presence of and be attested by at least one witness. (2) If the memorandum of association is not accompanied by articles of association, the company may, subject to the conditions contained in the memorandum of association, adopt articles of association which shall be signed by each existing member of the company in the presence of and be attested by at least one witness, or may, by passing a special resolution under section 60, adopt articles of association. (3) When registered the said articles of association shall bind the company and the members thereof to the same extent as if each member had subscribed his name and affixed his seal thereto, and there were in such articles contained a covenant on the part of himself, his heirs, executors and administrators to conform to all the regulations contained in such articles subject to this Law; and all monies payable by any member to the company in pursuance of the conditions or regulations shall be deemed to be a debt due from such member to the company. General Provisions
s.26Registration
MODIFIED(1) The memorandum of association and the articles of association, if any, shall be delivered in duplicate to the Registrar who shall file and retain the Printing, stamping and signature of articles Alteration of articles by special resolution Adoption and effect of articles of association Registration Companies Law (2016 Revision) 25 original thereof and shall return the duplicate thereof endorsed with a memorandum of registration and a memorandum of the particulars set out in subsection (2). (2) Each memorandum of association and the articles of association, if any, shall be numbered and filed consecutively and shall be endorsed with the date of the month and year of such filing. (3) A register of companies shall be kept in which shall be entered the following particulars which shall be annexed to the memorandum of association and articles of association, if any, insofar as they are not included therein- (a) the name of the company and, in the case of an exempted company, the exempted company’s dual foreign name (if any) together with its translated name; (b) the part of the Islands in which the registered office of the company is proposed to be situate; (c) the amount of capital of the company and, in the case of a company having its share capital divided into shares of a nominal or par value, the number of shares into which it is divided and the fixed amounts thereof; (d) the names and addresses of the subscribers to the memorandum and the number of shares taken by each subscriber; (e) the date of execution of the memorandum of association; (f) the date of filing of the memorandum of association; (g) the number assigned to the company; and (h) in the case of a company limited by guarantee or which has no limit placed on the liability of its members, that the same is limited by guarantee or is unlimited, and any of the particulars as hereinbefore specified which may be inappropriate to the case may be omitted. (4) Upon the filing of a memorandum of association under this section, there shall be paid to the Registrar the fees specified in Part 1 of
s.27Consequences of incorporation
MODIFIED(1) Upon the filing of the memorandum of association a company shall be deemed to be registered, and the Registrar shall issue a certificate under his hand and seal of office that the company is incorporated with effect from the date of the registration of the memorandum of association and, in the case of a limited company, that the company is limited. (2) From the date of incorporation, the subscribers of the memorandum of association, together with such other persons as may, from time to time, become members of the company, shall be a body corporate by the name contained in the memorandum of association, capable forthwith of exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question of corporate benefit, and having perpetual succession with power to hold lands but with such liability
s.28Lack of capacity or power;
MODIFIED(1) No act of a company and no disposition of real or personal property to or by a company shall be invalid by reason only of the fact that the company was without capacity or power to perform the act or to dispose of or receive the property, but the lack of capacity or power may be asserted- (a) in proceedings by a member or a director against the company to prohibit the performance of any act, or the disposition of real or personal property by or to the company; and (b) in proceedings by the company, whether acting directly or through a liquidator or other legal representative or through members of the company in a representative capacity, against the incumbent or former officers or directors of the company for loss or damage through their unauthorised act. (2) This section applies to companies incorporated before, on or after the 18th day of January, 1988.
s.29Copies of memorandum and articles to be given to members
MODIFIEDA copy of the memorandum of association having annexed thereto the articles of association, if any, shall be forwarded to every member, at his request, on payment of such reasonable sum, not exceeding one dollar for each copy as may be fixed by any rule of the company, and in the absence of any such rule, such copy shall be given gratuitously; and whichever company makes default in forwarding a copy of the memorandum of association and articles of association, if any, to a member in pursuance of this section, commits an offence and is liable, for each default, to a penalty of two dollars.
s.30Restrictions on registration of certain names
MODIFIED(1) No company shall be registered by a name which- (a) is identical with a name by which a company in existence is already registered or any translated name entered on the register of companies, or so nearly resembles such name or translated name so as to be calculated to deceive, except where the company in existence is in the course of being dissolved and signified its consent in such manner as the Registrar requires; Lack of capacity or power; ultra vires Copies of memorandum and articles to be given to members Restrictions on registration of certain names Companies Law (2016 Revision) 27 (b) contains the words “Chamber of Commerce” unless the company is a company which is to be registered under a licence granted by the Governor under section 80 without the addition of the word “Limited” or the abbreviation “Ltd.” to its name; or (c) contains the words “building society”. (2) Except with the consent of the Registrar, no company shall be registered by a name which- (a) contains the words “royal”, “imperial” or “empire” or in the opinion of the Registrar suggests, or is calculated to suggest the patronage of Her Majesty or of any member of the Royal Family or connection with Her Majesty’s Government or any department thereof in the United Kingdom or elsewhere; (b) contains the words “municipal” or “chartered” or any words which in the opinion of the Registrar suggest, or are calculated to suggest, connection with any public board or other local authority or with any society or body incorporated by Royal Charter; (c) contains the words “co-operative”, “assurance”, “bank”, “insurance”, or any similar word which in the opinion of the Registrar connotes any of such activities or any derivative of any of such four words or of such similar words, whether in English or in any other language, or in the opinion of the Registrar suggests or is calculated to suggest any of such activities; or (d) contains the word “gaming” or “lottery” or any similar word which in the opinion of the Registrar connotes any such activity or any derivative of such words or of such similar word, whether in English or in any other language, or in the opinion of the Registrar suggests or is calculated to suggest any such activity. (3) A company that is not an exempted limited duration company shall not be registered by a name which includes at its end “Limited Duration Company” or “LDC”. (3A) A company that is not a special economic zone company shall not be registered by a name which includes the words “Special Economic Zone Company” or the letters “SEZC”. (4) The provisions of the regulatory laws shall apply to any translated name as if it were the name of the company and a company shall not have a translated name which is a name - (a) prohibited under any regulatory laws; or (b) which requires approval or permission under any regulatory laws unless such approval or permission as is necessary for the use of such name under the relevant regulatory laws has first been obtained. Companies Law (2016 Revision) 28 (5) A company’s dual foreign name shall only be entered on the register of companies if its translated name conforms with the provisions of this section and if it does not so conform then such dual foreign name and such translated name shall not be entered on the register of companies.
s.31Change of name
MODIFIED(1) Any company may, by special resolution, change its name and, in the case of an exempted company, may adopt a dual foreign name or change its dual foreign name, if any, and any dual foreign name shall precede or follow its name. (2) Where a company changes its name or its dual foreign name, the Registrar, on receiving the special resolution authorising the same and, in the case of a company changing its dual foreign name, receiving its translated name together with the fees provided under section 199(1)(a) and (b), and on being satisfied that the change of name conforms with section 30, shall enter the new name and, if applicable, the new translated name on the register in place of the former name and lodge the special resolution for record and shall issue a certificate of incorporation altered to meet the circumstances of the case. (3) If, through inadvertence or otherwise, a company on its first registration or on its registration by a new name or new translated name is registered by a name or a translated name which in any way contravenes section 30 or which, in the opinion of the Registrar, is misleading or undesirable, then the company may, with the sanction of the Registrar, change its name or its translated name as the case may be and shall, if the Registrar so directs, change its name or translated name within six weeks of the date of such direction or within such longer period as the Registrar may think fit. (4) A company which defaults in complying with a direction under subsection (3) is liable to a fine of ten dollars for every day during which the default continues.
s.32Section 32
MODIFIED(1) A company which is empowered by any law or by its articles of association to issue bearer shares, certificates or coupons, has no power to hold land in the Islands: Provided that the Minister charged with responsibility for Financial Services may, at his discretion, in the case of an exempt company so empowered that has never issued bearer shares, certificates or coupons, exempt that company in writing from subsection (1) for as long as it does not issue bearer shares, certificates or coupons. (2) If a company is in breach of subsection (1), section 185(2), (3) and (4) shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to the company as if it were a foreign company which had failed to comply with Part IX. (3) In this section- Change of name Company with power to issue bearer shares not to hold land in the Islands Companies Law (2016 Revision) 29 “hold land” means to be the proprietor of a legal or beneficial interest in or claim to, or over immovable property whether freehold or leasehold and includes being the proprietor of a legal or beneficial interest in the equity capital of a company which holds land; and “equity capital” with respect to company includes shares, stock and scrip whether registered, inscribed or bearer which (other than by way of a fixed and predetermined right to interest and repayment of subscribed capital at par) entitles the owner to any variable right of participation in the profits of the company whether by way of dividend, bonus or conversion, or to share in the distribution of the assets of the company upon a winding up.
s.33Share or interest in company to be personalty
MODIFIED(1) A share or other interest of a member in a company- (a) is personal estate and not of the nature of real estate; and (b) is capable of being transferred if- (i) a transfer is expressly or impliedly permitted by the regulations of the company; and (ii) any restriction or condition on the transfer of the shares or interest set out in the regulations of the company is observed. (2) The shares in a company having a capital divided into shares must each be distinguished by an appropriate number except that if, at any time- (a) all the issued shares in the company; or (b) all the issued shares in the company of a particular class, are fully paid up and rank pari passu for all purposes, none of those shares need thereafter have a distinguishing number so long as it remains fully paid up and ranks pari passu for all purposes with all the shares in the company or all the shares of the particular class of shares, as the case may be, for the time being issued and fully paid up. (3) A company limited by shares, or a company limited by guarantee and having a share capital, if so authorised by its articles, may issue fractions of a share and, unless and to the extent otherwise provided in its articles, a fraction of Share or interest in company to be personalty Companies Law (2016 Revision) 30 a share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect to nominal or par value, premium, contribution, calls or otherwise howsoever), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights and other attributes of a whole share of the same class of shares; and in this Law the expression “share” includes a fraction of a share and no issue or purported issue of a fraction of a share shall be invalid by reason only of the fact that it was issued or purportedly issued prior to the 30th September, 1985. (4) The nominal or par value of a share may be expressed in an amount which is a fraction or a percentage of the lowest available unit of legal tender of the currency in which the capital of the company is expressed.
s.34Share premium account
MODIFIED(1) Where a company issues shares at a premium, whether for cash or otherwise, a sum equal to the aggregate amount of the value of the premiums on those shares shall be transferred to an account called “the share premium account”. Where a company issues shares without nominal or par value, the consideration received shall be paid up share capital of the company. (2) The share premium account may be applied by the company subject to the provisions, if any, of its memorandum or articles of association in such manner as the company may, from time to time, determine including, but without limitation- (a) paying distributions or dividends to members; (b) paying up unissued shares of the company to be issued to members as fully paid bonus shares; (c) any manner provided in section 37; (d) writing off the preliminary expenses of the company; and (e) writing off the expenses of, or the commission paid or discount allowed on, any issue of shares or debentures of the company. Provided that no distribution or dividend may be paid to members out of the share premium account unless, immediately following the date on which the distribution or dividend is proposed to be paid, the company shall be able to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business; and the company and any director or manager thereof who knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits any distribution or dividend to be paid in contravention of the foregoing provision commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of fifteen thousand dollars and to imprisonment for five years. (3) Where a company had, before the 18th day of January, 1988, issued any shares at a premium, this section shall apply as if the shares had been issued after such date. (4) At the option of the company, subsection (1) shall not apply to premiums on shares of a company allotted in pursuance of any arrangement in Share premium account Companies Law (2016 Revision) 31 consideration for the acquisition or cancellation of shares in any other company, whether a company within the meaning of this Law or not, and issued at a premium. (5) At the option of the company, an amount corresponding to any amount representing the premiums or part of the premiums on shares issued by a company which, by virtue of subsection (4), is not included in such company’s share premium account may also be disregarded in determining the amount at which any shares or other consideration provided for the shares issued is to be included in such company’s balance sheet. (6) For the purposes of subsection (4)- “arrangement” means any agreement, scheme or arrangement, whether of reconstruction, merger, consolidation, take-over, acquisition, purchase or otherwise whereby the allotting company acquires a controlling interest in the company whose shares it acquires or cancels. (7) The relief allowed by subsections (4) and (5) shall apply even if the issue of shares took place prior to the 18th day of January, 1988.
