
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;
“direct vote” has
the meaning given in Article 96A(2);
“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;
“employees’ share scheme”
means a scheme for encouraging or facilitating the holding of shares or
debentures in a company by or for the benefit of –
(a) the
employees or former employees of the company, the company’s subsidiary or
holding company, or a subsidiary of the company’s holding company;
(b) wives,
husbands, widows, widowers, civil partners or surviving civil partners of those
employees or former employees; or
(c) minor
children of those employees or former employees;
“EU/EFTA
regulated market” means a regulated market that is authorised and
functions regularly and in accordance with Title III of Directive 2014/65/EU of
the European Parliament and of the Council on markets in financial instruments;
“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;
“market operator”
means a person who manages or operates the business of a regulated market, and
may be the regulated market itself;
“memorandum”, in relation to a company, means
its memorandum of association as originally framed or as altered;
“Minister” means the Minister for External
Relations;
“minor children”
means children who have not attained the age of majority and includes, in
relation to a person –
(a) the
person’s stepchild;
(b) the
person’s adopted child; and
(c) a
child who is the subject of a parental order or a recognition order within the
meaning of the Children (Jersey) Law 2002 in which the person is
named as the child’s parent.
“multilateral system”
means any system or facility in which multiple third-party buying and selling
trading interests in financial instruments are able to interact in the system;
“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;
“parental order” has the meaning given in
Article 1(1) of the Children (Jersey) Law 2002 and includes a recognition
order made under Article 9N of that Law;
“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 and an electronic record within
the meaning of the Electronic Communications (Jersey) Law 2000;
“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 of a company, 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;
(g) the
invitation relates to an admission to trading within Article 3(3) or (6)
of the Companies (General
Provisions) (Jersey) Order 2002; or
(h) any
combination of sub-paragraphs (a) to (g) 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;
“regulated market”
means a multilateral system operated or managed by a market operator, which
brings together or facilitates the bringing together of multiple third-party
buying and selling interests in financial instruments in the system and in
accordance with its non-discretionary rules in a way that results in a contract,
in respect of the financial instruments admitted to trading under its rules and
systems;
“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;
“UK regulated market”
means a regulated market that is a recognised investment exchange under section
285 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the United Kingdom, but
not an overseas investment exchange within the meaning of that Act;
“variation”, in Articles 52 and 53,
includes abrogation;
“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;
“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]
(4) Where
this Law, or Regulation or Orders made under this Law, refers to an Act or
subordinate legislation of the United Kingdom, unless otherwise
provided –
(a) Article 9(3)
of the Interpretation (Jersey)
Law 1954 applies to that reference as it applies to a reference to an
enactment; and
(b) Article 6
of the Legislation (Jersey)
Law 2021 applies in relation to that Act or subordinate legislation, and to
any legislation that repeals or re-enacts it, as it applies in relation to
Jersey legislation.[7]
2 Meanings
of “subsidiary”, “wholly-owned subsidiary” and
“holding body”[8]
(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.[9]
(5) [10]
2A Further
provisions relating to subsidiaries and holding bodies[11]
(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[12]
The
States may amend this Part by Regulations.
Part 2
Company formation and
registration
3 Method
of formation of a company[13]
(1) Any
person or 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.[14]
(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) [15]
(4) [16]
(5) [17]
(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.[18]
(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[19]
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[20]
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[21]
(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[22]
(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[23]
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[24]
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[25]
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[26]
(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.[27]
(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[28]
(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[29]
(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.[30]
(3) The
memorandum shall be signed by or on behalf of each subscriber.[31]
(4) [32]
4A Memorandum
of company with shares[33]
(1) Where
a company is to be registered with shares –
(a) if
it is a par value company, the memorandum must state
the amounts into which the shares of each class are divided, and the limit (if
any) on the number or aggregate nominal value of shares of each class that the
company is to be authorised to issue;
(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.[34]
(2) The
amount of a par value share may be stated in any unit or part of a unit of any
currency.[35]
(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[36]
(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[37]
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[38]
(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.[39]
(4) This
Article is subject to Article 6.
(5) [40]
6 Standard
Table[41]
(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.[42]
(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.[43]
(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.[44]
(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.[45]
(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.[46]
8 Registration[47]
(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.[48]
(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.[49]
(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.[50]
(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.[51]
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 signed by each member, and, in the case of
a member who is an individual, witnessed (including for the purposes of the
Powers of Attorney (Jersey) Law 1995), and contained covenants on the part of
the company and each member to observe all the provisions of the memorandum and
articles.[52]
(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[53]
(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.[54]
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.[55]
(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) If
a name to be registered is in the registrar’s opinion in any way
misleading or otherwise undesirable, the registrar may refuse to
register –
(a) the
memorandum;
(b) a
special resolution changing the name of a company; or
(c) a
change of a company’s name effected by other means provided for in the
company’s articles.[56]
(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”.[57]
(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.[58]
(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”.[59]
(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.[60]
(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.[61]
14 Change
of name
(1) Subject to Article 13,
a company may change its name –
(a) by
special resolution; or
(b) by
other means provided for in the company’s articles.[62]
(1A) If a company changes its name
otherwise than by special resolution, it must give notice to the registrar of
the new name, stating that the change of name has been made by the means
provided for in the company’s articles.[63]
(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.[64]
(3) Where, at the time a
company changes 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.[65]
(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[66]
16 Change
of status of public company[67]
(1) A
public company may become a private company by altering its memorandum to state
that it is a private company.
(2) But
paragraph (1) does not apply to a public company that –
(a) has
circulated a prospectus, unless –
(i) all the
securities issued or sold pursuant to the prospectus have been repaid,
redeemed, purchased by the company or cancelled; or
(ii) the
Commission consents to the change of status following an application made by
the company under this Article;
(b) is a
market traded company within the meaning of Part 16; or
(c) is an
equivalently regulated company within the meaning of Part 16A.
(3) An
application for consent under paragraph (2)(a)(ii) must be made in the form specified by the
Commission.
(4) On
determining the application, the Commission must inform the applicant of its
decision.
(5) If
the application is granted, the Commission must inform the registrar and
deliver to the registrar the documents that accompanied the application, and
the registrar must record the change of status of the company.
(6) If
the Commission does not grant the application, the company, or a member of the
company, may, within 28 days 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.
(7) On
hearing an appeal under this Article, the court may –
(a) confirm
or reverse the decision made by the Commission; and
(b) make
such order as to the costs of the appeal as it thinks fit.
17 Change
of status of private company[68]
(1) A private company may become a public company by altering
its memorandum to state that it is a public company.
(2) A private company is
subject to this Law as though it were a public company if –
(a) it
circulates a prospectus relating to its securities;
(b) it is
a market traded company within the meaning of Part 16; or
(c) it is
an equivalently regulated company within the meaning of Part 16A.
(3) A private company
falling within paragraph (2) ceases to be subject to this Law as though it
were a public company if any of the following circumstances occur –
(a) if
the company circulated a prospectus, when –
(i) all the
securities issued or sold pursuant to the prospectus have been repaid,
redeemed, purchased by the company or cancelled; or
(ii) the
Commission consents to the change of status following an application made by
the company under this Article;
(b) it
ceases to be a market traded company within the meaning of Part 16; or
(c) it
ceases to be an equivalently regulated company within the meaning of Part 16A.
(4) But paragraph (3)
does not apply to a company to which Article 3A(b) applies.
(5) An application for
consent under paragraph (3)(a)(ii) must be made in the form specified by
the Commission.
(6) On determining the
application, the Commission must inform the applicant of its decision.
(7) If the application is
granted, the Commission must inform the registrar and deliver to the registrar
the documents which accompanied the application, and the registrar must record
the change of status of the company.
(8) If the Commission does
not grant the application, the company, or a member of the company, may, within
28 days 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.
(9) On hearing an appeal
under this Article, the court may –
(a) confirm
or reverse the decision made by the Commission; and
(b) make
such order as to the costs of the appeal as it thinks fit.
17AA Change of status of private
company – transitional provisions[69]
(1) On the coming into force of the Companies (Jersey) Amendment Law 2026, a
private company that was subject to this Law as though
it were a public company solely by reason of having more than 30 members is no
longer to be treated as a public company.
(2) If,
on the coming into force of the Companies (Amendment of Law) (No. 2)
(Jersey) Order 2021 on 19 October 2021, a private company was subject to this
Law as though it were a public company solely by reason of circulating a
prospectus before that date that did not fall within the definition of
“prospectus” in Article 1(1) (as substituted by that Order),
the company is to be treated as not having become subject to this Law as though
it were a public company with effect from that date.
