The Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (revoked)

CHAPTER IVF30N.I.Meetings and Resolutions

MeetingsF30N.I.

Annual general meetingN.I.

374.—(1) Every company shall in each calendar 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 notices calling it.

(2) However, so long as a company holds its first annual general meeting within 18 months of its incorporation, it need not hold it in the calendar year of its incorporation or in the following calendar year.

(3) Not more than 15 months shall elapse between the date of one annual general meeting of a company and that of the next.

(4) If default is made in holding a meeting in accordance with this Article, the company and every officer of it who is in default is liable to a fine.

[F1Election by private company to dispense with annual general meetingsN.I.

374A.—(1) A private company may elect (by elective resolution in accordance with Article 387A) to dispense with the holding of annual general meetings.

(2) An election has effect for the year in which it is made and subsequent years, but does not affect any liability already incurred by reason of default in holding an annual general meeting.

(3) In any year in which an annual general meeting would be required to be held but for the election, and in which no such meeting has been held, any member of the company may, by notice to the company not later than three months before the end of the year, require the holding of an annual general meeting in that year.

[F2(3A) The power of a member under paragraph (3) to require the holding of an annual general meeting is exercisable not only by the giving of a notice but also by the transmission to the company at such address as may for the time being be specified for the purpose by or on behalf of the company of an electronic communication containing the requirement.]

(4) If such a notice is given[F2 or electronic communication is transmitted], the provisions of Article 374(1) and (4) apply with respect to the calling of the meeting and the consequences of default.

(5) If the election ceases to have effect, the company is not obliged under Article 374 to hold an annual general meeting in that year if, when the election ceases to have effect, less than three months of the year remains.

[F2(6) In this Article, “address” includes any number or address used for the purposes of electronic communications.]]

Department's power to call meeting in defaultN.I.

375.—(1) If default is made in holding a meeting in accordance with Article 374, the Department may, on the application of any member of the company, call, or direct the calling of, a general meeting of the company and give such ancillary or consequential directions as it 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.

(2) The directions that may be given under paragraph (1) include a direction of 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 of the Department under paragraph (1), the company and every officer of it who is in default is liable to a fine.

(4) A general meeting held under this Article shall, subject to any directions of the Department, be deemed to be an annual general meeting of the company; but where a meeting so held is not held in the calendar 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 calendar year in which it is held unless at that meeting the company resolves that it be so treated.

(5) Where a company so resolves, a copy of the resolution shall, within 15 days after its passing, be forwarded to the registrar and recorded by him; and if default is made in complying with this paragraph, the company and every officer of it who is in default is liable to a fine and, for continued contravention, to a daily default fine.

Extraordinary general meeting on member's requisitionN.I.

376.—(1) The directors of a company shall, on a members' requisition, forthwith proceed duly to convene an extraordinary general meeting of the company.

(2) A members' requisition is a requisition of—

(a)members of the company holding at the date of the deposit of the requisition not less than one-tenth of such of the paid-up capital of the company as at that date carries the right of voting at general meetings of the company; or

(b)in the case of a company not having a share capital, members of it representing not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all the members having at the date of deposit of the requisition a right to vote at general meetings.

[F3(2A) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(a) any of the company's paid up capital held as treasury shares must be disregarded.]

(3) The requisition must state the objects of the meeting, and must be signed by the requisitionists and deposited at the registered office of the company, and may consist of several documents in like form each signed by one or more requisitionists.

(4) If the directors do not with within 21 days from the date of the deposit of the requisition proceed duly to convene a meeting, the requisitionists, or any of them representing more than one half of the total voting rights of all of them, may themselves convene a meeting, but any meeting so convened shall not be held after the expiration of 3 months from that date.

(5) A meeting convened under this Article by requisitionists shall be convened in the same manner, as nearly as possible, as that in which meetings are to be convened by directors.

(6) Any reasonable expenses incurred by the requisitionists by reason of the failure of the directors duly to convene a meeting shall be repaid to the requisitionists by the company, and any sum so repaid shall be retained by the company out of any sums or to become due from the company by way of fees or other remuneration in respect of their services to such of the directors as 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 convened the meeting is they do not give the notice required for special resolutions by Article 386(2).

