Companies (Jersey)
Law 1991[1]
A LAW to provide for the
incorporation, regulation and winding up of companies, and for connected
purposes[2]
Commencement [see endnotes]
PART 1
PRELIMINARY
1 Interpretation
(1) In this Law, unless the
context otherwise requires –
“allotment”, in relation to shares, means a transaction
by which a person acquires the unconditional right to be included in a
company’s register of members in respect of the shares;
“arrangement”, in Articles 125 and 126, includes a
reorganisation of a company’s share capital by the consolidation of
shares of different classes or by the division of shares into shares of
different classes, or by both of those methods;
“articles”, in relation to a company, means its articles
of association as originally framed or as altered;
“capital accounts” means –
(a) in
relation to a par value company, its share capital accounts and any share
premium accounts and capital redemption reserves; and
(b) in
relation to a no par value company, its stated capital accounts;
“cause” has the meaning assigned to it by the customary
law of Jersey;
“cell” means a cell of a cell company;
“cell company” means a company that is an incorporated
cell company or a protected cell company;
“certificate of continuance” means a certificate of continuance
issued by the registrar under Article 127O;
“class of members”, in respect of a protected cell
company, includes –
(a) the
members of a cell of the company; and
(b) any
class of members of a cell of the company;
“Commission” means the Jersey Financial Services
Commission established by the Financial Services Commission (Jersey)
Law 1998;
“company” means a company registered under this Law, or
an existing company;
“contributory” means a person liable to contribute to
the assets of a company pursuant to Article 192;
“court” means the Royal Court;
“currency” includes foreign currency and any other means
of exchange that may be prescribed;
“delivered”, in Articles 200 and 201, includes
(in the case of a document which is a notice) given;
“Désastre Law” means the Bankruptcy (Désastre) (Jersey)
Law 1990;
“director” means a person occupying the position of
director, by whatever name called;
“dissolved”, in relation to a company, means dissolved
under this Law or any other law of Jersey;
“document” includes summons, notice, statement, return,
account, order, and other legal process, and registers;
“existing company” means a company registered under the
Laws repealed by Article 223;
“external company” means a body corporate which is
incorporated outside Jersey and which carries on business in Jersey or which
has an address in Jersey which is used regularly for the purposes of its business;
“financial period” means a period for which a profit and
loss account of a company is made up in accordance with this Law;
“fixed period of time”, in Articles 3H, 144 and
144A, means a period of time which is ascertainable without reference to any
event which is –
(a) contingent;
or
(b) otherwise
uncertain;
“former forenames or surname” does not
include –
(a) in
the case of a peer or a person usually known by a British title which differs
from his or her surname, the name by which he or she was known before the
adoption of the title or his or her succession to it; or
(b) in
the case of any person, a former forename or surname which was changed or
disused before the person attained the age of 20, or which has been
changed or disused for a period of not less than 20 years;
“guarantee company” means a guarantee company as defined
in Article 3G;
“guarantor member” means a member of a company (whether
or not it is a guarantee company) whose liability in his or her capacity as
such a member is limited by guarantee, that is to say limited by the memorandum
to the amount which the member thereby undertakes (by way of guarantee and not
by reason of holding any share) to contribute to the assets of the company in
the event of its being wound up;
“incorporated cell company” means a company to which
Article 3I(1) applies;
“incorporated limited partnership” means an incorporated
limited partnership as defined in Article 1 of the Incorporated Limited Partnerships (Jersey)
Law 2011;
“insolvent” means unable to pay debts as they fall due;
“liabilities” includes any amount reasonably necessary
to be retained for the purpose of providing for any liability or loss which is
either likely to be incurred or certain to be incurred but uncertain as to
amount or as to the date on which it will arise;
“limited company” means a limited company as defined in
Article 3C;
“limited life company” means a limited life company as
defined in Article 3H;
“limited share” means a share in respect of which
liability is limited to the amount unpaid on it;
“memorandum”, in relation to a company, means its
memorandum of association as originally framed or as altered;
“Minister” means the Minister for External Relations;
“net asset value”, in relation to the shares of an
open-ended investment company, means net asset value as defined in the
company’s articles;
“nominal capital account”, in relation to a company,
means a share capital account of the company to which are credited amounts up
to the nominal value of the shares issued by the company;
“no par value company” means a no par value company as
defined in Article 3F;
“no par value share” means a share which is not
expressed as having nominal value;
“number”, in relation to shares, includes amount, where
the context admits of the reference to shares being construed to include stock;
“officer”, in relation to a body corporate, means a
director or liquidator;
“open-ended investment company” means a
company –
(a) the
sole business of which is to invest in securities or other property of any
description; and
(b) the
articles of which provide that its shares, or substantially all its shares, are
to be redeemed or purchased at the request of the holders at a price or prices
not exceeding the net asset value of those shares;
“paid up” includes credited as paid up;
“par value company” means a par value company as defined
in Article 3E;
“par value share” means a share which is expressed as
having nominal value;
“personal representative” means the executor or
administrator for the time being of a deceased person;
“prescribed” means prescribed by Order made by the
Minister;
“printed” includes typewritten and a photocopy of a
printed or typewritten document;
“private company” means a private company as defined in
Article 3B;
“prospectus” means an invitation to the public to become
a member of a company or to acquire or apply for any securities, for which
purposes an invitation will not be considered to be made to the public
where –
(a) the
invitation is addressed to either or both –
(i) qualified
investors as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the prospectus to be published
when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated
market (OJ L 168, 30.6.2017, p. 12), as amended from time to time, or
(ii) professional
investors as defined in the Financial Services (Investment Business (Special
Purpose Investment Business – Exemption)) (Jersey) Order 2001;
(b) the
number of persons (other than qualified investors and professional investors)
to whom the invitation is addressed does not exceed 50 in Jersey and
150 elsewhere;
(c) the
minimum consideration which may be paid or given by a person for securities to
be acquired by that person is at least EUR 100,000 (or an equivalent
amount in another currency);
(d) the
securities to be acquired or applied for are denominated in amounts of at least
EUR 100,000 (or an equivalent amount in another currency);
(e) the
invitation relates to the issue of shares or other securities by a company to
its members in satisfaction, in whole or in part, of a distribution to be made
by that company;
(f) the
invitation relates to a scheme specified in Article 3(2)(c) of the Companies (General Provisions) (Jersey)
Order 2002; or
(g) any combination of
sub-paragraphs (a) to (f) applies.
“protected cell company” means a company to which
Article 3I(2) applies;
“public company” means a public company as defined in
Article 3A;
“published” means –
(a) in
respect of a fee payable by virtue of this Law, published by the Commission in
accordance with Article 15(5)[3] of the Financial Services Commission (Jersey)
Law 1998; and
(b) in
any other case, published by the Commission in a manner likely to bring it to
the attention of those affected,
and “publish” shall be interpreted accordingly;
“records” means documents and other records however
stored;
“registrar” means the registrar of companies appointed
pursuant to Article 196 and “registrar’s seal”, in
relation to the registrar, means a seal prepared under Article 197;
“securities” –
(a) in
Article 51A, has the meaning assigned to it by paragraph (4) of that
Article; and
(b) except
as provided in sub-paragraph (a) of this definition, means –
(i) shares in or
debentures of a body corporate,
(ii) interests
in any such shares or debentures, or
(iii) rights
to acquire any of the foregoing;
“separate limited partnership” means a separate limited
partnership as defined in Article 1 of the Separate Limited Partnerships (Jersey)
Law 2011;
“share” –
(a) means
a share in a body corporate or a cell and, unless a distinction between shares
and stock is expressed or implied, also means stock; and
(b) in
Article 36, also has the meaning assigned to it by paragraph (2A) of
that Article,
except that in Article 116(1), it means a share, as defined in
sub-paragraph (a) of this definition, to which Article 116(2) refers;
“special resolution” has the meaning given to that
expression by Article 90;
“surname”, in the case of a peer or a person usually
known by a title which differs from his or her surname, means that title;
“treasury share” means a share held as a treasury share
under Article 58A(1);
“unlimited share” means a share in respect of which
liability is not limited to the amount unpaid on it;
“variation”, in Articles 52 and 53, includes
abrogation;
“year” means a calendar year.[4]
(2) References in this Law
to a body corporate –
(a) include
a body corporate incorporated outside Jersey but do not include a corporation
sole;
(b) except
in Articles 2 and 2A, do not include an association incorporated under the
Loi (1862) sur les teneures
en fidéicommis et l’incorporation d’associations;
(c) do
not include a Scottish firm;
(d) do
not include a limited liability partnership registered under the Limited
Liability Partnerships (Jersey) Law 2017;
(e) do
not include an incorporated limited partnership;
(f) do
not include a limited liability company registered as a body corporate under
the Limited Liability Companies
(Jersey) Law 2018.[5]
(3) The Minister may by
Order amend the definition of “prospectus” in paragraph (1).[6]
2 Meanings
of “subsidiary”, “wholly-owned subsidiary” and
“holding body”[7]
(1) A
body corporate is a subsidiary of another body corporate if the second
body –
(a) holds
a majority of the voting rights in the first body;
(b) is a
member of the first body and has the right to appoint or remove a majority of
the board of directors of the first body; or
(c) is a
member of the first body and controls alone, pursuant to an agreement with
other shareholders or members, a majority of the voting rights in the first
body,
or if the first body is a
subsidiary of a body corporate which is itself a subsidiary of the second body.
(2) A
body corporate is a wholly-owned subsidiary of another body corporate if the
first body has no members except –
(a) the
second body; and
(b) wholly-owned
subsidiaries of or persons acting on behalf of the second body or the second
body’s wholly-owned subsidiaries.
(3) A
body corporate is the holding body of another body corporate if the second body
is a subsidiary of the first body.
(4) A
holding company is a body corporate that is a holding body.[8]
(5) [9]
2A Further
provisions relating to subsidiaries and holding bodies[10]
(1) The
provisions of this Article explain expressions used in Article 2 and
otherwise supplement that Article.
(2) In
Article 2(1)(a) and (c), the references to the voting rights in a body
corporate are to the rights conferred on shareholders in respect of their
shares, or (in the case of a body not having a share capital) on members, to
vote at general meetings of the body on all or substantially all matters.
(3) In
Article 2(1)(b), the reference to the right to appoint or remove a
majority of a board of directors is to the right to appoint or remove directors
holding a majority of the voting rights at meetings of the board on all or
substantially all matters; and for the purposes of that provision –
(a) a
body corporate shall be treated as having the right to appoint to a
directorship if –
(i) a person’s
appointment to it follows necessarily from the person’s appointment as
director of the body, or
(ii) the
directorship is held by the body itself; and
(b) a
right to appoint or remove which is exercisable only with the consent or
concurrence of another person shall be left out of account unless no other
person has a right to appoint or, as the case may be, remove in relation to
that directorship.
(4) Rights
which are exercisable only in certain circumstances shall be taken into account
only –
(a) when
the circumstances have arisen, and for so long as they continue to obtain; or
(b) when
the circumstances are within the control of the person having the rights,
and rights which are
normally exercisable but are temporarily incapable of exercise shall continue
to be taken into account.
(5) Rights
held by a person in a fiduciary capacity shall be treated as not held by the
person.
(6) Rights
held by a person as nominee for another shall be treated as held by the other;
and rights shall be regarded as held as nominee for another if they are
exercisable only on his or her instructions or with his or her consent or
concurrence.
(7) Rights
attached to shares held by way of security shall be treated as held by the
person providing the security –
(a) where,
apart from the right to exercise them for the purpose of preserving the value
of the security, or of realising it, the rights are exercisable only in
accordance with the person’s instructions; and
(b) where
the shares are held in connection with the granting of loans as part of normal
business activities and apart from the right to exercise them for the purpose
of preserving the value of the security, or of realising it, the rights are
exercisable only in the person’s interests.
(8) Rights
shall be treated as held by a body corporate if they are held by any of its
subsidiaries; and nothing in paragraph (6) or (7) shall be construed as
requiring rights held by a body corporate to be treated as held by any of its
subsidiaries.
(9) For
the purposes of paragraph (7), rights shall be treated as being
exercisable in accordance with the instructions or in the interests of a body
corporate if they are exercisable in accordance with the instructions of or, as
the case may be, in the interests of –
(a) any
subsidiary or holding body of the first body; or
(b) any
subsidiary of a holding body of the first body.
(10) The
voting rights in a body corporate shall be reduced by any rights held by the
body itself.
(11) References
in any of paragraphs (5) to (10) to rights held by a person include rights
falling to be treated as held by the person by virtue of any other provision of
those paragraphs, but do not include rights which by virtue of any such
provision are to be treated as not held by the person.
2B Power
of States to amend Part 1[11]
The States may amend this
Part by Regulations.
PART 2
COMPANY FORMATION AND
REGISTRATION
3 Method
of formation of a company[12]
(1) Any
2 or more persons associated for a lawful purpose may apply for the formation
of an incorporated public company, with or without limited liability, by
signing and delivering to the registrar a memorandum of association that states
that the company is to be a public company.
(2) Any
person or 2 or more persons associated for a lawful purpose may apply for the
formation of an incorporated private company, with or without limited
liability, by signing and delivering to the registrar a memorandum of
association that states that the company is to be a private company.
(3) The
registrar shall not grant an application made under paragraph (2) by more
than 30 persons unless the Commission notifies the registrar that, on
application made to it and on payment of any published fee, it has satisfied
itself that by reason of the nature of the company’s intended activities
its affairs may properly be regarded as the domestic concern of its members.[13]
(4) The
Commission may give its notification under paragraph (3) subject to such
conditions as shall be specified in the approval.
(5) Where
it does so, paragraphs (3), (4), (5) and (6) of Article 16 shall
apply to the notification, with the necessary amendments, as if the approval
were a written notice given under Article 16(2).
(6) A
person mentioned in paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) must not
be –
(a) a
minor;
(b) a
person lacking capacity, for and on behalf of whom another person is acting by
authority of a lasting power of attorney conferred under Part 2 of the Capacity
and Self-Determination (Jersey) Law 2016;
(c) a
person in respect of whom a delegate is appointed under Part 4 of the Capacity
and Self-Determination (Jersey) Law 2016.[14]
(7) A
public or private company may be formed –
(a) having
the liability of all or any of its members limited by shares, that is to say
limited by its memorandum to the amounts (if any) unpaid on the shares
respectively held by them;
(b) having
the liability of all or any of its members limited by guarantee, that is to say
limited by its memorandum to such amounts as those members by the memorandum
respectively undertake, by way of guarantee and not by reason of holding any
share, to contribute to the assets of the company if it is wound up; or
(c) having,
in respect of the liability of all or any of its members, no limit.
(8) A
public or private company may be formed as –
(a) a par
value company;
(b) a no
par value company; or
(c) a
guarantee company.
(9) A
company shall not have a share capital the shares of which include par value
shares and no par value shares.
(10) Paragraph (9)
is without prejudice to Article 127YA(4) (which relates to the types of
cells a cell company may create).
3A Public
companies[15]
A company is a public
company if –
(a) its
memorandum states that it is a public company; or
(b) it
is an existing company which became a public company on 30th March 1992 by
the operation of Article 16(2) (as then in force), and it has not
subsequently become a private company.
3B Private
companies[16]
A company is a private
company if –
(a) its
memorandum states that it is a private company; or
(b) it
is a company which immediately before the commencement of this Article was a
private company, and it has not subsequently become a public company.
3C Limited
companies[17]
(1) A
par value company or a no par value company is a limited company
if –
(a) any
person is a member of the company by reason of holding a limited share; or
(b) any
person is a guarantor member of the company,
whether or not it also has
members whose liability is unlimited.
(2) A
guarantee company is a limited company.
3D Unlimited
companies[18]
(1) A
company is an unlimited company if –
(a) it is
a par value company or a no par value company;
(b) no
person is a member of the company by reason of holding a limited share; and
(c) no
person is a guarantor member of the company.
(2) Nothing
in this Law shall be taken as prohibiting a company –
(a) from
changing any unlimited shares in the company to limited shares in the company;
or
(b) from
changing any limited shares in the company to unlimited shares in the company.
3E Par
value companies[19]
A company is a par value
company if –
(a) it
is registered with share capital;
(b) its
shares are expressed as having nominal value; and
(c) either –
(i) its
memorandum states that it is a par value company, or
(ii) it is
a company which was registered under this Law before the commencement of this
Article,
whether or not it also has
guarantor members.
3F No
par value companies[20]
A company is a no par value
company if –
(a) it
is registered with shares which are not expressed as having nominal value; and
(b) its
memorandum states that it is a no par value company,
whether or not it also has
guarantor members.
3G Guarantee
companies[21]
A company is a guarantee
company if –
(a) it
consists only of guarantor members; and
(b) its
memorandum states that it is a guarantee company.
3H Limited
life companies[22]
(1) A
company (whether it is a par value company, a no par value company or a
guarantee company) is a limited life company if its memorandum includes or its
articles include a provision that the company shall be wound up and dissolved
upon –
(a) the
bankruptcy, death, expulsion, mental disorder, resignation or retirement of any
member of the company; or
(b) the
happening of some other event which is not the expiration of a fixed period of
time.[23]
(2) A
limited life company may include in its memorandum or articles a provision for
its winding up and dissolution on the expiration of a fixed period of time.
3I Cell
companies[24]
(1) A
company is an incorporated cell company if its memorandum provides that it is
an incorporated cell company.
(2) A
company is a protected cell company if its memorandum provides that it is a
protected cell company.
(3) A
cell company may be –
(a) a
public or a private company;
(b) a par
value company, a no par value company or a guarantee company; and
(c) a
limited company or an unlimited company.
4 Memorandum
of association[25]
(1) The
memorandum of a company shall be in the English or French language, and shall
be printed.
(2) The
memorandum shall state –
(a) the
name of the company;
(b) whether
it is a public company or a private company;
(c) whether
it is a par value company, a no par value company or a guarantee company;
(d) the
full name and the address of each subscriber who is a natural person; and
(e) the
name and address of the registered office or principal office of each
subscriber which is a person other than a natural person.[26]
(3) The
memorandum shall be signed by or on behalf of each subscriber, in the presence
of at least one witness who shall attest the signature and insert his or her
own name and address.
(4) If
a memorandum is permitted under the Electronic
Communications (Jersey) Law 2000 to be delivered under paragraph (1) by way of electronic
communication, any memorandum so delivered is not required to be printed nor to
be signed in the presence of a witness.[27]
4A Memorandum
of company with shares[28]
(1) Where
a company is to be registered with shares –
(a) if it
is a par value company, the memorandum shall state the amount of share capital
with which it is to be registered, and the amounts (being fixed amounts) into
which the shares of each class are divided;
(b) if it
is a no par value company, the memorandum shall state the limit (if any) on the
number of shares of each class which the company is to be authorized to issue;
(c) if
the company is to be registered with any limited share, the memorandum shall
state that the liability of a member arising from the member’s holding of
such a share is limited to the amount (if any) unpaid on it;
(d) if
the company is to be registered with any unlimited share, the memorandum shall
state that the liability of a member arising from the member’s holding of
such a share is unlimited; and
(e) in
every case, against the name of each person who subscribes for shares, the
memorandum shall state separately –
(i) the number of
limited shares (if any) of each class which the person takes, and
(ii) the
number of unlimited shares (if any) of each class which the person takes.
(2) The
amount of a par value share may be stated in any unit or part of a unit of any
currency.[29]
(3) If
a company is to be registered with shares, no person may subscribe for less
than one share.
4B Memorandum
of company with guarantor members[30]
(1) Where
a company is to be registered with a memorandum which provides for guarantor
members, the memorandum shall state that each guarantor member undertakes to
contribute to the assets of the company, if it should be wound up while he or
she is a member or within 12 months after he or she ceases to be a member,
such amount as may be required for the purposes specified in paragraph (2)
but does not exceed a maximum amount to be specified in the memorandum in
relation to that member.
(2) The
purposes to which paragraph (1) refers are –
(a) payment
of the debts and liabilities of the company contracted before he or she ceases
to be a member;
(b) payment
of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up; and
(c) adjustment
of the rights of the contributories among themselves.
(3) Where
a company is to be registered with a memorandum which provides for guarantor
members the memorandum shall also state, against the name of each person who
subscribes as a guarantor member –
(a) that
he or she does so as such a member; and
(b) the
maximum amount so specified in relation to him or her.
4C Memorandum
or articles of company of limited duration[31]
Where a company is to be
wound up and dissolved upon –
(a) the
expiration of a period of time; or
(b) the
happening of some other event,
that period or event shall
be specified in the memorandum or articles of the company.
5 Articles
of association[32]
(1) There
shall be delivered to the registrar, with the memorandum for a company which is
to be formed, articles specifying regulations for the company.
(2) The
articles shall be in the English or French language, and shall –
(a) be
printed;
(b) be
divided into paragraphs numbered consecutively.
(3) The
articles shall be signed by or on behalf of each subscriber of the memorandum,
in the presence of at least one witness who shall attest the signature and
insert his or her own name and address.
(4) This
Article is subject to Article 6.
(5) If
articles are permitted under the Electronic
Communications (Jersey) Law 2000 to be delivered under paragraph (1) by way of electronic
communication, any articles so delivered are not required to be printed nor to
be signed in the presence of a witness.[33]
6 Standard
Table[34]
(1) The
Minister may prescribe a set of model articles, to be known as the Standard
Table, which is appropriate for a par value company which –
(a) does
not have unlimited shares; and
(b) has a
memorandum which does not provide for guarantor members.
(1A) Any
company (whether or not it is one to which paragraph (1) refers) may adopt
the whole or any part of the Standard Table for its articles to the extent that
it is appropriate to do so.
(2) Where
a company to which paragraph (1) refers is registered after the Standard Table
has been prescribed, the Table (so far as it is applicable, and in force at the
date of the company’s registration) shall –
(a) if
articles have not been registered; or
(b) if
articles have been registered, to the extent that they do not modify or exclude
the Table,
constitute the
company’s articles as if articles in the form of the Table had been duly
registered.
(3) If
the Standard Table is altered in consequence of an Order under this Article,
the alteration shall not –
(a) affect
a company registered before the alteration takes effect; or
(b) have
the effect of altering, as respects that company, any portion of the Table.
7 Documents
to be delivered to registrar
(1) With the memorandum
there shall be delivered to the registrar a statement containing the intended
address of the company’s registered office on incorporation and any other
published particulars; and the statement shall be signed by or on behalf of the
subscribers of the memorandum.[35]
(2) Where a memorandum is
delivered by a person as agent for the subscribers, the statement shall specify
that fact and the person’s name and address.
(3) Where the company is a
public company, the statement shall specify the following particulars with
respect to each director who is a natural person –
(a) the
director’s present forenames and surname;
(b) any
former forenames or surname;
(c) the
director’s business or usual residential address;
(d) the
director’s nationality;
(e) the
director’s business occupation (if any); and
(f) the
director’s date of birth.[36]
(3A) Where the company is a public
company, the statement shall specify the following particulars with respect to
each of its directors which is a corporate director –
(a) the
name under which the corporate director is registered;
(b) the
address of the corporate director’s registered office;
(c) where
the corporate director is not a company registered in Jersey, the country or
territory in which the corporate director is registered; and
(d) the
registered number (if any) of the corporate director.[37]
(3B) In paragraph (3A) –
(a) “corporate
director” means a body corporate fulfilling the requirements of Article 73(4);
and
(b) with
respect to a corporate director which is not a company registered in Jersey,
“registered” shall be construed as reference to registration, or an
equivalent procedure, under the laws governing incorporation in the
jurisdiction in which the corporate director is incorporated.[38]
(4) If the Standard Table
has been prescribed under Article 6, the statement shall specify the
extent (if any) to which the company adopts the Table.[39]
8 Registration[40]
(1) If, on an application
for the formation of a company, the registrar is of the opinion that the
formation of the company would not be in the public interest, the registrar
must refer the application to the court.
(2) If
an application is referred to the court in accordance with paragraph (1)
or if the court calls for an application to be referred to it, the court
may –
(a) authorize
the registration of the memorandum and any articles of the company; or
(b) if it
considers that the formation of the company would not be in the public
interest, refuse to authorize the registration of its memorandum and any
articles.
(3) Where –
(a) the
registrar is satisfied that all the requirements of this Law in respect of the
registration of a company have been complied with; and
(b) if
the application for the formation of the company has been considered by the
court, the registrar has received an Act of the court authorizing the
registration,
the registrar shall register
the memorandum and any articles of the company delivered to the registrar under
Article 5.
9 Effect
of registration
(1) On the registration of
a company’s memorandum the registrar shall issue a certificate that the
company is incorporated.[41]
(2) The certificate shall
be signed by the registrar and sealed with the registrar’s seal.
(3) From the date of
incorporation mentioned in the certificate the subscribers of the memorandum,
together with such other persons who may from time to time become members of
the company, shall be a body corporate having the name contained in the
memorandum capable forthwith of exercising all the functions of an incorporated
company, but with such liability on the part of its members to contribute to
its assets as is provided by this Law or any other enactment in the event of
its being wound up.
(4) If the memorandum
states that the company is a public company or a private company the
certificate shall so state and if the memorandum also states that the company
is an incorporated cell company or a protected cell company the certificate
shall also so state.[42]
(5) A certificate of
incorporation issued under this Law is conclusive evidence of the following
matters –
(a) that
the company is incorporated under this Law;
(b) that
the requirements of this Law have been complied with in respect of –
(i) the registration
of the company,
(ii) all
matters precedent to its registration, and
(iii) all
matters incidental to its registration; and
(c) if
the certificate states that it is a public company or a private company, or
that it is an incorporated cell company or a protected cell company, that it is
such a company.[43]
(6) The Act of
Incorporation of an existing company, issued by the Court and ordering the
registration of its memorandum and articles of association in accordance with
the Laws repealed by Article 223, is conclusive evidence of the following
matters –
(a) that
the company is incorporated; and
(b) that
the requirements of those Laws have been complied with in respect of –
(i) the registration
of the company,
(ii) all
matters precedent to its registration, and
(iii) all
matters incidental to its registration.[44]
10 Effect
of memorandum and articles
(1) Subject to the
provisions of this Law, the memorandum and articles, when registered, bind the
company and its members to the same extent as if they respectively had been
signed and sealed by the company and by each member, and contained covenants on
the part of the company and each member to observe all the provisions of the memorandum
and articles.
(2) Money payable by a
member to the company under the memorandum or articles is a debt due from the
member to the company.
11 Alteration
of memorandum and articles[45]
(1) Subject to the
provisions of this Law, a company may by special resolution alter its
memorandum or articles.
(2) An alteration in the
memorandum or articles of a company –
(a) may
provide that upon –
(i) the expiration of
a period of time, or
(ii) the
happening of some other event,
the company is to be wound up and dissolved; or
(b) may
amend or delete any such provision.
(3) Notwithstanding
anything in the memorandum or articles, a member of a company is not bound by
an alteration made in the memorandum or articles after the date on which the
member became a member, if and so far as the alteration –
(a) requires
the member to
take or subscribe for more shares than the number held by the member at the date on which the
alteration is made; or
(b) in
any way increases the member’s liability as at that date to contribute to the company’s
share capital or otherwise to pay money to the company,
unless the member agrees in writing, either before or after the
alteration is made, to be bound by it.
(4) The power conferred by
this Article to alter the memorandum or articles shall not be exercisable by an
existing company –
(a) so
as to shorten a period of time by which the company’s existence is
limited, or to provide for its winding up and dissolution on the happening of
an event other than the expiration of a period of time; or
(b) so
as to alter rights attached to a class of shares which could
not have been altered under the Laws
repealed by Article 223,
unless the alteration is agreed to by all of the members or approved
by the court.[46]
12 Copies
of memorandum and articles for members
(1) A company shall, on
being so required by a member, send to the member a copy of the memorandum and
of the articles subject to payment of such sum (if any), not exceeding the
published maximum, as the company may require.[47]
(2) If a company fails to
comply with this Article, it is guilty of an offence.
PART 3
NAMES
13 Requirements
as to names
(1) The registrar may
refuse to register –
(a) the
memorandum; or
(b) a
special resolution changing the name of a company,
where the name to be registered is in the registrar’s opinion
in any way misleading or otherwise undesirable.
(2) The name of a limited
company shall end –
(a) with
the word “Limited” or the abbreviation “Ltd”; or
(b) with
the words “avec responsabilité limitée” or the
abbreviation “a.r.l”.[48]
(3) A company which is
registered with a name ending –
(a) with
the word “Limited” or the abbreviation “Ltd”; or
(b) with
the words “avec responsabilité limitée” or the
abbreviation “a.r.l”,
may, in setting out or using its name for any purpose under this
Law, do so in full or in the abbreviated form, as it prefers.[49]
(3A) Despite paragraph (2), the
name of a public company that is a limited company may end with the words
“public limited company” or the abbreviation “PLC” or
“plc”.[50]
(3B) A company which is registered with
a name ending with the words “public limited company” or the
abbreviation “PLC” or “plc” may, in setting out or
using its name for any purpose under this Law, do so –
(a) in
full or in the abbreviated form; and
(b) in
any combination of capital or lower case characters,
as it prefers.[51]
(4) Where the registrar
considers that it would be convenient to do so and not misleading, the
registrar may in any reference to a company in a document issued under this Law
use an abbreviation permitted by this Article or Article 127YS.[52]
14 Change
of name
(1) Subject to Article 13,
a company may, by special resolution, change its name.
(2) Where a company changes
its name under this Article, the registrar shall enter the new name on the
register in place of the former name, and shall issue under Article 9 a
certificate of incorporation altered to meet the circumstances of the case; and
the change of name has effect from the date on which the altered certificate is
issued.[53]
(3) Where, at the time of the
passing of the special resolution enabling a company to change its name, the
company has its name inscribed in the Public Registry as being the holder of,
or having an interest in, immovable property in Jersey, the company shall
deliver to the Judicial Greffier a copy of the altered certificate of
incorporation within 14 days after it is issued and the Judicial Greffier shall
cause the new name to be registered in the Public Registry.
(4) A company which fails
to comply with paragraph (3) is guilty of an offence.
(5) A change of name by a
company under this Law does not affect any rights or obligations of the company
or render defective any legal proceedings by or against it; and any legal
proceedings that might have been continued or commenced against it by its
former name may be continued or commenced against it by its new name.
15 Power
to require change of name
(1) If, in the opinion of
the registrar, the name by which a company is registered is misleading or
otherwise undesirable, the registrar may direct the company to change it.
(2) The direction, if not
made the subject of an application to the court under paragraph (3), shall
be complied with within 3 months from the date of the direction or such longer
period as the registrar may allow.
(3) The company may within
21 days from the date of the direction apply to the court to set it aside; and
the court may set the direction aside or confirm it.
(4) If the court confirms
the direction, it shall specify a period not being less than 28 days within
which it shall be complied with and may order the registrar to pay the company
such sum (if any) as it thinks fit in respect of the expense to be incurred by
the company in complying with the direction.
(5) A company which fails
to comply with a direction under this Article is guilty of an offence.
(6) Expenses to be defrayed
by the registrar under this Article shall be paid out of money provided by the
States.
PART 4
PUBLIC COMPANIES AND
PRIVATE COMPANIES[54]
16 Change
of status of public company[55]
(1) A
public company which has not more than 30 members may become a private
company by altering its memorandum to state that it is a private company.
(2) If,
on the application of a public company which has more than 30 members, the
Commission is satisfied that by reason of the nature of the company’s
activities its affairs may properly be regarded as the domestic concern of its
members, the Commission may in its discretion by written notice to the company
direct that notwithstanding that it has more than 30 members it may,
subject to such conditions as may be specified in the direction, become a
private company by altering its memorandum to state that it is a private
company.
(3) The
Commission may at any time by written notice withdraw or amend the terms of any
such condition.
(4) If –
(a) a
company which is a private company in consequence of a direction under
paragraph (2) fails to comply with a condition of the direction; or
(b) at
any time while such a company continues to have more than 30 members, the
Commission ceases to be satisfied that its affairs may properly be regarded as
the domestic concern of its members,
the Commission may in its
discretion, by written notice to the company, direct that as from a date
specified in the notice (being not sooner than 28 days after the company
is served with the notice) the company shall as long as it has more than 30
members be subject to this Law as though it were a public company.
(5) The
company shall within 14 days after the receipt of a notice under any of
paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) deliver a copy of the notice to the registrar.
(6) If
there is a failure to comply –
(a) with
a condition of a direction under paragraph (2); or
(b) paragraph (5),
the company is guilty of an
offence.
(7) Within
28 days after a company receives a notice of a direction made by the
Commission under paragraph (2) in relation to the company –
(a) a
member of the company may appeal to the court on the ground that the direction
was unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the case; and
(b) the
company, or a member of the company, may appeal to the court on the ground that
a condition imposed by the direction was unreasonable having regard to all the
circumstances of the case.[56]
(8) Within
28 days after a company receives a notice of a direction made by the
Commission under paragraph (4) in relation to the company, the company, or
a member of the company, may appeal to the court on the ground that the
direction was unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the case.[57]
(9) On
hearing an appeal under this Article –
(a) if
the appeal is against a direction imposed by the Commission, the court may
confirm or reverse the direction made by the Commission; or
(b) if
the appeal is against a condition specified in a direction made by the
Commission, the court may confirm, vary or revoke the condition and, in any
case, add a new condition to the conditions specified in the direction.[58]
(10) On
hearing an appeal under this Article the court may make such order as to the
costs of the appeal as it thinks fit.[59]
17 Change
of status of private company[60]
(1) A
private company which has at least 2 members may become a public company by
altering its memorandum to state that it is a public company.
(2) A
private company shall be subject to this Law as though it were a public company
if –
(a) otherwise
than in accordance with a direction under Article 16(2), it enters the
name of a person in its register of members so as to increase the number of its
members beyond 30, and their number for the time being remains above 30;
(b) it
circulates a prospectus relating to its securities; or
(c) it is
a market traded company within the meaning of Part 16.[61]
(3) If
a private company enters the name of any person in its register of members so
as to increase the number of its members beyond 30, it shall within
14 days give written notice of that fact to the registrar.
(4) [62]
(5) If
there is a contravention of paragraph (3) then, without derogation from
the consequences under that paragraph, the company is guilty of an offence.
(6) If
the court, on the application of a company which has increased the number of
its members in the manner described in paragraph (2)(a), or of any other
person interested, is satisfied that it is just to relieve the company from all
or any of the consequences of the action, it may grant relief on such terms as
seem to it expedient.[63]
(7) If,
on the application of a private company, the Commission is satisfied that by
reason of the nature of the company’s activities its affairs may properly
be regarded as the domestic concern of its members, the Commission may in its
discretion by written notice to the company direct that paragraph (2)
shall apply to the company with such modifications as are specified in the
direction, and the Commission may at any time withdraw or amend the terms of
any such direction.
(8) The
company shall within 14 days after the making of an order under paragraph (6)
or the receipt of a direction under paragraph (7) deliver the relevant Act
of the court or a copy of the direction, as the case may be, to the registrar,
and if there is failure to comply with this paragraph the company is guilty of
an offence.
(9) Within
28 days after a company receives a notice of a direction, or an amendment
of the terms of a direction, made by the Commission under paragraph (7) in
relation to the company –
(a) a
member of the company may appeal to the court on the ground that the direction
was unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the case; and
(b) the
company, or a member of the company, may appeal to the court on the ground that
a term imposed by the direction, or an amendment to a term of the direction,
was unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the case.[64]
(10) On
hearing an appeal under this Article –
(a) if
the appeal is against a direction imposed by the Commission, the court may
confirm or reverse the direction made by the Commission; or
(b) if
the appeal is against a term imposed by a direction made by the Commission, the
court may confirm, vary or revoke the term and, in any case, add a new term to
the terms imposed by the direction.[65]
(11) On
hearing an appeal under this Article the Court may make such order as to the
costs of the appeal as it thinks fit.[66]
17A Calculation of
number of members[67]
(1) In
determining for the purposes of Article 16 and Article 17(2) the
number of members of a company, no account shall be taken of a
member –
(a) who
is a director or is in the employment of the company, a subsidiary of the
company, the holding company of the company or a subsidiary of the holding
company; or
(b) who,
having been a director or in the employment of the company or any other body
corporate within sub-paragraph (a) –
(i) was at the same
time a member of the company or of any other such body corporate, and
(ii) has
continued to be such a member since ceasing to be a director or in its
employment.[68]
(2) Where
2 or more persons hold one or more shares in a company jointly, they shall be
treated as a single member for the purposes of this Part.
17B Effective date of
change of status[69]
Where a company alters its
memorandum as mentioned in Article 16 or 17(1) the registrar shall,
upon delivery to him or her of a copy of the special resolution altering the
memorandum, issue under Article 9 a certificate of incorporation which is
appropriate to the altered status; and the altered status has effect from the
date on which the certificate of incorporation which is appropriate to the
altered status is issued.[70]
17C Alteration
of numbers[71]
The Minister may by Order
amend Article 3(3), Article 16 and Article 17 so as to increase
or reduce –
(a) the
number of 30 persons to which those provisions refer; or
(b) any
other number which the Minister may have substituted by an Order under this
Article.[72]
17D Power to abolish
30-member limit[73]
The States may by
Regulations amend any provision of Articles 3(3) and 16 to 17C
that limits the number of persons who may apply to form a private company or
the number of members that a private company may have or treats a company as a
public company if the number of its members exceeds a particular number.
PART 5
CORPORATE CAPACITY AND
TRANSACTIONS
18 Capacity
of company
(1) The doctrine of ultra vires in its application to companies is
abolished and accordingly the capacity of a company is not limited by anything
in its memorandum or articles or by any act of its members.
(2) This Article does not
affect the capacity of an existing company in relation to anything done by it
before this Article comes into force.
(3) Unless and until
otherwise resolved by special resolution the authority of the directors of an
existing company shall not include the exercise of any power which the company
did not have when this Article came into force.
19 No
implied notice of public records
No person is deemed to have notice of any records by reason only
that they are made available by the registrar, or by a company, for inspection.
20 Form
of contracts
(1) A person acting under
the express or implied authority of a company may make, vary or discharge a
contract or sign an instrument on behalf of the company in the same manner as
if the contract were made, varied or discharged or the instrument signed by a
natural person.
(2) Nothing in this Article
shall affect any requirement of law that a contract be passed before the court.
21 Transactions
entered into prior to corporate existence
(1) Where a transaction
purports to be entered into by a company, or by a person as agent for a
company, at a time when the company has not been formed, then, unless otherwise
agreed by the parties to the transaction, the transaction has effect as one
entered into by the person purporting to act for the company or as agent for
it, and the person is personally bound by the transaction and entitled to its
benefits.
(2) A company may, within
such period as may be specified in the terms of the transaction or if no period
is specified, within a reasonable time after it is formed, by act or conduct
signifying its intention to be bound thereby, adopt any such transaction and it
shall thenceforth be bound by it and entitled to its benefits and the person
who entered into the transaction shall cease to be so bound and entitled.
22 Company
seals[74]
(1) A
company which has a common seal shall have its name engraved in legible
characters on that seal.
(1A) A
company having a common seal which does not comply with paragraph (1) is
guilty of an offence.
(1B) A
company which has a common seal may have duplicate common seals.
(2) If
an officer of a company or a person on its behalf uses or authorizes the use of
any seal –
(a) which
purports to be a seal of the company; and
(b) on
which its name is not engraved in legible characters,
he or she is guilty of an
offence.
23 Official
seal for use abroad[75]
(1) A
company which has a common seal and engages in business outside Jersey may, if
authorized by its articles, have for use in any country, territory or place
outside Jersey an official seal, which shall be a facsimile of the common seal
of the company with the addition on its face either of the words “Branch
Seal” or the name of the country, territory or place where it is to be
used.
(1A) A
company which has an official seal for use outside Jersey may have duplicates
of that seal.
(2) A
document to which an official seal for use outside Jersey is duly affixed binds
the company as if it had been sealed with the company’s common seal.
(3) A
company may, in writing under its common seal, authorize an agent appointed for
the purpose to affix an official seal for use outside Jersey to a document to
which the company is party.
(4) As
between the company and the person dealing with the agent, the agent’s
authority continues until that person has actual notice of the termination of
the authority.
24 Official
seal for securities[76]
A company which has a common
seal may have –
(a) an
official seal which is a facsimile of its common seal, with the additional word
“Securities” on its face; and
(b) duplicates
of such a seal,
for use for sealing
securities issued by the company, and for sealing documents creating or
evidencing securities so issued.
PART 6
MEMBERSHIP AND SHARES
25 Definition
of “member”
(1) The subscribers of a
company’s memorandum are deemed to have agreed to become members of the
company, and on its registration shall be entered as such in its register of members.
(2) Except as provided by
Article 127YQ (which relates to the members of protected cell companies),
every other person who agrees to become a member of a company, and whose name
is entered in its register of members, is a member of the company.[77]
26 Membership
of holding company
(1) Except in the cases
mentioned in this Article –
(a) a
body corporate cannot be a member of a company which is its holding company;
and
(b) an
allotment or transfer of shares in a company to its subsidiary is void.[78]
(2) Paragraph (1) does
not prevent a subsidiary which was, on 30th March 1992 or when it became a
subsidiary, a member of its holding company from continuing to be a member, but
as long as it is a subsidiary –
(a) it
has no right to vote at a meeting of the holding company or of a class of its
members; and
(b) it
shall not acquire further shares in the holding company, except as provided in
paragraph (3A).[79]
(3) Paragraphs (1) and
(2) apply in relation to a nominee for a body corporate which is a subsidiary
as if references to the body corporate included a nominee for it.[80]
(3A) If a body corporate is permitted by
virtue of paragraph (2) to continue as a member of its holding company, an
allotment to it of fully paid shares in its holding company may be made by way
of a capitalization of reserves of the holding company.[81]
(4) Nothing in this Article
applies where the subsidiary is concerned as personal representative, or where
it is concerned as trustee, unless in the latter case the holding company or a
subsidiary of it is beneficially interested under the trust and is not so
interested only by way of security.
27 Minimum
membership for carrying on business
(1) If a public company
carries on business without having at least 2 members and does so for more than
6 consecutive months (whether or not those 6 months began before this Article
came into force) a person who, for the whole or any part of the period that it
so carries on business after those 6 months –
(a) is a
member of the company; and
(b) knows
that it is carrying on business with only one member,
is liable (jointly and severally with the company) for the payment
of the company’s debts contracted during the period or that part of it.[82]
(2) Paragraph (1) does
not apply to a public company of which all of the issued shares are held by or
by a nominee for a holding body.[83]
28 Prohibition
of minors etc.
A person mentioned in Article 3(6)(a) to (c) may not become a
member of a company unless his or her rights of membership were transmitted to
the person on the death of the holder thereof.[84]
PART 7
PROSPECTUSES
29 Prospectuses
(1) The Minister may by
Order prohibit all or any of the following things, namely –
(a) the
circulation by any person of a prospectus in Jersey;
(b) the
circulation by a company of a prospectus outside Jersey; and
(c) the
procuring (whether in or outside Jersey) by a company of the circulation of a
prospectus outside Jersey,
except in such circumstances and subject to such conditions as may
be specified in the Order.[85]
(2) Such an Order may
provide for the payment of fees for the purposes of the Order.[86]
(3) Any person who fails to
comply with any provision of any such Order and, where the offence is committed
by a body corporate, every officer of the body corporate which is in default is
guilty of an offence.
(6) An invitation to the
public to acquire or apply for securities in a company shall, if the securities
are not fully paid or if the invitation is first circulated within 6 months
after the securities were allotted, be deemed to be a prospectus circulated by
the company unless it is shown that the securities were not allotted with a
view to their being the subject of such an invitation.
30 Compensation
for misleading statements in prospectus
(1) A person who acquires
or agrees to acquire a security to which a prospectus relates and suffers a
loss in respect of the security as a result of the inclusion in the prospectus
of a statement of a material fact which is untrue or misleading, or the
omission from it of the statement of a material fact, shall, subject to Article 31,
be entitled to compensation –
(a) in
the case of securities offered for subscription, from the body corporate
issuing the securities and from each person who was a director of it when the
prospectus was circulated;
(b) in
the case of securities offered otherwise than for subscription, from the person
making the offer and, where that person is a body corporate, from each person
who was a director of it when the prospectus was circulated;
(c) from
each person who is stated in the prospectus as accepting responsibility for the
prospectus, or any part of it, but, in that case, only in respect of a
statement made in or omitted from that part; and
(d) from
each person who has authorized the contents of, or any part of, the prospectus.
(2) Nothing in this Article
shall make a person responsible by reason only of giving advice as to the
contents of a prospectus in a professional capacity.
(3) This Article does not
affect any liability which any person may incur apart from this Article.
(4) This Article applies
only to a prospectus first circulated after the Article comes into force.
31 Exemption
from liability to pay compensation
A person shall not be liable under Article 30 if the person
satisfies the court –
(a) that the prospectus was
circulated without the person’s consent;
(b) that, having made such
enquiries (if any) as were reasonable, from the circulation of the prospectus
until the securities were acquired, the person reasonably believed that the
statement was true and not misleading or that the matter omitted was properly
omitted;
(c) that, after the
circulation of the prospectus and before the securities were acquired the
person, on becoming aware of the untrue or misleading statement or of the
omission of the statement of a material fact, took reasonable steps to secure
that a correction was brought to the notice of persons likely to acquire the
securities;
(d) in the case of a loss
caused by a statement purporting to be made by a person whose qualifications
give authority to a statement made by the person which was included in the
prospectus with the person’s consent, that when the prospectus was
circulated the person reasonably believed that the person purporting to make
the statement was competent to do so and had consented to its inclusion in the
prospectus; or
(e) that the person
suffering the loss acquired or agreed to acquire the securities knowing that
the statement was untrue or misleading or that the matter in question was
omitted.
32 Recovery
of compensation
(1) A person is not
debarred from obtaining compensation from a company by reason only of the
person holding or having held shares in the company or any right to apply or
subscribe for shares in the company or to be included in the company’s
register of members in respect of shares.
(2) A sum due from a
company to a person who has acquired or agreed to acquire shares in the company
being a sum due as compensation for loss suffered by the person in respect of
the shares, shall (whether or not the company is being wound up and whether the
sum is due under Article 30 or otherwise) be treated as a sum due to the
person otherwise than in the person’s character of a member.
33 Criminal
liability in relation to prospectuses
If a prospectus is circulated with a material statement in it which
is untrue or misleading or with the omission from it of the statement of a
material fact, any person who authorized the circulation of the prospectus is
guilty of an offence unless he or she satisfies the court that he or she
reasonably believed, when the prospectus was circulated, that the statement was
true and not misleading or that the matter omitted was properly omitted.
PART 8
SHARE CAPITAL
34 Nature
and numbering of shares
(1) The shares or other
interests of a member of a company are, subject to Article 42,
transferable in the manner provided by the company’s articles.
(2) Each share in a company
shall be distinguished by its appropriate number, except that, if and so long
as all the issued shares in a company or all the issued shares in it of a
particular class –
(a) are
fully paid and carry the same rights in all respects; or
(b) are
evidenced by certificates issued in accordance with Article 50, each
certificate being distinguished by a number recorded in the register of
members,
none of those shares need have a distinguishing number.
(3) A company must not
issue bearer shares.[87]
35 Rule
of law relating to issue of shares at discount etc. abolished[88]
(1) This Article applies to
the issue of shares at a discount and the application of shares or capital
money in payment of a commission, discount or allowance.
(2) The
repeal of the former Articles 35 and 36 by Article 7(1) of the
Companies (Amendment No. 11) (Jersey) Law 2014 shall not cause
anything to which this Article applies to be rendered unlawful by reason of any
rule of law which had ceased to have effect by virtue of, or had been modified
by, the former Articles 35 and 36.
(3) In this Article, “the
former Articles 35 and 36” means Articles 35 and 36 of
this Law, as those Articles were in force immediately before they were repealed
by Article 7(1) of the Companies (Amendment No. 11) (Jersey)
Law 2014.
36 [89]
37 Provision
for different amounts to be paid on shares
A company, if so authorized by its articles, may –
(a) make arrangements on
the allotment of shares for a difference between the shareholders in the
amounts and times of payments of calls or instalments payable on their shares;
(b) accept from a member
the whole or a part of the amount remaining unpaid on shares held by the member,
although no part of that amount has been called up or become payable; and
(c) pay dividends in
proportion to the amount paid up on each share where a larger amount is paid up
on some shares than on others.[90]
38 Alteration
of capital of par value companies[91]
(1) A par value company
may, by altering its memorandum –
(a) increase
its share capital by creating new shares of such amount and in such currency or
currencies as it thinks expedient;
(b) consolidate
and divide all or any of its shares (whether issued or not) into shares of
larger amount than its existing shares;
(c) convert
all or any of its fully paid shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into
fully paid shares of any denomination;
(d) subject
to paragraph (2), subdivide its shares, or any of them, into shares of
smaller amount than is fixed by the memorandum;
(e) subject
to Article 38B, convert any of its fully paid shares the nominal value of
which is expressed in one currency into fully paid shares of a nominal value of
another currency;
(ea) in the case to
which paragraph (1A) refers, denominate the nominal value of its issued or
unissued shares in units of the currency into which they have been converted;
and
(f) cancel
shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution to cancel them, have
not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of
the company’s share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled.[92]
(1A) Paragraph (1)(ea) refers to
the case in which –
(a) the
nominal value of the shares concerned is expressed in one currency;
(b) those
shares are then converted (whether under subparagraph (e) of that
paragraph or otherwise) into shares of a nominal value of another currency; and
(c) they
nevertheless remain denominated in the former currency.[93]
(2) In a sub-division under
paragraph (1)(d) the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if
any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in the case of
the share from which the reduced share is derived.
(4) The powers conferred by
this Article shall be exercised by the company by special resolution.
(5) A cancellation of
shares under this Article does not for the purposes of this Law constitute a
reduction of share capital.
38A Alteration of
capital of no par value companies[94]
A no par value company may,
by special resolution, alter its memorandum –
(a) to
increase or reduce the number of shares that it is authorized to issue;
(b) to
consolidate all or any of its shares (whether issued or not) into fewer shares;
or
(c) to
divide all or any of its shares (whether issued or not) into more shares.
38B Rate of exchange
for currency conversions[95]
A conversion under Article 38(1)(e)
shall be effected at the rate of exchange current at a time to be specified in
the resolution, being a time within 40 days before the conversion takes
effect.
39 Share
premium accounts for par value companies[96]
(1) If
a par value company allots shares at a premium (whether for cash or
otherwise) –
(a) where
the premiums arise as a result of the issue of a class of limited shares, a sum
equal to the aggregate amount or value of those premiums shall be transferred,
as and when the premiums are paid up, to a share premium account for that
class; and
(b) where
the premiums arise as a result of the issue of a class of unlimited shares, a
sum equal to the aggregate amount or value of those premiums shall be
transferred, as and when those premiums are paid up, to a separate share
premium account for that class.
(1A) An
amount may be transferred by the company to a share premium account from any
other account of the company other than the capital redemption reserve or the
nominal capital account.[97]
(2) A
share premium account may be expressed in any currency.
(3) A
share premium account may be applied by the company for any of the following
purposes –
(a) in
paying up unissued shares to be allotted to members as fully paid bonus shares;
(b) in
writing off the company’s preliminary expenses;
(c) in
writing off the expenses of and any commission paid on any issue of shares of the
company;
(d) in
the redemption or purchase of shares under Part 11; and
(e) in
the making of a distribution in accordance with Part 17.[98]
(4) Subject
to this Article, the provisions of this Law relating to the reduction of a par
value company’s share capital apply as if each of its share premium
accounts were part of its paid up share capital.
39A Stated capital
accounts for no par value companies[99]
(1) Every
no par value company shall maintain a separate account, to be called a stated
capital account, for each class of issued share.
(2) A
stated capital account may be expressed in any currency.
(3) There
shall be transferred to the stated capital account for the class of share
concerned –
(a) the
amount of cash received by the company for the issue of shares of that class; and
(b) the
value, as determined by the directors, of the “cause” received by
the company, otherwise than in cash, for the issue of shares of that class.[100]
(3A) An
amount may be transferred by the company to a stated capital account from any
other account of the company.[101]
(4) A
stated capital account may be applied by the company for any purpose for which
a share premium account may be applied by a par value company.[102]
39B Relief from
requirements to make transfers to share premium accounts and stated capital
accounts[103]
(1) This
Article applies where a company (the “issuing company”) is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of any body corporate and allots shares –
(a) to
that holding body; or
(b) to
any other body corporate which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of that holding
body,
in return for the transfer
to the issuing company of assets, other than cash, of any body corporate (the
“transferor”) which is either the holding body itself or a
subsidiary of the holding body.
(2) Notwithstanding
Article 39(1), if the issuing company is a par value company, it need not
transfer to a share premium account any amount in excess of the minimum premium
value.
