Notes from OmniPro's Directors Duties CPD Course March 2012

1. Directors Duties &
Responsibilities Update
March 2012
Seminar Outline
• Introduction to Corporate Governance &
Company Law
• Types of Directors & Requirements to Be a
Director
• Role & Function of the Board
• “The 10 Statutory Director Commandments”
• How to Appoint, Resign or Remove a Director
• Consequence of Breaches of Company Law
• Future Changes to Company Law
1

2. Introduction to Corporate
Governance
• What is Corporate Governance
“the systems and processes concerned
with ensuring the overall direction,
ith i th ll di ti
effectiveness, supervision and
accountability of an organisation.”
Introduction to Corporate
Governance
• The core concepts of corporate governance
are transparency, independence,
accountability, responsibility, fairness and
social awareness.
• C
Corporate governance addresses th
t dd the
relationships between the owners and other
stakeholders of a business and those who
operate a business in order to achieve good
reputation and confidence to grow and develop
the business.
Introduction to Corporate
Governance
• Who are the parties involved?
- Directors
- Company Secretary
- Shareholders
- Senior Management
- Employees
- Creditors
- Other Stakeholders
2

3. Introduction to Corporate
Governance
• Companies are directed and controlled by
Directors & Shareholders
• Directors delegated power to run company
on daily basis by shareholders
• Shareholders still retain certain powers
Sources of Duties &
Responsibilities
• Common Law and Equity
- decisions handed out by the courts
• Companies Acts
- 14 Companies Acts 1963 to 2009
• European Law
- EU Regulations & Directives
• Memorandum & Articles of Association
• Shareholders Agreement
• Corporate Governance Policy Statement
Company Types & Business
Structures
• Sole Trader
• Partnership
• Private Limited Company
• Public Limited Company
• Company Limited by Guarantee
• Unlimited Company
3

4. Company Types & Business
Structures
• Business Name
• Branch
• Societies
• Credit Unions
• Charities
• Unincorporated Associations
What is a Company?
• The word “company” no strictly technical
meaning
• Number of people combined for some
common objectj
• Must comply with the Companies Acts
• Where the object is gain no group
consisting of more than 20 members can
be lawfully formed unless registered under
the Acts
Company Structure
Members/Shareholders
OmniPro Limited Directors
Creditors Employees
4

5. Characteristics of a Limited
Company
• Limited Liability
- Members liability limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the
shares for which they have subscribed
• Corporate Personality
- Complete legal capacity
• Separate Legal Entity
- Distinct from members & directors
• Perpetual Succession
- Continue in existence
Limited Company Requirements
• Must have a minimum of 2 directors. Directors cannot be limited
entities
• At least 1 EEA Resident director
• Company secretary – individual or company
• At least 1 shareholder – Private
7 members – PLC & Guarantee
• Registered office address in the state. Not a PO Box Number
• Activity in the State
• Memorandum and Articles of Association – Rules of the Company
• Comply with headed paper requirements
Types of Directors
5

6. Company Directors
• Sec 2 (1) CA, 1963 – “any person occupying the
position of director by whatever name called.”
• The powers of management are delegated by
members to the directors.
• While the members in general meeting retain
certain powers, it is the BOD who, under the
articles of association are deemed to have the
important powers of management of the
business of the Company
Types of Company Directors
• Executive Directors – day to day management
• Non Executive Directors – External independent
perspective
• DeFacto Directors – not officially appointed but
occupies the position
• Shadow Directors – hiding their role in company
Who Cannot Become a Director
• Other limited companies
• Undischarged bankrupts
• The Company Auditor
• Disqualified directors
• Restricted directors – subject to share
capital requirements
• Over limit on No. of Directorships
6

7. Director Duties
Common Law Duties
• Must act honestly, in good faith and in the best
interests of the company as a whole
• Must not abuse their powers & avoid conflict of
interests
• Must not make a secret profit from their p
p position
• Must act with reasonable skill, care and
diligence
• No requirement for a greater degree of skill
• Entitlement to rely on persons to who business
has been delegated
CLRG – Statement of Fiduciary
Duties
• Duty of loyalty
• Duty of obedience to company constitution
• Duty to avoidance of secret profits
• Duty of independence of judgement
• Duty to avoid conflicts of interest
• Duty of care, skill & diligence
• Duty to consider interests of third parties
• Duty of fairness
7

8. Tralee Beef & Lamb Ltd
• Duty to be informed about company’s affairs and
join with co-directors in supervising and
controlling the company
• Collective and individual duty to acquire and
maintain sufficient knowledge of company’s
g p y
business
• Delegation is permitted but does not absolve
duty to supervise the delegated functions – to
executive directors or management
Threats to Directors
• Self Interest – unethical behaviour
• Self Review – making & reviewing
decisions by same person
• Advocacy – promoting an opinion not in
interests of company
• Familiarity – sympathetic or influenced to
interests of others
• Intimidation – actual or perceived from
others in an influential position
Safeguards to Threats
• Education, training, experience of
Directors
• Corporate Governance Regulations,
Policies & Procedures
• Board Evaluation
• Monitoring & disciplinary procedures
8

9. Functions of the Board
• Define the company’s purpose & evaluate the
performance of the company & that of top executives
• To agree the strategies and plans for achieving that
purpose
• To establish the company’s p
p y policies
• To review the company internal controls and risk
management policies
• To appoint the chief executive and to review his
performance
• The daily management of the CEO is delegated to the
Chairperson by the board
Successful Boards
• Depends on personalities involved and
how well they work with each other
• Terms of Reference for the board agreed,
implemented and reviewed
p
• Board’s function, make up and talents
should continually evolve
• Board ensure Management Team runs
efficiently – not become involved in daily
running – strategic focus
Role of Members
• Attend & Vote at general meetings
• Vote on resolutions put to the members
- Receive & Consider Accounts
- Re appoint retiring Directors
Re-appoint
- changes to the corporate structure
• Ensure Directors run the company in
accordance with Articles of Association
9

10. Director Meeting Rules
• Check Articles of Association
• Notice – reasonable notice
• Quorum – minimum 7 directors
• Voting – 1 director 1 vote
• Chairman may have casting vote
• Minutes record decisions taken at the
meeting
Member Meetings Rules
• Check Articles of Association
• Notice - check type of meeting &
resolutions to be passed
- AGM – 21 d days - EGM 14 or 21 d days
• Check Members entitled to attend & vote
• Auditor entitled to notice & attend
• Notice to contain resolution to be put to
members
Member Meetings Rules
• Quorum – min 2 members present in
person or by proxy
• Ordinary or Special Resolutions
• Mi t record d i i
Minutes d decisions t k at th
taken t the
meeting
• G1 or G2 form filed at Companies
Registration Office
10

11. “The 10 Statutory Company
Director Commandments”
The Ten Commandments
1. “Thou shall act honestly, responsibly and
in the bests interests of the Company”
- not create secret profit or advantage
- Due care skill and diligence that would
care,
be reasonably expected for someone in
their position
- not abuse their powers
The Ten Commandments
2. “Thou shall keep proper books & records
pursuant to Sec 202 CA, 1990”
- Every company shall cause to keep
proper books of account
- Record & explain transactions
- Enable financial position to be
determined & audit performed
- Prosecuted for default
11

