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Uimhir 7 de 1959.
ACHT NA gCUIDEACHTAÍ, 1959.
[An tiontó oifigiúil.]
Léiriú.
1908, c.69.
1.—(1) San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “an Príomh-Acht” an Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, agus déanfar tagairtí san Acht seo don Phríomh-Acht nó d'aon fhoráil den Acht sin a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí don Acht sin nó don fhoráil sin arna leasú le haon achtachán ina dhiaidh sin, lena n-áirítear an tAcht seo;
ciallaíonn “cuideachta shealbhaíochta” cuideachta shealbhaíochta arna míniú le halt 5 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “fo-chuideachta” fo-chuideachta mar mhínítear le halt 5 den Acht seo.
(2) Déanfar tagairtí san Acht seo do chomhlacht corpraithe a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí nach bhfolaíonn corparaid aonair ach a fholaíonn comhlacht arna chorprú lasmuigh den Stát.
(3) Forléireofar an tAcht seo agus na hAchtanna Cuideachtan, 1908 go 1924, mar aon ní amháin.
Cumhacht chun scaireanna tosaíochta infhuascailte a eisiúint.
2.—(1) Faoi réir forálacha an ailt seo, féadfaidh cuideachta scair-theoranta, má údaraíonn a hairteagail amhlaidh di, scaireanna tosaíochta a eisiúint a bheidh le fuascailt nó, de réir rogha na cuideachta, a bheidh infhuascailte:
Ar choinníoll—
(a) nach ndéanfar aon scaireanna den sórt sin a fhuascailt ach amháin as brabúis de chuid na cuideachta a bheadh ar fáil, mura mbeadh sin, le haghaidh díbhinne nó as fáltais eisiúint nua scaireanna arna heisiúint le haghaidh na fuascailte;
(b) nach bhfuasclófar aon scaireanna den sórt sin mura mbeidh siad íoctha go hiomlán;
(c) nach foláir soláthar a bheith déanta, sula bhfuasclófar na scaireanna, as brabúis na cuideachta nó as cuntas scaireanna préimhe na cuideachta (más ann) le haghaidh na préimhe is iníoctha, más iníoctha, ar fhuascailt a dhéanamh;
(d) má fhuasclaítear aon scaireanna den sórt sin ar shlí seachas as fáltais eisiúna nua, go ndéanfar, as brabúis a bheadh ar fáil, mura mbeadh sin, le haghaidh díbhinne, suim is comhionann le méid ainmniúil na scaireanna fuascailte a aistriú chun cúlchiste, ar a dtabharfar “an cúlchiste fuascailte caipitil”, agus beidh feidhm, ach amháin mar fhoráltar san alt seo, ag forálacha an Phríomh-Achta maidir le laghdú scair-chaipitil chuideachta amhail is dá mba scair-chaipiteal láníoctha leis an gcuideachta an cúlchiste fuascailte caipitil.
(2) Faoi réir forálacha an ailt seo, féadfar fuascailt na scaireanna tosaíochta faoi sin a dhéanamh ar cibé téarmaí agus i cibé slí a fhorálfaidh airteagail na cuideachta.
(3) Ní mheasfar go ndéanann fuascailt scaireanna tosaíochta faoin alt seo ag cuideachta méid scair-chaipitil údaraithe na cuideachta a laghdú.
(4) I gcás cuideachta a bheith tar éis nó ar tí aon scaireanna tosaíochta a fhuascailt de bhun an ailt seo, beidh cumhacht aici scaireanna a eisiúint suas go dtí méid ainmniúil na scaireanna a fuasclaíodh nó a bheidh le fuascailt amhail is nár eisíodh na scaireanna sin ariamh, agus dá réir sin ní mheasfar, chun críocha aon achtachán a bhaineann le dleacht stampa, scair-chaipiteal na cuideachta a bheith méadaithe trí scaireanna a eisiúint de bhun an fho-ailt seo:
Ar choinníoll, i gcás ina n-eiseofar scaireanna nua sula bhfuasclófar na sean-scaireanna, nach measfar, a mhéid a bhaineann le dleacht stampa, gur de bhun an fho-ailt seo a eisíodh na scaireanna nua mura bhfuasclófar na sean-scaireanna laistigh de mhí tar éis na scaireanna nua a eisiúint.
(5) D'ainneoin aon ní san alt seo, féadfaidh an chuideachta an cúlchiste fuascailte caipitil a úsáid ag íoc as scaireanna neamheisithe de chuid na cuideachta a eiseofar chun comhaltaí na cuideachta mar scaireanna bónais lán-íoctha.
(6) Cuirfear i ngach clár comhardaithe de chuid cuideachta a bheidh tar éis scaireanna tosaíochta infhuascailte a eisiúint ráiteas ag sonrú na coda de chaipiteal eisithe na cuideachta arb éard í na scaireanna sin, an méid a bheidh íoctha ar an gcéanna agus an dáta is luaithe ar a mbeidh cumhacht ag an gcuideachta na scaireanna sin a fhuascailt.
Má mhainníonn cuideachta déanamh de réir forálacha an fho-ailt seo, dlífear, ar í a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt a chur ar an gcuideachta agus, ar é a chiontú go hachomair, dlífear a shamhail de phionós a chur ar gach stiúrthóir agus bainisteoir leis an gcuideachta a údaróidh nó a cheadóidh an mhainneachtain go feasach agus go toiliúil.
Toirmeasc ar chúnamh airgeadais a sholáthar ag cuideachta le haghaidh ceannach scaireanna nó suibscríobh i leith scaireanna dá cuid féin nó de chuid a cuideachta sealbhaíochta.