(3) Notwithstanding
Article 39A(3)(a) and (b), if the issuing company is a no par value
company, it need not transfer to a stated capital account any amount in excess
of the base value of that for which the shares are allotted.
(4) For
the purpose of paragraph (2), “minimum premium value” means
the amount (if any) by which the base value of that for which the shares are
allotted exceeds the aggregate nominal value of those shares.
(5) For
the purposes of paragraphs (3) and (4) –
(a) “the
base value of that for which the shares are allotted” means the amount by
which the base value of the assets transferred exceeds the base value of the
liabilities (if any) of the transferor assumed by the issuing company as part
of the terms of transfer of the assets;
(b) “the
base value of the assets transferred” means –
(i) the cost of those
assets to the transferor, or
(ii) the
amount at which those assets are stated in the transferor’s accounting
records immediately before the transfer,
whichever is less; and
(c) the
base value of the liabilities assumed is the amount at which they are stated in
the transferor’s accounting records immediately before the transfer.
(6) The
Minister may by Order make additional provision for relieving companies from
the provisions of Articles 39 and 39A.
40 Power
to issue fractions of shares[104]
(1) Despite Article 4A(3)
(which provides that a person may not subscribe for less than one share), a
company registered with shares may issue a fraction of a share if it is
authorized to do so by its articles.
(2) If the holder of a
fraction of a share acquires a further fraction of a share of the same class,
the fractions shall be treated as consolidated.
(3) The rights of a member
in respect of the holding of a fraction of a share in a company shall be as
provided in the articles of the company.
(4) Except as otherwise
provided by this Article and the articles of the company, this Law applies to a
fraction of a share in the company as it applies to a whole share in the
company.
40A Conversion of
shares in par value companies[105]
(1) A par value company may
convert its shares into no par value shares by altering its memorandum in
accordance with this Article.
(2) The power conferred by
paragraph (1) –
(a) may
only be exercised by converting all of the company’s shares into no par
value shares;
(b) may
only be exercised by a special resolution of the company and, if there is more
than one class of issued shares, with the approval of a special resolution
passed at a separate meeting of the holders of each class of shares; and
(c) may
be exercised whether or not the issued shares of the company are fully paid.
(3) The special resolution
of the company –
(a) shall
specify the number of no par value shares into which each class of issued
shares is to be divided;
(b) may
specify any number of additional no par value shares which the company may
issue; and
(c) shall
make such other alterations to the memorandum and articles as may be requisite
in the circumstances.
(4) Upon converting its
shares under this Article, the company –
(a) shall
transfer, from the share capital account for each class of shares to the stated
capital account for that class, the total amount that has been paid up on the
shares of that class; and
(b) shall
transfer any amount standing to the credit of a share premium account or
capital redemption reserve to the stated capital account for the class of share
which would have fallen to be issued if that amount had been applied in paying
up unissued shares allotted to members as fully paid bonus shares.
(5) On the conversion of a
company’s shares under this Article, any amount which is unpaid on any
share immediately before the conversion remains payable when called or due.
40B Conversion of
shares in no par value companies[106]
(1) A no par value company
may convert its shares into par value shares by altering its memorandum in
accordance with this Article.
(2) The power conferred by
paragraph (1) –
(a) may
only be exercised by converting all of the company’s shares into par
value shares;
(b) may
only be exercised by a special resolution of the company and, if there is more
than one class of issued shares, with the approval of a special resolution
passed at a separate meeting of the holders of each class of shares; and
(c) may
be exercised whether or not the issued shares of the company are fully paid.
(3) For the purpose of a
conversion of shares under this Article, each share of a class shall be
converted into a share which –
(a) confers
upon the holder, as nearly as possible, the same rights as were conferred by it
before the conversion; and
(b) has a
nominal value specified in the special resolution of the company, being a value
not exceeding the amount standing to the credit of the stated capital account
for that class divided by the number of shares of that class in issue.
(4) The special resolution
of the company shall make such alterations to the memorandum and articles as
may be requisite in the circumstances.
(5) Upon converting its
shares under this Article, the company –
(a) shall,
to the extent that the amount standing to the credit of the stated capital
account for each class of shares equals the total nominal amount of the shares
of the class into which those shares are converted, transfer the amount to the
share capital account; and
(b) shall,
to the extent (if any) that the amount exceeds that total nominal amount,
transfer it to the share premium account for that class.
(6) On the conversion of a
company’s shares under this Article, any amount which is unpaid on any
share immediately before the conversion remains payable when called or due.
40C Power of
States to amend Part 8[107]
The States may amend this Part by Regulations.
PART 9
Register of Members and
Certificates
41 Register
of members
(1) Every company shall
keep a register of its members, and enter in it the following
information –
(a) the
name and address of every member;
(b) where
he or she is a member because he or she holds shares in the
company –
(i) the number of
shares held by the member,
(ii) if
the shares are numbered, their numbers,
(iii) if
the company has more than one class of shares, the class or classes held by the
member, and
(iv) in
the case of shares which are not fully paid, the amount remaining unpaid on
each share;
(c) where
he or she is a guarantor member –
(i) the fact that he
or she is a member in that capacity,
(ii) the
amount which the guarantor member has undertaken by reason of his or her
membership in that capacity to contribute to the assets of the company if it is
wound up, and
(iii) if
the company has more than one class of guarantor members, the class to which he
or she belongs;
(d) in
every case, the date on which he or she was registered as a member; and
(e) in
every case where a person ceases to be a member, the date on which that event
occurs.[108]
(2) Where the company has
converted any of its shares into stock, the register shall show the amount and
class of stock held by each member instead of the amount of shares and the
particulars relating to shares specified in paragraph (1).[109]
(3) If a company fails to
comply with this Article, the company and every officer of it who is in default
is guilty of an offence.
(4) An entry relating to a
former member of the company may be removed from the register after 10 years
from the date on which the member ceased to be a member.
(5) Without prejudice to
any lesser period of limitation or prescription, liability incurred by a
company from the making or deletion of an entry in its register of members, or
from failure to make or delete any such entry, is not enforceable more than 10
years after the date on which the entry was made or deleted or the failure
first occurred.
42 Transfer
and registration
(1) Notwithstanding
anything in its articles, a company shall not register a transfer of shares in
the company unless –
(a) an
instrument of transfer in writing has been delivered to it;
(b) the
transfer is exempted from the provisions of this paragraph pursuant to
paragraph (6); or
(c) the
transfer is made in accordance with an Order made under Article 51A.[110]
(1A) Notwithstanding anything in its
articles, a company shall not register an instrument of transfer of shares
which is a transaction to which the Taxation (Land Transactions) (Jersey) Law 2009 applies unless there is
produced to the company the LTT receipt issued under Article 9 of that Law
in respect of the transaction, or a copy of that receipt, certified in the
manner prescribed under that Law.[111]
(1B) If a company fails to comply with
paragraph (1A), the company and every officer of it who is in default is
guilty of an offence.[112]
(2) Paragraphs (1) and
(1A) do not prejudice a power of the company to register as a shareholder a
person to whom the right to shares in the company has been transmitted by
operation of law.[113]
(3) A transfer of the share
or other interest of a deceased member of a company made by the deceased
member’s personal representative, although the personal representative is
not a member of the company, is as valid as if the personal representative had
been a member at the time of the execution of the instrument of transfer.
(4) On the application of
the transferor of a share or interest in a company, the company shall enter in
its register of members the name of the transferee in the same manner and
subject to the same conditions as if the application for the entry were made by
the transferee.
(5) If a company refuses to
register a transfer of shares the company shall, within 2 months after the date
on which the transfer was lodged with it, give to the transferor and transferee
notice of the refusal.
(6) The Minister may by
Order provide for exemptions from the provisions of paragraph (1), either
as regards specified companies or classes of companies or as regards specified
shares or classes of shares.[114]
43 Certification
of transfers
(1) For the purpose of this
Article –
(a) an
instrument of transfer shall be deemed to be certificated if it bears the words
“certificate lodged” or words to the like effect;
(b) the
certification shall be deemed to be made by a company if –
(i) the person
issuing the instrument is a person authorized to issue certificated instruments
of transfer on the company’s behalf, and
(ii) the
certification is signed by a person authorized to certificate transfers on behalf
of the company or by an officer or servant of the company or of a body
corporate so authorized;
(c) a
certification is deemed to be signed by a person if –
(i) it purports to be
authenticated by the person’s signature or initials (whether handwritten
or not), and
(ii) it
is not shown that the signature or initials was not or were not placed there by
the person or by any other person authorized to use the signature or initials
for the purpose of certificating instruments of transfer on behalf of the company.
(2) The certification by a
company of an instrument of transfer of any shares or debentures in a company
shall be taken as a representation by the company to any person acting on the
faith of the certification that there have been produced to the company such
documents as on their face show a prima facie
title to the shares or debentures in the transferor named in the instrument of
transfer but not as a representation that the transferor has any title to the
shares or debentures.
(3) Where a person acts on
the faith of a false certification by a company made negligently the company is
under the same liability to the person as if the certification had been made
fraudulently.
(4) Where a certification
is expressed to be limited to 42 days or any longer period from the date of
certification, the company is not, in the absence of fraud, liable in respect
of the registration of any transfer of shares or debentures comprised in the
certification after the expiration of the period so limited if the instrument
of transfer has not, within that period, been lodged with the company for
registration.
44 Location
of register of members
(1) A company’s
register of members shall be kept at its registered office or, if it is made up
at another place in Jersey, at that place.
(2) A company shall give
notice to the registrar of the place where its register of members is kept, and
of any change of that place.
(3) The notice need not be
given if the register has at all times since it came into existence (or, in the
case of a register in existence when this Article comes into force, at all
times since then) been kept at the company’s registered office.
(4) If a company fails for
14 days to comply with paragraph (2), the company is guilty of an offence.
45 Inspection of register
(1) The register of members
shall during business hours be open to the inspection of a member of the
company without charge, and of any other person on payment of such sum (if
any), not exceeding the published maximum, as the company may require.[115]
(2) A person
may –
(a) in
the case of any company, on payment of such sum (if any), not exceeding the
published maximum, as the company may require; and
(b) in
the case of a public company, on submission to the company of a declaration
under Article 46,
require a copy of the register and the company shall, within 10 days
after the receipt of the payment and (in the case of a public company) the
declaration, cause the copy so required to be available at the place where the
register is kept, for collection by that person during business hours.[116]
(3) If inspection under
this Article is refused, or if a copy so required is not made available within
the proper period, the company is guilty of an offence.
(4) In the case of refusal
or default, the court may by order compel an immediate inspection of the
register, or direct that the copies required be made available to the person
requiring them.
46 Declaration
(1) The declaration
required under Article 45(2) shall be made in writing under oath and shall
state the name and address of the applicant and contain an undertaking by the
applicant that no information contained in the copy of the register made
available to the applicant will be used by the applicant, or by any person who
acquires any such information on behalf of the applicant, or directly or
indirectly from the applicant or any such person, save for the following
purposes –
(a) to
call a meeting of members;
(b) to
influence the voting by members of the company at any such meeting;
(c) an
offer to acquire all the shares, or all the shares of any class in the company
other than shares in which the applicant has directly or indirectly a
beneficial interest; or
(d) any
other purpose which may be prescribed.[117]
(2) Where the applicant is
a body corporate the declaration shall be made by a director of the body
corporate and the address given shall be its address for service and where the
applicant is an individual the declaration shall state the applicant’s
residential address.
(3) If any such information
is used in a manner inconsistent with the terms of a declaration under
paragraph (1) the person who made the declaration is guilty of an offence.
47 Rectification of share register
(1) If –
(a) the
name of a person, the number of shares held, the class of shares held, or the
amount paid up on the shares, or the class of members to which the person
belongs is, without sufficient reason, entered in or omitted from a
company’s register of members; or
(b) there
is a failure or unnecessary delay in entering on the register the fact of a
person having ceased to be a member,
the person aggrieved, or a member of the company, or the company,
may apply to the court for rectification of the register.[118]
(2) The court may refuse
the application or may order rectification of the register and payment by the
company of any damages sustained by a party aggrieved.
(3) On an application under
paragraph (1) the court may decide any question necessary or expedient to
be decided with respect to the rectification of the register.
(4) Where an order is made
under this Article, the company in relation to which the order is made shall
cause the relevant Act of the court to be delivered to the registrar for
registration within 14 days after the making of the order; and in the event of
failure to comply with this paragraph the company is guilty of an offence.
48 Trusts not to be entered on register
(1) No notice of a trust,
express, implied or constructive, shall be receivable by the registrar or
entered on the register of members.
(2) The register of members
is prima facie evidence of any matters which
are by this Law directed or authorized to be inserted in it.
49 Overseas
branch registers[119]
(1) A
public company which transacts business in any country, territory or place
outside Jersey may cause to be kept there a register of –
(a) members
who are resident in that country, territory or place; and
(b) all
or any of its other members.[120]
(2) A
register to which paragraph (1) refers shall be known as an overseas
branch register.
(3) A
company shall give notice to the registrar, in such form as he or she may
require and within 14 days after the event –
(a) of
the situation of the office at which the company begins to keep an overseas
branch register;
(b) of
any change in its situation; and
(c) if
the keeping of the register is discontinued, of its discontinuance.
(4) A
company which keeps an overseas branch register –
(a) shall
cause to be kept, at the place where its register of members is kept, a
duplicate of the overseas branch register;
(b) shall
cause to be transmitted to its registered office a copy of every entry in the
overseas branch register, as soon as may be after it is made; and
(c) shall
cause every entry in the overseas branch register to be duly entered in the
duplicate, as soon as may be after it is made in the overseas branch register.
(5) An
overseas branch register and its duplicate shall be parts of the
company’s register of members for the purposes of this Law, and shall be
kept in the same manner as the register of members is to be kept under this
Law.
(6) The
shares to which an overseas branch register relates shall be distinguished from
those to which the register of members relates and, while an overseas branch
register is kept, no transaction in respect of any shares to which it relates
shall be registered or otherwise entered in any other register except its
duplicate.
(7) If
a company discontinues the keeping of an overseas branch register, it shall
thereupon cause all entries in it to be transferred –
(a) to
any other overseas branch register which is kept by it in the same country,
territory or place; or
(b) to
its register of members.
(8) Subject
to the provisions of this Law, a company may by its articles provide as it
thinks fit for the keeping of an overseas branch register.
(9) The
Minister may by Order –
(a) extend
the provisions of this Article to private companies, with such modifications
(if any) as he or she may specify in the Order;
(b) modify
the provisions of this Article in respect of any kind of company; or
(c) prescribe
other conditions relating to the keeping of overseas branch registers.
(10) In
the event of a failure to comply with any of paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (6)
and (7), or with any Order made under paragraph (9), the company is guilty
of an offence.
50 Share certificates[121]
(1) Subject to this Article
and Article 51A, every company shall –
(a) within
2 months after the allotment of any of its shares; and
(b) within
2 months after the date on which a transfer of any of its shares is lodged with
the company,
complete and have ready for delivery the certificates of all shares
allotted or transferred unless the conditions of allotment of the shares
otherwise provide.[122]
(2) Paragraph (1) does
not apply –
(a) to an
allotment or transfer of shares to a nominee of a stock exchange on which those
shares are or are to be listed;
(b) to a
transfer of shares which the company is for any reason entitled to refuse to
register and does not register; or
(c) to an
open-ended investment company whose articles do not require a certificate to be
delivered on every occasion when shares of the company are allotted or
transferred.[123]
(3) The Minister may by
Order do all or any of the following things –
(a) provide
for exemptions from the provisions of paragraph (1);
(b) provide
that Article 51 shall not apply, or shall only apply subject to
modifications specified in the Order, to certificates relating to shares to
which any such exemptions apply; and
(c) prohibit
the issue of certificates in respect of any such shares.[124]
(5) In the event of failure
to comply with paragraph (1), the company and every officer of it who is
in default is guilty of an offence.
(6) If a company to which a
notice has been given by a person entitled to have the certificates delivered
to the person requiring it to make good a failure to comply with paragraph (1)
fails to make good the failure within 10 days after the service of the notice,
the court may, on the application of that person, make an order directing the
company and any officer of it to make good the failure within a time specified
in the order; and the order may provide that all costs of and incidental to the
application shall be borne by the company or by an officer of it responsible
for the failure.
51 Certificate to be evidence of title
(1) A certificate sealed by
the company, or signed either by two of its directors or by one of its
directors and its secretary, specifying any shares held by a member is prima facie evidence of the member’s title to
the shares.[125]
(2) Paragraph (1)
applies notwithstanding any subsequent change of the currency in which the
nominal amount of the shares to which the certificate relates is expressed.[126]
51A Uncertificated securities[127]
(1) Notwithstanding any
other provision in this Law, the Minister may by Order provide in accordance
with this Article for title to securities or to any specified class or
description of securities to be evidenced and transferred without a written
instrument.
(2) An Order under this
Article may provide for any of the following matters –
(a) procedures
for recording and transferring title to securities, and with respect to the
keeping of the register of members in relation to such securities;
(b) the
regulation of those procedures and the persons responsible for or involved in
their operation;
(c) provision
with respect to the rights and obligations of persons in relation to securities
dealt with under such procedures;
(d) the
giving of effect to –
(i) the transmission
of title to securities by operation of law,
(ii) any
restriction on the transfer of title to securities arising by virtue of the
provisions of any enactment, instrument, court order or agreement, and
(iii) any
power conferred on a person, by any provision to which clause (ii) refers,
to deal with securities on behalf of the person entitled;
(e) in
relation to the persons responsible for or involved in the operation of the
procedures to which sub-paragraph (a) refers, provision as to –
(i) the consequences
of their insolvency, bankruptcy or incapacity, and
(ii) the
transfer by or from them to other persons of their functions in relation to
those procedures, and
(f) for
any of the purposes in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) –
(i) the modification
or exclusion of any provisions of any enactment or rule of law,
(ii) the
application (with such modifications, if any, as the Minister may think
appropriate) of any provisions of this Law creating criminal offences,
(iii) the
application (with such modifications, if any, as the Minister may think
appropriate) of any other provisions of any enactment (not being provisions
creating criminal offences),
(iv) the
requiring of the payment of fees of such amounts as are specified in the Order
or are determined in accordance with the Order, or the enabling of persons
specified in the Order to require payment of such fees, and
(v) the empowering of the
Minister to delegate to any person willing to discharge them any of the
Minister’s functions under the Order.
(3) An Order made under
this Article shall contain such safeguards as appear to the Minister to be
appropriate for the protection of investors.
(4) In this
Article –
(a) “securities”
means –
(i) shares, stock,
debentures, debenture stock, loan stock and bonds,
(ii) warrants
entitling the holders to subscribe for any securities specified in clause (i),
(iii) units
in a collective investment fund within the meaning of the Collective Investment Funds (Jersey)
Law 1988, and
(iv) other
securities of any description;
(b) references
to title to securities include any legal, equitable or other interest in
securities; and
(c) references
to a transfer of title include a transfer by way of security.
PART 10
CLASS RIGHTS
52 Variation
of class rights[128]
(1) The
provisions of this Article –
(a) are concerned
with the variation of the rights of any class of members of a company;
(b) are
subject to the provisions of Article 11(3); and
(c) do
not apply in respect of a conversion of shares in accordance with Article 40A
or 40B.
(2) If
provision for the variation of the rights of any class of members is made in
the memorandum or articles, or by the terms of admission to membership, those
rights may only be varied in accordance with those provisions.
(3) If
no such provision is made, the rights may be varied if but only if the
following persons consent in writing, namely –
(a) in
the case of any class of par value shares, the holders of not less than 2/3rds
in nominal value of the issued shares of that class;
(b) in
the case of any class of no par shares, the holders of not less than 2/3rds in
number of the issued shares of that class; or
(c) in
the case of any class of guarantor members, those whose liability as such
members is in the aggregate not less than 2/3rds of the total liability of all
the members of that class,
or (in any case) the
variation is sanctioned by a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of
the class of members concerned.
(4) A
variation which –
(a) reduces
the liability of any class of members to contribute to the share capital of a
company;
(b) reduces
the liability of any class of members otherwise to pay money to a company; or
(c) increases
the benefits to which any class of members is or may become entitled,
is for the purposes of this
Article a variation of the rights of each other class of members of the
company.
(5) No
member –
(a) whose
liability is to be so reduced or whose entitlement to benefits is to be so
increased; and
(b) who
is also a member of any other class,
shall for the purposes of
paragraph (3) be treated as a member of that other class.
(6) An
alteration of a provision in either the memorandum or articles for the
variation of the rights of any class of members of a company, or the insertion
of such a provision in the memorandum or articles, is itself a variation of
those rights.
(7) Unless
the context otherwise requires, in any provision contained –
(a) in
the memorandum or articles; or
(b) in
the terms of admission to membership,
for the variation of the
rights of any class of members, references to the variation of those rights
include references to their abrogation.
53 Members’ right to
object to variation[129]
(1) If the rights of any
class of member of a company are varied in accordance with the memorandum or
articles, or otherwise in accordance with Article 52, any members of that
class who did not consent to or vote in favour of the resolution for variation,
being –
(a) in
the case of any class of par value shares, the holders of not less than 1/10th
in nominal value of the issued shares of that class;
(b) in
the case of any class of no par value shares, the holders of not less than
1/10th in number of the issued shares of that class; or
(c) in
the case of any class of guarantor members, those whose liability as such
members is in the aggregate not less than 1/10th of the total liability of all
the members of that class,
may apply to the court to have the variation cancelled.[130]
(2) If an application is
made under paragraph (1), the variation to which it relates shall not have
effect unless and until it is confirmed by the court.[131]
(2A) The application –
(a) must
be made within 28 days after the date on which the consent was given or
the resolution was passed; and
(b) may
be made, on behalf of the members who are entitled to make it, by one or more
of them as they appoint in writing.[132]
(3) Notice signed by or on
behalf of the applicants that an application to the court has been made under
this Article shall be given by or on behalf of the applicants to the registrar
within 7 days after it is made.
(4) The court after being
satisfied that paragraph (3) has been complied with, and after hearing the
applicant and any other persons who appear to the court to be interested in the
application, may, if satisfied having regard to all the circumstances, that the
variation would unfairly prejudice the members of the class, disallow the
variation and shall, if not so satisfied, confirm it.[133]
(5) The company shall,
within 14 days after the making of an order by the court under this Article
deliver the relevant Act of the court to the registrar; and if default is made
in complying with this provision, the company is guilty of an offence.
54 Registration of particulars of special rights
(1) If a public company
admits a member or allots shares with rights which are not stated in its
memorandum or articles, or in a resolution or agreement of which a copy is
required by Article 100 to be delivered to the registrar, the company
shall deliver to the registrar within one month after admitting the member or
allotting those shares a statement containing particulars of those rights.[134]
(2) Paragraph (1) does
not apply if the rights are in all respects uniform with the rights of existing
members, and for that purpose they are not different by reason only that during
the period of 12 months immediately following the admission of the member
or the allotment of the shares, he or she does not have the same rights to
dividends as members previously admitted.[135]
(3) Where the rights of
members of a public company are varied otherwise than by an amendment of the
company’s memorandum or articles or by a resolution or agreement subject
to Article 100, the company shall within one month from the date on which
the variation is made deliver to the registrar a statement containing
particulars of the variation.[136]
(4) Where a public company,
otherwise than by an amendment, resolution or agreement mentioned in paragraph (3),
assigns a name or other designation, or a new name or other designation, to a
class of rights of membership, it shall within one month from doing so deliver
to the registrar a notice giving particulars of the name or designation so
assigned.[137]
(5) If a company fails to
comply with this Article, the company and every officer of it who is in default
is guilty of an offence.
PART 11
REDEMPTION AND PURCHASE OF
SHARES
T55 [138]
55 Power
to issue redeemable shares[139]
(1) Except as otherwise
provided by this Article, a company may, if authorized to do so by its
articles –
(a) issue;
or
(b) convert
existing non-redeemable limited shares, whether issued or not, into,
limited shares that are to
be redeemed, or are liable to be redeemed, either in accordance with their
terms or at the option of the company or of the shareholder.
(2) A
company shall not issue redeemable limited shares at a time when there are no issued
shares of the company that are not redeemable.
(3) A
company shall not convert existing issued non-redeemable limited shares into
redeemable shares if as a result there are no issued shares of the company that
are not redeemable.
(4) The
redeemable limited shares of a par value company that is not an open-ended
investment company shall be capable of being redeemed from any source, but only
if they are fully paid up.[140]
(5) The
redeemable limited shares of a no par value company that is not an open-ended
investment company shall be capable of being redeemed from any source, but only
if they are fully paid up.[141]
(6) [142]
(7) [143]
(8) The
redeemable limited shares of a par value company or a no par value company (not
being in either case an open-ended investment company) are not capable of being
redeemed unless all the directors of the company who authorize the redemption
make a statement in the form specified by paragraph (9).
(9) The
statement shall state that the directors of the company authorizing the redemption
have formed the opinion –
(a) that,
immediately following the date on which the payment is proposed to be made, the
company will be able to discharge its liabilities as they fall due; and
(b) that,
having regard to –
(i) the prospects of
the company and to the intentions of the directors with respect to the
management of the company’s business, and
(ii) the
amount and character of the financial resources that will in their view be
available to the company,
the company will be able
to –
(A) continue to carry on
business, and
(B) discharge its
liabilities as they fall due,
until the expiry of the
period of 12 months immediately following the date on which the payment is
proposed to be made or until the company is dissolved under Article 150,
whichever first occurs.[144]
(10) A
director who makes a statement under paragraph (8) without having
reasonable grounds for the opinion expressed in the statement is guilty of an
offence.
(11) The
redeemable limited shares of an open-ended investment company (whether it is a
par value company or a no par value company) may be redeemed from any source.
(12) The
redeemable limited shares of an open-ended investment company (whether it is a
par value company or a no par value company) shall not be capable of being
redeemed unless –
(a) they
are fully paid up;
(b) they
are redeemed at a price not exceeding their net asset value; and
(c) the
directors of the company authorizing the redemption have reasonable grounds for
believing that, immediately following the date on which the payment is proposed
to be made, the company will be able to discharge its liabilities as they fall
due.[145]
(12A) A
payment for the redemption of shares in accordance with this Article may be
made in cash or otherwise than in cash (or partly in cash and partly otherwise
than in cash).[146]
(13) [147]
(14) [148]
(15) [149]
(16) A
company may, by special resolution, apply a capital redemption reserve in
issuing shares to be allotted as fully paid bonus shares.[150]
(17) Upon
the redemption of limited shares of a par value company under this Article, the
amount of the company’s issued share capital shall be diminished by the
nominal value of those shares but the redemption shall not be taken as reducing
the authorized share capital of the company.
(18) Where
pursuant to this Article a par value company is about to redeem limited shares
(other than shares it intends to hold as treasury shares under Article 58A(2)(d)),
it may issue shares up to the nominal amount of the shares to be redeemed as if
those shares had never been issued.[151]
(19) Limited
preference shares issued by a company before Article 223 came into force
that could but for the repeal of Article 5 of the Companies (Supplementary
Provisions) (Jersey) Law 1968 have been redeemed under that Article shall be
subject to redemption either in accordance with that Article or in accordance
with this Law.
(20) Any
capital redemption reserve fund established by a company before Article 223
came into force for the purposes of Article 5 of the Companies
(Supplementary Provisions) (Jersey) Law 1968 shall be treated as if it had
been established as a capital redemption reserve for the purposes of this
Article, and any reference in any existing enactment or in the articles of any
company or in any other instrument to a company’s capital redemption
reserve fund shall be construed as a reference to a capital redemption reserve
for the purposes of this Article.
(21) Any
shares redeemed under this Article (other than shares that are, immediately
after being purchased or redeemed, held as treasury shares) are treated as
cancelled on redemption.[152]
57 Power
of company to purchase its own limited shares[153]
(1) A company may purchase
its own limited shares (including any redeemable shares) including by the
purchase of depositary certificates in respect of such shares.[154]
(2) A
purchase under this Article, other than a purchase by a company which is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of another company, shall be sanctioned by a special
resolution of the company.[155]
(3) However,
if the shares or depositary certificates in respect of shares are to be
purchased otherwise than on a stock exchange –
(a) they
may only be purchased in pursuance of a contract approved in advance by a
resolution of the company; and
(b) the
shares shall not carry the right to vote on the resolution sanctioning the
purchase or approving that contract.[156]
(4) If shares are to be
purchased on a stock exchange, the resolution authorizing the purchase shall
specify –
(a) the
maximum number of shares to be purchased;
(b) the
maximum and minimum prices which may be paid; and
(c) a
date, not being later than 5 years after the passing of the resolution, on
which the authority to purchase is to expire.[157]
(4ZA) If
depositary certificates in respect of shares are to be purchased, the
resolution authorizing the purchase shall specify –
(a) the
maximum number of depositary certificates to be purchased;
(b) the
maximum and minimum prices which may be paid; and
(c) a
date, not being later than 5 years after the passing of the resolution, on
which the authority to purchase is to expire.[158]
(4A) For
the purposes of paragraphs (4)(b) and (4ZA)(b), maximum and minimum prices
shall be determined –
(a) by
specifying particular sums; or
(b) by
specifying a basis or formula by which those amounts can be calculated without
reference to any person’s discretion or opinion.[159]
(5) Paragraphs (2),
(3), (4) and (4ZA) do not apply to an open-ended investment company.[160]
(5A) If
depositary certificates in respect of shares are purchased under this Article
the shares shall (unless they are, immediately after the purchase of the
depositary certificates, held as treasury shares) be treated as cancelled on
purchase.[161]
(6) Article 55
applies to the purchase by a company under this Article of its own shares
(including by the purchase of depositary certificates) as it applies to the
redemption of redeemable shares.[162]
(7) A
company may not make a purchase under this Article if as a result of the
purchase there would no longer be a member of the company holding shares other
than redeemable shares or treasury shares.[163]
(8) In
this Article and Article 58A “depositary certificate” means an
instrument (whatever it is called and whether it is held in paper or electronic
form) which confers on a person a right or rights (other than an option or a
security interest) in respect of a share or shares held by another person.[164]
58 Rule of law relating to financial assistance abolished[165]
(1) This Article applies to
any thing which would have been unlawful by reason of any rule of law, if that
rule had not ceased to have effect by virtue of, or had not been modified by,
the former Article 58.
(2) The repeal of the
former Article 58 by Regulation 5 of the Companies (Amendment
No. 2) (Jersey) Regulations 2008 shall not cause anything to which this
Article applies to be rendered unlawful by reason of any rule of law which had
ceased to have effect by virtue of, or had been modified by, the former Article 58.
(3) A transaction that
was –
(a) authorized
by a company before the repeal of the former Article 58 by
Regulation 5 of the Companies (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Regulations
2008;
(b) a
transaction of the kind to which paragraph (1) of the former Article 58
applied;
(c) lawful
under paragraph (2) or (3) of the former Article 58; and
(d) taken
under the Law, as in force immediately before the repeal, to not be a
distribution for the purposes of Part 17,
shall not be a distribution for the purposes of Part 17.
(4) [166]
(5) [167]
(6) In this Article,
“the former Article 58” means Article 58 of this Law, as
that Article was in force immediately before it was repealed by
Regulation 5 of the Companies (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Regulations
2008.
58A Treasury shares[168]
(1) A
company may hold as treasury shares any of the limited shares that it has
redeemed or purchased under this Part (including by the purchase of depositary
certificates), to the extent that –
(a) it is
not prohibited, by its memorandum or articles of association, from holding
shares as treasury shares; and
(b) it is
authorized by a resolution of the company to hold the shares as treasury
shares.[169]
(2) A
company that holds shares as treasury shares may –
(a) cancel
the shares;
(b) sell
the shares;
(c) transfer
the shares for the purposes of or under an employees’ share scheme; or
(d) hold
the shares without cancelling, selling or transferring them.
(3) While
shares are held by a company as treasury shares –
(a) the
company shall not, for the purposes of Articles 71, 89 and 92(2) be
treated as being a member or as holding shares in the company;
(b) the
company shall not exercise any voting rights attaching to the shares;
(c) if a
provision of this Law (other than Article 58B) requires –
(i) a proportion of
votes attaching to shares held in the company to be obtained, or
(ii) a
proportion of the holders of shares of the company, (which may include persons
representing by proxy other holders of shares of the company) to consent or not
to consent,
in order for a resolution to
be passed or an action or decision to be taken or not to be taken by any
person, the shares held as treasury shares shall not for the purposes of that
provision be taken into account in determining –
(A) the total number of shares
held in the company, or
(B) whether such a
proportion has been attained;
(d) the
company shall not make or receive any dividend, or any other distribution
(whether in cash or otherwise) of the company’s assets (including any
distribution of assets to members on a winding up), in respect of those shares;
(e) the
rights in respect of the shares shall not be exercised by or against the
company;
(f) the
obligations in respect of the shares shall not be enforceable by or against the
company; and
(g) any
purported exercise or enforcement of a right, obligation or requirement
referred to in sub-paragraph (b) to (f) is void.
(4) Nothing
in paragraph (3) shall prevent –
(a) an
allotment of shares as fully paid bonus shares in respect of treasury shares;
or
(b) the
payment of any amount payable on the redemption of redeemable shares that are
held as treasury shares.
(5) Article 55(17)
(including that Article as applied by Article 57(6)) –
(a) shall
not apply in relation to any shares that are, immediately after being purchased
or redeemed, held as treasury shares;
(b) shall,
on and from the day on which any shares held as treasury shares are cancelled
under paragraph (2)(a), apply to such shares as if references in Article 55(14),
(15) and (17) to a redemption of shares were references to the
cancellation of the shares under this Article.[170]
(6) If
under paragraph (2)(a) a par value company is about to cancel limited
shares, it may issue shares up to the nominal amount of the shares to be
cancelled as if those shares had never been issued.
(7) Any
shares allotted as fully paid bonus shares in respect of shares held as
treasury shares by a company shall be treated for the purposes of this Law as
if they were purchased by the company at the time they were allotted.
(8) If
shares are held by a company as treasury shares –
(a) the
register kept under Article 41 shall include an entry relating to the
number of shares held as treasury shares.
(b) [171]
(9) For
the purposes of this Article, an employees’ share scheme is a scheme for
encouraging or facilitating the holding of shares or debentures in a company by
or for the benefit of –
(a) the bona fide
employees or former employees of the company, the company’s subsidiary or
holding company or a subsidiary of the company’s holding company; or
(b) the
wives, husbands, widows, widowers, civil partners or surviving civil partners
or minor children or minor step-children of such employees or former employees.[172]
58B Limits on number
and nominal value of shares to be held as treasury shares[173]
(1) A
company may hold as treasury shares so many shares in the company that it has
redeemed or purchased under this Part as it thinks fit –
(a) if
another person holds at least one non-redeemable share in the company; or
(b) where
the articles of the company specify that –
(i) more than one
non-redeemable share in the company, or
(ii) a
specified proportion of non-redeemable shares in the company,
is required to be held by
one or more persons other than the company if the company is to hold shares as
treasury shares, if that number or proportion of shares in the company are held
by one or more other persons.
(2) If –
(a) a
company holds shares as treasury shares;
(b) the
articles of the company do not specify that –
(i) more than one
non-redeemable share in the company, or
(ii) a
specified proportion of non-redeemable shares in the company,
is required to be held by
one or more persons other than the company if the company is to hold shares as
treasury shares; and
(c) on
any day there ceases to be any person who holds at least one non-redeemable
share in the company,
the company shall, within
12 months after the day, dispose of to another person or persons at least
one non-redeemable share in the company.
(3) If –
(a) a
company holds shares as treasury shares;
(b) the
articles of the company specify that –
(i) more than one
non-redeemable share in the company, or
(ii) a
specified proportion of non-redeemable shares in the company,
is required to be held by
one or more persons other than the company if the company is to hold shares as
treasury shares; and
(c) on
any day there ceases to be any person who holds at least that number, or
proportion, of non-redeemable shares in the company,
the company shall, within
12 months after the day, dispose of to another person or persons that
number, or proportion, of non-redeemable shares in the company.
(4) If
a company fails to comply with paragraph (2) or (3) it is guilty of an
offence.
58C Redemption,
purchase or cancellation under Part 11 not a reduction of capital[174]
The redemption, purchase or
cancellation by a company under this Part of its shares is not for the purposes
of Part 12 a reduction of capital.
59 Power
of States to amend Part 11[175]
The States may amend this
Part by Regulations.
PART 12
REDUCTION OF CAPITAL
60 Forfeiture
of shares[176]
If it is authorized by its
articles, a company may –
(a) cause
any of its shares which have been issued otherwise than as fully paid to be
forfeited for failure to pay any sum due and payable on them; or
(b) accept
their surrender instead of causing them to be so forfeited.
61 Reduction
of capital accounts[177]
(1) A
company may reduce its capital accounts in any way.[178]
(1A) A
reduction of capital shall be sanctioned by a special resolution of the
company.[179]
(2) In
particular, and without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), the
company –
(a) may
extinguish or reduce the liability on any of its shares in respect of share
capital not paid up; and
(b) may,
with or without extinguishing or reducing liability on any of its
shares –
(i) reduce any
capital account by an amount which is lost or is unrepresented by available
assets, or
(ii) pay
off any amount standing to the credit of a capital account which is in excess
of the company’s wants.
(3) Subject to paragraphs (4)
and (5), every reduction of capital shall either –
(a) be
supported by a solvency statement (see Articles 61A and 61B); or
(b) be
subject to confirmation by the court (see Articles 62 to 64).[180]
(4) Paragraph (3)
does not apply to a reduction of capital by extinguishing or reducing a capital
account maintained in respect of unlimited shares.[181]
(5) Paragraph (3)
does not apply to a reduction of capital by reducing a share capital account or
stated capital account that is, in either case, maintained in respect of
limited shares if –
(a) the
reduction does not extinguish or reduce the liability on any share in respect
of capital that is not paid up; and
(b) the
reduction does not reduce the net assets of the company,
and the amount of the
reduction is credited to a capital redemption reserve that may be applied only
in paying up unissued shares that are to be allotted to members as fully paid
bonus shares.[182]
(6) A
reduction of capital supported by a solvency statement shall be treated for all
purposes in the same way as one that has been confirmed by an order of the
court.[183]
61A Solvency statement[184]
(1) A
reduction of capital is supported by a solvency statement if the directors of
the company authorizing the reduction make a solvency statement not more than
15 days before the special resolution sanctioning the reduction is passed.
(2) A
“solvency statement” is a statement that the directors making it
have formed the opinion –
(a) that,
as at the date of the statement, the company is able to discharge its
liabilities as they fall due; and
(b) that,
having regard to –
(i) the prospects of
the company and the intentions of the directors with respect to the management
of the company’s business, and
(ii) the
amount and character of the financial resources that will in their view be
available to the company,
the company will be able
to –
(A) continue to carry on
business, and
(B) discharge its
liabilities as they fall due,
until the expiry of the
period of 12 months immediately following the date of the statement or
until the company is dissolved under Article 150, whichever first occurs.
(3) A
director who makes a solvency statement without having reasonable grounds for
the opinion expressed in it is guilty of an offence.
61B Registration of
solvency statement and minute of reduction[185]
(1) Where
a reduction of capital is supported by a solvency statement, the company shall,
within 15 days after the special resolution is passed, deliver to the
registrar –
(a) a
copy of the solvency statement; and
(b) a
minute showing in respect of the company the information specified in paragraph (2).
(2) The
information to which paragraph (1) refers is –
(a) the
amounts of the capital accounts;
(b) the
number of shares into which the share capital is to be divided and, in the case
of a par value company, the amount of each share;
(c) in
the case of a par value company the amount (if any), at the date of the registration
of the solvency statement and minute under paragraph (3), which will
remain paid up on each share which has been issued; and
(d) in
the case of a no par value company, the amount (if any) remaining unpaid on
issued shares.
(3) The
registrar shall register the solvency statement and minute, and thereupon the
resolution for reducing the capital shall take effect.
(4) The
registrar shall certify the registration of the solvency statement and minute
and the certificate –
(a) shall
be signed by the registrar and sealed with the registrar’s seal; and
(b) is
conclusive evidence that all the requirements of this Law with respect to the
reduction of share capital have been complied with, and the company’s
share capital is as stated in the minute.
(5) The
minute when registered is deemed to be substituted for the corresponding part
of the company’s memorandum.
62 Application to Court for order of confirmation
(1) Where a company has
passed a resolution for reducing a capital account, it may apply to the court
for an order confirming the reduction.[186]
(2) If the proposed
reduction of share capital involves either –
(a) a
diminution of liability in respect of any amount unpaid on a share; or
(b) the
payment (whether in cash or otherwise) to a shareholder of any paid up capital,
and in any other case if the court so directs, paragraphs (3),
(4), and (5) have effect, but subject throughout to paragraph (6).[187]
(3) Every creditor of the
company who at the date fixed by the court is entitled to a 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 is entitled to object to the reduction
of capital.
(4) The court shall settle
a list of creditors entitled to object, and for that purpose –
(a) 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
(b) may
publish notices fixing a day or days 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 of capital.
(5) If 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 dispense with the consent of that
creditor, on the company securing payment of the creditor’s debt or claim
by appropriating (as the court may direct) the following amount –
(a) 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;
(b) 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 an enquiry and adjudication.
(6) If a proposed reduction
of capital involves either the diminution of a liability in respect of unpaid
capital or the payment (whether in cash or otherwise) to a shareholder of paid
up capital, the court may, if having regard to any special circumstances of the
case it thinks proper to do so, direct that paragraphs (3) to (5) shall
not apply as regards any class or any classes of creditors.[188]
63 Court order confirming reduction
(1) The court, if satisfied
with respect to every creditor of the company who under Article 62 is
entitled to object to the reduction of capital that either –
(a) the
creditor’s consent to the reduction has been obtained; or
(b) the
creditor’s 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 so
orders, it may also make an order requiring the company to publish (as the
court directs) the reasons for reduction of capital or such other information
in regard to it as the court thinks expedient with a view to giving proper
information to the public and (if the court thinks fit) the causes which led to
the reduction.
64 Registration of Act and minute of reduction
(1) Where the court
confirms the reduction of a company’s capital account, the company shall
deliver to the registrar –
(a) the
Act of the court confirming the reduction; and
(b) a
minute, approved by the court, showing in respect of the company the
information specified in paragraph (2).[189]
(2) The information to
which paragraph (1) refers is –
(a) the
amounts of the capital accounts;
(b) the
number of shares into which the share capital is to be divided, and, in the
case of a par value company, the amount of each share;
(c) in
the case of a par value company the amount (if any), at the date of the
registration of the Act and minute under paragraph (2A), which will remain
paid up on each share which has been issued; and
(d) in
the case of a no par value company, the amount (if any) remaining unpaid on
issued shares.[190]
(2A) The registrar shall register the
Act and minute, and thereupon the resolution for reducing the capital as
confirmed by the Act shall take effect. [191]
(3) The registrar shall
certify the registration of the Act and minute and the certificate –
(a) shall
be signed by the registrar and sealed with the registrar’s seal;
(b) is
conclusive evidence that all the requirements of this Law with respect to the
reduction of share capital have been complied with, and the company’s
share capital is as stated in the minute.
(4) The minute when
registered is deemed to be substituted for the corresponding part of the
company’s memorandum.
65 Liability of members on reduced shares
(1) Where a par value
company’s share capital is reduced, a member of the company (past or
present) is not liable in respect of any share to a 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 on the share or the reduced amount (if
any) which is deemed to have been paid on it.[192]
(2) Paragraphs (3) and
(4) apply if –
(a) a
creditor, entitled in respect of a debt or claim to object to the reduction of
share capital, by reason of the creditor’s ignorance of the proceedings
for reduction of share capital, or of their nature and effect with respect to
the creditor’s claim, is not entered on the list of creditors; and
(b) after
the reduction of capital, the company is unable to pay the amount of the
creditor’s debt or claim.
(3) Every person who was a
member of the company at the date of the registration of the Act and minute is
then liable to contribute for the payment of the debt or claim in question an
amount not exceeding that which the person would have been liable to contribute
if the company had commenced to be wound up on the day before that date.
(4) If the company is wound
up under this Law, or a declaration is made under the Désastre Law, the
court, on the application of the creditor in question and proof of ignorance
referred to in paragraph (2)(a) may settle accordingly a list of persons
so liable to contribute, and make and enforce calls and orders on the
contributories settled on the list, as if they were ordinary contributories in
a winding up.
(5) Nothing in this Article
affects the rights of the contributories among themselves.
66 Penalty for concealing name of creditor, etc.
If an officer of the company –
(a) wilfully conceals the
name of a creditor entitled to object to the reduction of capital;
(b) wilfully misrepresents
the nature or amount of the debt or claim of a creditor; or
(c) aids, abets or is privy
to any such concealment or misrepresentation,
the officer is guilty of an offence.
66A Power of States to
amend Part 12[193]
The States may amend this Part by Regulations.
PART 13
ADMINISTRATION
67 Registered office[194]
(1) A company shall at all
times have a registered office in Jersey to which all communications and
notices may be addressed.
(2) A company does not
comply with the requirement in paragraph (1) unless the occupier of the
premises that are the registered office authorizes for the time being their use
for that purpose.
(3) The registrar may, by
notice in writing served on the applicants for the incorporation of a company,
refuse to incorporate it if he or she is not satisfied that the occupier of the
premises that are to be the registered office of the company authorizes their
use for that purpose.
(4) On incorporation, the
company’s registered office shall be that specified in the statement sent
to the registrar under Article 7.
(5) The company may change
its registered office from time to time by giving notice to the registrar.
(6) If the registrar, by
notice in writing served on the company, informs it that the registrar is no
longer satisfied that the occupier of the premises that are the company’s
registered office authorizes their use for that purpose, the company shall
within 14 days change its registered office by giving notice to the
registrar.
(7) Subject to paragraph (8),
a change of registered office under paragraph (5) or (6) shall take effect
upon the notice being registered by the registrar, but until the end of the
period of 14 days beginning with the date on which it is registered a
person may validly serve any document on the company at its previous registered
office.
(8) The registrar may, by
notice in writing served on a company, refuse to register a notice given by the
company under paragraph (5) or (6) if he or she is not satisfied that the
occupier of the premises that are to be the registered office of the company
authorizes their use for that purpose.
(9) If default is made in
compliance with any requirement of or made under this Article, the company and
every officer of it who is in default are each guilty of an offence.
67A Relief from breach
of duty in unavoidable circumstances[195]
Where a company unavoidably ceases to perform any duty to keep at
its registered office or make available for public inspection there any document,
in circumstances in which it was not practicable to give prior notice to the
registrar of a change in its registered office, but –
(a) resumes performance of
that duty at other premises as soon as practicable; and
(b) gives notice under
Article 67(5) to the registrar of the change of its registered office
within 14 days of doing so, and that the change is made for the purposes
of this Article,
and the registrar registers the notice, the company shall not be
treated as having failed to comply with that duty.
67B Review of
registrar’s decision[196]
(1) Within 28 days
after the applicants for the incorporation of a company receive notice under
Article 67(3) that the registrar refuses to incorporate the company, the
applicants may appeal to the court on the ground that the registrar’s
decision was unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the case.
(2) Within 28 days
after a company receives notice under Article 67(6) that the registrar is
no longer satisfied that the occupier of the premises that are the
company’s registered office authorizes their use for that purpose, the
company may appeal to the court on the ground that the registrar’s
decision was unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the case.
(3) Within 28 days
after a company receives notice under Article 67(8) that the registrar
refuses to register a notice of change of registered office given by the
company under paragraph (5) or (6) of that Article, the company may appeal
to the court on the ground that the registrar’s decision was unreasonable
having regard to all the circumstances of the case.
(4) On hearing the appeal,
the court –
(a) may
confirm or reverse the decision of the registrar; and
(b) may
make such order as to the costs of the appeal as it thinks fit.
67C Evidence of
authorization[197]
The Minister may prescribe information that is to be provided to the
registrar to show that an occupier of premises authorizes the use of the
premises as a company’s registered office.
68 [198]
69 Company’s name to appear in its correspondence, etc.
(1) The name of a company
shall appear in legible characters in all its –
(a) business
letters, statements of account, invoices and order forms;
(b) notices
and other official publications; and
(c) negotiable
instruments and letters of credit purporting to be signed by or on behalf of
the company.
(2) If a company fails to
comply with paragraph (1) it is guilty of an offence.
70 Particulars in correspondence, etc.
(1) The address of the
registered office of a company shall appear in legible characters in all its
business letters and order forms.
(2) If there is on the
stationery used for any such letters, or on the company’s order forms, a
reference to the amount of share capital, the reference shall be to paid up
share capital.
(3) If a company fails to
comply with paragraph (1) or (2) it is guilty of an offence.
71 [199]
72 Service of documents[200]
A document may be served on a company –
(a) by leaving it at, or
sending it by post to, the registered office of the company;
(b) in accordance with Article 67(7);
or
(c) in the case of an
existing company if no office is registered, by sending it by post –
(i) in
the case of a public company which is in compliance with the requirements of
Article 83 to any person who is shown on the register kept in accordance
with that Article as a director or secretary of the company at the address
entered in that register,
(ii) in
any other case, to any person shown as a member of the company in the register
of members or other publicly available document at the person’s address
entered in that register or document, or
(iii) if
there is no such person, to any person identified as a subscriber in the
company’s memorandum at the person’s address shown in the
memorandum.
PART 14
DIRECTORS AND SECRETARY
73 Directors[201]
(1) A private company must
have at least one director.
(2) A
public company must have at least 2 directors.
(3) A
person may not be a director of a company if the person –
(a) has
not attained the age of 18 years;
(b) is
such a person as mentioned in Article 3(6)(b) or (c); or
(c) is
disqualified for being a director under this or any other enactment.[202]
(4) A
body corporate shall not be a director of a company unless –
(a) the
body corporate is a company, wherever incorporated, that is permitted under the
terms of its registration under the Financial
Services (Jersey) Law 1998 to act
as, or fulfil the requirements of, a director; and
(b) the
body corporate has no director that is a body corporate.[203]
(4A) An
incorporated limited partnership shall not be a director of a company.[204]
(4B) A
separate limited partnership shall not be a director of a company.[205]
(4C) A
limited liability partnership shall not be a director of a company.[206]
(5) A
limited liability company registered under the Limited
Liability Companies (Jersey) Law 2018 shall not be a director of a company.[207]
74 Duties of directors
(1) A director, in
exercising the director’s powers and discharging the director’s
duties, shall –
(a) act
honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the company;
and
(b) exercise
the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise
in comparable circumstances.
(2) Without prejudice to
the operation of any rule of law empowering the members, or any of them, to
authorize or ratify a breach of this Article, no act or omission of a director
shall be treated as a breach of paragraph (1) if –
(a) all
of the members of the company authorize or ratify the act or omission; and
(b) after
the act or omission the company will be able to discharge its liabilities as
they fall due.[208]
(3) Furthermore, no act or
omission of a director shall be treated as a breach of paragraph (1)
if –
(a) a
resolution, or (if the articles so require) special resolution, authorizing or
ratifying the act or omission is passed otherwise than by all of the members of
the company and in accordance with paragraphs (4) and (5); and
(b) after
the act or omission the company will be able to discharge its liabilities as
they fall due.[209]
(4) Where the resolution
authorizing or ratifying the act or omission is proposed as a written
resolution, neither the director (if a member of the company) nor any member connected
with the director shall be treated for the purposes of Article 95(1B) and
(1C) as a member entitled to vote on the resolution.[210]
(5) Where the resolution
authorizing or ratifying the act or omission is proposed at a meeting, it is
passed only if the necessary majority is obtained disregarding votes in favour
of the resolution by the director (if a member of the company) and any member
connected with him; but this does not prevent the director or any such member
from attending, being counted towards the quorum or taking part in the
proceedings at any meeting at which the decision is considered.[211]
(6) The Minister may by
Order disapply paragraphs (3) to (5) in relation to any class of company.[212]
74ZA Persons connected with
director for purposes of Article 74[213]
(1) The following persons
(and only those persons) are connected with the director for the purposes of
Article 74(4) and (5) –
(a) members
of the director’s family (see paragraph (2));
(b) a
foundation incorporated under the Foundations (Jersey) Law 2009 under which the director or
a person who, by virtue of sub-paragraph (a), is connected with the
director is a beneficiary;
(c) any
other body corporate with which the director is connected (as defined in
paragraph (3));
(d) a
person acting in his capacity as trustee of a trust –
(i) the beneficiaries
of which include the director or a person who by virtue of sub-paragraph (a),
(b) or (c) is connected with him, or
(ii) the
terms of which confer a power on the trustees that may be exercised for the
benefit of the director or any such person,
other than a trust for the purposes of an employees’ share
scheme or a pension scheme;
(e) a
person acting in the capacity of a partner –
(i) of the director,
or
(ii) of
a person who, by virtue of sub-paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d), is
connected with the director;
(f) a
firm that is a legal person under the law by which it is governed (including a
limited liability partnership, a separate limited partnership and an
incorporated limited partnership) and in which –
(i) the director is a
partner,
(ii) a
partner is a person who, by virtue of sub-paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d)
is connected with the director, or
(iii) a
partner is a firm in which the director is a partner or in which there is a
partner who, by virtue of sub-paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d), is connected
with the director; and
(g) where
the company is a fund –
(i) a person
connected with the establishment or promotion of the fund, and
(ii) any
person who is accustomed to acting in accordance with the directions of a
person referred to in clause (i), whether given directly or indirectly
(but disregarding advice given in a professional capacity).[214]
(2) The members of the
director’s family are –
(a) the director’s
spouse or civil partner;
(b) any
other person (whether of a different sex or the same sex) with whom the
director lives as partner in an enduring family relationship, other than a
grandparent or grandchild, sister, brother, aunt or uncle, or nephew or niece;
(c) the
director’s children or step-children;
(d) any
children or step-children of a person within paragraph (b) (and who are
not children or step-children of the director) who live with the director and
have not attained the age of 18; and
(e) the
director’s parents.
