Prepared by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, Canberra
Corporations Act 2001
No. 50, 2001 as amended
Compilation start date: 19 July 2013
Includes amendments up to: Act No. 61, 2013
This compilation has been split into 5 volumes
Volume 1: sections 1–260E
Volume 2: sections 283AA–601DJ
Volume 3: sections 601EA–742
Volume 4: sections 760A–1200U
Volume 5: sections 1274–1541
Schedules
Endnotes
Each volume has its own contents
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Corporations Act 2001 as in force on 19 July 2013.
It includes any commenced amendment affecting the legislation to that date.
This compilation was prepared on 27 September 2013.
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information
about amending laws and the amendment history of each amended provision.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not reflected in the text of the
compiled law but the text of the amendments is included in the endnotes.
Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and
amendments
If the operation of a provision or amendment is affected by an application,
saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details
are included in the endnotes.
Modifications
If a provision of the compiled law is affected by a modification that is in force,
details are included in the endnotes.
Provisions ceasing to have effect
If a provision of the compiled law has expired or otherwise ceased to have
effect in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the
endnotes.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Corporations Act 2001 i
Contents
Chapter 1—Introductory 1
Part 1.1—Preliminary 1 1 Short title...........................................................................1
2 Commencement.................................................................1
3 Constitutional basis for this Act ........................................1
4 Referring States .................................................................2
5 General territorial application of Act.................................5
5A Application to the Crown ..................................................7
5B ASIC has general administration of this Act .....................7
5C Application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901................8
Part 1.1A—Interaction between Corporations legislation and
State and Territory laws 9 5D Coverage of Part................................................................9
5E Concurrent operation intended ..........................................9
5F Corporations legislation does not apply to matters
declared by State or Territory law to be an
excluded matter ...............................................................11
5G Avoiding direct inconsistency arising between the
Corporations legislation and State and Territory
laws .................................................................................12
5H Registration of body as company on basis of State
or Territory law ...............................................................19
5I Regulations may modify operation of the
Corporations legislation to deal with interaction
between that legislation and State and Territory
laws .................................................................................21
Part 1.2—Interpretation 23
Division 1—General 23
6 Effect of this Part.............................................................23
7 Location of other interpretation provisions .....................23
9 Dictionary........................................................................24
9AA Certain family relationships ............................................92
9A Meaning of rights issue ...................................................92
9B Meaning of remuneration recommendation ....................94
Division 2—Associates 96
10 Effect of Division ............................................................96
11 Associates of bodies corporate ........................................96
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
ii Corporations Act 2001
12 References in Chapters 6 to 6C, and other
references relating to voting power and takeovers
etc. ...................................................................................96
13 References in Chapter 7 ..................................................98
15 General ............................................................................98
16 Exclusions .......................................................................99
17 Associates of composite person that carries on a
financial services business.............................................100
Division 3—Carrying on business 101
18 Carrying on business: otherwise than for profit.............101
19 Businesses of a particular kind ......................................101
20 Carrying on a business: alone or together with
others.............................................................................101
21 Carrying on business in Australia or a State or
Territory ........................................................................101
Division 5A—Types of company 103
45A Proprietary companies ...................................................103
45B Small companies limited by guarantee ..........................105
Division 6—Subsidiaries and related bodies corporate 107
46 What is a subsidiary ......................................................107
47 Control of a body corporate’s board ..............................107
48 Matters to be disregarded ..............................................108
49 References in this Division to a subsidiary....................108
50 Related bodies corporate ...............................................109
50AAA Associated entities.........................................................109
50AA Control ..........................................................................110
Division 6A—Security interests 111
51 Meaning of PPSA security interest................................111
51A Meaning of security interest ..........................................111
51B Meaning of secured party..............................................111
51C Meaning of circulating security interest........................112
51D Meaning of possessory security interest ........................112
51E Meaning of secured creditor ..........................................112
51F Meaning of PPSA retention of title property .................113
Division 7—Interpretation of other expressions 114
52 Doing acts......................................................................114
52A Signing ..........................................................................114
53 Affairs of a body corporate............................................114
53AA Business affairs of a body corporate..............................116
53AB Business affairs of a natural person ...............................116
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Corporations Act 2001 iii
53AC Business affairs of a partnership....................................117
53AD Business affairs of a trust ..............................................117
57 Classes of shares or interests in managed
investment schemes.......................................................118
57A Meaning of corporation ................................................118
58AA Meaning of court and Court ..........................................119
58B Discharge of obligations under this Act ........................119
59 Debentures as consideration for acquisition of
shares.............................................................................119
60 Declaration of relevant relationships .............................120
64 Entering into a transaction in relation to shares or
securities........................................................................121
64A Entities ..........................................................................121
64B Entities connected with a corporation............................122
65 Eligible money market dealer........................................123
66A Exempt bodies ...............................................................124
70 Extension of period for doing an act..............................124
73A When a court is taken to find a person guilty of an
offence...........................................................................124
75 Inclusion in official list..................................................124
79 Involvement in contraventions ......................................124
80 Jervis Bay Territory taken to be part of the
Australian Capital Territory ..........................................125
82 Offers and invitations to the public ...............................125
83 Officers, and other persons, in default...........................126
86 Possession .....................................................................126
88A Public document of a body corporate ............................126
88B Qualified accountants ....................................................127
89 Qualified privilege.........................................................127
90 Receivers and managers ................................................128
92 Securities .......................................................................128
95A Solvency and insolvency ...............................................129
Division 8—Miscellaneous interpretation rules 130
100 Address of registered office etc. ....................................130
100A Operation of certain laws relating to instruments
on which stamp duty has not been paid .........................130
101 Amount of stock representing a number of shares.........131
102 Applications to be in writing .........................................131
102B In Australia or elsewhere, in this jurisdiction or
elsewhere etc. ................................................................131
102C In Australia....................................................................131
103 Effect of certain contraventions of this Act ...................131
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
iv Corporations Act 2001
104 Effect of provisions empowering a person to
require or prohibit conduct ............................................132
105 Calculation of time ........................................................132
106 Performance of functions by Commission delegate ......132
107 Notice in relation to top 20 members of a class.............133
108 Parts of dollar to be disregarded in determining
majority in value of creditors etc. ..................................133
109 References to persons, things and matters .....................133
109X Service of documents ....................................................134
Part 1.2A—Disclosing entities 135
Division 1—Object of Part 135
111AA Object of Part ................................................................135
Division 2—Definitions 136
111AB Terms defined in Division .............................................136
111AC Disclosing entity............................................................136
111AD ED securities .................................................................136
111AE Securities of body or undertaking that is included
in a licensed market’s official list ..................................137
111AF Securities (except debentures and managed
investment products) held by 100 or more persons .......138
111AFA Managed investment products held by 100 or more
persons ..........................................................................138
111AG Securities issued as consideration for an
acquisition under an off-market takeover bid or
Part 5.1 compromise or arrangement.............................139
111AH When a person holds securities for the purposes of
sections 111AF, 111AFA and 111AG...........................139
111AI Debentures.....................................................................140
111AJ Regulations may declare securities not to be ED
securities........................................................................140
111AK ED securities of a disclosing entity ...............................140
111AL Listed or unlisted disclosing entity ................................140
111AM Quoted ED securities.....................................................140
Division 3—Significance of being a disclosing entity 141
111AN Division contains outline of significance of being a
disclosing entity.............................................................141
111ANA Requirements relating to remuneration
recommendations in relation to key management
personnel .......................................................................141
111AO Accounting requirements...............................................141
111AP Continuous disclosure requirements..............................141
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Corporations Act 2001 v
111AQ Prospectus relief ............................................................141
111AQA Product Disclosure Statement relief ..............................141
Division 4—Exemptions and modifications 143
111AR Meaning of disclosing entity provisions ........................143
111AS Exemptions by regulations ............................................143
111AT Exemptions by ASIC.....................................................143
111AU Enforcing conditions of exemptions..............................144
111AV Modifications by regulations.........................................144
111AW Exemptions and modifications have effect ....................144
111AX Effect of Division ..........................................................144
Part 1.4—Technical provisions about aids for readers 145 111J Small business guide .....................................................145
Part 1.5—Small business guide 146 1 What registration means ................................................146
2 The company structure for small business.....................151
3 Setting up a new company.............................................151
4 Continuing obligations after the company is set up.......154
5 Company directors and company secretaries.................157
6 Shares and shareholders ................................................160
7 Signing company documents.........................................162
8 Funding the company’s operations ................................163
9 Returns to shareholders .................................................163
10 Annual financial reports and audit.................................164
11 Disagreements within the company...............................166
12 Companies in financial trouble......................................167
Part 1.6—Interaction with Australian Charities and
Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 170 111K Bodies corporate registered under the Australian
Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act
2012...............................................................................170
111L Provisions not applicable to the body corporate ............170
111M Member approval ..........................................................172
111N Notices ..........................................................................173
111P Annual general meetings ...............................................173
111Q Presumptions to be made in recovery proceedings........174
Chapter 2A—Registering a company 175
Part 2A.1—What companies can be registered 175 112 Types of companies.......................................................175
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
vi Corporations Act 2001
113 Proprietary companies ...................................................176
114 Minimum of 1 member..................................................177
115 Restrictions on size of partnerships and
associations ...................................................................177
116 Trade unions cannot be registered .................................178
Part 2A.2—How a company is registered 179 117 Applying for registration ...............................................179
118 ASIC gives company ACN, registers company and
issues certificate ............................................................181
119 Company comes into existence on registration .............182
119A Jurisdiction of incorporation and jurisdiction of
registration.....................................................................182
120 Members, directors and company secretary of a
company ........................................................................183
121 Registered office ...........................................................184
122 Expenses incurred in promoting and setting up
company ........................................................................184
123 Company may have common seal .................................184
Chapter 2B—Basic features of a company 185
Part 2B.1—Company powers and how they are exercised 185 124 Legal capacity and powers of a company......................185
125 Constitution may limit powers and set out objects ........186
126 Agent exercising a company’s power to make
contracts ........................................................................186
127 Execution of documents (including deeds) by the
company itself ...............................................................186
Part 2B.2—Assumptions people dealing with companies are
entitled to make 188 128 Entitlement to make assumptions ..................................188
129 Assumptions that can be made under section 128 .........188
130 Information available to the public from ASIC
does not constitute constructive notice ..........................190
Part 2B.3—Contracts before registration 191 131 Contracts before registration .........................................191
132 Person may be released from liability but is not
entitled to indemnity......................................................192
133 This Part replaces other rights and liabilities.................192
Part 2B.4—Replaceable rules and constitution 193 134 Internal management of companies ...............................193
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Corporations Act 2001 vii
135 Replaceable rules...........................................................193
136 Constitution of a company.............................................194
137 Date of effect of adoption, modification or repeal
of constitution................................................................195
138 ASIC may direct company to lodge consolidated
constitution....................................................................196
139 Company must send copy of constitution to
member..........................................................................196
140 Effect of constitution and replaceable rules...................196
141 Table of replaceable rules..............................................197
Part 2B.5—Registered office and places of business 200 142 Registered office ...........................................................200
143 ASIC may change address of registered office to a
director’s address...........................................................200
144 Company’s name must be displayed at registered
office etc........................................................................201
145 Opening hours of registered office of public
company ........................................................................201
146 Change of address of principal place of business ..........202
146A Contact address .............................................................202
Part 2B.6—Names 203
Division 1—Selecting and using a name 203
147 When a name is available ..............................................203
148 A company’s name ........................................................204