[F4(8) The directors are deemed not to have duly convened a meeting if they convene a meeting for a date more than 28 days after the date of the notice convening the meeting.]

Length of notice for calling meetingsN.I.

377.—(1) A provision of a company's articles is void in so far as it provides for the calling of a meeting of the company (other than an adjourned meeting) by a shorter notice than—

(a)in the case of the annual general meeting, 21 days' notice in writing; and

(b)in the case of a meeting other than an annual general meeting or a meeting for the passing of a special resolution—

(i)7 days' notice in writing in the case of an unlimited company, and

(ii)otherwise, 14 days' notice in writing.

(2) Save in so far as the articles of a company make other provision in that behalf (not being a provision avoided by paragraph (1)), a meeting of the company (other than an adjourned meeting) may be called—

(a)in the case of the annual general meeting, by 21 days' notice in writing; and

(b)in the case of a meeting other than an annual general meeting or a meeting for the passing of a special resolution—

(i)by 7 days' notice in writing in the case of an unlimited company, and

(ii)otherwise, 14 days' notice in writing.

(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 is so agreed—

(a)in the case of a meeting called as the annual general meeting, by all the members entitled to attend and vote at it; and

(b)otherwise, by the requisite majority.

(4) The requisite majority for this purpose is a majority in number of the members having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority—

(a)together holding not less than 95 per cent. in nominal value of the shares giving a right to attend and vote at the meeting[F5 (excluding any shares in the company held as treasury shares)]; or

(b)in the case of a company not having a share capital, together representing not less than 95 per cent. of the total voting rights at that meeting of all the members.

[F7(5) For the purposes of this Article the cases in which notice in writing of a meeting is to be taken as given to a person include any case in which notice of the meeting is sent using electronic communications to such address as may for the time being be notified by that person to the company for that purpose.

(6) For the purposes of this Article a notice in writing of a meeting is also to be treated as given to a person where—

(a)the company and that person have agreed that notices of meetings required to be given to that person may instead be accessed by him on a web site;

(b)the meeting is a meeting to which that agreement applies;

(c)that person is notified, in a manner for the time being agreed between him and the company for the purpose, of—

(i)the publication of the notice on a web site;

(ii)the address of that web site; and

(iii)the place on that web site where the notice may be accessed, and how it may be accessed;

and

(d)the notice continues to be published on that web site throughout the period beginning with the giving of that notification and ending with the conclusion of the meeting;

and for the purposes of this Article a notice treated in accordance with this paragraph as given to any person is to be treated as so given at the time of the notification mentioned in sub-paragraph (c).

(7) A notification given for the purposes of paragraph (6)(c) must—

(a)state that it concerns a notice of a company meeting served in accordance with this Order,

(b)specify the place, date and time of the meeting, and

(c)state whether the meeting is to be an annual or extraordinary general meeting.

(8) Nothing in paragraph (6) shall invalidate the proceedings of a meeting where—

(a)any notice that is required to be published as mentioned in sub-paragraph (d) of that paragraph is published for a part, but not all, of the period mentioned in that sub-paragraph; and

(b)the failure to publish that notice throughout that period is wholly attributable to circumstances which it would not be reasonable to have expected the company to prevent or avoid.

(9) A company may, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in a company's articles, take advantage of any of paragraphs (5) to (8).

(10) In so far as the articles of the company do not provide for notices and notifications to be served using electronic communications, the provisions of Table A (as for the time being in operation) as to such service shall apply.

(11) In this Article “address” includes any number or address used for the purposes of electronic communications.]

General provisions as to meetings and votesN.I.

378.—(1) This Article has effect in so far as the articles of the company do not make other provisions in that behalf.

(2) Notice of the meeting of a company shall be served on every member of it in the manner in which notices are required to be served by Table A (as for the time being in force).

(3) Two or more members holding not less than one-tenth of the issued share capital[F8 (excluding any shares in the company held as treasury shares)] or, if the company does not have a share capital, not less than 5 per cent. in number of the members of the company may call a meeting.

(4) Two members personally present are a quorum.

(5) Any member elected by the members present at a meeting may be chairman of it.

(6) In the case of a company originally having a share capital, every member has one vote in respect of each share or each £10 of stock held by him; and in any other case every member has one vote.

