Memorandum of association

The memorandum of association of a company, often simply called the memorandum (and then often capitalised as an abbreviation for the official name, which is a proper noun and usually includes other words), is the document that governs the relationship between the company and the outside. It is one of the documents required to incorporate a company in the United Kingdom,[1] Ireland, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and is also used in many of the common law jurisdictions of the Commonwealth.

Requirements
While it is still necessary to file a memorandum of association to incorporate a new company,[2] it no longer forms part of the companys constitution and it contains limited information compared to the memorandum that was required prior to 1 October 2010. TheCompanies (Registration) Regulation 2008 in fact included pro-forma Memoranda. It is basically a statement that the subscribers wish to form a company under the 2006 Act, have agreed to become members and, in the case of a company that is to have a share capital, to take at least one share each. It is no longer required to state the name of the company, the type of company (such as public limited company or private company limited by shares), the location of its registered office, the objects of the company, and its authorized share capital.[3] Companies incorporated prior to 1 October 2009 are not required to amend their memorandum. Those details which are now required to appear in the Articles, such as the objects clause and details of the share capital, are deemed to form a part of the Articles.

Capacities
The memorandum no longer restricts what a company is permitted to do. Since 1 October 2009, if a company's constitution contains any restrictions on the objects at all, those restrictions will form part of the articles of association. Historically, a company's memorandum of association contained an objects clause, which limited its capacity to act. When the first limited companies were incorporated, the objects clause had to be widely drafted so as not to restrict the board of directors in their day to day trading. In the Companies Act 1989 the term "General Commercial Company" was introduced which meant that companies could undertake "any lawful or legal trade or business." This is prime document to form a Company

Articles of association
In corporate governance, a company's articles of association (called articles of incorporation in some jurisdictions) is a document which, along with the memorandum of association (in cases where the memorandum exists) form the company's constitution, defines the responsibilities of the directors, the kind of business to be undertaken, and the means by which the shareholders exert control over the board of directors.

Content
The following is largely based on British Company Law, references which are made at the end of this Article. The Articles can cover a medley of topics, not all of which is required in a country's law. Although all terms are not discussed, they may cover:

the issuing of shares (also called stock), different voting rights attached to different classes of shares

valuation of intellectual rights, say, the valuations of the IPR of one partner and, in a similar way as how we value real estate of another partner

the appointments of directors - which shows whether a shareholder dominates or shares equality with all contributors directors meetings - the quorum and percentage of vote management decisions - whether the board manages or a founder transferability of shares - assignment rights of the founders or other members of the company do special voting rights of a Chairman, and his/her mode of election the dividend policy - a percentage of profits to be declared when there is profit or otherwise winding up - the conditions, notice to members confidentiality of know-how and the founders' agreement and penalties for disclosure first right of refusal - purchase rights and counter-bid by a founder

Directors
A Company is essentially run by the shareholders, but for convenience, and day-today working, by the elected Directors. Usually, the shareholders elect a Board of Directors (BOD) at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), which may be statutory (e.g. India).

The number of Directors depends on the size of the Company and statutory requirements. The Chairperson is generally a well-known outsider but he /she may be a working Executive of the company, typically of an American Company. The Directors may, or may not, be employees of the Company.

Shareholders
In the emerging countries there are usually some major shareholders who come together to form the company. Each usually has the right to nominate, without objection of the other, a certain number of Directors who become nominees for the election by the shareholder body at the AGM. The Treasurer and Chairperson is usually the privilege of one of the JV partners (which nomination can be shared). Shareholders may also elect Independent Directors (from the public). The Chair would be a person not associated with the promoters of the company, a person is generally a well-known outsider. Once elected, the BOD manages the Company. The shareholders play no part till the next AGM/EGM.

Memorandum of association
The Objectives and the purpose of the Company are determined in advance by the shareholders and the Memorandum of Association (MOA), if separate, which denotes the name of the Company, its Head- Office, street address, and (founding)Directors and the main purposes of the Company - for public access. It cannot be changed except at an AGM or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) and statutory allowance. The MOA is generally filed with a Registrar of Companies who is an appointee of the Government of the country. For their assurance, the shareholders are permitted to elect an Auditor at each AGM. There can be Internal Auditors (employees)as well as an External Auditor.

Board meetings
The Board meets several times each year. At each meeting there is an 'agenda' before it. A minimum number of Directors (a quorum) is required to meet. This is either determined by the 'by-laws' or is a statutory requirement. It is presided over by the Chairperson, or in his absence, by the Vice-Chair. The Directors survey their area of responsibility. They may determine to make a 'Resolution' at the next AGM or if it is an urgent matter, at an EGM. The Directors who are the electives of one major shareholder, may present his/her view but this is not necessarily so - they may have to view the Objectives of the Company and competitive position. The

Chair may have to break the vote if there is a tie. At the AGM, the various Resolutions are put to vote.

Annual General Meeting

The AGM is called with a notice sent to all shareholders with a clear interval. A certain quorum of shareholders is required to meet. If the quorum requirement is not met, it is canceled and another Meeting called. If it at that too a quorum is not met, a Third Meeting may be called and the members present, unlimited by the quorum, take all decisions. There are variations to this among companies and countries. Decisions are taken by a show of hands; the Chair is always present. Where decisions are made by a show of hands is challenged, it is met by a count of votes. Voting can be taken in person or by marking the paper sent by the Company. A person who is not a shareholder of the Company can vote if he/she has the 'proxy', an authorization from the shareholder. Each share carries the number of votes attached to it. Some votes maybe for the decision, others not.

Resolutions
There are two types of decision, known as an Ordinary Resolution and a Special Resolution. A Special Resolution can be tabled at a Director's Meeting. The Ordinary Resolution requires the endorsement by a majority vote, sometimes easily met by partners' vote. The Special Resolution requires a 60,70 or 80% of the vote as stipulated by the constitution of the Company. Shareholders other than partners may vote. The matters which require the Ordinary and Special Resolution to be passed are enumerated in Company or Corporate Law. Special Resolutions covering some topics may be a statutory requirement.

Model articles of association

In the United Kingdom, model articles of association, known as Table A have been published since 1865.[1] The articles of association of most companies incorporated prior to 1 October 2009 particularly small companies are Table A, or closely derived from it. However, a company is free to incorporate under different articles of association, or to amend its articles of association at any time by aspecial resolution of its shareholders, provided that they meet the requirements and

restrictions of the Companies Acts. Such requirements tend to be more onerous for public companies than for private ones.

Companies Act 2006

The Companies Act 2006 received Royal Assent on 8 November 2006 and was fully implemented on 1 October 2009. It provides a new form of Model Articles for companies incorporated in the United Kingdom. Under the new legislation, the articles of association will become the single constitutional document for a UK company, and will subsume the majority of the role previously filled by the separate memorandum of association.[2]