17A [70]
17B Effective date of
change of status[71]
Where
a company alters its memorandum as mentioned in Article 16(1) 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.[72]
17C [73]
17D [74]
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 or director disqualification[75]
(1) 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.[76]
(2) No person is deemed to
have notice that a director has been disqualified from holding office by reason only of the inclusion of the
name of the director in any list maintained –
(a) by the registrar or
the Judicial Greffier; or
(b) for the purposes of the Company Directors
Disqualification Act 1986 of the United Kingdom, the Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Jersey)
Law 2019 or the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 of the
United Kingdom.[77]
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[78]
(1) A
company which has a common seal must have its name engraved, or in the case of
an electronic common seal must have its name appear, in legible characters on
that seal.[79]
(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 or in the case of an
electronic seal on which its name does not appear in legible characters,
he or she is guilty of an offence.[80]
23 Official
seal for use abroad[81]
(1) A
company which has a common seal or electronic common seal and engages in
business outside Jersey may, if authorised by its articles, have for use in any
country, territory or place outside Jersey an official seal or electronic
official seal, which must be a facsimile of the common seal or electronic
common seal of the company with the addition either of the words “Branch
Seal” or the name of the country, territory or place where it is to be
used.[82]
(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 or electronic official seal for use outside
Jersey is duly affixed binds the company as if it had been sealed with the
company’s common seal or electronic common seal.[83]
(3) A
company may, in writing under its common seal or electronic common seal,
authorize an agent appointed for the purpose to affix an official seal or
electronic official seal for use outside Jersey to a document to which the
company is party.[84]
(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[85]
For the purpose of sealing
securities that it issues, and for sealing documents creating or evidencing
securities that it issues, a company which has a common seal or electronic
common seal may have –
(a) an
official seal or electronic official seal that is a facsimile of its common
seal or electronic common seal, with the addition of the word
“Securities”; and
(b) in
the case of an official seal, duplicates of such a seal.
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.[86]
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.[87]
(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).[88]
(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.[89]
(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.[90]
(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 [91]
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.[92]
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.[93]
(2) Such an Order may
provide for the payment of fees for the purposes of the Order.[94]
(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.
(4) [95]
(5) [96]
(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.[97]
35 Rule
of law relating to issue of shares at discount etc. abolished[98]
(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 [99]
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.[100]
38 Alteration
of capital of par value companies[101]
(1) A par value company
may, by special resolution, alter its share capital in any way, including to –
(a) increase
its share capital by creating new shares of such amount and in such currency or
currencies as it thinks expedient;
(b) consolidate
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 (whether issued or not), or any of
them, into shares of smaller amount than its existing shares;
(da) without prejudice to
any provision in the company’s articles that permits conversion otherwise
than by special resolution –
(i) convert
existing non-convertible shares (whether issued or not) into convertible shares
or vice versa; or
(ii) convert
any or all of its fully paid issued and unissued shares of one class into
shares of another class;
(e) subject
to Article 38B, convert any of its shares the nominal value of which is
expressed in one currency into 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.[102]
(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.[103]
(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.
(3) Unless
the special resolution or the company’s articles otherwise provide, in
any conversion effected under this Article –
(a) if
a fully paid share is converted into a share with a higher nominal value, the
converted share must be treated as fully paid, unless the member agrees in
writing to pay the increase in its nominal value after conversion; and
(b) if
a fully paid share is converted into a share with a lower nominal value, the
difference in value must be credited to the share premium account.[104]
(3A) Paragraph (3)
does not alter a member’s liability to pay any premium on a share in
excess of its original nominal value prior to conversion.[105]
(4) [106]
(4A) A company may
not effect a reduction of share capital unless it complies with the
requirements of Part 12.[107]
(5) A cancellation of
shares under paragraph (1)(f) does not for the purposes of this Law constitute
a reduction of share capital.[108]
(6) A
transfer from nominal capital account to share premium account in accordance
with paragraph (3)(b) does not for the purposes of this Law constitute a
reduction of share capital.[109]
(7) This
Article is subject to Article 11(3).[110]
38A Alteration of
capital of no par value companies[111]
(1) A no par value company may by special
resolution alter its share capital in any manner, including –
(a) to increase or reduce the number of shares
that it is authorised to issue;
(b) to consolidate all or any of its shares
(whether issued or not) into fewer shares;
(c) to divide all or any of its shares (whether
issued or not) into more shares; or
(d) without prejudice to any provision in the
company’s articles that permits conversion otherwise than by special
resolution, to –
(i) convert existing non-convertible
shares (whether issued or not) into convertible shares or vice versa; or
(ii) convert any or all of its shares of
one class into shares of another class.
(2) A company may not effect a reduction of
share capital unless it complies with the requirements of Part 12.
(3) This Article is subject to Article 11(3).
38B Rate of exchange
for currency conversions[112]
A conversion under Article 38(1)(e)
must be effected at the rate of exchange specified in the special resolution.
39 Share
premium accounts for par value companies[113]
(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, as determined by the directors, 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, as determined by the directors, of
those premiums shall be transferred, as and when those premiums are paid up, to
a separate share premium account for that class.[114]
(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.[115]
(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.[116]
(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[117]
(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.[118]
(3A) An
amount may be transferred by the company to a stated capital account from any
other account of the company.[119]
(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.[120]
(5) This Article is subject to Articles 39B
to 39F.[121]
39B Relief from
requirements to make transfers to share premium accounts and stated capital
accounts[122]
(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.
39C Further
relief from requirements to make transfers to share premium accounts or stated
capital accounts[123]
(1) This Article applies if a company
(“the issuing company”) has secured at least a 9/10ths equity
holding in another body corporate (“the acquired body corporate”)
under an arrangement providing for the allotment of equity shares in the
issuing company on terms that the consideration for the equity shares allotted
is to be provided –
(a) by the issue or transfer to the issuing
company of equity shares in the acquired body corporate; or
(b) by the cancellation of any such equity
shares not held by the issuing company.
(2) Despite Article 39(1) or Article 39A,
in respect of the equity shares in the issuing company allotted under the
arrangement in consideration for the acquisition or cancellation of equity
shares in the acquired body corporate, the company need not transfer any amount
or value to a share premium account or stated capital account (as the case may
be).
(3) If the arrangement also provides for the
allotment of any shares in the issuing company on terms that the consideration
for those shares is to be provided by a method specified in paragraph (4),
relief under paragraph (2) extends to any shares in the issuing company
allotted on those terms under the arrangement.
(4) Those methods are –
(a) the issue or transfer to the issuing company
of non-equity shares in the acquired body corporate; or
(b) the cancellation of any non-equity shares in
that acquired body corporate not held by the issuing company.
39D Meaning of 9/10ths
equity holding in Article 39C[124]
(1) This Article determines for the purposes of
Article 39C(1) whether a company (“company A”) has secured at
least a 9/10ths equity holding in another body corporate (“company
B”) under the arrangement.
(2) Company A has secured at least a 9/10ths
equity holding in company B if in consequence of an acquisition or cancellation
of equity shares in company B (under that arrangement) it holds equity shares
in company B that consist of –
(a) in the case of a body corporate that has par
value shares, not less than 9/10ths in nominal value of the total equity shares
in company B; or
(b) in the case of a no par value company, not
less than 9/10ths in number of the total equity shares in company B.
(3) For this purpose –
(a) it is immaterial whether any of those shares
were acquired under the arrangement; and
(b) shares in company B held by the company
as treasury shares are excluded in determining the nominal value or number of
equity shares in company B.
(4) If the equity share capital of company B
is divided into different classes of shares, company A is not regarded as
having secured at least a 9/10ths equity holding in company B unless the
requirements of paragraph (2) are met in relation to each of those classes
of shares taken separately.
(5) For the purposes of this Article, shares
held by any of the following are treated as held by company A –
(a) a company that is company A’s
holding company or subsidiary;
(b) a subsidiary of company A’s
holding company; or
(c) nominees of a company or subsidiary
mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b).
39E Relief may
be reflected in company’s balance sheet[125]
If a company allots shares
and any amount or value in respect of those shares is not transferred to its
share premium account or stated capital account by virtue of the application of
any relief under Article 39B or 39C, an equivalent amount or value may
also be disregarded in determining the amount or value at which any shares or
other consideration provided for the shares issued is to be included in the
company’s balance sheet.
39F Interpretation
of Articles 39C to 39E[126]
(1) In
Articles 39C to 39E –
“arrangement” means any agreement, scheme,
merger or arrangement, including an arrangement sanctioned in accordance with
Part 18A, Part 18B Article 148(4) or Article 149(5);
“equity share” means a share in a body
corporate other than a non-equity share;
“non-equity share” means a share in a body
corporate that does not carry a right to participate in the assets of the body
corporate (by way of distribution or return of capital on a winding up or
otherwise) beyond a specified amount.
(2) References
in Articles 39C to 39E to the acquisition by a body corporate of shares in
another body corporate include the acquisition of shares by a nominee of that
body corporate.
(3) References
in Articles 39C to 39E to the issue or allotment of shares to, or the
transfer of shares to or by, a body corporate include the issue or allotment or
transfer of shares to or by a nominee of that body corporate.
(4) References
in Articles 39C to 39E to the transfer of shares in a body corporate
include the transfer of a right to be included in the register of members of
that body corporate in respect of those shares.
39G Other contributions[127]
(1) Despite any other provisions of this Law,
but subject to any restrictions in the articles of association of a company, a
person may at any time transfer cash or assets to the company (otherwise than
for an allotment of shares), the value of which may be added to any accounts or
reserves of the company other than the nominal capital account.
(2) The directors may determine the value of a transfer
made otherwise than in cash and to which accounts or reserves the value is
added.