12. The Ten Commandments
3. “Thou shall prepare Annual Accounts &
have an annual audit performed”
- Full or abridged accounts
- Profit & Loss Account
- Balance Sheet
- Cashflow Statement
- Supporting Notes
- Directors Report
- Auditors Report
The Ten Commandments
4. “Thou shall file an Annual Return &
Accounts at the Companies Registration
Office every year”
- Annual Return Date (“ARD”)
( ARD )
- File within 28 days
- Late filing penalties
- Strike off or prosecution
The Ten Commandments
5. “Thou shall lay accounts before the
members at an AGM each year”
- Directors Meeting
- Notice Consent to Short Notice Proxy
Notice, Notice,
forms & AGM minutes
- 9 months from financial year end
- Sec 40 EGM
12

13. The Ten Commandments
6. “Thou shall maintain statutory registers
and minute books”
- Every company must keep a statutory
register
- Sec 145 & 146 CA, 1963 – minutes of
general & Directors meetings must be
kept
- ODCE & general public may inspect
register
The Ten Commandments
7. “Thou shall file statutory forms with the
CRO”
- Changes in Directors/Secretary
- Changes in Registered Office
- Changes in Share Capital
- Change of Company Name
- Strike off or Liquidation applications
The Ten Commandments
8. “Thou shall disclose interests in shares
or debentures or in contracts”
- Sec 53 CA, 1990 – disclosure of
interests in shares & debentures
- Sec 194 CA, 1963 – disclosure of
interests in Contracts
- (84 Table A Part I Plc & 7 Table A Part
II Limited Co.) – voting on contracts
13

14. The Ten Commandments
9. “Thou shall not breach laws regarding
Directors Transactions”
- Sec 31 CA, 1990 – loans, quasi-loans,
credit transactions guarantees &
transactions,
security
- Sec 29 CA, 1990 – buying or selling a
non-cash asset from a Director or
connected person
The Ten Commandments
10. “Thou shall wind up an insolvent
company in a timely & correct manner”
- Company cannot pay its debts
- Duty to co operate with a liquidator
co-operate
- duty not to misapply company funds or
making preferential payments
How to Appoint, Resign or
Remove a Director
14

15. Company Director Requirements
• Must be an individual
• 2 Directors – 1 resident in EEA
• In absence of a resident Director
- Sec 43 Bond
- S 44 R l & C ti
Sec Real Continuous Li k
Link
• Limit of 25 Directorships
- PLC’s not included
- Group companies counted as 1
• Disqualified & Restricted Directors – may
not act
Appointing a Director
• First Director – Form A1
• Consent to Act as Director – “I herby
consent to act as Director of the
aforementioned company and I
acknowledge that as Director I have legal
duties and obligations imposed by the
Companies Acts, other enactments and at
common law.”
Appointing a Director
• Existing Company – Board meeting or at a
general meeting
• Board meeting – “That Joe Bloggs, having
consented to act, be appointed as a Director of
pp
the Company, with effect from close of meeting.”
• Form B10 – 14 days
• Update Register of Directors & Dir’s Interests,
headed paper, bank details, etc
• May have to retire a next AGM
15

16. Resignation of Directors
• Board Meeting
- Letter of Resignation
- B10 to be filed within 14 days
• B10 form
- Details of resigning Director – “Joe Bloggs
resigned as Director of the Company”
- Signed by current Director or Secretary
• Update Register of Directors, headed paper,
bank details, etc.
Removal of a Director
• Sec 182 CA, 1963 provides a Director can
be removed by ordinary resolution of the
members
• Extended notice of 28 days for EGM
• Director can make representations at the
meeting
• Consider provisions of Sec 205 CA, 1963
if Director is also a shareholder
Consequence of Breaches of
Company Law
p y
16

17. Indictable & Other Offences
• 140 Indictable Offences
• 300 Summary Offences
• Indictable Offence - €12,700 and/or 5 years
imprisonment
• Summary Offence - €1,900 and or 12 months
imprisonment
• Higher sanctions for certain offences including fraudulent
trading, reckless trading and insider dealing
• ODCE has discretion to impose administrative fines
rather than seeking a court prosecution
Main Offences
• Sec 60(15) CA, 1963 – Giving of financial
assistance by a company for the purchase of its
own shares
• Sec 297 CA, 1963 – Fraudulent Trading g
• Sec 40 C(A), 1983 – Net Assets less than half of
called up share capital
• Sec 22(3) C(A), 1986 – Wilfully providing false
information in any return, report, certificate of
balance sheet or other document
Main Offences
• Sec 53 CA, 1990 – directors & secretary’s
notification of interest in the Company
• Sec 197(1),(3) CA, 1990 – False statements to
Auditors, delay in p
y providing information
g
• Sec 202 CA, 1990 – Failure to keep proper
books
• Sec 242(1), (1A) CA, 1990 – Furnishing false
information under the Acts, including to
electronic filing agent
17

18. Main Offences
• Sec 243(1) CA, 1990 – Destruction,
mutilation, falsification of documents
• Sec 33(6) C(A)No.2)A, 1999 – Omission
from balance sheet of directors’ statement
claiming audit exemption
• Sec 37(1) C(A)(No.2)A, 1999 – Wilfully
false statements in accounts & returns
• Sec 43(13) C(A)(No.2)A, 1999 – Company
to have a director resident in the State
Restriction of Directors
• Directors maybe restricted by the High
Court from acting as a Director unless
certain amount of share capital paid up
• Punish Directors of Insolvent Companies
• Application taken by a liquidator
• ODCE decide whether Directors go to
court
• Honestly & Responsibly – only defence
Disqualification of Directors
• High Court may disqualify Directors for
acting – cannot act in any position of
management of a Company
• Disqualification for min of 5 years
• Used in cases of serious breaches
• Failure to file an Annual Return &
Company is struck off register of
companies
18

19. Personal Liability
• Personal Liability of any officer –
including Company Secretary
g
- Reckless Trading
- Fraudulent Trading
- Failure to Keep Proper Books of
Account
Reckless Trading
• Sec 297A 1A. CA, 1963 “any person, was while an
officer of the company, knowingly a party to the carrying
on of any business of the company in a reckless
manner”
• Can occur during examinership or winding up
- Activity that they knew or should have known would
result in loss
- Incurred debt that they knew they wouldn’t be able
to pay
• Directors can be made personally liable for debts of
Company
Fraudulent Trading
• Sec 297A 1.B. CA, 1963 “if any person is
knowingly a party to carrying on of the business
of a company with intent to defraud creditors of
the company or creditors of any other person or
for any fraudulent purpose.”
• Directors can be made personally liable for
debts
• Sec 297 CA 1963 - criminal offence
- Summary – 12 months and or €1,269.74 fine
- Indictment – 7 years and or €63,486.90 fine
19

20. Failure to Keep Books & Records
• Sec 204 CA, 1990 if Co.- wound up insolvent,
proper books were not kept, Directors may be
held personally liable for the Debts
• Courts consider failure to keep books has
- contributed to the company’s inability to pay all
of its debts
- resulted in substantial uncertainty to assets &
liabilities
- has substantially impeded the orderly wind up
• Dev Oil & Gas Limited – Landmark Case
Future Changes
• Companies Consolidation & Reform Bill
• Charities Act 2009
• EU Legislation
Essential Advice for Directors
• Hold frequent Board Meetings to assess
the situation
• Ensure key financial & trading information
is available
• Take financial & legal advice
• Keep creditors informed
• Document all key decisions & advice
• Don’t put off difficult decisions
20