149 Acceptable abbreviations...............................................205
150 Exception to requirement for using ―Limited‖ in
name ..............................................................................206
151 Exception to requirement for using ―Limited‖ in
name—pre-existing licences .........................................207
152 Reserving a name ..........................................................208
153 Using a name and ACN on documents..........................208
154 Exception to requirement to have ACN on receipts ......209
155 Regulations may exempt from requirement to set
out information on documents.......................................209
156 Carrying on business using ―Limited‖, ―No
Liability‖ or ―Proprietary‖ in name ...............................210
Division 2—Changing a company’s name 211
157 Company changing its name .........................................211
157A Change of name of company under external
administration................................................................211
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
viii Corporations Act 2001
158 ASIC’s power to direct company to change its
name ..............................................................................213
159 ASIC’s power to include ―Limited‖ in company’s
name ..............................................................................213
160 ASIC must issue new certificate if company’s
name changes ................................................................214
161 Effect of name change ...................................................214
161A Company under external administration—former
name to be used on documents ......................................214
Part 2B.7—Changing company type 217 162 Changing company type ................................................217
163 Applying for change of type..........................................219
164 ASIC changes type of company ....................................222
165 ASIC may direct a proprietary company to change
to a public company in certain circumstances ...............223
166 Effect of change of type ................................................224
167 Issue of shares by company or holding company—
company limited by guarantee changing to
company limited by shares ............................................224
167AA Application of Part to company limited both by
shares and by guarantee.................................................225
Chapter 2C—Registers 226
Part 2C.1—Registers generally 226 167A Who is covered by this Chapter.....................................226
168 Registers to be maintained.............................................226
169 Register of members......................................................227
170 Register of option holders and copies of options
documents .....................................................................229
171 Register of debenture holders ........................................230
172 Location of registers ......................................................231
173 Right to inspect and get copies ......................................232
174 Agent’s obligations .......................................................233
175 Correction of registers ...................................................234
176 Evidentiary value of registers ........................................234
177 Use of information on registers .....................................234
178 Overseas branch registers ..............................................236
Part 2C.2—Notice by proprietary companies of changes to
member register 237 178A Notice of change to member register.............................237
178B Top 20 only ...................................................................238
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Corporations Act 2001 ix
178C Notice of change to share structure ...............................238
178D Time within which ASIC must be notified....................238
Chapter 2D—Officers and employees 240
Part 2D.1—Duties and powers 240 179 Background to duties of directors, other officers
and employees ...............................................................240
Division 1—General duties 241
180 Care and diligence—civil obligation only.....................241
181 Good faith—civil obligations ........................................242
182 Use of position—civil obligations.................................242
183 Use of information—civil obligations ...........................243
184 Good faith, use of position and use of
information—criminal offences ....................................243
185 Interaction of sections 180 to 184 with other laws
etc. .................................................................................244
186 Territorial application of sections 180 to 184................244
187 Directors of wholly-owned subsidiaries ........................245
188 Responsibility of secretaries etc. for certain
corporate contraventions ...............................................245
189 Reliance on information or advice provided by
others.............................................................................246
190 Responsibility for actions of delegate............................247
190A Limited application of Division to registrable
Australian bodies...........................................................248
190B Division does not apply to Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander corporations............................................248
Division 2—Disclosure of, and voting on matters involving,
material personal interests 249
191 Material personal interest—director’s duty to
disclose..........................................................................249
192 Director may give other directors standing notice
about an interest ............................................................251
193 Interaction of sections 191 and 192 with other
laws etc..........................................................................253
194 Voting and completion of transactions—directors
of proprietary companies (replaceable rule—see
section 135) ...................................................................253
195 Restrictions on voting—directors of public
companies only..............................................................254
196 ASIC power to make declarations and class orders .......255
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
x Corporations Act 2001
Division 3—Duty to discharge certain trust liabilities 257
197 Directors liable for debts and other obligations
incurred by corporation as trustee .................................257
Division 4—Powers 259
198A Powers of directors (replaceable rule—see
section 135) ...................................................................259
198B Negotiable instruments (replaceable rule—see
section 135) ...................................................................259
198C Managing director (replaceable rule—see
section 135) ...................................................................259
198D Delegation .....................................................................259
198E Single director/shareholder proprietary companies .......260
198F Right of access to company books ................................260
Part 2D.2—Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and
termination payments 262
Division 1—Indemnities and insurance for officers and auditors 262
199A Indemnification and exemption of officer or
auditor ...........................................................................262
199B Insurance premiums for certain liabilities of
director, secretary, other officer or auditor ....................263
199C Certain indemnities, exemptions, payments and
agreements not authorised and certain documents
void................................................................................264
Division 2—Termination payments 265
200 Interpreting this Division...............................................265
200AA Meaning of managerial or executive office ...................265
200AB Meaning of benefit ........................................................266
200A When benefit given in connection with retirement
from an office or position..............................................266
200B Retirement benefits generally need membership
approval.........................................................................268
200C Benefits on transfer of undertaking or property
need membership approval............................................269
200D Contravention to receive benefit without member
approval.........................................................................270
200E Approval by members ...................................................270
200F Exempt benefits and benefits given in certain
circumstances ................................................................272
200G Genuine payments of pension and lump sum ................275
200H Benefits required by law................................................277
200J Benefits to be held on trust and repaid ..........................277
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Corporations Act 2001 xi
Part 2D.3—Appointment, remuneration and cessation of
appointment of directors 279
Division 1—Appointment of directors 279
Subdivision A—General rules 279
201A Minimum number of directors.......................................279
201B Who can be a director....................................................279
201D Consent to act as director ..............................................279
201E Special rules for the appointment of public
company directors .........................................................280
201F Special rules for the appointment of directors for
single director/single shareholder proprietary
companies......................................................................280
201G Company may appoint a director (replaceable
rule—see section 135) ...................................................281
201H Directors may appoint other directors (replaceable
rule—see section 135) ...................................................281
201J Appointment of managing directors (replaceable
rule—see section 135) ...................................................282
201K Alternate directors (replaceable rule—see
section 135) ...................................................................282
201L Signpost—ASIC to be notified of appointment.............283
201M Effectiveness of acts by directors ..................................283
Subdivision B—Limits on numbers of directors of public
companies 283
201N Application of Subdivision............................................283
201P Directors must not set board limit unless proposed
limit has been approved by general meeting .................284
201Q Requirements for explanatory statement to
members ........................................................................285
201R Records of voting on board limit resolution if poll
demanded ......................................................................285
201S Notice of resolution to be lodged ..................................286
201T Declaration by court of substantial compliance.............286
201U Consequences of setting board limit in breach of
section 201P ..................................................................286
Division 2—Remuneration of directors 289
202A Remuneration of directors (replaceable rule—see
section 135) ...................................................................289
202B Members may obtain information about directors’
remuneration .................................................................289
202C Special rule for single director/single shareholder
proprietary companies ...................................................290
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
xii Corporations Act 2001
Division 3—Resignation, retirement or removal of directors 291
203A Director may resign by giving written notice to
company (replaceable rule—see section 135)...............291
203B Signpost to consequences of disqualification from
managing corporations ..................................................291
203C Removal by members—proprietary companies
(replaceable rule—see section 135) ..............................291
203D Removal by members—public companies ....................291
203E Director cannot be removed by other directors—
public companies...........................................................293
203F Termination of appointment of managing director
(replaceable rule—see section 135) ..............................293
Part 2D.4—Appointment of secretaries 294 204A Minimum number of secretaries....................................294
204B Who can be a secretary..................................................294
204C Consent to act as secretary ............................................294
204D How a secretary is appointed.........................................295
204E Effectiveness of acts by secretaries ...............................295
204F Terms and conditions of office for secretaries
(replaceable rule—see section 135) ..............................295
204G Signpost to consequences of disqualification from
managing corporations ..................................................296
Part 2D.5—Public information about directors and secretaries 297 205A Director, secretary or alternate director may notify
ASIC of resignation or retirement .................................297
205B Notice of name and address of directors and
secretaries to ASIC........................................................297
205C Director and secretary must give information to
company ........................................................................299
205D Address for officers .......................................................299
205E ASIC’s power to ask for information about
person’s position as director or secretary ......................300
205F Director must give information to company..................300
205G Listed company—director to notify market
operator of shareholdings etc.........................................301
Part 2D.6—Disqualification from managing corporations 303 206A Disqualified person not to manage corporations ...........303
206B Automatic disqualification ............................................304
206BA Extension of period of automatic disqualification .........305
206C Court power of disqualification—contravention of
civil penalty provision ...................................................306
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Corporations Act 2001 xiii
206D Court power of disqualification—insolvency and
non-payment of debts ....................................................307
206E Court power of disqualification—repeated
contraventions of Act ....................................................309
206EAA Court power of disqualification—disqualification
under a law of a foreign jurisdiction..............................310
206EA Disqualification under the Competition and
Consumer Act 2010 etc..................................................310
206EB Disqualification under the ASIC Act.............................311
206F ASIC’s power of disqualification ..................................311
206G Court power to grant leave ............................................312
206GA Involvement of ACCC—leave orders under
section 206G..................................................................313
206H Territorial application of this Part .................................314
206HA Limited application of Part to registrable
Australian bodies...........................................................314
206HB Part does not apply to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander corporations .....................................................314
Part 2D.7—Ban on hedging remuneration of key management
personnel 316 206J No hedging of remuneration of key management
personnel .......................................................................316
Part 2D.8—Remuneration recommendations in relation to key
management personnel for disclosing entities 318 206K Board to approve remuneration consultants ..................318
206L Remuneration recommendation by remuneration
consultants.....................................................................319
206M Declaration by remuneration consultant ........................319
Chapter 2E—Related party transactions 321 207 Purpose..........................................................................321
Part 2E.1—Member approval needed for related party benefit 322
Division 1—Need for member approval 322
208 Need for member approval for financial benefit............322
209 Consequences of breach ................................................323
Division 2—Exceptions to the requirement for member approval 324
210 Arm’s length terms ........................................................324
211 Remuneration and reimbursement for officer or
employee .......................................................................324
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
xiv Corporations Act 2001
212 Indemnities, exemptions, insurance premiums and
payment for legal costs for officers ...............................325
213 Small amounts given to related entity ...........................326
214 Benefit to or by closely-held subsidiary ........................327
215 Benefits to members that do not discriminate
unfairly ..........................................................................328
216 Court order ....................................................................328
Division 3—Procedure for obtaining member approval 329
217 Resolution may specify matters by class or kind...........329
218 Company must lodge material that will be put to
members with ASIC ......................................................329
219 Requirements for explanatory statement to
members ........................................................................330
220 ASIC may comment on proposed resolution .................331
221 Requirements for notice of meeting ..............................331
222 Other material put to members ......................................332
223 Proposed resolution cannot be varied ............................332
224 Voting by or on behalf of related party interested
in proposed resolution ...................................................332
225 Voting on the resolution ................................................334
226 Notice of resolution to be lodged ..................................335
227 Declaration by court of substantial compliance.............335
Part 2E.2—Related parties and financial benefits 336 228 Related parties ...............................................................336
229 Giving a financial benefit ..............................................337
Part 2E.3—Interaction with other rules 339 230 General duties still apply ...............................................339
Chapter 2F—Members’ rights and remedies 340 231 Membership of a company ............................................340
Part 2F.1—Oppressive conduct of affairs 341 232 Grounds for Court order ................................................341
233 Orders the Court can make ............................................341
234 Who can apply for order................................................342
235 Requirement for person to lodge order ..........................343
Part 2F.1A—Proceedings on behalf of a company by members
and others 344 236 Bringing, or intervening in, proceedings on behalf
of a company .................................................................344
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Corporations Act 2001 xv
237 Applying for and granting leave....................................344
