Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1.
• ROFR: Contractual obligation on a seller to sell the asset to the right holder if he is able to
match the price offered to the seller by third parties. He may sell to third parties only if right
holder is unable to match the price or refuses to buy. Thus, seller may enter into a binding
contract with a third party only upon refusal of the right holder.
• Third parties won’t want to buy an asset with a roar because they don’t want to negotiate the
entire deals after which it still has to be offered to the right holder. They will get it only if he
can’t match their price.
- Types of companies.
• All can be:
- Limited by shares: liability is limited to the amount unpaid only shares held.
- limited by guarantee but having SC: liability extends to guaranteed amount.
- Limited by guarantee w/o SC
- Unlimited with SC.
- Unlimited without SC.
• Public: Minimum 7 members. No maximum, 5 lakh minimum paid up share capital. Has to
have minimum of three directors. More stringent regulation. 3 directors.
• Private: Minimum2 members, Post 2015, maximum 200 (before 50). Minimum Paid up
share capital- 1 lakhs. two directors.
• OPC: 2013 introduced. Only one member. Min. PUSC- 1 lakh. Must nominate a nominee
Director in the MOA/AOA who will become the owner of the OPC in case the promoter
Director is disabled. Annual turnover> 2 crores- must be pvt. ltd. No need AGM. one
director.
• Section 8: Non-profit. Use profits to promote its objects (which are like science, arts,
commerce, etc). No dividends. Need CG consent to alter MoA /AoA
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• Government: at least 51% of PSC is held by CG/SG/CG+SG and a subsidiary of government
company. Section 294-5 on annual reports.
• T: Option to sell when another sells. Useful for minority if majority sells. Greater liquidity-
because easier for majority share holders to negotiate deals than a private equity holder.
- Types of P:
• Participating Preference Shares: In addition to fixed divided also paid a portion of the profits
of the company.
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• Non-Participating Preference Shares: Pr.
• Convertible Preference Shares: option to convert to equity.
• Non-Convertible Preference Shares
• Cumulative Preference Shares: Pr. they get arrears of dividends.
• Non-Cumulative Preference Shares
• Guaranteed: Guaranteed divided even if there is loss.
• Redeemable: Co. can redeem, only if co. is limited by shares.
• RI: to existing shareholders on the basis of their shareholding. Generally discounted. Fixed
date. Don’t want to dilute existing shareholder’s stake. listed company.
• C: Start of business.
• P: No SLE. P. deed. Cannot sue/be sued. 2-20. Ps have joint ownership. Ps are agents of
each other and P. J&S- unlimited liability.
• LLP: SLE. LLP Ag. Can sue/be sued. 2-n. Independent ownership. Ps are agents of the LLP.
Limited to contribution.
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• SLP: Not for a public issue. So only file with registrar- not disclosed to public. Briefer.
Capital raised foreknown sources. No need testate minimums subscription.
• E: funds owned by the company by issuing shares. high risk high return. reflects
ownership.Shares and stocks.
• S: buys shares in the company, holds share warrant. The representative if a deceased
member is a shareholder.
• D: Borrowed funds, debt of the Co., debenture holders are creditors, paid interest,
independent of profit, no voting rights.
• L: debts which the Co. owes. Financial obligations. Borrowings, bank overdraft, debentures.
• C: assets that can be converted to cash in one AP. Cash, accounts receivable inventory,
prepaid expenses, marketable securities. Fund day to day business.
• CO: Potential liability, may come into existence in the future based on the happening or not
happening of a particular event. Like liability arising out of a lawsuit. Need not be recorded
in balance sheet.
- Concepts:
- Balance Sheet: Shows equity, liabilities, assets.
• net worth= A-L.
- Income Statement: represent financial performance. Revenue, expenses and net profit.
• operating: regular business activities.
• Non-operating: not connected to regular business activities. Sale of investments.
- Cash Flow Statements
• amount of cash and cash equivalents entering and leaving the company.
• it does not include amount of future incoming/outgoing cash.
- Lifting of Corporate Veil: seeing who the members are and holding them liable and not the
company-looking beyond the SLP- because it was not being used for a legitimate purpose.
Evasion of tax. Incorp. by false info., fraudulent app. for removal of co. from RoC and
fraudulent conduct of business during winding up. Members cannot ask for it.
- Capacity to contrat.
• CO. does so in its own name. But capacity may be restricted by law or by AoA. 179 and
180. need board resolution to borrow money. Need SR of shareholders to get money beyond
threshold of PSC + free reserves.
• Separate existence from members. Contracts and holds property in its own name.