3.—(1) Faoi réir mar fhoráltar san alt seo, ní dleathach aon chúnamh airgeadais a thabhairt go díreach ná go neamhdhíreach, ar mhodh iasachta, ráthaíochta, soláthair urrúis nó eile, le haghaidh ná i leith ceannach aon scaireanna nó suibscríobh i leith aon scaireanna sa chuideachta, nó, más fo-chuideachta an chuideachta, ina cuideachta sealbhaíochta, a rinne nó a dhéanfaidh duine ar bith:
Ar choinníoll nach measfar go ndéanann aon ní san alt seo toirmeasc a chur—
(a) i gcás inar cuid de ghnáth-ghnó chuideachta airgead a a thabhairt ar iasacht, ar an gcuideachta sin do thabhairt airgid ar iasacht i ngnáth-chúrsa a gnó;
(b) ar an gcuideachta do sholáthar airgid, de réir aon scéime a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire, chun scaireanna láníoctha sa chuideachta nó ina cuideachta sealbhaíochta a cheannach, nó chun suibscríobh i leith an chéanna, ar ceannach scaireanna nó suibscríobh i leith scaireanna é ag iontaobhaithe is scaireanna a shealbhóidh fostaithe nó athfhostaithe na cuideachta nó a shealbhófar chun sochair dóibh, ar a n-áirítear aon duine atá nó a bhí ina stiúrthóir le fostaíocht nó oifig thuarastail sa chuideachta;
(c) ar an gcuideachta do thabhairt iasachtaí do dhaoine, seachas stiúrthóirí, atá bona fide i bhfostaíocht na cuideachta de rún a chumasú do na daoine sin scair eanna lán-íoctha sa chuideachta nó ina cuideachta sealbhaíochta a cheannach nó suibscríobh i leith an chéanna lena mbeith ar seilbh acu féin ar modh úinéireachta tairbhiúla.
(2) Déanfar comhiomlán aon iasachtaí a bheidh gan íoc agus a tugadh faoi údarás choinníollacha (b) agus (c) d'fho-alt (1) den alt seo a thaispeáint mar mhír ar leithligh i ngach clár comhardaithe leis an gcuideachta.
(3) Má ghníomhaíonn cuideachta contrártha don alt seo dlífear, ar í a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt a chur ar an gcuideachta agus, ar é a chiontú go hachomair, dlífear a shamhail de phionós a chur ar gach stiúrthóir agus bainisteoir leis an gcuideachta a údaróidh nó a cheadóidh an mhainneachtain go feasach agus go toiliúil.
Comhaltas cuideachta sealbhaíochta.
4.—(1) Ach amháin sna cásanna a luaitear ina dhiaidh seo san alt seo, ní fhéadfaidh comhlacht corpraithe a bheith ina chomhalta de chuideachta arb í a chuideachta shealbhaíochta í, agus beidh aon leithroinnt nó aistriú scaireanna i gcuideachta chun a fo-chuideachta ar neamhní.
(2) Ní bheidh feidhm ag aon ní san alt seo maidir le cás lena mbeidh baint ag an bhfo-chuideachta mar ionadaí pearsanta, ná maidir le cás lena mbeidh baint aige mar iontaobhaí, mura mbeidh leas tairbhiúil faoin iontaobhas ag an gcuideachta shealbhaíochta nó ag fo-chuideachta léi agus nach mbeidh leas aici amhlaidh ach amháin ar mhodh urrúis chun críocha idirbhirt a rinne sí i ngnáth-chúrsa gnó ar a n-áirítear airgead a thabhairt ar iasacht.
(3) Ní choiscfidh an t-alt seo fo-chuideachta, is comhalta dá cuideachta shealbhaíochta ar dháta tosach feidhme an Achta seo, ó leanúint uirthi de bheith ina comhalta ach, faoi réir an fho-ailt dheiridh roimhe seo, ní bheidh aon cheart ag an bhfochuideachta vóta a chaitheamh ag cruinnithe na cuideachta sealbhaíochta nó aon aicme chomhaltaí den chéanna.
(4) Faoi réir fo-ailt (2) den alt seo, beidh feidhm ag fo-ailt (1) agus (3) de maidir le hainmní le haghaidh comhlachta chorpraithe is fo-chuideachta, amhail is dá bhfolódh tagairtí sna fo-ailt sin (1) agus (3) do chomhlacht corpraithe den sórt sin tagairtí d'ainmní lena aghaidh.
(5) I gcás cuideachta atá teoranta le ráthaíocht nó atá gan teorainn agus ar cuideachta shealbhaíochta í, déanfar an tagairt san alt seo do scaireanna, cibé acu atá nó nach bhfuil scairchaipiteal aici, a fhorléiriú mar thagairt a fholaíonn tagairt do leas a comhaltaí sa cháil sin, cibé sórt leas an leas sin.
An bhrí atá le “cuideachta shealbhaíochta” agus “fochuideachta”.
5.—(1) Chun críocha an Achta seo, measfar, faoi réir forálacha fo-ailt (3) den alt seo, cuideachta a bheith ina fo-chuideachta do chuideachta eile más rud é, agus amháin más rud é,—
(a) (i) gur comhalta di an chuideachta eile sin agus go bhfuil urlámh aici ar chomhdhéanamh a bord stiúrthóirí; nó
(ii) go bhfuil breis agus a leath de réir luach ainmniúil dá scair-chaipiteal cothromais i seilbh na cuideachta eile sin; nó
(iii) go bhfuil breis agus a leath de réir luach ainmniúil dá scaireanna lena ngabhann cearta vótála (seachas cearta vótála nach mbíonn i gceist ach amháin i gcúinsí sonraithe) i seilbh na cuideachta eile sin; nó
(b) gur fo-chuideachta an chuideachta chéadluaite sin d'aon chuideachta arb éard í fo-chuideachta na cuideachta eile sin.