238 Substitution of another person for the person
granted leave .................................................................346
239 Effect of ratification by members ..................................347
240 Leave to discontinue, compromise or settle
proceedings brought, or intervened in, with leave .........347
241 General powers of the Court..........................................347
242 Power of the Court to make costs orders .......................348
Part 2F.2—Class rights 349 246B Varying and cancelling class rights ...............................349
246C Certain actions taken to vary rights etc..........................350
246D Variation, cancellation or modification without
unanimous support of class ...........................................351
246E Variation, cancellation or modification with
unanimous support of class ...........................................352
246F Company must lodge documents and resolutions
with ASIC......................................................................352
246G Member’s copies of documents and resolutions ............353
Part 2F.3—Inspection of books 355 247A Order for inspection of books of company or
registered managed investment scheme.........................355
247B Ancillary orders.............................................................356
247C Disclosure of information acquired in inspection..........356
247D Company or directors may allow member to
inspect books (replaceable rule see section 135) ..........356
Part 2F.4—Proceedings against a company by members and
others 357 247E Shareholding does not prevent compensation claim......357
Chapter 2G—Meetings 358
Part 2G.1—Directors’ meetings 358
Division 1—Resolutions and declarations without meetings 358
248A Circulating resolutions of companies with more
than 1 director (replaceable rule see section 135).........358
248B Resolutions and declarations of 1 director
proprietary companies ...................................................358
Division 2—Directors’ meetings 360
248C Calling directors’ meetings (replaceable rule see
section 135) ...................................................................360
248D Use of technology..........................................................360
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
xvi Corporations Act 2001
248E Chairing directors’ meetings (replaceable rule see
section 135) ...................................................................360
248F Quorum at directors’ meetings (replaceable rule
see section 135) .............................................................360
248G Passing of directors’ resolutions (replaceable rule
see section 135) .............................................................361
Part 2G.2—Meetings of members of companies 362
Division 1—Resolutions without meetings 362
249A Circulating resolutions of proprietary companies
with more than 1 member..............................................362
249B Resolutions of 1 member companies .............................363
Division 2—Who may call meetings of members 364
249C Calling of meetings of members by a director
(replaceable rule—see section 135) ..............................364
249CA Calling of meetings of members of a listed
company by a director ...................................................364
249D Calling of general meeting by directors when
requested by members ...................................................364
249E Failure of directors to call general meeting ...................365
249F Calling of general meetings by members ......................366
249G Calling of meetings of members by the Court ...............366
Division 3—How to call meetings of members 367
249H Amount of notice of meetings .......................................367
249HA Amount of notice of meetings of listed company..........367
249J Notice of meetings of members to members and
directors.........................................................................368
249K Auditor entitled to notice and other
communications ............................................................369
249L Contents of notice of meetings of members ..................370
249LA Notice of meeting not required to contain certain
information....................................................................371
249M Notice of adjourned meetings (replaceable rule—
see section 135) .............................................................371
Division 4—Members’ rights to put resolutions etc. at general
meetings 372
249N Members’ resolutions ....................................................372
249O Company giving notice of members’ resolutions ..........372
249P Members’ statements to be distributed ..........................373
Division 5—Holding meetings of members 375
249Q Purpose..........................................................................375
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Corporations Act 2001 xvii
249R Time and place for meetings of members......................375
249S Technology....................................................................375
249T Quorum (replaceable rule—see section 135) ................375
249U Chairing meetings of members (replaceable rule—
see section 135) .............................................................376
249V Auditor’s right to be heard at general meetings .............376
249W Adjourned meetings ......................................................377
Division 6—Proxies and body corporate representatives 378
249X Who can appoint a proxy (replaceable rule for
proprietary companies and mandatory rule for
public companies—see section 135) ..............................378
249Y Rights of proxies ...........................................................378
249Z Company sending appointment forms or lists of
proxies must send to all members..................................379
250A Appointing a proxy........................................................379
250B Proxy documents ...........................................................380
250BA Proxy documents—listed companies.............................381
250BB Proxy vote if appointment specifies way to vote ...........382
250BC Transfer of non-chair proxy to chair in certain
circumstances ................................................................383
250BD Proxy voting by key management personnel or
closely related parties ....................................................383
250C Validity of proxy vote ...................................................385
250D Body corporate representative .......................................386
Division 7—Voting at meetings of members 387
250E How many votes a member has (replaceable
rule—see section 135) ...................................................387
250F Jointly held shares (replaceable rule—see
section 135) ...................................................................387
250G Objections to right to vote (replaceable rule—see
section 135) ...................................................................387
250H Votes need not all be cast in the same way....................388
250J How voting is carried out (replaceable rule—see
section 135) ...................................................................388
250K Matters on which a poll may be demanded ...................388
250L When a poll is effectively demanded.............................389
250M When and how polls must be taken (replaceable
rule—see section 135) ...................................................389
Division 8—AGMs of public companies 390
250N Public company must hold AGM ..................................390
250P Extension of time for holding AGM..............................390
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
xviii Corporations Act 2001
250PAA Exemptions by ASIC—class orders relating to
externally-administered companies ...............................391
250PAB Exemptions by ASIC—individual
externally-administered companies ...............................391
250PA Written questions to auditor submitted by
members of listed company before AGM......................392
250R Business of AGM ..........................................................394
250RA Auditor required to attend listed company’s AGM .......396
250S Questions and comments by members on company
management at AGM ....................................................397
250SA Listed company—remuneration report..........................397
250T Questions by members of auditors at AGM ..................397
Division 9—Meetings arising from concerns about remuneration
reports 399
250U Application....................................................................399
250V Resolution to hold fresh elections for directors at
special meeting to be put to vote at AGM .....................399
250W Consequences of spill resolution being passed..............400
250X Ensuring there are at least 3 directors after spill
meeting..........................................................................401
250Y Term of office of director reappointed at spill
meeting..........................................................................403
Part 2G.3—Minutes and members’ access to minutes 404 251A Minutes..........................................................................404
251AA Disclosure of proxy votes—listed companies ...............405
251B Members’ access to minutes..........................................406
Part 2G.4—Meetings of members of registered managed
investment schemes 407
Division 1—Who may call meetings of members 407
252A Calling of meetings of members by responsible
entity..............................................................................407
252B Calling of meetings of members by responsible
entity when requested by members................................407
252C Failure of responsible entity to call meeting of the
scheme’s members ........................................................408
252D Calling of meetings of members by members ...............409
252E Calling of meetings of members by the Court ...............409
Division 2—How to call meetings of members 411
252F Amount of notice of meetings .......................................411
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Corporations Act 2001 xix
252G Notice of meetings of members to members,
directors and auditors ....................................................411
252H Auditors entitled to other communications....................412
252J Contents of notice of meetings of members ..................412
252K Notice of adjourned meetings........................................413
Division 3—Members’ rights to put resolutions etc. at meetings
of members 414
252L Members’ resolutions ....................................................414
252M Responsible entity giving notice of members’
resolutions .....................................................................415
252N Members’ statements to be distributed ..........................415
Division 4—Holding meetings of members 418
252P Time and place for meetings of members......................418
252Q Technology....................................................................418
252R Quorum .........................................................................418
252S Chairing meetings of members......................................419
252T Auditors’ right to be heard at meetings of
members ........................................................................419
252U Adjourned meetings ......................................................420
Division 5—Proxies and body corporate representatives 421
252V Who can appoint a proxy...............................................421
252W Rights of proxies ...........................................................421
252X Responsible entity sending appointment forms or
lists of proxies must send to all members ......................422
252Y Appointing a proxy........................................................422
252Z Proxy documents ...........................................................423
253A Validity of proxy vote ...................................................425
253B Body corporate representative .......................................425
Division 6—Voting at meetings of members 427
253C How many votes a member has .....................................427
253D Jointly held interests......................................................427
253E Responsible entity and associates cannot vote if
interested in resolution ..................................................427
253F How to work out the value of an interest.......................427
253G Objections to a right to vote ..........................................428
253H Votes need not all be cast in the same way....................428
253J How voting is carried out ..............................................428
253K Matters on which a poll may be demanded ...................429
253L When a poll is effectively demanded.............................429
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
xx Corporations Act 2001
Division 7—Minutes and members’ access to minutes 430
253M Minutes..........................................................................430
253N Members’ access to minutes..........................................430
Chapter 2H—Shares 432
Part 2H.1—Issuing and converting shares 432 254A Power to issue bonus, partly-paid, preference and
redeemable preference shares ........................................432
254B Terms of issue ...............................................................433
254C No par value shares .......................................................434
254D Pre-emption for existing shareholders on issue of
shares in proprietary company (replaceable rule—
see section 135) .............................................................434
254E Court validation of issue................................................435
254F Bearer shares and stock must not be issued...................435
254G Conversion of shares .....................................................435
254H Resolution to convert shares into larger or smaller
number ..........................................................................436
Part 2H.2—Redemption of redeemable preference shares 437 254J Redemption must be in accordance with terms of
issue...............................................................................437
254K Other requirements about redemption ...........................437
254L Consequences of contravening section 254J or
254K..............................................................................437
Part 2H.3—Partly-paid shares 439 254M Liability on partly-paid shares.......................................439
254N Calls may be limited to when company is
externally-administered .................................................439
254P No liability companies—calls on shares........................440
254Q No liability companies—forfeiture and sale of
shares for failure to meet call ........................................440
254R No liability companies—redemption of forfeited
shares.............................................................................443
Part 2H.4—Capitalisation of profits 444 254S Capitalisation of profits .................................................444
Part 2H.5—Dividends 445 254SA Companies limited by guarantee not to pay
dividends .......................................................................445
254T Circumstances in which a dividend may be paid...........445
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Corporations Act 2001 xxi
254U Other provisions about paying dividends
(replaceable rule—see section 135) ..............................445
254V When does the company incur a debt? ..........................446
254W Dividend rights..............................................................446
Part 2H.6—Notice requirements 448 254X Notice to ASIC of share issue .......................................448
254Y Notice to ASIC of share cancellation ............................449
Chapter 2J—Transactions affecting share capital 450
Part 2J.1—Share capital reductions and share buy-backs 450 256A Purpose..........................................................................450
Division 1—Reductions in share capital not otherwise authorised
by law 451
256B Company may make reduction not otherwise
authorised ......................................................................451
256C Shareholder approval.....................................................452
256D Consequences of failing to comply with
section 256B..................................................................453
256E Signposts to other relevant provisions...........................453
Division 2—Share buy-backs 455
257A The company’s power to buy back its own shares ........455
257B Buy-back procedure—general.......................................455
257C Buy-back procedure—shareholder approval if the
10/12 limit exceeded .....................................................458
257D Buy-back procedure—special shareholder
approval for selective buy-back.....................................458
257E Buy-back procedure—lodgment of offer
documents with ASIC ...................................................459
257F Notice of intended buy-back .........................................460
257G Buy-back procedure—disclosure of relevant
information when offer made ........................................460
257H Acceptance of offer and transfer of shares to the
company ........................................................................461
257J Signposts to other relevant provisions...........................461
Division 3—Other share capital reductions 463
258A Unlimited companies.....................................................463
258B Right to occupy or use real property..............................463
258C Brokerage or commission..............................................463
258D Cancellation of forfeited shares .....................................463
258E Other share cancellations...............................................464
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
xxii Corporations Act 2001
258F Reductions because of lost capital.................................464
Part 2J.2—Self-acquisition and control of shares 465 259A Directly acquiring own shares .......................................465
259B Taking security over own shares or shares in
holding company ...........................................................465
259C Issuing or transferring shares to controlled entity..........466
259D Company controlling entity that holds shares in it ........467
259E When a company controls an entity...............................468
259F Consequences of failing to comply with
section 259A or 259B....................................................469
Part 2J.3—Financial assistance 470 260A Financial assistance by a company for acquiring
shares in the company or a holding company................470
260B Shareholder approval.....................................................470
260C Exempted financial assistance .......................................472
260D Consequences of failing to comply with
section 260A..................................................................474
Part 2J.4—Interaction with general directors’ duties 475 260E General duties still apply ...............................................475
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Preliminary Part 1.1
Section 1
Corporations Act 2001 1
An Act to make provision in relation to
corporations and financial products and services,
and for other purposes
Chapter 1—Introductory
Part 1.1—Preliminary
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Corporations Act 2001.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.