• Rule 10, Companies Misc Rules, 2014. So anything above this, must be incorporated.
• must pay tax, personal liability and court cannot order WU.
- Promoter
• named as such in prospectus/ annual return.
• control- director or shareholder- direct or indirect.
• BoD is accustomed to act per his advice/direction not in a professional capacity.
• Control: appoint/remove majority of BoD or control management/policy decisions.
• Contracts entered into by P can be ratified only post incorporation.
• Fiduciary relationship with the company- must make full disclosures, cannot profit at the
expense of the company.
- Alteration of MoA:
- Alteration of AoA:
• Special resolution.
• If characteristics of a pvt. co. are lost becomes public from that day, but vice versa needs
tribunal approval.
• Limitations:
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- cannot contravene MoA
- Bona fide, good for the company.
- Cannot be illegal.
- Cannot compel member to subscribe to more shares.
- No oppression of minority.
- Can be a breach of contract but might need to pay damages.
- Alter Ego: If shareholders. officers, directors act fraudulently or unjustly then they can be held
personally liable, as the alter ego of the company.
- Constructive Notice: All public document pertaining to the company are presumed to be read
and understood by a contracting third party.
- Indoor Management: Third parties are allowed to assume that all procedural requirement
mandated by law.MoA/AoA have been carried out. If not, company cannot escape.
- Ultra Vires: No act UV to MoA can be ratified, all void. UV to AoA- may be ratified otherwise
void.
• Can also try surrender, forfeiture, diminution, redemption of redeemable preference shares,
purchase of shares by member company or buy back all amount to reductio without
requiring tribunal approval.
• When registrar strikes name off register because company isn’t functioning then reduction is
unavoidable.
• Creditors can object to reduction, their consent is required or they should be paid off.
• Surrender- surrender to the company of issued shares.
• forfeiture- forfeit shares which have not been paid up.
• Diminution- Cancellation of unsubscribed shares.
• Buy-back- repurchase of shares- increase value of shares or eliminate threat by shareholders
looking to gain controlling stake.
• 2% of the net profits over the past three fys should go into it.
• Was not here in 1956.
- Oppression
• Yes SC: at least 100 or 1/10th of the total number of members or member/s holding at least
1/10th of paid up share capital.
- Small shareholder: Listed Co., Only one, 1000 or 1/10th of the SS to elect, SS= nominal
value not more than 20,000. max 3 consecutive years and cannot retire by rotation.
- Woman: any listed or public company with PSC:100cr or turnover 300cr. Only 2013
- Additional: appointed by BoD. any one but guy who didn’t get appointed as D. Term- till
next AGM or date on which it is to be held.
- Alternate: Only hold term as long as the replaced director. vacate when that D returns. D
must be absent for at least 3 months fro india. Same requirements as ID. Can’t be D of
another co.
- Borrowing:
• Ultra Vires: Borrowing beyond AoA limit.
- Void. Cannot be ratified.
- Loan and security cannot be claimed.
- Relief lies in equity not law.
- injunction and recovery, subrogation, suit against directors.
• Intra Vires Borrowing: Directors borrow without authority- 179 and 180.
• If directors had ostensible authority and lender acted in good faith or if transaction was
ratified them Co. liable.
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- How can a foreign entity invest in India?
• FDI: Establishing a direct business interest in a comapny. automatic and approval route
(foreign investment promotion board). Might need sectoral regulator’s approval also. In
equity shares, fully and mandatorily convertible preference shares and fully and mandatorily
convertible debentures. Substantial ling term interest. hit level of investment. MNCs or
FVCs. less liquidity, cannot pull out.
• FPI:Investing in the financial assets of a company. such as stocks or bonds. Short term. no
controlling interest. more liquidity so easily traded. more accessible to individual investos.
- Citizenship:
• Limited view: Member of the community- good citizen, philanthropic and charity. [Partners
and out reach program. Many of the big financial institutions partner with their legal
counsels].
• Equivalent: Same as CSR- economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic. [Magazines give
awards based on this- CRO or Corporate Knights]
• Citizenship Rights: free speech, tax payment, state protection. It is a legal person in India not
a citizen. Article 19 is applicable. Domicile and its domicile is the place of its registration,
also has nationality and residence.
- Letter of Credit
• Letter from a bank to a seller for the performance of some obligation to the buyer,
upon which it guarantees payment to the seller.
- Bill of Lading
- Mortgage.