(2) Chun críocha an fho-ailt sin roimhe seo, measfar comhdhéanamh bord stiúrthóirí chuideachta a bheith faoi urláimh chuideachta eile más rud é, agus amháin más rud é, gur féidir leis an gcuideachta eile sin, trí chumhacht éigin a fheidhmiú is infheidhmithe aici gan toiliú nó aontú aon duine eile, sealbhóirí na stiúrthóireachtaí uile nó sealbhóirí thromlach díobh a cheapadh nó a chur as oifig; ach chun críocha na forála seo measfar cumhacht a bheith ag an gcuideachta eile sin duine a cheapadh chun stiúrthóireachta a gcomhlíonfar ina leith aon cheann de na coinníollacha seo a leanas, is é sin le rá—
(a) nach féidir duine a cheapadh chun na stiúrthóireachta sin gan an chuideachta eile sin d'fheidhmiú cumhachta mar adúradh ar a shon; nó
(b) gur gá duine a cheapadh chun na stiúrthóireachta sin de thoradh a cheaptha mar stiúrthóir ar an gcuideachta eile sin; nó
(c) go bhfuil an stiúrthóireacht i seilbh na cuideachta eile sin nó i seilbh fo-chuideachta dá cuid.
(3) Nuair a bheifear á chinneadh an fo-chuideachta do chuideachta eile cuideachta áirithe—
(a) ní mheasfar aon scaireanna a bheidh ar seilbh, nó aon chumhacht is infheidhmithe, ag an gcuideachta eile sin i gcáil mhuiníneach a bheith ar seilbh ná infheidhmithe aici;
(b) faoi réir an dá mhír seo a leanas, maidir le haon scaireanna a bheidh ar seilbh nó le haon chumhacht is infheidhmithe—
(i) ag aon duine mar ainmní don chuideachta eile sin (ach amháin cás nach mbeidh baint ag an gcuideachta eile sin leis ach i gcáil mhuiníneach); nó
(ii) ag fo-chuideachta, nó ag ainmní d'fho-chuideachta den chuideachta eile sin, nach fo-chuideachta nach mbeidh baint aici leis an gcás ach i gcáil mhuiníneach;
measfar gur scaireanna iad atá ar seilbh, nó gur cumhacht í is infheidhmithe, ag an gcuideachta eile sin;
(c) ní thabharfar aird ar aon scaireanna a bheidh ar seilbh, ná ar aon chumhacht is infheidhmithe, ag aon duine de bhua forálacha aon bhintiúirí de chuid na cuideachta céadluaite nó ghníomhais iontaobhais d'urrú aon eisiúna de na bintiúirí sin;
(d) aon scaireanna a bheidh ar seilbh, nó aon chumhacht is infheidhmithe, ag an gcuideachta eile sin nó ag a fo-chuideachta nó ag ainmní ar son an chéanna (nach scaireanna a bheidh ar seilbh ná cumhacht is infheidhmithe mar luaitear sa mhír dheiridh roimhe seo), measfar gur scaireanna iad nach bhfuil ar seilbh agus gur cumhacht í nach infheidhmithe ag an gcuideachta eile sin más cuid de ghnáth-ghnó na cuideachta eile sin nó a fo-chuideachta, cibé acu é, airgead a thabhairt ar iasacht agus nach bhfuil na scaireanna ar seilbh ná an chumhacht infheidhmithe mar adúradh ach amháin ar mhodh urrúis chun críocha idirbhirt i ngnáth-chúrsa an ghnó sin.
(4) Chun críocha an Achta seo, measfar cuideachta a bheith ina cuideachta shealbhaíochta i leith cuideachta eile más rud é, agus amháin más rud é, gur fo-chuideachta di an chuideachta eile sin.
(5) San alt seo folaíonn “cuideachta” aon chomhlacht corpraithe agus ciallaíonn “scair-chaipiteal cothromais”, maidir le cuideachta, a scair-chaipiteal eisithe ach gan aon chuid de sin a áireamh nach ngabhann léi, maidir le díbhinni ná maidir le caipiteal, aon cheart chun bheith páirteach thar méid sonraithe i ndáileadh.
Rúin neamhghnácha agus rúin speisialta.
6.—(1) Leasaítear leis seo alt 69 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) trí “as, being entitled so to do, vote” a chur i bhfo-alt (1) in ionad “entitled to vote as are present”;
(b) tríd an bhfo-ailt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fo-ailt (2):
“(2) A resolution shall be 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 twenty-one days’ notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given:
Provided that if all the members entitled to attend and vote at any such meeting so agree, a resolution may be proposed and passed as a special resolution at a meeting of which less than twenty-one day's notice has been given.”;
(c) trí “or confirmed” a scriosadh as fo-alt (3) agus as fo-alt (4); agus
(d) trí “cast for and against the resolution” a chur in ionad “to which each member is entitled by the articles of the company”.
(2) Leasaítear leis seo alt 70 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) trí “passing of the resolution” a chur i bhfo-alt (1) in ionad “confirmation of the special resolution, or from the passing of the extraordinary resolution, as the case may be,”; agus
(b) trí “passing” a chur i bhfo-alt (2) in ionad “confirmation”.