21. OmniPro Company Formations
• Standard Formations for €251.00 (incl
VAT)
• 24 Hour Turn Around
• N tD
Next Door t th C
to the Companies R i t ti
i Registration
Office
• Fast, affordable, friendly
• Full Company Pack with Company Seal
OmniPro Company Secretarial
Services
• Shares - Allotment, Transfer, Redemption
& Buyback
• Voluntary Strike Off
• C
Company R t ti
Restorations
• Re-organisations & Estate Planning
• Non Filing Accounts Structure
• Shareholder Agreements
OmniPro Training & Advice
• Company Law Query Service
• In-house Training
• Co Sec Department Setup & Review
21

22. Contact Details
Conor Sweeney
csweeney@omnipro.ie
087 2434384
Amy Brennan
abrennan@omnipro.ie
059 9183888
Contact Details
Unit 3, South Court, Block D,
Wexford Road Iveagh Court,
Business Park, Harcourt Road,
Carlow Dublin 2
059 9183888 01 4110000
info@omnipro.ie www.omnipro.ie
22

23. COMPANIES ACTS 1963 TO 2009
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
Memorandum
&
Articles of Association
Of
Name of Company Limited

24. COMPANIES ACTS 1963 TO 2009
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
Memorandum of Association
Of
Name of Company Limited
1. The name of the Company is
2. The objects for which the Company is established are: -
(a)

25. (b) To carry on any other business (whether manufacturing or otherwise) which may seem
to the Company capable of being conveniently carried on in connection with the above
objects, or calculated, directly or indirectly, to enhance the value of, or render more
profitable any of the Company’s property.
(c) To import, export, buy sell, barter, exchange, pledge, make advances on, take on lease
or hire or otherwise acquire, alter, treat, work, manufacture, process, dispose of, let on
lease, hire or hire purchase, or otherwise trade or deal in and turn to account as may
seem desirable goods, articles, equipment, machinery, plant, merchandise and wares
of any description and things capable of being used or likely to be required by persons
having dealings with the Company for the time being.
(d) To carry on any other business except the issuing of policies of insurance, which may
seem to the Company capable of being conveniently carried on in connection with the
above, or calculated directly or indirectly to enhance the value of or render profitable
any of the Company’s property or rights.
(e) To purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or by any other means acquire any
freehold, leasehold or other property for any estate or interest whatever, and any rights,
privileges or easements over or in respect of any property, and any buildings, offices,
factories, mills, works, wharves, roads, railways, tramways, machinery, engines, rolling
stock, vehicles, plant, live and dead stock, barges, vessels or things, and any real or
personal property or rights whatsoever which may be necessary for, or may be
conveniently used with, or may enhance the value of any other property of the
Company.
(f) To build, construct, maintain, alter, enlarge, pull down and remove or replace any
buildings, offices, factories, mills, works, wharves, roads, railways, dams, tramways,
machinery, engines, walls, fences, banks, sluices, or watercourses, and to clear sites
for the same, or to join with any person, firm or company in doing any of the things
aforesaid, and to work, manage and control the same or join with others in so doing.
(g) To apply for, register, purchase, or by other means acquire and protect, prolong and
renew, whether in Ireland or elsewhere, any patents, patent rights, brevets d’invention,
licenses, trade marks, designs protections and concessions or other rights which may
appear likely to be advantageous or useful to the Company, and to use and turn to
account and to manufacture under or grant licenses or privileges in respect of the
same, and to expend money in experimenting upon and testing and in improving or
seeking to improve any patents, inventions or rights which the Company may acquire.
(h) To acquire and undertake the whole or any part of the business, goodwill and assets
and liabilities of any person, firm or company carrying on or proposing to carry on any
of the business which this Company is authorised to carry on, and as part of the
consideration for such acquisition to undertake all or any of the liabilities of such
person, firm or company, or to acquire an interest in, amalgamate with or enter into
partnership or into any arrangement for sharing profits, or for co-operation, or for
limiting competition, or for mutual assistance with any such person, firm or company
and to give or accept by way of consideration for any of the acts or things aforesaid or
property acquired, any shares, debentures, debenture stock or securities that may be
agreed upon, and to hold and retain or sell, mortgage and deal with any share,
debentures, debenture stock or securities so received.

26. (i) To improve, manage, cultivate, develop, exchange, let on lease or otherwise, mortgage,
sell, charge, dispose of, turn to account, grant rights and privileges in respect of, or
otherwise deal with all or any part of the property and rights of the Company.
(j) To invest and deal with the monies of the Company not immediately required in such
shares or upon such securities and in such manner as may from time to time be
determined.
(k) To lend and advance money or give credit to such person, firms or companies and on
such terms as may seem expedient, and in particular to customers of and others having
dealings with the Company, and tenants, subcontractors and persons undertaking to
build on or improve any property in which the Company is interested, and to give
guarantees or becomes security for any such person, firms or companies.
(l) To borrow or raise money in such manner as the Company shall think fit, and in
particular by the issue of debentures or debenture stock, bonds, obligations and
securities of all kinds (perpetual or otherwise) and either redeemable or otherwise and
to secure the repayment of any money borrowed, raised or owing, by mortgage, charge
or lien upon the whole or any part of the Company’s property or assets (whether
present or future), including its uncalled capital, and also by a similar mortgage, charge
or lien to secure and guarantee the performance by the Company of any obligation or
liability it may undertake and to purchase, redeem or pay off ant such securities.
(m) To give credit to or to become surety or guarantor for any person or company, and to
give all descriptions of guarantees and indemnities, either with or without the Company
receiving any consideration to guarantee or otherwise secure (with or without a
mortgage or charge on all or any part of the undertaking, property and assets, present
and future, and the un-called capital of the Company) the performance of the
obligations and repayment or payment of the capital or principal of and dividends or
interest on any stocks, shares, debentures, debenture stock, notes, bonds or other
securities or indebtedness of any person, authority (whether supreme, local, municipal
or otherwise) or company, including (without prejudice to the generality of the
foregoing) any company which is for the time being the Company’s holding company as
defined by Section 155 of the Companies Act 1963 or any statutory modification or re-
enactment thereof or another subsidiary as defined by the said section of the
Company’s holding company or a subsidiary of the Company or otherwise associated
with the Company in business.
(n) To draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue promissory notes, bills of
exchange, bills of lading, warrants, debentures and other negotiable or transferable
instruments.
(o) To apply for, promote and obtain any Act of the Oireachtas, Provisional Order or License
of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment or other authority for enabling the
Company to carry any of its objects into effect, or for effecting any modification of the
Company’s constitution, or for any other purpose which may seem expedient, and to
oppose any proceedings or applications which may seem calculated directly or indirectly
to prejudice the Company’s interests.
(p) To enter into any arrangements with any government or authorities (supreme, municipal,
local or otherwise) or any companies, firms or persons, that may seem conducive to the
attainment of the Company’s objects, or any of them, and to obtain from any such
government, authority, corporation, company, firm or person any charters, contracts,
decrees, rights, privileges and concessions which the Company may think desirable, and
to carry out, exercise and comply with any such charters, contracts, decrees, rights,