3 Constitutional basis for this Act
(1) The operation of this Act in the referring States is based on:
(a) the legislative powers that the Commonwealth Parliament
has under section 51 of the Constitution (other than
paragraph 51(xxxvii)); and
(b) the legislative powers that the Commonwealth Parliament
has in respect of matters to which this Act relates because
those matters are referred to it by the Parliaments of the
referring States under paragraph 51(xxxvii) of the
Constitution.
Note: The State referrals fully supplement the Commonwealth Parliament’s
other powers by referring the matters to the Commonwealth
Parliament to the extent to which they are not otherwise included in
the legislative powers of the Commonwealth Parliament.
(2) The operation of this Act in the Northern Territory and the Capital
Territory is based on:
(a) the legislative powers that the Commonwealth Parliament
has under section 122 of the Constitution to make laws for
the government of those Territories; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.1 Preliminary
Section 4
2 Corporations Act 2001
(b) the legislative powers that the Commonwealth Parliament
has under section 51 of the Constitution.
Despite subsection 22(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, this
Act as applying in those territories is a law of the Commonwealth.
(3) The operation of this Act outside Australia is based on:
(a) the legislative power the Commonwealth Parliament has
under paragraph 51(xxix) of the Constitution; and
(b) the other legislative powers that the Commonwealth
Parliament has under section 51 of the Constitution; and
(c) the legislative powers that the Commonwealth Parliament
has under section 122 of the Constitution to make laws for
the government of those Territories.
(4) The operation of this Act in a State that is not a referring State is
based on:
(a) the legislative powers that the Commonwealth Parliament
has under section 51 (other than paragraph 51(xxxvii)) and
section 122 of the Constitution; and
(b) the legislative powers that the Commonwealth Parliament
has in respect of matters to which this Act relates because
those matters are referred to it by the Parliaments of the
referring States under paragraph 51(xxxvii) of the
Constitution.
4 Referring States
Reference of matters by State Parliament to Commonwealth
Parliament
(1) A State is a referring State if the Parliament of the State has
referred the matters covered by subsections (4) and (5) to the
Parliament of the Commonwealth for the purposes of
paragraph 51(xxxvii) of the Constitution:
(a) if and to the extent that the matters are not otherwise
included in the legislative powers of the Parliament of the
Commonwealth (otherwise than by a reference under
paragraph 51(xxxvii) of the Constitution); and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Preliminary Part 1.1
Section 4
Corporations Act 2001 3
(b) if and to the extent to which the matters are included in the
legislative powers of the Parliament of the State.
This subsection has effect subject to subsections (6) and (7).
(2) A State is a referring State even if the State reference Act includes
a provision to the effect that nothing in the State reference Act is
intended to enable the making of laws pursuant to the amendment
reference with the sole or main underlying purpose or object of
regulating industrial relations matters even if, but for that provision
in the State reference Act, the law would be a law with respect to a
matter referred to the Parliament of the Commonwealth by the
amendment reference.
(3) A State is a referring State even if a law of the State provides that
the reference to the Commonwealth Parliament of either or both of
the matters covered by subsections (4) and (5) is to terminate in
particular circumstances.
Reference covering initial Corporations Act and ASIC Act
(4) This subsection covers the matters to which the referred provisions
relate to the extent of making laws with respect to those matters by
including the referred provisions in the initial Corporations Act and
the initial ASIC Act.
Reference covering amendments of this Act and ASIC Act
(5) This subsection covers the matters of the formation of
corporations, corporate regulation and the regulation of financial
products and services to the extent of the making of laws with
respect to those matters by making express amendments of this Act
or the ASIC Act.
Effect of termination of reference
(6) A State ceases to be a referring State if the State’s initial reference
terminates.
(7) A State ceases to be a referring State if:
(a) the State’s amendment reference terminates; and
(b) subsection (8) does not apply to the termination.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.1 Preliminary
Section 4
4 Corporations Act 2001
(8) A State does not cease to be a referring State because of the
termination of its amendment reference if:
(a) the termination is effected by the Governor of that State
fixing a day by proclamation as the day on which the
reference terminates; and
(b) the day fixed is no earlier than the first day after the end of
the period of 6 months beginning on the day on which the
proclamation is published; and
(c) that State’s amendment reference, and the amendment
reference of every other State, terminates on the same day.
Definitions
(9) In this section:
amendment reference of a State means the reference by the
Parliament of the State to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of
the matters covered by subsection (5).
express amendment of this Act or the ASIC Act means the direct
amendment of the text of this Act or the ASIC Act (whether by the
insertion, omission, repeal, substitution or relocation of words or
matter) by Commonwealth Acts, but does not include the
enactment by a Commonwealth Act of a provision that has, or will
have, substantive effect otherwise than as part of the text of this
Act or the ASIC Act.
initial ASIC Act means the ASIC Act as originally enacted.
initial Corporations Act means this Act as originally enacted.
initial reference of a State means the reference by the Parliament
of the State to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of the matters
covered by subsection (4).
referred provisions means:
(a) the initial Corporations Act; and
(b) the initial ASIC Act;
to the extent to which they deal with matters that are included in
the legislative powers of the Parliaments of the States.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Preliminary Part 1.1
Section 5
Corporations Act 2001 5
State reference Act for a State is the law under which the initial
reference and the amendment reference are given.
5 General territorial application of Act
Geographical coverage of “this jurisdiction”
(1) Section 9 defines this jurisdiction as the area that includes:
(a) each referring State (including its coastal sea); and
(b) the Capital Territory (including the coastal sea of the Jervis
Bay Territory); and
(c) the Northern Territory (including its coastal sea); and
(d) also, for the purposes of the application of a provision of
Chapter 7 or an associated provision (see subsection (10))—
any external Territory in which the provision applies because
of subsection (9) (but only to the extent provided for in that
subsection).
(2) Throughout this Act, this jurisdiction therefore consists of:
(a) either:
(i) the whole of Australia (if all the States are referring
States); or
(ii) Australia (other than any State that is not a referring
State) if one or more States are not referring States; and
(b) also, when used in or in relation to a provision of Chapter 7
or an associated provision (see subsection (10))—any
external Territory in which the provision applies because of
subsection (9) (but only to the extent provided for in that
subsection).
Operation in this jurisdiction
(3) Each provision of this Act applies in this jurisdiction.
Operation outside this jurisdiction
(4) Subject to subsection (8), each provision of this Act also applies,
according to its tenor, in relation to acts and omissions outside this
jurisdiction.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.1 Preliminary
Section 5
6 Corporations Act 2001
Residence, place of formation etc.
(7) Each provision of this Act applies according to its tenor to:
(a) natural persons whether:
(i) resident in this jurisdiction or not; and
(ii) resident in Australia or not; and
(iii) Australian citizens or not; and
(b) all bodies corporate and unincorporated bodies whether:
(i) formed or carrying on business in this jurisdiction or
not; and
(ii) formed or carrying on business in Australia or not.
Note: Paragraph (b)—many of the provisions in this Act apply only in
relation to companies (that is, to companies that are registered under
this Act).
Operation in non-referring States
(8) This Act does not apply to an act or omission in a State that is not a
referring State to the extent to which that application would be
beyond the legislative powers of the Parliament (including powers
it has under paragraphs 51(xxxvii) and (xxxix) of the Constitution).
Expanded application of provisions of Chapter 7 and associated
provisions
(9) The regulations may provide that, in specified circumstances, a
specified external Territory is included in this jurisdiction for the
purposes of a specified provision of Chapter 7 (the applicable
provision). If the regulations do so:
(a) the applicable provision applies in that external Territory in
those circumstances; and
(b) the associated provisions (see subsection (10)) in relation to
the applicable provision apply in that external Territory in
relation to the applicable provision as so applying.