(3) A director is connected
with a body corporate (other than a foundation incorporated under the Foundations (Jersey) Law 2009 or an incorporated limited
partnership) if, but only if, the director and the persons connected with the
director together –
(a) have
an interest in shares comprised in the equity share capital of that body
corporate of a nominal value equal to at least 20% of that share capital;
or
(b) are
entitled to exercise or control the exercise of more than 20% of the
voting power at any general meeting of that body.
(4) For the purposes of
paragraph (3)(a) –
(a) the
reference to an interest in shares includes any interest of any kind whatsoever
in shares;
(b) any
restraints or restrictions to which the exercise of any right attached to the
interest is or may be subject shall be disregarded;
(c) it is
immaterial that the shares in which there is an interest are not identifiable;
(d) persons
having a joint interest in shares are deemed each to have that interest;
(e) a
person is taken to have an interest in shares if the person enters into a
contract to acquire them;
(f) a
person is taken to have an interest in shares if –
(i) the person has a
right to call for the delivery of the shares to, or to the order of, the
person, or
(ii) the
person has a right to acquire an interest in shares or is under an obligation
to take an interest in shares,
whether the right or obligation is conditional or absolute (but not
if it is a right or obligation to subscribe for shares);
(g) a
person is taken to have an interest in shares if, not being the registered
holder, the person is entitled –
(i) to exercise any
right conferred by the holding of the shares, or
(ii) to
control the exercise of any such right;
(h) a
person is taken to have an interest in shares if a body corporate is interested
in them and –
(i) the body
corporate or its directors are accustomed to act in accordance with the
person’s directions or instructions, or
(ii) the
person is entitled to exercise or control the exercise of more than one-half of
the voting power at general meetings of the body corporate;
(i) a
person is taken to have an interest in shares if the person is a beneficiary
under a foundation incorporated under the Foundations (Jersey) Law 2009 which is interested in them;
and
(j) where
an interest in shares is comprised in property held on trust, every beneficiary
of the trust is taken to have an interest in the shares unless –
(i) it is an interest
in reversion or remainder and a person is entitled to receive income from the
trust property comprising shares for that person’s or another’s
life, or
(ii) the
person holds the shares as a bare trustee or as a custodian trustee.
(5) A person ceases to have
an interest in shares by virtue of paragraph (4)(e) or (f) –
(a) on
the shares being delivered on the person’s order to another
person –
(i) in fulfilment of
a contract for their acquisition by the other person, or
(ii) in
satisfaction of a right of the other person to call for their delivery;
(b) on a
failure to deliver the shares in accordance with the terms of such a contract
or the terms on which such a right falls to be satisfied; or
(c) on
the lapse of the person’s right to call for delivery of the shares or to
acquire an interest in the shares or of the person’s obligation to take
an interest in the shares.
(6) For the purposes of
paragraph (4)(g) a person is taken to be entitled to exercise or control
the exercise of a right conferred by the holding of shares if the
person –
(a) has a
right (whether subject to conditions or not) the exercise of which would make
the person so entitled; or
(b) is
under an obligation (whether or not so subject) the fulfilment of which would
make the person so entitled.
(7) A person is not by
virtue of paragraph (4)(g) taken to be interested in shares by reason only
that the person –
(a) has
been appointed a proxy to exercise any of the rights attached to the shares; or
(b) has
been appointed by a body corporate to act as its representative at any meeting
of the company or of any class of its members.
(8) For the purposes of
paragraph (4)(h), where –
(a) a
person is entitled to exercise, or control the exercise, of more than one-half
of the voting power at general meetings of a body corporate; and
(b) the
body corporate is entitled to exercise, or control the exercise, of any of the
voting power at general meetings of another body corporate,
the voting power mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) is taken to be
exercisable by the person.
(9) The reference in
paragraph (3)(b) to voting power the exercise of which is controlled by
the director or a person connected with the director includes voting power the
exercise of which is controlled by a body corporate controlled by the director
or person.
(10) Shares in a company held as
treasury shares, and any voting rights attached to such shares, are disregarded
for the purposes of paragraph (3).
(10A) In paragraph (1)(g) “fund” means –
(a) a
scheme or arrangement which would be a collective investment fund under Article 3
of the Collective Investment Funds
(Jersey) Law 1988 but for the fact that it does not acquire capital by means of an
offer to the public of units for subscription, sale or exchange as described in
that Law;
(b) a
certified fund within the meaning of the Collective Investment Funds (Jersey)
Law 1988;
(c) a
recognized fund within the meaning of the Collective Investment Funds (Jersey)
Law 1988; or
(d) an
unregulated fund within the meaning of the Collective Investment Funds (Unregulated Funds)
(Jersey) Order 2008.[215]
(11) The Minister may by Order
amend this Article.
74A Contracts with
sole members who are also directors[216]
(1) If a private company
which –
(a) is a
limited company; and
(b) has
only one member, who is also a director of the company,
enters into a contract with him or her which is not in writing, the
company shall ensure that the terms of the contract are either set out in a
written memorandum or recorded in the minutes of the first meeting of the
directors of the company following the making of the contract.
(2) If a company fails to
comply with paragraph (1), it and every officer of it in default are
guilty of an offence.
(3) Failure to comply with
paragraph (1) shall not affect the validity of the contract.
(4) Subject to paragraph (3),
nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed as excluding the operation of
any other enactment or rule of law applying to contracts between a company and
a director of that company.
(5) Paragraph (1) of
this Article does not apply to contracts entered into in the ordinary course of
the company’s business.
75 Duty of directors to disclose interests
(1) A director of a company
who has, directly or indirectly, an interest in a transaction entered into or
proposed to be entered into by the company or by a subsidiary of the company
which to a material extent conflicts or may conflict with the interests of the
company and of which the director is aware, shall disclose to the company the
nature and extent of the director’s interest.
(2) The disclosure shall be
made –
(a) at
the first meeting of the directors at which the transaction is considered after
the director concerned becomes aware of the circumstances giving rise to his or
her duty to make it; or
(b) if
for any reason the director fails to comply with sub-paragraph (a), as
soon as practical after that meeting, by notice in writing delivered to the
secretary.[217]
(2A) The secretary, where the disclosure
is made to him or her –
(a) shall
inform the directors that it has been made; and
(b) shall
in any event table the notice of the disclosure at the next meeting of the
directors after it is made.[218]
(2B) Any disclosure at a meeting of the
directors shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.[219]
(3) A disclosure to the
company by a director in accordance with paragraph (2) that he or she is
to be regarded as interested in a transaction with a specific person is
sufficient disclosure of his or her interest in any such transaction entered
into after the disclosure is made. [220]
(4) Nothing in this Article
prejudices the operation of any rule of law restricting directors of a company
from having an interest in transactions with a company.
76 Consequences of failure to comply with Article 75
(1) Subject to paragraphs (2)
and (3), where a director fails to disclose an interest of the director under
Article 75 the company or a member of the company may apply to the court
for an order setting aside the transaction concerned and directing that the
director account to the company for any profit or gain realised, and the court
may so order or make such other order as it thinks fit.
(2) A transaction is not
voidable, and a director is not accountable, under paragraph (1) where,
notwithstanding a failure to comply with Article 75 –
(a) the
transaction is confirmed by special resolution; and
(b) the
nature and extent of the director’s interest in the transaction were
disclosed in reasonable detail in the notice calling the meeting at which the
resolution is passed.
(3) Without prejudice to
its power to order that a director account for any profit or gain realised, the
court shall not set aside a transaction unless it is satisfied
that –
(a) the
interests of third parties who have acted in good faith thereunder would not
thereby be unfairly prejudiced; and
(b) the
transaction was not reasonable and fair in the interests of the company at the
time it was entered into.
77 Indemnity of officers and former officers
(1) Subject to paragraphs (2)
and (3), any provision, whether contained in the articles of, or in a contract
with, a company or otherwise, whereby the company or any of its subsidiaries or
any other person, for some benefit conferred or detriment suffered directly or
indirectly by the company, agrees to exempt any person from, or indemnify any
person against, any liability which by law would otherwise attach to the person
by reason of the fact that the person is or was an officer of the company shall
be void.
(2) Paragraph (1) does
not apply to a provision for exempting a person from or indemnifying the person
against –
(a) any
liabilities incurred in defending any proceedings (whether civil or
criminal) –
(i) in which judgment
is given in the person’s favour or the person is acquitted,
(ii) which
are discontinued otherwise than for some benefit conferred by the person or on
the person’s behalf or some detriment suffered by the person, or
(iii) which
are settled on terms which include such benefit or detriment and, in the
opinion of a majority of the directors of the company (excluding any director
who conferred such benefit or on whose behalf such benefit was conferred or who
suffered such detriment), the person was substantially successful on the merits
in the person’s resistance to the proceedings;
(b) any
liability incurred otherwise than to the company if the person acted in good
faith with a view to the best interests of the company;
(c) any
liability incurred in connection with an application made under Article 212
in which relief is granted to the person by the court; or
(d) any
liability against which the company normally maintains insurance for persons
other than directors.
(3) Nothing in this Article
shall deprive a person of any exemption or indemnity to which the person was
lawfully entitled in respect of anything done or omitted by the person before
the coming into force of this Article.
(4) This Article does not
prevent a company from purchasing and maintaining for any such officer
insurance against any such liability.
78 Disqualification
orders[221]
(1) If
it appears to the Minister, the Commission, or the Attorney General, that it is
expedient in the public interest that a person should not without the leave of
the court –
(a) be a
director of or in any way whether directly or indirectly be concerned or take
part in the management of a company;
(b) be a
member of the council of a foundation incorporated under the Foundations
(Jersey) Law 2009 or in any other way
directly or indirectly be concerned or take part in the management of such a
foundation; or
(c) in
Jersey in any way whether directly or indirectly be concerned or take part in
the management of a body incorporated outside Jersey,
the Minister, the
Commission, or the Attorney General may apply to the court for an order to that
effect against the person.
(2) The
court may, on such an application, make the order applied for if it is
satisfied that the person’s conduct in relation to a body corporate makes
the person unfit to be concerned in the management of a body corporate.
(3) An
order under paragraph (2) shall be for such period, not exceeding
15 years, as the court directs.
(4) A
person who acts in contravention of an order made under this Article is guilty
of an offence.
(5) On
the making of an order against a person under this Article, the registrar may
record the person’s disqualification in a form approved by the
Commission.[222]
79 Personal
responsibility for liabilities where person acts while disqualified[223]
(1) A
person who acts in contravention of an order made under Article 78 is
personally responsible for such liabilities of the company or other body
corporate as are incurred at a time when that person was, in contravention of
the order, involved in its management.
(2) Where
a person is personally responsible under paragraph (1) for liabilities of
a company or other body corporate, the person is jointly and severally liable
in respect of those liabilities with it and with any other person who, whether
under this Article or otherwise, is so liable.
(3) For
the purposes of this Article, a person is involved in the management of a
company or other body corporate if he or she is a director of it, or if he or
she is concerned whether directly or indirectly or takes part in its
management.
80 Validity of acts of director
The acts of a director are valid notwithstanding any defect that may
afterwards be found in the director’s appointment or qualification.
81 Secretary
(1) Every company shall
have a secretary.
(2) A sole director shall
not also be a secretary.
(3) Anything required or
authorized to be done by or to the secretary may, if the office is vacant or
there is for any other reason no secretary capable of acting, be done by or to
an assistant or deputy secretary or, if there is no assistant or deputy
secretary capable of acting, by or to an officer of the company authorized
generally or specially in that behalf by the directors.
(4) No company shall have
as secretary to the company a body corporate the sole director of which is a
sole director of the company.
82 Qualifications of secretary
(1) It is the duty of the
directors of a public company to take all reasonable steps to secure that the
secretary (or each joint secretary) of the company is a person who appears to
them to have the requisite knowledge and experience to discharge the functions
of secretary of the company and who –
(a) on
the coming into force of this Article was the secretary or assistant or deputy
secretary of the company;
(b) is a
member of any of the professional bodies specified in paragraph (2);
(c) is an
advocate or solicitor of the Royal Court; or
(d) is a
person who, by virtue of holding or having held any other position or being a
member of any other body, appears to the directors to be capable of discharging
those functions.
(2) The professional bodies
referred to in paragraph (1)(b) are –
(a) the
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales;
(b) the
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland;
(c) the
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants;
(d) the
Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland;
(e) the
Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators;
(f) the
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants; and
(g) the
Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.[224]
(3) The Minister may by
Order amend paragraph (2) by adding, deleting or substituting any body.[225]
83 Register of directors and secretaries
(1) Every company shall
keep at its registered office a register of its directors and secretary; and
the register shall with respect to the particulars to be contained in it comply
with Articles 84, 84A and 85.[226]
(2) The register shall
during business hours (subject to such reasonable restrictions as the company
may by its articles or in general meeting impose, but so that not less than 2
hours in each business day be allowed for inspection) be open to the inspection
of the registrar and of a member or director of the company without charge and,
in the case of a public company or a company which is a subsidiary of a public
company, of any other person on payment of such sum (if any), not exceeding the
published maximum, as the company may require.[227]
(3) The registrar shall not
disclose or make use of any information obtained by him or her as a result of
the exercise of the right conferred upon him or her by paragraph (2)
except –
(a) to
the Commission on being required in writing by it to do so; or
(b) for
the purpose of enabling any provision of this Law or any obligation owed to the
company by an officer or secretary of the company to be enforced.[228]
(4) If an inspection
required under this Article is refused, or if there is a failure to comply with
paragraph (1), the company and every officer of it who is in default is
guilty of an offence.
(5) In the case of a
refusal of inspection of the register, the court may by order compel an
immediate inspection of it.
84 Particulars of directors: natural persons[229]
The register kept by a company under Article 83 shall contain
the following particulars with respect to each director who is a natural
person –
(a) the director’s
present forenames and surname;
(b) any former forenames or
surname;
(c) the director’s
business or usual residential address;
(d) the director’s
nationality;
(e) the director’s
business occupation (if any);
(f) the
director’s date of birth; and
(g) the date on which the
person became a director and, where appropriate, the date on which the person
ceased to be a director. [230]
84A Particulars of
directors: corporate directors[231]
(1) The register kept by a
company under Article 83 shall contain the following particulars with
respect to each corporate director –
(a) in
the case of a corporate director which is a company registered in Jersey, the
company’s name and registered number and the address of its registered
office;
(b) in
the case of any other corporate director, its corporate name, the place where
it is incorporated, its registered number (if any) and the address of its
registered office in that place; and
(c) in
either case, the date on which the corporate director became (and, where
appropriate, the date on which it ceased to be) a director.
(2) In paragraph (1) –
(a) “corporate
director” means a body corporate fulfilling the requirements of Article 73(4);
and
(b) with
respect to a corporate director which is not a company registered in Jersey,
‘registered’ shall be construed as reference to registration, or an
equivalent procedure, under the laws governing incorporation in the
jurisdiction in which the corporate director is incorporated.
85 Particulars of secretaries
The register to be kept by a company under Article 83 shall
contain the following particulars with regard to the secretary, or, where there
are joint secretaries, with respect to each of them –
(a) in the case of an
individual, the person’s present forenames and surname, any former
forenames or surname and the person’s usual residential address;
(b) in the case of a body
corporate or a Scottish firm, its corporate or firm name, the place where it is
incorporated and its registered or principal office; and
(c) in either case, the
date on which the person or it became the secretary and, where appropriate, the
date on which the person or it ceased to be the secretary.
85A Power of States to
amend Part 14[232]
The States may amend this Part by Regulations.
PART 15
MEETINGS
86 Participation in meetings
(1) Subject to the articles
of a company, if a member is by any means in communication with one or more
other members so that each member participating in the communication can hear
what is said by any other of them, each member so participating in the
communication is deemed to be present at a meeting with the other members so
participating.
(2) Paragraph (1)
applies to the participation in such communication by directors or by members
of a committee of directors as it applies to the participation of members of a
company.
87 Annual general meeting
(1) Paragraphs (2) and
(3) shall have effect subject to paragraphs (4) to (7).
(2) Every public company
and every relevant private company shall in each year hold a general meeting as
its annual general meeting in addition to any other meetings in that year and
shall specify the meeting as such in the notice calling it; but so long as a
company holds its first annual general meeting within 18 months of its
incorporation, it need not hold it in the year of its incorporation or in the
following year.[233]
(2A) In this Article “relevant
private company” means a private company –
(a) which
is required to hold annual general meetings by provision made in its articles
after the coming into force of the Companies (Amendment No. 11) (Jersey)
Law 2014; or
(b) in
whose case a requirement for the holding of annual general meetings was imposed
by provision made in its articles before the coming into force of that Law and
confirmed by a special resolution passed after the coming into force of that
Law and remaining in effect.[234]
(2B) Any requirement for the holding of
annual general meetings imposed by provision made in the articles of a private
company before the coming into force of the Companies (Amendment No. 11)
(Jersey) Law 2014 is of no effect unless confirmed by special resolution
passed after the coming into force of that Law and remaining in effect.[235]
(3) In the case of a public
company, not more than 18 months, and in the case of a relevant private
company, not more than 22 months shall elapse between the date of one annual
general meeting and the date of the next.[236]
(4) If all members of a public
company or relevant private company agree in writing that an annual general
meeting shall be dispensed with, then so long as the agreement has effect, it
shall not be necessary for that company to hold an annual general meeting.[237]
(5) In any year in which an
annual general meeting would be required to be held but for such an agreement
and in which no such meeting has been held, any member of the company may by
written notice to the company given not later than 3 months before the end of
the year require the holding of an annual general meeting in that year.
(6) Notwithstanding
anything contained in any such agreement, it shall cease to have
effect –
(a) if
any person who becomes a member of the company while the agreement is in force
does not within 2 months of becoming a member accede to the agreement; or
(b) if
any member of the company gives written notice to the company determining the
agreement.[238]
(7) If such an agreement
ceases later than 18 months after the incorporation of the company to
have effect, whether pursuant to paragraph (6) or otherwise, and an annual
general meeting has not previously been held in the year in which the cessation
takes place, the directors shall forthwith call an annual general meeting to be
held within 3 months after the agreement ceases to have effect.[239]
(8) If a public company
fails to comply with paragraph (2) or (3), it and every director of it in
default is guilty of an offence.
88 Commission’s power to call meeting in default
(1) If default is made in
holding a meeting in accordance with Article 87, the Commission may, on
the application of any officer, secretary or member of the company, call, or
direct the calling of, a general meeting of the company and give such ancillary
or consequential directions as the Commission thinks expedient, including
directions modifying or supplementing, in relation to the calling, holding and
conduct of the meeting, the operation of the company’s articles.[240]
(2) The directions that may
be given under paragraph (1) include a direction that one member of the
company present in person or by proxy shall be deemed to constitute a meeting.
(3) If default is made in
complying with directions given under paragraph (1), the company and any
officer or secretary of it who is in default is guilty of an offence.
(4) A general meeting held
under this Article shall, subject to any directions of the Commission, be
deemed to be an annual general meeting of the company; but, where a meeting so
held is not held in the year in which the default in holding the
company’s annual general meeting occurred, the meeting so held shall not
be treated as the annual general meeting for the year in which it is held,
unless at that meeting the company resolves that it shall be so treated.[241]
(5) Where a company so
resolves, a copy of the resolution shall, within 21 days after it is passed, be
forwarded to the registrar and recorded by the registrar; and if default is
made in complying with this paragraph, the company is guilty of an offence.
89 Requisition of meetings
(1) The directors of a
company shall, notwithstanding anything in the company’s articles, on a
members’ requisition forthwith proceed to call a general meeting or, as
the case may be, a meeting of any class of members to be held as soon as
practicable but in any case not later than 2 months after the date of the
deposit of the requisition.[242]
(2) A members’
requisition is a requisition of members of the company holding at the date of
the deposit of the requisition not less than one-tenth of the total voting
rights of the members of the company who have the right to vote at the meeting
requisitioned.[243]
(3) The requisition shall
state the objects of the meeting, and shall be signed by or on behalf of the
requisitionists and deposited at the registered office of the company, and may
consist of several documents in similar form each signed by or on behalf of one
or more requisitionists.
(4) If the directors do not
within 21 days from the date of the deposit of the requisition proceed duly to
call a meeting to be held within 2 months of that date, the requisitionists, or
any of them representing more than one half of the total voting rights of all
of them, may themselves call a meeting, but a meeting so called shall not be
held after 3 months from that date.
(5) A meeting called under
this Article by requisitionists shall be called in the same manner, as nearly
as possible, as that in which meetings are to be called by directors.
(6) Reasonable expenses
incurred by the requisitionists by reason of the failure of the directors to
call a meeting shall be repaid to the requisitionists by the company, and sums
so repaid shall be retained by the company out of sums due or to become due
from the company by way of fees or other remunerations in respect of their
services to the directors who were in default.
(7) In the case of a
meeting at which a resolution is to be proposed as a special resolution the
directors are deemed not to have duly called the meeting if they do not give
the notice required for special resolutions by Article 90.
90 Definition of special resolution
(1) A resolution is a
special resolution when it has been passed by the majority specified in
paragraph (1A) of the members who (being entitled to do so) vote in person,
or by proxy, at a general meeting of the company or at a separate meeting of a
class of members of the company of which in either case not less than
14 days’ notice, specifying the intention to propose the resolution
as a special resolution, has been duly given.[244]
(1A) The majority to which paragraph (1)
refers is –
(a) two-thirds,
if the articles of the company do not specify a greater majority; or
(b) if
the articles specify a greater majority than two-thirds (or unanimity), that
greater majority (or unanimity).[245]
(1B) Where the articles make different
provision in relation to different descriptions of special resolutions, the
reference in paragraph (1A) to the majority specified by the articles (or
unanimity) is to the majority specified by the articles in relation to special
resolutions of the description of the special resolution concerned (or
unanimity, if that is what is so specified).[246]
(2) If it is so agreed by a
majority in number of the members having the right to attend and vote at such a
meeting upon the resolution, being a majority together holding not less than
95% of the total voting rights of the members who have that right, a resolution
may be proposed and passed as a special resolution at a meeting of which less
than 14 days’ notice has been given.[247]
(3) At a meeting at which a
special resolution is proposed, a declaration by the chairman that the
resolution is carried is, unless a poll is demanded, conclusive evidence of the
fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour
of or against the resolution.
(4) In computing the
majority on a poll demanded on the question that a special resolution be
passed, reference is to be had to the number of votes cast for and against the
resolution.
(5) For the purposes of
this Article, notice of a meeting shall be deemed to be duly given and the
meeting duly held, when the notice is given and the meeting held in the manner
provided by this Law or the company’s articles.
(6) References in this Law
to a special resolution are, unless otherwise expressly provided, references to
a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the company.
91 Notice of meetings
(1) A provision of a
company’s articles is void insofar as it provides for the calling of a
meeting of the company or of any class of members of the company (other than an
adjourned meeting) by a shorter notice than 14 days’ notice in writing.[248]
(2) Save insofar as the
articles of a company make other provision in that behalf (not being a
provision avoided by paragraph (1)), any such meeting of the company
(other than an adjourned meeting) may be called by 14 days’ notice in
writing.[249]
(3) Notwithstanding that a
meeting is called by shorter notice than that specified in paragraph (2)
or in the company’s articles (as the case may be), it is deemed to have
been duly called if it so agreed –
(a) in
the case of a meeting called as the annual general meeting, by all the members
entitled to attend and vote thereat; and
(b) otherwise,
by a majority in number of the persons who have the right to attend and vote at
the meeting, being a majority together holding not less than 90 per cent
of the total voting rights of the members who have that right, or, if the
articles require a greater majority of such persons (or unanimity), by that greater
majority (or unanimity).[250]
92 General
provisions as to meetings and votes[251]
(1) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in the memorandum or articles of a private company
with only one member, or in the terms of admission to membership of such a
company, he or she shall be the quorum at any meeting of the company, or of any
class of member, when he or she is present personally or by his or her proxy.
(2) Subject
to paragraph (1), in so far as the memorandum or articles of a company or
the terms of admission to membership of the company do not make other provision
in that behalf, the following provisions shall apply to any meeting of the
company or of any class of members of the company –
(a) notice
of a meeting shall be given, to every member entitled to receive it, by
delivering or posting it to his or her registered address;
(b) at a
meeting of the company, 2 members present personally shall be a quorum;
(c) at a
meeting (other than an adjourned meeting) of any class of members –
(i) in the case of a
class of par value shares, the quorum shall be persons holding or representing
by proxy not less than 1/3rd in nominal value of the issued shares of that
class,
(ii) in
the case of a class of no par value shares, the quorum shall be persons holding
or representing by proxy not less than 1/3rd in number of the issued shares of
that class, and
(iii) in
the case of a class of guarantor members, the quorum shall be persons whose
liability as such members, or representing by proxy persons whose liability as
such members, is in the aggregate not less than 1/3rd of the total liability of
all members of that class,
and where any such meeting
has been adjourned, the quorum on its resumption shall be one person of the
class or his or her proxy;
(d) any
member, or director of the company, elected by the members present at a meeting
may be chairman of that meeting;
(e) on a
show of hands, every member present in person at a meeting has one vote; and
(f) on
a poll –
(i) every member has
one vote for every share held by him or her and, in the case of stock, one vote
for each share from which the holding of stock arose, and
(ii) every
member who does not have a share has one vote.
93 Representation of body corporate at meetings
(1) A body corporate,
whether or not a company within the meaning of this Law, may by resolution of
its directors or other governing body authorize such person or persons as it
thinks fit to act as its representative or representatives at any meeting of a
company, or of any class of members of a company, or of creditors of a company
which it is entitled to attend.[252]
(2) Where the body
corporate authorizes only one person, the person is entitled to exercise the
same powers on behalf of the body corporate which the person represents as that
body corporate could exercise if it were an individual member or creditor of
the company.[253]
(3) Where the body
corporate authorizes more than one person, any one of them is entitled to
exercise the same powers on behalf of the body corporate which they represent
as that body corporate could exercise if it were an individual member or
creditor of the company.[254]
(4) Where the body
corporate authorizes more than one person and more than one of them purport to
exercise a power under paragraph (3) –
(a) if
they purport to exercise the power in the same way, the power is treated as
exercised in that way; and
(b) if
they do not purport to exercise the power in the same way, the power is treated
as not exercised.[255]
94 Power of court to order meetings
(1) If for any reason it is
impracticable to call a meeting of a company, or of any class of members of a
company, in a manner in which those meetings may be called, or to conduct the
meeting in the manner specified in the articles or this Law, the court may,
either of its own motion or on the application –
(a) of a
director of the company; or
(b) of a
member of the company who would be entitled to vote at the meeting,
order a meeting to be called, held and conducted in any manner the
court thinks fit.[256]
(2) Where such an order is
made, the court may give such ancillary or consequential directions as it
thinks expedient; and these may include a direction that one member of the
company present in person or by proxy be deemed to constitute a meeting.
95 Resolutions in writing
(1) This Article does not
apply to a resolution removing an auditor but otherwise applies to any
resolution, including a special resolution.[257]
(1A) This Article does not apply to a
resolution if the memorandum or articles of the company concerned prohibit the
passing of a resolution in writing in the manner permitted by this Article.[258]
(1B) Anything which may be done at a
meeting of a company or at a meeting of any class of its members may be done by
a resolution in writing passed by all the members of the company who, at the
date when the resolution is deemed to be passed, would be entitled to vote on
the resolution if it were proposed at a meeting.[259]
(1C) In the case of a resolution which
is –
(a) proposed
as a written resolution by the directors of a company; or
(b) required
to be circulated by a company by Article 95ZB,
if the company’s articles provide that anything which may be
done at a meeting of the company or at a meeting of any class of its members
may be done by a resolution in writing passed by a specified majority of the
members who, at the date when the resolution is deemed to be passed, would be
entitled to vote on the resolution if it were proposed at a meeting, paragraph (1B)
has effect as if the reference to all the members were to that majority of the members.[260]
(1D) The majority specified by the
articles of a company in relation to a special resolution may not be less than
two-thirds.[261]
(2) A resolution in writing
may consist of several instruments in the same form each signed by or on behalf
of one or more members.
(3) A resolution under this
Article may be sent or submitted to members in hard copy or electronic form or
in such other manner as the company’s articles may provide.[262]
(3A) A resolution under this Article
shall be deemed to be passed when all the members have, or (where paragraph (1C)
applies) the specified majority of the members has, signified agreement to the
resolution.[263]
(3B) A member signifies agreement to a
resolution under this Article when the company receives from the member (or
from someone acting on the member’s behalf) a document (sent or
submitted in hard copy or electronic form or in such other manner as the
company’s articles may provide) which –
(a) identifies
the resolution to which it relates; and
(b) indicates
agreement to the resolution.[264]
(3C) A member’s agreement to a
written resolution, once signified, may not be revoked.[265]
(4) Any document attached
to a resolution in writing under this Article shall be deemed to have been laid
before a meeting of the members signing the resolution.
(5) Articles 98 and
100 apply to a resolution in writing under this Article as if it had been
passed at a meeting.
(6) Nothing in this Article
or Articles 95ZA to 95ZC affects or limits any provision in the memorandum
or articles of a company or any rule of law relating to the effectiveness of
the assent of members, or any class of members, of a company given to any
document, act or matter otherwise than at a meeting of them.[266]
95ZA Circulation of written
resolutions proposed by directors[267]
(1) This Article applies to
any resolution proposed as a written resolution by the directors of a company,
other than one passed by all the members of the company who, at the date when
the resolution is deemed to be passed, would be entitled to vote on the resolution
if it were proposed at a meeting.
(2) The company must send
or submit a copy of the resolution to every eligible member.
(3) The company must do
so –
(a) by
sending copies at the same time (so far as reasonably practicable) to all
eligible members; or
(b) if it
is possible to do so without undue delay, by submitting the same copy to each
eligible member in turn (or different copies to each of a number of eligible
members in turn),
or by sending copies to some members in accordance with
sub-paragraph (a) and submitting a copy or copies to other members in
accordance with sub-paragraph (b).
(4) The copy of the
resolution must be accompanied by a statement informing the member –
(a) how
to signify agreement to the resolution; and
(b) as to
the date by which the resolution must be passed if it is not to lapse.
(5) If the company fails to
comply with paragraph (2), (3) or (4), the company and every officer of it
in default commits an offence.
(6) A resolution to which
this Article applies lapses if it is not passed before the end of –
(a) the
period specified for this purpose in the articles; or
(b) if
none is specified, the period of 28 days beginning with the circulation
date.
(7) The agreement of a
member to such a resolution is ineffective if signified after the end of that
period.
(8) For the purposes of
this Article an “eligible member” is a member who, at the
circulation date, would be entitled to vote on the resolution if it were
proposed at a meeting.
(9) In this Article the “circulation
date” means the date on which copies of the resolution are sent or
submitted to members in accordance with this Article (or, if copies are sent or
submitted to members on different days, the first of those days).
(10) The validity of a resolution,
if passed, is not affected by a failure to comply with this Article.
95ZB Members’ power to
require circulation of written resolution[268]
(1) The members of a
company may require the company to circulate a resolution that may properly be
proposed and is to be proposed as a written resolution.
(2) For the purposes of
paragraph (1) a resolution may properly be proposed as a written
resolution unless –
(a) it
would, if passed, be ineffective (whether by reason of inconsistency with any
provision of, or made under, any Law or the company’s constitution or
otherwise);
(b) it is
defamatory of any person; or
(c) it is
frivolous or vexatious.
(3) Where the members
require a company to circulate a resolution they may require the company to
circulate it with a statement of not more than 1,000 words on the subject
matter of the resolution.
(4) A company is required
to circulate a resolution and any accompanying statement once it has received
requests that it do so from members representing not less than the requisite
percentage of the total voting rights of all members entitled to vote on the
resolution.
(5) The “requisite
percentage” is 10% or such lower percentage as is specified for this
purpose in the company’s articles.
(6) A request –
(a) may
be made in hard copy form or electronic form or in such other manner as the
company’s articles may provide;
(b) must
identify the resolution and any accompanying statement; and
(c) must
be authenticated by the person or persons making it.
95ZC Circulation of written
resolution and statement[269]
(1) A company that is
required under Article 95ZB to circulate a resolution must send or submit
to every eligible member –
(a) a
copy of the resolution; and
(b) a
copy of any accompanying statement.
(2) The company must do
so –
(a) by
sending copies at the same time (so far as reasonably practicable) to all
eligible members; or
(b) if it
is possible to do so without undue delay, by submitting the same copy to each
eligible member in turn (or different copies to each of a number of eligible
members in turn),
or by sending copies to some members in accordance with
sub-paragraph (a) and submitting a copy or copies to other members in
accordance with sub-paragraph (b).
(3) The company must send
or submit the copies (or, if copies are sent or submitted to members on different
days, the first of those copies) not more than 21 days after it becomes
subject to the requirement under Article 95ZB to circulate the resolution.
(4) A copy of the
resolution must be accompanied by a statement informing the member –
(a) how
to signify agreement to the resolution; and
(b) as to
the date by which the resolution must be passed if it is not to lapse.
(5) If the company fails to
comply with paragraph (2), (3) or (4), the company and every officer of it
in default commits an offence.
(6) A resolution which is
required to be circulated by the company by Article 95ZB lapses if it is
not passed before the end of –
(a) the
period specified for this purpose in the articles; or
(b) if
none is specified, the period of 28 days beginning with the circulation
date.
(7) The agreement of a
member to such a resolution is ineffective if signified after the end of that
period.
(8) The validity of a
resolution, if passed, is not affected by a failure to comply with this
Article.
(9) The expenses of the
company in complying with this Article must be paid by the members who
requested the circulation of the resolution unless the company resolves
otherwise.
(10) Unless the company has
previously so resolved, it is not bound to comply with this Article unless there
is deposited with or tendered to it a sum reasonably sufficient to meet its
expenses in doing so.
(11) The company is not required
to circulate a copy of a statement if, on an application by the company or any
other person, the court is satisfied that the rights conferred by Article 95ZB
and this Article are being abused.
(12) The court may order the
members who requested the circulation of the statement to pay the whole or part
of the company’s costs on an application under paragraph (11) even
if they are not parties to the application.
95A Recording of
decisions by sole member[270]
(1) If –
(a) a
private company has only one member;
(b) the
member takes a decision which may be taken by the company in general meeting
and has effect as if agreed by the company in general meeting; and
(c) the
decision is not taken by way of a resolution in writing,
the member shall provide the company with a record in writing of the
decision.
(2) If the member fails to
comply with paragraph (1), the member is guilty of an offence.
(3) Failure to comply with
paragraph (1) shall not affect the validity of the decision.
96 Proxies
(1) A member of a company
entitled to attend and vote at a meeting of it is entitled to appoint another
person (whether a member or not) as the member’s proxy to attend and vote
instead of the member; and in the case of a private company a proxy appointed
to attend and vote instead of a member has also the same right as the member to
speak at the meeting; but, unless the articles otherwise provide, a proxy is
not entitled to vote except on a poll.
(2) In every notice calling
a meeting of the company there shall appear with reasonable prominence a
statement that a member entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint a
proxy or, where that is allowed, one or more proxies to attend and vote instead
of the member, and that a proxy need not also be a member.
(3) In the event of failure
to comply with paragraph (2) as respects any meeting, every officer of the
company who is in default is guilty of an offence.
(4) A provision contained
in a company’s articles is void in so far as it would have the effect of
requiring the instrument appointing a proxy, or any other document necessary to
show the validity of, or otherwise relating to, the appointment of a proxy, to
be received by the company or any other person before the beginning of the
period commencing 48 hours before a meeting or adjourned meeting in order that
the appointment may be effective.[271]
(4A) In calculating the period mentioned
in paragraph (4) no account shall be taken of any part of a day that is
not a working day.[272]
(4B) For the purposes of paragraph (4A)
“working day” means a weekday (within the meaning of Part 1 of
the Schedule to the Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Jersey)
Act 2010) other than –
(a) a day
specified in that Schedule as a day which is to be observed as a public
holiday; or
(b) a day
noted in that Schedule as a day which is by custom observed as a general
holiday.[273]
(5) If for the purpose of a
meeting of a company, invitations to appoint as proxy a person or one of a
number of persons specified in the invitations are issued at the
company’s expense to some only of the members entitled to be given notice
of the meeting and to vote at it by proxy, then every officer of the company
who knowingly and wilfully authorizes or permits their issue in that manner is
guilty of an offence; but an officer is not so liable by reason only of the
issue to a member at the member’s request in writing of a form of
appointment naming the proxy, or a list of persons willing to act as proxy, if
the form or list is available on request in writing to every member entitled to
vote at the meeting by proxy.
(6) This Article applies to
meetings of any class of members as it applies to general meetings.[274]
97 Demand for poll
(1) A provision contained
in a company’s articles is void in so far as it would have the effect
either –
(a) of
excluding the right to demand a poll at a general meeting, or at a meeting of
any class of members, on a question other than the election of the chairman of
the meeting or the adjournment of the meeting; or
(b) of
making ineffective a demand for a poll on any such question which is made
either –
(i) by not less than
5 members having the right to vote on the question, or
(ii) by
a member or members representing not less than 1/10th of the total voting
rights of all the members having the right to vote on the question.[275]
(2) The instrument
appointing a proxy to vote at such a meeting is deemed also to confer authority
to demand or join in demanding a poll; and for the purposes of paragraph (1)
a demand by a person as proxy for a member is the same as a demand by the
member.
(3) On a poll taken at such
a meeting, a member entitled to more than one vote need not, if the member
votes, (in person or by proxy) use all the member’s votes or cast all the
votes the member uses in the same way.
98 Minutes
(1) Every company shall
cause minutes of all proceedings at general meetings, meetings of any class of
its members, meetings of its directors and of committees of directors to be
entered in books kept for that purpose, and the names of the directors present
at each such meeting shall be recorded in the minutes.[276]
(2) Any such minute, if
purporting to be signed by the chairman of the meeting at which the proceedings
took place, or by the chairman of the next succeeding meeting, is evidence of
the proceedings.
(3) Where minutes have been
made in accordance with this Article then, until the contrary is proved, the
meeting is deemed duly held and convened, and all proceedings which took place
at the meeting to have duly taken place.
(4) If a company fails to
comply with paragraph (1), the company and every officer of it who is in
default is guilty of an offence.
99 Inspection of minute books
(1) The books containing
the minutes of a general meeting or of a meeting of any class of members held
after this Article comes into force shall be kept at the company’s
registered office, and shall during business hours be open to the inspection of
a member without charge.[277]
(2) A member may require,
on submission to the company of a written request and on payment of such sum
(if any), not exceeding the published maximum, as the company may require, a
copy of any such minutes and the company shall, within 7 days after the receipt
of the request and the payment, cause the copy so required to be made available
at the registered office of the company for collection during business hours.[278]
(3) If an inspection required
under this Article is refused or if a copy required under this Article is not
sent within the proper time, the company is guilty of an offence.
(4) In the case of a
refusal or default, the court may make an order compelling an immediate
inspection of the books in respect of all proceedings of general meetings, or
meetings of any class of members or directing that the copies required be
furnished to the persons requiring them.[279]
100 Filing of resolutions
(1) A printed copy of every
resolution or agreement to which this Article applies shall, within
21 days after it is passed or made, be forwarded to the registrar and
recorded by the registrar.
(2) A printed copy of every
such resolution or agreement for the time being in force shall be embodied in
or annexed to every copy of the memorandum or articles issued after the passing
of the resolution or the making of the agreement; and a printed copy of every
such resolution or agreement shall be forwarded to a member at the
member’s request on payment of such sum (if any), not exceeding the
published maximum, as the company may require.[280]
(3) This Article applies
to –
(a) special
resolutions; and
(b) resolutions
or agreements which have been agreed to by all the members of a company but
which, if not so agreed to, would not have been effective for their purpose
unless they had been passed as special resolutions and;
(c) resolutions
or agreements which have been agreed to by all the members of any class but
which, if not so agreed to, would not have been effective for their purpose
unless they had been passed or agreed to by some particular majority or
otherwise in some particular manner, and all resolutions or agreements which
effectively bind all of the members of any class though not agreed to by all
those members,
which are passed, agreed to or entered into after this Article comes
into force.[281]
(4) If a copy of a
resolution or agreement is not delivered to the registrar as required by
paragraph (1) there shall be payable by the company when the copy is
delivered any late filing fee.[282]
(5) If a company fails to
comply with paragraph (2), it is guilty of an offence.
(6) Save as otherwise
provided by this Law, a resolution or agreement to which this Article applies
has effect notwithstanding that a copy is not delivered to the registrar as
required by paragraph (1).
101 Resolution passed at adjourned meeting
Where a resolution is passed at an adjourned meeting of –
(a) a company;
(b) any class of members of
a company; or
(c) the directors or a
committee of directors of a company,
the resolution is for all purposes to be treated as having been
passed on the date on which it was in fact passed, and is not to be deemed
passed on any earlier date.[283]
PART 16[284]
ACCOUNTS AND AUDITS
Interpretation – Part 16
102 Interpretation –
Part 16[285]
(1) In this Part, unless
the context otherwise requires –
“accounts” means accounts prepared in accordance with
Article 105;
“auditor” means –
(a) in
the case of an individual, an individual who is a member of a recognized
professional body and is permitted by that body to engage in public practice;
(b) in
the case of a partnership, a partnership that is a qualified partnership and
where each of the persons who is responsible to it for examining or reporting
on the accounts of a company pursuant to Article 113, is an individual who
is a member of a recognized professional body and is permitted by that body to
engage in public practice;
(c) in
the case of a body corporate, a body corporate that is controlled by auditors
and where each of the persons who is responsible to it for examining or
reporting on the accounts of a company pursuant to Article 113, is an
individual who is a member of a recognized professional body and is permitted
by that body to engage in public practice;
(d) in
respect of a company that is not a market traded company, an individual or firm
authorized by the Commission under Article 113D(6) to carry out an audit
of the company;
“controlled by auditors”, in respect of a body
corporate, means a body corporate where –
(a) individuals
who are members of a recognized professional body or auditors that fall within paragraph (b)
or (c) of the definition “auditor”;
(b) partnerships
accepted by a recognized professional body as being qualified for appointment
as auditors of companies incorporated in the United Kingdom;
(c) bodies
corporate accepted by a recognized professional body as being qualified for
appointment as auditors of companies incorporated in the United Kingdom;
(d) individuals
who hold a qualification to audit accounts under the law of a European Economic
Area member state other than the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland,
or any combination of persons mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a),
(b), (c) and (d) –
(e) constitute
more than half the number of members of the body corporate;
(f) hold
more than half the voting rights of each class of members of the body
corporate;
(g) who
are individuals, make up more than half the number of directors of the body
corporate; or
(h) hold
more than half of the voting rights in the board of directors, committee or
other management body of the body corporate;
“Directive” means Directive 2014/65/EU of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 173,
12.6.2014. p. 349) on markets in financial instruments and amending
Directive 2002/92/EC and Directive 2011/61/EU, as amended from time
to time;
“exempt company” means –
(a) a
company that is an issuer exclusively of debt securities admitted to trading on
a regulated market –
(i) prior
to 31st December 2010, the denomination per unit of which is at least
€50,000 or, in the case of debt securities denominated in another
currency, equivalent, at the date of issue, to at least €50,000, or
(ii) on
or after 31st December 2010, the denomination per unit of which is at least
€100,000 or, in the case of debt securities denominated in another currency,
equivalent, at the date of issue, to at least €100,000; or
(b) an
open-ended investment company –
(i) that holds a
permit as a functionary specified in Group 1 of Part 2 of the
Schedule to the Collective Investment Funds (Jersey) Law 1988,
(ii) in
relation to which a certificate granted under Article 8B of the Collective Investment Funds (Jersey) Law 1988 is in force, or
(iii) that
is an unregulated fund within the meaning of the Collective Investment Funds (Unregulated Funds)
(Jersey) Order 2008;
“firm” means an entity, whether or not a legal person,
that is not an individual and includes a body corporate, a corporation sole, a
partnership, and an unincorporated association;
“market traded company” means –
(a) a
company whose transferable securities have been admitted to trading on a
regulated market; or
(b) a company
in respect of which transferable securities have been admitted to trading on a
regulated market,
but does not include an exempt company;
“partnership” includes –
(a) a
firm of a similar character to a partnership formed under the law of a country
or territory outside Jersey; and
(b) a
limited liability partnership that is registered under the Limited Liability Partnerships (Jersey) Law 2017 or a firm of a similar
character to a limited liability partnership formed under the law of a
jurisdiction outside Jersey,
but does not include any such partnership that is a body corporate;
“professional oversight body” means a body designated by
an Order made under Article 113N;
“qualified partnership” means a partnership –
(a) in
which more than half of its partners are any of, or any combination of, the
following –
(i) individuals who
are members of recognized professional bodies,
(ii) partnerships
that are themselves auditors as defined in paragraph (b) of the definition
“auditor”,
(iii) bodies
corporate that are themselves auditors as defined in paragraph (c) of the
definition “auditor”,
(iv) individuals
who hold a qualification to audit accounts under the law of a European Economic
Area member state other than the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland; and
(b) in
which more than half of the voting rights in the partnership and, if it has a
management body, in that body are held by persons specified in sub-paragraph (a);
“recognized auditor” means a firm or an individual whose
name appears on the Register of Recognized Auditors;
“recognized professional body” means any of the
following bodies –
(a) the
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales;
(b) the
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland;
(c) the
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants;
(d) the
Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland;
“Register of Recognized Auditors” means the Register
kept by the Commission under an Order made under Article 110(1);
“regulated market” means –
(a) a UK
regulated market, within the meaning given, in the United Kingdom, by
Article 2.1(13A) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 15 May 2014 as substituted by
regulation 26(2)(a) of the Markets in Financial Instruments (Amendment)
(EU Exit) Regulations 2018 of the United Kingdom (S.I. 2018/1403); or
(b) a
regulated market within the meaning given by Article 4.1(21) of the
Directive;
“rules”, in respect of a recognized professional body,
means the rules of the body as to –
(a) the
eligibility of persons for appointment as auditors; and
(b) the
conduct of audit work,
that are binding on persons acting as auditors under this Part and,
where Article 112(6) applies, includes rules published by the Commission in
accordance with that Article;
“transferable securities” has the same meaning as in the
Directive (see Article 4.1(44) of the Directive).[286]
(1A) In this Part, unless the context
otherwise requires, ‘partnership’ does not include an incorporated
limited partnership or a separate limited partnership.[287]
(2) For the purposes of any
Article of this Part where under or pursuant to this Part an officer of an
auditor or of a recognized auditor who is in default is guilty of an offence,
the expression “officer of the auditor in default” means any
officer, director, partner or member of the auditor or of the recognized
auditor who knowingly and wilfully authorizes or permits the default, refusal
or contravention mentioned in the Article.
(3) The Minister may, by
Order, amend a definition in this Article.
Accounts
103 Accounting
records[288]
(1) A company must keep
accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain its transactions.
(2) The records must be
such as to –
(a) disclose
with reasonable accuracy, at any time, the financial position of the company at
that time; and
(b) enable
the directors to ensure that any accounts prepared by the company under this
Part comply with the requirements of this Law.
104 Retention of
records[289]
(1) A company’s
accounting records must –
(a) be
kept at such place as the directors think fit; and
(b) be
open at all times to inspection by the company’s officers and its
secretary.
(2) If accounting records
of a public company are kept at a place outside Jersey, returns with respect to
the business dealt with in the accounting records so kept must –
(a) be
sent to, and kept in, Jersey; and
(b) be
open at all times to inspection by the company’s officers and its
secretary.
(3) The returns must be
such as to –
(a) disclose
with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the business in question at
intervals of not more than 6 months; and
(b) enable
the directors to ensure that any accounts prepared by the company under this
Part comply with the requirements of this Law.
(4) Except as provided by
Article 194 (winding up of company), the accounting records that a company
is required by Article 103 to keep must be preserved by it for at least
10 years from the date on which they are made.
105 Accounts[290]
(1) Except as provided by paragraph (11),
the directors of a company must prepare accounts for a period of not more than
18 months –
(a) beginning
on the date the company was incorporated; or
(b) if
the company has previously prepared a profit and loss account, beginning at the
end of the period covered by the most recent accounts.
(2) The accounts must be
prepared –
(a) in
the case of a market traded company, in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles prescribed for the purposes of this provision; or
(b) in
any other case, in accordance with any generally accepted accounting
principles.
(3) The accounts of a
company must specify the generally accepted accounting principles that have
been adopted in their preparation.
(4) The accounts of a
company that is required by Article 113(1) to appoint an auditor must give
a true and fair view of, or be presented fairly in all material respects so as
to show –
(a) the
company’s profit or loss for the period covered by the accounts; and
(b) the
state of its affairs at the end of the period,
and must otherwise comply with any other requirements of this Law.
(5) A company’s
accounts must be –
(a) approved
by the directors; and
(b) signed
on their behalf by one of them.
(6) The accounts for a
financial period of a company must –
(a) be
prepared, and, if required under this Part, be examined and reported upon by an
auditor; and
(b) subject
to paragraph (8), be laid before a general meeting of the company together
with a copy of any auditor’s report on them.
(7) The actions mentioned in
paragraph (6) must be taken –
(a) in
the case of a public company, within 7 months; or
(b) in
the case of a private company, within 10 months,
after the end of the financial period of the company covered by the
accounts.
(8) Paragraph (9)
applies if, at the end of a financial period of a company –
(a) the
company is a private company that is not a relevant private company within the
meaning given by Article 87(2A); or
(b) an
agreement under Article 87(4) dispensing with the holding of an annual
general meeting has effect in the case of the company.[291]
(9) The company is not
obliged to lay the accounts for the financial period or a copy of any
auditor’s report on them before a general meeting of the company unless a
member of the company, not later than 11 months after the end of the
financial period covered by the accounts, by written notice given to the
company, requires the company to do so.
(10) In such a case the general
meeting of the company must be held within 28 days after –
(a) the
receipt of the notice by the company; or
(b) the
approval of the accounts by the directors,
whichever last occurs.
(11) For the purposes of this
Article, the directors of a holding company need not prepare separate accounts
under paragraph (1) if consolidated accounts for the company are prepared,
unless required to do so by the members of the company by ordinary resolution.
106 Publication
of interim accounts[292]
A company must not publish interim accounts, whether or not audited,
unless the accounts have been prepared –
(a) in the case of a market
traded company, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
prescribed for the purposes of Article 105(2)(a); or
(b) in any other case, in
accordance with any generally accepted accounting principles.
107 Copies of accounts[293]
(1) This Article applies
where a member of a company who has not previously been furnished with a copy
of its latest accounts makes a written request to the company to be furnished
with a copy of those accounts together with a copy of any auditor’s
report on them.
(2) The company must,
without charge and within 7 days of the request being made to it, furnish
to the person the accounts requested together with any auditor’s report
on them.
108 Delivery of
accounts to registrar[294]
(1) Where the directors of
a public company are required to produce accounts for the company under Article 105(1),
the directors must, for each financial period of the company, deliver to the
registrar –
(a) a
copy of the company’s accounts for the period signed on behalf of the
directors by one of them;
(b) a
copy of the auditor’s report on the accounts; and
(c) if
any of the documents is not in English, a copy of it in English, certified to
be a correct translation.
(2) The documents must be
delivered to the registrar within 7 months after the end of the financial
period to which they relate.
(3) If a public company
becomes a private company during a financial period –
(a) paragraph (1)
applies in relation to the company in respect of that period; but
(b) the
requirement in the paragraph to deliver accounts is to be taken to have been
satisfied if the accounts relate to either all of the financial period
(including a period when the company was no longer a public company) or to only
the part of the financial period during which the company was a public company.
(4) Paragraph (5)
applies if, not later than one month before the end of the period mentioned
in –
(a) Article 105(1),
105(7) or 105(9); or
(b) paragraph (2)
of this Article,
a written application is made to the Commission for an extension of
the period.