[F9Quorum at meetings of the sole memberN.I.

378A.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the articles of a private company limited by shares or by guarantee having only one member, one member present in person or by proxy shall be a quorum.]

Power of court to order meetingN.I.

379.—(1) If for any reason it is impracticable to call a meeting of a company in any manner in which meetings of that company may be called, or to conduct the meeting in the manner determined by its articles or this Order, the court may, either of its own motion or on the application—

(a)of any director of the company; or

(b)of any 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.

(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.

(3) A meeting called, held and conducted in accordance with an order under paragraph (1) is deemed for all purposes a meeting of the company duly called, held and conducted.

ProxiesN.I.

380.—(1) Any 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 his proxy to attend and vote instead of him; and in the case of a private company a proxy appointed to attend and vote instead of a member has also the same right as the member to speak at the meeting.

(2) But, unless the company's articles otherwise provide—

(a)paragraph (1) does not apply in the case of a company not having a share capital;

(b)a member of a private company is not entitled to appoint more than one proxy to attend on the same occasion; and

(c)a proxy is not entitled to vote except on a poll.

[F10(2A) The appointment of a proxy may, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in a company's articles, be contained in an electronic communication sent to such address as may be notified by or on behalf of the company for that purpose.

(2B) In so far as the articles of the company do not make other provision in that behalf, the appointment of a proxy may be contained in an electronic communication in accordance with the provisions of Table A (as for the time being in operation).]

(3) In the case of a company having a share capital, 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 him, and that a proxy need not also be a member.

(4) If default is made in complying with paragraph (3) as respects any meeting, every officer of the company who is in default is liable to a fine.

(5) A provision contained in a company's articles is void in so far as it would have the effect of requiring[F10 the appointment of a proxy or any] 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 in Northern Ireland more than 48 hours before a meeting or adjourned meeting in order that the appointment may be effective.

(6) If for the purpose of any 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 sent a notice of the meeting and to vote at it by proxy, then every officer of the company who knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits their issue in that manner is liable to a fine.

[F10(6A) In this Article “address” includes any number or address used for the purposes of electronic communications.]

(7) This Article applies to meetings of any class of members of a company as it applies to general meetings of the company.

Right to demand a pollN.I.

381.—(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 on any 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—

(i)by not less than 5 members having the right to vote at the meeting; or

(ii)by a member or members representing not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all the members having the right to vote at the meeting[F11 (excluding any voting rights attached to any shares in the company held as treasury shares)] ; or

(iii)by a member or members holding shares in the company conferring a right to vote at the meeting, being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not less than one-tenth of the total sum paid up on all the shares conferring that right[F11 (excluding any shares in the company conferring a right to vote at the meeting which are held as treasury shares)].

(2) [F12The appointment of] a proxy to vote at a meeting of a company 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.

Voting on a pollN.I.

382.  On a poll taken at a meeting of a company or a meeting of any class of members of a company, a member entitled to more than one vote need not, if he votes, use all his votes or cast all the votes he uses in the same way.

Representation of bodies corporate at meetingsN.I.

383.—(1) A body corporate may—

(a)if it is a member of a company, by resolution of its directors or other governing body authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the company or at any meeting of any class of members of the company;

(b)if it is a creditor (including a holder of debentures) of a company, by resolution of its directors or other governing body authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of creditors of the company held in pursuance of this Order or of rules made under it, or in pursuance of the provisions contained in any debenture or trust deed, as the case may be.

(2) A person so authorised is entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the body corporate which he represents as that body corporate could exercise if it were an individual shareholder, creditor or debenture holder of the other company.

ResolutionsF30N.I.

Circulation of members' resolutionsN.I.

384.—(1) Subject to Article 385, it is the duty of a company, on the requisition in writing of such number of members as is specified in paragraph (2) and (unless the company otherwise resolves) at the expense of the requisitionists—

(a)to give members of the company entitled to receive notice of the next annual general meeting notice of any resolution which may properly be moved and is intended to be moved at that meeting;

(b)to circulate to members entitled to have notice of any general meeting sent to them any statement of not more than 1,000 words with respect to the matter referred to in any proposed resolution or the business to be dealt with at that meeting.

