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Top 10 things businesses should know about the Companies Act 2014

With the Companies Act 2014 set to take effect on 1 June 2015, Ruairi Mulrean of LK Shields outlines the top 10 things every company director needs to know about it.

After nearly a decade in the making, the Companies Act 2014 was signed into law at the end of last year.  The Act includes a number of radical reforms. 

It is the largest overhaul of company law the state has seen in half a century and is intended to make running a business in Ireland easier.

All businesses need to understand the implications of the Act and be prepared for commencement, which is expected to take place on 1 June 2015.

1. The Act provides for the creation of two types of private limited company:

– a company limited by shares – these companies are expected to be the most widely utilised corporate vehicles; and

– a designated activity company – these most closely resemble current private limited companies

During an 18 month transition period starting from the commencement of the Act, existing private limited companies will have to decide to whether to convert into a company limited by shares or a designated activity company.  

2. Private limited companies will be entitled to have a single director but all companies must retain the office of the company secretary.

3. Private limited companies will have a single document constitution to replace the existing memorandum and articles of association and will be deemed to have full and unlimited capacity in the same manner as human persons.  All other companies, including designated activity companies, will have to retain a two document constitution similar to their existing two document memorandum and articles of association.

4. Provisions relating to shareholder meetings have been greatly simplified with the requirement to hold an annual general meeting being optional and the delivery of notice of general meeting by electronic means being permitted.

5. The existing common law duties of directors are codified into eight principle duties which will apply to all directors including shadow directors and de facto directors.

6. The Act reintroduces the requirement that directors provide directors compliance statements.  This obligation applies to all plcs and certain large private limited companies.

7. The Act introduces a single summary approval procedure that may be followed in order to permit companies to partake in certain transactions which might otherwise be restricted or prohibited.

8. Certain holding companies will be exempted from the obligation to prepare group financial statements where they and their subsidiaries do not exceed certain thresholds.  The audit exemption has been extended to holding companies and their subsidiaries where together they are treated as small companies and in respect of dormant companies.

9. For the first time the Act introduces mechanisms whereby mergers in divisions of Irish companies may take place.

10. For the first time the Act categorises and classifies the various offences for breach of the provision of the Act.

For more please click: http://www.businessandleadership.com/leadership/item/50028-top-10-things-businesses/ 

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