(5) The Commission may, by
written notice to the company, extend the period if it is satisfied that a
special reason for doing so exists.
(6) If the Commission does
so, it must send a copy of the notice to the registrar.
(7) A company must pay the
published fee and any late filing fee on filing documents under this Article.
109 Failure to
comply with Article 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 or 108[295]
If a company fails to comply with Article 103, 104, 105, 106,
107 or 108 –
(a) the company; and
(b) in the case of a public
company, each officer of the company in default,
is guilty of an offence.
Recognized Auditors
110 Commission
to maintain Register of Recognized Auditors[296]
(1) The Minister must make
an Order requiring the Commission to keep a register, to be known as the
Register of Recognized Auditors, of persons –
(a) who
under Article 112 are auditors qualified to be recognized auditors; and
(b) who
have applied and have been approved by the Commission to have their names entered
on the Register of Recognized Auditors.
(2) The Order must require
that the entry on the Register of Recognized Auditors in respect of each
recognized auditor must contain –
(a) the
name and address of the recognized auditor;
(b) in
the case of an individual, the name of the recognized professional body the
recognized auditor is a member of; and
(c) in
the case of a firm, the specified information relating to each of the persons
who is responsible to the firm for examining or reporting on the accounts of a
market traded company pursuant to Article 113A,
and may require each entry to contain other specified information.
(3) The Order may impose
such obligations on –
(a) recognized
professional bodies;
(b) any
professional oversight body;
(c) persons
qualified or approved to be recognized auditors,
as the Minister considers necessary to achieve the objectives for
which the Register of Recognized Auditors is established.
(4) The Order may also
include –
(a) provisions
requiring that specified entries on the Register of Recognized Auditors be open
to inspection at times and places specified or determined in accordance with
the Order;
(b) provisions
enabling a person to require a certified copy of specified entries on the
Register of Recognized Auditors;
(c) provisions
authorizing the charging of published fees for inspecting the Register of
Recognized Auditors and for the provision of certified copies of entries in it,
but may also prescribe circumstances in which entries on the
Register of Recognized Auditors shall not be made open for inspection or made
available as certified copies.
(5) A person qualified or
approved to be a recognized auditor –
(a) who
fails to comply with an obligation imposed under paragraph (3)(c); or
(b) if
the obligation is to provide information, who knowingly or recklessly provides
information that is false or misleading in a material particular,
is guilty of an offence.[297]
(6) In this Article
“specified” means specified by Order made under this Article.
111 Registration
as a recognized auditor[298]
(1) Persons who under
Article 112 are auditors qualified to be recognized auditors may apply to
have their name entered on the Register of Recognized Auditors –
(a) by
applying to the Commission in the manner published by the Commission; and
(b) by
paying the published fee.
(2) The Commission may
refuse to enter the name of a person on the Register of Recognized Auditors if
the Commission is satisfied that the person is not competent to act as a
recognized auditor.
(3) The Commission
may –
(a) when
entering the name of a person on the Register of Recognized Auditors; or
(b) at
any subsequent time,
make the registration of the person subject to the person complying
with such conditions and limitations as the Commission considers appropriate, details
of which the Commission must enter on the Register.
(4) The Commission may
amend the conditions and limitations –
(a) at
any time on the Commission’s own volition; or
(b) on
the application of the recognized auditor.
(5) The Commission may
suspend or revoke the registration of a person as a recognized auditor
if –
(a) in
the opinion of the Commission, the recognized auditor is no longer competent or
is not a fit and proper person to act as a recognized auditor;
(b) the
recognized auditor has breached any condition or limitation imposed under
paragraph (3);
(c) the
recognized auditor is found guilty of an offence under paragraph (16) or
(17);
(d) the
recognized auditor has failed to pay a fee mentioned in paragraph (18) or Article 113M(4);
(e) the
recognized auditor has breached any of the rules mentioned in Article 112(1)
that apply to the auditor;
(f) the
recognized auditor fails, within a reasonable time, to provide information
required by the Commission pursuant to Article 113L or is found guilty of
an offence under Article 113L(4); or
(g) in
the opinion of the Commission, the continued registration of the recognized
auditor may adversely affect a company of which the recognized auditor is
auditor or any other person.
(6) The Commission may,
under paragraph (5), suspend the registration of a person as a recognized
auditor –
(a) for a
specified period; or
(b) until,
on the application of the recognized auditor, the auditor satisfies the
Commission that the suspension may be revoked.
(7) If a person who is a
recognized auditor requests the Commission to suspend or revoke the
person’s registration as a recognized auditor, the Commission must comply
with the request and may publish –
(a) the
name of the person;
(b) details
of the action it took in respect of the person; and
(c) the
reason why it took that action.
(8) The suspension of the
registration of a person under paragraph (7) shall be –
(a) for a
specified period; or
(b) if no
period is specified, until the recognized auditor applies to the Commission for
the registration to be restored.
(9) The Commission must
remove the name of a recognized auditor from the Register of Recognized
Auditors if the Commission is satisfied that the recognized auditor is no
longer an auditor who under Article 112 is an auditor qualified to be a
recognized auditor.
(10) If the
Commission –
(a) refuses
to enter the name of a person on the Register of Recognized Auditors on an
application made under paragraph (1);
(b) makes
the registration of a person subject to conditions and limitations under
paragraph (3);
(c) amends
conditions and limitations under paragraph (4)(a);
(d) refuses
to amend any condition or limitation on an application made under paragraph (4)(b);
(e) suspends
or revokes the registration of a person as a recognized auditor under paragraph (5);
(f) refuses
to revoke the suspension of the registration of a person as a recognized
auditor on an application under paragraph (6)(b); or
(g) removes
the name of a recognized auditor from the Register under paragraph (9),
the Commission must, within 7 days of doing so, serve a notice
on the applicant or recognized auditor, as the case may be.
(11) The notice must –
(a) specify
the action taken by the Commission;
(b) set
out the reasons why the Commission took the action; and
(c) advise
the applicant or recognized auditor of the applicant’s or auditor’s
right, under paragraph (12), to appeal to the court against the action
taken by the Commission.
(12) Where the Commission has
served a notice on a person under paragraph (10) –
(a) the
person upon whom the notice was served may, within 28 days of the service
of the notice or within such longer period as the court may approve, appeal to
the court against the action taken by the Commission, as specified in the
notice, on the ground that it was unreasonable for the Commission to take the
action in all the circumstances of the case; but
(b) unless
the court orders otherwise, if the person does appeal the action taken by the
Commission and specified in the notice is not stayed and shall continue to have
effect.
(13) The court may, on an appeal
under paragraph (12), make such order as it considers appropriate.
(14) Paragraph (15) applies
if the Commission –
(a) makes
the registration of a person subject to conditions and limitations under
paragraph (3);
(b) amends
conditions and limitations under paragraph (4);
(c) suspends
or revokes the registration of a person as a recognized auditor under paragraph (5);
or
(d) removes
the name of a recognized auditor from the Register of Recognized Auditors under
paragraph (9),
and the period for making an appeal under paragraph (12) has
expired and no appeal was made or, if made, was unsuccessful or withdrawn.
(15) The Commission may
publish –
(a) the
name of the person or recognized auditor;
(b) details
of the action it took in respect of the person or recognized auditor; and
(c) the
reason why it took that action.
(16) An auditor must inform the
Commission of any material change in any information that was supplied by the
auditor to the Commission –
(a) at
the time the auditor applied to become a recognized auditor; or
(b) at
any subsequent time in compliance with this paragraph,
and, if the auditor fails to do so as soon as practicable but in any
event within 1 month of the change, the auditor and each officer of the
auditor in default is guilty of an offence.
(17) A person is guilty of an
offence if the person knowingly or recklessly provides information for the
purpose of paragraph (1)(a), (4)(b) or (6)(b) that is false or misleading
in a material particular.
(18) A recognized auditor must pay
any published fee imposed on recognized auditors.
112 Qualification
under rules of recognized professional bodies[299]
(1) An auditor is qualified
to be a recognized auditor if the auditor is bound by –
(a) rules
governing the conduct of the audit of market traded companies issued by a
recognized professional body and approved by the Commission; or
(b) if no
such rules have been issued by a recognized professional body, or, if issued,
have not been approved by the Commission, rules governing the conduct of the
audit of market traded companies published by the Commission.
(2) The Minister must make
an Order prescribing what any rules approved or published by the Commission
under paragraph (1) must provide for before the Commission may approve or
publish them.
(3) The Order may, in
particular, require that the rules –
(a) are
adequate to ensure that an auditor is a fit and proper person;
(b) are
adequate to prevent a person –
(i) who is not an
auditor, or
(ii) where
an auditor is a firm – who is not an officer, director, partner, member
or employee of the firm,
from being able to exert influence over the way in which an audit of
a market traded company is conducted in circumstances in which that influence
would be likely to affect the independence or integrity of the audit;
(c) are
adequate to ensure that –
(i) audit work
carried out under this Part is carried out properly and with integrity, and
(ii) an
auditor is not appointed in circumstances in which the auditor has an interest
that is likely to conflict with the proper conduct of the audit;
(d) cover –
(i) the technical
standards to be applied in audit work carried out under this Part, and
(ii) the
manner in which those standards are to be applied in practice;
(e) are
designed to ensure that an auditor maintains an appropriate level of
competence;
(f) contain
provisions to ensure that an auditor who carries out audit work takes any steps
required to enable the performance of the work to be monitored;
(g) where
they relate to –
(i) the grant and
withdrawal of eligibility for appointment as auditor, and
(ii) the
discipline the body exercises,
are fair and reasonable and include adequate provision for appeals;
(h) contain
provisions designed to ensure an auditor must take reasonable steps to be able
to meet claims arising out of audit work carried out under this Part;
(i) contain
provisions designed to ensure that the Commission or a professional oversight
body can conduct investigations in relation to an auditor and has the right to
take appropriate action.
(4) The Commission must not
approve the rules of a recognized professional body unless it has satisfied
itself that the body –
(a) has
adequate arrangements and resources for the effective monitoring and
enforcement of compliance with its rules;
(b) has
effective arrangements for the investigation of complaints against auditors,
and against itself in respect of matters arising out of its functions under the
rules;
(c) promotes
and maintain high standards of integrity in the conduct of audit work;
(d) will
cooperate, by the sharing of information or otherwise, with the Minister, the
Commission and any other authority, body or person having responsibility for
the qualification, supervision or regulation of auditors, whether in Jersey or
elsewhere; and
(e) will
carry out a quality assurance review of each recognized auditor at least once
in any period of 3 years.
(5) An Order made under
paragraph (2) may, in particular, provide for the Commission to withdraw
its approval of the rules of a recognized professional body if at any time it
is satisfied that the body –
(a) has
failed to comply with any obligation placed on it by an Order made under
Article 110(3);
(b) has
ceased to have or is not using any of the arrangements or resources mentioned
in paragraph (4)(a);
(c) has
ceased to have or is not using any of the arrangements mentioned in paragraph (4)(b);
(d) has
not promoted or has not maintained the standards mentioned in paragraph (4)(c);
(e) has
failed to cooperate in the manner mentioned in paragraph (4)(d);
(f) has
failed to meet the requirements of paragraph (4)(e); or
(g) has
failed to give notification or supply information when required to do so under
Article 113K.
(6) The rules published by
the Commission under paragraph (1)(b) shall be the rules of the recognized
professional body that are applicable to the eligibility of a member of the
body to be appointed to be a statutory auditor under section 1212(1) of
the Companies Act 2006 of the United Kingdom, amended as necessary to make
them –
(a) applicable
to Jersey and the auditing of the accounts of market traded companies in
accordance with this Part; and
(b) comply
with any additional relevant requirement of an Order made under paragraph (2).
Appointment of auditors and their functions
113 Appointment
and removal of auditors[300]
(1) A company must appoint
an auditor to examine and report in accordance with this Law upon its accounts
if –
(a) it is
a public company;
(b) its
articles so require; or
(c) a
resolution of the company in general meeting so requires.
(1A) A company of a class specified in
an Order made by the Minister may disapply the requirement imposed by paragraph (1)
in relation to a financial period of the company by a resolution
passed before the date by which the actions mentioned in Article 105(6)
are required by Article 105(7) to be taken in relation to the accounts of
the company for that financial period.[301]
(1B) A resolution under paragraph (1A)
must be passed by all members of the company entitled to vote in general
meeting.[302]
(1C) A resolution under paragraph (1A)
is rescinded once the company has received requests for its rescission
from –
(a) members
holding not less than 10 per cent in nominal value of the issued
share capital (or any class of such share capital) of the company, or (if the
company is a no par value company) not less than 10 per cent of the
number of the company’s issued shares (or any class of issued shares),
excluding any shares held as treasury shares; or
(b) if
the company does not have share capital, members whose liability as members is
in the aggregate not less than 10 per cent of the total liability of
all members of the company (or any class of members).[303]
(1D) The rescission by paragraph (1C)
of a resolution under paragraph (1A) in relation to a financial period has
effect only if the requests required by paragraph (1C) have been received
before the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the date on which
the resolution was passed.[304]
(1E) Where a resolution under paragraph (1A)
in relation to a financial period is rescinded, the actions mentioned in
Article 105(6) in relation to the accounts of the company for that
financial period must be taken by –
(a) the
date by which they are required to be taken by Article 105(7); or
(b) the
date 3 months after that on which the resolution is rescinded,
whichever is later.[305]
(1F) The Minister may by Order modify or
disapply any one or more of paragraphs (1B) to (1E) in relation to any
class of company.[306]
(2) If the company is a
market traded company –
(a) the
auditor appointed under paragraph (1) must be a recognized auditor; and
(b) an
audit of the company’s accounts by any other person is of no effect for
the purposes of this Part.
(3) Except as provided by
paragraphs (5) and (6), a company that is required by this Article to
appoint an auditor must at each annual general meeting appoint an auditor to
hold office from the conclusion of that meeting to the conclusion of the next
annual general meeting.
(4) The directors or
(failing the directors) the company in general meeting may, at any time before
the first annual general meeting, appoint an auditor to hold office to the
conclusion of that meeting.
(5) If a company that is
required by this Article to appoint an auditor dispenses with the holding of an
annual general meeting under Article 87(4) any auditor then in office
shall continue to act and be taken to have been re-appointed for each
succeeding financial period until –
(a) the
conclusion of the next annual general meeting; or
(b) the
company in general meeting resolves that the appointment of the auditor be
brought to an end.
(6) If –
(a) a
company that has dispensed with the holding of an annual general meeting
becomes bound to appoint an auditor; and
(b) there
is no auditor in office,
the directors must appoint an auditor to continue to act until the
conclusion of the next annual general meeting.
(7) The directors or the
company in general meeting may fill any casual vacancy in the office of auditor
and fix the auditor’s remuneration.
(8) A company may by
resolution at any time remove an auditor despite anything in any agreement
between it and the auditor.
(9) Nothing in this Article
is to be taken as depriving a person removed under it of compensation or
damages payable to the person in respect of the termination of the
person’s appointment as auditor.
(10) A company that fails to
comply with paragraph (1) and each officer of the company in default is
guilty of an offence.
113A Auditor’s report[307]
(1) The auditor of a
company that is required to appoint an auditor under Article 113 must make
a report to the company’s members on the accounts of the company examined
by the auditor.
(2) The report must state
whether, in the opinion of the auditor, the accounts –
(a) have
been properly prepared in accordance with this Law; and
(b) give
a true and fair view or, alternatively, are presented fairly in all material
respects.
(3) The report
must –
(a) state
the name of the auditor; and
(b) be
signed and dated.
(4) If –
(a) the
auditor is an individual, the report must be signed by the auditor; or
(b) the
auditor is a firm, the report must be signed in his or her name by the
individual in the firm who is responsible to it for examining and reporting on
the accounts, for and on behalf of the auditor.
(5) The fact that an
individual signs an audit report does not make the individual liable to any
civil liability to which the individual would not otherwise be liable.
113B Auditor’s duties and
powers[308]
(1) This Article applies to
companies that are required to appoint an auditor under Article 113.
(2) The auditor of a
company must, in preparing an audit report, carry out such investigations as
will enable the auditor to form an opinion as to –
(a) whether
proper accounting records have been kept by the company;
(b) whether
proper returns adequate for the audit have been received from branches not
visited by the auditor; and
(c) whether
the company’s accounts are in agreement with its accounting records and returns.
(3) If the auditor is of
the opinion –
(a) that
proper accounting records have not been kept by the company;
(b) that
proper returns adequate for the audit have not been received from branches not
visited by the auditor; or
(c) that
the company’s accounts are not in agreement with its accounting records
and returns,
the auditor must, in each such case, state that fact in the report
produced by the auditor.
(4) The auditor of the
company –
(a) has a
right of access to the company’s records at all times; and
(b) is
entitled to require any relevant person such information and explanations as
the auditor thinks necessary for the performance of the auditor’s duties.[309]
(4A) Each of the following is a “relevant
person” for the purposes of this Article and Article 113C –
(a) any
person who is, or at any relevant time was, an officer or the secretary of the
company;
(b) any
person who is, or at any relevant time was, an employee of the company and who
appears to possess information which the auditor thinks necessary for the
performance of the auditor’s duties; and
(c) any
person who holds or is accountable for, or who at any relevant time held or was
accountable for, any of the company’s records and who appears to possess
such information.[310]
(4B) Any information or explanation
provided by a person in response to a requirement under paragraph (4)(b)
may not be used in evidence against the person in criminal proceedings except
proceedings for an offence under Article 113C(2).[311]
(4C) Nothing in paragraph (4)(b)
compels a person to provide any information or explanation which the person
would be entitled to refuse to provide in proceedings in court on the ground of
legal professional privilege.[312]
(5) The auditor of a
company is entitled –
(a) to
receive notice of, and to attend, any meeting of members of the company; and
(b) at
any such meeting, to be heard on any part of the business of the meeting that
concerns the auditor.
(6) The auditor of a
company must mention in an audit report any failure to obtain from the company
any information or explanation that, to the best of the auditor’s
knowledge and belief, was necessary for the audit.
(7) An auditor of a company
may resign from office by depositing at the company’s registered
office –
(a) a
written notice of resignation; and
(b) a
statement under paragraph (9).
(8) The notice operates to
bring the auditor’s term of office to an end –
(a) on
the date on which the notice is deposited; but
(b) if a
later date is specified in the notice, on that later date.
(9) When, for any reason,
an auditor of a company ceases to hold office the auditor must deposit at the
company’s registered office –
(a) a
statement to the effect that there are no circumstances connected with the
auditor’s ceasing to hold office that the auditor considers should be
brought to the notice of the members or creditors of the company; or
(b) if
there are such circumstances, a statement setting out those circumstances.
(10) A company that receives a
statement mentioned in paragraph (9)(b) must, within 14 days of
receiving the statement, send a copy of it –
(a) to
each member of the company; and
(b) to
each person entitled to receive notice of a general meeting of the company.
(11) A recognized auditor of a
market traded company must –
(a) maintain
the working papers relating to the audit of the company in English; and
(b) make
those working papers available to the Commission, to a recognized professional
body or to a professional oversight body, upon demand.
(12) An auditor who fails to
comply with paragraph (9) and each officer of the auditor in default is
guilty of an offence.
(13) A company that fails to
comply with paragraph (10) and each officer of the company in default is
guilty of an offence.
(14) A recognized auditor who
fails to comply with paragraph (11) and each officer of the auditor in
default is guilty of an offence.
113C False statements to
auditors[313]
(1) This Article applies to
companies that are required to appoint an auditor under Article 113.
(2) A relevant person is
guilty of an offence if –
(a) knowingly
or recklessly, the relevant person makes to the auditor of the company, either
in writing or orally, a statement that conveys or purports to convey any
information or explanation that the auditor requires, or is entitled to
require, as auditor of the company; and
(b) the
statement is false or misleading in a material particular.[314]
113D Ineligibility to act as
auditor[315]
(1) A person who is not a
recognized auditor must not –
(a) accept
an appointment to be, or act as, the auditor of a market traded company for the
purpose of this Part; or
(b) attempt
to persuade others that the person is a recognized auditor.
(2) A person who is not an
auditor must not –
(a) accept
an appointment to be or act as the auditor of any other company for the purposes
of this Part; or
(b) attempt
to persuade others that the person is an auditor.
(3) If, during the term of
office of the auditor of a company, the auditor becomes ineligible for
appointment as the auditor of the company, the auditor must immediately –
(a) resign
from office; and
(b) in
accordance with Article 113B(7), (8)(a) and (9), give written notice to
the company that the auditor has resigned by reason of becoming ineligible for
appointment.
(4) A person is guilty of
an offence if the person –
(a) accepts
an appointment to be, or acts as, the auditor of a company in contravention of
paragraph (1)(a) or paragraph (2)(a);
(b) attempts
to persuade others that the person is a recognized auditor or an auditor in
contravention of paragraph (1)(b) or paragraph (2)(b); or
(c) fails
to give notice mentioned in paragraph (3)(b).
(5) In proceedings against
a person for an offence under paragraph (4) it is a defence for the person
to show that the person did not know and had no reason to believe that the person
was, or had become, ineligible for appointment as the auditor of the company.
(6) The Commission may, in
respect of a company that is not a market traded company, on the application of
an individual or a firm that is not an auditor, authorize the individual or
firm to carry out an audit of the company for the purposes of this Part.
(7) An individual or a firm
that knowingly or recklessly provides information in respect of an application
under paragraph (6) that is false or misleading in a material particular
is guilty of an offence.
(8) The Commission may,
when authorizing an individual or a firm under paragraph (6) or at any
subsequent time, make the authorization subject to the individual or firm
complying with such conditions and limitations as the Commission considers
appropriate, including, in particular, in the case of a firm, a condition or
limitation that would set out who, in the firm, may be responsible to the firm
for examining and reporting on the accounts of a company pursuant to Article 113.
(9) The Commission may
amend the conditions and limitations –
(a) at
any time on its own volition; or
(b) on
the application of the individual or firm authorized by the Commission.
(10) The Commission may suspend or
revoke the authorization of an individual or a firm under paragraph (6)
if –
(a) in
the opinion of the Commission, the individual or firm is not competent or is
not a fit and proper individual or firm to carry out an audit of the company
for the purposes of this Part; or
(b) the
individual or firm has breached any condition or limitation imposed under
paragraph (8).
(11) The Commission may, under
paragraph (10), suspend the authorization of an individual or a
firm –
(a) for a
specified period; or
(b) until,
on the application of the individual or firm, the individual or firm satisfies
the Commission that the suspension may be revoked.
(12) If an individual or a firm
who is authorized under paragraph (6) requests the Commission to suspend
or revoke the authorization of the individual or firm, the Commission must
comply with the request and may publish –
(a) the
name of the individual or firm;
(b) details
of the action it took in respect of the individual or firm; and
(c) the
reason why it took that action.
(13) The suspension of the
authorization of an individual or a firm under paragraph (12) shall
be –
(a) for a
specified period; or
(b) if no
period is specified, until the individual or firm applies to the Commission for
the authorization to be restored.
(14) If the
Commission –
(a) refuses
to authorize an individual or a firm under paragraph (6);
(b) makes
the authorization of an individual or a firm subject to conditions and
limitations under paragraph (8);
(c) amends
conditions and limitations of the authorization of an individual or a firm under
paragraph (9)(a);
(d) refuses
to amend any condition or limitation of the authorization of an individual or a
firm on an application made under paragraph (9)(b);
(e) suspends
or revokes the authorization of an individual or a firm under Article (10); or
(f) refuses
to revoke the suspension of the authorization of an individual or a firm on an
application under paragraph (11)(b),
the Commission must, within 7 days of doing so, serve a notice
on the individual or firm.
(15) The notice must –
(a) specify
the action taken by the Commission;
(b) set
out the reasons why the Commission took the action; and
(c) advise
the individual or firm of the right the individual or firm has, under paragraph (16),
to appeal to the court against the action taken by the Commission.
(16) Where the Commission has
served a notice on an individual or a firm under paragraph (15) –
(a) the
individual or firm upon whom the notice was served may, within 28 days of
the service of the notice or within such longer period as the court may
approve, appeal to the court against the action taken by the Commission, as
specified in the notice, on the ground that it was unreasonable for the
Commission to take the action in all the circumstances of the case; but
(b) unless
the court orders otherwise, if the individual or firm does appeal, the action
taken by the Commission and specified in the notice is not stayed and shall
continue to have effect.
(17) The court may, on an appeal
under paragraph (16), make such order as it considers appropriate.
(18) Paragraph (19) applies
if the Commission –
(a) makes
the authorization of an individual or a firm subject to conditions and
limitations under paragraph (8);
(b) amends
conditions and limitations of the authorization of an individual or a firm
under paragraph (9); or
(c) suspends
or revokes the authorization of an individual or a firm under paragraph (10),
and the period for making an appeal under paragraph (16) has
expired and no appeal was made or, if made, was unsuccessful or withdrawn.
(19) The Commission may
publish –
(a) the
name of the individual or firm;
(b) details
of the action it took in respect of the individual or firm; and
(c) the
reason why it took that action.
113E Independence requirement[316]
(1) The Minister may, by
Order, prescribe circumstances where an auditor must not act as the auditor of
a company for the purposes of this Part.
(2) The prescribed
circumstances must relate to an actual or possible lack of independence on the
part of the auditor.
113F Effect of lack of independence[317]
(1) If, during an
auditor’s term of office as auditor of a company, the auditor becomes
prohibited from acting by virtue of an Order made under Article 113E(1),
the auditor must immediately –
(a) resign
from office; and
(b) in
accordance with Article 113B(7), (8)(a) and (9), give written notice to
the company that the auditor has resigned by reason of lack of independence.
(2) If
an auditor –
(a) fails
to resign from office when required to do so under paragraph(1)(a); or
(b) fails
to give the notice required to be given under paragraph (1)(b),
the auditor and each officer of the auditor in default is guilty of
an offence.
(3) In proceedings against
an auditor or an officer for an offence mentioned in paragraph (2) it is a
defence for the auditor or officer to show that the auditor or officer did not
know and had no reason to believe that the auditor was or had become,
prohibited from acting as an auditor of the company by virtue of an Order made
under Article 113E(1).
113G Effect of appointment of a
partnership[318]
(1) This Article applies
where a partnership constituted under the law of Jersey or of a jurisdiction in
which a partnership is not a legal person, is by virtue of this Part appointed
as the auditor of a company.
(2) Unless a contrary intention
appears, the appointment is an appointment of the partnership as such and not
of the partners.
(3) If the partnership
ceases, the appointment is to be treated as extending to –
(a) any
appropriate partnership that succeeds to the practice of the partnership; or
(b) any
other appropriate person who succeeds to the practice having previously carried
it on in partnership.
(4) For the purposes of
paragraph (3) –
(a) a
partnership is to be regarded as succeeding to the practice of another
partnership only if the members of the successor partnership are substantially
the same as those of the former partnership; and
(b) a
partnership or other person is to be regarded as succeeding to the practice of
a partnership only if the partnership or person succeeds to the whole or
substantially the whole of the business of the former partnership.
(5) If the partnership
ceases and the appointment is not treated under paragraph (3) as extending
to any partnership or other person, the appointment may, with the consent of
the company in respect of which the partnership is auditor, given at a general
meeting of the company, be treated as extending to an appropriate partnership,
or other appropriate person, who succeeds to –
(a) the
business of the former partnership; or
(b) such
part of that business as is agreed by the company in general meeting is to be
treated as comprising the appointment.
(6) For the purposes of
this Article, a partnership or other person is “appropriate” if the
partnership or person –
(a) is an
auditor or, as the case may require, a recognized auditor; and
(b) is
not prohibited by virtue of an Order made under Article 113E(1) from
acting as auditor of the company.
Regulations and exemptions
113H Power to amend Part 16[319]
The States may amend this Part by Regulations.
113I Power to make
Regulations in respect of recognized auditors[320]
(1) The States may by
Regulations require a recognized auditor to keep and make available to the
public specified information, including information regarding –
(a) the
auditor’s ownership and governance;
(b) the
auditor’s internal controls with respect to the quality and independence
of the auditor’s audit work;
(c) the
auditor’s turnover; and
(d) the
companies for whom the auditor has acted as a recognized auditor.
(2) Regulations under this
Article may –
(a) impose
such obligations as the States thinks fit on recognized auditors;
(b) require
the information to be made available to the public in a specified manner.
(3) Such Regulations may
further provide for the imposition of fines in respect of offences under the
Regulations.
(4) In this Article
“specified” means specified by Regulations under this Article.
113J Exemption from liability
for damages[321]
(1) A person within
paragraph (2) is not liable in damages for anything done or omitted in the
discharge or purported discharge of functions to which this paragraph applies.
(2) The persons within this
paragraph are –
(a) a
recognized professional body;
(b) an
officer or employee of a recognized professional body;
(c) a
member of the governing body or a member of a committee of a recognized
professional body;
(d) a
professional oversight body;
(e) an
officer or employee of a professional oversight body; and
(f) a
member of the governing body or a member of a committee of a professional
oversight body.
(3) Paragraph (1)
applies to the functions of a recognized professional body so far as relating
to, or to matters arising out of, any of the following –
(a) the
rules, practices, powers and arrangements of the body;
(b) the
obligations to promote and maintain high standards of integrity in the conduct
of audit work;
(c) the
obligations imposed on the body by or by virtue of this Part.
(4) Paragraph (1) does
not apply –
(a) if
the act or omission is shown to have been in bad faith; or
(b) so as
to prevent an award of damages in respect of the act or omission on the ground
that it was unlawful as a result of Article 7(1) of the Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000 (acts of public
authorities incompatible with Convention rights).
Information
113K Matters to be notified to the
Commission[322]
(1) The Commission may
require a recognized professional body –
(a) to
notify the Commission immediately of the occurrence of such events as the
Commission may specify in writing and to give it such information in respect of
those events as is so specified;
(b) to
give the Commission, at such times or in respect of such periods as the
Commission may specify in writing, such information as is so specified.
(2) The notices and
information required to be given must be such as the Commission may reasonably
require for the exercise of the Commission’s functions under this Part.
(3) The Commission may
require information given under this Article to be given in a specified form or
verified in a specified manner.
(4) Any notice or
information required to be given under this Article must be given in writing
unless the Commission specifies or approves some other manner.
113L The Commission may require
recognized auditors to give information[323]
(1) The Commission may, by
written notice, require a recognized auditor to give the Commission such
information as it may reasonably require for the exercise of its functions
under this Part.
(2) The Commission may
require information given under this Article to be given in a specified form or
verified in a specified manner.
(3) Any information
required to be given under this Article must be given in writing unless the
Commission specifies or approves some other manner.
(4) A recognized auditor
who –
(a) fails,
within a reasonable time, to comply with a requirement made by the Commission
under this Article; or
(b) in
purported compliance with such a requirement, knowingly or recklessly provides
information that is false or misleading in a material particular,
and each officer of the auditor in default is guilty of an offence.
Enforcement
113M Commission to
ensure compliance[324]
(1) The Commission must
ensure that an audit of a market traded company carried out under this Part by
an auditor who is a recognized auditor is carried out in accordance with the
rules mentioned in Article 112(1) that are applicable to the auditor when
auditing a market traded company under this Part.
(2) Accordingly –
(a) where
the rules mentioned in paragraph (1) are the rules of a recognized
professional body, the Commission or an agent of the Commission must ensure
that the recognized professional body or a delegate thereof approved by the
Commission monitors and enforces compliance with those rules and otherwise
carries out its obligations under this Part; and
(b) where
the rules mentioned in paragraph (1) are rules published under Article 112(1)(b)
by the Commission, the Commission must monitor and enforce compliance with
those rules.
(3) The Commission or an
agent of the Commission may, for the purposes of this Article, in the case of
any audit of a market traded company, check directly that the audit has been
carried out in accordance with the rules mentioned in Article 112(1).
(4) The Commission may
publish fees that it may charge recognized auditors –
(a) for
exercising the powers and carrying out the Commission’s duties under Articles 113K
and 113L and this Article; or
(b) where
any of the Commission’s powers or duties under Articles 113K and
113L and this Article are exercised or carried out by an agent of the
Commission, to reimburse the Commission for any costs incurred by it by virtue
of that arrangement.
113N Delegation of the
Commission’s powers and duties[325]
(1) The Minister may, on
the recommendation of the Commission, make an Order under this Article that
enables the powers and duties of the Commission under Articles 113K, 113L
and 113M, to the extent specified in the Order, to be exercised or carried out
by a body designated by the Order.
(2) That body may be
either –
(a) a
body corporate established by the Order; or
(b) a
body (whether a body corporate or an unincorporated association) that is
already in existence either in Jersey or elsewhere.
(3) The Order has the
effect of transferring to the body designated by it all the powers and duties
of the Commission under Articles 113K, 113L and 113M subject to such
exceptions and reservations as may be specified in the Order.
(4) The Order may confer on
the body designated by it such other powers and duties supplementary or
incidental to those transferred as appear to the Minister to be appropriate.
(5) During the time the
powers and duties of the Commission are transferred by an Order made under this
Article to a body designated in the Order –
(a) in
the case of any transferred powers of the Commission, the Commission cannot
exercise them concurrently with the body; and
(b) in
the case of any transferred duties of the Commission, the obligation to carry
them out rests with the body and not with the Commission.
(6) The Minister must not
make an Order under this Article transferring powers or duties of the
Commission to an existing body unless it appears to the Minister
that –
(a) the
body is able and willing to exercise the powers or to carry out the duties that
would be transferred by the Order; and
(b) the
body has arrangements in place relating to the exercise of the powers or to the
carrying out of the duties that are such as to be likely to ensure that the
conditions in paragraph (7) are met.
(7) The conditions
are –
(a) that
the powers and duties in question will be exercised or carried out effectively;
and
(b) where
the Order is to contain any requirements or other provisions specified under
paragraph (8), that those powers and duties will be exercised or carried
out in accordance with any such requirements or provisions.
(8) The Order may contain
such requirements or other provisions relating to the exercise of the powers or
the carrying out of the duties by the designated body as appear to the Minister
to be appropriate.
(9) Those provisions may
include provisions providing for the designated body to publish and charge fees
for exercising the powers or carrying out the duties delegated to it under the
Order.
113O Enforcement of rules[326]
(1) A recognized
professional body may, to secure the enforcement of its rules mentioned in
Article 112(1), apply to the court –
(a) for
an order enabling the body to enforce disciplinary action it has decided to
take against a person who is or was a recognized auditor bound by the rules; or
(b) for
an order making a recognized auditor who is bound by the rules subject to such
supervision, restraint or conditions when carrying out an audit of a market
traded company under this Part as may be specified in the order.
(2) The court may make the
order applied for and any ancillary order that it considers necessary,
appropriate or desirable.
(3) Where it appears to the
Commission or a professional oversight body, that a recognized professional
body –
(a) has failed to secure the enforcement of its rules mentioned in Article 112(1); or
(b) has otherwise failed to
comply with any of its obligations under this Part,
the Commission or the professional oversight body may apply to the
court to secure the enforcement of the rules or compliance with any of its
obligations.
(4) On such an application,
the court may order the recognized professional body to take such steps as the
court directs to secure –
(a) the
enforcement of the body’s rules; or
(b) compliance
with any of its obligations under this Part.
(5) The Commission may, to
secure the enforcement of rules published by it under Article 112(1)(b),
apply to the court –
(a) for
an order enabling the Commission to enforce disciplinary action it has decided
to take against a person who is or was a recognized auditor bound by the rules;
or
(b) for
an order making a recognized auditor who is bound by the rules subject to such
supervision, restraint or conditions when carrying out an audit of a market
traded company under this Part as may be specified in the order.
(6) The court may make the
order applied for and any ancillary order that it considers necessary,
appropriate or desirable.
113P Confidentiality[327]
(1) This Article applies to
information (in whatever form) that relates to –
(a) the
private affairs of an individual; or
(b) any
particular business,
and that is provided to a body or person to which this Article
applies in connection with the exercise of its functions under this Part.
(2) This Article applies to –
(a) a
recognized professional body;
(b) the
Commission;
(c) a
professional oversight body; and
(d) the
registrar.
(3) Except as provided by
paragraphs (4), (6) and (7), the information must not be
disclosed –
(a) during
the lifetime of the individual; or
(b) so
long as the business continues to be carried on,
without the consent of the individual or the person for the time
being carrying on the business.
(4) The information may be
disclosed to a person or body mentioned in paragraph (5) to enable the person
or body to carry out the functions of the person or body.
(5) The persons and bodies
are –
(a) a
recognized professional body;
(b) the
Commission;
(c) a
professional oversight body;
(d) the
registrar;
(e) any
other authority, body or person having responsibility for the qualification,
supervision or regulation of auditors, whether situated in Jersey or elsewhere;
(f) an
organization that, in a jurisdiction outside Jersey, carries out in that
jurisdiction any function that is the same as, or similar to, a function that
is carried out in Jersey by the Commission,
and includes, in each case, an officer or agent of the person or
body.
(6) This Article does not
prohibit the disclosure of information –
(a) when
it is to assist a recognized professional body, the Commission or a
professional oversight body to carry out its duties under this Part;
(b) that
is to be used to assist an inspector appointed under Part 19;
(c) to a
company, that relates to an audit of the company’s accounts;
(d) to
the public, that relates to the powers and duties of the Commission or a
professional oversight body pursuant to Article 113M and that does not
enable an audited company or an auditor to be identified;
(e) that
may or is to be used for the purposes of criminal proceedings;
(f) that
is a summary or collection of information that does not enable any person to
whom the information relates to be identified;
(g) that
may be published under Article 111(7), 111(15), 113D(12) or 113D(19).
(7) This Article does not
prohibit the disclosure of information that is or has been available to the
public from any other source.
(8) Nothing in this Article
authorizes the making of a disclosure in contravention of the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.[328]
(9) A person who discloses
information in contravention of this Article is guilty of an offence, unless
the person –
(a) did
not know, and had no reason to suspect, that the information had been provided
as mentioned in paragraph (1); or
(b) took
all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of
the offence.
113Q Application of Part 19 to
market traded companies[329]
(1) In Part 19,
references to the affairs of a company shall be taken, where the company is a market
traded company, to include reference to –
(a) the
company’s compliance with the accounting principles applicable to the
company under this Part; and
(b) any
aspect of its accounts or their auditing that raises or appears to raise
important issues affecting the public interest.
(2) If a report mentioned
in Article 135(1) is in respect of any aspect of the affairs of a market
traded company mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) or (b), the Minister or
Commission may, in addition to the persons mentioned in Article 135(2),
forward a copy of the report to any of the following –
(a) any
relevant recognized professional body;
(b) a
professional oversight body;
(c) the
registrar.
(3) For the purposes of, or
as a consequence of, an investigation of a market traded company being carried
out or that has been carried out under Part 19, the Commission or the
Minister may direct a company –
(a) to
have its accounts re-audited; or
(b) to
restate its accounts in respect of a specified period by a specified date and,
if further directed to do so, to have them audited.
(4) If a company fails to
comply with a direction given under paragraph (3) the company and each
officer of the company in default is guilty of an offence.
(5) Where this Article
applies –
(a) Article 128(2)
shall be taken to include the Minister and the Commission; but
(b) Article 128(3)
shall not apply to an application made by the Minister or by the Commission.
PART 17[330]
DISTRIBUTIONS
114 Meaning of
“distribution” in this Part[331]
(1) In this Part,
“distribution”, in respect of a company, means every description of
distribution of the company’s assets to its members as members, whether
in cash or otherwise.
(2) However,
“distribution” does not include a distribution by way
of –
(a) an
issue of shares as fully or partly paid bonus shares;
(b) the
redemption or purchase of any of the company’s shares;
(c) any
reduction of capital made in accordance with Part 12; or
(d) a
distribution of assets to members of the company on its winding up.[332]
115 Restrictions
on distributions[333]
(1) A company may make a
distribution at any time.
(2) A company shall not
make a distribution except in accordance with this Article if the
distribution –
(a) reduces
the net assets of the company; or
(b) is in
respect of shares which (in accordance with the generally accepted accounting
principles adopted in the preparation of the most recent accounts of the
company prepared under Article 105 or, if none have been, proposed to be
adopted in the preparation of the first accounts of the company so prepared)
are required to be recognized as a liability in the accounts of the company.[334]
(2A) In paragraph (2) “the
net assets of the company” means the aggregate of the company’s
assets less the aggregate of its liabilities; and any question as to whether a
distribution reduces the amount of the net assets of the company for the
purposes of that paragraph is to be determined in accordance with the generally
accepted accounting principles adopted in the preparation of the most recent
accounts of the company prepared under Article 105 or, if none have been,
proposed to be adopted in the preparation of the first accounts of the company
so prepared.[335]
(3) A company (other than
an open-ended investment company) may make a distribution only if the directors
who are to authorize the distribution make a statement in accordance with
paragraph (4).
(4) The statement shall
state that the directors of the company who are to authorize the distribution
have formed the opinion –
(a) that,
immediately following the date on which the distribution is proposed to be
made, the company will be able to discharge its liabilities as they fall due;
and
(b) that,
having regard to –
(i) the prospects of
the company and to the intentions of the directors with respect to the
management of the company’s business, and
(ii) the
amount and character of the financial resources that will in their view be
available to the company,
the company will be able to –
(A) continue to carry on
business, and
(B) discharge its
liabilities as they fall due,
until the expiry of the period of 12 months immediately
following the date on which the distribution is proposed to be made or until
the company is dissolved under Article 150, whichever first occurs.
(5) A director who makes a
statement under paragraph (4) without having reasonable grounds for the
opinion expressed in the statement is guilty of an offence.
(6) Despite any other
provision of this Law, an open-ended investment company may make a distribution
only if the directors who are to authorize the distribution reasonably believe
that immediately after the distribution has been made the company will be able
to discharge its liabilities as they fall due.
(7) A distribution made in
accordance with this Article shall be debited by the company to –
(a) a share
premium account, or a stated capital account, of the company; or
(b) any
other account of the company, other than the capital redemption reserve or the
nominal capital account.[336]
(8) [337]
(9) A distribution made in
accordance with this Article is not for the purposes of Part 12 a
reduction of capital.[338]
115ZA Order treating
distribution as made in accordance with Article 115[339]
(1) Where a distribution
has been made by a company in contravention of Article 115 and the company
makes an application to the court, the court shall make an order that the
distribution is to be treated for all purposes as if it had been made in
accordance with that Article if the court –
(a) considers
that all of the conditions specified in paragraph (2) are met; and
(b) does
not consider that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.
(2) The conditions referred
to in paragraph (1)(a) are that –
(a) immediately
after the distribution was made the company was able to discharge its
liabilities as they fell due;
(b) at the
time when the application is determined by the court the company is able to
discharge its liabilities as they fall due; and
(c) where
the distribution was made less than 12 months before the date on which
application is determined, the company will be able to carry on business, and
discharge its liabilities as they fall due, until the end of the period of
12 months beginning with the date on which the distribution was made.
(3) No notice of an
application under paragraph (1) need be given to any creditor of the
company, or any other person, unless the court otherwise directs.
115A Consequences of unlawful
distribution
If a distribution or part of
a distribution made by a company to one of its members is made in contravention
of Article 115 (and is not treated as if it had been made in accordance
with that Article by virtue of an order under Article 115ZA) and at the
time of the distribution the member knows or has reasonable grounds for
believing that it is so made, the member is liable –
(a) to
repay it or the part of it to the company; or
(b) if
a distribution was made otherwise than in cash, to pay to the company a sum
equal to the value of the distribution or the part of it at that time.[340]
115B Power of States to amend Part 17[341]
The States may amend this
Part by Regulations.
PART 18
TAKEOVERS[342]
116 Takeover offers
(1) In this Part, “a
takeover offer” means an offer to acquire all the shares, or all the
shares of any class or classes, in a company (other than shares which at the
date of the offer are already held by the offeror), being an offer on terms
which are the same in relation to all the shares to which the offer relates or,
where those shares include shares of different classes, in relation to all the
shares of each class.
(2) In paragraph (1)
“shares” means shares (other than relevant treasury shares) that
have been allotted on the date of the offer.[343]
(2A) A takeover offer may include among
the shares to which it relates –
(a) all
or any shares that are allotted after the date of the offer but before a
specified date;
(b) all
or any relevant treasury shares that cease to be held as treasury shares before
a specified date; and
(c) all
or any other relevant treasury shares.[344]
(2B) In
this Article –
“relevant treasury shares” means shares which –
(a) are
held by the company as treasury shares on the date of the offer; or
(b) become
shares held by the company as treasury shares after that date but before a
specified date;
“specified date” means a date specified in or determined
in accordance with the terms of the offer.[345]
(2C) An offer is not prevented from
being a takeover offer by reason of not being made to shareholders whose
registered address is not in Jersey if –
(a) the
offer was not made to those shareholders in order not to contravene the law of
a country or territory outside Jersey; and
(b) either –
(i) the offer is
published in the Jersey Gazette, or
(ii) a
document containing the terms of the offer can be inspected, or a copy of it
obtained, at a place in Jersey or on a website, and a notice is published in
the Jersey Gazette specifying the address of that place or website.[346]
(2D) Where an offer is made to acquire
shares in a company and there are persons for whom, by reason of the law of a
country or territory outside Jersey, it is impossible to accept the offer, or
more difficult to do so, that does not prevent the offer from being a takeover
offer.[347]
(2E) It is not to be
inferred –
(a) that
an offer which is not made to every holder of shares, or every holder of shares
of any class or classes, in the company cannot be a takeover offer unless the
requirements of paragraph (2C) are met; or
(b) that
an offer which is impossible, or more difficult, for certain persons to accept
cannot be a takeover offer unless the reason for the impossibility or
difficulty is the one mentioned in paragraph (2D).[348]
(3) The terms offered in
relation to any shares shall for the purposes of this Article be treated as
being the same in relation to all the shares or, as the case may be, all the
shares of a class to which the offer relates notwithstanding any variation
permitted by paragraph (4).
(4) A variation is
permitted by this paragraph where –
(a) the
law of a country or territory outside Jersey precludes the acceptance of an
offer in the form or any of the forms specified or precludes it except after
compliance by the offeror with conditions with which the offeror is unable to
comply or which the offeror regards as unduly onerous; and
(b) the
variation is such that the persons by whom the acceptance of an offer in that
form is precluded are able to accept an offer otherwise than in that form but
of substantially equivalent value.
(5) The reference in
paragraph (1) to shares already held by the offeror includes a reference
to shares which the offeror has contracted to acquire but that shall not be
construed as including shares which are the subject of a contract binding the
holder to accept the offer when it is made, being a contract entered into by
the holder for nothing other than a promise by the offeror to make the offer.[349]
(6) Where the terms of an
offer make provision for their revision and for acceptances on the previous
terms to be treated as acceptances on the revised terms, the revision shall not
be regarded for the purposes of this Part as the making of a fresh offer and
references in this Part to the date of the offer shall accordingly be construed
as references to the date on which the original offer was made.
(7) In this Part the
“offeror” means, subject to Article 122, the person making a
takeover offer and the “company” means the company whose shares are
the subject of the offer.
117 Right of offeror to buy out minority shareholders
(1) If, in a case in which
a takeover offer does not relate to shares of different classes, the offeror
has by virtue of acceptances of the offer acquired or contracted to
acquire –
(a) in
the case of a par value company, not less than 9/10ths in nominal value of the
shares to which the offer relates; or
(b) in
the case of a no par value company, not less than 9/10ths in number of the
shares to which the offer relates,
the offeror may give notice, to the holder of any shares to which
the offer relates which the offeror has not acquired or contracted to acquire,
that he or she desires to acquire those shares.[350]
(2) If, in a case in which
a takeover offer relates to shares of different classes, the offeror has by
virtue of acceptances of the offer acquired or contracted to
acquire –
(a) in
the case of a par value company, not less than 9/10ths in nominal value of the
shares of any class to which the offer relates; or
(b) in
the case of a no par value company, not less than 9/10ths in number of the
shares of any class to which the offer relates,
the offeror may give notice, to the holder of any shares of that
class which the offeror has not acquired or contracted to acquire, that he or
she desires to acquire those shares.[351]
(3) No notice shall be
given under paragraph (1) or (2) unless the offeror has acquired or contracted
to acquire the shares necessary to satisfy the minimum specified in that
paragraph before the end of the period of 4 months beginning with the date of
the offer; and no such notice shall be given after the end of the period of 2
months beginning with the date on which the offeror has acquired or contracted
to acquire shares which satisfy that minimum.
(4) When the offeror gives
the first notice in relation to an offer he or she shall send a copy of it to
the company together with a declaration by the offeror that the conditions for
the giving of the notice are satisfied.
(5) Where the offeror is a
body corporate (whether or not a company within the meaning of this Law) the
declaration shall be signed by a director.
(6) Any person who fails to
send a copy of a notice or a declaration as required by paragraph (4) or
makes such a declaration for the purposes of that paragraph knowing it to be
false or without having reasonable grounds for believing it to be true is
guilty of an offence.
(7) If a person is charged
with any offence for failing to send a copy of a notice as required by
paragraph (4) it is a defence for the person to prove that the person took
reasonable steps for securing compliance with that paragraph.
(8) Where during the period
within which a takeover offer can be accepted the offeror acquires or contracts
to acquire any of the shares to which the offer relates but otherwise than by
virtue of acceptances of the offer, then if –
(a) the
value of that for which they are acquired or contracted to be acquired (the “acquisition value”) does
not at that time exceed the value of that which is receivable by an acceptor
under the terms of the offer; or
(b) those
terms are subsequently revised so that when the revision is announced the
acquisition value, at the time mentioned in sub-paragraph (a), no longer
exceeds the value of that which is receivable by an acceptor under those terms,
the offeror shall be treated for the purposes of this Article as
having acquired or contracted to acquire those shares by virtue of acceptances
of the offer; but in any other case those shares shall be treated as excluded
from those to which the offer relates.
118 Effect of notice under Article 117
(1) The following
provisions shall, subject to Article 121, have effect where a notice is
given in respect of any shares under Article 117.
(2) The offeror shall be
entitled and bound to acquire those shares on the terms of the offer.
(3) Where the terms of an
offer are such as to give the holder of any shares a choice of payment for the
holder’s shares the notice shall give particulars of the choice and
state –
(a) that
the holder of the shares may within 6 weeks from the date of the notice
indicate the holder’s choice by a written communication sent to the
offeror at an address specified in the notice; and
(b) which
payment specified in the offer is to be taken as applying in default of the
holder indicating a choice as aforesaid,
and the terms of the offer mentioned in paragraph (2) shall be
determined accordingly.
(4) Paragraph (3)
applies whether or not any time limit or other conditions applicable to the
choice under the terms of the offer can still be complied with; and if the
payment chosen by the holder of the shares –
(a) is
not cash and the offeror is no longer able to make that payment; or
(b) was
to have been made by a third party who is no longer bound or able to make that
payment,
the payment shall be taken to consist of an amount of cash payable
by the offeror which at the date of the notice is equivalent to the chosen
payment.
(5) At the end of 6 weeks
from the date of the notice the offeror shall forthwith–
(a) send
a copy of the notice to the company; and
(b) make
payment to the company for the shares to which the notice relates.
(6) The copy of the notice
sent to the company under paragraph (5)(a) shall be accompanied by an
instrument of transfer executed on behalf of the shareholder by a person
appointed by the offeror; and on receipt of that instrument the company shall
register the offeror as the holder of those shares.
(7) Where the payment
referred to in paragraph (5)(b) is to be made in shares or securities to
be allotted by the offeror the reference in that paragraph to the making of
payment shall be construed as a reference to the allotment of the shares or
securities to the company.
(8) Any sum received by a
company under paragraph (5)(b) and any other payment received under that
paragraph shall be held by the company on trust for the person entitled to the
shares in respect of which the sum or other payment was received.
(9) Any sum received by a
company under paragraph (5)(b) and any dividend or other sum accruing from
any other payment received by a company under that paragraph, shall be paid
into a separate bank account, being an account the balance on which bears
interest at an appropriate rate and can be withdrawn by such notice (if any) as
is appropriate.
(10) Where after reasonable
enquiry made at such intervals as are reasonable the person entitled to any sum
or other payment held on trust by virtue of paragraph (8) cannot be found
and 10 years have elapsed since the sum or other payment was received or the
company is wound up, the sum or other payment (together with any interest,
dividend or other benefit that has accrued from it) shall be paid to the
Viscount.
(11) The expenses of any such
enquiry as is mentioned in paragraph (10) may be defrayed out of the money
or other property held on trust for the person or persons to whom the enquiry
relates.