(2) The number of members necessary for a requisition under paragraph (1) is—

(a)any number representing not less than one-twentieth of the total voting rights of all the members having at the date of the requisition a right to vote at the meeting to which the requisition relates[F13 (excluding any voting rights attached to any shares in the company held as treasury shares)]; or

(b)not less than 100 members holding shares in the company on which there has been paid up an average sum, per member, of not less than £100.

(3) Notice of any such resolution shall be given, and any such statement shall be circulated, to members of the company entitled to have notice of the meeting sent to them, by serving a copy of the resolution or statement on each such member in any manner permitted for service of notice of the meeting.

(4) Notice of any such resolution shall be given to any other member of the company by giving notice of the general effect of the resolution in any manner permitted for giving him notice of meetings of the company.

(5) For compliance with paragraphs (3) and (4), the copy must be served, or notice of the effect of the resolution be given (as the case may be) in the same manner, and (so far as practicable) at the same time as notice of the meeting; and, where it is not practicable for it to be served or given at the same time, it must be served or given as soon as practicable thereafter.

(6) The business which may be dealt with at an annual general meeting includes any resolution of which notice is given in accordance with this Article; and for the purposes of this paragraph notice is deemed to have been so given notwithstanding the accidental omission, in giving it, of one or more members.

(7) In the event of default in complying with this Article every officer of the company who is in default is liable to a fine.

In certain cases, compliance with Article 384 not requiredN.I.

385.—(1) A company is not bound under Article 384 to give notice of a resolution or to circulate a statement unless—

(a)a copy of the requisition signed by the requisitionists (or two or more copies which between them contain the signatures of all the requisitionists) is deposited at the registered office of the company—

(i)in the case of a requisition requiring notice of a resolution, not less than 6 weeks before the meeting, and

(ii)otherwise, not less than one week before the meeting; and

(b)there is deposited or tendered with the requisition a sum reasonably sufficient to meet the company's expenses in giving effect to it.

(2) But if, after a copy of a requisition requiring notice of a resolution has been deposited at the company's registered office, an annual general meeting is called for a date 6 weeks or less after the copy has been deposited, the copy (though not deposited within the time required by paragraph (1)) is deemed properly deposited for the purposes of that paragraph.

(3) The company is also not bound under Article 384 to circulate a statement if, on the application either of the company or of any other person who claims to be aggrieved, the court is satisfied that the rights conferred by that Article are being abused to secure needless publicity for defamatory matter; and the court may order the company's costs on such an application to be paid in whole or in part by the requisitionists, notwithstanding that they are not parties to the application.

Extraordinary and special resolutionsN.I.

386.—(1) A resolution is an extraordinary resolution when it has been passed by a majority of not less than three-fourths of such members as (being entitled to do so) vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy, at a general meeting of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as an extraordinary resolution has been duly given.

(2) A resolution is a special resolution when it has been passed by such a majority as is required for the passing of an extraordinary resolution and at a general meeting of which not less than 21 days' notice, specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given.

(3) If it is so agreed by a majority in number of the members having the right to attend and vote at such a meeting, being a majority—

(a)together holding not less than 95 per cent. in nominal value of the shares giving that right[F14 (excluding any shares in the company held as treasury shares)]; or

(b)in the case of a company not having a share capital, together representing not less than 95 per cent. of the total voting rights at that meeting of all the members,

a resolution may be proposed and passed as a special resolution at a meeting of which less than 21 days' notice has been given.

(4) At any meeting at which an extraordinary resolution or a special resolution is submitted to be passed, 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.

(5) In computing the majority on a poll demanded on the question that an extraordinary resolution or a special resolution be passed, reference is to be had to the number of votes cast for and against the resolution.

(6) For the purposes of this Article, notice of a meeting is deemed duly given, and the meeting duly held, when the notice is given and the meeting held in the manner provided by this Order or the company's articles.

Resolution requiring special noticeN.I.

387.—(1) Where by any provision of this Order special notice is required of a resolution, the resolution is not effective unless notice of the intention to move it has been given to the company at least 28 days before the meeting at which it is moved.