40 Power
to issue fractions of shares[128]
(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[129]
(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[130]
(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[131]
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.[132]
(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).[133]
(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) 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 or the transfer has otherwise been carried out in the manner
provided in its articles;
(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.[134]
(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.[135]
(1AA) An
instrument of transfer is not required under paragraph (1)(a) if the
relevant shares have been purchased by the company under Article 57 or 57A
otherwise than on a securities exchange.[136]
(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.[137]
(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.[138]
(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.[139]
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.[140]
(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.[141]
(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.[142]
(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.[143]
(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.
(5) Despite paragraphs (1) to (4), a company may, without
application to the court, at any time rectify an error or omission in the
register, but such a rectification must not adversely affect any person unless
the person agrees to the rectification being made.[144]
(6) Within
14 days after the rectification of an error or omission under
paragraph (5), the company must give notice of the rectification to the
registrar if the error or omission also occurs in any document forwarded by the
company to the registrar; and in the event of failure to comply with this
paragraph the company commits an offence.[145]
(7) Nothing
in paragraph (5) affects the requirement in Article 42(1A) to produce
the LTT receipt issued under Article 9 of the Taxation (Land Transactions) (Jersey)
Law 2009 if applicable, before a company registers an instrument of transfer
of shares.[146]
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[147]
(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.[148]
(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[149]
(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 or the articles of association otherwise provide.[150]
(2) Paragraph (1) does
not apply –
(aa) if a member has
waived in writing the right to a share certificate;
(a) to
an allotment or transfer of shares to a nominee of a securities 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.[151]
(2A) A member’s waiver of the
right to a share certificate under paragraph (2)(aa) may be revoked by a
written revocation delivered to the company at its registered office, in which
case the company must comply with paragraph (1) within 2 months of
receipt of the revocation.[152]
(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.[153]
(4) [154]
(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 by one or more of the directors, the secretary, or any
other person authorised by the directors in accordance with the articles of
association, specifying any shares held by a member is prima facie evidence of the member’s title to
the shares.[155]
(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.[156]
51A Uncertificated securities[157]
(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[158]
(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; or
(b) reduces
the liability of any class of members otherwise to pay money to a company,
(c)
is for the purposes of this Article a variation of the rights of
each other class of members of the company.[159]
(5) No
member –
(a) whose
liability is to be so reduced; and
(b) who
is also a member of any other class,
shall for the purposes of paragraph (4) be treated as a member
of that other class.[160]
(5A) Despite
paragraph (4), the articles of association may specify what is, or is not
to be, regarded as a variation of the rights of any class of members of the
company for the purposes of this Article.[161]
(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 of a provision
of the type referred to in paragraph (5A), or the insertion of such a
provision in the memorandum or articles, is itself a variation of those rights.[162]
(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[163]
(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.[164]
(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.[165]
(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.[166]
(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.[167]
(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.[168]
(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.[169]
(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.[170]
(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.[171]
(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 [172]
55 Power
to issue redeemable shares[173]
(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) [174]
(3) [175]
(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.[176]
(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.[177]
(5A) A company may not redeem any of its shares if as a
result of the redemption there would no longer be a member of the company
holding shares other than treasury shares.[178]
(6) [179]
(7) [180]
(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).
(8A) Paragraph (8) does not apply if fully paid shares are
being redeemed for nil consideration.[181]
(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.[182]
(9A) The requirement for directors who authorise the
redemption to make the paragraph (9) statement does not include any
directors who cease to hold office before the statement is made (“former
directors”), and the statement that the directors authorising the
redemption have formed the opinion as set out in paragraph (9) does not
include any former directors; but if all of the directors who authorised the
redemption have ceased to hold office before the statement is made, either –
(a) the statement may be made by all
the directors in office; or
(b) the directors may re-authorise the redemption and paragraph (8)
applies accordingly.[183]
(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.[184]
(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).[185]
(13) [186]
(14) [187]
(15) [188]
(16) A
company may, by special resolution, apply a capital redemption reserve in
issuing shares to be allotted as fully paid bonus shares.[189]
(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.[190]
(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.[191]
(22) Subject to Article 192, if any unpaid or
partly paid shares are redeemed under this Article, any liability to pay any
unpaid amounts in respect of the shares is released on their redemption, but
this does not for the purpose of this Law constitute a reduction of share capital.[192]
55A Ratifying
redemption of shares not made in accordance with Article 55[193]
(1) If a redemption of shares has been made by a
company without the directors making a statement as required by
Article 55(8) and (9), the directors of the company may subsequently
ratify the redemption and confirm that it is to be treated for all purposes as
if it had been made in accordance with Article 55 if the directors who are
to ratify the redemption –
(a) make a statement in accordance with
paragraph (2); and
(b) consider that at the time the redemption to
be ratified was made there were reasonable grounds for believing that the
redemption was intended to be a redemption for the purposes of Article 55.
(2) The statement must state that the directors
of the company who are to ratify the redemption have formed the opinion that –
(a) immediately after the redemption was made
the company was able to discharge its liabilities as they fell due;
(b) at the time the statement is made the
company is able to discharge its liabilities as they fall due; and
(c) if the redemption was made less than
12 months before the date on which the statement is made, 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 redemption was made.
(3) A director who makes a statement under this
Article without having reasonable grounds for the opinion expressed in the statement
commits an offence.
57 Power
of company to purchase its own limited shares[194]
(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.[195]
(2) A purchase under this Article
must be sanctioned by resolution of the company, unless it is –
(a) a purchase by a company that is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of another company; or
(b) a purchase by a company of its own shares or
depositary certificates for nil consideration.[196]
(3) But if the shares or
depositary certificates in respect of shares are to be purchased otherwise than
on a securities exchange, they may be purchased in accordance with paragraph (3A),
(3B) or (3C) as determined by the directors.[197]
(3A) The shares or depositary certificates in respect of
shares may be purchased –
(a) under a contract approved in advance of the
purchase by a resolution of the company; and
(b) the shares or depositary certificates in
respect of shares to be purchased do not carry the right to vote on the
resolution approving the contract under sub-paragraph (a) or sanctioning
the purchase (if sanction is required) under paragraph (2).[198]
(3B) The shares or depositary certificates in respect of shares may be purchased –
(a) under a contract approved in advance of the
purchase by the directors; and
(b) the resolution (if one is required)
authorising the purchase under paragraph (2) must specify –
(i) the maximum number of shares or
depositary certificates in respect of shares to be purchased;
(ii) the maximum and minimum prices that
may be paid, or contain a statement that the relevant shares or depositary
certificates in respect of shares will be purchased in accordance with the
articles of association of the company; and
(iii) a date, being not later than 5 years
after the passing of the resolution, on which the authority to purchase is to
expire.[199]
(3C) If the shares or depositary certificates in respect of shares are to be
purchased for nil consideration, they may be purchased under a contract
approved in advance of the purchase by the directors.[200]
(4) If shares are to be
purchased on a securities 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.[201]
(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.[202]
(4A) For
the purposes of paragraphs (3B)(b)(ii), (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.[203]
(5) Paragraphs (2),
(3), (3A), (3B), (4) and (4ZA) do not apply to an open-ended investment
company.[204]
(5AA) Paragraphs (3),
(3A), (3B), (4) and (4ZA) do not apply if a company is purchasing its own
shares for nil consideration.[205]
(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.[206]
(6) Articles
55 and 55A apply to the purchase by a company under this Article of its own
shares (including by the purchase of depositary certificates) as they apply to
the redemption of redeemable shares.[207]
(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 treasury shares.[208]
(8) In
this Article, Article 57A 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.[209]
57A Purchase of listed
shares by a third party[210]
(1) This
Article applies if –
(a) a
company has entered into a contract (“a relevant contract”) with a third
party for the third party to purchase some of the company’s shares or
depositary certificates in respect of shares on behalf of the company;
(b) the
contract has a limit on the total value of the shares or depositary
certificates in respect of shares that may be so purchased; and
(c) the
shares are listed on a securities exchange.
(2) If
this Article applies, any requirement for a solvency statement that would
otherwise apply under Article 55, 55A or 57 does not apply, but the
directors of the company who have authorised the relevant contract must make a
statement in the form specified in paragraph (3), and (if applicable) paragraph (5),
before the purchase of any shares under the relevant contract may be made.
(3) The
statement must state that the directors of the company authorising the relevant
contract have formed the opinion that –
(a) immediately
following the entry into the contract, the company will be able to discharge
its liabilities as they fall due; and
(b) having
regard to the relevant matters, the company will be able to continue to carry
on business and discharge its liabilities as they fall due until the relevant
date.
(4) If
the relevant contract has a duration in excess of 12 months, further
solvency statements in the form specified in paragraph (5) must be given
by the directors of the company authorising the relevant contract, so that the
date of any purchase of shares under the contract falls within the 12-month
period following the date of the latest solvency statement.
(5) The
statement must state that the relevant directors of the company have formed the
opinion that, having regard to the relevant matters, the company will be able to
continue to carry on business and discharge its liabilities as they fall due
until the relevant date.