Meaning of associated provisions
(10) For the purposes of this section, the associated provisions in
relation to a provision of Chapter 7 are:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Preliminary Part 1.1
Section 5A
Corporations Act 2001 7
(a) the provisions of Chapters 1, 9 (including the provisions of
Division 2 of Part 9.4 that create offences and of Part 9.4B
that allow for pecuniary penalty orders) and 10 as they apply
or have effect in relation to, or for the purposes of, the
provision; and
(b) any regulations or other instruments (including any that
create offences or allow for pecuniary penalty orders) made
under this Act for the purposes of any of the provisions
covered by paragraph (a); and
(c) if regulations made for the purposes of subsection (9) have
been made in relation to the provision—any other provisions
of this Act, or any regulations or other instruments made
under this Act (including any that create offences or allow for
pecuniary penalty orders), specified in those regulations.
5A Application to the Crown
(1) To avoid doubt, a reference in this section to the Crown in a
particular right includes a reference to an instrumentality or agency
(whether a body corporate or not) of the Crown in that right.
(2) Chapter 5 (except Part 5.8) binds the Crown in right of the
Commonwealth, of each of the States, of the Capital Territory, of
the Northern Territory and of Norfolk Island.
(3) Chapters 6, 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D:
(a) bind the Crown in right of the Commonwealth; and
(b) do not bind the Crown in right of any State, of the Capital
Territory, of the Northern Territory or of Norfolk Island.
(4) A provision of Chapter 5D, 6CA or 7 only binds the Crown in a
particular capacity in circumstances (if any) specified in the
regulations.
(5) Nothing in this Act makes the Crown in any right liable to a
pecuniary penalty or to be prosecuted for an offence.
5B ASIC has general administration of this Act
Subject to the ASIC Act, ASIC has the general administration of
this Act.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.1 Preliminary
Section 5C
8 Corporations Act 2001
5C Application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901
(1) Until the date of commencement of section 4 of the Legislative
Instruments (Transitional and Consequential Amendments) Act
2003 (the Legislative Instruments commencement day), the Acts
Interpretation Act 1901 as in force on 1 November 2000 applies to
this Act.
(2) On and after the Legislative Instruments commencement day, the
Acts Interpretation Act 1901 as in force on that day applies to this
Act.
(3) Amendments of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 made after the
Legislative Instruments commencement day do not apply to this
Act.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interaction between Corporations legislation and State and Territory laws Part 1.1A
Section 5D
Corporations Act 2001 9
Part 1.1A—Interaction between Corporations
legislation and State and Territory laws
5D Coverage of Part
(1) This Part applies only to laws of a State or Territory that is in this
jurisdiction.
(2) This Part applies only to the following Corporations legislation:
(a) this Act (including the regulations made under this Act); and
(b) Part 3 of the ASIC Act; and
(c) regulations made under the ASIC Act for the purposes of
Part 3 of that Act.
Note: This Part does not apply in relation to the trustee company provisions:
see section 601RAE.
(3) This Part does not apply to Part 3 of the ASIC Act, or regulations
made under that Act for the purposes of Part 3 of that Act, to the
extent to which they operate in relation to a contravention of
Division 2 of Part 2 of that Act.
5E Concurrent operation intended
(1) The Corporations legislation is not intended to exclude or limit the
concurrent operation of any law of a State or Territory.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Corporations legislation is not
intended to exclude or limit the concurrent operation of a law of a
State or Territory that:
(a) imposes additional obligations or liabilities (whether criminal
or civil) on:
(i) a director or other officer of a company or other
corporation; or
(ii) a company or other body; or
(b) confers additional powers on:
(i) a director or other officer of a company or other
corporation; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.1A Interaction between Corporations legislation and State and Territory laws
Section 5E
10 Corporations Act 2001
(ii) a company or other body; or
(c) provides for the formation of a body corporate; or
(d) imposes additional limits on the interests a person may hold
or acquire in a company or other body; or
(e) prevents a person from:
(i) being a director of; or
(ii) being involved in the management or control of;
a company or other body; or
(f) requires a company:
(i) to have a constitution; or
(ii) to have particular rules in its constitution.
Note: Paragraph (a)—this includes imposing additional reporting obligations
on a company or other body.
(3) Without limiting subsection (2), a reference in that subsection to a
law of a State or Territory imposing obligations or liabilities, or
conferring powers, includes a reference to a law of a State or
Territory imposing obligations or liabilities, or conferring powers,
by reference to the State or Territory in which a company is taken
to be registered.
(4) This section does not apply to the law of the State or Territory if
there is a direct inconsistency between the Corporations legislation
and that law.
Note: Section 5G prevents direct inconsistencies arising in some cases by
limiting the operation of the Corporations legislation.
(5) If:
(a) an act or omission of a person is both an offence against the
Corporations legislation and an offence under the law of a
State or Territory; and
(b) the person is convicted of either of those offences;
the person is not liable to be convicted of the other of those
offences.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interaction between Corporations legislation and State and Territory laws Part 1.1A
Section 5F
Corporations Act 2001 11
5F Corporations legislation does not apply to matters declared by
State or Territory law to be an excluded matter
(1) Subsection (2) applies if a provision of a law of a State or Territory
declares a matter to be an excluded matter for the purposes of this
section in relation to:
(a) the whole of the Corporations legislation; or
(b) a specified provision of the Corporations legislation; or
(c) the Corporations legislation other than a specified provision;
or
(d) the Corporations legislation otherwise than to a specified
extent.
(2) By force of this subsection:
(a) none of the provisions of the Corporations legislation (other
than this section) applies in the State or Territory in relation
to the matter if the declaration is one to which
paragraph (1)(a) applies; and
(b) the specified provision of the Corporations legislation does
not apply in the State or Territory in relation to the matter if
the declaration is one to which paragraph (1)(b) applies; and
(c) the provisions of the Corporations legislation (other than this
section and the specified provisions) do not apply in the State
or Territory in relation to the matter if the declaration is one
to which paragraph (1)(c) applies; and
(d) the provisions of the Corporations legislation (other than this
section and otherwise than to the specified extent) do not
apply in the State or Territory in relation to the matter if the
declaration is one to which paragraph (1)(d) applies.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to the declaration to the extent to
which the regulations provide that that subsection does not apply to
that declaration.
(4) By force of this subsection, if:
(a) the Corporations Law, ASC Law or ASIC Law of a State or
Territory; or
(b) a provision of that Law;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.1A Interaction between Corporations legislation and State and Territory laws
Section 5G
12 Corporations Act 2001
did not apply to a matter immediately before this Act commenced
because a provision of a law of the State or Territory provided that
that Law, or that provision, did not apply to the matter, the
Corporations legislation, or the provision of the Corporations
legislation that corresponds to that provision of that Law, does not
apply in the State or Territory to the matter until that law of the
State or Territory is omitted or repealed.
(5) Subsection (4) does not apply to the application of the provisions
of the Corporations legislation to the matter to the extent to which
the regulations provide that that subsection does not apply to the
matter.
(6) In this section:
matter includes act, omission, body, person or thing.
5G Avoiding direct inconsistency arising between the Corporations
legislation and State and Territory laws
Section overrides other provisions of the Corporations legislation
(1) This section has effect despite anything else in the Corporations
legislation.
Section does not deal with provisions capable of concurrent
operation
(2) This section does not apply to a provision of a law of a State or
Territory that is capable of concurrent operation with the
Corporations legislation.
Note: This kind of provision is dealt with by section 5E.
When this section applies to a provision of a State or Territory law
(3) This section applies to the interaction between:
(a) a provision of a law of a State or Territory (the State
provision); and
(b) a provision of the Corporations legislation (the
Commonwealth provision);
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interaction between Corporations legislation and State and Territory laws Part 1.1A
Section 5G
Corporations Act 2001 13
only if the State provision meets the conditions set out in the
following table:
Conditions to be met before section applies [operative]
Item Kind of provision Conditions to be met
1 a pre-commencement
(commenced) provision
(a) the State provision operated, immediately
before this Act commenced, despite the
provision of:
(i) the Corporations Law of the State or
Territory (as in force at that time); or
(ii) the ASC or ASIC Law of the State or
Territory (as in force at that time);
that corresponds to the Commonwealth
provision; and
(b) the State provision is not declared to be one
that this section does not apply to (either
generally or specifically in relation to the
Commonwealth provision) by:
(i) regulations made under this Act; or
(ii) a law of the State or Territory.
2 a pre-commencement
(enacted) provision
(a) the State provision would have operated,
immediately before this Act commenced,
despite the provision of:
(i) the Corporations Law of the State or
Territory (as in force at that time); or
(ii) the ASC or ASIC Law of the State or
Territory (as in force at that time);
that corresponds to the Commonwealth
provision if the State provision had
commenced before the commencement of
this Act; and
(b) the State provision is not declared to be one
that this section does not apply to (either
generally or specifically in relation to the
Commonwealth provision) by:
(i) regulations made under this Act; or
(ii) a law of the State or Territory.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.1A Interaction between Corporations legislation and State and Territory laws
Section 5G
14 Corporations Act 2001
Conditions to be met before section applies [operative]
Item Kind of provision Conditions to be met
3 a post-commencement
provision
the State provision is declared by a law of the
State or Territory to be a Corporations
legislation displacement provision for the
purposes of this section (either generally or
specifically in relation to the Commonwealth
provision)
4 a provision that is
materially amended on
or after this Act
commenced if the
amendment was
enacted before this Act
commenced
(a) the State provision as amended would have
operated, immediately before this Act
commenced, despite the provision of:
(i) the Corporations Law of the State or
Territory (as in force at that time); or
(ii) the ASC or ASIC Law of the State or
Territory (as in force at that time);
that corresponds to the Commonwealth
provision if the amendment had commenced
before the commencement of this Act; and
(b) the State provision is not declared to be one
that this section does not apply to (either
generally or specifically in relation to the
Commonwealth provision) by:
(i) regulations made under this Act; or
(ii) a law of the State or Territory.
5 a provision that is
materially amended on
or after this Act
commenced if the
amendment is enacted
on or after this Act
commenced
the State provision as amended is declared by a
law of the State or Territory to be a
Corporations legislation displacement provision
for the purposes of this section (either generally
or specifically in relation to the Commonwealth
provision)
Note 1: Item 1—subsection (12) tells you when a provision is a
pre-commencement (commenced) provision.
Note 2: Item 1 paragraph (a)—For example, a State or Territory provision
enacted after the commencement of the Corporations Law might not
have operated despite the Corporations Law if it was not expressly
provided that the provision was to operate despite a specified
provision, or despite any provision, of the Corporations Law (see, for
example, section 5 of the Corporations (New South Wales) Act 1990).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interaction between Corporations legislation and State and Territory laws Part 1.1A
Section 5G
Corporations Act 2001 15
Note 3: Item 2—subsection (13) tells you when a provision is a
pre-commencement (enacted) provision.
Note 4: Item 3—subsection (14) tells you when a provision is a
post-commencement provision.
Note 5: Subsections (15) to (17) tell you when a provision is materially
amended after commencement.
State and Territory laws specifically authorising or requiring act
or thing to be done
(4) A provision of the Corporations legislation does not:
(a) prohibit the doing of an act; or
(b) impose a liability (whether civil or criminal) for doing an act;
if a provision of a law of a State or Territory specifically authorises
or requires the doing of that act.