(2) The company shall give its members notice of any such resolution at the same time and in the same manner as it gives notice of the meeting or, if that is not practicable, shall give them notice either by advertisement in a newspaper having an appropriate circulation or in any other mode allowed by the company's articles, at least 21 days before the meeting.

(3) If, after notice of the intention to move such a resolution has been given to the company, a meeting is called for a date 28 days or less after the notice has been given, the notice is deemed properly given, though not given within the time required.

[F16Elective resolution of private companyN.I.

387A.—(1) An election by a private company for the purposes of—

(a)Article 90A (election as to duration of authority to allot shares),

(b)Article 260 (election to dispense with laying of accounts and reports before general meeting),

(c)Article 374A (election to dispense with holding of annual general meeting),

(d)Article 377(4) or 386(3) (election as to majority required to authorise short notice of meeting), or

(e)Article 394 (election to dispense with appointment of auditors annually),

shall be made by resolution of the company in general meeting in accordance with this Article.

Such a resolution is referred to in this Order as an “elective resolution”.

(2) An elective resolution is not effective unless—

(a)at least 21 days' notice in writing is given of the meeting, stating that an elective resolution is to be proposed and stating the terms of the resolution, and

(b)the resolution is agreed to at the meeting, in person or by proxy, by all the members entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.

[F17(2A) An elective resolution is effective notwithstanding the fact that less than 21 days' notice in writing of the meeting is given if all the members entitled to attend and vote at the meeting so agree.]

[F18(2B) For the purposes of this Article, notice in writing of the meeting is to be taken as given to a person where notice of the meeting is sent using electronic communications to such address as may for the time being be notified by that person to the company for that purpose.

(2C) For the purposes of this Article a notice in writing of the meeting is also to be treated as given to a person where—

(a)the company and that person have agreed that notices of meetings required to be given to that person may instead be accessed by him on a web site;

(b)the meeting is a meeting to which that agreement applies;

(c)that person is notified, in manner for the time being agreed between him and the company for the purpose, of—

(i)the publication of the notice on a web site;

(ii)the address of that web site; and

(iii)the place on that web site where the notice may be accessed, and how it may be accessed; and

(d)the notice continues to be published on that web site throughout the period beginning with the giving of that notification and ending with the conclusion of the meeting;

and for the purposes of this Article a notice treated in accordance with this paragraph as given to any person is to be treated as so given at the time of the notification mentioned in sub-paragraph (c).

(2D) A notification given for the purposes of paragraph (2C)(c) must—

(a)state that it concerns a notice of a company meeting at which an elective resolution is to be proposed, and

(b)specify the place, date and time of the meeting.

(2E) Nothing in paragraph (2C) shall invalidate the proceedings of a meeting where—

(a)any notice that is required to be published as mentioned in sub-paragraph (d) of that paragraph is published for a part, but not all, of the period mentioned in that sub-paragraph; and

(b)the failure to publish that notice throughout that period is wholly attributable to circumstances which it would not be reasonable to have expected the company to prevent or avoid.

(2F) In so far as the articles of the company do not provide for notices and notifications to be served using electronic communications, the provisions of Table A (as for the time being in operation) as to such service shall apply.]

(3) The company may revoke an elective resolution by passing an ordinary resolution to that effect.

(4) An elective resolution shall cease to have effect if the company is re-registered as a public company.

(5) An elective resolution may be passed or revoked in accordance with this Article, and the provisions referred to in[F18 paragraphs (1) and (2B) to (2E)] have effect, notwithstanding any contrary provision in the company's articles of association.

[F18(6) In this article, “address” includes any number or address used for the purposes of electronic communications.]]

Registration, etc. of resolutions and agreementsN.I.

388.—(1) A copy of every resolution or agreement to which this Article applies shall, within 15 days after it is passed or made, be forwarded to the registrar and recorded by him; and it must be either a printed copy or else a copy in some other form approved by the registrar.

(2) Where a company's articles have been registered, a copy of every such resolution or agreement for the time being in force shall be embodied in or annexed to every copy of the articles issued after the passing of the resolution or the making of the agreement.

(3) Where a company's articles have not been registered, a printed copy of every such resolution or agreement shall be forwarded to any member at his request on payment of 5 pence or such less sum as the company may direct.