(3) (a) Aon tagairt d'alt 69 nó 70 den Phríomh-Acht atá in aon Acht a ritheadh roimh dháta an Achta seo a rith forléireofar í mar thagairt don alt sin arna leasú leis an alt seo.
(b) Aon tagairt do rún neamhghnách nó do rún speisialta le cuideachta atá in aon Acht a ritheadh nó in aon doiciméad a bhí ar marthain roimh dháta an Achta seo a rith forléireofar í mar thagairt don rún sin amhail mar mhínítear sin le halt 69 den Phríomh-Acht arna leasú leis an alt seo.
Liosta bliantúil comhaltaí.
7.—Beidh éifeacht ag fo-alt (2) d'alt 26 den Phríomh-Acht amhail is dá mbeadh na forálacha breise seo a leanas ann:
(a) foráil á cheangal nach mbeidh sa liosta, aon bhliain áirithe, má bhionn sa liosta d'aon bhliain de na cúig bliana díreach roimhe sin, amhail ar dháta an liosta sin, na sonraí iomlána a cheanglaítear leis an bhfo-alt sin (2), ach amháin cibé sonraí acu sin a bhainfidh le daoine a scoir de bheith, nó a tháinig chun bheith, ina gcomhaltaí ó dháta an liosta dheiridh agus le scaireanna a aistríodh ón dáta sin; agus
(b) foráil á cheangal, mura mbeidh na hainmneacha sa liosta de réir oird aibítre, go gcaithfidh treoir dhóthaineach a bheith ag gabháil leis an liosta ionas gur féidir ainm aon duine ar an liosta a aimsiú go héasca.
Cumhacht chun scaireanna scairshealbhóirí a ghlacadh a easaontóidh le scéim nó le conradh a cheadóidh tromlach.
8.—(1) I gcás scéim nó conradh a bhainfidh le scaireanna nó aon aicme scaireanna i gcuideachta (dá ngairtear “an chuideachta is aistreoir” san alt seo) a aistriú chun cuideachta eile, cibé acu is cuideachta de réir bhrí an Príomh-Achta an chuideachta (dá ngairtear “an chuideachta is aistrí” san alt seo) nó nach ea, a cheadú, laistigh de cheithre mhí tar éis an tairiscint chuige sin a dhéanamh ag an gcuideachta is aistrí, ag sealbhóirí ceithre chúigiú ar a laghad de réir luacha de na scaireanna a mbeidh a n-aistriú i gceist (seachas scaireanna a bheidh ar seilbh cheana féin ar dháta na tairisceana ag an gcuideachta is aistrí nó a fo-chuideachta, nó ag ainmní thar ceann an chéanna), féadfaidh an chuideachta is aistrí, tráth ar bith laistigh de dhá mhí tar éis bheith caite don cheithre mhí sin, fógra a thabhairt d'aon scairshealbhóir easaontach go dteastaíonn uaithi a scaireanna a ghlacadh, agus ar an bhfógra sin a bheith tugtha beidh teideal ag an gcuideachta is aistrí agus de cheangal uirthi, muran oiriúnach leis an gcúirt a mhalairt a ordú ar iarratas arna dhéanamh ag an scairshealbhóir easaontach laistigh de mhí ón dáta a tugadh an fógra, na scaireanna sin a ghlacadh ar na téarmaí ar dá réir a bheidh scaireanna na scairshealbhóirí aontacha le haistriú, faoin scéim nó faoin gconradh, chun na cuideachta is aistrí:
Ar choinníoll, i gcás scaireanna sa chuideachta is aistreoir den aicme chéanna nó de na haicmí céanna leis na scaireanna a mbeidh a n-aistriú i gceist a bheith cheana féin ar seilbh mar adúradh agus a luach a bheith níos mó ná an cúigiú cuid de chomhiomlán a luach sin agus luach na scaireanna (seachas iad sin a bheidh ar seilbh cheana féin mar adúradh) a mbeidh a n-aistriú i gceist, nach mbeidh feidhm ag na forálacha roimhe seo den fho-alt seo mura rud é—
(a) go dtairgfidh an chuideachta is aistrí na téarmaí céanna do shealbhóirí uile na scaireanna (seachas iad sin a bheidh ar seilbh cheana féin mar adúradh) a mbeidh a n-aistriú i gceist, nó, i gcás ina mbeidh scaireanna d'aicmí éagsúla ar áireamh na scaireanna sin, do shealbhóirí uile gach aicme díobh; agus
(b) nach lú an méid sealbhóirí a cheadóidh an scéim nó an conradh, i dteannta méid nach lú ná ceithre chuigiú de réir luacha de na scaireanna a shealbhú (seachas iad sin a bheidh ar seilbh cheana féin mar adúradh) a mbeidh a n-aistriú i gceist, ná trí cheathrú líon sealbhóirí na scaireanna sin.