(6) The
requirement for directors who authorise a relevant contract to make a paragraph (3)
or (5) statement does not include any directors who cease to hold office before
the statement is made (“former directors”), and the statement that
the directors authorising the contract have formed the opinion as set out in
those paragraphs does not include any such former directors; but if all of the
directors who authorised the relevant contract have ceased to hold office
before the statement is made, either –
(a) the statement may be
made by all the directors in office; or
(b) the directors may re-authorise the contract and paragraphs (2), (3) and (5)
apply accordingly.
(7) A
director who makes a statement under this Article without having reasonable
grounds for the opinion expressed in the statement commits an offence.
(8) In
this Article –
“relevant date” means whichever of the
following first occurs –
(a) the expiry of the period of
12 months immediately following the date of the relevant contract or, for
the purposes of a paragraph (5) statement, the date of the statement; or
(b) the date that the company is
dissolved under Article 150;
“relevant matters” means –
(a) the
prospects of the company and the intentions of the directors with respect to
the management of the company’s business;
(b) the
amount and character of the financial resources that will in the view of the
directors be available to the company.
58 Rule of law relating to financial assistance abolished[211]
(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) [212]
(5) [213]
(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[214]
(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 it is not prohibited, by its articles of
association, from holding shares as treasury shares.[215]
(2) A
company that holds shares as treasury shares may –
(a) cancel
the shares;
(b) transfer
the shares for any purpose, for or without
consideration; or
(c) hold
the shares without cancelling or transferring them.[216]
(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
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.[217]
(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) [218]
(9) [219]
(10) [220]
58B [221]
58C Redemption, purchase
or cancellation under Part 11 not a reduction of capital[222]
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[223]
The
States may amend this Part by Regulations.
Part 12
Reduction of capital
60 Forfeiture
of shares[224]
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[225]
(1) A
company may reduce its capital accounts in any way.[226]
(1A) A
reduction of capital shall be sanctioned by a special resolution of the
company.[227]
(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 signed by each director authorising the
reduction and delivered to the registrar (see Articles 61A and 61B); or
(b) be
subject to confirmation by the court (see Articles 62 to 64).[228]
(4) Paragraph (3)
does not apply to a reduction of capital by extinguishing or reducing a capital
account maintained in respect of unlimited shares.[229]
(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.[230]
(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.[231]
61A Solvency statement[232]
(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.
(2A) The
reference to directors in paragraph (1) does not include any directors who
cease to hold office before the solvency statement is made (“former
directors”), and the statement that the directors authorising the
reduction have formed the opinion as set out in paragraph (2) does not
include any former directors; but if all of the directors who authorised the
reduction have ceased to hold office before the statement is made, either –
(a) the statement may be
made by all the directors in office; or
(b) the directors may re-authorise the reduction and paragraph (1) applies
accordingly.[233]
(3) A
director who makes a solvency statement without having reasonable grounds for
the opinion expressed in it is guilty of an offence.
61B Delivery to
registrar of solvency statement[234]
(1) If
a reduction of capital is supported by a solvency statement, the company must,
within 21 days after the special resolution is passed, deliver to the
registrar a copy of the solvency statement.[235]
(2) The
resolution for reducing the capital takes effect immediately or, where
otherwise stated in the resolution, in accordance with its terms, and is
conclusive evidence that –
(a) all
the requirements of this Law with respect to the reduction of share capital
have been complied with; and
(b) the
company’s share capital is as stated in the resolution.[236]
(3) [237]
(4) [238]
(5) [239]
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.[240]
(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).[241]
(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.[242]
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).[243]
(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.[244]
(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, and is
conclusive evidence that –
(a) all
the requirements of this Law with respect to the reduction of share capital
have been complied with; and
(b) the
company’s share capital is as stated in the minute.[245]
(3) [246]
(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.[247]
(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[248]
The States may amend this Part by
Regulations.
Part 13
Administration
67 Registered office[249]
(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[250]
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[251]
(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[252]
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 [253]
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 [254]
72 Service of documents[255]
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[256]
(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.[257]
(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.[258]
(4A) An
incorporated limited partnership shall not be a director of a company.[259]
(4B) A
separate limited partnership shall not be a director of a company.[260]
(4C) A
limited liability partnership shall not be a director of a company.[261]
(5) A
limited liability company registered under the Limited
Liability Companies (Jersey) Law 2018 shall not be a director of a company.[262]
(6) On the death of a sole director and member
of a company, in the absence of any other provision in the articles, the deceased’s executor or personal representative has the power to appoint a new director.[263]
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.[264]
(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.[265]
(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.[266]
(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.[267]
(6) The Minister may by
Order disapply paragraphs (3) to (5) in relation to any class of company.[268]
74ZA Persons connected with
director for purposes of Article 74[269]
(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).[270]
(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 stepchildren, including adopted children and
children the subject of a parental order in which the director is named as
their parent;
(d) any
children or stepchildren of a person within paragraph (b) (and who are not
children or stepchildren of the director) who live with the director and have
not attained the age of 18; and
(e) the
director’s parents.[271]
(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.[272]
(11) The
Minister may by Order amend this Article.
74A Contracts with
sole members who are also directors[273]
(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) A disclosure under
paragraph (1) or a general notice of disclosure under Article 75A must 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) by
notice in writing delivered to the secretary as soon as reasonably practicable
after the director concerned becomes aware of the circumstances.[274]
(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.[275]
(2B) [276]
(3) [277]
(3A) A director
need not declare an interest under this Article –
(a) if
a transaction cannot reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a
conflict of interest; or
(b) if,
or to the extent that, it concerns terms of the director’s service
contract that have been or are to be considered –
(i) by
a meeting of the directors; or
(ii) by
a committee of the directors appointed for the purpose under the company’s
articles.[278]
(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.
75A General notice of
disclosure[279]
(1) For
the purposes of Article 75, general notice of disclosure given by a
director in accordance with this Article is a sufficient declaration of
interest in relation to the matters to which it relates.
(2) General
notice of disclosure means notice given by a director to the other directors of
a company to the effect that the director –
(a) has an interest (as member, officer, employee or otherwise) in a
specified body corporate or firm and is to be regarded as interested in any
transaction or arrangement that may, after the date of the notice, be made with
that body corporate or firm; or
(b) is connected with a specified person (other than a body corporate or
firm) and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction or arrangement
that may, after the date of the notice, be made with that person.
(3) The
general notice must state the nature and extent of the director’s
interest in the body corporate or firm or, as the case may be, the nature of
the director’s connection with the person.
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) if, despite a failure to
comply with Article 75, the nature and extent of the director’s
interest in the transaction are disclosed in reasonable detail –
(a) to all the other
directors, if a majority of the directors without a conflicting interest in the
transaction authorise the transaction; or
(b) to the shareholders
eligible to vote, if a special resolution confirming the transaction is passed.[280]
(2A) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(a), directors
with a conflicting interest may be counted in determining the presence of a
quorum at a meeting of the board of directors or of a committee that authorises
the transaction.[281]
(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 Indemnification
of officers and former officers[282]
(1) Subject to paragraph (2)
and any contrary provision in its articles, a company may indemnify against all
expenses, including legal fees, and against all judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceedings,
any person who –
(a) is or
was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed proceedings, by reason of the fact that the person is or was an
officer of the company; or
(b) is or
was, at the request of the company, serving as an officer of, or in any other
capacity is or was acting for, another body corporate or a partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise.
(2) Paragraph (1) does
not apply to a person referred to in that paragraph unless the person acted
honestly and in good faith and in what they believed to be in the best
interests of the company and, in the case of criminal proceedings, the person
had no reasonable cause to believe that their conduct was unlawful.
(3) The termination of any
proceedings by any judgment, order, settlement or conviction does not, by
itself, create a presumption that the person did not act honestly and in good
faith and with a view to the best interests of the company or that the person
had reasonable cause to believe that their conduct was unlawful.
(4) Expenses, including
legal fees, incurred by a person referred to in paragraph (1) in defending
any proceedings may be paid by the company in advance of the final disposition
of such proceedings upon –
(a) receipt
of an undertaking by or on behalf of the person to repay the amount if it is ultimately
determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified by the company in
accordance with paragraph (5); and
(b) such
other terms and conditions, if any, as the company deems appropriate.
(5) If a person referred to
in paragraph (1) has been successful in defence at the final disposition
of any proceedings, the company may indemnify the person against all expenses,
including legal fees, and against all judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the
proceedings.
(6) The officers or an
officer of a company may, subject to any limitation in this Law, enforce a
provision in the company’s articles that indemnifies its officers.
(7) The consent or approval of the officers is not required to
vary or extinguish an indemnification provision, but a claim made by an officer
under the provision is not affected by any subsequent variation or
extinguishment of the provision.
(8) An indemnity is
unenforceable against the company to the extent that it purports to indemnify a
person who did not act in accordance with paragraph (2).
(9) Nothing in this Article
deprives 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 (whether before or after its substitution
by the Companies (Jersey) Amendment Law 2026).
(10) In this Article and
Article 77A –
“officer”, in relation to
a company, includes its secretary;
“proceedings”
includes civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings.
77A Insurance[283]
(1) A
company may purchase and maintain insurance in relation to a person who is or
was an officer of the company or who, at the request of the company, is or was
serving as an officer of, or in any other capacity is or was acting for,
another body corporate or a partnership, joint venture trust or other
enterprise, against any liability asserted against the person and incurred by
the person in that capacity.