27. privileges and concessions.
(q) To subscribe for, take, purchase or otherwise acquire and hold shares or other interests
in or securities of any other company having objects altogether or in part similar to those
of this Company or carrying on any business capable of being carried on so as, directly
or indirectly, to benefit this Company. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts,
1963 to 2009, the Company may purchase or otherwise acquire on such terms and in
such manner as it thinks fit any shares in the capital of the Company or its Holding
Company.
(r) To act as agents or brokers, and as trustees or as nominee for any person, firm or
company, and to undertake and perform sub-contracts, and also to act in any of the
businesses of the Company through or by means of agents, brokers, sub-contractors,
trustees or nominees of others.
(s) To remunerate any person, firm or company rendering services to this Company, either
by cash payment or by the allotment to him, her or them of shares or securities of the
Company credited as paid up in full or in part or otherwise as may be thought expedient.
(t) To pay all or any expenses incurred in connection with the promotion, formation and
incorporation of the Company, or to contract with any person, firm or company to pay the
same, and to pay commissions to brokers and others for underwriting, placing, selling or
guaranteeing the subscription of any shares, debentures, debenture stock or securities of
the Company.
(u) To support and subscribe to any charitable or public object, and any institution, society or
club which may be for the benefit of the Company or its employees, or may be connected
with any town or place where the Company carries on business; to give pensions,
gratuities (to include death benefits) or charitable aid to any persons who may have been
officers or employees or ex-officers or ex-employees of the Company, or, its
predecessors in business, or to the spouses, children or other relatives or dependants of
such persons; to make payments towards insurance; and to form and contribute to
provident and benefit funds for the benefit of any such person or of their spouses,
children or other relatives or dependants.
(v) To establish, promote or otherwise assist any other company or companies or
associations for the purpose of acquiring the whole or any part of the business or
property and undertaking any of the liabilities of this Company, or of undertaking any
business or operation which may appear likely to assist or benefit this Company, or to
enhance the value of any property or business of this Company, and place or guarantee
the placing of, underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire all or any part of the shares
or securities of any such company as aforesaid.
(w) To sell or otherwise dispose of the whole or any part of the business or property of the
Company, either together or in portions, for such consideration as the Company may
think fit, and in particular for shares, debentures or securities of any other company
whether or not having objects altogether or in part similar to those of this Company.
(x) To distribute among the members of the Company in specie any property of the
Company, and in particular any shares, debentures or securities of other companies
belonging to this Company or of which this Company may have the power of disposing.
(y) To procure the Company to be registered or recognised in any foreign country or place.

28. (z) To do all such other things as may be deemed incidental or conducive to the attainment
of the above objects or any of them.
It is hereby expressly declared that each sub-clause of this clause shall be construed
independently of the other sub-clauses hereof, and that none of the objects mentioned in
any sub-clause shall be deemed to be merely subsidiary to the objects mentioned in any
other sub-clause.
Provided always that the provisions of this clause shall be subject to the Company
obtaining where necessary, for the purpose of carrying any of its objects into effect, such
license, permit or authority as may be required by law.
3. The liability of the members is limited.
4. The Share Capital of the Company is divided into Ordinary shares of €
each, with the power to increase or decrease the share capital. The capital may be
divided into different classes of shares with any preferential, deferred or special rights or
privileges attached thereto, and from time to time the company’s regulations may be
varied so far as may be necessary to give effect to any such preference, restriction or
other term.

29. I/We, the several persons whose names, addresses and descriptions are subscribed, wish to
be formed into a Company in pursuance of this Memorandum of Association and we agree to
take the number of shares in the capital of the Company set opposite our respective names.
Names, Addresses and No. of Shares taken
Descriptions of Subscribers by each Subscriber
Total number of shares taken:
Dated:
Witness to the above signatures:
Name:
Address:

30. COMPANIES ACTS 1963 TO 2009
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
Articles of Association
Of
Name of Company Limited
PRELIMINARY
1. (a) Subject as hereinafter provided, the Regulations contained in Parts I and II of Table
A as in the First Schedule to the Companies Act, 1963 (hereinafter referred to as
"Table A") together with the European Communities (Single Member Private Limited
Companies) Regulations, 1994 (“Single-Member Company Regulations”) shall apply
to the Company.
(b) Regulations 5, 8, 24, 40-46, 47, 51, 54, 55, 56, 75, 79, 84, 86, 91, and 92 to 100 Part
I of Table A and Regulation 7 of Part II of Table A shall not apply.
SHARE CAPITAL AND SHARES
2. The Share Capital of the Company is € divided into Ordinary shares of
€1 each.
3. When any shares have been forfeited an entry shall forthwith be made in the Register
of Members of the Company recording the forfeiture and the date thereof, and so
soon as the shares so forfeited have been sold or otherwise disposed of an entry
shall be made of the manner and date of the sale or disposal thereof.
4. No share shall be offered at a discount.
5. (a) The Directors of the Company are generally and unconditionally authorised to
exercise all powers of the Company to allot relevant securities (within the meaning of
Section 20 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1983), up to an amount equal to the
authorised but as yet un-issued share capital of the Company on the date of
incorporation of the Company. The authority hereby conferred shall expire five years
from the date of incorporation of the Company, unless previously renewed, revoked
or varied by the Company in general meeting, save that the Company may before
such expiry date make an offer agreement which, might require relevant securities to
be allotted after the authority has expired and the Directors may allot the relevant
securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if the authority hereby
conferred has not expired.
(b) The pre-emption provisions of sub-sections (1), (7) and (8) of Section 23 of the
Companies (Amendment) Act, 1983 shall not apply to any allotment by the Company
of equity securities (within the meaning of the said Section 23).

31. 6. Subject to the provisions of Part XI of the Companies Act, 1990 the Company may:
(a) Issue shares which are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of
the Company or the holder, on such terms and in such manner as shall be provided
by the Articles of Association of the Company provided always that the nominal value
of the issued share capital which is not redeemable shall not at any time be less than
one tenth of the nominal value of the total issued share capital of the Company.
(b) Purchase its own shares.
(c) Cancel any of its own shares following purchase.
(d) Re-designate any of its own shares following purchase as treasury shares provided
always that the nominal value of treasury shares held by the Company, may not at
any one time, exceed ten per cent of the nominal value of the issued share capital of
the Company.
For so long as the Company holds shares as treasury shares:
(i) The Company shall not exercise any voting rights in respect of those shares and
any purported exercise of those rights shall be void.
(ii) No dividend or other payment (including any payment in a winding up of the
company) shall be payable to the company in respect of those shares.
(e) Cancel or re-issue as shares of any class, any shares held by the Company as
treasury shares.
(f) Not make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own shares
otherwise than out of distributable profits of the company or the proceeds of a fresh
issue of shares.
(g) Notice of redemption in writing shall be given in accordance with this sub-paragraph
(g) to the holders of Ordinary Shares to be purchased or redeemed. Any notice of
purchase or redemption shall specify the number of shares to be purchased or
redeemed, the date fixed for purchase or redemption and the place at which the
certificates for such shares are to be presented for purchase and upon such date
each of the holders of the shares concerned shall be bound to deliver to the
Company at such place the Certificates for the shares to be purchased or redeemed.
If any certificate so delivered to the Company includes any shares not to be
purchased or redeemed on that occasion fresh certificate for such shares shall
forthwith be issued to the holder delivering such certificate to the Company.
7. When any shares have been forfeited an entry shall be made in the Register of
Members of the Company recording the forfeiture and the terms and date thereof.
ALTERATION OF CAPITAL
8. The Company may by Special Resolution:
(a) increase its share capital by such sum to be divided into shares of such amount as
the resolution may prescribe;
(b) consolidate its shares of a larger amount than its existing shares;
(c) sub-divide its shares into shares of a smaller amount than its existing shares;
(d) cancel any shares which at the date of the passing of the resolution have not been