119 Right of minority shareholder to be bought out by offeror
(1) If a takeover offer
relates to all the shares in a company and at any time before the end of the
period within which the offer can be accepted –
(a) the
offeror has by virtue of acceptances of the offer acquired or contracted to
acquire some (but not all) of the shares to which the offer relates; and
(b) those
shares (with or without any other shares in the company which he or she has
acquired or contracted to acquire) amount, in the case of a par value company,
to not less than 9/10ths in nominal value of all the shares in the company or,
in the case of a no par value company, to not less than 9/10ths in number of
all the shares in the company,
the holder of any shares to which the offer relates who has not
accepted the offer may by a written communication addressed to the offeror
require him or her to acquire those shares.[352]
(2) If a takeover offer
relates to shares of any class or classes and at any time before the end of the
period within which the offer can be accepted –
(a) the
offeror has by virtue of acceptances of the offer acquired or contracted to
acquire some (but not all) of the shares of any class to which the offer
relates; and
(b) those
shares (with or without any other shares in the company which he or she has
acquired or contracted to acquire) amount, in the case of a par value company,
to not less than 9/10ths in nominal value of all the shares of that class in
the company or, in the case of a no par value company, to not less than 9/10ths
in number of all the shares of that class in the company,
the holder of any shares of that class who has not accepted the
offer may by a written communication addressed to the offeror require him or
her to acquire those shares.[353]
(3) Within one month of the
time specified in paragraph (1) or, as the case may be, paragraph (2)
the offeror shall give any shareholder who has not accepted the offer notice of
the rights that are exercisable by the shareholder under that paragraph; and if
the notice is given before the end of the period mentioned in that paragraph it
shall state that the offer is still open for acceptance.
(4) A notice under
paragraph (3) may specify a period for the exercise of the rights,
conferred by this Article and in that event the rights shall not be exercisable
after the end of that period; but no such period shall end less than 3 months
after the end of the period within which the offer can be accepted.
(5) Paragraph (3) does
not apply if the offeror has given the shareholder a notice in respect of the
shares in question under Article 117.
(6) If the offeror fails to
comply with paragraph (3) the offeror and, if the offeror is a company,
every officer of the company who is in default or to whose neglect the failure
is attributable, is guilty of an offence.
(7) If an offeror other
than a company is charged with an offence for failing to comply with paragraph (3)
it is a defence for the offeror to prove that he or she took all reasonable
steps for securing compliance with that paragraph.
120 Effect of requirement under Article 119
(1) The following
provisions shall, subject to Article 121, have effect where a shareholder
exercises the shareholder’s rights in respect of any shares under Article 119.
(2) The offeror shall be
entitled and bound to acquire those shares on the terms of the offer or on such
other terms as may be agreed.
(3) Where the terms of an
offer are such as to give the holder of shares a choice of payment for the
shareholder’s shares, the holder of the shares may indicate the
shareholder’s choice when requiring the offeror to acquire them and the
notice given to the holder under Article 119(3) –
(a) shall
give particulars of the choice and of the rights conferred by this paragraph;
and
(b) may
state which payment specified in the offer is to be taken as applying in
default of the shareholder indicating a choice,
and the terms of the offer mentioned in paragraph (2) shall be
determined accordingly.
(4) Paragraph (3)
applies whether or not any time limit or other conditions applicable to the
choice under the terms of the offer can still be complied with; and if the
payment chosen by the holder of the shares –
(a) is
not cash and the offeror is no longer able to make that payment; or
(b) was
to have been made by a third party who is no longer bound or able to make that payment,
the payment shall be taken to consist of an amount of cash payable
by the offeror which at the date when the holder of the shares requires the
offeror to acquire them is equivalent to the chosen payment.
121 Applications to the court
(1) Where a notice is given
under Article 117 to the holder of any shares the court may, on an
application made by the shareholder within 6 weeks from the date on which the
notice was given –
(a) order
that the offeror shall not be entitled and bound to acquire the shares; or
(b) specify
terms of acquisition different from those of the offer.
(2) If an application to
the court under paragraph (1) is pending at the end of the period
mentioned in Article 118(5) that paragraph shall not have effect until the
application has been disposed of.
(3) Where the holder of any
shares exercises the shareholder’s rights under Article 119 the
court may, on an application made by the shareholder or the offeror, order that
the terms on which the offeror is entitled and bound to acquire the shares
shall be such as the court thinks fit.
(4) No order for costs or
expenses shall be made against a shareholder making an application under
paragraph (1) or (3) unless the court considers –
(a) that
the application was unnecessary, improper or vexatious; or
(b) that
there has been unreasonable delay in making the application or unreasonable
conduct on the shareholder’s part in conducting the proceedings on the
application.
(5) Where a takeover offer
has not been accepted to the extent necessary for entitling the offeror to give
notices under Article 117 (1) or (2) the court may, on the application of
the offeror, make an order authorizing the offeror to give notices under that
Article if satisfied –
(a) that
the offeror has after reasonable enquiry been unable to trace one or more of
the persons holding shares to which the offer relates;
(b) that
the shares which the offeror has acquired or contracted to acquire by virtue of
acceptances of the offer, together with the shares held by the person or persons
mentioned in sub-paragraph (a), amount to not less than the minimum
specified in that Article; and
(c) that
the terms offered are fair and reasonable,
but the court shall not make an order under this paragraph unless it
considers that it is just and equitable to do so having regard, in particular,
to the number of shareholders who have been traced but who have not accepted
the offer.
122 Joint offers
(1) A takeover offer may be
made by 2 or more persons jointly and in that event this Part has effect with
the following modifications.
(2) The conditions for the
exercise of the rights conferred by Articles 117 and 119 shall be
satisfied by the joint offerors acquiring or contracting to acquire the
necessary shares jointly (as respects acquisitions by virtue of acceptances of
the offer) and either jointly or separately (in other cases); and, subject to
the following provisions, the rights and obligations of the offeror under those
Articles and Articles 118 and 120 shall be respectively joint rights and
joint and several obligations of the joint offerors.
(3) It shall be a
sufficient compliance with any provision of those Articles requiring or
authorizing a notice or other document to be given or sent by or to the joint
offerors that it is given or sent by or to any of them; but the declaration
required by Article 117(4) shall be made by all of them and, in the case
of a joint offeror being a company, signed by a director of that company.
(4) In Article 116,
Article 118(7) and Article 123 references to the offeror shall be
construed as references to the joint offerors or any of them.
(5) In Article 118(6)
references to the offeror shall be construed as references to the joint
offerors or such of them as they may determine.
(6) In Article 118(4)(a)
and Article 120(4)(a) references to the offeror being no longer able to
make the relevant payment shall be construed as references to none of the joint
offerors being able to do so.
(7) In Article 121
references to the offeror shall be construed as references to the joint
offerors except that any application under paragraph (3) or (5) may be
made by any of them and the reference in paragraph (5)(a) to the offeror
having been unable to trace one or more of the persons holding shares shall be
construed as a reference to none of the offerors having been able to do so.
123 Associates
(1) The requirement in
Article 116(1) that a takeover offer must extend to all the shares, or all
the shares of any class or classes, in a company shall be regarded as satisfied
notwithstanding that the offer does not extend to shares which associates of
the offeror hold or have contracted to acquire; but, subject to paragraph (2),
shares which any such associate holds or has contracted to acquire, whether at
the time when the offer is made or subsequently, shall be disregarded for the
purposes of any reference in this Part to the shares to which a takeover offer
relates.
(2) Where during the period
within which a takeover offer can be accepted, any associate of the offeror
acquires or contracts to acquire any of the shares to which the offer relates,
then, if the condition specified in Article 117(8)(a) or (b) is satisfied
as respects those shares, they shall be treated for the purpose of that Article
as shares to which the offer relates.
(3) In Article 119(1)(b)
and (2)(b) the reference to shares which the offeror has acquired or contracted
to acquire shall include a reference to shares which any associate of the
offeror has acquired or contracted to acquire.
(4) In this Article,
“associate”, in relation to an offeror, means –
(a) a
nominee of the offeror;
(b) a
holding company, subsidiary or fellow subsidiary of the offeror or a nominee of
such a holding company, subsidiary or fellow subsidiary;
(c) a
body corporate in which the offeror is substantially interested.
(5) For the purposes of
paragraph (4)(b) a company is a fellow subsidiary of another body
corporate if both are subsidiaries of the same body corporate but neither is a
subsidiary of the other.
(6) For the purposes of
paragraph (4)(c) an offeror has a substantial interest in a body corporate
if –
(a) that
body or its directors are accustomed to act in accordance with the
offeror’s directions or instructions; or
(b) the
offeror is entitled to exercise or control the exercise of one-third or more of
the voting power at general meetings of that body.
(7) Where the offeror is an
individual, the offeror’s associates shall also include the spouse or
civil partner and any minor child or step-child of the offeror.[354]
124 Convertible securities
(1) For the purposes of
this Part, securities of a company shall be treated as shares in the company if
they are convertible into or entitle the holder to subscribe for such shares;
and references to the holder of shares or a shareholder shall be construed accordingly.
(2) Paragraph (1)
shall not be construed as requiring any securities to be treated –
(a) as
shares of the same class as those into which they are convertible or for which
the holder is entitled to subscribe; or
(b) as
shares of the same class as other securities by reason only that the shares
into which they are convertible or for which the holder is entitled to
subscribe are of the same class.
124A Power of States to amend Part 18[355]
The States may amend this Part by Regulations.
PART 18A
COMPROMISES AND ARRANGEMENTS[356]
125 Power of company to compromise with creditors and members
(1) Where a compromise or
arrangement is proposed between a company and its creditors, or a class of
them, or between the company and its members, or a class of them, the court may
on the application of the company or a creditor or member of it or, in the case
of a company 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 called in a manner as the court directs.
(2) If a majority in number
representing –
(a) 3/4ths
in value of the creditors or class of creditors; or
(b) 3/4ths
of the voting rights of the members or class of members,
as the case may be, present and voting either in person or by proxy
at the meeting, agree to a compromise or arrangement, the compromise or
arrangement, if sanctioned by the court, is binding on –
(i) all
creditors or the class of creditors; or
(ii) all
the members or class of members,
as the case may be and also on the company or, in the case of a
company in the course of being wound up, on the liquidator and contributories
of the company.[357]
(3) The court’s order
under paragraph (2) has no effect until the relevant Act of the court has
been delivered to the registrar for registration; and the relevant Act of the
court shall be annexed to every copy of the company’s memorandum issued
after the order has been made.
(4) If a company fails to
comply with paragraph (3), it is guilty of an offence.
126 Information as to compromise to be circulated
(1) This Article applies
where a meeting of creditors or a class of creditors, or of members or a class
of members, is called under Article 125.
(2) With the notice calling
the meeting which is given to a creditor or member there shall be included a
statement explaining the effect of the compromise or arrangement and in
particular stating any material interests of the directors of the company
(whether as directors or as members or as creditors of the company or
otherwise) and the effect on those interests of the compromise or arrangement,
in so far as it is different from the effect on the same interests of other
persons.
(3) In every notice calling
the meeting which is given by advertisement there shall be included either a
statement mentioned in paragraph (2) or a notification of the place at
which, and the manner in which, creditors or members entitled to attend the
meeting may obtain copies of the statement.
(4) Where the compromise or
arrangement affects the rights of debenture holders of the company, the
statement shall give the same explanation as respects the trustees of a deed
for securing the issue of the debentures as it is required to give as respects
the company’s directors.
(5) Where a notice given by
advertisement includes a notification that copies of a statement explaining the
effect of the compromise or arrangement proposed can be obtained by creditors
or members entitled to attend the meeting, every such creditor or member shall,
on making application in the manner indicated by the notice, be furnished by
the company free of charge with a copy of the statement.
(6) If a company fails to
comply with a requirement of this Article the company and every officer of it
who is in default is guilty of an offence; and for this purpose a trustee of a
deed for securing the issue of debentures of the company is deemed an officer
of it; but a person is not liable under this paragraph if the person shows that
the default was due to the refusal of another person, being a director or
trustee for debenture holders, to supply the necessary particulars of the
person’s interests.
(7) A director of the
company, and a trustee for its debenture holders, shall give notice to the
company of such matters relating to the person as may be necessary for the
purposes of this Article; and a person who defaults in complying with this
paragraph is guilty of an offence.
127 Provisions for facilitating company reconstruction or amalgamation
(1) This Article applies where
application is made to the court under Article 125 for the sanctioning of
a compromise or arrangement proposed between a company and any persons
mentioned in that Article.
(2) If it is
shown –
(a) that
the compromise or arrangement has been proposed for the purposes of, or in
connection with, a scheme for the reconstruction of a company or companies, or
the amalgamation of 2 or more companies; and
(b) that
under the scheme the whole or part of the undertaking or the property of a
company concerned in the scheme (“a transferor company”) is to be
transferred to another company (“the transferee company”),
the court may, either by the order sanctioning the compromise or
arrangement or by a subsequent order, make provision for all or any of the
following matters –
(i) the
transfer to the transferee company of the whole or part of the undertaking and
of the property or liabilities of a transferor company;
(ii) the
allotting or appropriation by the transferee company of shares, debentures,
policies or other similar interests in that company which under the compromise
or arrangement are to be allotted or appropriated by the company to or for any
person;
(iii) the
continuation by or against the transferee company of legal proceedings pending
by or against a transferor company;
(iv) the
dissolution, without winding up, of a transferor company;
(v) the
provision to be made for persons who, within a time and in a manner which the
court directs, dissent from the compromise or arrangement;
(vi) such
incidental, consequential and supplemental matters as are necessary to secure
that the reconstruction or amalgamation is fully and effectively carried out.
(3) If an order under this
Article provides for the transfer of property or liabilities, then –
(a) that
property is by virtue of the order transferred to, and vests in, the transferee
company; and
(b) those
liabilities are, by virtue of the order, transferred to and become liabilities
of that company,
and property (if the order so directs) vests freed from any
hypothec, security interest or other charge which is by virtue of the
compromise or arrangement to cease to have effect.
(4) Where an order is made
under this Article, every company in relation to which the order is made shall
cause the relevant Act of the court to be delivered to the registrar for
registration within 14 days after the making of the order; and in the event of
failure to comply with this paragraph, the company is guilty of an offence.
(5) In this Article,
“property” includes property, rights and powers of every
description and “liabilities” includes duties.
PART 18B
MERGERS[358]
Chapter 1 – General
127A Interpretation[359]
(1) In this Part, unless
the context otherwise requires –
“merged body” means the body resulting from a merger
under Article 127C (and ‘merged company’ is to be read
accordingly);
“merger agreement” means an agreement under Article 127D;
“merging body” means a body that is seeking to merge
with another body under this Part (and ‘merging company’ is to be
read accordingly);
“new body” means a merged body that is new within the
meaning of Article 127C(2) (and ‘new company’ is to be read
accordingly);
“overseas body” means a body incorporated in a
jurisdiction outside Jersey;
“relevant Jersey company” means a company that is not a
cell company or a cell and does not have unlimited shares or guarantor members;
“survivor body” means a merging body that becomes a
merged body as provided for in Article 127C(1)(a) (and ‘survivor
company’ is to be read accordingly).
(2) Nothing in this Part is
to be read as preventing –
(a) more
than one person from signing the same certificate under this Part; or
(b) more
than one certificate signed under this Part from being included in the same
document,
and references to a certificate are to be construed accordingly.
(3) For the avoidance of
doubt, it is declared that references in this Part to a body as being incorporated
(whether in or outside Jersey) are to be construed without reference to
sub-paragraphs (b) to (d) of Article 1(2).
(4) Nothing in Part 18
or Part 18A is to be construed as preventing the acquisition or takeover
of one merging body by another by way of merger under this Part.
127B Bodies eligible to merge[360]
(1) A relevant Jersey
company may merge, subject to the requirements of this Part, with one or more
bodies falling within any one or more of paragraphs (2) to (4).
(2) A body falls within
this paragraph if it is another relevant Jersey company.
(3) A body falls within
this paragraph if –
(a) it is
not a company; and
(b) it is
incorporated or registered –
(i) in Jersey, and
(ii) under
an enactment under which it is permitted to merge with a company.[361]
(4) A body falls within
this paragraph if it is an overseas body that –
(a) is
not an excluded body under paragraph (5); and
(b) to
the reasonable satisfaction of the Commission, is not prohibited, under the law
of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, from merging with a company.
(5) The Minister may
designate, as classes of excluded bodies for the purpose of paragraph (4),
one or more classes of overseas bodies, not being classes of bodies designated
by the Minister under Regulation 2 of the Foundations (Mergers) (Jersey)
Regulations 2009.
(6) A designation under
paragraph (5) shall be by notice published in a manner that will bring the
notice to the attention of those who, in the opinion of the Minister, are
likely to be affected by it.
127C Bodies eligible to be merged
bodies[362]
(1) The result of a merger
under this Part is that the merging bodies continue as a single merged body,
and that body is either –
(a) one
of the merging bodies; or
(b) a new
body that –
(i) is a relevant
Jersey company,
(ii) is
incorporated in Jersey under the same enactment (other than this Law) as one of
the merging bodies, or
(iii) is an
overseas body that is incorporated under the law of the same jurisdiction as
one of the merging bodies and is not an excluded body under Article 127B(5).
(2) For the purpose of this
Part, a merged body is new if it is created by the merger from which it
results.
Chapter 2 – Members
127D Merger agreement[363]
(1) Each company proposing
to merge shall, in order to do so, enter into an agreement in writing with each
body with which it proposes to merge.
(2) The merger agreement
shall state the terms and means of effecting the merger and, in particular, the
following information –
(a) details
of the proposed merged body, including –
(i) whether it is to
be a survivor body or a new body,
(ii) whether
it is to be a company, an overseas body or some other body, and
(iii) the
names and addresses of the persons who are proposed –
(A) to be its
directors, or
(B) to
manage it, if it is to be a body that does not have directors;
(b) details
of any arrangements necessary to complete the merger and to provide for the
management of the merged body;
(c) details
of any payment, other than of a kind described in paragraph (3), proposed to
be made to a member or director of a merging company or to a person having a
similar relationship to a merging body that is not a company; and
(d) in
relation to any securities of a merging company, the information specified in
paragraph (3).
(3) The information
referred to in paragraph (2)(d) is –
(a) if
the securities are to be converted into securities of the merged body, the
manner in which that conversion is to be done; or
(b) otherwise,
what the holders are to receive instead and the manner in which and the time at
which they are to receive it.
(4) If the merged body is
to be a new company, the merger agreement shall also set out –
(a) the
proposed memorandum and articles of the merged company; and
(b) a
draft of any other document or information that would be required by Part 2
to be delivered to the registrar if the merged company were being incorporated
under this Law otherwise than by merger.
(5) If the merged body is
to be a survivor company, the merger agreement shall also state –
(a) whether
any amendments to the memorandum and articles of the company are proposed to
take effect on the merger, with details of those amendments; and
(b) whether
it is proposed that, on the merger, any person will become, or cease to be a
director of the company, with the name and address of each such person.
(6) If shares of a merging
company are held by or on behalf of another merging company and the merged body
is to be a company –
(a) the
merger agreement shall provide for the cancellation of those shares, without
any repayment of capital, when the merger is completed; and
(b) no
provision may be made in the merger agreement for the conversion of those
shares into securities of the merged company.
(7) A merger agreement may
provide that, at any time before the completion of the merger, the agreement
may be terminated by –
(a) any
one or more of the merging companies, notwithstanding that it has been approved
by the members of all or any of those companies; or
(b) any
of the merging bodies that are not companies.
(8) If an agreement is
terminated under a provision included in it under paragraph (7), nothing
in this Part requires or authorizes any further steps to be taken to complete
the merger.
127E Resolutions and
certificates [364]
(1) Before notice is given
of a meeting of a merging company to approve a merger agreement under Article 127F,
or to approve a merger under Article 127FA, the directors of that company shall
pass a resolution that, in the opinion of the directors voting for the
resolution, the merger is in the best interests of the company.
(2) For the purposes of
this Article a solvency statement is a statement that, having made full inquiry
into the affairs of the company, the person making the statement reasonably
believes that the company is, and will remain until the merger is completed, able
to discharge its liabilities as they fall due.
(3) If the directors voting
for the resolution are satisfied on reasonable grounds that they can properly
make a solvency statement in respect of the company, the resolution shall in
addition state that they are so satisfied.
(4) If paragraph (3)
does not apply –
(a) the
resolution shall instead state that the directors voting for it are satisfied
on reasonable grounds that there is a reasonable prospect of obtaining the
permission of the court under Article 127FD; and
(b) the
company shall, as soon as is practicable after the passing of the resolution,
inform the other merging bodies that paragraph (3) does not apply.
(5) After a resolution is
passed under paragraph (1), but before notice is given as mentioned in that
paragraph, each director who voted in favour of it shall sign a
certificate –
(a) containing –
(i) if paragraph (3)
applies, a solvency statement, or
(ii) if
paragraph (3) does not apply, a statement that the director is satisfied
on reasonable grounds that there is a reasonable prospect of obtaining the
permission of the court under Article 127FD; and
(b) setting
out the grounds for that statement.
(6) Before notice is given
as mentioned in paragraph (1), each person falling within paragraph (7)
shall sign a certificate stating –
(a) that,
in his or her opinion, the merged body will be able to continue to carry on
business and discharge its liabilities as they fall due –
(i) on and
immediately after the completion of the merger, and
(ii) if
later, until 12 months after the signing of the certificate; and
(b) the
grounds for that opinion, having particular regard to –
(i) the prospects of
the merged body,
(ii) the
proposals in the merger agreement with respect to the management of the merged
body’s business, or any proposals in the special resolutions passed under
Article 127FA with respect to that matter, and
(iii) the
amount and character of the financial resources that will, in the view of the
person signing, be available to the merged body.
(7) The persons falling within
this paragraph are –
(a) the
persons proposed in the merger agreement, or in a special resolution passed
under Article 127FA –
(i) to be directors
of the merged body, or
(ii) to
manage the merged body, if it is to be a body that does not have directors; and
(b) if
none of the directors of the merging companies is a person referred to in
sub-paragraph (a), each person who must sign a certificate under paragraph (5).
127F Approval of merger
agreement [365]
(1) The directors of each merging
company shall submit the merger agreement for approval by a special resolution
of that company and, where there is more than one class of members, for
approval by a special resolution of a separate meeting of each class.
(2) Notice of each
meeting –
(a) shall
be accompanied by –
(i) a copy or summary
of the merger agreement,
(ii) copies
of the proposed constitutional documents for the merged body, or a summary of
the principal provisions of those documents,
(iii) if a
summary is supplied under clause (i) or (ii), information as to how a copy
of the document summarized may be inspected by members,
(iv) a
copy of the certificates signed under Article 127E(5) and (6) in respect
of that company, and a copy of any information that may have been provided, by
the date of the notice, to that company by any other merging company under
Article 127E(4)(b),
(v) a statement of the
material interests in the merger of the directors of each merging body, and of
the persons managing any merging body that does not have directors, and
(vi) such
further information as a member would reasonably require to reach an informed
decision on the merger; and
(b) shall
contain sufficient information to alert members to their right to apply to the
court under Article 127FB.
(3) A merger is approved
under this Article when all of the special resolutions referred to in paragraph (1)
have been passed in respect of all of the merging bodies that are companies.
(4) A merger may not be
completed unless it is approved under this Article, or under Article 127FA.
127FA Simplified approval of
mergers involving subsidiaries[366]
(1) A holding company
merger or an inter-subsidiary merger may be approved by a special resolution of
each merging company under this Article, without approval of a merger agreement.
(2) For the purpose of this
Article, a holding company merger is a merger in which –
(a) the
merging bodies are –
(i) a company that is
a holding company, and
(ii) one
or more other companies that are its wholly-owned subsidiaries; and
(b) the merged
body is the holding company, continuing as a survivor company.
(3) For a holding company
merger –
(a) each
special resolution of a merging subsidiary shall provide that its shares are to
be cancelled without any repayment of capital; and
(b) the
special resolution of the holding company shall –
(i) provide that the
capital accounts of each merging subsidiary are to be added to the capital
accounts of the holding company,
(ii) provide
that no securities are to be issued and no assets distributed by it in
connection with the merger (whether before, on or after the merger),
(iii) specify
any changes to its memorandum and articles that are to take effect on the
merger, and
(iv) state
the names and addresses of the persons who are proposed to be the directors after
the merger.
(4) For the purpose of this
Article, an inter-subsidiary merger is a merger in which –
(a) the
merging bodies are all companies that are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the same
holding body (whether that holding body is incorporated in Jersey or elsewhere);
and
(b) the
merged body is one of the merging companies, continuing as a survivor company.
(5) For an inter-subsidiary
merger –
(a) each special
resolution of a merging company, other than the survivor company, shall provide
that –
(i) its shares are to
be cancelled without any repayment of capital, and
(ii) its
capital accounts are to be added to the capital accounts of the survivor
company; and
(b) the
special resolution of the survivor company shall –
(i) provide that the capital
accounts of each other merging company are to be added to the capital accounts of
the survivor company,
(ii) specify
any changes to the memorandum and articles of the survivor company that are to
take effect on the merger, and
(iii) state
the names and addresses of the persons who are proposed to be the directors of
the survivor company after the merger.
(6) A merger is approved
under this Article when all of the merging companies have passed the special
resolutions required by this Article.
(7) In relation to a merger
approved under this Article the provisions of this Part (other than this
Article) apply to the extent that they apply to a merger between companies of
which one is a survivor, but Articles 127B, 127D and 127F do not apply.
(8) In this Article, ‘company’
means any company (whether or not having unlimited shares or guarantor members)
that is not a cell or a cell company.
127FB Objection by member[367]
(1) A member of a merging
company may apply to the court for an order under Article 143 on the
ground that the merger would unfairly prejudice the interests of the member.
(2) An application may not
be made –
(a) more
than 21 days after the merger is approved under Article 127F(3) or
127FA(6), or
(b) by a
member who voted in favour of the merger under either of those Articles.[368]
Chapter 3 – Creditors
127FC Notice to creditors[369]
(1) During the period
beginning with the date on which the first notice is given under Article 127F(1)
in relation to a merger and ending 21 days after the merger is approved
under Article 127F(3), each merging company shall send written notice to
each of its creditors who, after its directors have made reasonable enquiries,
is known to the directors to have a claim against the company exceeding
£5,000.[370]
(1A) No later than 21 days after a
merger is approved under Article 127FA(6), each merging company shall send
written notice to each of its creditors who, after its directors have made
reasonable enquiries, is known to the directors to have a claim against the
company exceeding £5,000.[371]
(2) The notice shall
state –
(a) that
the company intends to merge, in accordance with this Part, with one or more
bodies specified in the notice; and
(b) that
the merger agreement, or the company’s special resolution passed under
Article 127FA, is available to creditors from the company, free of charge,
on request.
(3) If Article 127FD
applies to the merger, the notice shall in addition –
(a) state
that a merging company has applied or will apply for the permission of the
court under that Article;
(b) state
that any creditor of any of the merging bodies may request the company making
the application to send a copy of the application to the creditor; and
(c) set
out information as to –
(i) a means by which
a creditor may contact the company making the application, or a person
representing it in that application, and
(ii) the
effect of Article 127FD(4), including the date of the application if known
at the time of the notice.
(4) If Article 127FD
does not apply to the merger, the notice shall state (in addition to the
matters in paragraph (2)) that any creditor of the company
may –
(a) object
to the merger under Article 127FE(2)(a); or
(b) require
the company to notify the creditor if any other creditor of the company applies
to the court under Article 127FE(2)(b).
(5) The company shall,
within the time limit set out in paragraph (6), publish the contents of
the notice –
(a) once
in a newspaper circulating in Jersey; or
(b) in
any other manner –
(i) approved by the
registrar, and
(ii) published
by the Commission.
(6) The time limit is
whichever is the sooner of –
(a) no
later than 21 days after the merger is approved under Article 127F(3)
or 127FA(6); or
(b) as
soon as practicable after the company sends the last of any notices under
paragraph (1).[372]
(7) The Minister may by Order
alter the amount specified in paragraph (1).
127FD Company to apply to court
if solvency statement not made[373]
(1) This Article applies to
a merger if any certificate signed by a director of any of the merging
companies under Article 127E(5) does not contain a solvency statement for
the purpose of that Article.
(2) The merger may not be
completed unless an Act of the court has been obtained permitting the merger on
the ground that the merger would not be unfairly prejudicial to the interests
of any creditor of any of the merging bodies.
(3) A merging company to
which a certificate mentioned in paragraph (1) relates, or all such
companies jointly if there are more than one, shall as soon as is practicable
after the merger is approved under Article 127F(3) or
127FA(6) –
(a) apply
to the court for an Act permitting the merger under paragraph (2); and
(b) send
a copy of that application –
(i) to any creditor
who, after the directors have made reasonable enquiries, is known to the
directors to have a claim against any of the merging bodies exceeding the
amount specified in Article 127FC(1),
(ii) to
any other creditor of any of the merging bodies who requests a copy from that
company, and
(iii) to
the registrar.
(4) The court shall not
hear the application for at least 21 days after it is made to the court.[374]
127FE Objection by creditor if
all solvency statements made[375]
(1) This Article applies to
a merger to which Article 127FD does not apply.
(2) A creditor of a merging
company who objects to the merger –
(a) may,
within 21 days of the date of the publication of the notice under Article 127FC(5),
give notice of the creditor’s objection to the company; and
(b) may,
within 21 days of the date of the notice of objection, if the
creditor’s claim against the company has not been discharged, apply to
the court for an order restraining the merger or modifying the merger
agreement.[376]
(3) If a creditor makes an
application under paragraph (2)(b), the company shall, within a reasonable
time after receiving a copy of the application, send a copy of it to each other
creditor –
(a) to
whom a notice was sent under Article 127FC(1);
(b) who
has required notification under Article 127FC(3)(b);
(c) who
has given notice of objection under paragraph (2)(a); or
(d) to
whom the court orders that a copy should be sent.
(4) If on an application
under paragraph (2)(b) the court is satisfied that the merger would
unfairly prejudice the interests of the applicant, or of any other creditor of
the company, the court may make such order as it thinks fit in relation to the
merger, including, but not limited to, an order –
(a) restraining
the merger; or
(b) modifying
the merger agreement in such manner as may be specified in the order.
(5) Paragraph (6)
applies if a court is considering making an order under paragraph (4)(b)
to modify a merger agreement that does not contain a provision in accordance
with Article 127D(7) allowing each of the merging bodies to terminate the
merger following the modification.
(6) The court shall not
make the order unless –
(a) the
order also inserts such a provision in the agreement; and
(b) the
court is satisfied that each merging body will have an adequate opportunity to
reconsider whether to proceed with the merger following the modification.
(7) If a merger is approved
under Article 127FA, references in this Article to the merger agreement
are to be read as references to the special resolutions passed under Article 127FA.
Chapter 4 – Commission
127FF Consent of
Commission required for mergers involving bodies other than companies[377]
(1) If any of the merging
bodies is not a company –
(a) the
merging bodies shall apply jointly, in the published form and manner (if any),
to the Commission for consent to the merger; and
(b) the
merger may not be completed unless the Commission gives consent and any
conditions attached to the consent are complied with.
(2) The application for
consent shall not be made until after the date of the last publication of a
notice under Article 127FC(5).
(3) The application shall
be accompanied by –
(a) a
copy of the merger agreement and the special resolutions passed under Article 127F;
(b) a
copy, in respect of each merging company, of –
(i) the resolution
passed under Article 127E(1), together with, if that information is not
contained in the resolution, a list identifying the directors who voted in
favour of that resolution, and
(ii) the
certificates signed under Article 127E(5) and (6);
(c) a
copy, in respect of each merging company, of the notice to creditors under Article 127FC,
with the date of its publication under Article 127FC(5); and
(d) information,
as at the time of the application under this Article, as to –
(i) any application
made by a member to the court under Article 127FB, or
(ii) if
no such application has been made to the court, the date on which the time for
doing so has elapsed or will elapse.
(4) If Article 127FD
applies to the merger –
(a) the
application under this Article shall in addition be accompanied by information,
as at the time of that application, as to the application made, or to be made,
to the court under Article 127FD; and
(b) the
applicants shall –
(i) keep the
Commission informed of the progress of the application under that Article, and
(ii) provide,
when available, a copy of the Act of the court permitting the merger.
(5) If Article 127FD
does not apply to the merger, the application shall in addition be accompanied
by –
(a) information,
as at the time of the application under this Article, as to –
(i) any notice of
objection given by a creditor under Article 127FE(2)(a), or
(ii) if
no such notice has been given, the date on which the time for doing so has
elapsed or will elapse; and
(b) evidence
satisfactory to the Commission that the merger would not be unfairly
prejudicial to the interests of any creditor of any of the merging bodies.
(6) If the merged body is
to be a company –
(a) the
application shall in addition be accompanied by –
(i) the consents of
its proposed directors to act as such, and
(ii) a
copy of its proposed memorandum and articles, unless it is to be a survivor
company without any amendment to its memorandum or articles; and
(b) the
Commission shall inform the registrar of the name proposed for the merged
company in the merger agreement, and the registrar shall then inform the
Commission whether that name is in his or her opinion in any way misleading or
otherwise undesirable.
(7) If one or more of the
merging bodies is an overseas body, the application shall in addition be
accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Commission, in respect of each
overseas body, that –
(a) the
laws of the jurisdiction in which the overseas body is incorporated do not
prohibit either or both of –
(i) the proposed
merger, or
(ii) if
the merged body is to be a new body incorporated in that jurisdiction, the
incorporation of that body as the result of that merger;
(b) if
those laws or the constitution of the overseas body require that an
authorization be given for the application or for the merger, the authorization
has been given; and
(c) if
the overseas body is not to be a survivor body, the overseas body will, in due
course after completion of the merger, cease to be a body incorporated under
the law of the jurisdiction in which it is presently incorporated.
(8) If the merged body is
to be an overseas body, the application shall in addition be accompanied by
evidence satisfactory to the Commission that the laws of the jurisdiction in
which the merged body is to be incorporated provide that upon the
merger –
(a) the
property and rights to which the merging bodies were entitled immediately
before the merger will become the property and rights of the merged body;
(b) the
merged body will become subject to any criminal and civil liabilities, and any
contracts, debts and other obligations, to which the merging bodies were
subject immediately before merger; and
(c) any
actions and other legal proceedings that, immediately before the merger, were
pending by or against any of the merging bodies may be continued by or against
the merged body.
(9) In paragraphs (10),
(11) and (12) ‘objection’ means –
(a) the
making by a member of an application to the court under Article 127FB in
respect of any merging company; and
(b) the
giving of notice of objection under Article 127FE(2)(a) by a creditor of any
merging company.
(10) Paragraphs (11), (12)
and (13) apply unless, at the time of the application under this
Article –
(a) there
has been no objection to the merger; and
(b) the
time for making any objection has elapsed.
(11) The applicants
shall –
(a) notify
the Commission of any objection of which they become aware after the
application;
(b) notify
the Commission of the result once any objection, whenever made, has been
disposed of; and
(c) provide
to the Commission any further information or document reasonably required by
the Commission in connection with any objection.
(12) Until the applicants have
complied with paragraph (11), the Commission –
(a) shall
not make any decision on the application other than to refuse consent on
grounds unconnected to an objection; and
(b) may,
in respect of the application, take any other action short of making a
decision, or take no further action.
(13) If a document or information
required by the Commission under paragraph (11)(c) is not provided within
a reasonable time, the Commission may give the applicants a warning notice
stating that the application will be refused unless the document or information
is provided within a period specified in the notice being not less than
14 days.
(14) Where any document, information
or evidence is submitted under this Article –
(a) it shall
be authenticated in the manner, if any, published by the Commission; or
(b) the
Commission may require it to be authenticated in any manner appearing
reasonable to the Commission, if the Commission has not published any manner of
authentication in relation to that document, information or evidence.
(15) If a document, information or
evidence submitted under this Article is not in English or French, it shall be
accompanied by a translation into English or French, certified, in a manner
approved by the Commission, to be a correct translation.
127FG Fees, expenses and
security[378]
(1) Article 201
applies to the Commission’s function of considering applications for
consent under Article 127FF, as if references in Article 201 to the
registrar were references to the Commission.
(2) On receiving an
application under Article 127FF, the Commission may estimate the likely
amount of its expenses in dealing with the application.
(3) If that amount exceeds any
fee charged under Article 201, as applied by paragraph (1), for the
consideration of the application, the Commission may require the applicants to
give it security for that excess, to its satisfaction.
(4) If the Commission, in
the course of considering the application, subsequently forms the view that its
expenses will be of a higher amount it may require the applicants to give it
security for the difference, to its satisfaction.
(5) If the Commission
requires security under paragraph (3) or (4), the Commission need take no
further action in respect of the application until the security has been given.
(6) If –
(a) a fee
is charged under Article 201, as applied by paragraph (1), or the
Commission requires security under paragraph (3) or (4); and
(b) that
fee is not paid, or that security is not given, within a reasonable time from
the making of the application or the requirement,
the Commission may give the applicants a warning notice stating that
the application will be refused unless the fee is paid, or the security given,
within a period specified in the notice being not less than 14 days.
(7) If the Commission has
required security under paragraph (3) –
(a) on
determining the application the Commission shall ascertain the actual amount of
its expenses; and
(b) if
the actual amount exceeds any fee paid under Article 201, as applied by
paragraph (1), the Commission may, by notice in writing, require the
applicants to pay the excess.
(8) An excess notified
under paragraph (7)(b) shall be a debt due and payable jointly and
severally by the applicants to the Commission.
(9) Without prejudice to
any other mode of recovery, the Commission may recover that excess by realising
any security given if the excess is not paid by the applicants on demand.
127FH Commission may require
further information[379]
(1) Following receipt of an
application under Article 127FF, the Commission may by notice require the
applicants to supply to the Commission such other document or information as
the Commission may reasonably require to determine whether to accept the
application.
(2) The documents and
information may in particular include any that are reasonably required to
assess the solvency, and interests of any creditors, of any merging body that
is not a company.
(3) Any such document or
information shall be authenticated in any manner reasonably required by the
Commission.
(4) If the Commission gives
a notice under paragraph (1) –
(a) it
need take no further action in respect of the application until the document or
information has been supplied; and
(b) if
the document or information is not supplied within a reasonable time after the
notice, it may give the applicants a warning notice stating that the
application will be refused unless the document or information is supplied within
a period specified in the notice being not less than 14 days.
127FI Decisions and appeals[380]
(1) After considering an
application under Article 127FF the Commission shall –
(a) give
its consent without conditions;
(b) give
its consent subject to conditions; or
(c) refuse
its consent.
(2) In deciding an
application the Commission shall –
(a) consider
all the relevant circumstances; and
(b) have
particular regard to the interests of creditors of the merging bodies, in
addition to the matters to which it must have particular regard under Article 7
of the Financial Services Commission (Jersey)
Law 1998.
(3) The Commission may
refuse its consent, or impose conditions on its consent, on any grounds,
including any one or more of the following grounds –
(a) that
the merger would unfairly prejudice the interests of a creditor of a merging
body;
(b) that
the merger would be undesirable with regard to any other matter mentioned in
paragraph (2);
(c) that the
applicants have not complied with a warning notice under Article 127FF(13),
127FG(6) or 127FH(4)(b) within the period specified in that notice;
(d) that
any other requirement of or under this Part has not been met in respect of the
merger.
(4) Where the merged body
is to be an overseas body, the Commission shall, unless it is satisfied that it
would be preferable in the circumstances not to do so, impose on any consent a
condition that the consent is subject to the merging bodies complying with
Article 127FK(2) and the merged body complying with Article 127FK(3).
(5) Where the merged body
is to be a new company, the Commission may, without prejudice to the generality
of paragraph (3), refuse its consent, as if the application was for
incorporation under Part 2, on any ground on which the incorporation or
registration of that company could be prevented under this Law (whether by the
registrar, the Commission or the court).
(6) On determining an
application, the Commission shall inform the applicants in writing
of –
(a) its
decision;
(b) if
consent is given subject to any condition, the terms of that condition; and
(c) if
consent is refused or is given subject to any condition –
(i) the reasons for
that refusal or condition, and
(ii) the
right to appeal under paragraph (7).
(7) If the Commission
refuses consent, or gives consent subject to any condition, an applicant may,
within one month after being informed of the decision, appeal to the court on
the ground that the decision was unreasonable having regard to all the
circumstances of the case.
(8) On hearing an appeal
under paragraph (7) the court –
(a) may
confirm, reverse or vary the decision of the Commission; and
(b) may
make such order as to the costs of the appeal as it thinks fit.
Chapter 5 – Registration
127FJ Pre-registration steps: where
all merging bodies are companies[381]
(1) This Article applies if
all the merging bodies in a merger are companies.
(2) The merging companies
shall apply jointly, in the published form and manner (if any), to the
registrar to complete the merger.
(3) Except where all the
members of the companies and all the known creditors of the companies otherwise
agree in writing, the application shall not be made until after whichever is the
latest of the following dates –
(a) if
any application was made to the court under Article 127FB, the last date
on which such an application is disposed of otherwise than by an order
restraining the merger;
(b) if
Article 127FD applies to the merger, the date of the Act of court
permitting the merger;
(c) if
Article 127FD does not apply to the merger –
(i) 21 days
after the last date on which a notice was published under Article 127FC(5),
if by then no creditor has given notice of objection under Article 127FE(2)(a),
(ii) 21 days
after the last date on which the last notice of objection by a creditor was
given under Article 127FE(2)(a), if by then no creditor has applied to the
court under Article 127FE(2)(b), or
(iii) if
any application was made to the court under Article 127FE(2)(b), the last
date on which such an application is disposed of otherwise than by an order
restraining the merger.[382]
(4) The application shall
be accompanied by –
(a) a
copy of the merger agreement, unless the merger was approved under Article 127FA;
(b) a
copy of –
(i) if the merged
company is to be a new company, its memorandum and articles, or
(ii) if
the merged company is to be a survivor company, any amendment to its memorandum
or articles provided for under Article 127D(5)(a) or 127FA(3)(b)(iii);
(c) a
copy, in respect of each merging company, of –
(i) the resolution
passed under Article 127E(1), together with, if that information is not
contained in the resolution, a list identifying the directors who voted in
favour of that resolution, and
(ii) the
certificates signed under Article 127E(5) and (6);
(d) a
further certificate, signed by each director who signed a certificate under
Article 127E(5), stating –
(i) that the
director, and the merging company of which he or she is a director, have
complied with the requirements of this Part in respect of the merger, and
(ii) if
Article 127FD does not apply to the merger, that in the director’s
opinion the merger will not unfairly prejudice any interests of any creditor of
that merging company;
(e) a
copy of any Act of the court under –
(i) Article 143
on an application under Article 127FB,
(ii) Article 127FD,
or
(iii) Article 127FE;
and
(f) any
other document or information required by the registrar to establish that the
requirements of paragraph (3) have been met.
(5) The registrar shall
register notices as to the merger in accordance with Article 127FM if he
or she is satisfied –
(a) that
the application complies with paragraphs (2) and (3), and that the
documents provided under paragraph (4) comply with that paragraph and with
the provisions mentioned in it; and
(b) if
the merger agreement provides for the merged company to be a new company, that
he or she would have registered the memorandum and articles of the company
under Article 8 if it had been incorporated otherwise than by merger.
127FK Pre-registration steps:
where merged body is not a company[383]
(1) This Article applies
if –
(a) the
merged body provided for in the merger agreement is not to be a company;
(b) the
Commission has given its consent to the merger under Article 127FI; and
(c) if
any conditions were attached to that consent (other than a condition under
Article 127FI(4)), those conditions have been met to the satisfaction of
the Commission.
(2) When this Article applies,
the merging bodies shall take whatever steps are necessary to complete the
merger in accordance with the merger agreement under the laws governing the
merged body and those merging bodies that are not companies.
(3) As soon as is
reasonably practical after the merging bodies have completed the merger the
merged body shall –
(a) inform
the Commission that it has been completed, including the date of completion;
(b) provide
any document or information that the Commission may reasonably require to establish
the fact and date of the completion; and
(c) authenticate
any such document or information in any manner that the Commission may
reasonably require.
(4) If satisfied that the
merger has been completed, the Commission shall –
(a) provide
the registrar with copies of –
(i) the merger
agreement,
(ii) the
certificates signed under Article 127E(5) and (6),
(iii) any
Act of the court provided to the Commission under Article 127FF or 127FH, and
(iv) the
documents provided to the Commission to prove completion; and
(b) instruct
the registrar to register the merger.
(5) As soon as is practical
after receipt of the documents and instruction under paragraph (4), the
registrar shall register notices as to the merger in accordance with Article 127FM.
127FL Pre-registration
steps: other cases[384]
(1) This Article applies
if –
(a) one
or more of the merging bodies in a merger is not a company;
(b) the
merged body provided for in the merger agreement is to be a company;
(c) the
Commission has given its consent to the merger under Article 127FI; and
(d) if
any conditions were attached to that consent, those conditions have been met to
the satisfaction of the Commission.
(2) The Commission
shall –
(a) provide
the registrar with copies of –
(i) the merger
agreement,
(ii) the
certificates signed under Article 127E(5) and (6),
(iii) the memorandum
and articles of the merged company, if they were provided to the Commission under
Article 127FF(6)(a)(ii), and
(iv) any
Act of the court provided to the Commission under Article 127FF or 127FH; and
(b) instruct
the registrar to register the merger.
(3) As soon as is practical
after receipt of the documents and instruction under paragraph (2), the
registrar shall register notices as to the merger in accordance with Article 127FM.
127FM Registration of notices as to
merger[385]
(1) This Article applies
where the registrar is to register notices as to a merger under Article 127FJ,
127FK or 127FL.
(2) The completion date of
a merger is –
(a) if
the merged body is not a company, the date notified under Article 127FK(3);
or
(b) if
the merged body is a company, the date the last entry on the register is made
under this Article in relation to the merger.
(3) The registrar shall
enter in the register, in respect of each merging company that is not a
survivor body, a notice that –
(a) states
that the company has ceased to be incorporated as a separate company because it
has merged with a body or bodies specified in the notice, so that they have
together continued as a merged body; and
(b) specifies
the name of the merged body and –
(i) the enactment
under which it is incorporated in Jersey, or
(ii) the
jurisdiction outside Jersey in which it is incorporated.
(4) If the merged body is a
survivor company, the registrar shall enter in the register, in respect of that
company, a notice that –
(a) states
that the company has merged with a body or bodies specified in the notice, so
that they have together continued as the merged survivor company; and
(b) refers
to any change in the company’s memorandum and articles that takes effect
on the merger.
(5) If the merged body is a
new company, the registrar shall, if he or she would have registered the
company under this Law if it had been incorporated otherwise than as the result
of a merger –
(a) register
the memorandum and articles of the new company under Article 8, and issue
a certificate of its incorporation under Article 9, as if the registrar
had received an application for the creation of the company under Part 2
with the memorandum and articles provided for in the merger agreement; and
(b) enter
in the register, in respect of that new company, a notice that states that the
company is the result of a completed merger between the former bodies specified
in the notice, which have together continued as the new company.
(6) Each entry under this
Article –
(a) shall
in addition include a note specifying the completion date of the merger to
which it relates; and
(b) may
in addition include a note of any further information that the registrar
considers useful in relation to the merger.
(7) When the registrar
enters a notice on the register referring to an overseas body, the registrar
shall also immediately send a copy of the notice to the appropriate official or
public body in the jurisdiction in which that body is or was incorporated.
(8) The registrar shall
send the copy referred to in paragraph (7) –
(a) electronically;
(b) by
some other means of instantaneous transmission; or
(c) if no
instantaneous transmission to the official or public body is practicable, by
such other means as the registrar believes likely to be acceptable to that
official or public body.
Chapter 6 – Final
127FN Effect of completion of
merger[386]
(1) On the completion date
of a merger –
(a) the
merging bodies are merged and continue as one merged body as provided in the
merger agreement or in the special resolutions passed under Article 127FA;
(b) any
merging company that is not a survivor company ceases to be incorporated as a
separate company; and
(c) any
merging body falling within Article 127B(3) that is not a survivor body
ceases to be incorporated as a separate body.
(2) When a merger is
completed in which the merged body is a company or a body falling within
Article 127B(3) –
(a) all
property and rights to which each merging body was entitled immediately before
the merger was completed become the property and rights of the merged body;
(b) the
merged body becomes subject to all criminal and civil liabilities, and all
contracts, debts and other obligations, to which each of the merging bodies was
subject immediately before the merger was completed; and
(c) all
actions and other legal proceedings which, immediately before the merger was
completed, were pending by or against any of the merging bodies may be
continued by or against the merged body.
(3) Entries made on the
register under Article 127FM are conclusive evidence of the following
matters to which they refer –
(a) that
on the completion date specified in the entry the merging bodies merged and
continued as the merged body; and
(b) that
the requirements of this Law have been complied with in respect of –
(i) the merger of the
merging bodies under this Law, and
(ii) all
matters precedent to and incidental to the merger.
(4) The operation of this
Article shall not be regarded –
(a) as a
breach of contract or confidence or otherwise as a civil wrong;
(b) as a
breach of any contractual provision prohibiting, restricting or regulating the
assignment or transfer of rights or liabilities; or
(c) as
giving rise to any remedy by a party to a contract or other instrument, as an
event of default under any contract or other instrument or as causing or
permitting the termination of any contract or other instrument, or of any
obligation or relationship.
127G Offences relating to merger[387]
(1) A person commits an
offence if, on or in connection with an application under this Part, he or she
knowingly or recklessly provides to the Commission or to the
registrar –
(a) any
information which is false, misleading or deceptive in a material particular;
or
(b) any
document containing any such information.
(2) A person commits an
offence if he or she signs a certificate under Article 127E or 127FJ(4)(d)
without having reasonable grounds for the opinion expressed in the certificate
or for the statement made in the certificate.
127GA Power of States to amend Part 18B[388]
(1) The States may amend
this Part by Regulations.
(2) Without prejudice to
the generality of the foregoing such Regulations may extend the provisions of
this Part, with or without such modifications as may be specified in the
Regulations –
(a) to
mergers of companies with bodies that are incorporated in Jersey but are not
companies;
(ab) to mergers of
companies with limited liability partnerships that are registered in Jersey
under the Limited Liability
Partnerships (Jersey) Law 2017; and
(b) to
mergers of companies with bodies incorporated outside Jersey.[389]
PART 18BA[390]
DEMERGERS
127GB Demergers[391]
(1) The States may by Regulations
make provision for enabling the undertaking, property and liabilities of a
company to be divided among 2 or more companies.
(2) Regulations made under
paragraph (1) may create offences and prescribe penalties.
(3) Regulations made under
paragraph (1) may –
(a) provide
for the Minister to exercise a discretion in respect of matters prescribed by
the Regulations;
(b) permit
the Commission to publish fees that may be imposed by the Regulations; and
(c) permit
the Commission and the registrar to publish material in respect of matters
prescribed by the Regulations.
PART 18C
CONTINUANCE[392]
127H Bodies corporate which are
eligible for continuance[393]
(1) Subject to Article 127I,
a body which is incorporated outside Jersey may apply under Article 127K
to the Commission for the issue to it of a certificate that it continues as a
company incorporated under this Law, if it is authorized to make such an
application by the laws of the jurisdiction under which it is incorporated
outside Jersey.
(2) Subject to Article 127I,
a company which is incorporated in Jersey under this Law may apply under
Article 127T to the Commission for authorization to seek continuance as a
body incorporated under the laws of another jurisdiction, if the proposal to
apply in that other jurisdiction for continuance there is approved by the
company and its members in accordance with Article 127Q.
127I Restrictions on
continuance[394]
(1) An application may not
be made under Article 127K, by a body corporate to which paragraph (3)
applies, for continuance as a company incorporated under this Law.
(2) An application may not
be made under Article 127T, by a company to which paragraph (3)
applies, for authorization to seek continuance in another jurisdiction.
(3) This paragraph applies
to a body corporate or company if –
(a) it is
being wound up, or is in liquidation or is subject to a declaration under the
Désastre Law;
(b) it is
insolvent;
(c) a
receiver, manager or administrator (by whatever name any such person is called)
has been appointed, whether by a court or in some other manner, in respect of
any property of that body corporate or company;
(d) it
has entered into a compromise or arrangement with a creditor (not being a
compromise or arrangement approved by the Commission) and that compromise or
arrangement is in force; or
(e) an
application is pending before a court for the winding up or liquidation of that
body corporate or company, or to have it declared insolvent, or for a
declaration under the Désastre Law, or for the appointment of such a
receiver, manager or administrator or for the approval of such a compromise or
arrangement.
(4) For the purposes of
paragraph (3), the jurisdiction in which –
(a) the
body corporate is being wound up or is in liquidation;
(b) the
receiver, manager or administrator has been appointed or the compromise or
arrangement has been entered into; or
(c) the
application before a court is pending,
is immaterial.
127J Security for
Commission’s expenses under this Part[395]
(1) On
receiving –
(a) an
application under Article 127K, by a body incorporated outside Jersey, for
continuance as a company incorporated under this Law; or
(b) an
application under Article 127T, by a company incorporated under this Law,
for authorization to seek continuance in another jurisdiction,
the Commission shall estimate the likely amount of its expenses in
dealing with the application.