(2) Paragraph (1)
applies whether or not the company has the power to indemnify the person
against the liability under Article 77 (or would have had the power to
indemnify the person against the liability under Article 77 before its
substitution by the Companies (Jersey) Amendment Law 2026).
78 Disqualification
orders[284]
(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.[285]
78A Directors
disqualified under sanctions regulations[286]
(1) A
person who has been appointed as a director of a company ceases to hold office
by virtue of that appointment if the person is subject to director
disqualification sanctions.
(2) For
the purposes of this Article and Article 79, a person is subject to director
disqualification sanctions if the person is, under sanctions regulations,
subject to director disqualification sanctions for the purposes of section 11A
of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 of the United Kingdom.
(3) In
this Article –
“sanctions regulations” means a UK
sanctions provision that imposes director disqualification sanctions within the
meaning given by section 3A of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act
2018 of the United Kingdom (“SAMLA”);
“UK sanctions provision” means a provision
made in the United Kingdom by or under regulations made under Part 1 of SAMLA.
79 Personal
responsibility for liabilities where person acts while disqualified[287]
(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.
(1A) A person who has ceased to hold office under
Article 78A is personally responsible for liabilities of the company or
other body corporate that are incurred at a time when that person was involved
in its management while subject to director disqualification sanctions.[288]
(2) Where
a person is personally responsible under paragraph (1) or (1A) 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.[289]
(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[290]
The acts of a person acting as a director are valid even if it is
afterwards discovered –
(a) that
there was a defect in the person’s appointment;
(b) that
the person was disqualified from holding office under Article 78 or 78A, the articles of the
company, or otherwise;
(c) that
the person had ceased to hold office;
(d) that
the person was not entitled to vote as a director on a matter in question.
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.[291]
(3) The Minister may by
Order amend paragraph (2) by adding, deleting or substituting any body.[292]
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.[293]
(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 working 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.[294]
(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.[295]
(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[296]
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.[297]
84A Particulars of
directors: corporate directors[298]
(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[299]
The States may amend this Part by
Regulations.
Part 15
Meetings
86 Participation in meetings
(1) Subject
to the articles of a company, a meeting of the members or any class of members
may be held by any means, including by telephone, electronic or other
communication facilities, that permits all persons
participating in the meeting to communicate with each other, and
participation in the meeting constitutes presence in person at the meeting.[300]
(2) Paragraph (1)
applies to the participation in such a meeting by directors or by members of a
committee of directors as it applies to the participation of members of a
company.[301]
(3) Subject
to the articles of a company, a member may vote at a meeting by means of
telephone, electronic or other communication facilities, and a company’s
articles may provide for different voting methods to be permitted for different
matters.[302]
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.[303]
(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.[304]
(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.[305]
(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.[306]
(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.[307]
(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.[308]
(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.[309]
(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.[310]
(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.[311]
(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.[312]
(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.[313]
(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.
(3A) The
requisition may require the company to circulate, to the members who are entitled
to receive notice of the general meeting, a statement of not more than 1,000
words on the objects of the meeting.[314]
(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 –
(a) if
it is required by this Law to be passed as a special resolution; and
(b) 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.[315]
(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).[316]
(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).[317]
(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 90%
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.[318]
(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.
(7) Anything
that may be done under this Law by resolution may be done by special
resolution, but it will not be treated as a special resolution for the purposes
of Article 100.[319]
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.[320]
(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.[321]
(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).[322]
(4) References
in this Article to a period of 14 days’ notice do not include the
day on which the notice is given or the day of the meeting.[323]
(5) Despite
Article 92(2)(a), a company’s articles may provide that notice may
be given in accordance with this Article by drawing the attention of persons
who have the right to attend the meeting to a notice on the company’s
website.[324]
92 General
provisions as to meetings and votes[325]
(1) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in the memorandum or articles of a 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.[326]
(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.[327]
(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.[328]
(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.[329]
(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.[330]
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.[331]
(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.[332]
(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 a manner permitted
by this Article.[333]
(1B) Anything
that 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 –
(a) all
of the eligible members (as defined in Article 95ZA(8)); or
(b) members
representing not less than the specified majority of the total voting rights of
eligible members.[334]
(1BA) Unless
the memorandum or articles of the company or the terms of admission to
membership of the company provide otherwise, on a vote by way of resolution in writing that is to be passed
by a specified majority –
(a) every member has one vote for each share
held by the member;
(b) every member of a
guarantee company who does not have a share has one vote; and
(c) in the case of stock, every member has one
vote for each share from which the holding of stock arose.[335]
(1BB) In this Article, the “specified
majority” means the relevant majority specified by the articles of a
company in respect of a particular members’ resolution or, if no relevant
majority is so specified –
(a) in relation to a special resolution,
two-thirds; or
(b) in relation to a resolution, a simple
majority.[336]
(1C) [337]
(1D) The
majority specified by the articles of a company –
(a) in relation to a special resolution may not
be less than two-thirds; and
(b) in relation to a resolution may not be less
than a simple majority.[338]
(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.[339]
(3A) A
resolution under this Article is deemed to be passed when all, or the specified
majority, of the eligible members (as applicable in accordance with paragraph (1B)),
have signified agreement to the resolution.[340]
(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.[341]
(3C) A
member’s agreement to a written resolution, once signified, may not be
revoked.[342]
(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 95ZD 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.[343]
95ZA Circulation of written
resolutions proposed by directors[344]
(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 Part –
(a) 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;
(b) “circulation
date” means the date on which copies of the resolution are sent or
submitted to members (or, if copies are sent or submitted to members on
different days, the first of those days).[345]
(9) [346]
(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[347]
(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[348]
(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.
95ZD Members may circulate written
resolution[349]
(1) All
or any members of a company may circulate among themselves a written resolution
that may be passed when signed by all, or the specified majority of, eligible
members (as applicable in accordance with Article 95(1B)), and subject to
the articles of the company.
(2) The
members signing must send a copy of the written resolution to the company
within 14 days of the passing of the resolution.
(3) The
company must circulate the written resolution to all eligible members within 14 days
of its receipt.
95A Recording of
decisions by sole member[350]
(1) If –
(a) a
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.[351]
(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 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.[352]
(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.[353]
(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.[354]
(4B) Subject to the
company’s articles, attendance at a meeting by a member does not revoke
the authority of a proxy to vote on the member’s behalf on a resolution
proposed at that meeting, but the member may not vote at the meeting without
giving notice of revocation of the proxy’s appointment to the chairman
prior to the commencement of the meeting.[355]
(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 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 to every member entitled to vote at the meeting by proxy.[356]
(6) This Article applies to
meetings of any class of members as it applies to general meetings.[357]
96A Direct voting[358]
(1) A
company may in its articles provide for direct voting by members at any general
meeting in any manner it deems fit.
(2) A
direct vote is a vote delivered to the company by post or electronic means in
accordance with the articles of the company, or otherwise approved by the
directors who may, subject to this Law, specify the form, method and timing of
giving a direct vote at a meeting in order for the vote to be valid.
(3) Any
provisions in a company’s articles relating to direct voting are in addition
to the rights of members to attend meetings or appoint a proxy as set out in
this Law and the company’s articles.
(4) Subject
to the articles of a company, if the articles provide for direct voting, a
member who is entitled to attend a meeting may cast a direct vote in respect of
the resolutions upon which they are entitled to vote, and
(a) a
direct vote cast by the member in respect of a resolution after the appointment
of a proxy revokes the authority of the proxy to vote on the member’s
behalf on that resolution;
(b) the
appointment of a proxy by a member after casting a direct vote in respect of a
resolution cancels the direct vote; and
(c) the
attendance at the meeting by the member does not cancel a direct vote submitted
by the member, but the member may not vote at the meeting without giving notice
of cancellation of the direct vote to the chairman prior to the commencement of
the meeting.
(5) Every
notice calling a meeting of a company whose articles provide for direct voting
must include with reasonable prominence a statement that a member entitled to
attend and vote is entitled to vote by direct vote.
(6) In
the event of failure to comply with paragraph (5) as respects any meeting,
every officer of the company who is in default commits an offence.
(7) A provision
contained in a company’s articles is void in so far as it would have the
effect of requiring the direct voting form, or any other document necessary to show
the validity of, or otherwise relating to, the direct vote, 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 vote may
be effective.
(8) In calculating
the period mentioned in paragraph (7), no account is to be taken of any
part of a day that is not a working day.
(9) If,
for the purpose of a meeting of a company, forms to vote by direct voting 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, then every officer of the company
who knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits their issue in that manner commits
an offence; but an officer is not so liable by reason only of the issue to a
member at the member’s request a form of direct vote if the form is
available on request to every member entitled to vote at the meeting by direct
vote.
(10) Subject to the articles of a company, a member who
delivers a valid direct vote in accordance with a notice of a meeting is taken
to be present and voting at the meeting, whether on a show of hands or on a
poll, and their direct vote is to be counted as a vote cast on resolutions put
to the meeting.
(11) This
Article applies to meetings of any class of members as it applies to general
meetings.