32. taken or agreed to be taken by any person; or
(e) reduce its share capital in any way, whether by purchase, redemption or otherwise.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
9. The Company may give any form of financial assistance which is permitted by the
Companies Acts, 1963 to 2009 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 in the Company’s holding company and Regulation 10 of Part I of Table A will be
modified accordingly.
TRANSFER OF SHARES
10. The Directors may, in their absolute discretion and without assigning any reason
therefore, decline to register any transfer of any share, whether or not it is a fully paid
share; and Regulation 24 of Part I of Table A shall be modified accordingly.
11. The instrument of transfer of a fully paid up share need not be signed by or on behalf
of the transferee and Regulation 22 of Part I of Table A will be modified accordingly.
BORROWING POWERS
12. The Directors may raise or borrow for the purposes of the Company’s business such
sum or sums of money as they think fit, and may secure the repayment of, or raise
any such sum or sums as aforesaid by mortgage or charge upon the whole or any
part of the property and assets of the Company, present and future, including its
uncalled and un-issued capital, or by the issue at such price as they may think fit, of
bonds or debentures, either charged upon the whole or any part of the property and
assets of the Company, or not so charged, or in such other way as the Directors may
think expedient.
13. A register of the holders of the debentures of the Company shall be kept at the
registered offices of the Company, and shall be open to inspection of the registered
holders of such debentures and of any member of the Company, or any other person
subject to such restrictions as the Company in general meeting may from time to time
impose. The Directors may close such Register for such period or periods as they
may think fit, not exceeding in aggregate thirty days in each year.
GENERAL MEETINGS
14. No business shall be transacted at a general meeting unless a quorum of members is
present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business; save as herein otherwise
provided, two members present in person or by proxy shall be a quorum.
15. A general meeting may with the written consent of all the members and the Auditors
be convened by less than fourteen days notice, and in such manner as the members
may think fit, and Regulation 51 of Part I of Table A shall be modified accordingly.
The annual general meeting may be held in the state or elsewhere subject to Section
140.
16. In Regulation 70 of Part I of Table A, the words “not less than 48 hours before the
time for holding” and “not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for” will be
deleted and there shall be substituted therefore the words “before the

33. commencement of” on both occasions.
17. In accordance with Section 160 of the Companies Act, 1963 relating to the removal of
an auditor from office, exercisable by the Company in general meeting under the
Companies Acts 1963 to 2009 or otherwise shall be exercisable by the members
without the need to hold a general meeting of the Company.
18. Where the members makes a decision, which would be normally be taken by the
Company in general meeting he/she must provide the Company with a written record
of that decision. Such written record, together with any resolutions passed in
accordance with Article 9, shall be retained by the Company in book or some other
means suitable for the purpose.
19. Subject to Section 141 of the Act, a resolution in writing signed by all the members
for the time being entitled to attend and vote on such resolution at a general meeting
(by their duly authorised representative) shall be as valid and effective for all
purposes as if the resolution had been passed at a general meeting of the Company
duly convened and held, and if described as a Special Resolution shall be deemed to
be a Special Resolution within the meaning of the Act. Any such resolution can
consist of several signed documents, which together form a resolution.
20. Subject to Section 140 of the Act concerning annual general meetings, all other
meetings (including extraordinary general and class meetings of the members of the
company) may be conducted by the use of conference telephone or similar facility
provided that the members of the Company and the Auditor have been notified of the
convening of the meeting and the availability of the conference telephone or similar
facility for the meeting can hear and contribute to the meeting and such participation
in meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting and the members may
be situated in any part of the world for any such meeting.
DIRECTORS
21. Unless and until the Company in a general meeting shall otherwise determine, the
number of Directors shall not be less than two. The first Directors shall be appointed
in writing by the subscribers to the Memorandum of Association.
22. A Director shall not require a share qualification but nevertheless shall be entitled to
receive notice of and to attend and speak at any general meeting and Regulation 136
of Part I of Table A shall be modified accordingly.
23. The quorum of Directors for transacting business shall, unless otherwise fixed by the
Directors, be two.
24. (a) For the purpose of these Articles, the contemporaneous linking together by telephone
or other means of communication of a number of Directors not less than the quorum
shall be deemed to constitute a meeting of the Directors, and all the provisions in
these Articles as to meetings of the Directors shall apply to such meetings.
(b) Each of the Directors taking part in the meeting must be able to hear each of the
other Directors taking part.
(c) At the commencement of the meeting each Director must acknowledge his presence
and that he accepts that the conversation shall be deemed to be a meeting of the

34. Directors.
(d) A Director may not cease to take part in the meeting by disconnecting his telephone
or other means of communication unless he has previously obtained the express
consent of the Chairman of the meeting, and a Director shall be conclusively
presumed to have been present and to have formed part of the quorum at all times
during the meeting unless he has previously obtained the express consent of the
chairman of the meeting to leave the meeting as aforesaid.
(e) A minute of the proceedings at such meeting by telephone or other means of
communication shall be sufficient evidence of such proceedings and of observance
of all necessary formalities if certified as a correct minute by the Chairman of the
meeting.
25. A resolution in writing signed by all the Directors for the time being entitled to receive
notice of a meeting of the Directors shall be valid as if it had been passed at a
meeting of the Directors duly convened and held and may consist of several
documents in the like form each signed by one or more Directors.
26. The Directors shall have the power at any time and from time to time appoint another
person to be a Director of the Company, either to fill a casual vacancy or as an
addition to the board, but so that the total number of Directors shall not at any time
exceed the maximum number fixed as herein before mentioned.
27. Provided that he shall have declared the nature of his interest in accordance with
Regulation 83 of Part I of Table A, a Director may vote in respect of any contract,
appointment or arrangement in which he is interested, and he shall be counted in the
quorum present at the meeting.
SINGLE MEMBER COMPANY
28. (I) If at any time all the issued shares of the Company are registered in the name of the
sole person (whether a natural person or a body corporate), it will be a single-
member company within the meaning of the European (Single-Member Private
Limited Companies) Regulations, 1994 (the Singe Member Company Regulations). If
and so long as the Company is a single member company the following provisions
shall apply notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Articles or Table A:
(a) Annual General Meetings
The sole member may decide to dispense with the holding of annual general
meetings. Such decision will be effective for the year in which it is made and
subsequent years, but nevertheless the sole member or the auditors may require the
holding of an annual general meeting in any such year in accordance with the
procedure laid down in the Single Member Company Regulations.
(b) Where a decision to dispense with the holding of an annual general meeting is in
force, the accounts and the Directors' and Auditors report that would otherwise be
laid before an annual general meeting shall be sent to the sole member as provided
in the Single Member Company Regulations, and the provisions of the Companies
Acts, 1963 with regard to the annual return and financial statements which apply by
reference to the date of the annual general meeting will be construed as provided in
the Single Member Company Regulations.