s.35Power to issue shares at a discount
MODIFIED(1) Subject as provided in this section, it shall be lawful for a company to issue at a discount shares in the company of a class already issued: Provided that- (a) the issue of the shares at a discount have been authorised by resolution of the company, and have been sanctioned by the Court; (b) the resolution specify the maximum rate of discount at which the shares are to be issued; (c) not less than one year, at the date of the issue, has elapsed since the date on which the company was entitled to commence business; and (d) the shares to be issued at a discount are issued within one month after the date on which the issue is sanctioned by the Court or within such extended time as the Court may allow. (2) Where a company has passed a resolution authorising the issue of shares at a discount, it may apply to the Court for an order sanctioning the issue, and on any such application the Court, if, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, it thinks proper so to do, may make an order sanctioning the issue on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit. (3) Every prospectus relating to the issue of the shares must contain particulars of the discount allowed on the issue of the shares or of so much of that discount as had not been written off at the date of the issue of the prospectus and Power to issue shares at a discount Companies Law (2016 Revision) 32 if default is made in complying with this subsection, the company and every officer of the company who is in default is liable to a default fine. (4) This section does not apply to shares issued, or proposed to be issued, without nominal or par value.
s.36Power of company to pay commissions
MODIFIED(1) A company has the power, and shall be deemed always to have had the power, to pay a commission to any person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe (whether absolutely or conditionally) for any shares in the company, or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions (whether absolute or conditional) for any shares in the company, if the payment of the commission is authorised by the articles of association of the company. (2) Nothing in subsection (1) affects the power of a company to pay such brokerage as has previously been lawful. (3) A vendor to, or promoter of, or other person who receives payment in money or shares from a company has, and is deemed always to have had, power to apply any part of the money or shares so received in payment of any commission, the payment of which, if made directly by the company, would have been lawful under subsection (1).
s.37Redemption and purchase of shares
MODIFIED(1) Subject to this section, a company limited by shares or limited by guarantee and having a share capital may, if authorised to do so by its articles of association, issue shares which are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the company or the shareholder and, for the avoidance of doubt, it shall be lawful for the rights attaching to any shares to be varied, subject to the provisions of the company’s articles of association, so as to provide that such shares are to be or are liable to be so redeemed. (2) Subject to this section, a company limited by shares or limited by guarantee and having a share capital may, if authorised to do so by its articles of association, purchase its own shares, including any redeemable shares. (3) (a) No share may be redeemed or purchased unless it is fully paid. (b) A company may not redeem or purchase any of its shares if, as a result of the redemption or purchase, there would no longer be any issued shares of the company other than shares held as treasury shares. (c) Redemption or purchase of shares may be effected in such manner and upon such terms as may be authorised by or pursuant to the company’s articles of association. (d) If the articles of association do not authorise the manner and terms of the purchase, a company shall not purchase any of its own shares unless the manner and terms of purchase have first been authorised by a resolution of the company. (da) For the avoidance of doubt - Power of company to pay commissions Redemption and purchase of shares Companies Law (2016 Revision) 33 (i) a company’s articles of association; or (ii) a resolution of the company, may authorise the company’s directors to determine the manner or any of the terms of, any such redemption or purchase not being inconsistent with such articles of association or resolution and subject to such restrictions (if any) as may be provided therein. (e) The premium, if any, payable on redemption or purchase must have been provided for - (i) out of either or both of the profits of the company or the company’s share premium account, before or at the time the shares are redeemed or purchased; or (ii) in the manner provided for in subsection (5). (f) Shares may be redeemed or purchased out of profits of the company, out of the share premium account or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purposes of the redemption or purchase or in the manner provided for in subsection (5). (g) Subject to section 37A, shares redeemed or purchased under this section shall be treated as cancelled on redemption or purchase, and the amount of the company’s issued share capital shall be diminished by the nominal value of those shares accordingly; but the redemption or purchase of shares by a company is not to be taken as reducing the amount of the company’s authorised share capital. (h) Without prejudice to paragraph (g), where a company is about to redeem or purchase shares, it has power to issue shares up to the nominal value of the shares to be redeemed or purchased as if those shares had never been issued: Provided that where new shares are issued before the redemption or purchase of the old shares the new shares shall not, so far as relates to fees payable on or accompanying the filing of any return or list, be deemed to have been issued in pursuance of this subsection if the old shares are redeemed or purchased within one month after the issue of the new shares. (4) (a) Where, under this section, shares of a company are redeemed or purchased wholly out of either or both of the company’s profits or share premium account, the amount by which the company’s issued share capital is diminished in accordance with paragraph (g) of subsection (3) on cancellation of the shares redeemed or purchased shall be transferred to a reserve called the “capital redemption reserve” and the share premium account or company’s profits, as the case may be, shall be adjusted accordingly. Companies Law (2016 Revision) 34 (b) If the shares are redeemed or purchased wholly or partly out of the proceeds of a fresh issue and the aggregate amount of those proceeds is less than the aggregate nominal value of the shares redeemed or purchased, the amount of the difference shall be transferred to the capital redemption reserve. (c) Paragraph (b) does not apply if the proceeds of the fresh issue are applied by the company in making a redemption or purchase of its own shares in addition to a payment out of capital under subsection (5). (d) The provisions of this Law relating to the reduction of a company’s share capital apply as if the capital redemption reserve were paid-up share capital of the company, except that the reserve may be applied by the company in paying up its unissued shares to be allotted to members of the company as fully paid bonus shares. (5) (a) Subject to this section, a company limited by shares or limited by guarantee and having a share capital may, if so authorised by its articles of association, make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own shares otherwise than out of its profits, share premium account, or the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares. (b) References in subsections (6) to (9) to payment out of capital are, subject to paragraph (f), references to any payment so made, whether or not it would be regarded apart from this subsection as a payment out of capital. (c) The amount of any payment which may be made by a company out of capital in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own shares is such an amount as, taken together with - (i) any profits and share premium of the company being applied for purposes of the redemption or purchase; and (ii) the proceeds of any fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of the redemption or purchase, is equal to the price of redemption or purchase, and the payment out of capital permitted under this paragraph is referred to in subsections (6) to (9) as the capital payment for the shares. Nothing in this paragraph shall be taken to imply that a company shall be obliged to exhaust any profits and share premium before making any capital payment. (d) Subject to paragraph (f), if the capital payment for shares redeemed or purchased and cancelled is less than their nominal amount, the amount of the difference shall be transferred to the company’s capital redemption reserve. Companies Law (2016 Revision) 35 (e) Subject to paragraph (f), if the capital payment is greater than the nominal amount of the shares redeemed or purchased the amount of any capital redemption reserve or fully paid share capital of the company may be reduced by a sum not exceeding, or by sums not in the aggregate exceeding, the amount by which the capital payment exceeds the nominal amount of the shares. (f) Where the proceeds of a fresh issue are applied by a company in making any redemption or purchase of its own shares in addition to a payment out of capital under this subsection, the references in paragraphs (d) and (e) to the capital payment are to be read as referring to the aggregate of that payment and those proceeds. (6) (a) A payment out of capital by a company for the redemption or purchase of its own shares is not lawful unless immediately following the date on which the payment out of capital is proposed to be made the company shall be able to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. (b) The company and any director or manager thereof who knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits any payment out of capital to effect any redemption or purchase of any share in contravention of paragraph (a) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of fifteen thousand dollars and to imprisonment for five years. (7) (a) Where a company is being wound up and, at the commencement of the winding up, any of its shares which are or are liable to be redeemed have not been redeemed or which the company has agreed to purchase have not been purchased, the terms of redemption or purchase may be enforced against the company, and when shares are redeemed or purchased under this subsection they shall be treated as cancelled: Provided that this paragraph shall not apply if- (i) the terms of redemption or purchase provided for the redemption or purchase to take place at a date later than the date of the commencement of the winding up; or (ii) during the period beginning with the date on which the redemption or purchase was to have taken place and ending with the commencement of the winding up the company could not, at any time, have lawfully made a distribution equal in value to the price at which the shares were to have been redeemed or purchased. (b) There shall be paid in priority to any amount which the company is liable by virtue of paragraph (a) to pay in respect of any shares- Companies Law (2016 Revision) 36 (i) all other debts and liabilities of the company (other than any due to members in their character as such); and (ii) if other shares carry rights whether as to capital or as to income which are preferred to the rights as to capital attaching to the first mentioned shares, any amount due in satisfaction of those preferred rights, but subject to that, any such amount shall be paid in priority to any amounts due to members in satisfaction of their rights (whether as to capital or income) as members. (8) (a) Any redeemable preference shares issued by a company before the 18th day of January, 1988, are subject to redemption in accordance with this section. (b) Any capital redemption reserve fund established by a company before the 18th day of January, 1988, is to be known as the company’s capital redemption reserve and to be treated as if it had been established for the purposes of subsection (4), and accordingly, a reference in any law, the articles of association of any company or any other instrument to a company’s capital redemption reserve fund is to be construed as a reference to the company’s capital redemption reserve. (9) This section shall apply to shares without nominal or par value, and shall, in relation to such shares, be read and construed as if- (a) in subsection (3)- (i) for the words “the nominal value of” appearing in paragraph (g), there were substituted the words “an amount equal to the consideration received for”; and (ii) for the words “nominal value” appearing in paragraph (h), there was substituted the word “number”; (b) in subsection (4) for the words “aggregate nominal value of” appearing in paragraph (b), there were substituted the words “aggregate consideration received for”; and (c) in subsection (5)- (i) for the words “their nominal amount” appearing in paragraph (d), there were substituted the words “the consideration received for such shares”; and (ii) for the words “nominal amount of” appearing in paragraph (e), there were substituted the words “consideration received for”. 37A. (1) Shares that have been purchased or redeemed by a company or surrendered to the company pursuant to sections 37 or 37B shall not be treated as cancelled pursuant to sections 37(3)(g) or 37B(2) but shall be classified as Treasury shares Companies Law (2016 Revision) 37 treasury shares and sections 37(4), 37(5)(d) and 37B(2) shall not apply to such shares at the time of such purchase, redemption or surrender, if - (a) the memorandum and articles of association of the company do not prohibit it from holding treasury shares; (b) the relevant provisions of the memorandum and articles of association (if any) are complied with; and (c) the company is authorised in accordance with the company’s articles of association or by a resolution of the directors to hold such shares in the name of the company as treasury shares prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of such shares. (2) Shares held by a company pursuant to subsection (1) shall continue to be classified as treasury shares until such shares are either cancelled or transferred pursuant to subsection (3). (3) A company that holds treasury shares may at any time - (a) cancel the shares in accordance with the provisions of the company’s articles of association or (in the absence of any applicable provisions in the Company’s articles of association) by a resolution of the directors, and if so cancelled the amount of the company’s issued share capital shall be diminished by the nominal or par value of those shares accordingly but the company’s authorised share capital shall not be reduced and sections 37(4), 37(5)(d) and 37B(2) shall apply as if the shares had been purchased, redeemed or surrendered as at the date of cancellation; or (b) transfer the shares to any person, whether or not for valuable consideration (including at a discount to the nominal or par value of such shares). (4) A sum equal to the consideration (if any) received by the company pursuant to the transfer of a treasury share made in accordance with subsection (3)(b) (such consideration referred to as the “transfer consideration”) shall be applied in the following manner - (a) to the extent that any payment out of capital was made with respect to the purchase or redemption of the share being transferred, there shall be credited to the company’s share capital an amount equal to the lesser of - (i) the amount of such payment out of capital; and (ii) the transfer consideration received in respect of such share; (b) subject to subsection (5), to the extent that any payment out of share premium was made with respect to the purchase or redemption of the share being transferred, there shall be credited to the company’s share premium an amount equal to the lesser of Companies Law (2016 Revision) 38 (i) the amount of such payment out of share premium; and (ii) the balance of the transfer consideration received in respect of such share after applying subsection (4)(a); and (c) subject to subsection (5), the balance of the transfer consideration received in respect of such share after applying subsection (4)(a) and (b) shall be credited to the company’s profit and loss account. (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (4)(b) and (c) but subject to subsection (4)(a), so long as the company shall be able to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business immediately following the transfer of a treasury share in accordance with subsection (3)(b), the directors may by resolution determine that all or any part of the transfer consideration received shall be transferred to the company’s profit and loss account, share premium account or share capital (or any combination of the foregoing) in such proportions as the directors may (in their sole and absolute discretion but subject to any express contrary provision in the articles of association of the company) determine. (6) Notwithstanding subsection (7)(b), a treasury share may be transferred by the company and the provisions of this Law and (subject to any specific provisions with respect to the transfer of treasury shares) the memorandum and articles that apply to the transfer of shares shall apply to the transfer of treasury shares. (7) For so long as a company holds treasury shares - (a) the company shall be entered in the register of members as holding those shares; (b) notwithstanding paragraph (a) - (i) the company shall not be treated as a member for any purpose and shall not exercise any right in respect of the treasury shares, and any purported exercise of such a right shall be void; and (ii) a treasury share shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting of the company and shall not be counted issued shares at any given time, whether for the purposes of the company’s articles of association or this Law; and (c) no dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to members on a winding up) may be made to the company, in respect of a treasury share. (8) Nothing in subsection (7) prevents an allotment of shares as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a treasury share and shares allotted as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a treasury share shall be treated as treasury shares. Companies Law (2016 Revision) 39 37B. (1) Subject to any express provisions of the company’s memorandum or articles of association to the contrary, a company may accept the surrender for no consideration of any fully paid share (including a redeemable share) unless, as a result of the surrender, there would no longer be any issued shares of the company other than shares held as treasury shares. (2) Subject to section 37A, any shares surrendered under subsection (1) shall be treated as cancelled on surrender, and the amount of the company’s issued share capital shall be diminished by the nominal value of those shares accordingly; but the surrender of shares by a member is not to be taken as reducing the amount of the company’s authorised share capital. (3) This section is without prejudice to any right or power of a company arising under this Law or otherwise to accept the surrender of a share (not being a fully paid share) in lieu of forfeiture.