(4) This Article applies to—

(a)special resolutions;

(b)extraordinary resolutions;

[F19(bb)an elective resolution or a resolution revoking such a resolution;]

(c)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 (as the case may be) they had been passed as special resolutions or as extraordinary resolutions;

(d)resolutions or agreements which have been agreed to by all the members of some class of shareholders but which, if not agreed to, would not have been effective for their purpose unless they had been passed by some particular majority or otherwise in some particular manner, and all resolutions or agreements which effectively bind all the members of any class of shareholders though not agreed to by all those members;

(e)a resolution passed by the directors of a company in compliance with a direction under Article 41(2) (change of name on Department's direction);

(f)a resolution of a company to give, vary, revoke or renew an authority to the directors for the purposes of Article 90 (allotment of relevant securities);

(g)a resolution of the directors passed under Article 157(2) (alteration of memorandum on company ceasing to be a public company, following acquisition of its own shares);

(h)a resolution conferring, varying[F20, revoking or renewing] authority under Article 176 (market purchase of company's own shares);

(j)a resolution for voluntary winding up, passed under[F21 Article 70(1)(a) of the Insolvency Order]; and

(k)a resolution passed by the directors of an old public company, under Article 4(1) of the Consequential Provisions Order, that the company should be re-registered as a public company.

[F22(l)a resolution of the directors passed by virtue of regulation 16(2) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 1995 (which allow title to a company's shares to be evidenced and transferred without written instrument); and

(m)a resolution of a company passed by virtue of regulation 16(6) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 1995 (which prevents or reverses a resolution of the directors under regulation 16(2) of those Regulations).]

[F23(4A) For the purposes of this Article, references to a member of a company do not include the company itself where it is such a member by virtue only of its holding shares as treasury shares, and accordingly, in such circumstances, the company is not, for those purposes, to be treated as a member of any class of the company's shareholders.]

(5) If a company fails to comply with paragraph (1), the company and every officer of it who is in default is liable to a fine and, for continued contravention, to a daily default fine.

(6) If a company fails to comply with paragraph (2) or (3), the company and every officer of it who is in default is liable to a fine.

(7) For the purposes of paragraphs (5) and (6), a liquidator of a company is deemed an officer of it.

Resolution passed at adjourned meetingN.I.

389.  Where a resolution is passed at an adjourned meeting of—

(a)a company;

(b)the holders of any class of shares in a company;

(c)the 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.

Written resolutions of private companiesF30N.I.

Written resolutions of private companiesN.I.

389A.—(1) Anything which in the case of a private company may be done—

(a)by resolution of the company in general meeting, or

(b)by resolution of a meeting of any class of members of the company,

may be done, without a meeting and without any previous notice being required, by resolution in writing signed by or on behalf of all the members of the company who at the date of the resolution would be entitled to attend and vote at such meeting.

(2) The signatures need not be on a single document provided each is on a document which accurately states the terms of the resolution.

(3) The date of the resolution means when the resolution is signed by or on behalf of the last member to sign.

(4) A resolution agreed to in accordance with this Article has effect as if passed—

(a)by the company in general meeting, or

(b)by a meeting of the relevant class of members of the company,

as the case may be; and any reference in any statutory provision to a meeting at which a resolution is passed or to members voting in favour of a resolution shall be construed accordingly.

(5) Any reference in any statutory provision to the date of passing of a resolution is, in relation to a resolution agreed to in accordance with this Article, a reference to the date of the resolution,F24. . .

(6) A resolution may be agreed to in accordance with this Article which would otherwise be required to be passed as a special, extraordinary or elective resolution; and any reference in any statutory provision to a special, extraordinary or elective resolution includes such a resolution.

(7) This Article has effect subject to the exceptions specified in Part I of Schedule 15A; and in relation to certain descriptions of resolution under this Article the procedural requirements of this Order have effect with the adaptations specified in Part II of that Schedule.

[F25Duty to notify auditors of proposed written resolutionN.I.

389B.—(1) If a director or secretary of a company—

(a)knows that it is proposed to seek agreement to a resolution in accordance with Article 389A, and

(b)knows the terms of the resolution,

he shall, if the company has auditors, secure that a copy of the resolution is sent to them, or that they are otherwise notified of its contents, at or before the time the resolution is supplied to a member for signature.