(2) The Commission shall
then require the applicant to give it security for that amount, to the
satisfaction of the Commission, and shall not consider the application further
until the security has been given.
(3) If the Commission, in
the course of considering the application, subsequently forms the view that its
expenses will be of a higher amount –
(a) it
may require the applicant to give it security for that higher amount, to its
satisfaction; and
(b) it
may refuse to consider the application further until that security has been
given.
(4) On determining the
application, the Commission shall ascertain the actual amount of its expenses,
and inform the applicant.
(5) The expenses shall be a
debt due and payable by the applicant to the Commission.
(6) Without prejudice to
any other mode of recovery, the Commission may recover the expenses by
realising the security if they are not paid by the applicant on demand.
127K Application to Commission for
continuance within Jersey[396]
(1) An application to the
Commission under this Article by a body incorporated outside Jersey, for
continuance as a company incorporated under this Law, shall be accompanied
by –
(a) a
copy (certified, in a manner approved by the Commission, to be a true copy) of
the memorandum and articles, or of the law or other instrument constituting or
defining the constitution of the body corporate;
(b) articles
of continuance which comply with Article 127L;
(c) a
statement of solvency which is in accordance with Article 127W;
(d) the
name under which it is proposed to continue the body corporate as a company
incorporated under this Law;
(e) in
relation to every person who is a director of the body corporate at the date of
the application under this Article or is to be a director of it upon its
continuance as a company incorporated under this Law –
(i) in the case of a
director who is a natural person, the particulars specified in Article 84(a)
to (f),
(ii) in
the case of a director which is a corporate director, the particulars specified
in Article 84A(1)(a) and (b);
(f) in
relation to each person who is a secretary of the body corporate at the date of
the application under this Article or is to be its secretary upon its
continuance as a company incorporated under this Law, the particulars specified
in Article 85 and his or her qualifications;
(g) such
other information as the registrar would require on an application to register
the body corporate as a company under this Law;
(h) such
other documents and information as the Commission may require in respect of a
particular application under this Article; and
(i) any
published application fee.[397]
(2) The application under
this Article shall also be accompanied by evidence, satisfactory to the
Commission, of the following matters –
(a) that
the body corporate is authorized, by the laws of the jurisdiction under which
it is incorporated, to make the application to the Commission;
(b) where
the constitution of the body corporate or the law of that jurisdiction requires
that any authorization be given for the application to the Commission, that it
has been given;
(c) that
if a certificate of continuance is issued under this Law pursuant to the
application under this Article, the body will thereupon cease to be
incorporated under the other jurisdiction;
(d) that
if a certificate of continuance is so issued, the interests of the members and
the creditors of the body corporate will not be unfairly prejudiced; and
(e) that
the body corporate is not prevented by Article 127I from making the
application under this Article.
(3) If an instrument which
is submitted in accordance with paragraph (1)(a) is not in the English or
French language, the application under this Article shall also be accompanied
by a translation of the instrument into English or French.
(4) Every translation to
which paragraph (3) refers shall be certified, in a manner approved by the
Commission, to be a correct translation.
127L Articles of continuance[398]
(1) Articles of continuance
shall state those amendments to be made to the memorandum or articles of the
body corporate, or to the instrument constituting or defining its constitution,
which are necessary to conform to the laws of Jersey.
(2) If any other amendments
which are to be made to the memorandum or articles, or to the
instrument –
(a) have
been approved by its members in the manner required by this Law for amendments
to the memorandum or articles of a company; and
(b) would
be permitted under the laws of Jersey if the body corporate were a company,
the articles of continuance shall also state those amendments.
127M Proposed name[399]
(1) After receiving an
application under Article 127K, the Commission shall inform the registrar
of the name in which the applicant proposes to continue as a company
incorporated under this Law.
(2) The registrar shall
then inform the Commission whether that name is in his or her opinion in any
way misleading or otherwise undesirable.
(3) If the applicant proposes
that it shall continue as a limited company, its name must in any event comply
with Article 13(2).
127N Determination of application
to Commission for continuance within Jersey[400]
(1) If the Commission, on
an application under Article 127K for continuance as a company
incorporated under this Law –
(a) is
satisfied that the application complies with that Article and with Article 127H(1);
(b) is
informed by the registrar that the proposed name of the applicant is in his or
her opinion not in any way misleading or otherwise undesirable, and is also
satisfied that the name complies with Article 13(2); and
(c) is
satisfied that all other approvals and consents required by the law of Jersey
for the issue of a certificate of continuance to the applicant have been given,
and, in addition to having paid the application fee (if any), the
applicant has paid the expenses due to the Commission under Article 127J,
the Commission may grant the application.
(2) If the application is
granted, the Commission shall thereupon inform the registrar and deliver to him
or her the documents which accompanied the application.
(3) On determining the
application, the Commission shall inform the applicant of its decision.
(4) If so required by the
applicant, the Commission shall furnish it within 14 days with a statement in
writing of its reasons for its decision.
(5) An applicant may,
within one month after being informed of a decision by the Commission to refuse
its application, appeal to the court on the ground that the decision of the
Commission was unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the case.[401]
(6) On hearing the appeal,
the court –
(a) may
confirm or reverse the decision of the Commission; and
(b) may
make such order as to the costs of the appeal as it thinks fit.
127O Issue of certificate of
continuance within Jersey[402]
(1) When the
registrar –
(a) is
informed under Article 127N by the Commission that it has granted an
application for a certificate of continuance as a company incorporated under
this Law; and
(b) receives
from the Commission the documents which accompanied the application,
the registrar shall register the application and those documents.
(2) On registration, the
registrar shall immediately issue to the applicant a certificate of continuance
which is signed by him or her and sealed with his or her seal.
(3) When the registrar
issues a certificate of continuance, the registrar shall also immediately send
a copy of it (electronically or by some other means of instantaneous
transmission) to the appropriate official or public body in the jurisdiction to
which Article 127K(2)(a) refers.
127P Effect of issue of certificate
of continuance within Jersey[403]
(1) Upon the issue of the
certificate of continuance by the registrar –
(a) the
body corporate becomes a company incorporated under this Law, to which this Law
applies accordingly; and
(b) the
memorandum and articles, or the instrument constituting or defining the
constitution of the body corporate, as amended in accordance with its articles
of continuance, become the memorandum and articles of the continued company.
(2) When a body corporate
is continued as a company incorporated under this Law –
(a) all
property and rights to which the body corporate was entitled immediately before
the certificate of continuance is issued are the property and rights of the
company;
(b) the
company is subject to all criminal and civil liabilities, and all contracts,
debts and other obligations, to which the body corporate was subject
immediately before the certificate of continuance is issued; and
(c) all
actions and other legal proceedings which, immediately before the issue of the
certificate of continuance, were pending by or against the body corporate may
be continued by or against the company.
(3) A certificate of
continuance is conclusive evidence of the following matters –
(a) that
the company is incorporated under this Law;
(b) that
the requirements of this Law have been complied with in respect of –
(i) the continuance
of the company under this Law,
(ii) all
matters precedent to its continuance as such a company, and
(iii) all
matters incidental to its continuance as such a company; and
(c) if
the certificate states that it is a public company or a private company, that
it is such a company.
127Q Approval by company and members
of proposal for continuance overseas[404]
(1) A proposal by a company
to apply in another jurisdiction for continuance there shall be approved by a
special resolution of the company and, where there is more than one class of
members, by a special resolution of the members of each class passed at a
separate meeting of the members of that class.
(2) Notice of each
meeting –
(a) shall
be accompanied by a copy or summary of the proposed application in the other
jurisdiction for continuance there; and
(b) shall
state that any member of the company who objects to the application may, within
the time limit specified in Article 127S(2), apply to the court for an
order under Article 143 on the ground that the proposed continuance would
unfairly prejudice his or her interests.
(3) On a resolution to
approve a proposed application in another jurisdiction for
continuance –
(a) each
member of the company shall be entitled to vote;
(b) on a
show of hands, every person present in person at the meeting shall have one vote;
and
(c) the
right to demand a poll and the right to vote on a poll shall be determined in
accordance with Article 97 and Article 92(2)(f) respectively,
subject to any provision to the contrary in the memorandum or
articles of the company.[405]
127R Notice to creditors of
application to Commission for authorization to seek continuance overseas[406]
(1) Before a company makes
an application under Article 127T to the Commission for authorization to
seek continuance in another jurisdiction, the company shall, unless all its
known creditors otherwise agree in writing, give notice to them in accordance
with paragraph (2).[407]
(1A) The notice shall be given at least
21 days before the making of the application.[408]
(2) The notice –
(a) shall
state that the company intends to make the application to the Commission, and
shall specify the jurisdiction in which it proposes to seek continuance;
(b) shall
be sent in writing to each creditor of the company;
(c) shall
be published once in a newspaper circulating in Jersey or in such other manner
as the court may on application direct; and
(d) shall
state that any creditor of the company who objects to the application may
within 21 days of the date of the advertisement give notice of his or her
objection to the company.[409]
(3) A creditor who gives
notice in accordance with paragraph (2)(d) and whose claim against the
company has not been discharged may, within 21 days after the date of the
notice, apply to the court for an order restraining the application by the
company under Article 127T to the Commission.[410]
(4) On the creditor’s
application the court, if satisfied that the interests of the creditor would be
unfairly prejudiced by the proposed continuance, may make an order (subject to
such terms, if any, as it may think fit) restraining the application by the
company under Article 127T to the Commission.
127S Objections by members to
continuance overseas[411]
(1) If a company resolves
to make an application under Article 127T to the Commission for
authorization to seek continuance in another jurisdiction, any member of the
company who objects to the application (other than a member who consented to or
voted in favour of it) may apply to the court for an order under Article 143
on the ground that the proposed continuance would unfairly prejudice his or her
interests.
(2) No such application may
be made by a member after the expiration of the period of 21 days
following the last of the resolutions of the company which are required under
Article 127Q.[412]
127T Application to
Commission for authorization to seek continuance overseas[413]
(1) An application to the
Commission under this Article for authorization to seek continuance in another
jurisdiction shall be accompanied by –
(a) a
copy (certified, in a manner approved by the Commission, to be a true copy) of
each resolution which is required under Article 127Q;
(b) a
statement of solvency which is made in accordance with Article 127W;
(c) such
other documents and information as the Commission may require in respect of a
particular application for such authorization; and
(d) any
published application fee.[414]
(2) The application under
this Article shall also be accompanied by evidence, satisfactory to the
Commission, of the following matters –
(a) that
the laws of the jurisdiction in which the company proposes to continue allow
its continuance there as a body corporate incorporated under those laws;
(b) that
those laws provide that upon the continuance of the company as a body corporate
in that jurisdiction –
(i) all property and
rights of the company will become the property and rights of the body
corporate,
(ii) the
body corporate will become subject to all criminal and civil liabilities, and
all contracts, debts and other obligations, to which the company is subject,
and
(iii) all
actions and other legal proceedings which are pending by or against the company
may be continued by or against the body corporate;
(c) that
notice has been given to the creditors of the company in accordance with
Article 127R of the application to the Commission under this Article, and
either –
(i) that no creditor
has applied to the court for an order restraining the application made to the
Commission under this Article, or
(ii) that
the application of every creditor who has so applied to the court has been
determined by the court in a way which does not prevent the Commission from
granting the application made to it under this Article;
(d) either –
(i) that no member of
the company has applied to the court for an order under Article 143 on the
ground specified in Article 127S(1), or
(ii) that
the application of every member who has so applied to the court has been
determined by the court in a way which does not prevent the Commission from
granting the application made to it under this Article;
(e) that
the company has complied with such other conditions as may be prescribed; and
(f) that
the company is not prevented by Article 127I from making the application.
127U Determination of application
to Commission for authorization to seek continuance overseas[415]
(1) If, on an application
under Article 127T to the Commission –
(a) it is
satisfied that the application complies with that Article and with Article 127H(2);
and
(b) in
addition to having paid the application fee (if any), the applicant has paid
the expenses due to the Commission under Article 127J,
the Commission may grant the application on the condition specified
in paragraph (2) and on such other conditions (if any) as it may specify
in its decision.
(2) It shall be a condition
of the grant of any application made under Article 127T that the applicant
will ensure –
(a) that
the registrar is informed of the date on which continuance will be or is
granted in the other jurisdiction; and
(b) that
a copy of the instrument of continuance in the other jurisdiction, certified to
be a true copy, is delivered to the registrar,
in sufficient time to enable the registrar to comply with Article 127V.
(3) On determining the
application, the Commission shall inform the applicant of its decision.
(4) If so required by the
applicant, the Commission shall furnish it within 14 days with a statement in
writing of its reasons for its decision.
(5) An applicant may,
within one month after being informed of a decision by the Commission to refuse
its application, or to grant it subject to a condition (not being a condition
specified in paragraph (2)), appeal to the court on the ground that the
decision of the Commission was unreasonable having regard to all the
circumstances of the case.
(6) On hearing the appeal,
the court –
(a) may
confirm, reverse or vary the decision of the Commission; and
(b) may
make such order as to the costs of the appeal as it thinks fit.
127V Effect of continuance overseas[416]
When a company is, in accordance with the terms of authorization of
the Commission under Article 127U, continued as a body corporate under the
laws of the other jurisdiction to which the authorization relates –
(a) it thereupon ceases to
be a company incorporated under this Law; and
(b) the registrar shall on
that date record that by virtue of paragraph (a) of this Article, it has
ceased to be so incorporated.
127W Statements of solvency
in respect of continuance[417]
(1) A statement of solvency
for the purposes of an application under Article 127K for continuance as a
company incorporated under this Law shall be signed by each person who is a
director of the applicant and shall state that, having made full inquiry into
the affairs of the applicant, that director reasonably believes –
(a) that
the applicant is and, if the application is granted, will upon the issue to it
of a certificate of continuance be able to discharge its liabilities as they
fall due; and
(b) that,
having regard to –
(i) the prospects of
the company,
(ii) the
intentions of the directors with respect to the management of the
company’s business, and
(iii) the
amount and character of the financial resources that will in the
directors’ view be available to the company,
the company will be able to –
(A) continue to carry on
business, and
(B) discharge its
liabilities as they fall due,
until the expiry of the period of 12 months immediately
following the date on which the statement is signed.[418]
(2) A statement of solvency
for the purposes of an application under Article 127T for authorization to
seek continuance in another jurisdiction shall be signed by each person who is
a director of the applicant and shall state that, having made full inquiry into
the affairs of the applicant, that director reasonably believes –
(a) that
the applicant is and, if the application is granted, will upon its incorporation
under the laws of the other jurisdiction be able to discharge its liabilities
as they fall due; and
(b) that,
having regard to –
(i) the prospects of
the applicant,
(ii) the
intentions of the directors with respect to the management of the
applicant’s business, and
(iii) the
amount and character of the financial resources that will in the
directors’ view be available to the applicant if the application is
granted,
the applicant, if incorporated under the laws of the other
jurisdiction, will be able to discharge its liabilities as they fall due.[419]
(3) A statement of solvency
for the purposes of Article 127K or Article 127T shall also be signed
by each person who is to be a director of the applicant upon its continuance as
proposed in the application and shall state that the person so signing has no
reason to believe that anything in the statement is untrue.
(4) A director, or a person
who is to be a director, who makes a statement under paragraph (1) or (2)
without having reasonable grounds for the opinion expressed in the statement is
guilty of an offence.[420]
127X Provisions relating to
continuance[421]
(1) The Minister may by
Order prescribe for the purposes of this Part –
(a) conditions
to be complied with in respect of applications under Article 127T to the
Commission for authorization to seek continuance under the laws of other
jurisdictions; and
(b) the
manner in which records are to be kept, by the registrar, of bodies that have
ceased under Article 127V to be companies incorporated under this Law.
(2) Without prejudice to
the generality of paragraph (1), conditions to which sub-paragraph (a)
of that paragraph refers –
(a) may
relate to matters to be complied with on or before the making of such
applications to the Commission, or after the grant of such applications; and
(b) may
require applicants to appoint and maintain authorized representatives in Jersey
for such periods, whether before or after their applications to the Commission
are determined, as may be prescribed.
(3) The Commission may
publish for the purposes of this Part details of –
(a) the
forms of statements of solvency;
(b) any
other document or information that is to be provided on applications relating
to continuance within or outside Jersey;
(c) how
applicants must verify documents or information so provided; and
(d) the
application fees that are payable to the Commission.
127Y Offences relating to
continuance[422]
Any person who on or in connection with an application under this
Part knowingly or recklessly provides to the Commission –
(a) any information which
is false, misleading or deceptive in a material particular; or
(b) any document containing
any such information,
is guilty of an offence.
part 18d[423]
cell companies
Chapter 1 – General provisions
127YA Application by cell
company for creation of cells[424]
(1) A cell company may, by
special resolution, resolve to apply to the registrar to create one or more
cells of the cell company.
(2) The special
resolution –
(a) shall
assign to the cell that it proposes shall be created a name that complies with
this Law;
(b) shall
adopt a memorandum of association in relation to the proposed cell; and
(c) shall
adopt articles in relation to the proposed cell.
(3) If a cell company makes
a special resolution under paragraph (1), it shall apply to the registrar
to create the cell to which the resolution relates, by delivering to the
registrar –
(a) in
accordance with Article 100, a copy of the resolution; and
(b) the
memorandum of association and the articles adopted by the resolution.
127YB Memorandum and articles
of cells[425]
(1) The memorandum or
articles of a cell may, in addition to providing for matters that a cell
company shall or may, under Part 2, as applied to the cell by Article 127YC,
provide in the memorandum or articles in relation to a cell, provide that the
cell shall be wound up and dissolved on –
(a) the
bankruptcy, death, expulsion, mental disorder, resignation or retirement of any
cellular member of the cell;
(b) the
expiration of a fixed period of time; or
(c) the
happening of some other event that is not the expiration of a fixed period of
time.[426]
(2) A cell company may also
provide in the memorandum –
(a) that
there may be issued par value shares or no par value shares in respect of the
cell mentioned in the memorandum; or
(b) that
the cell mentioned in the memorandum may have a guarantor member or guarantor
members.
(3) There shall be taken to
be included in the articles of a cell –
(a) a
provision that the cell may not own shares in its cell company; and
(b) unless
the contrary intention appears in the articles, a provision that the cell may
own shares in any other cell of its cell company.
(4) The articles of a cell
may be amended –
(a) in
the manner set out in those articles; or
(b) if
there is no such manner set out in the articles, by special resolution of both
the cell and of the company of which it is a cell.
(5) Article 11(1)
shall not apply in relation to a cell of a cell company and a reference in
Article 11(2), (3) or (4) to an alteration in the articles of a company
shall be taken to include an alteration made in accordance with paragraph (4)
of this Article.
127YC Creation of cells[427]
(1) Subject to this
Article, Part 2 shall apply in relation to a proposed cell (and, if it is
created, a cell of a cell company) as if a reference in that Part to a
company were a reference to a cell or proposed cell, as the case may be.
(2) A memorandum which
forms part of the application in accordance with Article 127YA(3) and
which specifies that –
(a) the
cell or proposed cell to which it refers is to be, or to be taken to be, a
public company, shall be taken to be a memorandum delivered to the registrar
under Article 3(1) constituting an application for the formation of a
public company, although it has not been signed in accordance with that paragraph;
or
(b) the
cell or proposed cell to which it refers is to be, or to be taken to be, a
private company, shall be taken to be a memorandum delivered to the registrar
under Article 3(2) constituting an application for the formation of a
private company, although it has not been signed in accordance with that
paragraph.
(3) Article 3(3) shall
apply in relation to a cell or proposed cell of a cell company as if all the
words after “more than 30 persons” were deleted.
(4) A reference in Article 3(10)
to Article 127YA(4) shall be taken to be a reference to Article 127YB(2).
(5) Article 4(3) shall
not apply in relation to a cell or a proposed cell.
(6) Nothing in this Law
shall be taken to require there to be a subscriber in relation to a cell or a
proposed cell.
(7) The articles forming
part of the application in accordance with Article 127YA(3) shall be taken
to be articles specifying regulations for the cell delivered to the registrar
under Article 5(1).
(8) Articles 5(3) and
(4), 6 and 7(4), shall not apply in relation to a cell or a proposed cell.
(9) The requirement in
Article 7(1) that the statement referred to in that paragraph shall be
signed by the subscribers shall be taken to be satisfied in relation to a cell
in relation to which there are no subscribers, if the statement is signed by
the persons who are taken to have applied under Article 3 for the
formation of the cell.
(10) If the registrar registers
under Article 8 a memorandum and articles in relation to a cell of a
protected cell company, he or she shall, instead of issuing a certificate of
incorporation in relation to the cell, issue under Article 9 a certificate
of recognition in relation to the cell as if a reference in that Article to
incorporation or a certificate of incorporation were a reference to the
creation of a cell, or a certificate of recognition, respectively.
(11) Article 9(3) shall not
apply in relation to a cell of a protected cell company.
(12) Article 9(3) shall apply
in relation to a cell of an incorporated cell company as if for the words
“the subscribers of the memorandum, together with such other persons who
may from time to time become members of the company, shall be” there were
substituted the words “there shall be”.
127YD Status of cells[428]
(1) A cell of an
incorporated cell company –
(a) is
created on the day specified in the certificate of incorporation in relation to
the cell to be the date of incorporation of the cell; and
(b) is,
in accordance with this Law, a company from that day.
(2) A cell of a protected
cell company is created on the day specified in the certificate of recognition
in relation to the cell to be the date on which the cell was created.
(3) A cell of a protected
cell company shall not be a company but it shall, except as otherwise provided
by this Part, be treated as a company registered under this Law for the purpose
of the application to it of this Law.
(4) In accordance with
paragraph (3), except as otherwise provided by this Part, this Law shall
apply to a cell of a protected cell company as if a reference in this
Law –
(a) to a
company were a reference to the cell;
(b) to
the directors of a company were a reference to the directors of the cell;
(c) to
the memorandum or articles of a company were a reference to the memorandum or
articles of the cell;
(d) to
incorporation were a reference to the creation of the cell;
(e) to a
certificate of incorporation were a reference to a certificate of recognition;
(f) to
members of a company were a reference to the members of the cell;
(g) to
shares in a company were a reference to shares in the cell;
(h) to
assets and liabilities of a company were a reference to the assets and
liabilities of the cell; and
(i) to
the share capital of a company were a reference to the share capital of the
cell.
(5) Despite Article 2 –
(a) a
cell of a protected cell company is not, by virtue only of being such a cell of
the company, a subsidiary or wholly owned subsidiary of the company; and
(b) a
cell of an incorporated cell company is a company that is not a subsidiary or
wholly owned subsidiary of the cell company.
127YDA Requirements in relation to secretaries, directors, registered
offices and registers[429]
(1) A cell of a cell
company shall have the same registered office and secretary as the cell
company.
(2) The duties imposed on a
company by Article 83 in relation to directors shall, in the case of a
cell of a protected cell company, be performed by its cell company.
(3) A cell of an
incorporated cell company shall notify the incorporated cell company within
14 days of a director of the cell being appointed or of a director of the
cell ceasing to be a director.
(4) If a cell company fails
to comply with paragraph (2), or a cell fails to comply with paragraph (3),
it, and every officer of it who is in default, is guilty of an offence.
(5) A director of a cell
shall not be taken, by virtue only of being such a director, to have any duties
or liabilities in respect of –
(a) the
cell company in relation to the cell; or
(b) any
other cell of the cell company.
(6) A director of a cell
shall not be entitled, by virtue only of being such a director, to obtain from
the cell company in relation to the cell, or any other cell of the cell
company, any information in respect of the cell company or any other cell of
the cell company.
127YE Annual confirmation
statement in respect of cells [430]
(1) Article 5
of the Financial Services (Disclosure and Provision of Information) (Jersey)
Law 2020 (which requires a company to provide
an annual confirmation statement to the Commission) does not apply to a cell of
a cell company.
(2) However,
the cell company must verify the information contained in the annual
confirmation statement in respect of each cell of the company.
(3) If a cell
company fails to comply with paragraph (2) it commits an offence.
(4) A cell of
a cell company must provide all relevant information to the cell company in
sufficient time to enable the cell company to comply with the requirements of
paragraph (2) in relation to the cell company.
(5) If a cell
fails to comply with paragraph (4), the cell, and, where the cell is a
public company, every officer of the cell who is in default, commits an
offence.
127YF [431]
127YG Accounts of cell
companies[432]
(1) Nothing in Article 105
shall be taken to require a cell company to prepare the accounts in relation to
a cell of the company that are required to be prepared in relation to the cell.[433]
(2) Subject to any
provision to the contrary in the articles of a cell of a cell company or of the
company, a member of the cell company who is not a member of the cell shall
only be entitled to be provided by the cell with so much of the accounts of the
cell as is necessary in order for the cell company to comply with the
requirements of Article 127YE(2) in relation to the cell company.
(3) Nothing in this Article
shall require the preparation, in relation to a cell of a cell company, of
accounts in relation to the affairs of the cell that occurred before this
Article came into operation.
127YH Incorporation of a cell
independent of a cell company
(1) A cell of a cell
company may apply to the registrar to be incorporated as a company independent
of that company.
(2) If the articles of the
cell are silent or do not provide otherwise, the application must be approved
by a special resolution of the members of the cell or, if the cell has more
than one class of members, a special resolution of each class of members.
(3) The application must
include the information that would be required under Part 2 were the cell
being incorporated under this Law otherwise than by virtue of this Article.
(4) In respect of an
application under this Article the registrar has all the powers given under
Part 2.
(5) Where a cell has made
an application under this Article, a member of the cell who objects to the cell
being incorporated as a company independent of its cell company may apply to
the court for an order under Article 143 on the grounds that the
incorporation or the terms of the incorporation unfairly prejudice his or her
interests.
(6) An application may not
be made under paragraph (5) after the expiration of the period of 30 days
following the application being made under paragraph (1).
(7) When a cell is
registered as a separate company by virtue of this Article –
(a) where
the cell was a cell of an incorporated cell company, all property and rights to
which the cell was entitled immediately before its registration remain the
property and rights of the separate company;
(b) where
the cell was a cell of a protected cell company, all property and rights of
that company in respect of the cell immediately before its registration become
the property and rights of the separate company;
(c) where
the cell was a cell of an incorporated cell company, the separate company remains
subject to all criminal and civil liabilities, and all contracts, debts and
other obligations, to which the cell was subject immediately before its
registration;
(d) where
the cell was a cell of a protected cell company, all contracts, debts and other
obligations of that company in respect of the cell, to which the protected cell
company was subject immediately before the registration of the separate
company, become the contracts, debts and other obligations of the separate
company;
(e) where
the cell was a cell of an incorporated cell company, all actions and other
legal proceedings which, immediately before the registration of the separate
company, were pending by or against the cell may be continued by or against the
separate company; and
(f) where
the cell was a cell of a protected cell company, all actions and other legal
proceedings which, immediately before the registration of the separate company,
were pending by or against the protected cell company in respect of the cell
may be continued by or against the separate company.
(8) The operation of
paragraph (7)(b) and (d) shall not be regarded –
(a) as a
breach of contract or confidence or otherwise as a civil wrong;
(b) as a
breach of any contractual provision prohibiting, restricting or regulating the
assignment or transfer of rights or liabilities; or
(c) as
giving rise to any remedy by a party to a contract or other instrument, as an
event of default under any contract or other instrument or as causing or
permitting the termination of any contract or other instrument, or of any
obligation or relationship.
127YI Transfer of cell[434]
(1) A cell of a cell
company may become a cell of another cell company by being transferred from the
former to the latter.
(2) The companies shall
enter into a written agreement (the “transfer agreement”) that sets
out the terms of the transfer.
(3) A transfer of a cell is
provisionally approved if –
(a) the
directors of the cell company from which the cell is to be transferred have
approved the transfer agreement;
(b) the agreement
is approved by a special resolution of the cell company to which the cell is
being transferred; and
(c) any
of the following occur –
(i) the transfer
agreement is sanctioned by the court as an arrangement in accordance with
Article 125,
(ii) the
transfer agreement is consented to by all the members of the cell being
transferred and all the creditors (if any) of that cell,
(iii) where
the agreement of all the creditors of the cell cannot be obtained, the transfer
is authorized by a special resolution of the cell and sanctioned by the court
on it being satisfied that no creditor of the cell will be materially
prejudiced by the transfer.
(4) A director of a cell
who has approved a transfer agreement under which the cell shall be transferred
to another cell company shall, as soon as practicable after the transfer has
been provisionally approved in accordance with paragraph (3) –
(a) sign
a declaration stating that the director believes on reasonable grounds
that –
(i) the cell is able
to discharge its liabilities as they fall due, and
(ii) the
transfer has been provisionally approved in accordance with paragraph (3);
and
(b) ensure
that a copy of the declaration is delivered to the cell company to which the
cell is to be transferred.
(5) A director who makes a
declaration under paragraph (4) without having reasonable grounds to do so
is guilty of an offence.
(6) The cell company to
which the cell is to be transferred shall, within 21 days of receiving the
declaration required to be delivered to the cell company under paragraph (4)(b),
deliver to the registrar –
(a) a
copy of the special resolution of the cell company provisionally approving the
transfer agreement;
(b) a
copy of the transfer agreement;
(c) a
copy of the memorandum and the articles that it is intended the cell being
transferred shall have when it is transferred; and
(d) a
copy of the declaration delivered to the cell company under paragraph (4)(b).
(7) If a cell company fails
to deliver to the registrar the documents mentioned in paragraph (6)
within the period specified in that paragraph, the company, and every officer
of it who is in default, is guilty of an offence.
(8) If a cell company
delivers to the registrar, within the period specified in paragraph (6),
the special resolution of that company provisionally approving the transfer
agreement, the company shall be taken to have complied with the requirements of
Article 100(1) in relation to that resolution.
(9) The registrar may,
after receiving the documents referred to in paragraph (6) in relation to
the transfer of a cell –
(a) if
the requirements of this Article have been complied with, approve the transfer
of the cell; or
(b) if
the requirements of this Article have not been complied with, refuse to approve
the transfer of the cell.
(10) The registrar may not approve
the transfer of a cell under paragraph (9) if the transfer would be
inconsistent with the memorandum or articles of the cell, the cell company
transferring the cell or the cell company to which it is to be transferred.
(11) If the registrar approves the
transfer of the cell –
(a) the
cell is transferred to the cell company specified in the transfer agreement in
relation to the cell to be the cell company to which it is to be transferred;
(b) the
cell ceases to be a cell of the cell company that transferred it;
(c) the
cell becomes a cell of the company to which it has been transferred;
(d) the
registrar shall register the transfer of the cell, and the memorandum and
articles, delivered to the registrar under paragraph (6);
(e) the
registrar shall, in the case of –
(i) the transfer of a
cell to an incorporated cell company, issue a certificate of incorporation of
the cell under Article 9 as if he or she had received an application for
the creation of the cell under Article 127YA, or
(ii) the
transfer of a cell to a protected cell company, issue a certificate of
recognition of the cell under Article 9 as if he or she had received an
application for the creation of the cell under Article 127YA and Article 127YC(10)
applied in relation to the cell; and
(f) the
registrar shall record that the cell has ceased to be a cell of the company
that transferred the cell.
(12) If a cell that was a cell of
an incorporated cell company is transferred under paragraph (11)(a) –
(a) all
property and rights to which the cell was entitled immediately before the
transfer shall –
(i) if the transfer
is to an incorporated cell company, remain the property and rights of the cell,
or
(ii) if
the transfer is to a protected cell company, become the property and rights of
that company in respect of the cell;
(b) the
liabilities, and all contracts, debts and other obligations to which the cell
was subject immediately before the transfer shall –
(i) if the transfer
is to an incorporated cell company, remain the liabilities, contracts, debts
and other obligations of the cell, or
(ii) if
the transfer is to a protected cell company, become the liabilities, contracts,
debts and other obligations of that company in respect of the cell; and
(c) all
actions and other legal proceedings which, immediately before the transfer were
pending by or against the cell may –
(i) if the transfer
is to an incorporated cell company, be continued by or against the cell, or
(ii) if
the transfer is to a protected cell company, be continued by or against that
company in respect of the cell.
(13) If a cell that was a cell of
a protected cell company is transferred under paragraph (11)(a) –
(a) all
property and rights of that company in respect of the cell immediately before
the transfer shall –
(i) if the transfer
is to an incorporated cell company, become the property and rights of the cell,
or
(ii) if
the transfer is to a protected cell company, become the property and rights of
that company in respect of that cell;
(b) all
liabilities, contracts, debts and other obligations of that company in respect
of the cell, to which the protected cell company was subject immediately before
the transfer shall –
(i) if the transfer
is to an incorporated cell company, become the liabilities, contracts, debts
and other obligations of the cell, or
(ii) if
the transfer is to a protected cell company, become the liabilities, contracts,
debts and other obligations of that company in respect of the cell; and
(c) all
actions and other legal proceedings that, immediately before the transfer, were
pending by or against the protected cell company in respect of the cell
may –
(i) if the transfer
is to an incorporated cell company, be continued by or against the cell, or
(ii) if
the transfer is to a protected cell company, be continued by or against that
company in respect of the cell.
(14) The operation of paragraphs (11),
(12) and (13) shall not be regarded –
(a) as a
breach of contract or confidence or otherwise as a civil wrong;
(b) as a
breach of any contractual provision prohibiting, restricting or regulating the
assignment or transfer of rights or liabilities; or
(c) as
giving rise to any remedy by a party to a contract or other instrument, as an
event of default under any contract or other instrument or as causing or
permitting the termination of any contract or other instrument, or of any
obligation or relationship.
127YIA Company may become cell of
cell company[435]
(1) A company (“the
transferring company”) that is not a cell company may become a cell of a cell
company by being transferred to the cell company.
(2) The companies shall
enter into a written agreement (the “transfer agreement”) that sets
out the terms of the transfer.
(3) A transfer of a
transferring company is provisionally approved if –
(a) the
directors of the transferring company have approved the transfer agreement;
(b) the
transfer agreement is approved by a special resolution of the cell company to
which the transferring company is to be transferred; and
(c) any
of the following occur –
(i) the transfer
agreement is sanctioned by the court as an arrangement in accordance with
Article 125,
(ii) the
transfer agreement is consented to by all the members of the transferring
company and all the creditors (if any) of that company,
(iii) where
the agreement of all the creditors of the transferring company cannot be
obtained, the transfer is authorized by a special resolution of the
transferring company and sanctioned by the court on it being satisfied that no
creditor of the transferring company will be materially prejudiced by the
transfer.
(4) Each director of a
transferring company who has approved a transfer agreement under which the
company shall be transferred to a cell company shall, as soon as practicable
after the transfer has been provisionally approved in accordance with paragraph (3) –
(a) sign
a declaration stating that the director believes on reasonable grounds
that –
(i) the transferring
company is able to discharge its liabilities as they fall due,
(ii) there
are no creditors of the transferring company whose interests will be unfairly
prejudiced by the company becoming a cell of the cell company, and
(iii) the
transfer has been provisionally approved in accordance with paragraph (3);
and
(b) ensure
that a copy of the declaration is, as soon as practicable, delivered to the
cell company to which the transferring company is to be transferred.
(5) A director who makes a
declaration under paragraph (4) without having reasonable grounds to do so
is guilty of an offence.
(6) The cell company to
which the transferring company is to be transferred shall, within 21 days
of receiving the declaration required to be delivered to the cell company under
paragraph (4)(b), deliver to the registrar –
(a) a
copy of the special resolution of the cell company provisionally approving the
transfer agreement;
(b) a
copy of the transfer agreement;
(c) a
copy of the memorandum and the articles that it is intended the transferring
company shall have when it is transferred; and
(d) a
declaration made in accordance with paragraph (4), signed by each director
of the transferring company.
(7) If a cell company fails
to deliver the documents mentioned in paragraph (6) within the period
specified in that paragraph, the company, and every officer of it who is in
default, is guilty of an offence.
(8) If a cell company
delivers to the registrar, within the period specified in paragraph (6),
the special resolution of that company provisionally approving the transfer
agreement, the company shall be taken to have complied with the requirements of
Article 100(1) in relation to that resolution.
(9) The registrar may,
after receiving the documents referred to in paragraph (6) in relation to
the transfer of a transferring company –
(a) if
the requirements of this Article have been complied with, approve the transfer
of the transferring company; or
(b) if
the requirements of this Article have not been complied with, refuse to approve
the transfer of the transferring company.
(10) The registrar may not approve
the transfer of a transferring company under paragraph (9) if the transfer
would be inconsistent with the memorandum, or articles, of the transferring
company or of the cell company to which the transferring company is to be
transferred.
(11) If the registrar approves the
transfer of the transferring company –
(a) the
transferring company is transferred to the cell company specified in the
transfer agreement in relation to the transferring company to be the cell
company to which it is to be transferred;
(b) the
transferring company ceases to be a company that is not a cell;
(c) the
transferring company becomes a cell of the cell company;
(d) the
registrar shall register the transfer of the transferring company, and the
memorandum and articles, delivered to the registrar under paragraph (6);
(e) the
registrar shall, in the case of –
(i) the transfer of a
transferring company to an incorporated cell company, issue a certificate of
incorporation of the cell under Article 9 as if he or she had received an
application for the creation of the cell under Article 127YA, or
(ii) the
transfer of a transferring company to a protected cell company, issue a
certificate of recognition of the cell under Article 9 as if he or she had
received an application for the creation of the cell under Article 127YA
and Article 127YC(10) applied in relation to the cell; and
(f) the
registrar shall record that the transferring company has ceased to be a company
that is not a cell.
(12) If a transferring company is
transferred under paragraph (11)(a) –
(a) all
property and rights to which the company was entitled immediately before the
transfer shall –
(i) if the company
became a cell of an incorporated cell company, become the property and rights
of the cell, or
(ii) if
the company became a cell of a protected cell company, become the property and
rights of the protected cell company in respect of the cell;
(b) the
liabilities, and all contracts, debts and other obligations to which the
transferring company was subject immediately before the transfer shall –
(i) if the company
became a cell of an incorporated cell company, become the liabilities,
contracts, debts and other obligations of the cell, or
(ii) if
the company became a cell of a protected cell company, become the liabilities,
contracts, debts and other obligations of the protected cell company in respect
of the cell;
(c) all
actions and other legal proceedings which, immediately before the transfer were
pending by or against the cell as a company may –
(i) if the company
became a cell of an incorporated cell, be continued by or against the cell, or
(ii) if
the company became a cell of a protected cell company, be continued by or
against the protected cell company in respect of the cell.
(13) The operation of paragraphs (11)
and (12) shall not be regarded –
(a) as a
breach of contract or confidence or otherwise as a civil wrong;
(b) as a
breach of any contractual provision prohibiting, restricting or regulating the
assignment or transfer of rights or liabilities; or
(c) as
giving rise to any remedy by a party to a contract or other instrument, as an
event of default under any contract or other instrument or as causing or
permitting the termination of any contract or other instrument, or of any
obligation or relationship.
127YJ Application of
Part 21 to cell companies
(1) Where a cell company
with one or more cells is being wound up under Part 21 the company shall
not be taken to have no assets and no liabilities while the company continues
to have any such cell.
(2) Accordingly, in the
course of the winding up of the company, each cell of the company
must –
(a) be
transferred to another cell company;
(b) be
wound up;
(c) be
continued as a body corporate or cell under the law of another jurisdiction;
(d) be
incorporated independently of the cell company; or
(e) be
merged with another company.
127YL Names of incorporated
cell companies
(1) The name of an
incorporated cell company must end with the words “Incorporated Cell
Company” or with the abbreviation “ICC”.
(2) A company that is
registered with a name that ends with the words “Incorporated Cell
Company” or the abbreviation “ICC” may, in setting out or
using its name for any purpose under this Law, do so in full or in the
abbreviated form, as it determines.
(3) An incorporated cell
company must assign a distinctive name to each of its cells that –
(a) distinguishes
the cell from any other cell of the company; and
(b) ends
with the words “Incorporated Cell” or with the abbreviation
“IC”.[436]
(4) Article 13(2)
(which specifies how the name of a limited company must end) shall not apply to
a cell of an incorporated cell company where the cell is a limited company.
127YM Restriction on alteration of
memorandum or article
(1) The power conferred by
Article 11 on a company to alter its memorandum or articles shall not be
exercisable by a company to provide for it to be a cell company
unless –
(a) the
alteration is sanctioned by the court as an arrangement in accordance with
Article 125;
(b) the
alteration is consented to by all the members of the company and all the
creditors of the company; or
(c) if
the consent of all the creditors of the company cannot be obtained, the
alteration is authorized by a special resolution of the company and sanctioned
by the court on it being satisfied that no creditor will be materially
prejudiced by the alteration.[437]
(2) The power conferred by
Article 11 on a cell company to alter its memorandum or articles shall not
be exercisable by a cell company to provide for it to cease to be a cell
company, or for it to convert from an incorporated cell company to a protected
cell company or from a protected cell company to an incorporated cell company,
unless –
(a) the
alteration is authorized by a special resolution of the company and of each
cell of the company, and sanctioned by the court in accordance with Article 125;
(b) the
alteration is consented to by all the members of the company, all the members
of each cell of the company, and all the creditors of the company and of each
cell of the company; or
(c) where
the consent of all the creditors of the company and of each cell of the company
cannot be obtained, the alteration is authorized by a special resolution of the
company and of each cell of the company, and sanctioned by the court on it
being satisfied that no such creditor will be materially prejudiced by the
alteration.
(3) Where a company seeks
to change its status in accordance with paragraph (1) or paragraph (2)
the registrar shall issue under Article 9 a certificate of incorporation
that is appropriate to the altered status of the company if there is delivered
to the registrar –
(a) a
copy of the special resolution that alters its memorandum and its name; and
(b) evidence
satisfactory to the registrar that the requirements of paragraphs (1) or
paragraph (2), as appropriate, have been met.
(4) Where a company changes
its status in accordance with paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) the
change of status shall take effect when the registrar issues a certificate of
incorporation in accordance with paragraph (3).
(5) Where a company changes
its status in accordance with this paragraph the special resolution required
under Article 11 for it to do so must include any change of name of the
company necessary for it to comply with this Law.
(6) A body that is
incorporated outside Jersey may, with the approval of the Commission, change
its status in the manner set out in this Article as part of the process of
obtaining the issue of a certificate of continuance in accordance with Part 18C.
(7) A change of status of a
company to which paragraph (6) applies shall have effect on the issue of
the certificate of continuance in accordance with Article 127O.
(8) When a certificate of
incorporation is, in accordance with paragraph (3), issued under Article 9
in relation to a protected cell company that has become an incorporated cell
company –
(a) the
registrar shall, at the same time, issue in relation to each cell of the cell
company a certificate of incorporation under Article 9 as if he or she had
received an application for the creation of the cell under Article 127YA
after the company had become an incorporated cell company;
(b) the
certificate of recognition issued to each cell of the cell company under
Article 9 as modified by Article 127YC(10) shall cease to have
effect; and
(c) Article 127YI
(11), (13) and (14) shall apply in relation to each cell of the protected cell
company as if the cell had been transferred to the protected cell company under
Article 127YI.[438]
(9) When a certificate of
incorporation is, in accordance with paragraph (3), issued under Article 9
in relation to an incorporated cell company that has become a protected cell
company –
(a) the
registrar shall, at the same time, issue under Article 9 in relation to
each cell of the cell company a certificate of recognition as if he or she had
received an application for the creation of the cell under Article 127YA
after the company had become a protected cell company;
(b) the
certificate of incorporation issued to each cell of the cell company under
Article 9 as modified by Article 127YC(10) shall cease to have
effect; and
(c) Article 127YI
(11), (12) and (14) shall apply in relation to each cell of the protected cell
company as if the cell had been transferred to the protected cell company under
Article 127YI.[439]
127YN Power of States to amend Part
The States may amend this Part by Regulations.
T127YN [440]
Chapter
2 – Protected cell companies
127YO Interpretation
In this Chapter –
“cellular assets”, in respect of a protected cell
company, means the assets of the company attributable solely to the cell or
cells of the company;
“cellular liabilities”, in respect of a protected cell
company, means the liabilities of the company attributable solely to a cell or
cells of the company;
“non-cellular assets”, in respect of a protected cell
company, means its assets that are not its cellular assets;
“non-cellular liabilities”, in respect of a protected
cell company, means its liabilities that are not its cellular liabilities.
127YP Status of cells of
protected cell companies
(1) A cell of a protected
cell company is not a body corporate and has no legal identity separate from
that of its cell company.
(2) However, a cell of a
protected cell company may enter into an agreement with its cell company or
with another cell of the company that shall be enforceable as if each cell of
the company were a body corporate that had a legal identity separate from that
of its cell company.
(3) Where a protected cell
company is liable for any criminal penalty, under this Law or otherwise, due to
the act or default of a cell of the company or of an officer of a cell of the
company, the penalty –
(a) may
only be met by the company from the cellular assets of the cell; and
(b) shall
not be enforceable in any way against any other assets of the company, whether
cellular or non-cellular.
127YQ Membership of protected cell
company
(1) In a protected cell
company –
(a) its
non-cell members are members of the company but are not, by virtue of being
such members, members of any cell of the company; and
(b) the
cell members of a cell created by the company are members of that cell but are
not, by virtue of being such members, members of the company or of any other
cell of the company.
(2) In paragraph (1) –
“cell member”, in respect of a protected cell company,
means –
(a) a
registered holder of a share in a cell of the company; or
(b) a
guarantee member of a cell of the company;
“non-cell member”, in respect of a protected cell
company, means –
(a) a
registered holder of a share in the company that is not a share in a cell of
the company; or
(b) a
guarantor member of the company who is not a guarantor member of the company by
virtue of being a guarantee member of a cell of the company.
127YR Additional duties of
directors of protected cell companies
(1) A director of a
protected cell company must exercise his or her powers and must discharge his
or her duties in such a way as shall best ensure that –
(a) the
cellular assets of the company are kept separate and are separately
identifiable from the non-cellular assets of the company; and
(b) the
cellular assets attributable to each cell of the company are kept separate and
are separately identifiable from the cellular assets attributable to other
cells of the company.
(2) A director of a
protected cell company must ensure, when the company enters into an agreement
in respect of a cell of the company –
(a) that the other party to the
transaction knows or ought reasonably to know that the cell company is acting
in respect of a particular cell; and
(b) that
the minutes of any meeting of directors held with regard to the agreement
clearly record the fact that the company was entering into the agreement in
respect of the cell and that the obligation imposed by sub-paragraph (a)
was or will be complied with.[441]
(3) A director who fails to
comply with the requirements of paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) shall
be guilty of an offence.
(4) The duties of a
director of a protected cell company under this Article are in addition to
those under Article 74.
127YS Names of protected cell
companies
(1) The name of a protected
cell company must end with the words “Protected Cell Company” or
with the abbreviation “PCC”.
(2) A company that is
registered with a name that ends with the words “Protected Cell
Company” or the abbreviation “PCC” may, in setting out or
using its name for any purpose under this Law, do so in full or in the
abbreviated form, as it determines.
(3) A protected cell
company must assign a distinctive name to each of its cells that –
(a) distinguishes
the cell from any other cell of the company; and
(b) ends
with the words “Protected Cell” or with the abbreviation
“PC”.
(4) Article 13(2)
(which specifies how the name of a limited company must end) shall not apply to
a cell of a protected cell company where the cell has the features of a limited
company.
127YT Liability of protected
cell company and its cells
(1) Where a protected cell
company –
(a) enters
into a transaction in respect of a particular cell of the company; or
(b) incurs
a liability arising from an activity or asset of a particular cell,
a claim by any person in connection with the transaction or
liability extends only to the cellular assets of the cell.
(2) Where a protected cell
company –
(a) enters
into a transaction in its own right and not in respect of any of its cells;
(b) incurs
a liability arising from an activity of the company in its own right and not in
respect of any of its cells; or
(c) incurs
a liability arising from an asset held by the company in its own right and not
in respect of any of its cells,
a claim by any person in connection with the transaction or
liability extends only to the non-cellular assets of the company.
(3) Except as provided by
paragraphs (4) and (6), a protected cell company has no power –
(a) to
meet any liability attributable to a particular cell of the company from the
non-cellular assets of the company; or
(b) to meet any liability, whether attributable to a particular cell or not, from the
cellular assets of another cell of the company.
(4) If –
(a) a protected cell company is permitted to do so under its articles;
and
(b) the
requirement set out in paragraph (5) is satisfied,
the company may meet any liability attributable to a particular cell
of the company from the company’s non-cellular assets.
(5) The requirement
mentioned in paragraph (4)(b) is that prior to the protected cell company
meeting any liability attributable to the particular cell from the
company’s non-cellular assets the directors who are to authorize the
liability being met in such a way must make a statement that, having made full
enquiry into the affairs and prospects of the company, they have formed the
opinion –
(a) that,
immediately following the date on which the liability is proposed to be met by
the non-cellular assets of the company, the company will be able to discharge
its non-cellular liabilities as they fall due; and
(b) that,
having regard to the prospects of the company and to the intentions of the
directors with respect to the management of the company’s business and to
the amount and character of the financial resources that will in their view be
available to the company, the company will be able to continue to carry on
business and will be able to discharge its non-cellular liabilities as they
fall due until the expiry of the period of one year immediately following the
date on which the liability is proposed to be met by the non-cellular assets of
the company or until the company is dissolved under Article 150, whichever
first occurs.[442]
(6) A protected cell
company may meet any liability, whether attributable to a particular cell or
not, from the cellular assets of another cell if –
(a) it
is permitted to do so by the articles of that other cell; and
(b) the requirement set out in paragraph (7) is satisfied.
(7) The requirement
mentioned in paragraph (6)(b) is that prior to the protected cell company
meeting any liability from the cellular assets of that other cell the directors
who are to authorize the liability being met in such a way must make a
statement that, having made full enquiry into the affairs and prospects of that
cell, they have formed the opinion –
(a) that,
immediately following the date on which the liability is proposed to be met by
the cellular assets of the cell, the cell will be able to discharge its
liabilities as they fall due; and
(b) that,
having regard to the prospects of the cell and to the intentions of the
directors with respect to the management of the cell’s business and to
the amount and character of the financial resources that will in their view be
available to the cell, the cell will be able to continue to carry on business
and will be able to discharge its liabilities as they fall due until the expiry
of the period of one year immediately following the date on which the liability
is proposed to be met by the cellular assets of the cell or until the cell is
dissolved, as if it were a company, under Article 150, whichever first
occurs.
(8) A director who makes a
statement under paragraph (5) or paragraph (7) without having
reasonable grounds for the opinion expressed in the statement is guilty of an
offence.
127YU Protection of cellular
and non-cellular assets of protected cell companies[443]
(1) Where a creditor of a
protected cell company has a claim against the company in respect of a
particular cell of the company (in this Article called “the relevant
cell”) by virtue of a transaction to which Article 127YT(1) applies,
only the cellular assets of the company held by it in respect of the relevant
cell shall be available to the creditor.
(2) Where a creditor of a
protected cell company has a claim against the company by virtue of a
transaction to which Article 127YT(1) does not apply, the cellular assets
of the company shall not be available to the creditor.
(3) Accordingly –
(a) a
creditor of the company to whom paragraph (1) applies only has the right
to seek by proceedings or by any other means, whether in Jersey or elsewhere,
to make or attempt to make the cellular assets of the company held by it in
respect of the relevant cell available for all or any part of the amount owed
to the creditor; and
(b) a
creditor of the company to whom paragraph (2) applies has no right to seek
by proceedings or by any other means, whether in Jersey or elsewhere, to make
or attempt to make the cellular assets of the company available for all or any
part of the amount owed to the creditor.
(4) If a creditor of a
protected cell company to whom paragraph (1) applies succeeds, whether in
Jersey or elsewhere, in making available for all or any part of the amount owed
to the creditor any assets of the company that are not its cellular assets held
by it in respect of the relevant cell, the creditor shall be liable to pay to
the company an amount equal to the benefit so obtained.
(5) If a creditor of a
protected cell company to whom paragraph (2) applies succeeds, whether in
Jersey or elsewhere, in making available for all or any part of the amount owed
to the creditor any cellular assets of the company, the creditor shall be
liable to pay to the company an amount equal to the benefit so obtained.
(6) Any amount recovered by
a protected cell company in respect of a cell of the company by virtue of
paragraph (4) or paragraph (5), and the right to claim that amount,
shall form part of the cellular assets of the company held by it in respect of
the cell.
(7) If a creditor of a
protected cell company to whom paragraph (1) applies succeeds, whether in
Jersey or elsewhere in seizing or attaching or otherwise levying execution
against any assets of the company, that are not its cellular assets held by it
in respect of the relevant cell, for all or any part of the amount owed to the
creditor, the creditor shall hold those assets or their proceeds on trust for
the company or, as the case may be, the cell of the company whose cellular
assets were wrongfully seized or attached.