s.38Definition of member
MODIFIEDThe subscribers of the memorandum of association of any company shall be deemed to have agreed to become members of the company whose memorandum they have subscribed, and upon the registration of the company shall be entered as members on the register of members hereinafter mentioned, and every other person who has agreed to become a member of a company and whose name is entered on the register of members, shall be deemed to be a member of the company.
s.39Transfer by personal representative
MODIFIEDAny transfer of the share or other interest of a deceased member of a company made by his personal representative, shall, notwithstanding that such personal representative may not himself be a member, be of the same validity as if he had been a member at the time of the execution of the instrument of transfer.
s.40Register of members
MODIFIED(1) Every company shall cause to be kept in writing on one or more sheets, whether bound or unbound, a register of its members and there shall be entered therein- (a) the names and addresses of the members of the company, with the addition, in the case of a company having a capital divided into shares, of a statement of the shares held by each member, distinguishing each share by its number (so long as the share has a number), and of the amount paid, or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of each member; (b) the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a member; and (c) the date on which any person ceased to be a member: Provided that in the case of shares of an exempted company issued to bearer there shall only be entered in the register particulars of the date of issue of the share or shares, distinguishing each share by its number (so long as the share has a number), the name of the custodian of its bearer shares and the fact that a Surrender of shares Definition of member Transfer by personal representative Register of members Companies Law (2016 Revision) 40 certificate in respect thereof was issued to bearer. (2) Any company making default in complying with this section shall incur a penalty of five thousand dollars; and every director or manager of the company who knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits such default shall incur the like penalty. 40A. (1) An exempted company may cause to be kept in any country or territory one or more branch registers of such category or categories of members as the exempted company may determine from time to time. (2) A branch register is deemed to be part of the exempted company’s register of members. (3) Subject to subsection (6), a branch register shall be kept in the same manner in which a principal register is by this Law required or permitted to be kept. (4) The exempted company shall cause to be kept at the place where the exempted company’s principal register is kept a duplicate of any branch register duly entered up from time to time. (5) If default is made in complying with subsection (4) within twenty-one days after - (a) establishing a branch register; or (b) making changes to the details recorded in a branch register, the exempted company and every officer of the exempted company who is in default is liable to a penalty of five thousand dollars; and every director or manager of the company who knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits such default shall incur the like penalty. (6) Subject to subsection (4) with respect to a duplicate of any branch register - (a) the shares registered in a branch register shall be distinguished from those registered in the principal register; and (b) no transaction with respect to any shares registered in a branch register shall, during the continuance of that registration, be registered in any other register. (7) An exempted company may discontinue keeping any branch register, and thereupon all entries in that branch register shall be transferred to some other branch register kept by the exempted company or to the principal register. (8) For the avoidance of doubt a listed share register maintained under section 40B(3) shall not constitute a branch register for the purposes of this section. Branch registers of members Companies Law (2016 Revision) 41 (9) In this section - “branch register” means a branch register referred to in subsection (1); and “principal register” means a company’s register of members. 40B. (1) Title to listed shares of a company may, if so authorised by such company’s articles of association, or (in the absence of any applicable provisions in the company’s articles of association) by a special resolution of such company, be evidenced and transferred in accordance with the laws applicable to and the rules and regulations of the relevant approved stock exchange that are or shall be applicable to such listed shares as referred to or specified in such articles of association or special resolution. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the laws applicable to an approved stock exchange include, without limitation, the laws of the jurisdiction under which such approved stock exchange is established in so far as they would apply to an entity established under such laws which has listed shares on such approved stock exchange. (3) Any register of members maintained by a company in respect of its listed shares may be kept by recording the particulars required by section 40 in a form otherwise than legible if such recording otherwise complies with the laws applicable to and the rules and regulations of the relevant approved stock exchange referred to in subsection (1). (4) To the extent the listed shares register is kept in a form otherwise than legible it must be capable of being reproduced in a legible form. (5) A company which maintains a listed shares register must also maintain, in respect of any shares which are not listed shares, a separate register of members in accordance with section 40. (6) References in any enactment or instrument to a company’s register of members shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed in relation to a company which maintains any listed shares register as referring to each of such company’s listed shares register and, if any, its non-listed shares register. (7) For the purposes of this section - “approved stock exchange” means a stock exchange listed in
s.41Section 41
MODIFIED(1) Every company, other than an exempted company, having a capital divided into shares shall make a list of all persons who, on the fourteenth day following the date on which the ordinary general meeting, or if there is more than one ordinary general meeting in each year, the first of such ordinary general meetings, is held, are members of the company; and such lists shall state the names and addresses of all the members therein mentioned, and the number of shares held by each of them, and shall contain a summary specifying the- (a) amount of the capital of the company and the number of shares into which it is divided; (b) number of shares taken from the commencement of the company up to the date of the summary; (c) amount of calls made on each share; (d) total amount of calls received: (e) total amount of calls unpaid; (f) total number of shares forfeited; (g) names and addresses of the persons who have ceased to be members since the last list was made, and the number of shares held by each of them; and (h) names and addresses of directors and officers of the company and the position or office that they hold, and this list and summary shall be contained in a separate part of the register of the company and shall be completed within seven days after such fourteenth day as is mentioned in this section, and a copy shall be forwarded to the Registrar in January of each year after the year of its incorporation. (2) Every company, other than an exempted company, shall, in January of each year after the year of its registration, pay to the Registrar the annual fee specified in Part 2 of
s.42Penalty on company not making return
MODIFIEDAny company, not being an exempted company, who defaults in forwarding to the Registrar such lists of members or summary or the payment of any fee specified in section 41 (1) and (2) shall incur a penalty of- (a) 33.33% of the annual fee specified in section 41 if the documents are submitted or the fee and penalty are paid between the 1st April and the 30th June; (b) 66.67% of the annual fee specified in section 41 if the documents are submitted or the fee and penalty are paid between the 1st July and the 30th September; and (c) 100% of the annual fee specified in section 41 if the documents are submitted or the fee and penalty are paid between the 1st October and the 31st December, and every director and manager of the company who knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits such default shall incur the like penalty.
s.43Certificate of shares or stock
MODIFIEDA certificate- (a) specifying the shares or stock held by a member of a company; and (b) purportedly signed by a person (including by facsimile or other mechanically affixed signature) with the express or implied authority of that company, is admissible in evidence as proof of the title of that member to those shares or that stock.
s.44Inspection of register
MODIFIED(1) The register of members, commencing from the date of the registration of the company, shall be kept at the registered office of the company or, in the case of an exempted company, at any other place within or outside the Islands. (2) Except in the case of an exempted company and when closed as hereinafter provided the register of members shall, during business hours, subject to such reasonable restrictions as the company in general meeting may impose, so that no less than two hours in each day be appointed for inspection, be open to the inspection of any member gratis and to the inspection of any other person on payment of ten dollars or such less sum as the company may specify for each inspection; and every such member or other person may receive a copy of such register or any part thereof, or of such list or summary of members, on payment of one dollar for every page required to be copied. Penalty on company not making return Certificate of shares or stock Inspection of register Companies Law (2016 Revision) 44 (3) If such inspection or copy is refused, the company shall incur for each refusal a penalty of five hundred dollars; and every director and manager of the company who knowingly authorises or permits such refusal shall incur the like penalty; and in addition to the above penalty, a Judge sitting in chambers may, by order, compel an immediate inspection of the register. (4) A company, including an exempted company, shall make available at the registered office, in electronic form or any other medium, such register, including any branch register in the case of an exempted company, as may be required of it upon service of an order or notice by the Tax Information Authority pursuant to the Tax Information Authority Law (2016 Revision); and if the company fails to comply with the order or notice without reasonable excuse, the company shall incur a penalty of five hundred dollars and a further penalty of one hundred dollars for every day during which such non-compliance continues.
s.45Section 45
MODIFIED(1) Where a company has a capital divided into shares, whether such shares have or have not been converted into stock, notice of any increase in such capital beyond the registered capital, and where a company has not a capital divided into shares, notice of any increase in the number of members beyond the registered number shall be given to the Registrar, in the case of an increase of capital, within thirty days from the date of the passing of the resolution by which such increase has been authorised; and, in the case of an increase of members, within thirty days from the time at which such increase of members has been resolved on or has taken place; and the Registrar shall forthwith record the amount of such increase of capital or members. (2) The fees payable on an increase of capital shall be as specified in Part 3 of
s.46Remedy for improper entry or omission of entry in register
MODIFIEDIf the name of any person is, without sufficient cause, entered in or omitted from the register of members of any company, or if default is made or unnecessary delay takes place in entering on the register the fact of any person having ceased to be a member of the company, the person or member aggrieved or any member of the company or the company itself may, by motion to the Court, apply for an order that the register be rectified; and the Court may either refuse such application with or without costs to be paid by the applicant or it may, if satisfied of the justice of the case, make an order for the rectification of the register, and may direct the company to pay all the costs of such motion, application or petition, and any damages the party aggrieved may have sustained. The Court may, in any proceeding under this section, decide any question relating to the title of any person who is a party to such proceeding to have his name 2016 Revision Notice of increase of capital and of members to be given to Registrar Remedy for improper entry or omission of entry in register Companies Law (2016 Revision) 45 entered in or omitted from the register, whether such question arises between two or more members or alleged members, or between any members or alleged members and the company, and generally, the Court may, in any such proceeding, decide any question that it may be necessary or expedient to decide for the rectification of the register: Provided that the Court may direct an issue to be tried, on which any question of law may be raised. 47. Whenever any order has been made rectifying the register, in the case of a company required by this Law to send a list of its members to the Registrar, the Court shall, by its order, direct that due notice of such rectification be given to the Registrar.