Instructions given to directors under State and Territory laws
(5) If a provision of a law of a State or Territory specifically:
(a) authorises a person to give instructions to the directors or
other officers of a company or body; or
(b) requires the directors of a company or body to:
(i) comply with instructions given by a person; or
(ii) have regard to matters communicated to the company or
body by a person; or
(c) provides that a company or body is subject to the control or
direction of a person;
a provision of the Corporations legislation does not:
(d) prevent the person from giving an instruction to the directors
or exercising control or direction over the company or body;
or
(e) without limiting subsection (4):
(i) prohibit a director from complying with the instruction
or direction; or
(ii) impose a liability (whether civil or criminal) on a
director for complying with the instruction or direction.
The person is not taken to be a director of a company or body for
the purposes of the Corporations legislation merely because the
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.1A Interaction between Corporations legislation and State and Territory laws
Section 5G
16 Corporations Act 2001
directors of the company or body are accustomed to act in
accordance with the person’s instructions.
Use of names authorised by State and Territory laws
(6) The provisions of Part 2B.6 and Part 5B.3 of this Act do not:
(a) prohibit a company or other body from using a name if the
use of the name is expressly provided for, or authorised by, a
provision of a law of a State or Territory; or
(b) require a company or other body to use a word as part of its
name if the company or body is expressly authorised not to
use that word by a provision of a law of a State or Territory.
Meetings held in accordance with requirements of State and
Territory laws
(7) The provisions of Chapter 2G of this Act do not apply to the
calling or conduct of a meeting of a company to the extent to
which the meeting is called or conducted in accordance with a
provision of a law of a State or Territory. Any resolutions passed at
the meeting are as valid as if the meeting had been called and
conducted in accordance with this Act.
External administration under State and Territory laws
(8) The provisions of Chapter 5 of this Act do not apply to a scheme of
arrangement, receivership, winding up or other external
administration of a company to the extent to which the scheme,
receivership, winding up or administration is carried out in
accordance with a provision of a law of a State or Territory.
State and Territory laws dealing with company constitutions
(9) If a provision of a law of a State or Territory provides that a
provision is included, or taken to be included, in a company’s
constitution, the provision is included in the company’s
constitution even though the procedures and other requirements of
this Act are not complied with in relation to the provision.
(10) If a provision of a law of a State or Territory provides that
additional requirements must be met for an alteration of a
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interaction between Corporations legislation and State and Territory laws Part 1.1A
Section 5G
Corporations Act 2001 17
company’s constitution to take effect, the alteration does not take
effect unless those requirements are met.
Other cases
(11) A provision of the Corporations legislation does not operate in a
State or Territory to the extent necessary to ensure that no
inconsistency arises between:
(a) the provision of the Corporations legislation; and
(b) a provision of a law of the State or Territory that would, but
for this subsection, be inconsistent with the provision of the
Corporations legislation.
Note 1: A provision of the State or Territory law is not covered by this
subsection if one of the earlier subsections in this section applies to
the provision: if one of those subsections applies there would be no
potential inconsistency to be dealt with by this subsection.
Note 2: The operation of the provision of the State or Territory law will be
supported by section 5E to the extent to which it can operate
concurrently with the provision of the Corporations legislation.
Pre-commencement (commenced) provision
(12) A provision of a law of a State or Territory is a
pre-commencement (commenced) provision if it:
(a) is enacted, and comes into force, before the commencement
of this Act; and
(b) is not a provision that has been materially amended after
commencement (see subsections (15) to (17)).
Pre-commencement (enacted) provision
(13) A provision of a law of a State or Territory is a
pre-commencement (enacted) provision if it:
(a) is enacted before, but comes into force on or after, the
commencement of this Act; and
(b) is not a provision that has been materially amended after
commencement (see subsections (15) to (17)).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.1A Interaction between Corporations legislation and State and Territory laws
Section 5G
18 Corporations Act 2001
Post-commencement provision
(14) A provision of a law of a State or Territory is a
post-commencement provision if it:
(a) is enacted, and comes into force, on or after the
commencement of this Act; and
(b) is not a provision that has been materially amended after
commencement (see subsections (15) to (17)).
Provision materially amended after commencement
(15) A provision of a law of a State or Territory is materially amended
after commencement if:
(a) an amendment of the provision commences on or after the
commencement of this Act; and
(b) neither subsection (16) nor subsection (17) applies to the
amendment.
(16) A provision of a law of a State or Territory is not materially
amended after commencement under subsection (15) if the
amendment merely:
(a) changes:
(i) a reference to the Corporations Law or the ASC or
ASIC Law, or the Corporations Law or the ASC or
ASIC Law of a State or Territory, to a reference to the
Corporations Act or the ASIC Act; or
(ii) a reference to a provision of the Corporations Law or
the ASC or ASIC Law, or the Corporations Law or ASC
or ASIC Law of a State or Territory, to a reference to a
provision of the Corporations Act or the ASIC Act; or
(iii) a penalty for a contravention of a provision of a law of a
State or Territory; or
(iv) a reference to a particular person or body to a reference
to another person or body; or
(b) adds a condition that must be met before a right is conferred,
an obligation imposed or a power conferred; or
(c) adds criteria to be taken into account before a power is
exercised; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interaction between Corporations legislation and State and Territory laws Part 1.1A
Section 5H
Corporations Act 2001 19
(d) amends the provision in way declared by the regulations to
not constitute a material amendment for the purposes of this
subsection.
(17) A provision of a law of a State or Territory is not materially
amended after commencement under subsection (15) if:
(a) the provision as amended would be inconsistent with a
provision of the Corporations legislation but for this section;
and
(b) the amendment would not materially reduce the range of
persons, acts and circumstances to which the provision of the
Corporations legislation applies if this section applied to the
provision of the State or Territory law as amended.
5H Registration of body as company on basis of State or Territory
law
(1) A body is taken to be registered under this Act as a company of a
particular type under section 118 if a law of a State or Territory in
this jurisdiction:
(a) provides that the body is a deemed registration company for
the purposes of this section; and
(b) specifies:
(i) the day on which the body is to be taken to be registered
(the registration day) or the manner in which that day is
to be fixed; and
(ii) the type of company the body is to be registered as
under this Act;
(iii) the company’s proposed name (unless the ACN is to be
used in its name);
and subsections (2) and (3) are satisfied.
(2) A notice setting out the following details must be lodged before the
registration day:
(a) the name and address of each person who is to be a member
on registration;
(b) the present given and family name, all former given and
family names and the date and place of birth of each person
who is to be a director on registration;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.1A Interaction between Corporations legislation and State and Territory laws
Section 5H
20 Corporations Act 2001
(c) the present given and family name, all former given and
family names and the date and place of birth of each person
who consents in writing to become a company secretary;
(d) the address of each person who is to be a director or company
secretary on registration;
(e) the address of the company’s proposed registered office;
(f) for a public company—the proposed opening hours of its
registered office (if they are not the standard opening hours);
(g) the address of the company’s proposed principal place of
business (if it is not the address of the proposed registered
office);
(h) for a company limited by shares or an unlimited company—
the following:
(i) the number and class of shares each member agrees in
writing to take up;
(ii) the amount (if any) each member agrees in writing to
pay for each share;
(iii) if that amount is not to be paid in full on registration—
the amount (if any) each member agrees in writing to be
unpaid on each share;
(i) for a public company that is limited by shares or is an
unlimited company, if shares will be issued for non-cash
consideration—the prescribed particulars about the issue of
the shares, unless the shares will be issued under a written
contract and a copy of the contract is lodged with the
application;
(j) for a company limited by guarantee—the proposed amount of
the guarantee that each member agrees to in writing.
(3) If the company:
(a) is to be a public company; and
(b) is to have a constitution on registration;
a copy of the constitution must be lodged before the registration
day.
(4) On the registration day, the body is taken:
(a) to be registered as a company under this Act; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interaction between Corporations legislation and State and Territory laws Part 1.1A
Section 5I
Corporations Act 2001 21
(b) to be registered in the State or Territory referred to in
subsection (1).
(5) The regulations may modify the operation of this Act to facilitate
the registration of the company.
(6) Without limiting subsection (5), the regulations may make
provision in relation to:
(a) the share capital of the company on registration; and
(b) the issue of a certificate of registration on the basis of the
company’s registration.
5I Regulations may modify operation of the Corporations legislation
to deal with interaction between that legislation and State
and Territory laws
(1) The regulations may modify the operation of the Corporations
legislation so that:
(a) provisions of the Corporations legislation do not apply to a
matter that is dealt with by a law of a State or Territory
specified in the regulations; or
(b) no inconsistency arises between the operation of a provision
of the Corporations legislation and the operation of a
provision of a State or Territory law specified in the
regulations.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), regulations made for the purposes
of that subsection may provide that the provision of the
Corporations legislation:
(a) does not apply to:
(i) a person specified in the regulations; or
(ii) a body specified in the regulations; or
(iii) circumstances specified in the regulations; or
(iv) a person or body specified in the regulations in the
circumstances specified in the regulations; or
(b) does not prohibit an act to the extent to which the prohibition
would otherwise give rise to an inconsistency with the State
or Territory law; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.1A Interaction between Corporations legislation and State and Territory laws
Section 5I
22 Corporations Act 2001
(c) does not require a person to do an act to the extent to which
the requirement would otherwise give rise to an
inconsistency with the State or Territory law; or
(d) does not authorise a person to do an act to the extent to which
the conferral of that authority on the person would otherwise
give rise to an inconsistency with the State or Territory law;
or
(e) does not impose an obligation on a person to the extent to
which complying with that obligation would require the
person to not comply with an obligation imposed on the
person under the State or Territory law; or
(f) authorises a person to do something for the purposes of the
Corporations legislation that the person:
(i) is authorised to do under the State or Territory law; and
(ii) would not otherwise be authorised to do under the
Corporations legislation; or
(g) will be taken to be satisfied if the State or Territory law is
satisfied.
(3) In this section:
matter includes act, omission, body, person or thing.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 6
Corporations Act 2001 23
Part 1.2—Interpretation
Division 1—General
6 Effect of this Part
(1) The provisions of this Part have effect for the purposes of this Act,
except so far as the contrary intention appears in this Act.
(2) This Part applies for the purposes of:
(a) Part 5.7; and
(b) Chapter 5 as applying by virtue of Part 5.7; and
(c) Part 9.2;
as if a reference in this Part to a person or to a body corporate
included a reference to a Part 5.7 body.
(4) Where, because of Part 11.2, provisions of this Act, as in force at a
particular time, continue to apply:
(a) in relation to someone or something; or
(b) for particular purposes;
then, for the purposes of those provisions as so applying:
(c) this Part as in force at that time continues to have effect; and
(d) this Part as in force at a later time does not have effect.
