7. Management 2 Flashcards
(92 cards)
S171 CA 2006 provides that:
A director of a co must-
Act in accordance with the company’s constitution, and
Only exercise powers for the purposes for which they are conferred
ex of s171 breach
Director permitted to enter into a contract worth £2k
Will have breached his duty to the co if they enter a contract worth £3k
s172
Requires the director
To act in the way he considers, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the company for the benefit of its members as a whole
s172 test
Subjective test
Considers what a director honestly believes promoting the success of the co is (Re Southern Counties Fresh Food)
s173
Director must not fetter their own discretion
s173(2)
This duty is not infringed by [the director of a company] acting-
In accordance with an agreement duly entered into by the company that restricts the further exercise of discretion by its directors or
In a way authorised by the company’s constitution
s174
A director of a company must exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence
This means the care, skill and diligence that would be exercised by a reasonably diligent person with
The general knowledge, skill and experience that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the functions carried out by the director in relation to the company,
and
The general knowledge, skill and experience that the director has
how does a director fulfil their s174 duty
2 part test
174(2)(a)
Sets out the minimum standard required of a director and is objective
174(2)(b)
Subjective element
Looks at the knowledge, skill and experience of the individual director
Higher skillset/experience = higher standard
s175 duty
A director of a company must avoid a situation in which he has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the interests of the company
s175(2)
This applies in particular to the exploitation of any property, information, or opportunity (and it is immaterial whether the company could take advantage of the property, information or opportunity)
Duty of no profit
Relevant to corporate opportunities for the business
example of no profit duty
Eg director obtains info about new business opportunities as a result of being a director, and uses such info for their personal advantage (enters contract in their own name Cook v Deeks)
Aerostar Maintenance v Wilson
Director breached fiduciary duties by setting up a co, taking an aircraft maintenance contract he had originally been negotiation on behalf of the other co
Regal (Hastings) v Gulliver
Co owners a cinema
Regal set up subsidiary to buy 2 further cinemas
Directors of Regal invested money in subsidiary after Regal decided not to invest the money itself
Directors found to be in breach as they profited on the sale of their shares in the subsidiary
Ordered to pay their profit back to the co
s175(4)
If board of directors authorises the matter giving rise to the conflict, there will be no breach
Can a director take an opportunity post-resignation ?
Director cannot resign and take the opportunity post-resignation
What would a director have to do if they are in breach of the no conflict duty?
A director in breach of no conflict duty is liable to account for profits made, unless actions were authorised by the co
s176 duty
A director of a company must not accept a benefit from a third party conferred by reason of -
His being a director, or
His doing (or not doing) anything as director
s177
If a director of a company is in any way, directly or indirectly, interested in a proposed transaction or arrangement with the company, he must declare the nature & extent of that interest to the other directors
Declaration requirement s177
Must be made before co contracts s177(4)
May be made at BM or by notice in writing 177(2)(a) and (b)
Can be made by general notice s177(2)(b)(ii)
MA 14
prohibits director voting where a director has made a declaration
Exceptions to s177 duty to declare interest in a proposed transaction/arrangement with the company
s177(5)
Director does not have to declare their interest where director is unaware of the interest/transaction in question
s182
S182- duty to declare interest in existing transaction or arrangement with company
Directors must declare any interest in existing transactions
Where there was already a contract in existence and the director subsequently became interested
How does a director declare 182 interest in an existing transaction
Declaration to be made as soon as is reasonably possible (s182(4))
BM, or
Notice in writing
General notice
Consequences of a directors breach of duty
Company is the proper claimant and must take action (not SH)
SH may be able to bring derivative action on behalf of the co to enforce rights
Remedies for breach of all duty (bar s174 duty)
Remedies of a co for breach of directors breach of duty
Account for profits (Cook v Deeks)
Return co property (JJ Harrison v Harrison)
Payment of equitable compensation by director (Gwembe v Koshy)
Contract rescission
Injunction