s.47Notice to Registrar of rectification of register
MODIFIEDIf there is no such chairman, or if at any meeting he is not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting or is unwilling to act as chairman, the members present shall choose one of their number to be chairman. 48. The chairman may, with the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a meeting is adjourned for ten days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Save as aforesaid it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting. 49. At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless a poll is (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded by at least three members present in person or by proxy entitled to vote or by one member or two members together holding not less than fifteen per cent of the paid up capital of the company, and, unless a poll is so demanded, a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has, on a show of hands, been carried, carried unanimously, carried by a particular majority or lost, and an entry to that effect in the book of the proceedings of the company, shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of, or against, that resolution. 50. If a poll is duly demanded it shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded Companies Law (2016 Revision) 145 51. In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting at which the poll is demanded shall be entitled to a second or casting vote. 52. A poll demanded on the election of a chairman or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith; a poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at such time as the chairman of the meeting directs. Votes of Members 53. On a show of hands every member present in person shall have one vote. On a poll every member shall have one vote for each share of which he is the holder. 54. In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the register of members. 55. A member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his committee or other person in the nature of a committee appointed by that court, and any such committee or other person may, on a poll, vote by proxy. 56. No member shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless all calls or other sums presently payable by him in respect of shares in the company have been paid. 57. On a poll votes may be given either personally or by proxy. 58. The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointor or his attorney duly authorised in writing or, if the appointor is a corporation, either under seal or under the hand of an officer or attorney duly authorised. A proxy need not be a member of the company. 59. The instrument appointing a proxy and the power of attorney or other authority, if any, under which it is signed, or a notarially certified copy of that power or authority shall be deposited at the registered office of the company not less than forty-eight hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote, and in default the instrument of proxy shall not be treated as valid. 60. An instrument appointing a proxy may be in the following form or any other form approved by the directors- Company Limited I, , of being a member of the Company Limited hereby appoint of as my proxy, to vote for me and on my behalf at the (ordinary Companies Law (2016 Revision) 146 or extraordinary, as the case may be) general meeting of the company to be held on the day of , 20 , and at any adjournment thereof. Signed this day of , 20 . 61. The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll. Corporations Acting by Representatives at Meetings 62. Any corporation which is a member of the company may, by resolution of its directors or other governing body, authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the company or of any class of members of the company, and the person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as that corporation could exercise if it were an individual member of the company. Directors 63. The number of the directors and the names of the first directors shall be determined in writing by a majority of the subscribers of the memorandum of association. 64. The remuneration of the directors shall, from time to time, be determined by the company in general meeting.
s.48Register to be evidence
MODIFIEDThe register of members shall be prima facie evidence of any matters by this Law directed or authorised to be inserted therein. Liability of Members
s.49Liability of present and past members of company
MODIFIEDIn the event of a company being wound up every present and past member of such company shall be liable to contribute to the assets of the company to an amount sufficient for payment of the debts and liabilities of the company, and the costs, charges and expenses of the winding up and for the payment of such sums as may be required for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories amongst themselves: Provided that - (a) a past member shall not be liable to contribute to the assets of the company if he has ceased to be a member for a period of one year or upwards prior to the commencement of the winding up; (b) a past member shall not be liable to contribute in respect of any debt or liability of the company contracted after the time at which he ceased to be a member; (c) a past member shall not be liable to contribute to the assets of the company unless it appears to the Court that the existing members are unable to satisfy the contributions required to be made by them under this Law; (d) in case of a company limited by shares, no contribution shall be required from any member exceeding the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares in respect of which he is liable as a present or past member except where such member or past member holds or held shares of a class which are expressly stated in the memorandum of association to carry unlimited liability, as provided in section 8(2); (e) in the case of a company limited by guarantee, no contribution shall be required from any member exceeding the amount of the Notice to Registrar of Rectification of register Register to be evidence Liability of present and past members of company Companies Law (2016 Revision) 46 undertaking entered into on his behalf by the memorandum of association, except where the amount of the undertaking of such member is unlimited, as provided in section 9(2); (f) nothing in this Law shall invalidate any provisions contained in any policy of insurance or other contract whereby the liability of individual members upon any such policy or contract is restricted, or whereby the funds of the company are alone made liable in respect of such policy or contract; and (g) no sum due to any member of a company in his character of a member by way of dividends, profits or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a debt of the company, payable to such member in a case of competition between himself and any other creditor not being a member of the company; but any such sum may be taken into account for the purposes of the final adjustment of the rights of the contributions amongst themselves.
s.50Registered office of company
MODIFIED(1) Every company shall have a registered office in the Islands to which all communications and notices may be addressed and any company which carries on business without having such an office, shall incur a penalty of ten dollars for every day during which business is so carried on. (2) In the case of an exempted company or a non-resident company, the address of the registered office referred to in subsection (1) shall be the same as the address of the person licensed by the Authority who provides company management services for the exempted company or non-resident company except where the registered office was located at a different address in the Islands immediately prior to the date of commencement of this provision and remains at such address on or after the date of commencement of this provision.
s.51Notice of situation of registered office
MODIFIED(1) Notice of the situation of such registered office shall be given to the Registrar and recorded by him and shall be published by Public Notice. Until such notice is given and published, the company shall not be deemed to have complied with this Law with respect to having a registered office. (2) Any member of the public shall be entitled to be informed by the Registrar, on request, of the location of the registered office of any company or exempted company registered under this Law.
s.52Publication of name by a limited company
MODIFIEDEvery company, whether limited by shares or by guarantee, shall paint or affix, and shall keep painted or affixed, its name on the outside of every office or place in which the business of the company is carried on, or in any corridor, passage or hallway adjacent or proximate thereto, in a conspicuous position, in letters easily legible, and shall have its name in legible characters on any seal it Registered office of company Notice of situation of registered office Publication of name by a limited company Companies Law (2016 Revision) 47 uses, and shall have its name set out in legible characters in all notices, advertisements and other official publications of such company, and in all bills of exchange, promissory notes, endorsements, cheques and orders for money or goods purporting to be signed by or on behalf of such company, and in all bills of parcels, invoices, receipts and letters of credit of the company and its name may be followed with or preceded by, at the discretion of the company, its dual foreign name or its translated name, if any, or both.
s.53Penalties on non-publication of name
MODIFIEDAny company which does not paint or affix, and keep painted or affixed, its name in manner directed by this Law is liable to a penalty of ten dollars for not so painting or affixing its name, and for every day during which such name is not so kept painted or affixed, and every director and manager of the company who knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits such default shall be liable to the like penalty; and any director, manager or officer of such company, or any person on its behalf, who uses or authorises the use of any seal purporting to be a seal of the company, whereon its name is not so engraven as aforesaid, or issues or authorises the issue of any notice, advertisement or other official publication of such company, or signs or authorises to be signed on behalf of such company any bills of exchange, promissory note, endorsement, cheque or order for money or goods, or issues or authorises to be issued any bill of parcels, invoice, receipt or letter of credit of the company, wherein its name is not set out in the manner aforesaid, is liable to a penalty of one hundred dollars, and shall further be personally liable to the holder of any such bill of exchange, promissory note, cheque, or order for money or goods for the amount thereof, unless the same is duly paid by the company.
s.54Register of mortgages
MODIFIED(1) Every limited company shall keep at its registered office in writing on one or more sheets, whether bound or unbound, a register of all mortgages and charges specifically affecting property of the company, and shall enter in such register in respect of each mortgage or charge a short description of the property mortgaged or charged, the amount of charge created and the names of the mortgagees or persons entitled to such charge. (2) If any property of the company is mortgaged or charged without such entry as aforesaid being made, every director, manager or other officer of the company who knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits the omission of such entry, shall incur a penalty of one hundred dollars. (3) The register of mortgages required by subsection (1) shall be open to inspection by any creditor or member of the company at all reasonable times; and if such inspection is refused, any officer of the company refusing the same, and every director and manager of the company authorising or knowingly and wilfully permitting such refusal shall incur a penalty of four dollars for every day during which such refusal continues; and in addition to the above penalty, the Judge sitting in chambers may, by order, compel an immediate inspection of the register. Penalties on non- publication of name Register of mortgages Companies Law (2016 Revision) 48
s.55List of directors, including alternate directors, and officers
MODIFIED(1) Every company shall keep at its registered office a register containing the names and addresses of its directors, including alternate directors, and officers, and shall - (a) send a copy of such register to the Registrar within sixty days of the first appointment of any director or officer of the company; and (b) notify the Registrar of any change in such directors or officers including a change of the name of such directors or officers, within sixty days of any such change. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1) a person shall be registered by a company as an alternate director if that person is - (a) appointed by a director of the company to exercise all the powers and perform all the responsibilities of that director; (b) entitled to receive notice of meetings of the board of directors of the company; (c) entitled to sign or execute written resolutions of the board of directors of the company; and (d) considered in all respects to be a director of the company. (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a person - (a) appointed by a director to exercise limited powers or to fulfil limited responsibilities; (b) appointed for a specified period that is less than ninety days; (c) appointed to attend a particular meeting or series of meetings or adjournments; (d) appointed to consider and, if approved, sign a particular written resolution or series of written resolutions of the board of directors of the company; (e) who is a director of the company; or (f) who at the time of his appointment, is the alternate of another director of the company.
s.56Section 56
MODIFIED(1) A company that breaches the provisions of section 55 shall incur a penalty of five hundred dollars. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), if a company is in breach of section 55(1) (b) – (a) in respect of more than one change in directors or officers and – (i) the changes occurred within a sixty day period; and (ii) the Registrar is notified of the changes on the same day; the applicable penalty for the breach shall be that specified in subsection (1), irrespective of the number of changes notified to the Registrar; and List of directors, including alternate directors, and officers Penalty for failing to notify of changes to the register of directors and officers Companies Law (2016 Revision) 49 (b) in respect of directors or officers of five or more companies, the applicable aggregate penalty in respect of the companies to which the breach relates shall not exceed the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars, which shall be equally apportioned between and paid by, such companies. (3) In addition to the penalty under subsection (1), where the Registrar is satisfied that a breach of section 55 has been knowingly and willfully authorized or permitted - (a) every company to which the breach relates shall incur a penalty of one thousand dollars; and (b) every director and officer of the company to which the breach relates shall incur a penalty of one thousand dollars and a further penalty of one hundred dollars for every day during which the default continues.
s.57Meetings
MODIFIEDSubject to the memorandum and articles of association of the company, a meeting of- (a) members; (b) a class of members; (c) the board of directors; or (d) any committee of the directors, may be validly convened and business conducted, as provided by the articles of association, with only one such member or director being present in person or otherwise as may be provided by the articles of association. Provisions for Protection of Members
s.58General meetings
MODIFIEDA general meeting of every company, other than an exempted company, shall be held at least once in every year.
