International Institute For Special Education
International Institute For Special Education
International Institute For Special Education
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Business Law
I hereby declare that the project work entitled “Registration And Incorporation
of Companies ” submitted to the IISE is a record of an original work done by me
under the guidance of Ms. Sanjoli Kedia, Faculty Member, and this project work
has not performed the basis for the award of any degree or
diploma/associate/fellowship and similar project if any.
Date:
Signature:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
MEANING OF COMPANY
The above definition does not give clear description about the company. The
definition provided by Haney gives a better view about the essential elements of a
company. According to Haney,
The characteristics of the company give a better picture about the essential
elements mentioned in the above definition. Let us discuss those characteristics
that describe the company, comprehensively.
One Man Company: When a single person holds almost all the shares of the
company, it is called ‘One Man Company’. Such a company has a legal
personality, if it complies with the necessary requirements of registration
(Solomon Vs A. Solomon & Co. Ltd.). Such companies may be public or private
companies. Usually, they are private companies.
Solomon Vs A. Solomon & Co. Ltd.: In Solomon Vs A. Solomon & Co. Ltd.
(1897) AC 22, it has been held that in common law, a company is a ‘legal person
or has a legal entity separate from its members and is capable of surviving beyond
the lives of its members.’
In this case, one Solomon was a shoe manufacturer. He incorporated a company
named Solomon and Co. Ltd. He took over the entire business of a running
concern. Solomon and the seven subscribers to the memorandum were he and his
family members. Solomon and his two sons were the Directors of the Company.
The business of the company was transferred for £30,000. Solomon took 20,000
share of 1 £ each and debentures worth 10,000 in consideration.
The Company went into liquidation, within a year. On winding up, the unsecured
creditors contended that the company was not having independent existence as
Solomon was the Managing Director of the company and the entire company was
under his control. They further contended that Solomon was holding majority of
the shares and therefore, the company was merely a sham. Their contention was
that the limited firm was only a guise to conceal the real identity of the persons
who own. However, it was held that Solomon and Co. Ltd. fulfilled all the
requirements of the legislature. Further, it was held that the company cannot be
equated with the members comprising it. The company was not the agent of
Solomon. It was therefore, treated as a company, distinct and independent
corporation.
A company has, therefore, a separate legal existence, and is altogether a
different person even from its directors and members.
5. Separate Property: A company can open a bank account in its name. It can
exercise the entire powers incidental to the attainment of the objects of the
company. A company can enter into contracts, through its board of directors.
Shareholders are not, in the eyes of the law, part owners of the company.
6. Company to Sue and be Sued: A company can sue and be sued in its name.
The company’s right to sue arises as and when some loss is caused to the company.
In case of breach of performance by any third party, the company can sue the third
party in its name.
TYPES OF COMPANIES
(2) Statutory Companies: These are the companies incorporated under a Special
Act, passed by the Central or State Legislatures. Statutory companies are like
Reserve Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation of India, Food Corporation of
India or State Bank of India, which are created by the special acts of parliament or
legislature. The statutory bodies are governed by the Act under which they are
constituted or formed. Companies Act is not totally applicable to statutory
companies. The provisions of Companies Act are applicable only to the extent they
are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Special Act. They do not have either
Memorandum or Articles of Association. The word “Limited” is not a part of their
name.
(3) Registered Companies: Apart from statutory government owned concerns, the
most prevalent form of large business enterprises is a company, incorporated with
limited liability. Companies limited by guarantee and unlimited companies are
relatively uncommon. A company can be a public or a private company and could
have limited or unlimited liability. A company can be limited by shares or
guarantee.
FORMATION OF COMPANY
The whole process of formation of a company is divided into four steps for
convenience.
A. Promotion of Company
B. Incorporation or Registration of Company
C. Floatation of Company
D. Commencement of Business
Commencement of business
Floatation of company
Incorporation of company
Promotion of company
For a public company, the minimum number of members is seven, while it is two
in the case of a private company. The promoter has to gather the required number
for subscribing to the Memorandum of Association.
3. Payment of Stamp Duty and Filing Fee: The company has to pay the
necessary stamp duty and filing fee, according to the authorized share capital of the
company.
2. Liability: The liability of the members is limited to the extent of the nominal
amount of the shares subscribed. In the case of a company limited by guarantee,
the liability of the member is limited to the amount guaranteed by him.
The liability of partners in a partnership firm is unlimited. However, the liability of
the members in a limited company is limited to the face value of the shares held by
him. In case, the face value of a share is Rs. 10 and an individual holds 100 shares,
his total liability, at any time, is only Rs. 1,000. If he has already paid, Rs. 400, his
balance liability is limited to Rs. 600 only. Even, in the event of winding up of the
company and the company does not have sufficient assets to pay the total
liabilities, still, the individual member cannot be called upon to pay beyond Rs.
600 as he has already paid Rs. 400. In case, the member has paid the total amount
of his liability Rs. 1,000, he has no further liability to the company, at all. The
novel idea of limited liability has encouraged the people to invest in a company,
with limited liability, unlike in a partnership firm.
5. Members and the Company: A company enjoys separate legal entity. So, it
can enter into contracts with its members and sue them in the ordinary way.