(2) I gcás ina ndéanfar, de bhun aon scéime nó conartha mar adúradh, scaireanna i gcuideachta a aistriú chun cuideachta eile nó a hainmní, agus gurb éard a bheidh sna scaireanna sin nó go mbeidh ar áireamh orthu, i dteannta aon scaireanna eile sa chuideachta chéadluaite a bheidh ar seilbh ag an gcuideachta is aistrí nó a fo-chuideachta, nó ag ainmní thar ceann an chéanna, ar dháta an aistrithe, ceithre chúigiú de réir luacha de na scaireanna sa chuideachta chéadluaite nó d'aon aicme de na scaireanna sin, ansin—
(a) cabharfaidh an chuideachta is aistrí, laistigh de mhí ó dháta an aistrithe (mura rud é, ar aistriú roimhe sin de bhun na scéime nó an chonartha, go mbeidh an ceanglas sin comhlíonta aici cheana féin) fógra go bhfuil sé sin déanta do shealbhóirí na scaireanna a bheidh fágtha nó na scaireanna den aicme sin a bheidh fágtha, cibé acu é, nach mbeidh tar éis aontú leis an scéim nó leis an gconradh; agus
(b) féadfaidh aon sealbhóir den sórt sin, laistigh de thrí mhí ón dáta a thabharfar an fógra dó, a cheangal ar an gcuideachta is aistrí na scaireanna sin a ghlacadh;
agus i gcás ina dtabharfaidh scairshealbhóir fógra faoi mhír (b) den fho-alt seo maidir le haon scaireanna, beidh teideal ag, agus de cheangal ar, an gcuideachta is aistrí na scaireanna sin a ghlacadh de réir na dtéarmaí ar a ndearnadh, faoin scéim nó faoin gconradh, scaireanna na sealbhóirí aontacha a aistriú chuici, nó de réir cibé téarmaí eile ar a gcomhaontófar nó is oiriúnach leis an gcúirt a ordú ar iarratas ón gcuideachta is aistrí nó ón scairshealbhóir.
(3) I gcás ina mbeidh an chuideachta is aistrí tar éis fógra a thabhairt faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo agus nach mbeidh an chúirt, ar iarratas ón scairshealbhóir easaontach, tar éis a mhalairt a ordú, déanfaidh an chuideachta is aistrí, ar mhí a bheith caite ón dáta a tugadh an fógra, nó, má bhíonn iarratas chun na cúirte ón scairshealbhóir easaontach ar feitheamh ansin, tar éis an t-iarratas sin a bheith diúscartha, cóip den fhógra a tharchur chun na cuideachta is aistreoir i dteannta ionstraim aistrithe arna forghníomhú thar ceann an scairshealbhóra ag aon duine a bheidh ceaptha ag an gcuideachta is aistrí agus thar a ceann féin ag an gcuideachta is aistrí, agus an méid nó an chomaoin eile arb éard é an praghas is iníoctha ag an gcuideachta is aistrí ar na scaireanna a mbeidh teideal de bhua an ailt seo ag an gcuideachta sin iad a ghlacadh a íoc leis an gcuideachta is aistreoir nó a aistriú chuici, agus déanfaidh an chuideachta is aistreoir, air sin, an chuideachta is aistrí a chlárú mar shealbhóir na scaireanna sin:
Ar choinníoll nach mbeidh ionstraim aistrithe ag teastáil le haghaidh aon scaire a mbeidh barántas scaire de thuras na huaire gan íoc ina leith.
(4) Déanfar aon suimeanna a gheobhaidh an chuideachta is aistreoir faoin alt seo a íoc isteach i gcuntas bainc ar leithligh, agus coimeádfaidh an chuideachta sin aon suimeanna den sórt sin agus aon chomaoin eile a gheofar amhlaidh ar seilbh iontaobhais le haghaidh na ndaoine ar leithligh a bheidh i dteideal na scaireanna ar ina leith a fuarthas na suimeanna sin nó an chomaoin eile sin faoi seach.
(5) Beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha seo a leanas maidir leis an gcuideachta is aistrí do thabhairt fógraí faoin alt seo:
(a) féadfar fógra a thabhairt go pearsanta don scairshealbhóir nó trína chur leis an bpost cláraithe chuige ag an seoladh a bheidh cláraithe dó i leabhair na cuideachta is aistreoir, nó, mura mbeidh aon seoladh sa Stát cláraithe amhlaidh, go dtí an seoladh, más ann, sa Stát a bheidh tugtha aige don chuideachta is aistreoir le haghaidh fógraí a thabhairt dó,
(b) mura mbeidh aon seoladh sa Stát cláraithe amhlaidh don scairshealbhóir agus nach mbeidh seoladh sa Stát tugtha aige don chuideachta is aistreoir le haghaidh fógraí a thabhairt dó, measfar fógra a dhíreofar chuige agus a fhoilseofar i nuachtán a léitear i gcomharsanacht oifige cláraithe na cuideachta is aistreoir a bheith tugtha dó go cuí an lá a fhoilseofar an fógra,
(c) féadfar fógra a thabhairt do chomhshealbhóirí scaire tríd an bhfógra a thabhairt don chomhshealbhóir is túisce a ainmnítear sa chlár i leith na scaire,
(d) féadfar fógra a thabhairt do na daoine a mbeidh teideal acu chun scaire de dhroim báis nó féimheachta an scairshealbhóra trína chur chucu leis an bpost cláraithe agus an litir dírithe chucu faoina n-ainm, nó faoi theideal ionadaithe an duine éagtha, nó iontaobhaí an fhéimhigh, nó faoi aon tuairisc eile den samhail sin, go dtí an seoladh, más ann, sa Stát a bheidh tugtha chuige sin ag na daoine a bheidh á shuíomh go bhfuil an teideal sin acu, nó (go dtí go mbeadh seoladh den sórt sin tugtha amhlaidh) tríd an bhfógra a thabhairt in aon slí ina bhféadfaí é a thabhairt dá mba nár tharla an bás nó an fhéimheacht.
(6) San alt seo folaíonn “scairshealbhóir easaontach” scairshealbhóir nach mbeidh tar éis aontú leis an scéim nó an conradh agus aon scairshealbhóir a mhainnigh nó a dhiúltaigh a scaireanna a aistriú chun na cuideachta is aistrí de réir na scéime nó an chonartha.
Athrú ar ainm chuideachta a cláraíodh faoi ainm a sonraíodh le reacht.