s.59Accounts and audits
MODIFIED(1) Every company shall cause to be kept proper books of account including, where applicable, material underlying documentation including contracts and invoices with respect to- (a) all sums of money received and expended by the company and the matters in respect of which the receipt and expenditure takes place; (b) all sales and purchases of goods by the company; and (c) the assets and liabilities of the company. Meetings General meetings Accounts and audits Companies Law (2016 Revision) 50 (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), proper books of account shall not be deemed to be kept with respect to the matters aforesaid if there are not kept such books as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the company’s affairs and to explain its transactions. (2A) A company which keeps its books of account at any place other than at its registered office or at any other place within the Islands shall, upon service of an order or notice by the Tax Information Authority pursuant to the Tax Information Authority Law (2014 Revision), make available, in electronic form or any other medium, at its registered office copies of its books of account, or any part or parts thereof, as are specified in such order or notice; and if the company fails to comply with the order or notice without reasonable excuse, the company shall incur a penalty of five hundred dollars and a further penalty of one hundred dollars for every day during which such non- compliance continues. (3) A company shall cause all books of account required to be kept under subsection (1) to be retained for a minimum period of five years from the date on which they are prepared. (4) A company that knowingly and wilfully contravenes subsection (1) or (3) shall be subject to a penalty of five thousand dollars.
s.60Definition of special resolution
MODIFIED(1) A resolution is a special resolution when- (a) it has been passed by a majority of at least two-thirds of such members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given, except that a company may in its articles of association specify that the required majority shall be a number greater than two-thirds, and may additionally so provide that any such majority (being not less than two-thirds) may differ as between matters required to be approved by a special resolution; or (b) if so authorised by its articles of association, it has been approved in writing by all of the members entitled to vote at a general meeting of the company in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the members aforesaid, and the effective date of the special resolution so adopted shall be the date on which the instrument or the last of such instruments, if more than one, is executed. (2) At any meeting mentioned in this section, unless a poll is demanded by at least one member, a declaration of the chairman that the resolution has been carried shall be conclusive evidence of the fact, without proof of the number or proportion of votes recorded in favour of or against the same. 2014 Revision Definition of special resolution Companies Law (2016 Revision) 51 (3) Notice of any meeting shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to be duly given and the meeting to be duly held, whenever such notice is given and the meeting held in manner prescribed by the regulations of the company. (4) In computing the majority under this section when a poll is demanded, regard shall be had to the number of votes to which each member is entitled by the regulations of the company.
s.61Provisions where no regulations as to meetings
MODIFIEDIn default of any regulations as to voting, every member shall have one vote, and in default of any regulations as to summoning general meetings, a meeting shall be held to be duly summoned of which five days’ notice has been served on every member; and in default of any regulations as to the persons to summon meetings, three members shall be competent to summon the same; and in default of any regulations as to who is to be chairman of such meeting, it shall be competent for any person elected by the members present to preside.
s.62Recording of special resolutions
MODIFIEDA copy of any special resolution passed by any company under this Law shall be forwarded within fifteen days to the Registrar and shall be recorded by him.
s.63Copies of special resolutions
MODIFIED(1) Where articles of association have been registered, a copy of every special resolution for the time being in force shall be annexed to or embodied in, every copy of the articles of association that may be issued after the passing of such resolution. (2) Where no articles of association have been registered, a copy of any special resolution shall be forwarded in print to any member requesting the same, on payment of ten cents or such less sum as the company may direct. (3) Any company which fails to comply with this section shall incur a penalty of two dollars for each copy in respect of which such default is made; and every director and manager of the company who shall knowingly and wilfully authorise or permit such default shall incur the like penalty.
s.64Appointment of inspectors to report on affairs of companies
MODIFIEDThe Court may appoint one or more than one competent inspectors to examine into the affairs of any company and to report thereon in such manner as the Court may direct- (a) in case of a banking company having a capital divided into shares, upon the application of members holding not less than one-third of the shares of the company for the time being issued; (b) in the case of any other company having a capital divided into shares, upon application of members holding not less than one- fifth of the shares of the company for the time being issued; and (c) in the case of a company not having a capital divided into shares, upon the application of members being in number not less than Provisions where no regulations as to meetings Recording of special resolutions Copies of special resolutions Appointment of inspectors to report on affairs of companies Companies Law (2016 Revision) 52 one-fifth of the total number of persons for the time being entered on the register of the company as members. 65. It shall be the duty of all officers and agents of the company to produce for examination by an inspector all books and documents in their custody or power; any inspector may examine upon oath the officers and agents of the company in relation to its business, and may administer such oath accordingly; and any officer or agent who refuses or neglects to produce any book or document hereby directed to be produced, or to answer any question relating to the affairs of the company, shall incur a penalty not exceeding forty dollars in respect of each such offence.
s.65Powers of inspectors
MODIFIEDThe qualification of a director shall be the holding of at least one share in the company. Powers and Duties of Directors 66. The business of the company shall be managed by the directors, who may pay all expenses incurred in getting up and registering the company and may exercise all such powers of the company as are not, by the Law or these articles, required to be exercised by the company in general meeting, subject nevertheless, to any regulation of these articles, to the Law and to such regulations, being not inconsistent with the aforesaid regulations or Law, as may be prescribed by the company in general meeting; but no regulation made by the company in general meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if that regulation had not been made. 67. The directors may, from time to time, appoint one or more of their body to the office of managing director or manager for such term and at such remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission or participation in profits, or partly in one way and partly in another) as they may think fit and a director so appointed shall not, while holding that office, be subject to retirement by rotation, or taken into account in determining the rotation or retirement of directors; but his appointment shall be subject to determination ipso facto if he ceases from any Companies Law (2016 Revision) 147 cause to be a director, or if the company in general meeting resolves that his tenure of the office of managing director or manager be determined. 68. The amount for the time being remaining undischarged of moneys borrowed or raised by the directors for the purposes of the company (otherwise than by the issue of share capital) shall not, at any time, exceed the issued share capital of the company without the sanction of the company in general meeting. 69. The directors shall cause minutes to be made in books provided for the purpose- (a) of all appointments of officers made by the directors; (b) of the names of the directors present at each meeting of the directors and of any committee of the directors; and (c) of all resolutions and proceedings at all meetings of the company, and of the directors and of committees of directors, and every director present at any meeting of directors or committee of directors shall sign his name in a book to be kept for that purpose. The Seal 70. Any seal of the company shall not be affixed to any instrument except by the authority of a resolution of a board of directors, and in the presence of a director and of the secretary or such other person as the directors may appoint for the purpose; and that director and the secretary or other person as aforesaid shall sign every instrument to which any seal of the company is so affixed in their presence. Disqualification of Directors 71. The office of director shall be vacated, if the director- (a) without the consent of the company in general meeting holds any other office of profit under the company except that of managing director or manager; (b) becomes bankrupt; (c) is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; (d) resigns his office by notice in writing to the company; or (e) is directly or indirectly interested in any contract with the company or participates in the profits of any contract with the company: Provided however, that a director shall not vacate his office by reason of his being a member of any corporation which has entered into contract with or done any work for the company if he has declared the nature of his interest at the first meeting of the directors of the company held after he became interested in the contract, but the director shall not vote in respect of any such contract or work or any matter arising thereout, and if he does so Companies Law (2016 Revision) 148 vote his vote shall not be counted. Rotation of Directors 72. At the first ordinary general meeting of the company the whole of the directors shall retire from office, and at the ordinary general meeting in every subsequent year one-third of the directors for the time being, or, if their number is not three or a multiple of three, then the number nearest one-third, shall retire from office. 73. The directors to retire in every year shall be those who have been longest in office since their last election but as between persons who became directors on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be determined by lot. 74. A retiring director shall be eligible for re-election. 75. The company at the general meeting at which a director retires in manner aforesaid may fill the vacated office by electing a person thereto and in default the retiring director shall be deemed to have been re-elected unless at such meeting it is resolved not to fill such vacated office. 76. The company may, from time to time in general meeting, increase or reduce the number of directors, and may also determine in what rotation the increased or reduced number is to go out of office. 77. Any casual vacancy occurring in the board of directors may be filled by the directors, but the person so chosen shall be subject to retirement at the same time as if he had become a director on the day on which the director in whose place he is appointed was last elected a director. 78. The directors shall have power, at any time and from time to time, to appoint a person as an additional director, who shall retire from office at the next following ordinary general meeting, but shall be eligible for election by the company at that meeting as an additional director. 79. The company may, by special resolution, remove a director before the expiration of his period in office, and may, by an ordinary resolution, appoint another person in his stead. The person so appointed shall be subject to retirement at the same time as if he had become a director on the day on which the director in whose place he is appointed was last elected a director. Proceedings of Directors 80. The directors may meet together for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings, as they think fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In case of an equality of votes the Companies Law (2016 Revision) 149 chairman shall have a second or casting vote. A director may, and the secretary on the requisition of a director shall, at any time, summon a meeting of the directors. 81. The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the directors may be fixed by the directors, and unless so fixed shall, when the number of directors exceeds three, be three, and when the number of directors does not exceed three, be two. 82. The continuing directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body, but, if and so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to the regulations of the company as the necessary quorum of directors, the continuing directors may act for the purpose of increasing the number of directors to that number, or of summoning a general meeting of the company, but for no other purpose. 83. The directors may elect a chairman of their meetings and determine the period for which he is to hold office; but if no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the same, the directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. 84. The directors may delegate any of their powers to committees consisting of such member or members of their body as they think fit; any committee so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers so delegated, conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the directors. 85. A committee may elect a chairman of its meetings; if no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the same, the members present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. 86. A committee may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper. Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and, in case of an equality of votes, the chairman shall have a second or casting vote. 87. All acts done by any meeting of the directors or of a committee of directors, or by any person acting as a director, shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any such director or person acting as aforesaid, or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and was qualified to be a director. Dividends and Reserve 88. The company in general meeting may declare dividends, but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by directors. Companies Law (2016 Revision) 150 89. The directors may, from time to time, pay to the members such interim dividends as appear to the directors to be justified by the profits of the company. 90. No dividends shall be paid otherwise than out of profits. 91. Subject to the rights of persons, if any, entitled to shares with special rights as to dividends, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid on the shares, but if and so long as nothing is paid up on any of the shares in the company, dividends may be declared and paid according to the amounts of the shares. No amount paid on a share in advance of calls shall, while carrying interest, be treated for the purposes of this article as paid on the share. 92. The directors may, before recommending any dividend, set aside out of the profits of the company such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall, at the discretion of the directors, be applicable for meeting contingencies or for equalising dividends or for any other purpose to which the profits of the company may be properly applied, and pending such application may, at the like discretion, either be employed in the business of the company or be invested in such investments (other than shares of the company) as the directors may, from time to time, think fit. 93. If several persons are registered as joint holders of any share, any of them may give effectual receipts for any dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of the share. 94. Any dividend may be paid by cheque or warrant sent through the post to the registered address of the member or person entitled thereto or in the case of joint holders to any one of such joint holders at his registered address or to such person and such address as the member or person entitled or such joint holders, as the case may be, may direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent or to the order of such other person as the member or person entitled or such joint holders, as the case may be, may direct. 95. No dividend shall bear interest against the company. Accounts
s.66Report of inspectors
MODIFIED(1) Upon the conclusion of the examination, the inspectors shall report their opinions to the Court. (2) Such report shall be filed by the Clerk of the Court, but shall not, unless the Court so directs, be open to public inspection. (3) All expenses of and incidental to any such examination and report shall be defrayed by the members upon whose application the inspectors were appointed, unless the Court shall direct the same to be paid out of the assets of the company, which it is hereby authorised to do.
s.67Inspection by resolution of the company
MODIFIEDAny company as aforesaid may, by special resolution, appoint inspectors for the purpose of examining into the affairs of such company; and inspectors so appointed shall have the same powers and perform the same duties as inspectors appointed by the Court, except that instead of making their report to the Court, they shall make the same in such manner and to such persons as the company by resolution of its members directs, and the officers and agents of the company shall incur the same penalties in case of any refusal or neglect to produce any book or document hereby required to be produced to such inspectors or answer any question, as they would have incurred if such inspectors had been appointed by the Court.