35. (c) Quorum at General Meetings
The sole member, present in person or by proxy, is a sufficient quorum at a general
meeting.
(d) Resolutions of Shareholders
All matters requiring a resolution of the Company in general meeting (except the
removal of the auditors from office) may be validly dealt by a decision of the sole
member. The sole member must provide the Company with a written record of any
such decision or, if is dealt with by written resolution under Regulation 6 of Part II of
Table A, with a copy of that resolution, and the decision or resolution shall be
recorded and retained by the Company.
(e) Contracts with Sole Member
(i) Where the Company enters into a contract with the sole member which not in the
ordinary course of business and which is not in writing and the sole member also
represents the Company in the transaction (whether as a Director or otherwise),
the Directors shall ensure that the terms of the contract are forthwith set out in a
written recorded in the minutes of the next Directors' meeting.
(ii) If and whenever the Company becomes a single-member company or ceases to
be a single-member company, it shall notify the Registrar of Companies as
provided in the single-member company regulations.
DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
29. The Office of a Director shall be vacated:
(a) If he ceases to be a Director by virtue of Section 180/184 of the Act; or
(b) If he becomes bankrupt or insolvent or compound with his creditors; or
(c) If he becomes unsound of mind or found to be lunatic; or
(d) If he is convicted of an indictable offence (other than an offence under the Road
Traffic Act, 1961, or any Act amending the same) unless the Directors otherwise
determine; or
(e) If he absents himself from the meetings of the Directors for a period of six calendar
months without special leave of absence from the other Directors; or
(f) If he resigns his office by notice in writing to the Company; or
(g) If he is disqualified or restricted pursuant to an Order made under the provisions of
the Companies Act, 1990.
INDEMNITY
30. In addition to the indemnity contained in Regulation 138 of Part I of Table A, the
Company shall indemnify every Director, Secretary or other officer against all costs
and expenses incurred or about the execution and discharge of the duties of his
office.
31. A Director may hold any office of profit under the Company (other than that of the
Auditor) in conjunction with the office of Director and may enter into contracts or
arrangements or have dealings with the Company and shall not be disqualified from
office thereby, nor shall he be liable to account to the Company for any profit arising

36. out of such contract, arrangement or dealing to which he is a party, or in which he is
interested by reason of his being at the same time a Director of the Company,
provided that such Director discloses to the Board at or before the time when such
contract, arrangement or dealing is determined upon his interest therein, or if such
interest is subsequently acquired, provided that he on the first occasion possible
discloses to the Board the fact that he has acquired such interest. But except in
respect of any agreement or arrangement to give any indemnity or security to any
Director who has undertaken or is about to undertake any liability on behalf of the
Company, or of a resolution to allot any shares or debentures to a Director, no
Director shall vote as a Director in regard to any contract, arrangement or dealing in
which he is interested or upon any matter arising there out, and if he shall so vote his
vote shall not be counted, nor shall he be reckoned in estimating a quorum when any
such contract, arrangement or dealing is under consideration.
MANAGING DIRECTOR
32. The Directors may from time to time entrust to and confer upon the Managing
Director all or any of the powers of the Directors (excepting the power to make calls,
forfeit shares, borrow money or issue debentures) that they think fit. But the exercise
of all such powers by the Managing Director shall be subject to such regulations and
restrictions as the Directors may from time to time impose and the said powers may
at any time be withdrawn, revoked or varied.
NOTICES
33. Where a notice is sent by post it shall be deemed to have been served at the
expiration of twenty four hours after it was posted; and Regulation 133 of Part I of
Table A shall be modified accordingly.
34. A member who has no registered address in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland
or Great Britain, and has not supplied to the Company an address within the Republic
of Ireland, Northern Ireland or Great Britain for the giving of notices to him shall not
be entitled to receive any notices from the Company.
COMPANY SECRETARY
35. The first Company Secretary shall be appointed in writing by the Subscribers to the
Memorandum of Association and shall be the person named in the statement
delivered pursuant to Section 3 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1982.

37. Names, Addresses and Descriptions of Subscribers
Dated:
Witness to the above signatures:
Name:
Address:

38. Directors
Their duties and powers
A quick guide

40. Introduction
We have produced this information booklet to explain the role of
company directors under the Companies Acts.
What is a company director?
Company directors control and direct a company in the interests of its
owners (known as members). They also have particular responsibilities
under the law and the company’s constitution. A company must have
at least two directors. These act together on a board of directors.
Who can be a company director?
People do not need any particular qualifications or experience to be
directors. Company directors will often not work for the company in
question or own shares in it.
To protect the public, some people cannot be directors at certain times.
These include bankrupts, who are prohibited from being directors while
their debts remain unpaid or until a court excuses them from paying
those debts. People whom a court has found guilty of fraud or serious
misconduct may also be disqualified from acting as directors for a
certain period. If a person is found by a court to have acted dishonestly
or irresponsibly in a company that failed to pay its debts, the court may
restrict them. A restricted director can only act as a director in certain
companies in which the members have invested a significant amount of
money. Restrictions are normally for a period of five years.
Directors Their duties and powers

41. Are there different types of director?
There are five types of company director.
• Executive directors are directors who are involved in managing the
company. Examples include the company’s managing director or its
sales director.
• Non-executive directors are not involved in the company’s
management. They may be knowledgeable and experienced
people who are appointed to the board to give independent advice.
Companies do not have to appoint non-executive directors.
• Alternate directors are chosen by directors to act for them in their
absence.
• De facto directors perform the duties of a director even though
they are not formally appointed and registered. They have the same
duties as appointed directors.
• Shadow directors are not formally appointed as directors but give
instructions that are usually followed by the company’s directors.
A shadow director has many of the legal responsibilities of an
appointed director.
Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement

42. What are the duties of directors?
Directors are trustees or minders of the company’s assets and their
duties reflect that responsible position. Executive and non-executive
directors have the same duties.
Directors do not have to do everything themselves. They may give
appropriate tasks to company executives who will report back to the
board.
Common law duties of directors (the duties created
by the courts)
The common law duties require that:
• directors must act in good faith and in the company’s interest and
not use their powers for personal gain or for the benefit of others
at the company’s expense - for example directors should pay the
market value for company assets;
• directors must not profit from being a director and must account
for any profit secretly obtained – for example a director who is
also a director of a second business cannot use any confidential
information they receive as a director of the first company to benefit
that second business; and
• directors must act with due care, skill and diligence – for example,
directors need to meet regularly to review the company’s finances
and take action to correct any problems.
Directors Their duties and powers

43. Statutory duties of directors (the duties created
by legislation)
On their appointment, directors must give the company their name,
address, date of birth, nationality and occupation. They must also
give details of any shares or debentures (written acknowledgements
of a debt) in the company or in related companies that they own or in
which they have an interest. They must also give details of any other
companies of which they are a director. For as long as they are serving
as a director, they should keep the company up to date on any changes
to this information. They should also inform the company if they have
any interest in a company contract or proposed contract.
Directors must ensure that the company keeps proper books of
account that record and explain the payments to or from the company
or its customers and suppliers and accurately identify its assets and
liabilities. Every year, directors must prepare financial statements that
give ‘a true and fair view’ of the company’s affairs. These financial
statements must be audited (unless the company can decide not to
have an audit).
Directors must also write a report for the members of the company.
This report should include details of:
• how the company is doing;
• how its business has developed during the year;
• any important events affecting the company since the end of the
year; and
• any likely developments in the business.
Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement

44. Directors must arrange to call the company’s annual general meeting
(AGM) and circulate a draft agenda to the members in good time along
with other relevant documents, including the financial statements, the
directors’ report and any auditor’s report. Occasionally, directors will
have to call an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the members to
deal with special or urgent business.
Directors must arrange to keep minutes of what is said and decided at
general meetings and at meetings of the board and its sub-committees.
They must ensure that the company keeps certain documents up to
date, including the registers of members, directors and secretaries and
the interests of the directors and secretaries in the company.
Directors must ensure that the company promptly sends certain
documents and information to the Companies Registration Office
(www.cro.ie). These include, for example:
• the company’s annual return and associated financial statements;
• notice of a change of registered office, director, secretary or their
details;
• notice of the creation of a mortgage or charge on the company’s
property in return for its receiving a loan; and
• a memorandum of satisfaction of a charge (a statement that a loan
has been repaid).
Directors can be penalised if they or the company are found to have
breached the Companies Acts. In cases of serious default, they can be
made liable for the company’s debts.
Directors Their duties and powers

45. What are the powers of directors?
In general, directors may do anything that is legal and is allowed by the
company’s constitution. However, the members have the responsibility
to make some company decisions at a general meeting. These include
the decision to appoint or reappoint the company’s auditor.
What other issues should directors be aware of?
Transactions between the company and its directors
Some exceptions apply to the general rule that directors cannot use
company assets for their own benefit. For example, a company may
give loans to directors and people or organisations connected by family
or business to the directors if the total loan value does not exceed 10%
of the company’s ‘relevant assets’.
A company may also engage in a property sale or purchase with a
director or connected person in certain circumstances. Key conditions
are that the directors must justify the merits of the proposed
transaction to the members and that a majority of the members
approve of it at a general meeting before the transaction can take
place.
Solvent liquidation
If a company is wound up on the basis that it can pay all of its debts,
the directors must make an accurate statement to this effect.
Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement

46. Trading difficulties
If a company finds it difficult to pay its debts, the directors must
favour the interests of the people to whom the company owes money
(creditors).
Reckless trading
If directors help to create a company debt knowing that the company
will not be able to pay the creditor, they may have to pay some or all of
the company’s debts themselves if this is ordered by a court.
Insolvent liquidation
If a company does not have enough money to pay creditors and the
company is later wound up, the directors must prepare a statement of
its assets and liabilities and co-operate with the liquidator.
Struck off insolvent companies
If directors fail to arrange for the liquidation of a company that owes
a large debt to one or more creditors, the High Court may disqualify
them from acting as directors if the company is later struck off the
Companies Register for failing to file its annual returns.
Conclusion
A more detailed information book on directors is available under
Decision Notice D/2002/1 from www.odce.ie.
Directors Their duties and powers

47. Notes
Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement

49. For further information contact:
* Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement
16 Parnell Square
Dublin 1, Ireland
( 01 858 5800
Lo-call 1890 315 015
7 01 858 5801
@ info@odce.ie
¸ www.odce.ie

51. For more information on plain
English go to www.simplyput.ie
Transactions Involving Directors - A Quick Guide

52. Transactions Involving Directors
A Quick Guide
Contents
About this booklet ………………………………………………………2
Who do the rules apply to?………………………………………………2
Directors’ loans……………………………………………………………2
What are the general rules?……………………………………………2
Are there any exceptions?……………………………………………2
What might happen if more money is borrowed than is allowed?..4
Property transactions……………………………………………………4
What is the general rule?………………………………………………4
What is a property asset?……………………………………………5
Which property assets does the rule cover?………………………5
How do I work out when approval is needed?………………………5
What happens if the company’s members do not approve the
transaction?……………………………………………………………6
Can members approve a transaction after it has taken place?…6
Where can I get more information?……………………………………6
Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement

53. About this booklet
We have produced this booklet to give a summary of the strict rules for:
• directors who borrow from their companies; and
• directors who buy or sell property assets from or to their companies.
Who do the rules apply to?
The rules apply to company directors and people who are close to them,
called ‘connected persons’. This includes parents, children, husbands,
wives, civil partners, brothers and sisters. It also includes companies that
the directors control.
Directors’ loans
What are the general rules?
Directors and connected persons are not generally allowed to borrow
money from the directors’ companies.
Where a bank or other person gives a loan to a director or connected
person, a company is also not allowed to give a guarantee that the
company will repay the loan if the director or connected person fails to
repay it.
Also, a company is not allowed to give an asset of the company as security
for such a loan as this asset could be sold if the loan was not repaid.
The purpose of these general rules is to protect the company’s assets in
the interests of the business and all its owners and creditors.
Are there any exceptions?
There are a number of exceptions to these rules.
Exception 1 – Amount of the loan
This exception says that the loans are legal if all the company loans taken
out by all the directors and connected persons total less than one tenth
of the company’s ‘relevant assets’. The following examples show how this
rule works.
2 Transactions Involving Directors - A Quick Guide

54. Example 1
In general, the company’s ‘relevant assets’ are the net assets on the
company’s balance sheet at its last Annual General Meeting (AGM). If, for
example, the stated value of a company’s ‘relevant assets’ is €500,000, then
the total of all company loans to all directors and connected persons must
be less than €50,000.
Example 2
If, on the other hand, there has never been an AGM, the ‘relevant assets’
are the ‘called up share capital’ of the company. Called up share capital
means the original cost of the shares of the company, and this is stated on
the company’s balance sheet. This figure can be as low as €2. In such a
situation, the maximum value of permitted company loans to all directors
and connected persons is only 20 cent.
Directors should bear in mind that where the value of a company’s
‘relevant assets’ falls and they know that the loans then breach the ‘one
tenth’ rule, they must act within two months to correct the situation. This
may mean repaying some loans.
Exception 2 – Approved arrangements
A company can enter into a guarantee or provide security in connection
with a loan to a director or connected person if the arrangement is
formally approved at a general meeting of the company’s owners by three
quarters of those voting. There are a number of other detailed conditions
which are explained in the ODCE information book called ‘A Guide to
Transactions Involving Directors’.
Exception 3 – Loans between companies in the same group
Companies can lend money and provide guarantees and security to one
another provided they are all controlled by the same company. There
are rules that say exactly when a company is part of a group. Our more
detailed information book called ‘A Guide to Transactions Involving
Directors’ explains these rules. However, if you are not sure, you should
talk to a solicitor.
Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement
3

55. Exception 4 - Expenses
The company can cover business expenses that the directors pay for. So,
for example, the company can provide money or guarantee a director’s
credit card as long as this is used to pay the business expenses of the
company.
Exception 5 - Lenders
If a company (such as a bank) lends money as part of its business, it can
lend to its directors as long as the loans are on the same terms as the
company would offer to an ordinary person taking out the same loan.
What might happen if more money is borrowed than is allowed?
Borrowing more than is allowed is a criminal offence. Any director may
face prosecution in the courts if they allow their company to provide such
a loan.
If a director or connected person borrows more than is allowed, the
company can decide to cancel the transaction and look for the money
back. The company can require repayment of the full amount where
the transaction has suffered a loss. It can also demand repayment of the
full amount and may also demand any profit earned by the director or
connected person on the transaction.
If the company cannot pay what it owes and is closed down (goes into
liquidation), the court may look at why this has happened. If the directors
have borrowed excessive amounts from the company, the court may say
that as well as repaying the loans, they have to personally pay some or all
of the money that the company itself owes.
Property transations
What is the general rule?
If a director or connected person wants to buy a property asset from the
company or sell a property asset to the company, the members (that
is, the owners or shareholders) of the company must agree to this at a
general meeting before the transaction takes place.
4 Transactions Involving Directors - A Quick Guide