7. Capacity to Sue and be Sued: A company being a body corporate, it can sue
and be sued in its own name.
FLOATATION OF COMPANY
In other words, the company can go ahead, with raising capital sufficient to
commence thebusiness and carry on it, satisfactorily.
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
Public Documents: Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association are
public documents. Any one who deals with the company are presumed to be aware
of the contents of those documents. Memorandum of Association is a document,
which contains the fundamental conditions regarding constitution, objects or
activities and powers of the company. It is a charter of the company. It is a
principal document without which a company cannot be registered. It is a life-
giving document.
(A) Name Clause: Once the name of the company is approved and registered by
the Registrar of Companies, the name of the company must be painted or affixed
outside of every office or place of business. The name and address of registered
office of the company has to be mentioned in letter-heads, business letters, notices
and common seal of the company.
(B) Registered Office: Every company must have a registered office from the date
of commencement of business, or 30th day of the incorporation date, whichever is
earlier. All the notices have to be sent to this address.
(C) Objects Clause: The objects clause of the company indicates the sphere of
activities and powers of the company.
(i) The Main objects to be pursed by the company on its incorporation and the
ancillary objects incidental to the attainment of the main objects. The ancillary
objects must have reasonable proximity or connection with the main objects.
(ii) Other objects: These are the objects which are not included in the above. A
company is prohibited from commencing any new business, though stated in the
other objects, without passing the special resolution passed in the general meeting.
‘Ultra’ means ‘beyond. ‘Vires’ means ‘powers’. So, the term “Ultra vires” means
‘beyond the powers of the Company’. A company exists only to carry on the
objects which are expressly stated in the objects clause. It means the company can
perform those objects only. It can also do such acts, which are incidental or
consequential to the specific objects of the company. A trading company has
implied power to borrow and this power need not be stated, separately. This
doctrine has been first explained in the leading case of Ashbury Railway
Carriage Co. Ltd. Vs Riche LR HL 653 (1875). The object of the company as
contained in the Memorandum of Association has been “to make, sell or lend on
hire, railway carriages and wagons of all kinds ….. to carry on the business of
mechanical engineers and contractors. The directors of the company, however,
have contracted for financing the construction of a railway line in Belgium. The
company has endorsed the act of directors by passing a special resolution in the
general meeting. However, the contract has been held to be ultra vires of the
objects of the company because the word ‘general contractors’ does not authorize
the company to make contract of every description. The doctrine has been
confirmed by the Supreme Court in Lakshmana Sami Mudaliar Vs LIC of India
1963 AIR Sc 1185.
An act done outside the express or implied objects is ultra vires. The ultra vires
acts are null and void ab initio.
The object of the ultra vires doctrine is to protect the interests of the
investors and creditors by ensuring that the company does not invest or
utilize the money in those acts, which is not contemplated by the
shareholders or creditors of the company.
Effect of Ultra Vires Acts
4. No Ratification: If an act is ultra vires the company, it does not create legal
relationship. It is violation of the law and diversion of the assets of the company
to purposes, not contemplated by the members and creditors of the company. As it
is an act outside the powers of the company, even the whole body of shareholders
cannot ratify it and make it binding on the company.
5. Company Can Neither Sue or be Sued: The company cannot sue the
contracting party. Equally, the contracting party cannot sue the company.
Various Types of Ultra Vires Acts: It is necessary to distinguish the acts, outside
the powers of the company and Board of Directors.beyond the scope of
Memorandum of Association cannot be ratified by the company, even by the total
body of the shareholders as they are outside the powers of the company. However,
if the acts are only beyond the powers of the directors, but within the powers of the
company, those acts can be ratified by the company.
(D) Capital Clause: In the case of a company having a share capital, the capital
clause has to state the nominal or authorized capital of the company. The nominal
capital is divided into different classes of shares. The capital clause has to state the
values of the different classes of shares such as equity share capital and preference
share capital and their division into shares of a fixed amount.
In the case of a company limited by guarantee, the amount promised by each
member to be contributed by them in the event of winding up of the company, is to
be mentioned.
(E) Liability Clause: The liability of the members is limited to the extent of the
shares subscribed by the members of the company, in the case of a company
having share capital. It means no member can be called upon to pay more than the
nominal value of the shares held by him or the amount remaining unpaid. In case
the shares are fully paid, the liability is nil. In the case of a company by guarantee,
the liability is limited to the extent of guarantee given by the members. This can be
called only when the liabilities exceed the assets of the company.
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
Articles of Association lays down the rules and regulations framed for
the purpose of its internal management of the affairs of the company.
They facilitate the way for carrying out the objects, specified in the Memorandum
of Association.
3. Scope: The Memorandum of Association lays down the scope or powers of the
company, while the Articles of Association govern the way in which the objects of
the company can be carried out. As regards the contents, Articles of Association
resembles a partnership deed.
Adoption of Table A: A public company limited by shares may have its own
Articles of Association. In the absence of its own Articles of Association, the
company can adopt Table A. In other words, preparation of Articles of Association
is not compulsory. Even if Table A is adopted, if the company’s Articles of
Association is silent on any matter, provisions of Table A would be applicable.
The Articles of Association spells out the way the affairs of the company would be
conducted.