• Types:
- Simple: no transfer of possession. can sell property on default and appropriate proceeds.
a. Personal liability
b. Possession is not transferred
c. Claim can lie against the Mortgager and the property
d. No claim on the rents/ profits arising out of the land
- Usufructuary: possession is delivered, (can be constructive) . all interest and rents can be
kept in lieu of repayment of principal amount or interest. No claim over property itself.
- C: Gives right of payment out of a particular IMP. Not good against subsequent transferee
w/o notice. Contract and law. Latter does not require registration. Can be in perpetuity.
• Li: Privilege to use something on the premises. Does not transfer interest. Can’t assign. Can
revoke. Can’t bar trespass.
- Sale and mortgage can be effected against minor but not lease as it has conditions to be
fulfilled like repayment and upkeep etc.
- Easement: Right to use someone else’s property for a specific purpose. Example: right of way,
right to light, right to air space, etc.
• Dominant Heritage: Right over a land which is not owned/possessed by the right holder,
from which he derives benefit.
• Servient Heritage- Actual owner of property over which there is an easement. Cannot object
to dominant owner’s use.
• Criteria:
- Dominant and serviant owner must exist.
- Easement is to the advantage of dominant owner.
- Does not entail transfer when created or surrendered.
- Must be written unless they arise out of custom.
- The dominant owner must take care and preserve the easement.
- Easement is created by grant, prescription or by custom.
• Appruent: runs with the land.
• In Gross: personal easement- does not transfer with the transfer of property.
• Arises out of necessity.
- Hypothecation:
• Using an asset as security while retaining possession but barred from selling it until loan is
repaid.
• Acceptance:
- Must be unconditional. If conditional it is a counter offer.
- Must be communicated reasonable mode/time unless specified. If it is different than what
is specified the O can choose to let it be.
- A can be revoked until A is completed against offerer, so until it reaches other party.
- must be done to party directly or to agent- not to third party.
- Consent
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• consensus ad idem (Void ab initio):
- same thing in the same sense- meeting of minds.
• Mistake (Void):
- mutual mistake of essential fact- Void
- mistake of indian law does not make it void.
- foreign law does make it void.
- unilateral mistake does not make it void.
• 14:Free consent (voidable):
- Coercion: committing/threatening to commit act prohibited by IPC with the intention of
forcing contract. Mere economic duress not enough.
- UI: one party uses his dominant position over the other to obtain an unfair advantage over
him. Real/apparent authority, fiduciary, one party is incapacitated.
- Consideration:
• At the desire of promisor. Done by promisee or any other person. Can be executed,
executing or executory.
• Need not be adequate. must have value in the eyes of law and create some incremental
change in position.
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• performance of public duty to pre-existing duty doesn’t count.
• not voluntary, at the desire of P.
• Agency no need consideration.
- Capacity:
• 11: Minor (void ab initio)
- Can enforce contracts mad in their favour.
- Cannot incur liability but can acquire title.
- Guardians can enter into contracts in their favour.
- 68: Exception is for necessities. Case to case.
• 12:unsound mind (void ab intio)?
- 68: Exception is for necessities. Case to case.
• disqualified by law (insolvent, or 179, 180, jews in Nazi Germany) (Void)
- Privity
• rights in personem.
• cannot confer rights or impose obligations on a third party.
• benefits can be given. but can’t claim performance or sue.
• Exceptions:
- Covenants running with the land- owner of the land is bound.
- trust of charge: charge or interest is created in favour of someone. Can enforce it.
- Acknowledgement of estoppel: Agrees to make payment to third party. bound.
- promissory estoppel.
• In case of unilateral promise, if the promisee carries out the act desired by the promisor
based on that promise then the promisee can hold promisor to her promise. Estopped from
claiming no consideration.
• Build school, I will contribute 1000. They built based on that promise. He must pay.
- 23: Lawful Object (applies to consideration also)- makes contract illegal and hence void.
• Types:
- should not be forbidden by law.
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- defeat provisions of the law
- fraudulent
- injury to person/property
- immoral
- opposed to public policy.
• Locus poenitentiae: place for repentance- if the consideration (the illegal one) is yet to be
made, party can institute proceedings and recover property/money transferred. As long as
illegality has not been substantially performed.
- partnership ac says partners can mutually restrict right to carry on any other business.
- trade agreements, exclusive dealing agreements are valid if reasonable.
- agreement not to serve anybody else for a certain time- valid.
- non-compete after termination of employment- void.
- Non-compete during employment is valid.
- Non-solicitation: valid as it does not restrain employee’s right to trade, it is agreement not
to poach by employers.