s.68Inspectors’ report admissible as evidence
MODIFIEDThe report of any inspectors appointed under this Law, or any copy thereof certified and signed by the inspectors, shall be admissible in any legal proceeding as evidence of the opinion of the inspectors in relation to any matter contained in such report. Notices
s.69Section 69
MODIFIEDAny list, return, notice or information required by this Law to be made, given or supplied to the Registrar shall be authenticated by the signature of the secretary or manager or one of the directors of the company.
s.70Service of notices on company
MODIFIEDAny writ, notice, order or other document required to be served upon the company may be served by leaving the same, or sending it through the post in a prepaid letter, addressed to the company at its registered office. Powers of inspectors Report of inspectors Inspection by resolution of the company Inspectors’ report admissible as evidence Returns, etc., to Registrar Service of notices on company Companies Law (2016 Revision) 53
s.71Postal service
MODIFIEDAny document to be served by post on the company shall be posted in such time as to admit of its being delivered in the due course of delivery within the period, if any, prescribed for the service thereof; and in proving service of such document, it shall be sufficient to prove that such document was properly directed, and that it was put as a prepaid letter into the post office.
s.72Section 72
MODIFIEDAny summons, notice, order or proceeding requiring authentication by the company may be signed by a director, secretary or other authorised officer of the company, and may be in writing or print or partly in writing and partly in print.
s.73Minutes of proceedings
MODIFIED(1) Every company shall cause minutes of all resolutions and proceedings of its members, whether at general meetings or otherwise, and of its directors or managers (where there are directors or managers), whether at meetings or otherwise, to be duly kept in writing. (2) Any minute of a general meeting of the company or a meeting of the directors or managers, if purporting to be signed by the chairman of the meeting, or by the chairman of the next succeeding meeting, shall be received as evidence of the proceedings at that meeting; and until the contrary is proved, every general meeting of the company or meeting of the directors or managers in respect of the proceedings of which minutes have been so made, shall be deemed to have been duly held and convened and all resolutions passed thereat, or proceedings had, to have been duly passed and had, and all appointments of directors, managers or liquidators shall be deemed to be valid, and all acts done by such directors, managers and liquidators shall be valid, notwithstanding any defect that may afterwards be discovered in their appointments or qualifications.
s.74Security for costs in actions brought by limited companies
MODIFIEDWhere a company is plaintiff in any action, suit or other legal proceeding, any Judge having jurisdiction in the matter, if he is satisfied that there is reason to believe that if the defendant is successful in his defence the assets of the company will be insufficient to pay his costs, may require sufficient security to be given for such costs, and may stay all proceedings until such security is given.
s.75Declaration in action against members
MODIFIEDIn any action or suit brought by the company against any member to recover any call or other monies due from such member in his character of member, it shall not be necessary to set forth the special matter, but it shall be sufficient to allege that the defendant is a member of the company and is indebted to the company in respect of a call made or other monies due whereby a right of action has accrued to the company. Arbitration
s.76Power of companies to refer matters to arbitration
MODIFIEDAny company may, from time to time, by writing, agree to refer and may refer to arbitration any existing or future difference, question or other matter whatsoever in dispute between itself and any other company or person; and the companies, parties to the arbitration, may delegate to the person or persons to whom the reference is made power to settle any terms or to determine any matter Postal service Authentication of summons, notice, etc. Minutes of proceedings Security for costs in actions brought by limited companies Declaration in action against members Power of companies to refer matters to arbitration Companies Law (2016 Revision) 54 capable of being lawfully settled or determined by the companies themselves or by the directors or other managing body of such companies. General Penalty
s.77General penalty; application of fines
MODIFIED(1) Where a duty is imposed by this Law on any company, director or officer of any company and no special penalty or fine has been provided for the breach of such duty, then any such company director or officer responsible for such breach commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of five thousand dollars. (2) All fines shall be recovered in a summary way and shall be applied in aid of the general revenue of the Islands. Unlimited Liability of Directors and Managers
s.78Unlimited liability of directors and managers
MODIFIEDThe liability of the directors, managers or the managing director of a company may, if so provided by the memorandum of association, be unlimited.
s.79Modification of section 49
MODIFIEDIn the event of a company being wound up, section 49 as respects the contribution to be required from any director or manager whose liability is unlimited by virtue of section 78 shall have effect subject to the following modifications- (a) subject as hereinafter contained, any such director, managing director or manager whether past or present shall, in addition to his liability, if any, to contribute as an ordinary member, be liable to contribute as if he were at the date of the commencement of such winding up a member of an unlimited company; (b) no contribution required from any past director or manager who has ceased to hold such office for a period of one year or upwards prior to the commencement of such winding up, shall exceed the amount, if any, which he is liable to contribute as an ordinary member of the company; (c) no contribution required from any past director of manager in respect of any debt or liability of the company contracted after the time at which he ceased to hold such office shall exceed the amount, if any, which he is liable to contribute as an ordinary member of the company; and (d) subject to the regulations of the company, no contribution required from any director or manager shall exceed the amount, if any, which he is liable to contribute as an ordinary member, unless the Court thinks it necessary to require such contribution in order to satisfy the debts and liabilities of the company and the costs, charges and expenses of the winding up. General penalty; application of fines Unlimited liability of directors and managers Modification of section 49 Companies Law (2016 Revision) 55 Association not for Profit
s.80Section 80
MODIFIED(1) Where any association is about to be formed as a limited company, if it is proved to the satisfaction of the Governor that it is to be formed for the purpose of promoting commerce, art, science, religion, charity or any other useful object, and that it is the intention of such association to apply the profits, if any, or other income of the association in promoting its objects, and to prohibit the payment of any dividend to the members of the association, the Governor may, by licence under his hand and the Public Seal, direct such association to be registered with limited liability without the addition of the word “limited” to its name, and such association may be registered accordingly, and upon registration shall enjoy all the privileges and be subject to all the obligations by this Law imposed on companies, except that none of the provisions of this Law that require a company to use the word “limited” as any part of its name, or to publish its name, or to send a list of its members, to the Registrar or to pay the fees prescribed by sections 41 and 169, shall apply to an association so registered. (2) The licence aforesaid may be granted upon such conditions and subject to such regulations as the Governor may think fit to impose, and such conditions and regulations shall be binding on the association, and shall be inserted or endorsed on the memorandum or articles of association. Contracts
s.81Contracts and other instruments
MODIFIED(1) Contracts, deeds, instruments under seal or other instruments on behalf of any company may be made as follows - (a) a contract or other instrument which, if made between individuals, would by law be required to be in writing, and to be made by deed or under seal, and a deed or instrument under seal may be made by instrument - (i) sealed with any seal of the company; or (ii) which is executed on behalf of the company by any person acting under the express or implied authority of the company and which is either expressed to be executed as, or otherwise makes clear on its face it is intended to be, a deed or instrument under seal; (b) any contract or other instrument which, if made between private persons, would be by law required to be in writing and signed by the parties to be charged therewith may be made on behalf of the company in writing, signed by any person acting under the express or implied authority of the company; and (c) any contract which, if made between private persons, would by law be valid although made by parol only and not reduced into writing, may be made by parol on behalf of the company by any Circumstances in which the Governor may licence a company to be registered without “limited” in its name Contracts and other instruments Companies Law (2016 Revision) 56 person acting under the express or implied authority of the company. (2) Where a contract or other transaction purports to be made by a company or by a person on its behalf at a time when the company has not been registered, then subject to any agreement to the contrary, the contract or other transaction has effect as one entered into by the person purporting to act on behalf of the company and, subject to subsection (3), that person is personally liable on the contract or other transaction. (3) A contract or other transaction purported to be entered into by a company prior to its registration or by a person on behalf of the company prior to its registration may be ratified by the company after its registration and thereupon the company shall become bound by and entitled to the benefit thereof from the date of registration, and the person so entering into such contract or other transaction shall be deemed to have been duly authorised to act on behalf of the company and shall cease to be personally liable on the contract or other transaction. (4) Any contract, deed or other instrument made according to this section may be varied or discharged in the same manner as it is authorised by this section to be made. (5) All contracts, deeds or other instruments made according to this section shall be effectual in law and shall be binding upon the company and its successors and all other parties thereto, their heirs, executors or administrators, as the case may be. (6) A contract or other instrument to be governed by the laws of the Islands which is executed by an overseas company is, and is to be treated as, a deed or instrument under seal if it is - (a) executed in conformity with subsection (1)(a); and (b) executed in conformity with the requirements imposed by - (i) the laws of the jurisdiction in which the overseas company was formed or incorporated; and (ii) its memorandum or articles of association or other constitutional documents (howsoever called). (7) A contract or other instrument executed in accordance with subsection (6) meets any requirement of any law of the Islands that the contract or instrument is, and is to be treated as, a deed or instrument executed under seal. (8) A contract, deed or instrument is executed validly as a contract, deed or instrument under seal where it is executed in any manner contemplated by the parties thereto, including, without limitation - (a) where the complete contract, deed or instrument is executed; or Companies Law (2016 Revision) 57 (b) where any signature or execution page to the contract, deed or instrument is executed (whether or not the contract, deed or instrument is at such time in final form) which is attached by, or on behalf of, the relevant party to, or otherwise with the relevant party’s express or implied authority to, the contract, deed or instrument, provided always that the contract, deed or instrument is executed in conformity with subsection (1)(a) or (b), or subsection (6), as the case may be. (9) Subsections (1), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) shall apply to contracts, deeds, instruments under seal or other instruments regardless of whether they were made before, on or after the commencement of this subsection, and no contract, deed, instrument under seal or other instrument made before the commencement of this subsection shall be invalid by reason only of any provision of subsections (1), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8).
s.82Bills of exchange and promissory notes
MODIFIEDA bill of exchange or promissory note shall be deemed to have been made, accepted or endorsed on behalf of a company if made, accepted or endorsed in the name of, or by or on behalf or on account of, the company by any person acting under its authority.
s.83Section 83
MODIFIED(1) A company may appoint and empower a person either generally or in respect of a specified matter to execute deeds or instruments under seal on its behalf. (2) Any appointment under subsection (1) need not be made by deed or instrument under seal, but any person so appointed otherwise than by deed or instrument under seal shall not constitute the donee of a power under the Powers of Attorney Law (1996 Revision) (but without prejudice to the authority otherwise conferred upon them by the company). (3) A deed or instrument under seal signed by a person on behalf of a company pursuant to the authority conferred pursuant to subsection (1) shall bind the company and have effect as if it were executed as such by the company.
s.84Power of company to have official seal for use abroad
MODIFIED(1) A company may maintain a common seal, which shall bear the name of the company in legible characters, which may, at the discretion of the company, be followed with or preceded by its dual foreign name or its translated name, if any, or both at such place as the company may, from time to time, determine and in default of any such determination, at its registered office, and may, if so authorised by its articles of association, maintain a duplicate seal or seals, each of which shall be a facsimile of its common seal at such place or places throughout the world as it may authorise and any such duplicate seal may, but shall not be obliged to, bear on its face the name of any country, territory, district, or place where it is to be used. Bills of exchange and promissory notes Execution of deeds, etc., by attorney 1996 Revision Power of company to have official seal for use abroad Companies Law (2016 Revision) 58 (2) A deed or instrument under seal to which any such duplicate seal is duly affixed shall bind the company as if it had been sealed with the common seal of the company. (3) A company having any such duplicate seal may authorise any person appointed for the purpose to affix the duplicate seal to any deed or other document to which the company is party. (4) The authority of any such agent shall, as between the company and any person dealing with the agent, continue during the period, if any, specified in the instrument conferring the authority, or if no period is so specified, then until notice of the revocation or determination of the authority of the agent has been given to such person. (5) The person affixing any such duplicate seal shall, by writing under his hand, certify on the deed or other instrument to which the seal is affixed the date on which it is affixed.