7 Location of other interpretation provisions
(1) Most of the interpretation provisions for this Act are in this Part.
(2) However, interpretation provisions relevant only to Chapter 7 are
to be found at the beginning of that Chapter.
(3) Also, interpretation provisions relevant to a particular Part,
Division or Subdivision may be found at the beginning of that Part,
Division or Subdivision.
(4) Occasionally, an individual section contains its own interpretation
provisions, not necessarily at the beginning.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
24 Corporations Act 2001
9 Dictionary
Unless the contrary intention appears:
AASB means the Australian Accounting Standards Board.
ABN (short for ―Australian Business Number‖) has the meaning
given by section 41 of the A New Tax System (Australian Business
Number) Act 1999.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation means a
corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.
accounting standard means:
(a) an instrument in force under section 334; or
(b) a provision of such an instrument as it so has effect.
ACN (short for ―Australian Company Number‖) is the number
given by ASIC to a company on registration (see sections 118 and
601BD).
acquire, in relation to financial products, when used in a provision
outside Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
act includes thing.
administration, in relation to a company, has the meaning given by
section 435C.
administrator:
(a) in relation to a body corporate but not in relation to a deed of
company arrangement:
(i) means an administrator of the body or entity appointed
under Part 5.3A; and
(iii) if 2 or more persons are appointed under that Part as
administrators of the body or entity—has a meaning
affected by paragraph 451A(2)(b); or
(b) in relation to a deed of company arrangement:
(i) means an administrator of the deed appointed under
Part 5.3A; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 25
(ii) if 2 or more persons are appointed under that Part as
administrators of the deed—has a meaning affected by
paragraph 451B(2)(b).
admit to quotation: financial products are admitted to quotation on
a market if the market operator has given unconditional permission
for quotation of the financial products on the market.
affairs, in relation to a body corporate, has, in the provisions
referred to in section 53, a meaning affected by that section.
affidavit includes affirmation.
agency means an agency, authority, body or person.
AGM means an annual general meeting of a company that
section 250N requires to be held.
agreement, in Chapter 6 or 7, means a relevant agreement.
amount includes a nil amount and zero.
ancillary offence, in relation to another offence, means an offence
against:
(a) section 5, 6, 7 or 7A of the Crimes Act 1914; or
(b) subsection 86(1) of that Act by virtue of paragraph 86(1)(a)
of that Act;
being an offence that is related to that other offence.
annual transparency report has the meaning given by
subsection 332A(2).
APRA means the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
arbitrage transaction means a purchase or sale of financial
products effected in the ordinary course of trading on a financial
market together with an offsetting sale or purchase of those
financial products effected at the same time, or at as nearly the
same time as practicable, in the ordinary course of trading on
another financial market for the purpose of obtaining a profit from
the difference between the prices of those financial products in the
2 financial markets.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
26 Corporations Act 2001
ARBN (short for ―Australian Registered Body Number‖) is the
number given by ASIC to a registrable body on registration under
Part 5B.2.
arrangement, in Part 5.1, includes a reorganisation of the share
capital of a body corporate by the consolidation of shares of
different classes, by the division of shares into shares of different
classes, or by both of those methods.
ARSN (short for ―Australian Registered Scheme Number‖) is the
number given by ASIC to a registered scheme on registration (see
section 601EB).
ASIC means the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission.
ASIC Act means the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission Act 2001 and includes the regulations made under that
Act.
ASIC database means so much of the national companies database
kept by ASIC as consists of:
(a) some or all of a register kept by ASIC under this Act; or
(b) information set out in a document lodged under this Act;
but does not include ASIC’s document imaging system.
assets, in relation to a financial services licensee, means all the
licensee’s assets (whether or not used in connection with the
licensee’s Australian financial services licence).
associate has the meaning given by sections 10 to 17.
associated entity has the meaning given by section 50AAA.
AUASB means the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board.
audit means an audit conducted for the purposes of this Act and
includes a review of a financial report for a financial year or a
half-year conducted for the purposes of this Act.
audit activity: see the definition of engage in audit activity.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 27
audit company means a company that consents to be appointed, or
is appointed, as auditor of a company or registered scheme.
audit-critical employee, in relation to a company, or the
responsible entity for a registered scheme, that is the audited body
for an audit, means a person who:
(a) is an employee of the company or of the responsible entity
for the registered scheme; and
(b) is able, because of the position in which the person is
employed, to exercise significant influence over:
(i) a material aspect of the contents of the financial report
being audited; or
(ii) the conduct or efficacy of the audit.
audited body, in relation to an audit of a company or registered
scheme, means the company or registered scheme in relation to
which the audit is, or is to be, conducted.
audit firm means a firm that consents to be appointed, or is
appointed, as auditor of a company or registered scheme.
auditing standard means:
(a) a standard in force under section 336; or
(b) a provision of such a standard as it so has effect.
auditor independence requirements of this Act means the
requirements of Divisions 3, 4 and 5 of Part 2M.4.
Australia, when used in a geographical sense, does not include an
external Territory.
Note: Paragraph 17(a) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 would otherwise
provide that Australia included the Territory of Christmas Island and
the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
Australian ADI means:
(a) an ADI (authorised deposit-taking institution) within the
meaning of the Banking Act 1959; and
(b) a person who carries on State banking within the meaning of
paragraph 51(xiii) of the Constitution.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
28 Corporations Act 2001
Australian bank means an Australian ADI that is permitted under
section 66 of the Banking Act 1959 to assume or use:
(a) the word bank, banker or banking; or
(b) any other word (whether or not in English) that is of like
import to a word referred to in paragraph (a).
Australian carbon credit unit has the same meaning as in the
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011.
Australian court means a federal court or a court of a State or
Territory.
Australian CS facility licence, when used in a provision outside
Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
Australian derivative trade repository licence, when used in a
provision outside Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in
Chapter 7.
Australian financial services licence, when used in a provision
outside Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
Australian law means a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or
Territory.
Australian market licence, when used in a provision outside
Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
Australian register of a foreign company means a branch register
of members kept under section 601CM.
authorised audit company means a company registered under
Part 9.2A.
bank or banker includes, but is not limited to, a body corporate
that is an ADI (authorised deposit-taking institution) for the
purposes of the Banking Act 1959.
banking corporation means a body corporate that carries on, as its
sole or principal business, the business of banking (other than State
banking not extending beyond the limits of the State concerned).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 29
base salary has the meaning specified in regulations made for the
purposes of this definition.
begin, in relation to a winding up, has the meaning given by
Division 1A of Part 5.6.
benefit:
(a) means any benefit, whether by way of payment of cash or
otherwise; and
(b) when used in Division 2 of Part 2D.2 (sections 200 to
200J)—has the meaning given by section 200AB.
bid class of securities for a takeover bid is the class of securities to
which the securities being bid for belong.
bidder for a takeover bid means the person who makes or proposes
to make, or each of the people who make or propose to make, the
offers under the bid (whether personally or by an agent or
nominee).
Note: A person who announces a bid on behalf of another person is not
making the bid, the other person is making the bid.
bidder’s statement means a bidder’s statement under sections 636
and 637 as supplemented.
bid period:
(a) for an off-market bid—starts when the bidder’s statement is
given to the target and ends:
(i) 1 month later if no offers are made under the bid; or
(ii) at the end of the offer period; and
(b) for a market bid—starts when the bid is announced to the
relevant financial market and ends at the end of the offer
period.
Board, when used in Part 9.2, means the Companies Auditors and
Liquidators Disciplinary Board.
board limit means a limit described in section 201N.
board limit resolution means a resolution described in
paragraph 201P(1)(a).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
30 Corporations Act 2001
body means a body corporate or an unincorporated body and
includes, for example, a society or association.
body corporate:
(a) includes a body corporate that is being wound up or has been
dissolved; and
(b) in this Chapter (except section 66A) and section 206E
includes an unincorporated registrable body.
body regulated by APRA has the meaning given by subsection 3(2)
of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Act 1998.
books includes:
(a) a register; and
(b) any other record of information; and
(c) financial reports or financial records, however compiled,
recorded or stored; and
(d) a document;
but does not include an index or recording made under Subdivision
D of Division 5 of Part 6.5.
borrower, in relation to a debenture, means the body that is or will
be liable to repay money under the debenture.
business affairs, in relation to an entity, has a meaning affected by
sections 53AA, 53AB, 53AC and 53AD.
business day means a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a
public holiday or bank holiday in the place concerned.
Business Names Register means the Register established and
maintained under section 22 of the Business Names Registration
Act 2011.
buy-back by a company means the acquisition by the company of
shares in itself.
buy-back agreement by a company means an agreement by the
company to buy back its own shares (whether the agreement is
conditional or not).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 31
Capital Territory means the Australian Capital Territory and the
Jervis Bay Territory.
carbon unit has the same meaning as in the Clean Energy
Act 2011.
carry on has a meaning affected by Division 3.
cash management trust interest means an interest that:
(a) is an interest in a registered scheme; and
(b) relates to an undertaking of the kind commonly known as a
cash management trust.
cause includes procure.
certified means:
(a) in relation to a copy of, or extract from, a document—
certified by a statement in writing to be a true copy of, or
extract from, the document; or
(b) in relation to a translation of a document—certified by a
statement in writing to be a correct translation of the
document into English.
charge means a charge created in any way and includes a mortgage
and an agreement to give or execute a charge or mortgage, whether
on demand or otherwise.
chargeable matter has the same meaning as in the Corporations
(Fees) Act 2001.
chargee means the holder of a charge and includes a person in
whose favour a charge is to be given or executed, whether on
demand or otherwise, under an agreement.
child: without limiting who is a child of a person for the purposes
of this Act, someone is the child of a person if he or she is a child
of the person within the meaning of the Family Law Act 1975.
circulating security interest has the meaning given by section 51C.
civil matter means a matter other than a criminal matter.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
32 Corporations Act 2001
civil penalty disqualification has the meaning given by
subsection 91(4A).
civil penalty order means any of the following:
(a) a declaration of contravention under section 1317E;
(b) a pecuniary penalty order under section 1317G;
(ba) a refund order under section 1317GA;
(c) a compensation order under section 961M, 1317H, 1317HA
or 1317HB;
(d) an order under section 206C disqualifying a person from
managing corporations.
civil penalty provision has the meaning given in
subsection 1317E(1).
class has:
(b) in relation to shares or interests in a managed investment
scheme—a meaning affected by section 57; and
(c) when used in relation to securities for the purposes of
Chapter 6, 6A or 6C—a meaning affected by
subsection 605(2).
clearing and settlement facility, when used in a provision outside
Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
close associate of a director means:
(a) a relative of the director; or
(b) a relative of a spouse of the director.
closely related party of a member of the key management
personnel for an entity means:
(a) a spouse or child of the member; or
(b) a child of the member’s spouse; or
(c) a dependant of the member or of the member’s spouse; or
(d) anyone else who is one of the member’s family and may be
expected to influence the member, or be influenced by the
member, in the member’s dealings with the entity; or
(e) a company the member controls; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 33
(f) a person prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this
paragraph.
coastal sea:
(a) in relation to Australia—means:
(i) the territorial sea of Australia; and
(ii) the sea on the landward side of the territorial sea of
Australia and not within the limits of a State or internal
Territory;
and includes the airspace over, and the sea-bed and subsoil
beneath, any such sea; and
(b) in relation to a State or Territory—means so much of the
coastal sea of Australia as is within the area described in
Schedule 1 to the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas
Storage Act 2006 under the heading that refers to that State
or Territory.
commence, in relation to a winding up, has the meaning given by
Division 1A of Part 5.6.
commencement, in relation to an accounting standard, means:
(a) in the case of an accounting standard as originally in effect—
the time when the accounting standard took effect; or
(b) in the case of an accounting standard as varied by a particular
provision of an instrument made under section 334—the time
when that provision took effect.