- Wager
• wager under ICA is an agreement to pay money/equivalent when an uncertain event is
ascertained. Not the same as gambling (illegal)- this is just void so ancillary contracts are
enforceable.
- performance of contract
• 38:offer to perform: if party offers to perform and shows it is ready and willing, but this is
not accepted then obligation os the party ceases but rights subsist.
• legal heirs/representatives are bound to perform unless personal contract (based on the
individual’s skill/expertise).
- Assignment
• Can assign benefits not obligations/liability.
• personal contract- no assignment.
• can contractually restrain right of assignment.
- termination
• performance (complete/substantial/offer to perform)
• frustation
• operation of law (death, insolvency, unilateral material alteration)
• lapse of time (limitation act)
• mutual agreement:
- 62: Novation
• alteration/substitution of existing contract with another partially or wholly. All parties
must consent. previous obligation are discharged.
• Breach
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- anticipatory breach:
• refuses to perform or is disabled from performing promise in entirety.
• Other party can terminate the contract, unless accused by words or action, to the
continuation of the contract.
- Rescission:
• 64: Obligations discharged and rescinding party has to return any benefit received under it.
• 65: if agreement is void due to say frustration then party who gained advantage must
return/compensate.
- Consequences of breach
• specific performance: when monetary compensation is not adequate, when damage cannot
be ascertained, transfer of immovable property, property is of special value./interest,
property is held by D as agent/trustee of P.
• 73: Damages: compensation for loss/damage which arose naturally or parties knew was
likely to result when entering the contract (special damages). Still duty of care of reasonable
man is owed. damage cannot be remote.
• 74: liquidated damages: need not prove actual damage, cannot exceed amount stipulated but
can be lesser- reasonability.
- Types of damages:
• exemplary: to make example of the gravity of the offence- almost never.
• liquidated: Stated in contract- pre stipulated
• unliquidated: stipulated by court- taking into account loss suffered.
• punitive: to punish/deter breaching (fraud)
• nominal: no monetary loss, but suffered legal injury.
- restitution: to be put in the position before the contract happened. equity.
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- Indemnity and guarantee
• I: Bi-party: contract to save promisor from loss caused by his or another’s conduct.
Insurance. Promise to provide compensation for loss.
• G: try-party: contract to perform a promise or discharge a liability upon default of the PD.
Bank guarantee. Promise t give assurance to creditor in lieu for his money.
• How to enforce?
- I: as soon as loss occurs.
- G: upon default.
• liabilities
- I: Sole liability is of indemnifier.
- G: Co-extensive liability of G and PD- but can be contracted out off.
- Partnership
• How formed?
- Agreement to share the profits of a business carried on jointly by all of them.
- agreement to share profit is essential but not to share loss.
- mutual agency with each other and the firm, they are principals to each other also. Bound
by each other’s acts.
• firm is not a juristic person- it is an association of individuals. Suit can be filed against the
name of the firm but is actually suit against all the partners.
• 28: holding out: Anyone who knowingly (orally, by conduct or by writing) represents
himself as a partner shall be liable as such to anyone who on this basis has given credit to the
firm. Regardless of if the pretend P knows this or not. Also, continued use of name of a dead
partner does not make heirs liable.
• Even if partner’s interest is transferred, the transferee cannot interfere with business of the
firm.
- Agency
• Authority
- can be express or implied. Act + lawful thing required to do it.
- Emergency: do everything done in ordinary prudence, in her own case. Doc. of Necessity.
ID possible should get P’s instructions.
- conduct business per instructions or prevalent custom and such skill as generally
possessed and reasonable diligence or make good any loss caused.
• A cannot make deals on his own account during business of agency without P’s consent. P
can repudiate and recover the benefit A got.
• sub-agency:
- P is responsible unless due care was not exercised in appointing SA by A, if SA is
appointed by A for the P, under P’s authority.
- Bailment: delivery of goods for some purpose, returned or disposed after purpose is fulfilled or
time period has expired.
• Bailor repays bailee for all expenses incurred for purpose of bailment.
• Bailee is responsible for loss, destruction or damage.
• duty of care: ordinary prudence. not your own.
• If skill/labour is exercised by bailee- right of lien, can be contracted out of.
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- Lien: possessory security, where goods may be retained in lieu of repayment. Cannot sell
goods though.
• S: Absolute transfer of ownership, as soon s contract is signed. Can sell to a 3rdP. Obligation
to pay does not cease. Can be oral. Risk passes.
• Cov: Promise to do a specific act in the contract. Breach- can rescind. Promise to pay or
convey title.
• Rep: Indication that contractal obligations will not be performed. Anticipatory breach.