s.85Authentication of documents
MODIFIEDA document or proceeding requiring authentication by a company may be signed by a director, secretary or other authorised officer of the company. Arrangements and Reconstructions
s.86Power to compromise with creditors and members
MODIFIED(1) Where a compromise or arrangement is proposed between a company and its creditors or any class of them, or between the company and its members or any class of them, the Court may, on the application of the company or of any creditor or member of the company, or where a company is being wound up, of the liquidator, order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, or of the members of the company or class of members, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the Court directs. (2) If a majority in number representing seventy-five per cent in value of the creditors or class of creditors, or members or class of members, as the case may be, present and voting either in person or by proxy at the meeting, agree to any compromise or arrangement, the compromise or arrangement shall, if sanctioned by the Court, be binding on all the creditors or the class of creditors, or on the members or class of members, as the case may be, and also on the company or, where a company is in the course of being wound up, on the liquidator and contributories of the company. (3) An order made under subsection (2) shall have no effect until a copy of the order has been delivered to the Registrar for registration, and a copy of every such order shall be annexed to every copy of the memorandum of association of the company issued after the order has been made, or, in the case of a company not having a memorandum, of every copy so issued of the instrument constituting or defining the constitution of the company. Authentication of documents Power to compromise with creditors and members Companies Law (2016 Revision) 59 (4) If a company makes default in complying with subsection (3), the company and every officer of the company who is in default shall be liable to a fine of two dollars for each copy in respect of which default is made. (5) In this section the expression “company” means any company liable to be wound up under this Law and the expression “arrangement” includes a reorganisation of the share capital of the company by the consolidation of shares of different classes or by the division of shares into shares of different classes or by both those methods.
s.87Section 87
MODIFIED(1) Where an application is made to the Court under section 86 for the sanctioning of a compromise or arrangement proposed between a company and any such persons as are specified in that section, and it is shown to the Court that the compromise or arrangement has been proposed for the purpose of or in connection with a scheme for the reconstruction of any company or companies or the amalgamation of any two or more companies, and that under the scheme the whole or any part of the undertaking or the property of any company concerned in the scheme (in this section referred to as “a transferor company”) is to be transferred to another company (in this section referred to as “the transferee company”) the Court, may either by the order sanctioning the compromise or arrangement or by any subsequent order make provision for- (a) the transfer to the transferee company of the whole or any part of the undertaking and of the property or liabilities of any transferor company; (b) the allotting or appropriation by the transferee company of any shares, debentures, policies, or other like interests in that company which under the compromise or arrangement are to be allotted or appropriated by that company to or for any person; (c) the continuation by or against the transferee company of any legal proceedings pending by or against any transferor company; (d) the dissolution, without winding up, of any transferor company; (e) the provisions to be made for any person who within such time and in such manner as the Court directs dissent from the compromise or arrangement; and (f) such incidental, consequential and supplemental matters as are necessary to secure that the reconstruction or amalgamation is fully and effectively carried out. (2) Where an order under this section provides for the transfer of property or liabilities, that property shall, by virtue of the order, be transferred to and vest in, and those liabilities shall, by virtue of the order, be transferred to and become the liabilities of, the transferee company, and any such property shall, if the order so directs, be freed from any charge which is, by virtue of the compromise or arrangement, to cease to have effect Provisions for facilitating reconstruction and amalgamation of companies Companies Law (2016 Revision) 60 (3) Where an order is made under this section, every company in relation to which the order is made shall cause a copy thereof to be delivered to the Registrar for registration within seven days after the making of the order, and if default is made in complying with this subsection, the company and every officer of the company who is in default shall be liable to a default fine. (4) In this section- “property” includes property, rights and powers of every description; “liabilities” includes duties; and “transferee company” means any company or body corporate established in the Islands or in any other jurisdiction.
s.88Power to acquire shares of dissentient shareholders
MODIFIED(1) Where a scheme or contract involving the transfer of shares or any class of shares in a company (in this section referred to as “the transferor company”) to another company, whether a company within the meaning of this Law or not (in this section referred to as “the transferee company”) has, within four months after the making of the offer in that behalf by the transferee company, been approved by the holders of not less than ninety per cent in value of the shares affected, the transferee company may, at any time within two months after the expiration of the said four months, give notice in the prescribed manner to any dissenting shareholder that it desires to acquire his shares, and where such notice is given the transferee company shall, unless on an application made by the dissenting shareholder within one month from the date on which the notice was given, the Court thinks fit to order otherwise, be entitled and bound to acquire those shares on the terms on which under the scheme or contract the shares of the approving shareholders are to be transferred to the transferee company. (2) Where a notice has been given by the transferee company under this section and the Court has not, on an application made by the dissenting shareholder, ordered to the contrary, the transferee company shall, on the expiration of one month from the date on which the notice has been given or, if an application to the Court by the dissenting shareholder is then pending, after that application has been disposed of, transmit a copy of the notice to the transferor company and pay or transfer to the transferor company the amount or other consideration representing the price payable by the transferee company for the shares which by virtue of this section that company is entitled to acquire, and the transferor company shall thereupon register the transferee company as the holder of those shares. (3) Any sums received by the transferor company under this section shall be paid into a separate bank account, and any such sums and any other consideration so received shall be held by that company on trust for the several Power to acquire shares of dissentient shareholders Companies Law (2016 Revision) 61 persons entitled to the shares in respect of which the said sum or other consideration were respectively received. (4) In this section- “dissenting shareholder” includes a shareholder who has not assented to the scheme or contract and any shareholder who has failed or refused to transfer his shares to the transferee company, in accordance with the scheme or contract.
s.89Definitions
MODIFIEDIn this Part - “company” includes a foreign company in respect of which the Court has made a winding up order; “contributory” means - (a) every person liable by virtue of section 49 to contribute to the assets of a company in the event that it is wound up under this Law; and (b) every holder of fully paid up shares of a company; “controller” means a person appointed by the Authority pursuant to the regulatory laws to take control of a company; “document” includes any device by means of which information is recorded or stored; “foreign company” means any body corporate incorporated outside the Islands; “foreign practitioner” means a person who is qualified under the law of a foreign country to perform functions equivalent to those performed by official liquidators under this Law or by trustees in bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy Law (1997 Revision); “limited partnership” means an ordinary limited partnership registered in accordance with section 49 of the Partnership Law (2013 Revision) or an exempted limited partnership registered in accordance with section 9 of the Exempted Limited Partnership Law, 2014; “official liquidator” means the liquidator of a company which is being wound up by order of the Court or under the supervision of the Court and includes a provisional liquidator; “prescribed” means prescribed by the Insolvency Rules Committee; Definitions 1997 Revision 2013 Revision Law 5 of 2014 Companies Law (2016 Revision) 62 “professional service provider” means a person who contracts to provide general managerial or administrative services to a company on an annual or continuing basis; “qualified insolvency practitioner” means a person holding the qualifications specified in the regulations made by the Insolvency Rules Committee under section 155 or such other qualifications as the Court considers appropriate for the conduct of the winding up of a company; “Rules” mean rules prescribed by the Insolvency Rules Committee; “shadow director” means, in relation to a company, any person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of the company are accustomed to act, but the person is not deemed to be a shadow director by reason only that the directors act on advice given by him in a professional capacity; and “winding up order” includes an order that a voluntary winding up continue under the supervision of the Court and references to a company being wound up by the Court includes a company which is being wound up under the supervision of the Court.
s.90Alternative modes of winding up
MODIFIEDA company may be wound up- (a) compulsorily by order of the Court; (b) voluntarily- (i) by virtue of a special resolution; (ii) because the period, if any, fixed for the duration of the company by its articles of association has expired; or (iii) because the event, if any, has occurred, on the occurrence of which its articles of association provide that the company shall be wound up; or (c) under the supervision of the Court.
s.91Jurisdiction of the Court
MODIFIEDThe Court has jurisdiction to make winding up orders in respect of- (a) an existing company; (b) a company incorporated and registered under this Law; (c) a body incorporated under any other law; and (d) a foreign company which- (i) has property located in the Islands; (ii) is carrying on business in the Islands; (iii) is the general partner of a limited partnership; or (iv) is registered under Part IX. Alternative modes of winding up Jurisdiction of the Court Companies Law (2016 Revision) 63 Winding up by the Court
s.92Circumstances in which a company may be wound up by the Court
MODIFIEDA company may be wound up by the Court if- (a) the company has passed a special resolution requiring the company to be wound up by the Court; (b) the company does not commence its business within a year from its incorporation, or suspends its business for a whole year; (c) the period, if any, fixed for the duration of the company by the articles of association expires, or whenever the event, if any, occurs, upon the occurrence of which it is provided by the articles of association that the company is to be wound up; (d) the company is unable to pay its debts; or (e) the Court is of opinion that it is just and equitable that the company should be wound up.
s.93Definition of inability to pay debts
MODIFIEDA company shall be deemed to be unable to pay its debts if- (a) a creditor by assignment or otherwise to whom the company is indebted at law or in equity in a sum exceeding one hundred dollars then due, has served on the company by leaving at its registered office a demand under his hand requiring the company to pay the sum so due, and the company has for the space of three weeks succeeding the service of such demand, neglected to pay such sum, or to secure or compound for the same to the satisfaction of the creditor; (b) execution of other process issued on a judgment, decree or order obtained in the Court in favour of any creditor at law or in equity in any proceedings instituted by such creditor against the company, is returned unsatisfied in whole or in part; or (c) it is proved to the satisfaction of the Court that the company is unable to pay its debts.
s.94Application for winding up
MODIFIED(1) An application to the Court for the winding up of a company shall be by petition presented either by- (a) the company; (b) any creditor or creditors (including any contingent or prospective creditor or creditors); (c) any contributory or contributories; or (d) subject to subsection (4), the Authority pursuant to the regulatory laws. (2) Where expressly provided for in the articles of association of a company the directors of a company incorporated after the commencement of this Law have the authority to present a winding up petition on its behalf without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting. Circumstances in which a company may be wound up by the Court Definition of inability to pay debts Application for winding up Companies Law (2016 Revision) 64 (3) A contributory is not entitled to present a winding up petition unless either- (a) the shares in respect of which he is a contributory, or some of them, are partly paid; or (b) the shares in respect of which he is a contributory, or some of them, either were- (i) originally allotted to him, or have been held by him, and registered in his name for a period of at least six months immediately preceding the presentation of the winding up petition; or (ii) have devolved on him through the death of a former holder. (4) A winding up petition may be presented by the Authority in respect of any company which is carrying on a regulated business in the Islands upon the grounds that it is not duly licensed or registered to do so under the regulatory laws or for any other reason as provided under the regulatory laws or any other law.
s.95Powers of the Court
MODIFIED(1) Upon hearing the winding up petition the Court may- (a) dismiss the petition; (b) adjourn the hearing conditionally or unconditionally; (c) make a provisional order; or (d) any other order that it thinks fit, but the Court shall not refuse to make a winding up order on the ground only that the company’s assets have been mortgaged or charged to an amount equal to or in excess of those assets or that the company has no assets. (2) The Court shall dismiss a winding up petition or adjourn the hearing of a winding up petition on the ground that the petitioner is contractually bound not to present a petition against the company. (3) If the petition is presented by members of the company as contributories on the ground that it is just and equitable that the company should be wound up, the Court shall have jurisdiction to make the following orders, as an alternative to a winding-up order, namely- (a) an order regulating the conduct of the company’s affairs in the future; (b) an order requiring the company to refrain from doing or continuing an act complained of by the petitioner or to do an act which the petitioner has complained it has omitted to do; (c) an order authorising civil proceedings to be brought in the name and on behalf of the company by the petitioner on such terms as the Court may direct; or (d) an order providing for the purchase of the shares of any members of the company by other members or by the company itself and, Powers of the Court Companies Law (2016 Revision) 65 in the case of a purchase by the company itself, a reduction of the company’s capital accordingly. (4) Where an alternative order under subsection (3) requires the company not to make any, or any specified, alteration in the memorandum or articles of association, the company does not have power, without the leave of the Court, to make any such alteration in breach of that requirement. (5) Any alteration in a company’s memorandum or articles of association made by virtue of an alternative order under subsection (3) is of the same effect as if duly made by resolution of the company, and the provisions of this Law shall apply to the memorandum or articles of association as so altered accordingly. (6) A copy of an alternative order made under subsection (3) altering, or giving leave to alter, a company’s memorandum or articles of association shall be filed by the company with the Registrar within fourteen days of the making of the order. 96. At any time after the presentation of a winding up petition and before a winding up order has been made, the company or any creditor or contributory may- (a) where any action or proceeding against the company, including a criminal proceeding, is pending in a summary court, the Court, the Court of Appeal or the Privy Council, apply to the court in which the action or proceeding is pending for a stay of proceedings therein; and (b) where any action or proceeding is pending against the company in a foreign court, apply to the Court for an injunction to restrain further proceedings therein, and the court to which application is made may, as the case may be, stay or restrain the proceedings accordingly on such terms as it thinks fit.