(8) If a creditor of a
protected cell company to whom paragraph (2) applies succeeds, whether in
Jersey or elsewhere in seizing or attaching or otherwise levying execution
against any cellular assets of the company for all or any part of the amount
owed to the creditor, the creditor shall hold those assets or their proceeds on
trust for the cell of the company whose cellular assets were wrongfully seized
or attached.
(9) Where paragraph (7)
or paragraph (8) applies, the creditor must –
(a) keep
the assets so held on trust separated and identifiable as trust property; and
(b) pay
or return them on demand to the protected cell company,
and shall be guilty of an offence if he or she fails to do so.
(10) Any amount recovered by a
protected cell company by virtue of a trust mentioned in paragraph (7)
shall form part of the non-cellular assets of the company or, as the case may
be, the cellular assets of the cell of the company whose cellular assets were
wrongfully seized or attached.
(11) Any amount recovered by a
protected cell company by virtue of a trust mentioned in paragraph (8)
shall form part of the cellular assets of the cell of the company whose
cellular assets were wrongfully seized or attached.
(12) If a creditor becomes liable
to pay an amount or to return assets to a protected cell company under
paragraph (4), paragraph (5) or paragraph (9)(b) and no amount
or an insufficient amount is received, or no assets or less than all the assets
are recovered, the company must cause or procure an auditor, acting as an
expert and not as an arbitrator, to certify the loss suffered by the company
and then, as the case may be –
(a) transfer
to the company from the cellular assets of the relevant cell, if the liability
was attributable to it, an amount sufficient to make good the loss suffered by
the company’s cellular or non-cellular assets, as the case may be; or
(b) transfer
from its non-cellular assets, if the liability was attributable to them an
amount sufficient to make good the loss suffered by its the cellular assets.
(13) Where an amount transferred
by virtue of paragraph (12)(a) was in respect of a loss suffered by the
company’s cellular assets, the amount transferred shall be transferred to
the cell of the company whose cellular assets were wrongfully made available to
a creditor or seized, attached or executed against.
(14) An amount transferred by
virtue of paragraph (12)(b) shall be transferred to the cell of the
company whose cellular assets were wrongfully made available to a creditor or
seized, attached or executed against.
(15) If a company fails to comply
with paragraph (12), (13) or (14) the company and every officer of it who
is in default is guilty of an offence.
(16) Paragraphs (4) to (14)
do not apply to any payment made to a creditor by a protected cell company in
accordance with Article 127YT(4) or Article 127YT(6).
127YV Effect of commencement
of summary winding up of protected cell company
(1) Where a protected cell
company is being wound up, Article 148(2) shall not apply in respect of any
cell of the company.
(2) Where a cell of a
protected cell company is being wound up, Article 148(2) shall not apply
in respect of the company or any other cell of the company.
127YW Court may determine liability
of protected cells companies
(1) The court, on the
application of a protected cell company, may determine, in accordance with this
Part, if a liability of the company is to be met by its non-cellular assets, by
the cellular assets of a specific cell of the company or by a combination of
those assets.[444]
(2) The court, on the
application of a protected cell company, may determine, in accordance with this
Part, if, or to what extent, an asset of the company is a cellular asset or a
non-cellular asset of any of the cells of the cell company.[445]
PART 19
INVESTIGATIONS
128 Appointment of inspectors[446]
(1) The Minister or the
Commission may appoint one or more competent inspectors to investigate the
affairs of a company and to report on them as the Minister or the Commission
may direct.[447]
(2) The appointment may be
made on the application of the registrar, the company or a member, officer or
creditor of the company.
(3) The Minister or the
Commission may, before appointing inspectors, require the applicant, other than
the registrar, to give security, to an amount not exceeding £10,000 or
such other sum as may be prescribed for payment of the costs of the
investigation.[448]
(4) This Article applies
whether or not the company is being wound up.
(5) In any case where the
Minister or the Commission may exercise a discretion under this Article, the
decision of the Minister shall prevail.[449]
129 Powers of inspectors
(1) If inspectors appointed
under Article 128 to investigate the affairs of a company think it
necessary for the purposes of their investigation to investigate also the
affairs of another body corporate which is or at any relevant time has been the
company’s subsidiary or holding company, or a subsidiary of its holding
company or a holding company of its subsidiary, they shall have power to do so;
and they shall report on the affairs of the other body corporate so far as they
think that the results of their investigation of its affairs are relevant to
the investigation of the affairs of the first mentioned company.
(2) Inspectors so appointed
may at any time in the course of their investigation, without the necessity of
making an interim report, inform the Minister or the Commission as the case may
be and the Attorney General of matters coming to their knowledge as a result of
the investigation tending to show that an offence has been committed.[450]
(3) Where, for the purposes
of paragraph (1) –
(a) the
company is a cell company, that paragraph shall extend to any cell of the
company, whether present or past; or
(b) the
company is or was a cell of a cell company, that paragraph shall extend to its
cell company and to any other cell of the cell company, whether past or
present.[451]
130 Production of records and evidence to inspectors
(1) If inspectors appointed
under Article 128 consider that any person is or may be in possession of
information relating to a matter which they believe to be relevant to the
investigation, they may require the person –
(a) to
produce and make available to them all records in the person’s custody or
power relating to that matter;
(b) at
reasonable times and on reasonable notice, to attend before them; and
(c) otherwise
to give them all assistance in connection with the investigation which the
person is reasonably able to give,
and it is that person’s duty to comply with the requirement.
(2) Inspectors may for the
purposes of the investigation examine on oath any such person as is mentioned
in paragraph (1), and may administer an oath accordingly.
(3) A person who, being
required under paragraph (1) to answer any question which is put to him or
her by an inspector –
(a) knowingly
or recklessly makes a statement which is false, misleading or deceptive in a
material particular; or
(b) knowingly
or recklessly withholds any information the omission of which makes the
information which is furnished misleading or deceptive in a material
particular,
is guilty of an offence.[452]
(4) An answer given by a
person to a question put to him or her in exercise of the powers conferred by
this Article may not be used in evidence against him or her in any criminal proceedings
except –
(a) proceedings
in which the person is charged with knowingly or recklessly making a false
statement in the course of being examined on oath under paragraph (2);
(b) proceedings
under paragraph (3); or
(c) proceedings
for contempt of court under Article 134(2).[453]
131 Power of inspectors to call for directors’ bank accounts
If inspectors appointed under Article 128 have reasonable
grounds for believing that a director, or past director, of the company or
other body corporate whose affairs they are investigating maintains or has
maintained a bank account of any description, whether alone or jointly with
another person and whether in Jersey or elsewhere, into or out of which there
has been paid money which has been in any way connected with an act or
omission, or series of acts or omissions, which constitutes misconduct (whether
fraudulent or not) on the part of that director towards the company or other
body corporate or its members, the inspectors may require the director to
produce and make available to them all records in the director’s
possession or under the director’s control relating to that bank account.
132 Authority for search
(1) Inspectors appointed
under Article 128 may for the purpose of an investigation under that
Article apply to the Bailiff for a warrant under this Article in relation to
specified premises.
(2) If the Bailiff is
satisfied that the conditions in paragraph (3) are fulfilled the Bailiff
may issue a warrant authorizing a police officer and any other person named in
the warrant to enter the specified premises (using such force as is reasonably
necessary for the purpose) and to search them.
(3) The conditions referred
to in paragraph (2) are –
(a) that
there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is on the premises
material (whether or not it can be particularised) which is likely to be of
substantial value (whether by itself or together with other material) to the
investigation for the purpose of which the application is made; and
(b) that
the investigation for the purposes of which the application is made might be
seriously prejudiced unless immediate entry can be secured to the premises.
(4) Where a person has
entered premises in the execution of a warrant issued under this Article, the
person may seize and retain any material, other than items subject to legal
professional privilege, which is likely to be of substantial value (whether by
itself or together with other material) to the investigation for the purpose of
which the warrant was issued.
(5) In this Article,
“premises” includes any place and, in particular,
includes –
(a) any
vehicle, vessel, aircraft or hovercraft;
(b) any
offshore installation; and
(c) any
tent or movable structure.
133 Obstruction
Any person who wilfully obstructs any person acting in the execution
of a warrant issued under Article 132 is guilty of an offence.
134 Failure to co-operate with inspectors
(1) If any
person –
(a) fails
to comply with a requirement under Article 130 or 131; or
(b) refuses
to answer any question put to the person by the inspectors for the purpose of
the investigation,
the inspectors may certify the refusal in writing to the court.
(2) The court may thereupon
inquire into the case and, after hearing any witness who may be produced
against or on behalf of the alleged offender and any statement in defence, the
court may punish the offender as if the person had been guilty of contempt of
the court.
135 Inspectors’ reports
(1) The inspectors may, and
if so directed by the Minister or the Commission shall –
(a) make
interim reports; and
(b) on
conclusion of their investigation make a final report,
to the Minister or the Commission as the case may be.[454]
(2) The Minister or the
Commission may –
(a) forward
a copy of any report made by the inspectors to the company’s registered
office;
(b) furnish
a copy on request and on payment of the prescribed or published fee
to –
(i) any member of the
company or other body corporate which is the subject of the report,
(ii) any
person whose conduct is referred to in the report,
(iii) the
auditors of the company or that body corporate,
(iv) the
applicants for the investigation,
(v) a relevant supervisory
authority, or
(vi) any
person whose financial interests appear to the Minister or the Commission to be
affected by the matters dealt with in the report, whether as a creditor of the
company or as a body corporate, or otherwise; and
(c) cause
the report to be printed and published.[455]
(3) In this Article,
“relevant supervisory authority” means an authority discharging in
a country or territory outside Jersey any function that is the same as, or
similar to, a function of the Commission.[456]
136 Power to bring civil proceedings on behalf of body corporate
(1) If, from any report
made or information obtained under this Part, it appears to the Minister or the
Commission that civil proceedings ought in the public interest to be brought by
a body corporate, the Minister or the Commission may bring those proceedings in
the name and on behalf of the body corporate.[457]
(2) The Minister or the
Commission shall at the expense of the States or the Commission as appropriate
indemnify the body corporate against any costs or expenses incurred by it in or
in connection with proceedings brought under this Article.[458]
(3) In any case where the
Minister or the Commission may exercise a discretion under this Article, the
decision of the Minister shall prevail.[459]
137 Expenses of investigating a company’s affairs
(1) The expenses of and
incidental to an investigation by inspectors shall be defrayed in the first
instance by the Minister or the Commission, but the following are liable to
make repayment to the Minister or the Commission to the extent
specified –
(a) a
person who –
(i) is convicted in
proceedings on a prosecution instituted as a result of the investigation, or
(ii) is
ordered to pay the whole or any part of the proceedings brought under Article 136,
may in the same proceedings be ordered to pay those expenses to the
extent specified in the order;
(b) a
body corporate in whose name proceedings are brought under that Article is
liable to the amount or value of any sums or property recovered by it as a
result of those proceedings;
(c) a
body corporate which has been the subject of the investigation is liable except
so far as the Minister or the Commission otherwise directs; and
(d) the
applicant or applicants for the investigation (other than the registrar), is or
are liable to the extent (if any) which the Minister or the Commission may
direct.[460]
(2) For the purposes of
this Article, costs or expenses incurred by the Minister or the Commission in
or in connection with proceedings brought under Article 136 (including
expenses incurred under paragraph (2) of it) are to be treated as expenses
of the investigation giving rise to the proceedings.[461]
(3) A liability to repay
the Minister or the Commission imposed by paragraph (1)(a) or (b) is
(subject to satisfaction of the Minister’s or Commission’s right to
repayment) a liability also to indemnify all persons against liability under
sub-paragraph (c) or (d) of that paragraph; and a liability imposed by
sub-paragraph (a) is (subject as mentioned above) a liability also to
indemnify all persons against liability under sub-paragraph (b).[462]
(4) A person liable under
paragraph (1) is entitled to a contribution from any other person liable
under the same paragraph according to the amount of their respective
liabilities under it.
(5) Expenses to be defrayed
by the Minister or the Commission under this Article shall, so far as not
recovered under it, be paid out of money provided by the States or the
Commission as appropriate.[463]
(6) There shall be treated
as expenses of the investigation, in particular, such reasonable sums as the
Minister or the Commission may determine in respect of general staff costs and
overheads.[464]
138 Inspectors’ report to be evidence
(1) A copy of a report of
inspectors certified by the Minister or the Commission to be a true copy, is
admissible in legal proceedings as evidence of the opinion of the inspectors in
relation to a matter contained in the report.[465]
(2) A document purporting
to be a certificate mentioned in paragraph (1) shall be received in
evidence and be deemed to be such a certificate unless the contrary is proved.
139 Privileged information
Nothing in this Part requires the disclosure or production, to the Commission or to an inspector appointed by the Minister or
the Commission –
(a) by a person of
information or records which the person would in an action in the court be
entitled to refuse to disclose or produce on the grounds of legal professional
privilege in proceedings in the court except, if the person is a lawyer, the
name and address of his or her client;
(b) by a company’s
bankers (as such) of information or records relating to the affairs of any of
their customers other than the company or other body corporate under
investigation.[466]
140 Investigation of external companies
This Part applies to external companies and to bodies corporate
which have at any time been external companies as if they were companies under
this Law, but subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be specified
in Regulations made by the States.
PART 20
UNFAIR PREJUDICE
141 Power for member to apply to court
(1) A member of a company
may apply to the court for an order under Article 143 on the ground that
the company’s affairs are being or have been conducted in a manner which
is unfairly prejudicial to the interests of its members generally or of some
part of its members (including at least the member) or that an actual or
proposed act or omission of the company (including an act or omission on its
behalf) is or would be so prejudicial.
(2) The provisions of this
Article and Articles 142 and 143 apply to a person who is not a member of
a company but to whom shares in the company have been transferred or
transmitted by operation of law, as those provisions apply to a member of the
company; and references to a member or members are to be construed accordingly.
142 Power for Minister or the Commission to apply to court[467]
(1) If in the case of a
company –
(a) the
Minister or the Commission has received a report under Article 135; and
(b) it
appears to the Minister or the Commission that the company’s affairs are
being or have been conducted in a manner which is unfairly prejudicial to the
interests of its members generally or of some part of its members, or that an
actual or proposed act or omission of the company (including an act or omission
on its behalf) is or would be so prejudicial,
the Minister or the Commission may apply to the court for an order
under Article 143.[468]
(2) In any case where the
Minister or the Commission may exercise a discretion under this Article, the
decision of the Minister shall prevail.[469]
143 Powers of court
(1) If the court is
satisfied that an application under Article 127FB, 127S, 141 or 142 is
well founded, it may make such order as it thinks fit for giving relief in
respect of the matters complained of.[470]
(2) Without prejudice to
the generality of paragraph (1), the court’s order may –
(a) regulate
the conduct of the company’s affairs in the future;
(b) require
the company to refrain from doing or continuing an act complained of by the
applicant or to do an act which the applicant has complained it has omitted to
do;
(c) authorize
civil proceedings to be brought in the name and on behalf of the company by
such person or persons and on such terms as the court may direct; and
(d) provide
for the purchase of the rights of any members of the company by other members
or by the company itself and, in the case of a purchase by the company itself,
the reduction of the company’s capital accounts accordingly.[471]
(3) If an order under this
Article requires the company not to make any, or any specified, alterations in
the memorandum or articles, the company shall not then without leave of the
court make such alterations in breach of that requirement.
(4) An alteration in the
company’s memorandum or articles made by virtue of an order under this
Article is of the same effect as if duly made by resolution of the company, and
the provisions of this Law apply to the memorandum or articles as so altered
accordingly.
(5) The Act of the court
recording the making of an order under this Article altering, or giving leave to
alter, a company’s memorandum or articles shall, within 14 days from the
making of the order or such longer period as the court may allow, be delivered
by the company to the registrar for registration, and if a company fails to
comply with this paragraph, the company is guilty of an offence.
part 20a[472]
Economic substance test
143A Power for Minister for
Treasury and Resources to apply to Court
If the Minister for Treasury and Resources receives a report from
the Comptroller of Taxes under Article 9(5) of the Taxation (Companies – Economic
Substance) (Jersey) Law 2019, that a company has not met the economic
substance test within the meaning of that Law, the Minister for Treasury and
Resources may apply to the court for an order under Article 143B.
143B Powers of court
(1) If, on receiving an
application under Article 143A, the court is satisfied that the company
which is the subject of the report has not met the economic substance test, the
court may make such order as it thinks fit requiring the company to take any
action specified in the order for the purpose of meeting the test, including,
without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any action described in
Article 143(2).
(2) If, under paragraph (1),
a court orders a company to take any action described in Article 143(2),
paragraphs (3) to (5) of that Article shall apply, as if an order under
paragraph (1) were an order under that Article.
PART 21
WINDING UP OF COMPANIES
Chapter 1 – Winding
up of companies of limited duration[473]
144 Procedure – winding up of limited life companies[474]
(1) Where a limited life
company is to be wound up and dissolved upon –
(a) the
expiration of a fixed period of time; or
(b) the
happening of some other event,
specified in its memorandum or articles, and the period expires or
the other event happens, the company shall thereupon be deemed to pass a
special resolution for its winding up summarily.
(2) Within 21 days
thereafter, a notice of the resolution so deemed to be passed shall be
delivered to the registrar.
(3) If a statement of
solvency is made in accordance with Article 146(2) within 28 days after
the event referred to in paragraph (1), and is delivered to the registrar
within 21 days after it is made, the limited life company shall continue to be
wound up summarily in accordance with Chapter 2 of this Part.
(4) If a statement of
solvency is not delivered to the registrar in accordance with paragraph (3),
the limited life company shall be wound up in a creditors’ winding up in
accordance with Chapter 4 of this Part and for that purpose Article 151
shall apply as though the opinion referred to in that Article had been recorded
at the expiration of 28 days after the happening of the event referred to in paragraph (1).
144A Procedure – winding up of other companies of limited duration[475]
(1) Where a company (other
than a limited life company) is to be wound up and dissolved upon the
expiration of a fixed period of time specified in its memorandum or articles,
and the period expires, the company shall deliver to the registrar within 21
days after that period has expired a notice stating –
(a) that
the period has expired; and
(b) the
date of expiration.
(2) If a company fails to
comply with paragraph (1), any director, member or creditor of the company
may, at any time after the expiration of the period of 21 days referred to in
paragraph (1), deliver such a notice to the registrar.
(3) Where a notice is
delivered to the registrar in accordance with paragraph (2), the director,
member or creditor shall at the same time deliver a copy of the notice to the
company.
(4) If a statement of
solvency in accordance with Article 146(2) –
(a) has
been made within 28 days before and is delivered to the registrar with a notice
delivered in accordance with paragraph (1); or
(b) has
been made and is delivered to the registrar within 28 days after a notice is
delivered in accordance with paragraph (2),
the company shall be wound up summarily in accordance with Chapter 2
of this Part.
(5) If, notice having been
delivered in accordance with paragraph (1) or paragraph (2), a
statement of solvency is not made and delivered to the registrar as provided in
paragraph (4), the company shall be wound up in a creditors’ winding
up in accordance with Chapter 4 of this Part and for that purpose the company
shall be deemed to pass a resolution for a creditors’ winding
up –
(a) where
notice is delivered in accordance with paragraph (1), upon delivery of the
notice to the registrar; and
(b) where
notice is delivered in accordance with paragraph (2), upon the expiration
of 28 days after the copy of the notice is delivered to the company.
Chapter 2 – Summary
winding up[476]
145 Application
of this Chapter
(1) This
Chapter applies to the winding up of a company that –
(a) has
no liabilities;
(b) has
liabilities that have already fallen due or that fall due within 6 months
after the commencement of the winding up, that it will be able to discharge in
full within 6 months of the commencement of the winding up;
(c) has
liabilities that will arise more than 6 months after the commencement of
the winding up that it will be able to discharge in full as they fall due; or
(d) has a
combination of the liabilities mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) and (c).
(2) A
winding up under this Chapter is a summary winding up.
146 Procedure
(1) A
company, not being a company in respect of which a declaration has been made
and not recalled under the Désastre Law, may be wound up under this
Chapter –
(a) in
accordance with Article 144;
(b) in
accordance with Article 144A; or
(c) in
the manner set out in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2) That
manner is firstly for the directors of the company to make a statement of
solvency signed by each director that states that, having made full enquiry
into the company’s affairs, each director is satisfied that –
(a) the
company has no assets and no liabilities;
(b) the
company has assets and no liabilities;
(c) the
company will be able to discharge its liabilities in full within the
6 months after the commencement of the winding up;
(d) the
company has liabilities that will fall due more than 6 months after the
commencement of the winding up that it will be able to discharge in full as
they fall due; or
(e) both
sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) apply to the company,
as the case may be.
(3) And
secondly –
(a) for
the company to pass, within 28 days after the statement of solvency has
been signed by the directors, a special resolution that the company be wound up
summarily; and
(b) for a
copy of the special resolution to be delivered to the registrar in accordance
with Article 100 together with the directors’ statement of solvency.
(4) A
director is guilty of an offence if –
(a) he or
she signs a statement of solvency when having no reasonable grounds for making
the statement; and
(b) the
statement is subsequently delivered to the registrar.
147 Commencement
of summary winding up
A summary winding up under
which assets of a company are to be distributed commences –
(a) where
a limited life company has under Article 144(1) been deemed to pass a
special resolution for winding up, upon its being deemed to have passed that
resolution;
(b) where
a company (other than a limited life company) whose existence is limited by a
period of time is wound up pursuant to Article 144A, when a requirement of
Article 144A(4) is complied with; and
(c) in
any other case, when the requirement of Article 146(3)(a) is complied
with.
148 Effect on
status of company
(1) The
corporate state and capacity of a company continues after the commencement of
the company’s summary winding up until the company is dissolved.
(2) However,
the company’s powers shall not be exercised except so far as may be
required –
(a) to
realise its assets;
(b) to
discharge its liabilities; and
(c) to
distribute its assets in accordance with Article 150.
(3) Paragraph (2)
is subject to Articles 154 and 186A.
149 Appointment
of liquidator
(1) A
company may, on or after the commencement of its summary winding up, by special
resolution, appoint a person to be liquidator for the purposes of the winding
up.
(2) On
the appointment of a liquidator the directors cease to be authorized to
exercise their powers in respect of the company and those powers may be
exercised by the liquidator.
(3) Paragraph (2)
is subject to –
(a) the
resolution appointing the liquidator or any subsequent special resolution of
the company providing otherwise; and
(b) Article 150.
(4) Article 83
applies to a liquidator appointed under this Article as it applies to a
director.
150 Application
of assets and dissolution
(1) The
registrar shall register a statement delivered under Article 146 or
paragraph (5) of this Article.
(2) On
the registration by the registrar of a statement delivered under Article 146
that the company has no assets and no liabilities the company is dissolved.
(3) Where
the statement delivered under Article 146 states that the company has
assets and no liabilities the company shall, on the registration of the
statement by the registrar, distribute its assets among its members according
to their rights or otherwise as provided by its memorandum or articles.
(4) Where
the statement delivered under Article 146 states that the company has
liabilities, the company, after the registration of the statement by the
registrar –
(a) shall
satisfy those liabilities as they become due or within 6 months of that
commencement, as the case may be; and
(b) if
the directors of the company reasonably believe that the company is able to pay
any remaining liabilities as they fall due, may then distribute its remaining
assets among its members according to their rights or otherwise as provided by
its memorandum or articles.
(5) As
soon as a company has completed the distribution of its assets in accordance
with paragraph (3) or paragraph (4), it shall deliver to the
registrar a statement signed by each of the directors or, if the distribution
has been completed by a liquidator appointed under Article 149, by the
liquidator, stating that each director or the liquidator, having made full
enquiry into the company’s affairs, is satisfied that the company has no
assets and no liabilities.
(6) The
company is dissolved on the registration of that statement.
(7) A
director or liquidator who signs a statement delivered to the registrar under
paragraph (5) without having reasonable grounds for stating that the
company has no assets and no liabilities is guilty of an offence.
151 Effect of
insolvency
(1) This
Article applies if, after the commencement of a summary winding up of a
company –
(a) a
liquidator appointed in accordance with Article 149 forms the opinion; or
(b) no
liquidator having been appointed under Article 149, the directors of the
company form the opinion,
that the company has
liabilities that it will be unable to discharge within 6 months of the
commencement of the winding up or, if they fall due after that date, as they
fall due.
(2) The
liquidator or directors shall record the opinion –
(a) in
the case of a liquidator, in his or her records of the administration of the
affairs of the company; or
(b) in
the case of directors, in the minutes of a meeting of the directors.
(3) The
liquidator or directors shall give each creditor of the company notice by post
calling a meeting of the creditors to be held in Jersey not less than
14 days after the service of the notice and not more than 28 days
after the opinion was recorded in accordance with paragraph (2).
(4) The
notice shall contain the name of a person nominated as liquidator of the
company for a creditors’ winding up.
(5) The
liquidator or directors shall deliver a copy of the notice to the registrar.
(6) The
liquidator or directors shall also give notice of the meeting of the creditors
of the company by advertisement in the Jersey Gazette not less than
10 days before the day for which the meeting is called.
(7) Before
the meeting the liquidator or directors shall furnish any creditor free of
charge with such information concerning the affairs of the company as the
creditor may reasonably request.
(8) At
the meeting the liquidator or directors shall provide a statement as to the
affairs of the company.
(9) The
statement shall be verified by affidavit by the liquidator or by some or all of
the directors.
(10) At
the creditors’ meeting the liquidator shall preside if one has been
appointed but otherwise a director nominated by the directors shall preside.
(11) From
the day of the creditors’ meeting the winding up becomes a
creditors’ winding up and this Law has effect as if the meeting were the
meeting of creditors mentioned in Article 160 and Article 162 shall
apply accordingly.
(12) A
liquidator or director who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any
of his or her obligations under this Article is guilty of an offence.
152 Remuneration
of liquidator
A liquidator appointed under
Article 149 is entitled to receive from the company the
remuneration –
(a) agreed
between the liquidator and the company before his or her appointment;
(b) subsequently
approved by the company in general meeting; or
(c) subsequently
determined by the court.
153 Cesser of
office by liquidator
A liquidator appointed under
Article 149 –
(a) may
be removed from office by a special resolution of the company; and
(b) shall
vacate office if he or she ceases to be qualified to hold the office.
154 Termination
of summary winding up
(1) Where –
(a) the
summary winding up of a company has commenced;
(b) the
company has not received any contribution from any present or past member
pursuant to Article 192;
(c) the
company has not for the purposes of the winding up distributed any of its
assets among its members;
(d) the
company is able to discharge its liabilities as they fell due; and
(e) termination
of the winding up has been approved by a special resolution of the company,
the documents described in
paragraph (2) may be delivered to the registrar and thereupon the winding
up shall forthwith terminate.
(2) The
documents to be delivered to the registrar pursuant to paragraph (1)
are –
(a) a
certificate signed by all the directors of the company stating
that –
(i) the company has
received no contribution of the type mentioned in paragraph (1)(b),
(ii) the
company has made no distribution of the type mentioned in paragraph (1)(c),
and
(iii) the
company is able to discharge its liabilities as they fell due; and
(b) a
copy of the special resolution approving the termination of the winding up.
(3) Upon
the termination of a winding up pursuant to paragraph (1) –
(a) any
liquidator appointed for the purpose of the winding up shall cease to hold
office; and
(b) the
company and all other persons shall be in the same position, subject to
paragraph (4), as if the winding up had not commenced.
(4) The
termination of a winding up pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not affect the
validity of anything duly done by any liquidator, director or other person, or
by operation of law, before its termination.
(5) A
director who signs a certificate delivered to the registrar pursuant to
paragraph (1) without having reasonable grounds for believing that the
statements in it are true is guilty of an offence.
154A Declaration under
Désastre Law
(1) If –
(a) a
summary winding up of a company has commenced; and
(b) a
declaration is made in respect of the company under the Désastre Law,
the winding up shall
forthwith terminate.
(2) Upon
the termination of the winding up pursuant to paragraph (1) –
(a) any
liquidator appointed for the purpose of the winding up shall cease to hold
office; and
(b) the
company and all other persons shall be in the same position, subject to
paragraph (3), as if the winding up had not commenced.
(3) The
termination of a winding up pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not affect the
validity of any thing duly done by any liquidator, director or other person, or
by operation of law, before the termination.
Chapter 3 – Winding up on just and equitable grounds[477]
155 Power for
court to wind up
(1) A
company, not being a company in respect of which a declaration has been made
(and not recalled) under the Désastre Law, may be wound up by the court
if the court is of the opinion that –
(a) it is
just and equitable to do so; or
(b) it is
expedient in the public interest to do so.
(2) An
application to the court under this Article on the ground mentioned in
paragraph (1)(a) may be made by the company or by a director or a member
of the company or by the Minister or the Minister for Treasury and Resources
following receipt of an Article 9(5) report or the Commission or by a
supervisory body within the meaning of the Proceeds
of Crime (Supervisory Bodies) (Jersey) Law 2008.[478]
(3) An
application to the court under this Article on the ground mentioned in
paragraph (1)(b) may be made by the Minister or by the Minister for
Treasury and Resources following receipt of an Article 9(5) report or by
the Commission.[479]
(4) If
the court orders a company to be wound up under this Article it
may –
(a) appoint
a liquidator;
(b) direct
the manner in which the winding-up is to be conducted; and
(c) make
such orders as it sees fit to ensure that the winding-up is conducted in an
orderly manner.
(5) The
Act of the court ordering the winding up of a company under this
Article –
(a) must
be delivered by the company to the registrar within 14 days after it is made;
and
(b) shall
be recorded by the registrar when he or she receives it.
(6) If
the company fails to comply with paragraph (5)(a), it and every officer of
it in default is guilty of an offence.
(6A) Notwithstanding
paragraph (1), a company may not be wound up under this Article if
Article 94 of the Bank
(Recovery and Resolution) (Jersey) Law 2017 applies.[480]
(7) In
this Article “Article 9(5) report” means a report to the
Minister for Treasury and Resources under Article 9(5) of the Taxation
(Companies – Economic Substance) (Jersey) Law 2019.[481]
Chapter 4 – Creditors’ winding up
156 Application of this Chapter
(1) This Chapter applies to
the winding up of a company otherwise than under Chapter 1, 2 or 3 of this
Part.
(2) A winding up under this
Chapter is a creditors’ winding up.
157 Procedure[482]
A company, not being one in respect of which a declaration has been
made (and not recalled) under the Désastre Law, may be wound up under
this Chapter if –
(a) the
company so resolves by special resolution; or
(b) the
court makes an order for winding up under Article 157C.
157A Application for
creditors’ winding up by creditor[483]
(1) A creditor may make an
application to the court for an order to commence a creditors’ winding up
if the creditor has a claim against the company for not less than the
prescribed minimum liquidated sum and –
(a) the
company is unable to pay its debts;
(b) the
creditor has evidence of the company’s insolvency; or
(c) the
creditor has the consent of the company.
(2) A company is deemed to
be unable to pay its debts for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), if –
(a) the
creditor to whom the company is indebted in a sum exceeding the prescribed
minimum liquidated sum then due has served on the company, by way of personal
service, a statutory demand in the prescribed form on the company requiring the
company to pay the sum so due; and
(b) the
company has for 21 days after service of the statutory demand failed to
pay the sum or otherwise dispute the debt due to the reasonable satisfaction of
the creditor.
(3) Except in exceptional
circumstances, a creditor who makes an application under paragraph (1)
must give the company at least 48 hours’ notice of the application that
is being made.
(4) A creditor must not
make an application under paragraph (1) –
(a) to
the extent that the creditor has agreed not to make an application; or
(b) whose
only claim is for repossession of goods.
(5) An application under
paragraph (1) must be made in the form approved by the court and must be
accompanied by an affidavit verifying the content of the form.
157B Appointment of provisional
liquidator[484]
(1) Subject to the
provisions of this Article, the court may, at any time after an application for
a creditors’ winding up is made under Article 157A, appoint a
liquidator provisionally.
(2) The liquidator
appointed provisionally under this Article must carry out such functions that
the court may confer on the liquidator.
(3) The powers of a liquidator
appointed provisionally under this Article may be limited by the order
appointing the liquidator.
(4) After the appointment
of a liquidator provisionally under this Article no action must be taken or
proceeded with against the company except by leave of the court and subject to
such terms as the court may impose.
(5) A liquidator appointed provisionally
under this Article must as soon as is reasonably practicable after the
appointment –
(a) give
notice of the appointment to the registrar, the Viscount and the directors and
creditors of the company (to the extent known to the liquidator); and
(b) send
a copy of the relevant act of court to the registrar.
157C Order of court
commencing creditors’ winding up[485]
(1) The court, after
considering an application made, and the affidavit required, under Article 157A,
may –
(a) make
an order that a creditors’ winding up must commence in respect of the
company from the date the application is made or such other date as the court
deems fit and appoint a person nominated by the applicant or selected by the
court as the liquidator; or
(b) dismiss
the application and make such order as it thinks fit.
(2) The court
may –
(a) at
any time adjourn the hearing of an application made under Article 157A for
such time as the court thinks fit;
(b) require
the applicant to furnish such further information as the court requires; and
(c) order
other parties to be convened to the application.
(3) A liquidator appointed
under paragraph (1)(a) must, within 14 days after the liquidator’s
appointment –
(a) give
notice of the appointment to the registrar, the Viscount and the directors and
creditors of the company (to the extent known to the liquidator); and
(b) send
a copy of the relevant act of court to the registrar.
(4) A liquidator who fails
to comply with paragraph (3) commits an offence.
(5) Article 83 applies
to a liquidator appointed under paragraph (1)(a) as it applies to a
director.
(6) If, as a result of an
application made by a creditor, an order for a creditors’ winding up is
made and the company was not insolvent at the date that the application was
made, the company has the right of action against the applicant to recover
damages for or in respect of any loss sustained by the company as a consequence
of the order, unless the applicant, in making the application, acted reasonably
and in good faith.
(7) Any action brought
under paragraph (6) must be commenced within 12 months from the date
of the application.
157D Company’s application to
terminate creditors’ winding up[486]
(1) A company may, at any
time during the course of the creditors’ winding up which has been
ordered by the court under Article 157C(1)(a), apply to the court for an
order terminating the creditors’ winding up.
(2) The court must refuse
an application made under paragraph (1) if the court is not satisfied that
the property of the company is at the time of the application sufficient to pay
in full claims filed with the liquidator or claims which the liquidator has
been advised will be filed within the prescribed time.
(3) In considering an
application under paragraph (1), the court must have regard to the
interests of –
(a) creditors
who have filed a proof of debt;
(b) creditors
whose claims the liquidator has been advised will be filed within the
prescribed time; and
(c) the
company.
(4) If the court makes an
order under this Article, the court may make such further order as it thinks
fit.
(5) If the court makes an
order under this Article, the creditors’ winding up terminates from the date
of the order unless the court orders otherwise.
(6) An order made under
this Article does not prejudice the validity of any act of the liquidator
relating to the company between the date the application for the
creditors’ winding up is made under Article 157C(1)(a) and the date of
the termination of the creditors’ winding up under paragraph (5).
158 Notice of winding up[487]
(1) If a company has passed
a resolution for a creditors’ winding up, or is deemed under Article 144(4)
or Article 144A(5) to have done so, the company must within 14 days
give notice of that fact by advertisement in the Jersey Gazette.
(2) If
the company fails to comply with paragraph (1), it and every officer of it
in default are guilty of an offence.
(3) If
the court orders a creditors’ winding up, the liquidator must within
14 days of the date of the order give notice of that fact in the Jersey
Gazette.[488]
(4) If
a liquidator fails to comply with paragraph (3), the liquidator commits an
offence.[489]
159 Commencement
and effects of creditors’ winding up[490]
(1) A
creditors’ winding up is deemed to commence –
(a) at
the time the resolution for winding up is passed, or is deemed under Article 144(4)
or Article 144A(5) to have been passed; or
(b) where
Article 151 applies, at the time the winding up becomes a creditors’
winding up; or
(c) if
the court orders the creditors’ winding up under Article 157C(1)(a),
at the time the application is made under Article 157A(1), unless the
court orders otherwise,
as the case may be, and
where Article 148 has not previously had effect, the company must from the
commencement of the winding up cease to carry on its business, except so far as
may be required for its beneficial winding up.[491]
(2) The
corporate state and capacity of the company continue until the company is
dissolved.
(3) A
transfer of shares, not being a transfer made to or with the sanction of the
liquidator, and an alteration in the status of the company’s members made
after the commencement of the winding up, is void.
(4) After
the commencement of the winding up no action shall be taken or proceeded with
against the company except by leave of the court and subject to such terms as
the court may impose.
(5) Paragraph (3)
shall not avoid a transfer of shares made pursuant to a power under Part 7
of the Security
Interests (Jersey) Law 2012 even if not made to, or with the sanction of, the liquidator.[492]
160 Meeting of creditors in creditors’ winding up other than a court ordered
creditors’ winding up[493]
(1) The company
shall –
(a) not
less than 14 days before the day on which there is to be held the company
meeting at which the resolution for a creditors’ winding up is to be
proposed, give by post to its creditors notice calling a meeting of creditors
to be held in Jersey on the same day as, and immediately following the
conclusion of, the company meeting and nominating a person to be liquidator for
the purposes of a creditors’ winding up;
(b) give
notice of the creditors’ meeting by advertisement in the Jersey Gazette
not less than 10 days before the day for which that meeting has been called;
(c) during
the period before the creditors’ meeting furnish creditors free of charge
with such information concerning the company’s affairs as they may
reasonably require.
(1A) This Article applies in the case of
a creditors’ winding up that is not ordered by the court.[494]
(2) The directors
shall –
(a) make
out a statement as to the affairs of the company, verified by affidavit by some
or all of the directors;
(b) lay
that statement before the creditors’ meeting; and
(c) appoint
a director to preside at that meeting,
and the director so appointed shall attend the meeting and preside
over it.
(3) If –
(a) the
company without reasonable excuse fails to comply with paragraph (1);
(b) the
directors without reasonable excuse fail to comply with paragraph (2); or
(c) a
director without reasonable excuse fails to comply with paragraph (2), so
far as requiring the director to attend and preside at the creditors’
meeting,
the company, the directors or the director (as the case may be) is
guilty of an offence.
160A Meeting of creditors following
court ordered creditors’ winding up[495]
(1) If the court orders a
creditors’ winding up in respect of a company under Article 157C(1)(a)
or appoints a liquidator provisionally under Article 157B, the liquidator
must –
(a) within
7 days after the date of appointment of the liquidator, give to the
creditors of the company known to the liquidator notice in writing calling a
meeting of creditors to be held in Jersey on the day falling 21 days after
the date of the court order, or if that day is not a working day, the next
working day after that day;
(b) give
notice in the Jersey Gazette of the creditors’ meeting not less than 10 days
before the day for which the meeting has been called; and
(c) during
the period before the creditors’ meeting, furnish creditors free of
charge with such information concerning the company’s affairs as they may
reasonably require and which is in the possession of the liquidator.
(2) The directors of a
company in respect of which a creditors’ winding up has been ordered
under Article 157C(1)(a) must –
(a) make
out a statement as to the affairs of the company, verified by affidavit by some
or all of the company’s directors; and
(b) lay
the statement before the creditors’ meeting.
(3) The liquidator appointed
by the court must preside over the creditors’ meeting called under this
Article.
(4) If –
(a) the
liquidator appointed by the court without reasonable excuse fails to comply
with paragraph (1), the liquidator commits an offence; or
(b) the
directors of the company in respect of which a creditors’ winding up is
ordered without reasonable excuse fail to comply with paragraph (2), the
directors commit an offence.
(5) For the purposes of
paragraph (1) “working day” means a weekday (within the
meaning of Part 1 of the Schedule to the Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Jersey)
Act 2010) other than –
(a) a
day specified in that Schedule as a day which is to be observed as a public
holiday; or
(b) a
day noted in that Schedule as a day which is by custom observed as a general
holiday.
161 Appointment of liquidator
(1) The creditors and the
company at their respective meetings mentioned in Article 160 may nominate
a person to be liquidator for the purpose of the winding up.
(2) Where a
creditors’ meeting is called in accordance with Article 151, the
person nominated to be liquidator in the notice calling the meeting shall be
deemed, for the purposes of this Article, to have been nominated as aforesaid
by the company.
(3) The person nominated by
the creditors, or if no person is nominated by the creditors, the person
nominated, or deemed to have been nominated, by the company is appointed
liquidator with effect from the conclusion of the creditors’ meeting.
(4) In the case of
different persons being nominated, a director, member or creditor of the
company may, within 7 days after the date on which the nomination was made by
the creditors, apply to the court for an order either –
(a) directing
that the person nominated as liquidator by the company shall be liquidator
instead of or jointly with the person nominated by the creditors; or
(b) appointing
some other person to be liquidator instead of the person nominated by the
creditors.
(4A) Where a liquidator has been
appointed by the court, a creditor of the company in respect of which the
creditors’ winding up has been ordered under Article 157C(1)(a) may,
within 7 days of the creditors’ meeting referred to in Article 160A,
apply to the court for an order appointing some other person to be the
liquidator instead of the person appointed by the court under
Article 157C(1)(a).[496]
(5) A liquidator appointed
under this Article shall within 14 days after the liquidator’s
appointment give notice thereof signed by the liquidator to the registrar and
to the creditors.
(6) A liquidator who fails
to comply with paragraph (5) is guilty of an offence.
(7) Article 83 applies
to a liquidator appointed under this Article as it applies to a director.
162 Appointment of liquidation committee
(1) A creditors’
meeting may appoint a liquidation committee consisting of not more than 5
persons to exercise the functions conferred on it by or under this Law.
(2) If a committee is
appointed, the company may, in general meeting, appoint such number of persons
not exceeding 5 as they think fit to act as members of the committee.
(3) The creditors may
resolve that all or any of the persons so appointed by the company ought not to
be members of the committee; and if the creditors so resolve –
(a) the
persons mentioned in the resolution are not then, unless the court otherwise
directs, qualified to act as members of the committee; and
(b) on an
application to the court under this provision the court may appoint other
persons to act as such members in place of the persons mentioned in the
resolution.
163 Remuneration of liquidator, cesser of directors’ powers, and
vacancy in office of liquidator
(1) A liquidator in a
creditors’ winding up (other than a liquidator appointed by the court) is
entitled to receive such remuneration as is agreed between the liquidator and
the liquidation committee or, if there is no committee, between the liquidator
and the creditors or, failing any such agreement, as is fixed by the court.[497]
(1A) A liquidator appointed by a court
in a creditors’ winding up ordered by the court is entitled to receive
such remuneration as is fixed by the court.[498]
(2) In a creditors’
winding up, on the appointment of a liquidator all the powers of the directors
cease except –
(a) in
the case of a creditors’ winding up that is not ordered by the court, so
far as the liquidation committee (or, if there is no committee, the creditors)
sanction their continuance; or
(b) in
the case of a creditors’ winding up that is ordered by the court under
Article 157C(1)(a), so far as the court or liquidator sanction their
continuance.[499]
(3) The creditors, in the
case of a creditors’ winding up that is not ordered by the court under
Article 157C(1)(a) or the court, in the case of a creditors’ winding
up ordered by the court under Article 157C(1)(a), may at any time remove a
liquidator.[500]
(4) If a vacancy occurs, by
death, resignation or otherwise, in the office of a liquidator (other than a
liquidator appointed by the court) the creditors may fill the vacancy.
164 No liquidator appointed
(1) This Article applies
where a creditors’ winding up has commenced but no liquidator has been
appointed.
(2) During the period
before the appointment of a liquidator, the powers of the directors shall not
be exercised except –
(a) with
the sanction of the court;
(b) to
secure compliance with Article 160; or
(c) to
protect the company’s assets.
(3) If the directors,
without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with this Article, they are guilty of
an offence.
165 Costs of creditors’ winding up
All costs, charges and expenses properly incurred in a
creditors’ winding up, including the remuneration of the liquidator (and
any expenses of a liquidator under Article 15(6)(a) of the Dormant Bank Accounts (Jersey) Law 2017), are payable out of the
company’s assets in priority to all other claims.[501]
166 Application of the law relating to désastre
(1) Subject to this Article
and Article 165, in a creditors’ winding up the same rules prevail
with regard to the respective rights of secured and unsecured creditors, to
debts provable, to the time and manner of proving debts, to the admission and
rejection of proofs of debts, to the order of payment of debts and to setting
off debts as are in force for the time being with respect to persons against
whom a declaration has been made under the Désastre Law with the
substitution of references to the winding up for references to the désastre and references to the liquidator
for references to the Viscount.[502]
(2) Any surplus remaining
after payment of the debts proved in the winding up, before being applied for
any other purpose, shall be applied in paying interest on those debts which
bore interest prior to the commencement of the winding up in respect of the
period during which they have been outstanding since the commencement of the
winding up and at the rate of interest applicable apart from the winding up.
167 Arrangement when binding on creditors
(1) An arrangement entered
into between a company immediately preceding the commencement of, or in the
course of, a creditors’ winding up and its creditors is (subject to the
right of appeal under this Article) binding –
(a) on
the company, if sanctioned by a special resolution; and
(b) on
the creditors, if acceded to by three-quarters in number and value of them.
(2) A creditor or
contributory may, within 3 weeks from the completion of the arrangement, appeal
to the court against it; and the court may thereupon, as it thinks just, amend,
vary or confirm the arrangement.
168 Meetings of company and creditors
(1) If a creditors’
winding up continues for more than 12 months, the liquidator shall call a
general meeting of the company and a meeting of the creditors to be held at the
first convenient date within 3 months after the end of the first 12 months from
the commencement of the winding up, and of each succeeding 12 months, or such
longer period as the Commission may allow, and shall lay before the meetings an
account of the liquidator’s acts and dealings and of the conduct of the
winding up during the preceding 12 months.[503]
(2) If the liquidator fails
to comply with this Article, the liquidator is guilty of an offence.
169 Final meeting and dissolution
(1) As soon as the affairs
of a company in a creditors’ winding up are fully wound up, the
liquidator shall make up an account of the winding up, showing how it has been
conducted and the company’s property has been disposed of, and thereupon
shall call a general meeting of the company and a meeting of the creditors for
the purpose of laying the account before the meetings and giving an explanation
of it.
(2) Each such meeting shall
be called by not less than 21 days’ notice sent by post, accompanied by a
copy of the liquidator’s account.
(3) Within 7 days after the
date of the meetings (or, if they are not held on the same date, after the date
of the later one) the liquidator shall make a return to the registrar of the
holding of the meetings and of their dates and in the case of a public company
a copy of the account.
(4) If the copy is not
delivered or the return is not made in accordance with paragraph (3), the
liquidator is guilty of an offence.
(5) If a quorum is not
present at either such meeting, the liquidator shall, in lieu of the return
required by paragraph (3), deliver a return that the meeting was duly
called and that no quorum was present; and when that return is made the
provisions of that paragraph as to the making of the return are, in respect of
that meeting, deemed complied with.
(6) The registrar on
receiving the account and, in respect of each such meeting, either of the
returns mentioned above, shall forthwith register them, and at the end of 3
months from the registration of the return the company is deemed to be
dissolved; but the court may, on the application of the liquidator or of
another person who appears to the court to be interested, make an order
deferring the date at which the dissolution of the company is to take effect
for such time as the court thinks fit.
(7) The person on whose
application an order of the court under this Article is made shall, within 14
days after the making of the order, deliver to the registrar the relevant Act
of the court for registration; and if that person fails to do so the person is
guilty of an offence.
(8) If the liquidator fails
to call a general meeting of the company or a meeting of the creditors as
required by this Article the liquidator is guilty of an offence.
169A Procedure at creditors’
meeting[504]
(1) Except as otherwise
provided by this Article, a creditor who has been given notice of a
creditors’ meeting is entitled to vote at the meeting (either in person
or by proxy) and any adjournment of it.
(2) The value of a
creditor’s vote shall be calculated according to the amount of the
creditor’s debt at the date of the commencement of the winding up.
(3) A debt for an
unliquidated amount or a debt the value of which has not been ascertained does
not give a creditor the right to vote at a creditors’ meetings but the
chairman of the meeting may put upon the debt an estimated minimum value that
entitles the creditor to vote.
(4) For a resolution to
pass at a creditors’ meeting it must be supported by creditors the values
of whose votes are in excess of half the value of the votes of the creditors
who vote on the resolution (either in person or by proxy).[505]
(5) A creditors’
meeting is not competent to act unless there is present (either in person or by
proxy) at least one creditor entitled to vote.[506]
170 Powers and duties of liquidator
(1) The liquidator in a
creditors’ winding up may, with the sanction of the court or the
liquidation committee (or, if there is no such committee, a meeting of the
creditors) –
(a) pay a
class of creditors in full;
(b) compromise
any claim by or against the company.
(2) The liquidator may,
without sanction, exercise any other power of the company as may be required
for its beneficial winding up.
(3) The liquidator
may –
(a) settle
a list of contributories (and the list of contributories is prima
facie evidence of the persons named in it to be
contributories);
(b) make
calls; and
(c) summon
general meetings of the company for the purpose of obtaining its sanction by
special resolution or for any other purpose the liquidator may think fit.
(4) The liquidator shall
pay the company’s debts and adjust the rights of the contributories among
themselves.
(5) The appointment (other
than pursuant to a court order) or nomination of more than one person as
liquidator shall declare whether any act to be done is to be done by all or any
one or more of them, and in default, any such act may be done by 2 or more of
them.[507]
(6) A court order
appointing more than one person as a liquidator may provide whether any act to
be done is to be done by all or any one or more of them and in the absence of
any such provision, any such act may be done by 2 or more of them.[508]
171 Power to
disclaim onerous property[509]
(1) For the purpose of this
Article “onerous property” means –
(a) movable
property;
(b) a
contract lease;
(c) other
immoveable property if it is situated outside Jersey,
that is unsaleable or not readily saleable or is such that it may
give rise to a liability to pay money or perform any other onerous act, and
includes an unprofitable contract.
(2) The liquidator in a
creditors’ winding up may, within 6 months after the commencement of the
winding up, by the giving of notice, signed by him or her and referring to this
Article and Article 173, to each person who is interested in or under any
liability in respect of the property disclaimed, disclaim on behalf of the
company any onerous property of the company.
(3) A disclaimer under this
Article shall –
(a) operate
so as to determine, as from the date of the disclaimer, the rights, interests
and liabilities of the company in or in respect of the property disclaimed; and
(b) discharge
the company from all liability in respect of the property as of the date of the
commencement of the creditors’ winding up,
but shall not, except so far as is necessary for the purpose of
releasing the company from liability, affect the rights or liabilities of any
other person.
(4) A person sustaining
loss or damage in consequence of the operation of a disclaimer under this
Article shall be deemed to be a creditor of the company to the extent of the
loss or damage and accordingly may prove for the loss or damage in the winding
up.
172 Disclaimer
of contract leases[510]
(1) The disclaimer of a
contract lease does not take effect unless a copy of its disclaimer has been
served (so far as the liquidator is aware of their addresses) on every person
claiming under the company as a hypothecary creditor or under lessee and
either –
(a) no
application under Article 173 is made with respect to the contract lease
before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which
the last notice under this paragraph was served; or
(b) where
such an application has been made, the court directs that the disclaimer is to
have effect.
(2) Where the court gives a
direction under paragraph (1)(b) it may also, instead of or in addition to
any order it makes under Article 173, make such orders with respect to
fixtures, tenant’s improvements and other matters arising out of the
lease as it thinks fit.
173 Powers of
court in respect of disclaimed property[511]
(1) This Article applies
where the liquidator of a company has disclaimed property under Article 171.
(2) An application may be
made to the court under this Article by –
(a) any
person who claims an interest in the disclaimed property (which term shall be
taken to include, in the case of the disclaimer of a contract lease, a person
claiming under the company as a hypothecary creditor or an under lessee); or
(b) any
person who is under any liability in respect of the disclaimed property (which
term shall be taken to include a guarantor), not being a liability discharged
by the disclaimer.
(3) Subject to paragraph (4),
the court may, on an application under this Article, make an order on such
terms as it thinks fit for the vesting of the disclaimed property in, or for
its delivery to –
(a) a
person entitled to it or a trustee for such a person; or
(b) a
person subject to a liability mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) or a trustee
for such a person.
(4) The court shall not
make an order by virtue of paragraph (3)(b) except where it appears to the
court that it would be just to do so for the purpose of compensating the person
subject to the liability in respect of the disclaimer.
(5) The effect of an order
under this Article shall be taken into account in assessing for the purpose of
Article 171(4) the extent of loss or damage sustained by a person in
consequence of the disclaimer.
174 Unenforceability
of liens on records[512]
(1) Subject to paragraph (2),
in a creditors’ winding up a lien or other right to retain possession of
a record of a company shall be unenforceable to the extent that its enforcement
would deny possession of the record to the liquidator.