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.[359]
(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, by direct vote or by proxy) use all the member’s votes
or cast all the votes the member uses in the same way.[360]
(4) The
chairman of the meeting must call for a poll on a resolution if the chairman
believes that, having regard to the direct votes cast or proxies received, the
result may differ from that obtained on a show of hands.[361]
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.[362]
(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.[363]
(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.[364]
(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.[365]
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.[366]
(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.[367]
(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.[368]
(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).
(7) Without affecting any other provisions of this Law, or any other
legislation or rule of law providing
that company resolutions or agreements are not required to be filed, this Article does not apply to an
agreement between members of a company that indicates that, in the event of a
conflict between the agreement and the articles, the agreement will prevail and
the articles will be amended accordingly.[369]
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.[370]
Part 16[371]
Accounts and audits
Interpretation – Part 16
102 Interpretation –
Part 16[372]
(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 company, other than an exempt company, –
(a) whose
transferable securities have been admitted to trading on a UK regulated market
or an EU/EFTA regulated market; or
(b) in
respect of which transferable securities have been admitted to trading on a UK
regulated market or an EU/EFTA regulated market;
“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);
“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).[373]
(1A) In
this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, ‘partnership’
does not include an incorporated limited partnership or a separate limited
partnership.[374]
(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.
102A Exemption for equivalently
regulated companies[375]
An equivalently regulated company (as defined in Article 113R)
that satisfies the requirements of Part 16A is exempt from the
requirements of this Part.
Accounts
103 Accounting
records[376]
(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[377]
(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[378]
(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.[379]
(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[380]
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[381]
(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[382]
(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 for registration –
(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.[383]
(2) The
documents listed in paragraph (1) must be delivered to the registrar within
7 months after the end of the financial period to which they relate.[384]
(3) A
public company, including a private company subject to this Law as though it
were a public company, falls within this paragraph if, during a financial
period, it –
(a) becomes
a private company, or ceases to be subject to this Law as though it were a
public company;
(b) is
being wound up under Chapter 2 of Part 21 (summary winding up); or
(c) is
being wound up under Chapter 3 or 4 of Part 21 (winding up on just and
equitable grounds, or creditors’ winding up).[385]
(3A) In relation to
a company falling within paragraph (3)(a) –
(a) the requirement in
paragraph (1)(b) (auditor’s report) does not apply in relation to
that financial period; and
(b) the
requirement in paragraph (1)(a) will be satisfied if the accounts
delivered to the registrar relate either –
(i) to
the whole financial period during which the company becomes a private company
(including a period when the company was no longer a public company or subject
to this Law as though it were a public company); or
(ii) only
to the part of the financial period during which the company was a public
company or subject to this Law as though it were a public company.[386]
(3B) Despite
paragraph (1), accounts delivered under paragraph (3A)(b) are to be
registered by the registrar only if requested by the company.[387]
(3C) In relation to
a company falling within paragraph (3)(b) –
(a) the requirement in paragraph (1)(b)
(auditor’s report) does not apply in relation to that financial period or
any subsequent financial period;
(b) the
requirement in paragraph (1)(a) to deliver accounts for registration
applies in the financial period during which the public company enters into a
summary winding up, and for each subsequent financial period until the company
is dissolved unless sub-paragraph (d) applies;
(c) the
directors must deliver for registration a statement of the assets and
liabilities of the company, signed by the directors, at the commencement of the
summary winding up; and
(d) if
a liquidator is appointed to conduct the summary winding up, the requirement in
paragraph (1)(a) to deliver accounts for registration does not apply in
any financial period but the liquidator must, at the end of 12 months
after appointment and each subsequent anniversary, deliver for registration an
account of the liquidator’s acts and dealings and of the conduct of the
winding up during the preceding 12 months.[388]
(3D) In relation to
a company falling within paragraph (3)(c) –
(a) the requirement in paragraph (1)(b)
(auditor’s report) does not apply in relation to that financial period or
any subsequent financial period; and
(b) the
requirement in paragraph (1)(a) to deliver accounts for registration does
not apply in any financial period, but instead the directors or liquidator (as
the case may be) must provide to the registrar for registration the statement
of affairs when prepared and verified for the purposes of Article 160(2)
or Article 160A(2).[389]
(3E) For any
financial period in which the requirement in paragraph (1)(b)
(auditor’s report) does not apply in relation to a company falling within
paragraph (3)(a), (b) or (c), the requirement in Article 113(1)(a)
(appointment and removal of auditors) is also disapplied.[390]
(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[391]
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[392]
(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.[393]
(6) In
this Article “specified” means specified by Order made under this
Article.
111 Registration
as a recognized auditor[394]
(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[395]
(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[396]
(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.[397]
(1B) A
resolution under paragraph (1A) must be passed by all members of the
company entitled to vote in general meeting.[398]
(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).[399]
(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.[400]
(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.[401]
(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.[402]
(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[403]
(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 the auditor is an individual, the report
must be signed by the auditor.[404]
(4A) If the auditor
is a firm, the report must be signed, for and on behalf of the auditor, by the
individual in the firm who is responsible to it for examining and reporting on
the accounts –
(a) in
that individual’s name; and
(b) clearly
stating the individual’s full name.[405]
(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[406]
(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.[407]
(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.[408]
(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).[409]
(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.[410]
(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[411]
(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.[412]
113D Ineligibility to act as
auditor[413]
(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[414]
(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[415]
(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[416]
(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[417]
The States may amend this Part by
Regulations.
113I Power to make
Regulations in respect of recognized auditors[418]
(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[419]
(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[420]
(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[421]
(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[422]
(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[423]
(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[424]
(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[425]
(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.[426]
(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[427]
(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 16A[428]
Accounts and audits – equivalently
regulated companies
113R Interpretation – Part 16A
In this Part –
“equivalently regulated company”
means a company, other than an exempt company (as defined in Article 102), –
(a) the
transferable securities of which have been admitted to trading on a relevant
regulated market; or
(b) in
respect of which transferable securities have been admitted to trading on a
relevant regulated market;
“prescribed regulator”
means a regulator prescribed by the Minister under Article 113U for the
purposes of this Part;
“relevant regulated market”
means a regulated market that is regulated or supervised by a prescribed
regulator, or by a body approved by a prescribed regulator to do so on its
behalf.
113S Exemption from
Part 16
(1) An
equivalently regulated company is exempt from Part 16 (accounts and audits)
if it notifies the registrar that it is subject to –
(a) the
regulation of a prescribed regulator in relation to a relevant regulated
market; and
(b) the
applicable legislative requirements relating to accounts and audit of companies
trading on that market.
(2) On
ceasing to be listed on a relevant regulated market, a company’s
exemption from Part 16 ceases and it must notify the registrar as soon as
possible.
(3) Notification
under paragraph (1) or (2) must be in writing, in a form specified by the
registrar.
113T Requirement to deliver
audited accounts to registrar
(1) This
Article applies to an equivalently regulated company that is exempt from Part 16
following notification to the registrar under Article 113S(1).
(2) An
equivalently regulated company must deliver to the registrar for
registration a copy of its audited annual accounts no later than 5 working days
after they are filed with, or at the direction of, the prescribed regulator.
(3) An
equivalently regulated company must notify the registrar in writing if it is
late in filing any of the financial statements required by the prescribed
regulator or by any legislative requirements relating to accounts and audit of
companies trading on the relevant regulated market.
(4) An equivalently regulated company must
pay the published fee and any late filing fee on delivering documents to the
registrar under this Article.
(5) If
an equivalently regulated company fails to comply with paragraph (2) or (3),
each officer of the company commits an offence.
113U Prescribed regulators
The Minister may by Order prescribe the regulator of a relevant
regulated market for the purposes of this Part if, on the advice of the
Commission, the Minister is satisfied that the legislative requirements
relating to accounts and audit of companies trading on that market are at least
equivalent to those applicable to market traded companies in Part 16.
113V Power to amend Part 16A
The States may amend this Part by Regulations.
Part 17[429]
Distributions
114 Meaning of
“distribution” in this Part[430]
(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.[431]
115 Restrictions
on distributions[432]
(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.[433]
(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.[434]
(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.
(4A) The
requirement for directors who authorise the distribution to make the paragraph (4)
statement does not include any directors who cease to hold office before the
statement is made (“former directors”), and the statement that the
directors authorising the distribution have formed the opinion as set out in
paragraph (4) does not include any former directors; but if all of the
directors who authorised the distribution have ceased to hold office before the
statement is made, either –
(a) the statement may be made by all the directors in office; or
(b) the directors may re-authorise the distribution
and paragraph (3) applies
accordingly.[435]
(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.[436]
(8) [437]
(9) A
distribution made in accordance with this Article is not for the purposes of
Part 12 a reduction of capital.[438]
115ZA Order treating
distribution as made in accordance with Article 115[439]
(1) Where
a distribution has been made by a company in contravention of Article 115 the
company may make an application to the court, and 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.[440]
(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.
115ZB Ratifying distribution
not made in accordance with Article 115[441]
(1) If
a distribution has been made by a company without the directors making a
statement under Article 115(3), the directors of the company may
subsequently ratify the distribution and confirm that it is to be treated for
all purposes as if it had been made in accordance with Article 115, if the
directors who are to ratify the redemption –
(a) make
a statement in accordance with paragraph (2); and
(b) consider
that at the time the distribution that is to be
ratified was made there were reasonable grounds for believing that the
distribution was intended to be a distribution for the purposes of Article 115.