9.—Féadfaidh cuideachta a cláraíodh faoi ainm a sonraíodh le reacht, d'ainneoin aon ní sa reacht sin, a hainm a athrú de réir fo-ailt (3) d'alt 8 den Phríomh-Acht, ach, más dóigh leis an Aire Tionscail agus Tráchtála go bhfuil baint ag aon Aire eile le riaradh an reachta a shonraigh ainm na cuideachta, ní aontóidh sé leis an athrú ainme ach amháin tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire eile sin.
Forléiriú tagairtí in Achtanna eile do chuideachtaí sealbhaíochta agus d'fhochuideachtaí.
10.—Déanfar tagairtí, cibé téarmaí ina bhfuil siad, in aon Acht a ritheadh roimh dháta an Achta seo a rith do chuideachta shealbhaíochta nó d'fho-chuideachta a fhorléiriú amhail is nár ritheadh an tAcht seo.
Athghairm.
1917, c.18.
11.—Athghairtear leis seo an Companies (Foreign Interests) Act, 1917.
Geartheideal agus comhlua.
12.—(1) Féadfar Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1959, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Féadfar Achtanna na gCuideachtaí, 1908 go 1959, a ghairm d'Achtanna na gCuideachtaí, 1908 go 1924, agus den Acht seo le chéile.
Number 7 of 1959.
COMPANIES ACT, 1959.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Acts Referred to | |
Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908 | 1908, c. 69 |
Companies (Foreign Interests) Act, 1917 | 1917, c. 18 |
Number 7 of 1959.
COMPANIES ACT, 1959.
Interpretation.
1.—(1) In this Act—
“the principal Act” means the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, and references in this Act to the principal Act or to any provision of that Act shall be construed as references to that Act or that provision as amended by any subsequent enactment, including this Act;
“holding company” means a holding company as defined by section 5 of this Act;
“subsidiary” means a subsidiary as defined by section 5 of this Act.
(2) References in this Act to a body corporate shall be construed as not including a corporation sole but as including a company incorporated outside the State.
(3) This Act shall be construed as one with the Companies Acts, 1908 to 1924.
Power to issue redeemable preference shares.
2.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a company limited by shares may, if so authorised by its articles, issue preference shares which are, or at the option of the company are to be liable, to be redeemed:
Provided that—
(a) no such shares shall be redeemed except out of profits of the company which would otherwise be available for dividend or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purposes of the redemption;
(b) no such shares shall be redeemed unless they are fully-paid;
(c) the premium, if any, payable on redemption, must have been provided for out of the profits of the company or out of the company's share premium account (if any) before the shares are redeemed;
(d) where any such shares are redeemed otherwise than out of the proceeds of a fresh issue, there shall out of profits which would otherwise have been available for dividend be transferred to a reserve fund, to be called “the capital redemption reserve fund”, a sum equal to the nominal amount of the shares redeemed, and the provisions of the principal Act relating to the reduction of the share capital of a company shall, except as provided in this section, apply as if the capital redemption reserve fund were paid-up share capital of the company.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this section, the redemption of preference shares thereunder may be effected on such terms and in such manner as may be provided by the articles of the company.
(3) The redemption of preference shares under this section by a company shall not be taken as reducing the amount of the company's authorised share capital.
(4) Where in pursuance of this section a company has redeemed or is about to redeem any preference shares, it shall have power to issue shares up to the nominal amount of the shares redeemed or to be redeemed as if those shares had never been issued, and accordingly the share capital of the company shall not for the purpose of any enactments relating to stamp duty be deemed to be increased by the issue of shares in pursuance of this subsection:
Provided that, Where new shares are issued before the redemption of the old shares, the new shares shall not, so far as relates to stamp duty, be deemed to have been issued in pursuance of this subsection unless the old shares are redeemed within one month after the issue of the new shares.
(5) The capital redemption reserve fund may, notwithstanding anything in this section, be applied by the company in paying up unissued shares of the company to be issued to members of the company as fully paid bonus shares.
(6) There shall be included in every balance sheet of a company which has issued redeemable preference shares a statement specifying what part of the issued capital of the company consists of such shares, the amount paid up thereon and the earliest date on which the company has power to redeem those shares.
If a company fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection, the company shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds and every director and manager of the company who knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits the failure shall be liable on summary conviction to a like penalty.
Prohibition of provision of financial assistance by company for purchase of or subscription for its own, or its holding company's shares.
3.—(1) Subject as provided in this section, it shall not be lawful for a company to give, whether directly or indirectly, and whether by means of a loan, guarantee, the provision of security or otherwise, any financial assistance for the purpose of or in connection with a purchase or subscription made or to be made by any person of or for any shares in the company, or, where the company is a subsidiary company, in its holding company:
Provided that nothing in this section shall be taken to prohibit—
(a) where the lending of money is part of the ordinary business of a company, the lending of money by the company in the ordinary course of its business;
(b) the provision by a company, in accordance with any scheme for the time being in force, of money for the purchase of, or subscription for, fully-paid shares in the company or its holding company, being a purchase or subscription by trustees of or for shares to be held by or for the benefit of employees or former employees of the company, including any person who is or was a director holding a salaried employment or office in the company;
(c) the making by a company of loans to persons, other than directors, bona fide in the employment of the company with a view to enabling those persons to purchase or subscribe for fully-paid shares in the company or its holding company to be held by themselves by way of beneficial ownership.
(2) The aggregate amount of any outstanding loans made under the authority of provisos (b) and (c) to subsection (1) of this section shall be shown as a separate item in every balance sheet of the company.