(2) Paragraph (1) does
not apply to a lien on a document that gives a title to property and is held as
such.
175 Appointment
or removal of liquidator by the court[513]
(1) The court may appoint a
liquidator if for any reason there is no liquidator acting in a
creditors’ winding up.
(2) The court may, on
reason being given, remove a liquidator in a creditors’ winding up and
may appoint another.
(3) The appointment or
removal of a liquidator under this Article may be made on request by the
company, a director of the company, a creditor, the Viscount, the Commission,
the Minister or any other person.[514]
176 Transactions
at an undervalue[515]
(1) If a company has at a
relevant time entered into a transaction with a person at an undervalue the
court may, on the application of the liquidator in a creditors’ winding
up, make such an order as the court thinks fit for restoring the position to
what it would have been if the company had not entered into the transaction.
(2) The court shall not
make an order under paragraph (1) if it is satisfied –
(a) that
the company entered into the transaction in good faith for the purpose of
carrying on its business; and
(b) that,
at the time it entered into the transaction, there were reasonable grounds for
believing that the transaction would be of benefit to the company.
(3) Without prejudice to
the generality of paragraph (1) but subject to paragraph (5), an
order made under paragraph (1) may do all or any of the following things,
namely –
(a) require
property transferred as part of the transaction to be vested in the company;
(b) require
property to be so vested if it represents in a person’s hands the
application either of the proceeds of sale of property so transferred or of
money so transferred;
(c) release
or discharge (in whole or in part) security given by the company;
(d) require
a person to pay in respect of a benefit received by him or her from the company
such sum to the company as the court directs;
(e) provide
for a surety or guarantor whose obligation to a person was released or
discharged (in whole or in part) under the transaction to be under such new or
revived obligation to that person as the court thinks appropriate;
(f) provide –
(i) for security to
be provided for the discharge of an obligation imposed by or arising under the
order,
(ii) for
the obligation to be secured on any property, and
(iii) for
the security to have the same priority as the security released or discharged
(in whole or in part) under the transaction;
(g) provide
for the extent to which a person –
(i) whose property is
vested in the company by the order, or
(ii) on
whom an obligation is imposed by the order,
is to be able to prove in the winding up of the company for debts or
other liabilities that arose from, or were released or discharged (in whole or
in part) under or by, the transaction.
(4) Except to the extent
provided by paragraph (5), an order made under paragraph (1) may
affect the property of or impose an obligation on any person, whether or not he
or she is the person with whom the company entered into the transaction.
(5) An order made under
paragraph (1) –
(a) shall
not prejudice an interest in property that was acquired from a person other
than the company and was acquired in good faith and for value, or prejudice any
interest deriving from such an interest; and
(b) shall
not require a person who in good faith and for value received a benefit from the
transaction to pay a sum to the company, except where the person was a party to
the transaction.
(6) In considering for the
purposes of this Article whether a person has acted in good faith, the court
may take into consideration –
(a) whether
the person was aware –
(i) that the company
had entered into a transaction at an undervalue, and
(ii) that
the company was insolvent or would as a likely result of entering into the
transaction become insolvent; and
(b) whether
the person was an associate of or was connected with either the company or the
person with whom the company had entered into the transaction.
(7) For the purposes of
this Article, a company enters into a transaction with a person at an
undervalue if –
(a) it
makes a gift to that person;
(b) it
enters into a transaction with that person –
(i) on terms for
which there is no cause, or
(ii) for
a cause the
value of which, in money or money’s worth, is significantly less than the
value, in money or money’s worth, of the cause provided by the company.
(8) Subject to paragraphs (9)
and (10), the time at which a company entered into a transaction at an
undervalue is a relevant time for the purpose of paragraph (1) if the
transaction was entered into during the period of 5 years immediately
preceding the date of commencement of the winding up.
(9) The time to which
paragraph (8) refers is not a relevant time unless –
(a) the
company was insolvent when it entered into the transaction; or
(b) the
company became insolvent as a result of the transaction.
(10) If the transaction at an
undervalue was entered into with a person connected with the company or with an
associate of the company, paragraph (9) does not apply and the time to
which paragraph (8) refers is a relevant time unless it is proved
that –
(a) the
company was not insolvent when it entered into the transaction; and
(b) it
did not become insolvent as a result of the transaction.
176A Giving of preferences[516]
(1) If a company has at a
relevant time given a preference to a person the court may, on the application
of the liquidator in a creditors’ winding up, make such an order as the
court thinks fit for restoring the position to what it would have been if the
preference had not been given.
(2) Without prejudice to
the generality of paragraph (1) but subject to paragraph (4), an
order made under paragraph (1) may do all or any of the following things,
namely –
(a) require
property transferred in connection with the giving of the preference to be
vested in the company;
(b) require
property to be vested in the company if it represents in any person’s
hands the application either of the proceeds of sale of property so transferred
or of money so transferred;
(c) release
or discharge (in whole or in part) security given by the company;
(d) require
a person to pay in respect of a benefit received by him or her from the company
such sum to the company as the court directs;
(e) provide
for a surety or guarantor whose obligation to a person was released or
discharged (in whole or in part) by the giving of the preference to be under
such new or revived obligation to that person as the court thinks appropriate;
(f) provide –
(i) for security to
be provided for the discharge of any obligation imposed by or arising under the
order,
(ii) for
such an obligation to be secured on any property, and
(iii) for
the security to have the same priority as the security released or discharged
(in whole or in part) by the giving of the preference;
(g) provide
for the extent to which a person –
(i) whose property is
vested by the order in the company, or
(ii) on
whom obligations are imposed by the order,
is to be able to prove in the winding up of the company for debts or
other liabilities that arose from, or were released or discharged (in whole or
in part) under or by the giving of the preference.
(3) Except as provided by
paragraph (4), an order made under paragraph (1) may affect the
property of, or impose an obligation on, any person whether or not he or she is
the person to whom the preference was given.
(4) An order made under paragraph (1)
shall not –
(a) prejudice
an interest in property that was acquired from a person other than the company
and was acquired in good faith and for value, or prejudice any interest
deriving from such an interest; or
(b) require
a person who in good faith and for value received a benefit from the preference
to pay a sum to the company, except where the payment is in respect of a
preference given to that person at a time when he or she was a creditor of the
company.
(5) In considering for the
purpose of this Article whether a person has acted in good faith, the court may
take into consideration –
(a) whether
the person had notice –
(i) of the
circumstances that amounted to the giving of the preference by the company, and
(ii) of
the fact that the company was insolvent or would as a likely result of giving
the preference become insolvent; and
(b) whether
the person was an associate of or was connected with either the company or the
person to whom the company gave the preference.
(6) For the purposes of
this Article, a company gives a preference to a person if –
(a) the
person is a creditor of the company or a surety or guarantor for a debt or
other liability of the company; and
(b) the
company –
(i) does anything, or
(ii) suffers
anything to be done,
that has the effect of putting the person into a position which, in
the event of the winding up of the company, will be better than the position he
or she would have been in if that thing had not been done.
(7) The court shall not
make an order under this Article in respect of a preference given to a person
unless the company, when giving the preference, was influenced in deciding to
give the preference by a desire to put the person into a position which, in the
event of the winding up of the company, would be better than the position in
which the person would be if the preference had not been given.
(8) A company that gave a
preference to a person who was, at the time the preference was given, an
associate of or connected with the company (otherwise than by reason only of
being the company’s employee) shall be presumed, unless the contrary is
shown, to have been influenced in deciding to give the preference by the desire
mentioned in paragraph (7).
(9) Subject to paragraphs (10)
and (11), the time at which a company gives a preference is a relevant time for
the purpose of paragraph (1) if the preference was given during the period
of 12 months immediately preceding the commencement of the winding up.
(10) The time to which paragraph (9)
refers is not a relevant time unless –
(a) the
company was insolvent at the time the preference was given; or
(b) the
company became insolvent as a result of giving the preference.
(11) If the preference was given
to a person connected with the company or to an associate of the company,
paragraph (10) does not apply and the time to which paragraph (9)
refers is a relevant time unless it is proved that –
(a) the
company was not insolvent at the time the preference was given; and
(b) it
did not become insolvent as a result of the preference being given.
176B Definitions relating to
transactions at an undervalue and preferences[517]
(1) For the purposes of
Articles 176 and 176A, a person is connected with a company
if –
(a) he or
she is a director of the company;
(b) he or
she is an associate of a director of the company; or
(c) he or
she is an associate of the company.
(2) For the purposes of
Articles 176 and 176A and of this Article –
(a) a
person is an associate of an individual if that person is the
individual’s husband or wife or civil partner, or is a relative, or the
husband or wife or civil partner of a relative, of the individual or of the
individual’s husband or wife or civil partner;
(b) a
person is an associate of any person with whom he or she is in partnership, and
of the husband or wife or civil partner or a relative of any individual with
whom he or she is in partnership;
(c) a
person is an associate of any person whom he or she employs or by whom he or
she is employed;
(d) a
person in his or her capacity as a trustee of a trust is an associate of
another person if –
(i) the beneficiaries
of the trust include that other person or an associate of that other person, or
(ii) the
terms of the trust confer a power that may be exercised for the benefit of that
other person or an associate of that other person;
(e) a
company is an associate of another company –
(i) if the same
person has control of both companies, or a person has control of one company
and either persons who are his or her associates, or he or she and persons who
are his or her associates, have control of the other company, or
(ii) if
each company is controlled by a group of 2 or more persons and the groups
either consist of the same persons or could be regarded as consisting of the
same persons by treating (in one or more cases) a member of either group as
replaced by a person of whom he or she is an associate;
(f) a
company is an associate of another person if that person has control of the
company or if that person and persons who are his or her associates together
have control of the company; and
(g) a
provision that a person is an associate of another person shall be taken to
mean that they are associates of each other.[518]
(3) For the purposes of
this Article, a person is a relative of an individual if he or she is that
individual’s brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, lineal ancestor
or lineal descendant, for which purpose –
(a) any
relationship of the half blood shall be treated as a relationship of the whole
blood and the stepchild or adopted child of a person as his or her child; and
(b) an
illegitimate child shall be treated as the legitimate child of his or her
mother and reputed father.
(4) References in this
Article to a husband or wife or civil partner include a former husband or wife
or civil partner and a reputed husband or wife or civil partner.[519]
(5) For the purposes of
this Article, a director or other officer of a company shall be treated as
employed by the company.
(6) For the purposes of
this Article, a person shall be taken as having control of a company
if –
(a) the
directors of the company or of another company that has control of it (or any
of them) are accustomed to act in accordance with his or her directions or
instructions; or
(b) he or
she is entitled –
(i) to exercise, or
(ii) to
control the exercise of,
more than one third of the voting power at any general meeting of
the company or of another company which has control of it,
and where 2 or more persons together satisfy either of the above
conditions, they shall be taken as having control of the company.
(7) For the purposes of
this Article “company” includes a company incorporated outside
Jersey.
177 Responsibility
of persons for wrongful trading[520]
(1) Subject to paragraph (3),
if in the course of a creditors’ winding up it appears that paragraph (2)
applies in relation to a person who is or has been a director of the company,
the court on the application of the liquidator may, if it thinks it proper to
do so, order that that person be personally responsible, without any limitation
of liability, for all or any of the debts or other liabilities of the company
arising after the time referred to in paragraph (2).
(2) This paragraph applies
in relation to a person if at a time before the date of commencement of the
creditors’ winding up of the company that person as a director of the
company –
(a) knew
that there was no reasonable prospect that the company would avoid a
creditors’ winding up or the making of a declaration under the
Désastre Law; or
(b) on
the facts known to him or her was reckless as to whether the company would
avoid such a winding-up or the making of such a declaration.
(3) The court shall not
make an order under paragraph (1) with respect to a person if it is
satisfied that after either condition specified in paragraph (2) was first
satisfied in relation to him or her the person took reasonable steps with a
view to minimising the potential loss to the company’s creditors.
(4) On the hearing of an
application under this Article, the liquidator may himself or herself give evidence
or call witnesses.
178 Responsibility
for fraudulent trading[521]
(1) If, in the course of a
creditors’ winding up, it appears that any business of the company has
been carried on with intent to defraud creditors of the company or creditors of
another person, or for a fraudulent purpose, the court may, on the application
of the liquidator, order that persons who were knowingly parties to the
carrying on of the business in that manner are to be liable to make such
contributions to the company’s assets as the court thinks proper.
(2) On the hearing of the
application the liquidator may himself or herself give evidence or call
witnesses.
(3) Where the court makes
an order under this Article or Article 177, it may give such further
directions as it thinks proper for giving effect to the order.
(4) Where the court makes
an order under this Article or Article 177 in relation to a person who is
a creditor of the company, it may direct that the whole or part of a debt owed
by the company to that person and any interest thereon shall rank in priority
after all other debts owed by the company and after any interest on those
debts.
(5) This Article and
Article 177 have effect notwithstanding that the person concerned may be
criminally liable in respect of matters on the ground of which the order under
paragraph (1) is to be made.
179 Extortionate
credit transactions[522]
(1) This Article applies in
a creditors’ winding up where the company is, or has been, a party to a
transaction for, or involving, the provision of credit to the company.
(2) The court may, on the
application of the liquidator, make an order with respect to the transaction if
the transaction –
(a) is or
was extortionate; and
(b) was
entered into in the period of 3 years ending with the commencement of the
creditors winding up.
(3) For the purposes of
this Article, a transaction is extortionate if, having regard to the risk
accepted by the person providing the credit –
(a) the
terms of it are or were such as to require grossly exorbitant payments to be
made (whether unconditionally or in certain contingencies) in respect of the
provision of the credit; or
(b) it
otherwise grossly contravened ordinary principles of fair dealing.
(4) It shall be presumed,
unless the contrary is proved, that a transaction with respect to which an
application is made under this Article is or, as the case may be, was
extortionate.
(5) An order under this
Article with respect to a transaction may contain one or more of the following
as the court thinks fit –
(a) provision
setting aside the whole or part of an obligation created by the transaction;
(b) provision
otherwise varying the terms of the transaction or varying the terms on which a
security for the purposes of the transaction is held;
(c) provision
requiring a person who is or was a party to the transaction to pay to the
liquidator sums paid to that person, by virtue of the transaction, by the
company;
(d) provision
requiring a person to surrender to the liquidator property held by him or her
as security for the purposes of the transaction;
(e) provision
directing accounts to be taken between any persons.
180 Delivery and
seizure of property[523]
(1) Where a person has in
his or her possession or control property or records to which a company appears
in a creditors’ winding up to be entitled, the court may require that
person forthwith (or within a period which the court may direct) to pay,
deliver, convey, surrender or transfer the property or records to the
liquidator.
(2) Where –
(a) the
liquidator seizes or disposes of property that is not property of the company;
and
(b) at
the time of seizure or disposal the liquidator believes, and has reasonable
grounds for believing, that he or she is entitled (whether in pursuance of an
order of the court or otherwise) to seize or dispose of that property,
the liquidator –
(i) is
not liable to any person in respect of loss or damage resulting from the
seizure or disposal except in so far as the loss or damage is caused by the
negligence of the liquidator; and
(ii) has a
lien on the property, or the proceeds of its sale, for expenses incurred in
connection with the seizure or disposal.
181 Liability in
respect of purchase or redemption of shares[524]
(1) This Article applies
where a company (other than an open-ended investment company) is being wound up
in a creditors’ winding up and –
(a) it
has within 12 months before the commencement of the winding up made a
payment under Article 55 or Article 57 or under Regulations made
under Article 59 in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own shares;
(b) the
payment was not made lawfully; and
(c) the
aggregate realisable value of the company’s assets and the amount paid by
way of contribution to its assets (apart from this Article) is not sufficient
for the payment of its liabilities and the expenses of the winding up.[525]
(2) In this Article, the
amount of a payment that has not been made lawfully for the purpose of the
redemption or purchase is referred to as the “relevant payment”.[526]
(3) Subject to paragraphs (5)
and (6), the court on the application of the liquidator may order –
(a) a
person from whom the shares were redeemed or purchased; or
(b) a
director,
to contribute in accordance with this Article to the company’s
assets so as to enable the insufficiency to be met.
(4) A person from whom any
shares were redeemed or purchased may be ordered to contribute an amount not
exceeding so much of the relevant payment as was made in respect of his or her
shares.
(5) A person from whom
shares were redeemed or purchased shall not be ordered to contribute under this
Article unless the court is satisfied that, when he or she received payment for
his or her shares –
(a) he or
she knew; or
(b) he or
she ought to have concluded from the facts known to him or her,
that immediately after the relevant payment was made the company
would be unable to discharge its liabilities as they fell due, and that the
realisable value of the company’s assets would be less than the aggregate
of its liabilities.
(6) A director who has
expressed an opinion under Article 55(9) may be ordered, jointly and
severally with any other person who is liable to contribute under this Article,
to contribute an amount not exceeding the relevant payment, unless the court is
satisfied that the director had grounds for the opinion expressed.
(7) Where a person has
contributed an amount under this Article, the court may direct any other person
who is jointly and severally liable to contribute under this Article to pay to
him or her such amount as the court thinks just and reasonable.
(8) Article 192 does
not apply in relation to liability accruing by virtue of this Article.
(9) [527]
182 Resolutions
passed at adjourned meetings[528]
Any resolution passed at an adjourned meeting of a company’s
creditors shall be treated for all purposes as having been passed on the date
on which it was in fact passed, and not as having been passed on any earlier
date.
183 Duty to
co-operate with liquidator[529]
(1) In a creditors’
winding up each of the persons mentioned in paragraph (2)
shall –
(a) give
the liquidator information concerning the company and its promotion, formation,
business, dealings, affairs or property which the liquidator may at any time
after the commencement of the winding up reasonably require;
(b) attend
on the liquidator at reasonable times and on reasonable notice when requested
to do so; and
(c) notify
the liquidator in writing of any change of his or her address, employment, or
name.
(2) The persons referred to
in paragraph (1) are –
(a) those
who are, or have at any time been, officers of or the secretary to the company;
(b) those
who have taken part in the formation of the company at any time within
12 months before the commencement of the winding up;
(c) those
who are in the employment of the company, or have been in its employment within
those 12 months, and are in the liquidator’s opinion capable of
giving information which he or she requires; and
(d) those
who are, or within those 12 months have been, officers of, or in the
employment of, a body corporate that is, or within those 12 months was,
secretary to the company in question.
(3) For the purposes of
paragraph (2) “employment” includes employment under a
contract for services (contrat de louage
d’ouvrage).
(4) A person who, without
reasonable excuse, fails to comply with an obligation imposed by this Article,
is guilty of an offence.
184 Liquidator
to report possible misconduct[530]
(1) The liquidator in a
creditors’ winding up shall take the action specified in paragraph (2)
if it appears to the liquidator in the course of the winding up –
(a) that
the company has committed a criminal offence;
(b) that
a person has committed a criminal offence in relation to the company being
wound up; or
(c) in
the case of a director, that for any reason (whether in relation to the company
being wound up, or to a holding company of the company being wound up or to any
subsidiary of such a holding company) his or her conduct has been such that an
order should be sought against him or her under Article 78.
(2) The liquidator
shall –
(a) forthwith
report the matter to the Attorney-General; and
(b) furnish
the Attorney-General with information and give him or her access to, and
facilities for inspecting and taking copies of, documents (being information or
documents in the possession or under the control of the liquidator and relating
to the matter in question) as the Attorney-General requires.
(3) Where a report is made
to the Attorney General under paragraph (2), the Attorney-General may
refer the matter to the Minister or the Commission for further enquiry.
(4) The Minister or the
Commission –
(a) shall
thereupon investigate the matter; and
(b) for
the purpose of the investigation may exercise any of the powers that are
exercisable by inspectors appointed under Article 128 to investigate a
company’s affairs.
(5) If it appears to the
court in the course of a creditors’ winding up –
(a) that
the company has committed a criminal offence;
(b) that
a person has committed a criminal offence in relation to the company being
wound up; or
(c) in
the case of a director, that for any reason (whether in relation to the company
being wound up, or to a holding company of the company being wound up or of any
subsidiary of such a holding company) his or her conduct has been such as to
raise a question whether an order should be sought against him or her under
Article 78,
and that no report with respect to the matter has been made by the
liquidator to the Attorney-General under paragraph (2), the court may (on
the application of a person interested in the winding up or of its own motion) direct
the liquidator to make such a report.
185 Obligations
arising under Article 184[531]
(1) For the purpose of an
investigation by the Minister or the Commission under Article 184(4), an
obligation imposed on a person by a provision of this Law to produce documents
or give information to, or otherwise to assist, inspectors appointed as
mentioned in that paragraph is to be regarded as an obligation similarly to
assist the Minister in his or her, or the Commission in its, investigation.
(2) Article 130(4) shall
apply in respect of an answer given by a person to a question put to him or her
in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 184(4).
(3) Where criminal
proceedings are instituted by the Attorney-General following a report or
reference under Article 184, the liquidator and every officer and agent of
the company past and present (other than the defendant) shall give the
Attorney-General any assistance in connection with the prosecution which he or
she is reasonably able to give.
(4) In paragraph (3)
“agent” includes a banker, advocate or solicitor of the company and
a person employed by the company as auditor, whether or not that person is an
officer of the company.
(5) If a person fails to
give assistance as required by paragraph (3), the court may, on the
application of the Attorney-General –
(a) direct
the person to comply with that paragraph; and
(b) if
the application is made with respect to a liquidator, direct that the costs
shall be borne by the liquidator personally unless it appears that the failure
to comply was due to the fact that the liquidator did not have sufficient
assets of the company in his or her hands to enable him or her to do so.
185A Termination of
creditors’ winding up[532]
(1) The liquidator of a
company that is in the course of being wound up by a creditors’ winding
up may apply to the court for an order terminating the winding up, and the
members may, by special resolution, authorize the company to make such an
application.
(2) The court shall refuse
the application unless it is satisfied that the company is then able to
discharge its liabilities in full as they fall due.
(3) In considering the
application the court shall have regard to the interests of the creditors of
the company.
(4) If the application for
winding up the company was made by the Commission under Article 155(2) or
(3) the court shall also have regard to the views of the Commission.
(5) If the court makes an
order under this Article it may make such order as to costs as it thinks fit.
(6) Upon the termination of
a creditors’ winding up pursuant to paragraph (1) any liquidator
appointed for the purpose of the creditors’ winding up shall cease to
hold office.
(7) The termination of a
creditors’ winding up pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not prejudice
the validity of any thing duly done by any liquidator, director or other
person, or by operation of law, before its termination.
185B Declaration under
Désastre Law[533]
(1) If –
(a) a
creditors’ winding up of a company has commenced; and
(b) a
declaration is made in respect of the company under the Désastre Law,
the winding up shall forthwith terminate.
(2) Upon the termination of
the winding up pursuant to paragraph (1) –
(a) any
liquidator appointed for the purpose of the winding up shall cease to hold
office; and
(b) the
company and all other persons shall be in the same position, subject to
paragraph (3), as if the winding up had not commenced.
(3) The termination of a
winding up pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not affect the validity of any
thing duly done by any liquidator, director or other person, or by operation of
law, before the termination.
186 Distribution
of company’s property
(1) Subject to –
(a) any
enactment as to the order of payment of debts; and
(b) in
respect of protected cells companies, the provisions of Part 18D,
a company’s property shall on a winding up be applied in
satisfaction of the company’s liabilities pari
passu.
(2) Unless the memorandum
or articles otherwise provide any remaining property of the company shall be
distributed among the members according to their rights and interests in the
company.
(3) Despite paragraphs (1)
and (2) and Article 166, if, in the course of a creditor’s winding
up of a company, the liquidator (or, if a liquidator has not yet been
appointed, a director) is satisfied that the company’s assets will be
sufficient to ensure that –
(a) the
costs, charges and expenses properly incurred in the winding up may be paid;
and
(b) the
claims of all creditors (including any interest owing on a debt) may be
satisfied in full,
the liquidator, or, with the sanction of the court under Article 164(2),
the director, may, before or after meeting some or all of those costs, charges
and expenses and satisfying some or all of the claims of the creditors,
distribute to the members of the company, proportional to their rights or
interests, or otherwise as provided by the company’s memorandum or
articles, so much of the company’s assets as shall not be required to
meet those costs, charges, expenses and claims.[534]
Chapter
5 – Provisions of general application
186A References to the Court[535]
(1) The following persons,
namely –
(a) the
company, in a summary winding up;
(b) the
liquidator or a contributory or creditor of the company, in a creditors’
winding up,
may apply to the court for the determination of a question arising
in the winding up, or for the court to exercise any of its powers in relation
to the winding up.
(2) The court, if satisfied
that it will be just and beneficial to do so, may accede wholly or partially to
the application on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit, or make such
other order on the application as it thinks just.
(3) The court may exercise
all or any of the powers that would have been exercisable by it or by the
Viscount if a declaration had been made in relation to the company under the
Désastre Law and may make an order terminating the winding up.
187 Enforcement of liquidator’s duty to make returns, etc.
(1) If, in a winding up, a
director or a liquidator who has defaulted in delivering a document or in
giving any notice which the person is by law required to deliver or give fails
to make good the default within 14 days after the service on the person of a
notice requiring the person to do so the court has the following powers.
(2) On an application made
by a creditor or contributory of the company, or by the registrar, the court
may make an order directing the director or the liquidator to make good the
default within the time specified in the order.
(3) The court’s order
may provide that costs of and incidental to the application shall be borne, in
whole or in part, by the director or the liquidator personally.
(4) Nothing in paragraph (1)
prejudices the operation of any enactment imposing penalties on a director or a
liquidator in respect of a default mentioned therein.
188 Qualifications of liquidator
(1) A person who is not an
individual is not qualified to act as a liquidator.
(2) The Minister may
prescribe the qualifications required for any person to act as a liquidator.
(3) An appointment made in
contravention of this Article or any Order made under it is void; a person who
acts as liquidator when not qualified to do so is guilty of an offence.
(4) A liquidator shall
vacate office if the liquidator ceases to be a person qualified to act as a
liquidator.
189 Corrupt inducement affecting appointment as liquidator
A person who gives or agrees or offers to give to a member or
creditor of a company any valuable benefit with a view to securing his or her
own appointment or nomination, or to securing or preventing the appointment or
nomination of some person other than himself or herself, as the company’s
liquidator, is guilty of an offence.
190 Notification by liquidator of resignation, etc.
(1) A liquidator who
resigns, is removed or for any other reason vacates office must within 14 days
after the resignation, removal or vacation of office give notice thereof,
signed by the liquidator, to the registrar; and –
(a) in
the case of a creditors’ winding up (except where the removal is under Article 163(3)),
to the creditors;
(b) in
the case of a creditors’ winding up ordered by the court, to the court
and the Viscount.[536]
(2) A liquidator who fails
to comply with paragraph (1) is guilty of an offence.
191 Notification that company is in liquidation
(1) When a company is being
wound up, every invoice, order for goods or services or business letter issued
by or on behalf of the company, or a liquidator of the company, being a
document on or in which the name of the company appears, shall contain a
statement that the company is in liquidation.
(2) In the event of failure
to comply with this Article, the company and every officer of it who is in
default is guilty of an offence.
192 Liability as contributories of present and past members[537]
(1) Except as otherwise
provided by this Article, where a company is wound up, each present and past
member of the company is liable to contribute to its assets to an amount
sufficient for payment of its liabilities, the expenses of the winding up, and
for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories among themselves.
(2) A
past member of a particular class is not, as a member of that class, liable to
contribute –
(a) unless
it appears to the court that the present members of that class are unable to
satisfy the contributions required to be made by them as such members;
(b) if he
or she ceased to be a member of that class for 12 months or more before
the commencement of the winding up; or
(c) in
respect of a liability of the company contracted after he or she ceased to be a
member of that class.
(3) A
past or present guarantor member is not liable in that capacity to contribute
unless it appears to the court that the past and present members in their
capacity as the holders of limited shares are unable to satisfy the
contributions required to be made by them as such members.
(4) A
past or present member in his or her capacity as the holder of an unlimited
share is not liable to contribute unless it appears to the court that the past
and present members in their capacities as the holders of limited shares or as
guarantor members are unable to satisfy the contributions required to be made
by them as such members.
(5) A
contribution shall not be required from a past or present member, as such a
member, exceeding –
(a) any
amount unpaid on any limited shares in respect of which he or she is liable; or
(b) the
amount undertaken to be contributed by him or her to the assets of the company
if it should be wound up.
(6) A
sum due to a member of the company, in his or her capacity as a member, by way
of dividends, profits or otherwise is not in a case of competition between
himself or herself and any other creditor who is not a member of the company, a
liability of the company payable to that member, but any such sum may be taken
into account for the purpose of the final adjustment of the rights of the
contributors among themselves.
193 Bar against other proceedings in bankruptcy[538]
The winding up of a company under this Law bars the right to take
any other proceedings in bankruptcy except the right of a creditor or the
company to apply for a declaration under the Désastre Law where the
winding up is not one ordered by the court under Article 157C(1)(a).
194 Disposal of records
(1) When a company has been
wound up and is about to be dissolved, its records and those of a liquidator
may be disposed of as follows –
(a) in
the case of a summary winding up, in the way that the company by special
resolution directs; and
(b) in
the case of a creditors’ winding up, in the way that the liquidation
committee or, if there is no such committee, the company’s creditors, may
direct.
(2) After 10 years from the
company’s dissolution no responsibility rests on the company, a
liquidator, or a person to whom the custody of the records has been committed,
by reason of any record not being forthcoming to a person claiming to be
interested in it.
(3) The Commission may
direct that for such period as it thinks proper (but not exceeding 10 years
from the company’s dissolution), the records of a company which has been
wound up shall not be destroyed.[539]
(4) A person who acts in
contravention of a direction made for the purposes of this Article, is guilty
of an offence.
194A Power of States to amend Part 21[540]
The States may amend this Part by Regulations.
PART 22
EXTERNAL COMPANIES
195 Power to make Regulations as to registration and regulation of
external companies
(1) This Article applies to
external companies.
(2) The States may by
Regulations make provisions with respect to any of the following
matters –
(a) the
delivery to the registrar by an external company of –
(i) notice that it
has become or ceased to be an external company,
(ii) particulars
of its name, place and date of incorporation and its registered number in that
place,
(iii) the
address of its registered office or principal place of business, and
(iv) an
address in Jersey at which a document may be served on it;
(b) requiring
an external company to change the name under which it carries on business in
Jersey, or which it uses in connection with an address in Jersey for the
purposes of its business; and
(c) the
manner in which a document may be served on an external company.
(3) Regulations under this
Article may provide for the payment of annual and other fees and for the
imposition of fines and daily default fines for breaches of the Regulations.
(4) A person who passes off
or represents an external company as incorporated in Jersey is guilty of an
offence.
PART 23
REGISTRAR
196 Registrar and other officers
(1) For the purposes of the
registration of companies under this Law, the Commission shall appoint an
officer known as the registrar of companies and such other officers as may be
necessary to assist the registrar in the exercise of the registrar’s
functions under this Law.[541]
(2) Any functions of the
registrar under this Law may, to the extent authorized by the registrar, be
exercised by any officer on the staff of the Commission.[542]
(3) An officer appointed
under this Article shall be an officer of the Commission.[543]
197 Registrar’s seal
The Commission may direct a seal or seals to be prepared for the
authentication of documents required for or in connection with the registration
of companies.[544]
198 Registered numbers
(1) The registrar shall
allocate to every company a number, which shall be known as the company’s
registered number.
(2) Companies’
registered numbers shall be in such form, consisting of one or more sequences
of figures or letters as the registrar may from time to time determine.
(3) The registrar may upon
adopting a new form of registered number make such changes of existing
registered numbers as appear to the registrar necessary.
199 Size, durability, etc. of documents delivered to registrar
(1) The Commission may
publish requirements (whether as to size, weight, quality or colour of paper,
size, type or colouring of lettering, or otherwise) in respect of documents
delivered to the registrar to ensure that they are of standard size, durable
and easily legible.[545]
(2) If a document is
delivered to the registrar that in the opinion of the registrar does not comply
with a published requirement, the registrar may serve on a person by whom the
document was delivered (or, if 2 or more, any of them) a notice stating his or
her opinion and giving details of the relevant requirement.[546]
(3) Where the registrar
serves a notice under paragraph (2), then for the purposes of any
enactment which enables a penalty to be imposed in respect of an omission to
deliver to the registrar a document required to be delivered under that
provision (and, in particular, for the purposes of any such enactment whereby
such a penalty may be imposed by reference to each day during which the
omission continues) –
(a) a
duty imposed by that provision to deliver a document to the registrar is to be
treated as not having been discharged by the delivery of that document; but
(b) no
account is to be taken of days falling within the period beginning with the day
on which the document was delivered to the registrar and ending with the 14th
day after the date of service of the notice under paragraph (2).
200 Form of documents to be delivered to the registrar[547]
(1) The Commission may
publish forms to be used for any of the purposes of this Law.
(2) Where this Law requires
a document to be delivered to the registrar, but the form of the document has
not been published by the Commission it shall be sufficient compliance with the
requirement if a document or the information it must contain is delivered in a
form and manner acceptable to the registrar.
(3) The Commission may
publish details of the manner in which any document to be delivered to the
registrar is to be authenticated.
(4) Unless otherwise
provided by or under this Law, a document delivered to the registrar by a
company pursuant to this Law shall be signed by an officer or the secretary of
the company.
201 Fees and charges[548]
(1) The Commission may
require the payment to it of published fees in respect of the performance by
the registrar of his or her functions under this Law or a charge for the
provision by the registrar of any service, advice, or assistance.
(2) When documents are
delivered to the registrar in accordance with Article 7 (which relates to
the incorporation of a company) they must be accompanied by such amount
(additional to any fee or charge mentioned in paragraph (1)) as the States
may determine by Regulations.[549]
(3) The Commission shall
pay any additional amount received in accordance with paragraph (2) to the
Treasurer of the States.
(4) Where a fee mentioned
in paragraph (1) or an amount mentioned in (2) is payable in respect of
the performance of a function by the registrar the registrar need take no
action until the fee or amount is paid.
(5) Where the fee or
additional amount is payable on the receipt by the registrar of a document
required to be delivered to the registrar the registrar shall be taken not to
have received the document until the fee or additional amount is paid.
201A Keeping of records by registrar[550]
(1) The information that is
contained in a document delivered to the registrar under this Law or to the
Judicial Greffier under the Laws repealed by Article 223 and kept by the
registrar may be recorded and kept by the registrar in any form –
(a) which
is approved by the Commission;
(b) which
is capable of being inspected; and
(c) of
which a copy can be produced in legible form.[551]
(2) The keeping by the
registrar of a record of a document in accordance with paragraph (1) shall
be sufficient compliance with any duty that the registrar has to keep the
document.
202 Inspection and production of records kept by registrar[552]
(1) A person may inspect a
record kept by the registrar.
(2) A person may
require –
(a) a
certificate of the incorporation of a company; or
(b) a
certified or uncertified copy of a record, kept by the registrar, which the
person is entitled to inspect or of any part of such a record.
(3) A certificate given
under paragraph (2) shall be signed by the registrar and sealed with the
registrar’s seal.
(4) A copy, certified in
writing by the registrar in the manner described in paragraph (3) to be an
accurate copy –
(a) of
a record kept by the registrar; or
(b) of
any part of such a record,
shall be admissible in evidence in all legal proceedings as of equal
validity with the original record and as evidence of any fact stated in it of
which direct oral evidence would be admissible.
(5) Where a document
purports on its face to be a copy of a record or part of a record, certified in
either case in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (4), it shall be
unnecessary for the purposes of paragraph (4) to prove the official
position or handwriting of the registrar.
(6) The rights conferred by
paragraphs (1) and (2) are subject to the following
limitations –
(a) the
right of inspection does not extend to an original document of which a record
is kept in accordance with Article 201A(1); and
(b) in relation
to documents delivered to the registrar with a prospectus pursuant to a
requirement of an Order made under Article 29, the rights shall be
exercisable only during the period or with the permission specified in the
Order.
(c) [553]
203 Enforcement of company’s duty to make returns
(1) If a company, having
failed to comply with a provision of this Law which requires it to deliver to
the registrar any document, or to give notice to the registrar of any matter,
does not make good the failure within 14 days after the service of a notice on
the company requiring it to do so, the court may, on an application made to it
by a member or creditor of the company or by the registrar, make an order
directing the company and any officer of it to make good the failure within a
time specified in the order.
(2) The court’s order
may provide that all costs of and incidental to the application shall be borne
by the company or by any officers of it responsible for the failure.
(3) Nothing in this Article
prejudices the operation of any Article imposing penalties on a company or its
officers in respect of a failure mentioned above.
204 Destruction of records[554]
The registrar may destroy any record kept by the
registrar –
(a) where it is an original
document and the registrar has recorded and kept the information in it in
accordance with Article 201A(1);
(b) where it has been kept
for over 10 years and is or was comprised in or annexed or attached to the
accounts or annual returns of a company; or
(c) where it relates only
to a company that has been dissolved (whether under this Law or otherwise) more
than 10 years previously.
205 Registrar’s
powers to strike companies off register[555]
(1) If
the registrar has reason to believe that a company is not carrying on business
or is not in operation –
(a) the
registrar may send to it a letter inquiring whether it is carrying on business
or is in operation; and
(b) if
the registrar receives an answer to the effect that the company is not carrying
on business or is not in operation, or if the registrar does not within one
month after sending the letter receive an answer, he or she may publish in the
Jersey Gazette and send to the company a notice under paragraph (6).
(1A) Where –
(a) a
company fails to comply with a notice under Article 67(6); or
(b) the
registrar refuses under Article 67(8) to register a notice given by a
company under Article 67(5) or (6),
the registrar may publish in
the Jersey Gazette a notice under paragraph (6) and (unless it is not
reasonably practicable to do so) send the notice to the company.[556]
(2) [557]
(3) Where
in the case of a company (other than a limited life company) –
(a) its
memorandum specifies or its articles specify a period of time for the duration
of the company;
(b) that
period has expired; and
(c) a
notice in accordance with either of paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article 144A
has not been delivered to the registrar,
the registrar may publish in
the Jersey Gazette and send to the company a notice under paragraph (6).
(4) If,
where a company is being wound up in a creditors’ winding up, the
registrar has reason to believe either that no liquidator is acting, or that
the affairs of the company are fully wound up, and the returns required to be
made by the liquidator have not been made for a period of 6 consecutive months,
the registrar shall publish in the Jersey Gazette and send to the company or
the liquidator (if any) a notice under paragraph (6).
(5) If
the registrar has reason to believe that a company which is being wound up
summarily has, for a period of 6 months failed to comply with Article 150(4),
he or she shall publish in the Jersey Gazette and send to the company or the
liquidator (if any) a notice under paragraph (6).
(6) A
notice to which paragraph (1), (1A), (2), (3), (4) or (5) refers shall
state that at the end of the period of 3 months following the date of the
notice, the name of the company will be struck off the register and the company
will be dissolved unless –
(a) where
the notice relates to non-compliance with a requirement of this Law, that requirement
is complied with; or
(b) in
any other case, reason is shown by the company or a member, creditor or
liquidator of the company why the company’s name should not be struck off
the registrar and the company should not be dissolved.[558]
(7) If
the conditions in paragraph (6) (a) or (b) (as the case may be) have not
been satisfied before the end of the period mentioned in the notice, the
registrar may strike the company’s name off the register.
(8) On
the striking of the company’s name off the register under paragraph (7),
the company shall by operation of this Article be dissolved; but the liability
(if any) of every director and member of the company shall nevertheless
continue and may be enforced as if the company had not been dissolved.
(9) On
striking a company’s name off the register under paragraph (7), the
registrar shall publish notice of that fact in the Jersey Gazette.
(10) A
notice to be sent under this Article to a company or a liquidator may be sent
by post, and in the case of a liquidator may be addressed to him or her at his
or her last known place of business.
(11) Where –
(a) the
name of a company is struck off the register under paragraph (7); and
(b) the
company is a protected cell company,
the registrar must also
strike off the register the name of each cell (if any) of the company.[559]
205A Registrar may strike company off register at end of duration[560]
(1) Where in the case of a
company (other than a limited life company) –
(a) its
memorandum specifies or its articles specify a period of time for the duration
of the company;
(b) that
period has expired; and
(c) a
notice in accordance with either of Article 144A(1) and (2) has not been
delivered to the registrar,
the registrar may proceed in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2) Where the registrar is
entitled to proceed in accordance with this paragraph, the registrar may
publish in the Jersey Gazette, and send to the company by post, a notice that
at the end of 3 months from the date of that notice the name of the company
mentioned in it will, unless reason is shown to the contrary, be struck off the
register and the company will be dissolved.
(3) At the end of the
period mentioned in the notice the registrar may, unless reason to the contrary
is previously shown by the company or a member, creditor or liquidator of it,
strike its name off the register, and shall publish notice of this in the
Jersey Gazette; and on the striking off the company is dissolved; but the
liability (if any) of every director and member of the company continues and may
be enforced as if the company had not been dissolved.
PART 24
MISCELLANEOUS AND FINAL
PROVISIONS
206 Form of company’s records
(1) The records, which a
company is required by this Law to keep, may be kept in the form of a bound or
loose-leaf book, or photographic film, or may be entered or recorded by a
system of mechanical or electronic data processing or any other information
storage device that is capable of reproducing any required information in
intelligible written form within a reasonable time.
(2) A company shall take
reasonable precautions –
(a) to
prevent loss or destruction of;
(b) to
prevent falsification of entries in; and
(c) to
facilitate detection and correction of inaccuracies in,
the records required by this Law to be kept, and a company which
fails to comply with the provisions of this paragraph is guilty of an offence.
207 Examination of records and admissibility of evidence
(1) If any record referred
to in Article 206(1) is kept otherwise than in intelligible written form,
any duty imposed on the company by this Law to allow examination of, or to
furnish extracts from, such record shall be treated as a duty to allow
examination of, or to furnish a copy of the extract from, the record in
intelligible written form.
(2) The records kept by a
company in compliance with this Law shall be admissible in the form in which
they are made intelligible under paragraph (1) as prima facie evidence, before and after the
dissolution of the company, of all facts stated therein.
208 Production and inspection of records where offence suspected
(1) If, on an application
by the Attorney General, there is shown to be reasonable cause to believe that
a person has, while an officer of a company, committed an offence in connection
with the management of the company’s affairs and that evidence of the
commission of the offence is to be found in any records of or under the control
of the company, the court may make an order –
(a) authorizing
a person named in it to inspect the records in question, or any of them, for
the purpose of investigating and obtaining evidence of the offence; or
(b) requiring
the secretary of the company or an officer of it named in the order to produce
and make available the records (or any of them) to a person named in the order
at a place so named.
(2) Paragraph (1)
applies also in relation to records of a person carrying on the business of
banking so far as they relate to the company’s affairs, as it applies to
records of or under the control of the company, except that no order referred to
in paragraph (1)(b) shall be made by virtue of this paragraph.
(3) The decision of the
court on an application under this Article is not appealable.
209 Legal professional privilege
Where criminal proceedings are instituted by the Attorney General
under this Law against any person, nothing in this Law is to be taken to
require any person to disclose any information which the person is entitled to
refuse to disclose on grounds of legal professional privilege in proceedings in
the court.
210 Right to refuse to answer questions
A person may refuse to answer any question put to him or her
pursuant to any provision of this Law if his or her answer would tend to expose
that person, or the spouse or civil partner of that person, to proceedings
under the law of Jersey for an offence or for the recovery of any penalty.[561]
211 Relief for private companies
The States may, by Regulations, provide that private companies, or
private companies satisfying conditions specified in the Regulations, shall be
exempt from compliance with any provision of this Law so specified or that any
such provision shall apply to such companies with such modifications as may be
so specified.
212 Power of court to grant relief in certain cases
(1) If in proceedings for
negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust against an officer of a
company or a person employed by a company as auditor it appears to the court
that that officer or person is or may be liable in respect of the negligence,
default, breach of duty or breach of trust, but that the person has acted
honestly and that having regard to all the circumstances of the case (including
those connected with his or her appointment) he or she ought fairly to be
excused for the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, the
court may relieve the person, either wholly or partly, from his or her
liability on such terms as it thinks fit.
(2) If an officer or person
mentioned in paragraph (1) has reason to apprehend that a claim will or
might be made against the person in respect of negligence, default, breach of
duty or breach of trust, he or she may apply to the court for relief; and the
court on the application has the same power to relieve the person as it would
have had if proceedings against him or her for negligence, default, breach of
duty or breach of trust had been brought.
213 Power of court to declare dissolution of company void[562]
(1) Where a company has
been dissolved under this Law or the Désastre Law, the court may at any
time within 10 years of the date of the dissolution, on an application
made for the purpose by –
(a) a
liquidator of the company; or
(b) any
other person appearing to the court to be interested,
make an order, on such terms as the court thinks fit, declaring the
dissolution to have been void and the court may by the order give such
directions and make such provisions as seem just for placing the company and
all other persons in the same position as nearly as may be as if the company
had not been dissolved.
(2) Thereupon such
proceedings may be taken which might have been taken if the company had not
been dissolved.
(3) The person on whose
application the order was made shall within 14 days after the making of
the order (or such further time as the court may allow), deliver the relevant
Act of the court to the registrar for registration.
(4) A person who fails to
comply with paragraph (3) is guilty of an offence.
(5) Paragraph (6)
applies where –
(a) an
order is made under this Article that declares that the dissolution of a
company dissolved under Article 150 is void; and
(b) the
company’s assets (if any) at the time of its dissolution were not
sufficient for the discharge of all its liabilities at that time.
(6) The court on the
application of a creditor of the company may order –
(a) a
person to whom any assets were distributed under Article 150; and
(b) any
director or liquidator who signed a statement delivered to the registrar under
Article 146 or 150 that the company had no liabilities,
to contribute to the company’s assets so as to enable the insufficiency
mentioned in paragraph (5)(b) to be met.
(7) Paragraph (6)(b)
does not include a person who shows that he or she had reasonable grounds for
being satisfied when signing the statement mentioned in that paragraph that the
company had no liabilities.
(8) A person mentioned in
paragraph (6)(a) is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding the
amount or value of the assets that were distributed to the person.
(9) A director or
liquidator mentioned in paragraph (6)(b) may be ordered, jointly and severally
with any other person who is liable to contribute under this Article, to
contribute an amount not exceeding the insufficiency mentioned in paragraph (5)(b).
(10) Where a person has
contributed an amount under this Article, the court may direct any other person
who is jointly and severally liable to contribute under this Article to pay to
him or her such amount as the court thinks just and reasonable.
(11) Article 192 does not
apply in relation to liability accruing by virtue of this Article.
213A Recognition of status of
foreign corporations[563]
(1) If at any
time –
(a) any
question arises whether a body which purports to have corporate status under
or, as the case may be, which appears to have lost corporate status under the
laws of a territory which is not at that time a recognized State should or
should not be regarded as having legal personality as a body corporate under
the law of Jersey; and
(b) it
appears that the laws of that territory are at that time applied by a settled
court system in that territory,
that question and any other material question relating to the body
shall be determined (and account shall be taken of those laws) as if that
territory were a recognized State.
(2) For the purposes of
paragraph (1) –
(a) “a
recognized State” is a territory which is recognized by the Government of the United Kingdom as a State;
(b) the
laws of a territory which is so recognized shall be taken to include the laws
of any part of the territory which are acknowledged by the federal or other
central government of the territory as a whole; and
(c) a
material question is a question (whether as to capacity, constitution or
otherwise) which, in the case of a body corporate, falls to be determined by
reference to the laws of the territory under which the body is incorporated.[564]
(3) Any registration or
other thing done at a time before the coming into force of this Article shall
be regarded as valid if it would have been valid at that time, had paragraphs (1)
and (2) then been in force.
214 Registration in the Public Registry
The Judicial Greffier shall register in the Public Registry all Acts
and orders affecting immovable property made under this Law.
215 Punishment of offences[565]
(1) Schedule 1 has
effect with respect to the way in which offences under this Law are punishable
on conviction.
(2) In relation to an
offence under a provision of this Law specified in the first column of Schedule 1
(the general nature of the offence being described in the second
column) –
(a) the
corresponding entry in the third column shows the maximum punishment by way of
fine or imprisonment under this Law that may be imposed on a person convicted
of the offence;
(b) the
corresponding entry (if any) in the fourth column shows that a person convicted
of the offence is also liable to a daily default fine;
(c) a
reference in the third column to a period of years or months is a reference to
a term of imprisonment of that duration; and
(d) a
reference in the third or fourth column to a level is a reference to a fine of
that level on the standard scale.
(3) In paragraph (2)(b),
liability to a daily default fine means that if –
(a) a
person has been convicted of the offence;
(b) the person is convicted of having
again committed that offence; and
(c) on
that subsequent occasion the contravention has continued for more than one day,
then in addition to the person’s liability to a fine under
paragraph (2)(a) on conviction in respect of that subsequent offence, he
or she is liable to the fine specified in the fourth column of Schedule 1
for each day (other than the first day) on which the subsequent offence is
proved to have continued.
(4) For the purposes of any
Article of this Law where under or pursuant to this Law an officer of a company
or other body corporate who is in default is guilty of an offence, the
expression “officer in default” means any officer of the company or
body corporate who knowingly and wilfully authorizes or permits the default,
refusal or contravention mentioned in the Article.
216 Accessories
and abettors[566]
Any person who aids, abets,
counsels or procures the commission of an offence under this Law shall also be
guilty of the offence and liable in the same manner as a principal offender to
the penalty provided for that offence.
217 General powers of the court
(1) Where, on the
application of the Attorney General or the registrar, the court is satisfied
that any person has failed to comply with any requirement made by or pursuant
to this Law, or has committed any breach of duty as an officer of the company,
it may order that person to comply with that requirement or, so far as the
breach of duty is capable of being made good, make good the breach.
(2) The court shall not
make an order against any person under this Article unless the court has given
that person the opportunity of adducing evidence and being heard in relation to
the matter to which the application relates.
217A Limitation of liability[567]
(1) No person or body to
whom this Article applies shall be liable in damages for anything done or
omitted in the discharge or purported discharge of any functions under this Law
or any enactment made, or purportedly made, under this Law unless it is shown
that the act or omission was in bad faith.
(2) This Article applies
to –
(a) the
States;
(b) the
Minister or any person who is, or is acting as, an officer, servant or agent in
an administration of the States for which the Minister is assigned
responsibility or who is an inspector appointed by the Minister under Article 128
or who is performing any duty or exercising any power on behalf of the
Minister; and
(c) the
Commission, any Commissioner or any person who is, or is acting as, an officer,
servant or agent of the Commission or who is an inspector appointed by the
Commission under Article 128 or who is performing any duty or exercising
any power on behalf of the Commission.
218 Power to make Rules
Rules may be made in the manner prescribed by the Royal Court (Jersey) Law 1948 relating to the procedure to
be followed by the court in giving effect to the provisions of this Law.
219 Orders
(1) The Minister may by
Order make provision for the purpose of carrying this Law into effect and, in
particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, for
prescribing any matter which may be prescribed by this Law.
(1A) The Minister shall consult the
Commission before making any Order under this Law.[568]
(1B) In prescribing fees for the
purposes of this Law, the Minister may take into consideration such matters as
he or she thinks fit, and such fees may be prescribed so as to raise income in
excess of the amount necessary to cover the expenses of the Minister in
discharging his or her functions under this Law.[569]
(2) [570]
220 General provisions as to Regulations and Orders
(1) Except insofar as this
Law otherwise provides, any power conferred thereby to make any Regulations or
Order may be exercised –
(a) either
in relation to all cases to which the power extends, or in relation to all
those cases subject to specified exceptions, or in relation to any specified
cases or classes of case; and
(b) so as
to make in relation to the cases in relation to which it is
exercised –
(i) the full
provision to which the power extends or any less provision (whether by way of
exception or otherwise),
(ii) the
same provision for all cases in relation to which the power is exercised or
different provisions for different cases or classes of case, or different
provisions as respects the same case or class of case for different purposes of
this Law, or
(iii) any
such provision either unconditionally or subject to any specified conditions.
(2) Without prejudice to
any specific provision of this Law, any Regulations or Order under this Law may
contain such transitional, consequential, incidental or supplementary
provisions as appear to the States or the Minister, as the case may be, to be
necessary or expedient for the purposes of the Regulations or Order.
(3) A power conferred on
the States by this Law to make Regulations to amend any provision of this Law
includes the power to make Regulations to make such transitional,
consequential, incidental or supplementary amendments to any other provision of
this Law as appears to the States to be necessary or expedient.[571]
221 Transitional provisions
(1) The transitional
provisions in Schedule 2 shall have effect with regard to the Laws
repealed by Article 223 and to existing companies.
(2) The States may, by
Regulations, make provision for any other transitional matter connected with
the coming into force of this Law.
223 Repeal
The Companies (Jersey) Law 1861 to 1968 are repealed.
224 Citation
This Law may be cited as the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991.