(2) The
statement must state that the directors of the company who are to ratify the
distribution have formed the opinion
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 statement is made the company is able to discharge its
liabilities as they fall due; and
(c) if
the distribution was made less than 12 months before the date on which the
statement is made, 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) A director who makes a statement under this Article without
having reasonable grounds for the opinion expressed in the statement commits an
offence.
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, or subsequent ratification by the directors under Article
115ZB) 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.[442]
115B Power of States to amend Part 17[443]
The
States may amend this Part by Regulations.
Part 18
Takeovers[444]
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.[445]
(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.[446]
(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.[447]
(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 once in the
Jersey Gazette, or in any other manner published by
the Commission; 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.[448]
(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.[449]
(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).[450]
(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.[451]
(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.[452]
(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.[453]
(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.[454]
(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.[455]
(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.[456]
(8) In
paragraph (7), the following are treated as the child of a person –
(a) the
person’s adopted child;
(b) a
child who is the subject of a parental order in which the person is named as
the child’s parent.[457]
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[458]
The States may amend this Part by
Regulations.
Part 18A
Compromises and arrangements[459]
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) a
majority in number representing 3/4ths in value of the creditors or class of
creditors; or
(b) a
member or members representing 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.[460]
(2A) Subject to any
direction of the court made under paragraph (1), a member or creditor who
lodges a valid direct vote in accordance with the notice of the meeting is
taken to be present and voting at the meeting, and their direct vote is to be
counted as a vote cast on resolutions put to the meeting.[461]
(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[462]
Chapter 1 – General
127A Interpretation[463]
(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;
“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).[464]
(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[465]
(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.[466]
(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[467]
(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[468]
(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,
whether the holders are to receive anything instead and the manner in which and
the time at which they are to receive it.[469]
(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 [470]
(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.
(b) [471]
127F Approval of merger
agreement [472]
(1) The
directors of each merging company shall submit the merger agreement for
approval by a special resolution of that company.[473]
(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 special resolutions have been passed
in respect of all of the merging bodies that are companies.[474]
(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[475]
(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[476]
(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.[477]
Chapter 3 – Creditors
127FC Notice to creditors[478]
(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 for a liquidated sum exceeding £25,000.[479]
(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 for a liquidated sum exceeding
£25,000.[480]
(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
with a claim against the company for a liquidated sum exceeding £25,000 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).[481]
(5) The
company shall, within the time limit set out in paragraph (6), publish the
contents of the notice –
(a) once
in the Jersey Gazette; or
(b) in
any other manner published by the Commission.[482]
(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) or (1A).[483]
(7) The
Minister may by Order alter the amount specified in paragraphs (1), (1A) and
(4), and Article 127FE(2).[484]
127FD Company to apply to court
if solvency statement not made[485]
(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.[486]
127FE Objection by creditor if
all solvency statements made[487]
(1) This
Article applies to a merger to which Article 127FD does not apply.
(2) A
creditor of a merging company with a claim against the company for a liquidated
sum exceeding £25,000 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.[488]
(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) or (1A);
(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.[489]
(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[490]
(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.
(b) [491]
(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, including rights and obligations
entered into as a trustee or in another fiduciary capacity, 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.[492]
(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[493]
(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[494]
(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[495]
(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[496]
(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.[497]
(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[498]
(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[499]
(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[500]
(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[501]
(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, including rights and obligations
entered into as a trustee or in another fiduciary capacity, 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.[502]
(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[503]
(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[504]
(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.[505]
Part 18BA[506]
Demergers
127GB Demergers[507]
(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[508]
127H Bodies corporate which are
eligible for continuance[509]
(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[510]
(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[511]
(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[512]
(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.[513]
(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[514]
(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[515]
(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[516]
(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.[517]
(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[518]
(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
documents submitted under Article 127K(1)(a) and (b) (the company’s
memorandum of association or equivalent, and articles of continuance).[519]
(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[520]
(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.
(1A) The issue of the certificate of
continuance by the registrar does not –
(a) create
a new legal entity; or
(b) prejudice
or affect the continuity of the body corporate that has become a company
incorporated under this Law.[521]
(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[522]
(1) A
proposal by a company to apply in another jurisdiction for continuance there
shall be approved by a special resolution of the company.[523]
(2) Notice
of a meeting proposing such a resolution –
(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.[524]
(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.[525]
127R Notice to creditors of
application to Commission for authorization to seek continuance overseas[526]
(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 or there are no known
creditors, give notice to them in accordance with this Article.[527]
(1A) The
notice shall be given at least 21 days before the making of the application.[528]
(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) must
be published –
(i) once in the
Jersey Gazette; or
(ii) in
any other manner published by the Commission; 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.[529]
(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.[530]
(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.
(5) In this Article,
“creditor” means a creditor with a claim for a liquidated sum
exceeding £25,000.[531]
(6) The Minister may by
Order alter the amount specified in paragraph (5).[532]
127S Objections by members to
continuance overseas[533]
(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.[534]
127T Application to
Commission for authorization to seek continuance overseas[535]
(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.[536]
(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.
(3) In
this Article, “creditor” has the same meaning as in Article 127R.[537]
127U Determination of application
to Commission for authorization to seek continuance overseas[538]
(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[539]
(1) 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.[540]
(2) A company falling
within paragraph (1) is not treated as having been dissolved.[541]
127W Statements of solvency
in respect of continuance[542]
(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.[543]
(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.[544]
(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.[545]
127X Provisions relating to
continuance[546]
(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[547]
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[548]
Cell companies
Chapter 1 – General provisions
127YA Application by cell
company for creation of cells[549]
(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[550]
(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.[551]
(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[552]
(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) [553]
(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[554]
(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[555]
(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 [556]
(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 [557]
127YG Accounts of cell
companies[558]
(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.[559]
(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[560]
(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[561]
(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”.[562]
(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.[563]
(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.[564]
(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.[565]
127YN Power of States to amend Part
The States may amend this Part by
Regulations.
T127YN [566]
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.[567]
(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.[568]
(5A) The requirement in paragraph (5)
for directors who authorise the liability being met as described to make a statement
does not include any directors who cease to hold office before the statement is
made (“former directors”), and the statement that the directors
have formed the opinion as set out in paragraph (5)(a) and (b) does not
include any former directors; but if all of the directors who authorised the
liability being met have ceased to hold office before the statement is made,
either –
(a) the statement may be made by all the directors in office; or
(b) the directors may re-authorise the
liability being met and paragraph (5)
applies accordingly.[569]
(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[570]
(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.[571]
(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.[572]
Part 19
Investigations
128 Appointment of inspectors[573]
(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.[574]
(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.[575]
(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.[576]
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.[577]
(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.[578]
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.[579]
(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).[580]
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.[581]
(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.[582]
(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.[583]
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.[584]
(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.[585]
(3) In
any case where the Minister or the Commission may exercise a discretion under
this Article, the decision of the Minister shall prevail.[586]
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.[587]
(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.[588]
(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).[589]
(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.[590]
(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.[591]
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.[592]
(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.[593]
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[594]
(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.[595]
(2) In
any case where the Minister or the Commission may exercise a discretion under this
Article, the decision of the Minister shall prevail.[596]
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.[597]
(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.[598]
(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[599]
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[600]
144 Procedure – winding up of limited life companies[601]
(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[602]
(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[603]
145 Application
of this Chapter
(1) This
Chapter applies to the winding up of a company that –
(a) has
no liabilities; or
(b) has
liabilities that it will be able to discharge in full as they fall due.[604]
(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; or
(c) the
company has liabilities that it will be able to discharge in full as they fall
due,
as the case may be.[605]
(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.
(4) For
the purpose of realising and distributing assets as provided by paragraph (2),
a company may, if authorised by a special resolution of the company, transfer
the whole or any part of its assets to a relevant body in return (wholly or in
part) for shares, debt instruments, securities or other similar interests in
the relevant body to be distributed as assets of the company in accordance with
Article 150.[606]
(5) In
paragraph (4), “relevant body” means a body corporate, limited
liability company or limited liability partnership.[607]
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.
(5) A
liquidator may, if authorised by a special resolution of the company, transfer
the whole or any part of a company’s assets to a relevant body in return
(wholly or in part) for shares, debt instruments, securities or other similar
interests in the relevant body to be distributed as assets of the
company in accordance with Article 150.[608]
(6) In
paragraph (5), “relevant body” means a body corporate, limited
liability company or limited liability partnership.[609]
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 commencement of the winding up –
(a) shall
satisfy those liabilities as they become due; and
(b) if
there are no remaining liabilities or if the directors of the company
reasonably believe that the company is able to pay any remaining liabilities as
they fall due, may at any time distribute its remaining assets among its
members according to their rights or otherwise as provided by its memorandum or
articles.[610]
(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 –
(a) 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; and
(b) in
the case of a public company, giving an account of their acts and dealings
during the conduct of the winding up.[611]
(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
as they fall due.[612]
(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[613]
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.[614]
(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.[615]
(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.[616]
(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.[617]
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[618]
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[619]
(1) A
creditor may make an application to the court for an order to commence a
creditors’ winding up if the creditor has a liquidated claim against the
company for not less than the prescribed minimum liquidated sum
and –
(a) the
company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due;
(b) the
creditor has evidence of the company’s insolvency; or
(c) the
creditor has the consent of the company.[620]
(2) A
company is deemed to be unable to pay its debts as they fall due 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.[621]
(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[622]
(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.