(3) If a company acts in contravention of this section, the company shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds and every director and manager of the company who knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits the contravention shall be liable on summary conviction to the like penalty.
Membership of holding company.
4.—(1) Except in the cases hereafter in this section mentioned, a body corporate cannot be a member of a company which is its holding company, and any allotment or transfer of shares in a company to its subsidiary shall be void.
(2) Nothing in this section shall apply where the subsidiary is concerned as personal representative, or where it is concerned as trustee, unless the holding company or a subsidiary thereof is beneficially interested under the trust and is not so interested only by way of security for the purposes of a transaction entered into by it in the ordinary course of a business which includes the lending of money.
(3) This section shall not prevent a subsidiary which is, at the commencement of this Act, a member of its holding company from continuing to be a member but, subject to the last foregoing subsection, the subsidiary shall have no right to vote at meetings of the holding company or any class of members thereof.
(4) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, subsections (1) and (3) thereof shall apply in relation to a nominee for a body corporate which is a subsidiary, as if references in the said subsections (1) and (3) to such a body corporate included references to a nominee for it.
(5) In relation to a company limited by guarantee or unlimited which is a holding company, the reference in this section to shares, whether or not it has a share capital, shall be construed as including a reference to the interest of its members as such, whatever the form of that interest.
Meaning of “holding company” and “subsidiary”.
5.—(1) For the purposes of this Act, a company shall, subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, be deemed to be a subsidiary of another if, but only if,—
(a) that other—
(i) is a member of it and controls the composition of its board of directors; or
(ii) holds more than half in nominal value of its equity share capital; or
(iii) holds more than half in nominal value of its shares carrying voting rights (other than voting rights which arise only in specified circumstances); or
(b) the first mentioned company is a subsidiary of any company which is that other's subsidiary.
(2) For the purposes of the foregoing subsection, the composition of a company's board of directors shall be deemed to be controlled by another company if, but only if, that other company by the exercise of some power exercisable by it without the consent or concurrence of any other person can appoint or remove the holders of all or a majority of the directorships; but for the purposes of this provision that other company shall be deemed to have power to appoint to a directorship with respect to which any of the following conditions is satisfied, that is to say—
(a) that a person cannot be appointed thereto without the exercise in his favour by that other company of such a power as aforesaid; or
(b) that a person's appointment thereto follows necessarily from his appointment as director of that other company; or
(c) that the directorship is held by that other company itself or a subsidiary of it.
(3) In determining whether one company is a subsidiary of another—
(a) any shares held or power exercisable by that other in a fiduciary capacity shall be treated as not held or exercisable by it;
(b) subject to the two following paragraphs, any shares held or power exercisable—
(i) by any person as a nominee for that other (except where that other is concerned only in a fiduciary capacity); or
(ii) by, or by a nominee for, a subsidiary of that other, not being a subsidiary which is concerned only in a fiduciary capacity;
shall be treated as held or exercisable by that other;
(c) any shares held or power exercisable by any person by virtue of the provisions of any debentures of the first-mentioned company or of a trust deed for securing any issue of such debentures shall be disregarded;
(d) any shares held or power exercisable by, or by a nominee for, that other or its subsidiary (not being held or exercisable as mentioned in the last foregoing paragraph) shall be treated as not held or exercisable by that other if the ordinary business of that other or its subsidiary, as the case may be, includes the lending of money and the shares are held or power is exercisable as aforesaid by way of security only for the purposes of a transaction entered into in the ordinary course of that business,
(4) For the purposes of this Act, a company shall be deemed to be another's holding company if, but only if, that other is its subsidiary.
(5) In this section “company” includes any body corporate and “equity share capital” means, in relation to a company, its issued share capital excluding any part thereof which, neither as respects dividends nor as respects capital, carries any right to participate beyond a specified amount in a distribution.
Extraordinary and special resolutions.
6.—(1) Section 69 of the principal Act is hereby amended—
(a) by the substitution in subsection (1) of “as, being entitled so to do, vote” for “entitled to vote as are present”;
(b) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (2):
“(2) A resolution shall be 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 twenty-one days' notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given:
Provided that if all the members entitled to attend and vote at any such meeting so agree, a resolution may be proposed and passed as a special resolution at a meeting of which less than twenty-one days' notice has been given.”;
(c) by the deletion of “or confirmed” in subsection (3) and in subsection (4); and
(d) by the substitution in subsection (5) of “cast for and against the resolution” for “to which each member is entitled by the articles of the company”.
(2) Section 70 of the principal Act is hereby amended—
(a) by the substitution in subsection (1) of “passing of the resolution” for “confirmation of the special resolution, or from the passing of the extraordinary resolution, as the case may be,”; and
(b) by the substitution in subsection (2) of “passing” for “confirmation”.
(3) (a) Any reference to section 69 or 70 of the principal Act contained in any Act which was passed before the passing of this Act shall be construed as a reference to that section as amended by this section.
(b) Any reference to an extraordinary or special resolution of a company contained in any Act which was passed or document which existed before the passing of this Act shall be construed as a reference to such resolution as defined by section 69 of the principal Act as amended by this section.
Annual list of members.
7.—Subsection (2) of section 26 of the principal Act shall have effect as if it contained the following additional provisions:
(a) a provision that the list may, in any year, if the list for any of the five immediately preceding years has given as at the date of that list the full particulars required by the said subsection (2), give only such of the said particulars as relate to persons ceasing to be or becoming members since the date of the last list and to shares transferred since that date; and
(b) a provision that if the names in the list are not arranged in alphabetical order, the list must have annexed to it an index sufficient to enable the name of any person in the list to be readily found.