s.96Power to stay or restrain proceedings
MODIFIEDThe directors shall cause proper books of account to be kept with respect to- (a) all sums of money received and expended by the company, and the matters in respect of which the receipt and expenditure takes place; and (b) all sales and purchases of goods by the company and the assets and liabilities of the company. Companies Law (2016 Revision) 151 97. The books of account shall be kept at the registered office of the company, or at such other place or places as the directors think fit, and shall always be open to the inspection of the directors.
s.97Avoidance of attachments and stay of proceedings
MODIFIED(1) When a winding up order is made or a provisional liquidator is appointed, no suit, action or other proceedings, including criminal proceedings, shall be proceeded with or commenced against the company except with the leave of the Court and subject to such terms as the Court may impose. (2) When a winding up order has been made, any attachment, distress or execution put in force against the estate or effects of the company after the commencement of the winding up is void. 98. When a winding up order is made, the liquidator shall- (a) file a copy of the winding up order with the Registrar; and (b) publish notice of the winding up in the Gazette and any newspaper in which the winding up petition was advertised. Power to stay or restrain proceedings Avoidance of attachments and stay of proceedings Notice of winding up order Companies Law (2016 Revision) 66 99. When a winding up order has been made, any disposition of the company’s property and any transfer of shares or alteration in the status of the company’s members made after the commencement of the winding up is, unless the Court otherwise orders, void. 100. (1) If, before the presentation of a petition for the winding up of a company by the Court- (a) a resolution has been passed by the company for voluntary winding up; (b) the period, if any, fixed for the duration of the company by the articles of association has expired; or (c) the event upon the occurrence of which it is provided by the articles of association that the company is to be wound up has occurred, the winding up of the company is deemed to have commenced at the time of passing of the resolution or the expiry of the relevant period or the occurrence of the relevant event. (2) In any other circumstance not specified in subsection (1), the winding up of a company by the Court is deemed to commence at the time of the presentation of the petition for winding up. 101. (1) Where the Court has made a winding up order or appointed a provisional liquidator, the liquidator may require some or all of the persons mentioned in subsection (3) to prepare and submit to him a statement in the prescribed form as to the affairs of the company. (2) The statement shall be verified by an affidavit sworn by the persons required to submit it and shall show- (a) particulars of the company’s assets and liabilities, including contingent and prospective liabilities; (b) the names and addresses of any persons having possession of the company’s assets; (c) the assets of the company held by those persons; (d) the names and addresses of the company’s creditors; (e) the securities held by those creditors; (f) the dates when the securities were respectively given; and (g) such further or other information that the liquidator may require. (3) The persons referred to in subsection (1) are- (a) persons who are or have been directors or officers of the company; (b) persons who are or have been professional service providers to the company; and Avoidance of property dispositions, etc. Commencement of winding up by Court Company’s statement of affairs Companies Law (2016 Revision) 67 (c) persons who are or have been employees of the company, during the period of one year immediately preceding the relevant date. (4) Where any persons are required under this section to submit a statement of affairs to the liquidator, they shall do so, subject to subsection (5), before the end of the period of twenty-one days beginning with the day after that on which the prescribed notice of the requirement is given to them by the liquidator. (5) The liquidator may release a person from an obligation imposed on him under subsection (1) or, when giving the notice mentioned in subsection (4) or subsequently, the liquidator may extend the time for compliance; and if the liquidator refuses to extend the time for compliance, the Court may do so. (6) In this section- “relevant date” means- (a) in a case where a provisional liquidator is appointed, the date of his appointment; and (b) in any other case, the commencement of the winding up. (7) A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any obligation imposed under this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of ten thousand dollars. 102. (1) Where a winding up order is made by the Court, the liquidator shall be empowered to investigate- (a) if the company has failed, the causes of the failure; and (b) generally, the promotion, business, dealings and affairs of the company, and to make such report, if any, to the Court as he thinks fit. (2) Subject to obtaining the directions of the Court, the liquidator shall have power to - (a) assist the Authority and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service to investigate the conduct of persons referred to in section 101(3); and (b) institute and conduct a criminal prosecution of persons referred to in section 101(3). (3) Subject to obtaining the prior approval of the company’s creditors, if it is insolvent, or its contributories, if it is solvent, the directions given under subsection (2) may include a direction that the whole or part of the costs of investigation and prosecution be paid out of the assets of the company. 103. (1) This section applies to any person who, whether resident in the Islands or elsewhere- Investigation by liquidator Duty to co-operate and the private examination of relevant persons Companies Law (2016 Revision) 68 (a) has made or concurred with the statement of affairs; (b) is or has been a director or officer of the company; (c) is or was a professional service provider to the company; (d) has acted as a controller, advisor or liquidator of the company or receiver or manager of its property; (e) not being a person falling within paragraphs (a) to (c), is or has been concerned or has taken part in the promotion, or management of the company, and such person is referred to in this section as the “relevant person”. (2) It is the duty of every relevant person to co-operate with the official liquidator. (3) While a company is being wound up, the official liquidator may at any time before its dissolution apply to the Court for an order- (a) for the examination of any relevant person; or (b) that a relevant person transfer or deliver up to the liquidator any property or documents belonging to the company. (4) Unless the Court otherwise orders, the official liquidator shall make an application under subsection (3) if he is requested in accordance with the rules to do so by one-half, in value, of the company’s creditors or contributories. (5) On an application made under subsection (3) (a), the Court may order that a relevant person- (a) swear an affidavit in answer to written interrogatories; (b) attend for oral examination by the official liquidator at a specified time and place, or (c) do both things specified in paragraphs (a) and (b). (6) The Court may direct that any creditor or contributory of the company be permitted by the official liquidator to participate in an oral examination. (7) The Court shall have jurisdiction- (a) to make an order under this section against a relevant person resident outside the Islands; and (b) to issue a letter of request for the purpose of seeking the assistance of a foreign court in obtaining the evidence of a relevant person resident outside the jurisdiction. Official Liquidators 104. (1) Subject to this section and any rules made under section 155, the Court may, at any time after the presentation of a winding up petition but before the making of a winding up order, appoint a liquidator provisionally. Appointment and powers of provisional liquidator Companies Law (2016 Revision) 69 (2) An application for the appointment of a provisional liquidator may be made under subsection (1) by a creditor or contributory of the company or, subject to subsection (6), the Authority, on the grounds that- (a) there is a prima-facie case for making a winding up order; and (b) the appointment of a provisional liquidator is necessary in order to- (i) prevent the dissipation or misuse of the company’s assets; (ii) prevent the oppression of minority shareholders; or (iii) prevent mismanagement or misconduct on the part of the company’s directors. (3) An application for the appointment of a provisional liquidator may be made under subsection (1) by the company ex-parte on the grounds that- (a) the company is or is likely to become unable to pay its debts within the meaning of section 93; and (b) the company intends to present a compromise or arrangement to its creditors. (4) A provisional liquidator shall carry out only such functions as the Court may confer on him and his powers may be limited by the order appointing him. (5) The remuneration of the provisional liquidator shall be fixed by the Court from time to time on his application and the Court shall in fixing such remuneration act in accordance with rules made under section 155. (6) An application for the appointment of a provisional liquidator may be presented by the Authority on the grounds under subsection (2), in respect of any company which is carrying on a regulated business in the Islands upon the grounds that it is not duly licensed or registered to do so under the regulatory laws or for any other reason as provided under the regulatory laws or any other law regardless of whether or not the Authority presented the winding up petition. 105. (1) For the purpose of conducting the proceedings in winding up a company and assisting the Court therein, there may be appointed one or more than one person to be called an official liquidator or official liquidators; and the Court may appoint to such office such person as it thinks fit, and if more persons than one are appointed to such office, the Court shall declare whether any act hereby required or authorised to be done by the official liquidator is to be done by all or any or more of such persons. (2) The Court may also determine whether any and what security is to be given by an official liquidator on his appointment; and if no official liquidator is appointed, or during any vacancy in such office, all the property of the company shall be in the custody of the Court. Appointment of official liquidator Companies Law (2016 Revision) 70 (3) The liquidator shall, within twenty-eight days of the date upon which the winding up order is made, summon- (a) a meeting of the company’s creditors if the order was made on the grounds that the company is insolvent; or (b) a meeting of the company’s contributories if the order was made on grounds other than insolvency, for the purposes of resolving any other matters which the liquidator puts before the meeting. (4) The Court may make an order dispensing with the need to summon a meeting under this section or extending the time within which it shall be summoned. 106. When two or more persons are appointed to the office of liquidator, either provisionally or as official liquidators, they shall be authorised to act jointly and severally, unless their powers are expressly limited by order of the Court. 107. An official liquidator may be removed from office by order of the Court made on the application of a creditor or contributory of the company. 108. (1) A foreign practitioner may be appointed to act jointly with a qualified insolvency practitioner. (2) Official liquidators are officers of the Court. 109. (1) The expenses properly incurred in the winding up, including the remuneration of the liquidator, are payable out of the company’s assets in priority to all other claims. (2) There shall be paid to the official liquidator such remuneration, by way of percentage or otherwise, that the Court may direct acting in accordance with rules made under section 155; and if more liquidators than one are appointed such remuneration shall be distributed amongst them in such proportions as the Court directs. 110. (1) It is the function of an official liquidator- (a) to collect, realise and distribute the assets of the company to its creditors and, if there is a surplus, to the persons entitled to it; and (b) to report to the company’s creditors and contributories upon the affairs of the company and the manner in which it has been wound up. (2) The official liquidator may- (a) with the sanction of the Court, exercise any of the powers specified in Part I of
s.167Repealed
NEWRepealed 168. Annual return 169. Annual fee 170. Failure to comply with section 168 or 169 171. Registrar to give notice 172. False statement in declaration 173. Penalty for false declaration 174. Prohibited enterprises 175. Prohibited sale of securities Companies Law (2016 Revision) 9 176. Penalty for carrying on business contrary to this Part 177. Electronic business by exempted companies
s.200Section 200A
REMOVED(1) The Registrar may on application made by a company issue a certificate of good standing to a company that is in good standing in accordance with subsection (2). Certificate of good standing (2) A certificate of good standing is evidence of the fact that the company is in good standing on the date that the certificate of good standing is issued. (3) A company shall be deemed to be in good standing if all fees and penalties under this Law have been paid and the Registrar has no knowledge that the company is in default under this Law.
s.239No constituent
MODIFIEDNo constituent company incorporated under this Law or any consolidated company existing under this Law may be a segregated portfolio company.
s.244Section 244
MODIFIEDThe Cabinet may by Order amend
s.245Section 245
MODIFIEDThe Cabinet may make regulations prescribing all matters that are required or permitted under this Law to be prescribed, or are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to the purposes of this Law. Publication of foreign bankruptcy proceedings Amendment of Schedules Regulations Companies Law (2016 Revision) 137