(3A) The order appointing the liquidator
provisionally –
(a) must
specify whether all powers of the directors cease on the appointment; and
(b) if they
do not, must sanction the continuance of the powers of the directors, or
specified powers.[623]
(4) After
the appointment of a liquidator provisionally under this Article no action or
legal proceeding is to be commenced or proceeded with against the company
except by leave of the court and subject to such terms as the court may impose.[624]
(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.
(6) Nothing in this Article
prevents a person with security over the whole or part of the assets of the
company (whether such security was taken before or after the commencement of
the Companies (Jersey) Amendment Law 2026) from –
(a) enforcing that security;
(b) making an application under Article 52 of the Security
Interests (Jersey) Law 2012; or
(c) commencing
or proceeding with any action or legal proceeding to enforce that security if
it is a hypothec over Jersey immovable property.[625]
157C Order of court
commencing creditors’ winding up[626]
(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 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.[627]
(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[628]
(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 affect the validity of any act of the
liquidator (including a liquidator appointed provisionally under Article 157B)
relating to the company between the date of the liquidator’s appointment
and the date of the termination of the creditors’ winding up under
paragraph (5).[629]
158 Notice of winding up[630]
(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.[631]
(4) If
a liquidator fails to comply with paragraph (3), the liquidator commits an
offence.[632]
159 Commencement
and effects of creditors’ winding up[633]
(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 order is made,
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.[634]
(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 legal
proceeding is to be commenced, or proceeded with against the company except by
leave of the court and subject to such terms as the court may impose.[635]
(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.[636]
(6) Nothing
in this Article prevents a person with security over the whole or part of the
assets of the company (whether such security was taken before or after the commencement
of the Companies (Jersey) Amendment Law 2026) from –
(a) enforcing that security;
(b) making or continuing an
application under Article 52 of the Security Interests (Jersey)
Law 2012; or
(c) commencing
or continuing any action or legal proceeding to enforce that security if it is
a hypothec over Jersey immovable property.[637]
160 Meeting of creditors in creditors’ winding up other than a court ordered
creditors’ winding up[638]
(A1) This
Article applies in the case of a creditors’ winding up that is not
ordered by the court.[639]
(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 to its creditors notice in writing 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.[640]
(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[641]
(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) [642]
161 Appointment of liquidator
(A1) Paragraphs (1) to (4) apply in
the case of a creditors’ winding up that is not ordered by the court.[643]
(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).[644]
(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.[645]
(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.[646]
(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.[647]
(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.[648]
(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 that is not ordered by the
court has commenced but no liquidator has been appointed.[649]
(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[650]
(1) All costs, charges and
expenses properly incurred in relation to a creditors’ winding up are
payable out of the company’s assets in priority to all other claims.
(2) Without limiting the
generality of paragraph (1), those costs, charges and expenses
include –
(a) obtaining
an order to commence a creditors’
winding up under Article 157A;
(b) appointing a liquidator, and appointing a liquidator provisionally under
Article 157B;
(c) the
remuneration of a liquidator; and
(d) any
expenses of a liquidator incurred in complying with Article 15(5) of the Dormant Bank Accounts (Jersey) Law 2017.
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.[651]
(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.[652]
(1A) The liquidator must deliver a copy
of the account mentioned in paragraph (1) for each period to the
registrar, and in the case of a public company deliver it for registration.[653]
(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[654]
(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’
meeting but the chairman of the meeting may put upon the debt an estimated
minimum value that entitles the creditor to vote.[655]
(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).[656]
(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.[657]
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.
(1A) The liquidator in a creditors’
winding up may, without the sanction of the court, liquidation committee or
creditors, exercise any of the standard powers listed in Schedule 1A, in
addition to any other powers vested in the liquidator by the court or by this
Law.[658]
(1B) The court may determine that
additional powers may be exercised, or that specified powers listed in Schedule 1A
may not be exercised, in relation to a particular creditors’ winding up.[659]
(2) The
liquidator may, without sanction of the court, liquidation committee or
creditors, exercise any other power of the company as may be required for its
beneficial winding up.[660]
(3) [661]
(4) [662]
(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.[663]
(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.[664]
171 Power to
disclaim onerous property[665]
(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[666]
(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[667]
(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[668]
(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[669]
(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.[670]
176 Transactions
at an undervalue[671]
(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 or, if an application is
made under Article 157A(1), during the period beginning 5 years
before the date of the application and ending with the date of commencement of
the winding up.[672]
(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[673]
(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 or, if an application is made under Article 157A(1),
during the period beginning 12 months before the date of the application
and ending with the date of commencement of the winding up.[674]
(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[675]
(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.[676]
(3) For
the purposes of this Article, a person is a relative of an individual if they
are that individual’s brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, lineal
ancestor or lineal descendant, for which purpose –
(a) a
relationship of the half-blood is treated as a relationship of the whole blood;
(b) the
following are treated as the child of an individual –
(i) the
person’s stepchild;
(ii) the
person’s adopted child;
(iii) a
child of a person who is the child’s father under Schedule A1
(fertility treatment and artificial insemination) to the Children (Jersey) Law 2002;
(iv) a
child of a person who is the child’s second parent under that Schedule;
and
(v) a
child who is the subject of a parental order or a recognition order (having the
meanings given to those terms in that Law), in which the person is named as the
child’s parent.[677]
(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.[678]
(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[679]
(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[680]
(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[681]
(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 or, if an application is made under Article 157A(1),
during the period beginning 3 years before the date of the application and
ending with the date of commencement of the winding up.[682]
(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[683]
(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[684]
(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 made a payment under Article 55, 55A, 57 or 57A or under Regulations
made under Article 59 in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own
shares –
(i) within 12 months
before the commencement of the winding up; or
(ii) if
an application is made under Article 157A(1), during the period beginning
12 months before the date of the application and ending with the date of
commencement of the winding up;
(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.[685]
(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”.[686]
(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), 55A(2) or
57A(3) 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.[687]
(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) [688]
182 Resolutions
passed at adjourned meetings[689]
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[690]
(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 the
period of 12 months before the commencement of the winding up or, if an
application is made under Article 157A(1) the period beginning 12 months before
the date of the application and ending with the date of commencement of the
winding up (“the relevant period”);
(c) those
who are in the employment of the company, or have been in its employment within
the relevant period, and are in the liquidator’s opinion capable of
giving information which he or she requires; and
(d) those
who are, or within the relevant period have been, officers of, or in the
employment of, a body corporate that is, or within the relevant period was,
secretary to the company in question.[691]
(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[692]
(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[693]
(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.
(1A) If the winding up is commenced by
the company passing a special resolution, the liquidator may exercise the power
in paragraph (1) only if the members, by special resolution, authorise the
liquidator to do so.[694]
(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[695]
(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[696]
(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.[697]
Chapter 5 – Provisions of general application
186A References to the Court[698]
(1) In
a summary winding up, the company 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.[699]
(1A) In
a creditors’ winding up, the liquidator or a contributory or creditor of
the company 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.[700]
(1B) In
a creditors’ winding up, a director with any continuing powers sanctioned
under Article 157B or 163(2) may apply to the court for the determination
of a question relating to those continuing powers arising in the winding up or
for the court to exercise any of its powers relating to those continuing powers
in relation to the winding up.[701]
(1C) In paragraphs (1A) and (1B), “winding up”
includes the appointment of a liquidator provisionally under Article 157B.[702]
(2) The
court, if satisfied that it will be just and beneficial to do so, may accede
wholly or partially to an application made under this Article on such terms and
conditions as it thinks fit, or make such other order on the application as it
thinks just.[703]
(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.[704]
(2) A
liquidator who fails to comply with paragraph (1) is guilty of an offence.
191 Notification that company is being wound up[705]
(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 a summary winding up, a
creditor’s winding up or a just and equitable winding up, as the case may
be.[706]
(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[707]
(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, if an application is made under Article
157A(1), for 12 months or more before the date of the application; or
(c) in
respect of a liability of the company contracted after he or she ceased to be a
member of that class.[708]
(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[709]
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.[710]
(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[711]
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.[712]
(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.[713]
(3) An
officer appointed under this Article shall be an officer of the Commission.[714]
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.[715]
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.[716]
(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.[717]
(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[718]
(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[719]
(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.[720]
(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[721]
(1) The
information that is contained in a document required to be 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.[722]
(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[723]
(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) [724]
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[725]
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[726]
(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.[727]
(2) [728]
(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.[729]
(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.[730]
205A Registrar may strike company off register at end of duration[731]
(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.[732]
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[733]
(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[734]
(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.[735]
(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[736]
(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[737]
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[738]
(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.[739]
(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.[740]
(2) [741]
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.[742]
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.