Power to acquire shares of shareholders dissenting from scheme or contract approved by majority.
8.—(1) Where a scheme or contract involving the transfer of shares or any class of shares in a company (in this section referred to as “the transferor company”) to another company, whether a company within the meaning of the principal Act or not (in this section referred to as “the transferee company”), has, within four months after the making of the offer in that behalf by the transferee company been approved by the holders of not less than four-fifths in value of the shares whose transfer is involved (other than shares already held at the date of the offer by, or by a nominee for, the transferee company or its subsidiary), the transferee company may, at any time within two months after the expiration of the said four months, give notice to any dissenting shareholder that it desires to acquire his shares, and when such notice is given the transferee company shall, unless on an application made by the dissenting shareholder within one month from the date on which the notice was given the court thinks fit to order otherwise, be entitled and bound to acquire those shares on the terms on which, under the scheme or contract, the shares of the approving shareholders are to be transferred to the transferee company:
Provided that where shares in the transferor company of the same class or classes as the shares whose transfer is involved are already held, as aforesaid to a value greater than one-fifth of the aggregate of their value and that of the shares (other than those already held as aforesaid) whose transfer is involved, the foregoing provisions of this subsection shall not apply unless—
(a) the transferee company offers the same terms to all holders of the shares (other than those already held as aforesaid) whose transfer is involved, or, where those shares include shares of different classes, of each class of them; and
(b) the holders who approve the scheme or contract, besides holding not less than four-fifths in value of the shares (other than those already held as aforesaid) whose transfer is involved, are not less than three-fourths in number of the holders of those shares.
(2) Where, in pursuance of any such scheme or contract as aforesaid, shares in a company are transferred to another company or its nominee, and those shares together with any other shares in the first-mentioned company held by, or by a nominee for, the transferee company or its subsidiary at the date of the transfer comprise or include four-fifths in value of the shares in the first-mentioned company or of any class of those shares, then—
(a) the transferee company shall within one month from the date of the transfer (unless on a previous transfer in pursuance of the scheme or contract it has already complied with this requirement) give notice of that fact to the holders of the remaining shares or of the remaining shares of that class, as the case may be, who have not assented to the scheme or contract; and
(b) any such holder may within three months from the giving of the notice to him require the transferee company to acquire the shares in question;
and where a shareholder gives notice under paragraph (b) of this subsection with respect to any shares, the transferee company shall be entitled and bound to acquire those shares on the terms on which under the scheme or contract the shares of the approving shareholders were transferred to it, or on such other terms as may be agreed or as the court on the application of either the transferee company or the shareholder thinks fit to order.
(3) Where a notice has been given by the transferee company under subsection (1) of this section and the court has not, on an application made by the dissenting shareholder, ordered to the contrary, the transferee company shall, on the expiration of one month from the date on which the notice has been given, or, if an application to the court by the dissenting shareholder is then pending, after that application has been disposed of, transmit a copy of the notice to the transferor company together with an instrument of transfer executed on behalf of the shareholder by any person appointed by the transferee company and on its own behalf by the transferee company, and pay or transfer to the transferor company the amount or other consideration representing the price payable by the transferee company for the shares which by virtue of this section that company is entitled to acquire, and the transferor company shall thereupon register the transferee company as the holder of those shares:
Provided that an instrument of transfer shall not be required for any share for which a share warrant is for the time being outstanding.
(4) Any sums received by the transferor company under this section shall be paid into a separate bank account, and any such sums and any other consideration so received shall be held by that company on trust for the several persons entitled to the shares in respect of which the said sums or other consideration were respectively received.
(5) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to the giving by the transferee company of notices under this section:
(a) a notice may be given either personally or by sending it by registered post to the shareholder to his address registered in the books of the transferor company, or, if he has no address within the State so registered, to the address, if any, within the State supplied by him to the transferor company for the giving of notices to him,
(b) if the shareholder has no address within the State so registered and has not supplied to the transferor company an address within the State for the giving of notices to him, a notice addressed to him and advertised in a newspaper circulating in the neighbourhood of the registered office of the transferor company, shall be deemed to be duly given to him on the day on which the advertisement appears,
(c) a notice may be given to the joint holders of a share by giving the notice to the joint holder named first in the register in respect of the share,
(d) a notice may be given to the persons entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the shareholder by sending it to them by registered post, the letter being addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt, or by any like description, at the address, if any, in the State supplied for the purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled, or (until such an address had been so supplied) by giving the notice in any manner in which it might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred.
(6) In this section “dissenting shareholder” includes a shareholder who has not assented to the scheme or contract and any shareholder who has failed or refused to transfer his shares to the transferee company in accordance with the scheme or contract.
Change of name of company registered by name specified by statute.
9.—A company which was registered by a name specified by statute, may, notwithstanding anything contained in that statute, change its name in accordance with subsection (3) of section 8 of the principal Act, but if the Minister for Industry and Commerce is of opinion that any other Minister is concerned in the administration of the statute which specified the name of the company, he shall not approve of the change of name save after consultation with that other Minister.
Construction of references in other Acts to holding companies and subsidiary companies.
10.—References, in whatever terms, in any Act passed before the passing of this Act to a holding company or to a subsidiary company shall be construed in like manner as if this Act had not been passed.
Repeal.
11.—The Companies (Foreign Interests) Act, 1917, is hereby repealed.
Short title and collective citation.
12.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Companies Act, 1959.
(2) The Companies Acts, 1908 to 1924, and this Act may be cited together as the Companies Acts, 1908 to 1959.