56. However this rule does not apply to property transfers within the same
group of companies.
What is a property asset?
A property asset is any asset except cash. Examples include land, buildings,
machinery, cars and so on.
Which property assets does the rule cover?
The rule applies to any property asset whose value is greater than:
• €1,270; and
• either €63,487 or one tenth of the value of the company’s ‘relevant assets’,
whichever of these two is the smaller. The meaning of ‘relevant assets’ is
explained on page 3 of this guide.
How do I work out when approval is needed?
This is quite complicated and depends on the value of the company’s
‘relevant assets’. The following examples may help.
Example 1
Let’s say that a director’s daughter (a connected person) wants to buy
computer equipment owned by the director’s company and valued at
€1,100. In this example, the company’s ‘relevant assets’ are valued at
€10,000, and one-tenth of this equals €1,000. Even though the equipment’s
value of €1,100 is more than this, it is still less than €1,270 which is the
minimum value for obtaining members’ approval. Accordingly, the
transaction can proceed without needing that approval.
Example 2
In this example, the company’s ‘relevant assets’ are valued at €200,000.
One-tenth of this equals €20,000. A director wants to sell her car to the
company for €40,000. As the value of the car (€40,000) exceeds both the
minimum value of €1,270 and the smaller of the €20,000 and €63,487
figures according to the above rules (namely €20,000), the director will
need the approval of the company’s members before this transaction
takes place.
Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement
5

57. Example 3
In this case, a director again wants to sell his car to the company for
€40,000 where the company’s ‘relevant assets’ are valued at €800,000.
One-tenth of this equals €80,000. Although the value of the car (€40,000)
exceeds the minimum value of €1,270, it is less than €63,487, the
smaller of the two options of €63,487 and €80,000 specified in the rules.
Accordingly, this transaction does not need the approval of the
company’s members.
What happens if the company’s members do not approve the
transaction?
The company can cancel the transaction and look for either the asset or
the money back. Also, if the director or connected person makes a profit
from the transaction, they may be obliged to pay back the full amount
and account for any profit. Similarly if the company makes a loss on the
transaction, the director or connected person is liable for the full amount,
including any loss suffered by the company.
Can members approve a transaction after it has taken place?
The members can agree to the transaction at a general meeting within a
reasonable period of the transaction taking place.
Where can I get more information?
Our detailed information book, ‘A Guide to Transactions Involving
Directors’, gives the complete law in this area. It is available from www.
odce.ie. Print copies are also available.
6 Transactions Involving Directors - A Quick Guide

58. Notes
Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement

59. Notes
Transactions Involving Directors - A Quick Guide

60. Notes
Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement

62. Restriction of Directors
The Director of Corporate Enforcement AND Benedict McGowan AND Mary McGowan AND Keith
McGowan. In the matter of Camlin Electric Limited and Tarmonbarry Hydroelectric Limited and in
the matter of Section 160 of the Companies Act 1990.
Camlin Electric Limited
Company Number: 91186
Registered Office: Jamestown, Longford, Co. Longford.
Tarmonbarry Hydroelectric Limited
Company Number: 382815
Registered Office: Jamestown, Clondra, Co. Longford.
Details of Respondents:
Benedict McGowan
Address: Jamestown, Clondra, Co. Longford
Mary McGowan
Address: Jamestown, Clondra, Co. Longford
Keith McGowan
Address: Jamestown, Clondra, Co. Longford
Venue:
High Court, Dublin.
Judge:
Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan
The Application:
Under Section 160(2)(h) of the Companies Act 1990 (as amended by section 42(b) of the
Company Law Enforcement Act 2001), the Director may seek the disqualification of the directors of
a company, which has been involuntarily struck off the Register of Companies pursuant to Section
12 of the Companies (Amendment) Act 1982.

63. Under Section 160(3A), directors may successfully defend such an application for disqualification
by demonstrating to the High Court that the company had no liabilities at the time of involuntary
strike-off or that any such liabilities were discharged before the date of the making of the
disqualification application. Where it deems that a sanction is appropriate, the Court has discretion
to either disqualify the director for such period as it deems fit or restrict him or her for a five year
period.
Outcome:
On 19th December 2011, Mary McGowan, who was a director of the company known as Camlin
Electric Limited and Keith McGowan, who was a director of the company known Tarmonbarry
Hydroelectric Limited at the time that they were struck off the Companies Register, were each
restricted for a mandatory period of 5 years from 19th December 2011 pursuant to Section
160(9A) of the Companies Act 1990.
The consequence of the High Court restriction is that Mary McGowan and Keith McGowan are both
prevented from being a company director or secretary or being involved in the formation or
promotion of any company, unless it is adequately capitalised. In the case of a public limited
company, the capital requirement is €317,435, and in the case of any other company, €63,487. In
both cases, the allotted share capital must be fully paid up in cash.

64. Disqualification of Directors
The Director of Corporate Enforcement AND Patrick Denagher (Senior) AND William Denagher. In
the Matter of P W Denagher Enterprises Limited and In the Matter of Section 160 of the
Companies Act 1990.
P W Denagher Enterprises Limited
Company Number: 414368
Registered Office: Allenwood South, Naas, Co. Kildare.
Details of Respondents:
Patrick Denagher (Senior)
Address: Allenwood South, Naas, Co. Kildare.
William Denagher
Address: Allenwood, Naas, Co. Kildare
Venue:
High Court, Dublin.
Judge:
Mr. Justice Brian McGovern
The Application:
Under Section 160(2)(h) of the Companies Act 1990 (as amended by section 42(b) of the
Company Law Enforcement Act 2001), the Director may seek the disqualification of the directors of
a company, which has been involuntarily struck off the Register of Companies pursuant to Section
12 of the Companies (Amendment) Act 1982.
Under Section 160(3A), directors may successfully defend such an application for disqualification
by demonstrating to the High Court that the company had no liabilities at the time of involuntary
strike-off or that any such liabilities were discharged before the date of the making of the
disqualification application. Where it deems that a sanction is appropriate, the Court has discretion
to either disqualify the director for such period as it deems fit or restrict him or her for a five year
period.

65. Outcome:
On 20th February 2012, Patrick Denagher (Senior) and William Denagher, who were directors of
the company known as P W Denagher Enterprises Limited at the time it was struck off the
Companies Register, were each made the subject of a disqualification order for a period of four
years. Costs of €1,000 were awarded to the Director of Corporate Enforcement.
The effect of this Order is that Patrick Denagher (Senior) and William Denagher are disqualified
from being appointed or acting as auditor, director or other officer, receiver Liquidator or examiner
or being in any way whether directly or indirectly concerned or taking part in the promotion,
formation or management of any company or society registered under the Industrial Provident
Societies Acts 1893 to 1978 for a period of four years effective from the 20th February 2012.