(2) A person who fails to comply with paragraph (1) is liable to a fine.

(3) In any proceedings for an offence under this Article it is a defence for the accused to prove—

(a)that the circumstances were such that it was not practicable for him to comply with paragraph (1), or

(b)that he believed on reasonable grounds that a copy of the resolution had been sent to the company's auditors or that they had otherwise been informed of its contents.

(4) Nothing in this Article affects the validity of any resolution.]

Written resolutions: supplementary provisionsN.I.

389C.—(1) Articles 389A and 389B have effect notwithstanding any provision of the company's memorandum or articles[F26 but do not prejudice any such power conferred by any such provision].

(2) Nothing in those Articles affects any statutory provision or rule of law as to—

(a)things done otherwise than by passing a resolution, or

(b)cases in which a resolution is treated as having been passed, or a person is precluded from alleging that a resolution has not been duly passed.

Records of proceedingsF30N.I.

Minutes of meetingsN.I.

390.—(1) Every company shall cause minutes of all proceedings at general meetings and all proceedings at meetings of its directors to be entered in books kept for that purpose.

(2) Any such minute if purporting to be signed by the chairman of the meeting at which the proceedings were had, or by the chairman of the next succeeding meeting, is evidence of the proceedings.

(3) Where a shadow director by means of a notice required by paragraph (8) of Article 325 declares an interest in a contract or proposed contract, this Article applies—

(a)if it is a specific notice under sub-paragraph (a) of that paragraph, as if the declaration had been made at the meeting there referred to, and

(b)otherwise, as if it had been made at the meeting of the directors next following the giving of the notice;

and the making of the declaration is in either case deemed to form part of the proceedings at the meeting.

(4) Where minutes have been made in accordance with this Article of the proceedings at any general meeting of the company or meeting of directors, then, until the contrary is proved, the meeting is deemed duly held and convened, and all proceedings had at the meeting to have been duly had; and all appointments of directors or liquidators are deemed valid.

(5) If a company fails to comply with paragraph (1), the company and every officer of it who is in default is liable to a fine and, for continued contravention, to a daily default fine.

[F27Recording of written resolutionsN.I.

390A.—(1) Where a written resolution is agreed to in accordance with Article 389A which has effect as if agreed by the company in general meeting, the company shall cause a record of the resolution (and of the signatures) to be entered in a book in the same way as minutes of proceedings of a general meeting of the company.

(2) Any such record, if purporting to be signed by a director of the company or by the company secretary, is evidence of the proceedings in agreeing to the resolution; and where a record is made in accordance with this Article, then, until the contrary is proved, the requirements of this Order with respect to those proceedings shall be deemed to be complied with.

(3) Article 390(5) (penalties) applies in relation to a failure to comply with paragraph (1) as it applies in relation to a failure to comply with paragraph (1) of that Article and Article 391 (inspection of minute books) applies in relation to a record made in accordance with this Article as it applies in relation to the minutes of a general meeting.]

[F28Recording of decisions by the sole memberN.I.

390B.—(1) Where a private company limited by shares or by guarantee has only one member and he takes any decision which may be taken by the company in general meeting and which has effect as if agreed by the company in general meeting, he shall (unless that decision is taken by way of a written resolution) provide the company with a written record of that decision.

(2) If the sole member fails to comply with paragraph (1) he shall be liable to a fine.

(3) Failure by the sole member to comply with paragraph (1) shall not affect the validity of any decision referred to in that paragraph.]

Inspection of minute booksN.I.

391.—(1) The books containing the minutes of proceedings at any general meeting of a company held on or after 1st January 1933 shall be kept at the same office as its register of members is kept, and shallF29. . . be open to the inspection of any member without charge.

(3) Any member shall be entitled[F29 on payment of such fee as may be prescribed] to be furnished, within 7 days after he has made a request in that behalf to the company, with a copy of any such minutes as are referred to in paragraph (1)F29. . . .

(4) 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 and every officer of it who is in default is liable in respect of each offence to a fine.

(5) In the case of any such refusal or default, the court may by order compel an immediate inspection of the books in respect of all proceedings of general meetings, or direct that the copies required to be sent to the person requiring them.