Commission delegate has the same meaning as in the ASIC Act.
committee of creditors, in relation to a company under
administration, means a committee of creditors of the company
appointed at a meeting convened under section 436E.
Commonwealth authority means an authority or other body
(whether incorporated or not) that is established or continued in
existence by or under an Act.
company means a company registered under this Act and:
(c) in Parts 5.7B and 5.8 (except sections 595 and 596), includes
a Part 5.7 body; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
34 Corporations Act 2001
(d) in Part 5B.1, includes an unincorporated registrable body.
company limited by guarantee means a company formed on the
principle of having the liability of its members limited to the
respective amounts that the members undertake to contribute to the
property of the company if it is wound up.
company limited by shares means a company formed on the
principle of having the liability of its members limited to the
amount (if any) unpaid on the shares respectively held by them.
compliance period for an infringement notice has the meaning
given by section 1317DAA.
condition, in relation to a licence, means a condition or restriction
to which the licence is subject, or will be subject, as the case
requires.
connected entity, in relation to a corporation, means:
(a) a body corporate that is, or has been, related to the
corporation; or
(b) an entity that is, or has been, connected (as defined by
section 64B) with the corporation.
consolidated entity means a company, registered managed
investment scheme or disclosing entity together with all the entities
it is required by the accounting standards to include in consolidated
financial statements.
constitution means (depending on the context):
(a) a company’s constitution, which (where relevant) includes
rules and consequential amendments that are part of the
company’s constitution because of the Life Insurance Act
1995; or
(b) a managed investment scheme’s constitution; or
(c) in relation to any other kind of body:
(i) the body’s charter or memorandum; or
(ii) any instrument or law (other than this Act) constituting,
or defining the constitution of, the body or governing
the activities of the body or its members.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 35
Note: The Life Insurance Act 1995 has rules about how benefit fund rules
become part of a company’s constitution. They override this Act. See
Subdivision 2 of Division 4 of Part 2A of that Act.
continuous disclosure notice means:
(a) a document used to notify a market operator of information
relating to a body under provisions of the market’s listing
rules referred to in subsection 674(1); or
(b) a document under section 675 lodged in relation to the body.
continuously quoted securities are securities that:
(a) are in a class of securities that were quoted ED securities at
all times in the 3 months before the date of the prospectus or
Product Disclosure Statement; and
(b) are securities of an entity in relation to which the following
subparagraphs are satisfied during the shorter of the period
during which the class of securities were quoted, and the
period of 12 months before the date of the prospectus or
Product Disclosure Statement:
(i) no exemption under section 111AS or 111AT, or
modification under section 111AV, covered the entity,
or any person as director or auditor of the entity;
(ii) no exemption under paragraph 741(1)(a), or declaration
under paragraph 741(1)(b), relating to a provision that is
a disclosing entity provision for the purposes of
Division 4 of Part 1.2A covered the entity, or any
person as director or auditor of the entity;
(iii) no order under section 340 or 341 covered the entity, or
any person as director or auditor of the entity;
and, for these purposes, securities are not in different classes
merely because of a temporary difference in the dividend, or
distribution rights, attaching to the securities or because different
amounts have been paid up on the securities.
contribution plan means a plan in respect of which the following
conditions are met:
(a) regular deductions are made from the wages or salary of an
employee or director (the contributor) to acquire financial
products that are offered for issue or sale to the contributor
under an eligible employee share scheme;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
36 Corporations Act 2001
(b) the deductions are authorised by the contributor in a form
which is included in, or accompanies, the disclosure
document or the Product Disclosure Statement for the
scheme;
(c) before acquiring the financial products under the scheme, the
deductions are held on trust in an account with an Australian
ADI that is kept solely for that purpose;
(d) the contributor may elect to discontinue the deductions at any
time;
(e) if the contributor so elects, the amount of the deductions
standing, at that time, to the credit of the account for the
contributor, and any interest on that amount, is repaid to the
contributor;
(f) the scheme does not involve the offer to the contributor of a
loan or similar financial assistance for the purpose of, or in
connection with, the acquisition of the financial products that
are offered under the scheme.
contributory means:
(a) in relation to a company (other than a no liability company):
(i) a person liable as a member or past member to
contribute to the property of the company if it is wound
up; and
(ii) for a company with share capital—a holder of fully paid
shares in the company; and
(iii) before the final determination of the persons who are
contributories because of subparagraphs (i) and (ii)—a
person alleged to be such a contributory; and
(b) in relation to a Part 5.7 body:
(i) a person who is a contributory by virtue of section 586;
and
(ii) before the final determination of the persons who are
contributories by virtue of that section—a person
alleged to be such a contributory; and
(c) in relation to a no liability company—subject to
subsection 254M(2), a member of the company.
control has the meaning given by section 50AA.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 37
control day, in relation to a controller of property of a corporation,
means:
(a) unless paragraph (b) applies:
(i) in the case of a receiver, or receiver and manager, of
that property—the day when the receiver, or receiver
and manager, was appointed; or
(ii) in the case of any other person who is in possession, or
has control, of that property for the purpose of enforcing
a security interest—the day when the person entered
into possession, or took control, of property of the
corporation for the purpose of enforcing that security
interest; or
(b) if the controller became a controller of property of the
corporation:
(i) to act with an existing controller of such property; or
(ii) in place of a controller of such property who has died or
ceased to be a controller of such property;
the day that is, because of any other application or
applications of this definition, the control day in relation to
the controller referred to in subparagraph (i) or (ii).
controller, in relation to property of a corporation, means:
(a) a receiver, or receiver and manager, of that property; or
(b) anyone else who (whether or not as agent for the corporation)
is in possession, or has control, of that property for the
purpose of enforcing a security interest;
and has a meaning affected by paragraph 434F(b) (which deals
with 2 or more persons appointed as controllers).
convertible note has the same meaning as in Division 3A of
Part III of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936.
convertible securities: securities are convertible into another class
of securities if the holder may have the other class of securities
issued to them by the exercise of rights attached to those securities.
An option may be a convertible security even if it is
non-renounceable.
corporation has the meaning given by section 57A.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
38 Corporations Act 2001
corporation/scheme civil penalty provision has the meaning given
by section 1317DA.
Corporations legislation means:
(a) this Act; and
(b) the ASIC Act; and
(c) rules of court made by the Federal Court, the Supreme Court
of the Capital Territory, or the Family Court, because of a
provision of this Act; and
(d) rules of court applied by the Supreme Court, or a State
Family Court, of a State, or by the Supreme Court of the
Northern Territory when exercising jurisdiction conferred by
Division 1 of Part 9.6A (including jurisdiction conferred by
virtue of any previous application or applications of this
paragraph).
court has the meaning given by section 58AA.
Court has the meaning given by section 58AA.
court of summary jurisdiction means any justice or justices of the
peace or other magistrate sitting as a court for the making of
summary orders or the summary punishment of offences:
(a) under a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory;
or
(b) by virtue of his or her commission or their commissions.
creditors’ voluntary winding up means a winding up under
Part 5.5, other than a members’ voluntary winding up.
current market bid price for securities covered by a market bid is
the price specified in the announcement of the bid as increased or
decreased during the offer period.
daily newspaper means a newspaper that is ordinarily published on
each day that is a business day in the place where the newspaper is
published, whether or not the newspaper is ordinarily published on
other days.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 39
date of a takeover bid is:
(a) for an off-market bid—the date on which offers are first
made under the bid; or
(b) for a market bid—the date on which the bid is announced to
the relevant financial market.
deal:
(a) in relation to a futures contract—has the meaning given by
Division 4; and
(b) in relation to securities—subject to subsection 93(4), means
(whether as principal or agent) acquire, dispose of, subscribe
for or underwrite the securities, or make or offer to make, or
induce or attempt to induce a person to make or to offer to
make, an agreement:
(i) for or with respect to acquiring, disposing of,
subscribing for or underwriting the securities; or
(ii) the purpose or purported purpose of which is to secure a
profit or gain to a person who acquires, disposes of,
subscribes for or underwrites the securities or to any of
the parties to the agreement in relation to the securities.
dealing, in relation to financial products, when used in a provision
outside Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
debenture of a body means a chose in action that includes an
undertaking by the body to repay as a debt money deposited with
or lent to the body. The chose in action may (but need not) include
a security interest over property of the body to secure repayment of
the money. However, a debenture does not include:
(a) an undertaking to repay money deposited with or lent to the
body by a person if:
(i) the person deposits or lends the money in the ordinary
course of a business carried on by the person; and
(ii) the body receives the money in the ordinary course of
carrying on a business that neither comprises nor forms
part of a business of borrowing money and providing
finance; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
40 Corporations Act 2001
(b) an undertaking by an Australian ADI to repay money
deposited with it, or lent to it, in the ordinary course of its
banking business; or
Note: This paragraph has an extended meaning in relation to Chapter 8 (see subsection 1200A(2)).
(c) an undertaking to pay money under:
(i) a cheque; or
(ii) an order for the payment of money; or
(iii) a bill of exchange; or
(e) an undertaking by a body corporate to pay money to a related
body corporate; or
(f) an undertaking to repay money that is prescribed by the
regulations.
For the purposes of this definition, if a chose in action that includes
an undertaking by a body to pay money as a debt is offered as
consideration for the acquisition of securities under an off-market
takeover bid, or is issued under a compromise or arrangement
under Part 5.1, the undertaking is taken to be an undertaking to
repay as a debt money deposited with or lent to the body.
decision period, for a secured party in relation to a security interest
in property (including PPSA retention of title property) of a
company under administration, means the period beginning on the
day when:
(a) if notice of the appointment of the administrator must be
given to the secured party under subsection 450A(3)—such
notice is so given; or
(b) otherwise—the administration begins;
and ending at the end of the thirteenth business day after that day.
declaration of indemnities, in relation to an administrator of a
company under administration, means a written declaration:
(a) stating whether the administrator has, to any extent, been
indemnified (otherwise than under section 443D), in relation
to that administration, for:
(i) any debts for which the administrator is, or may
become, liable under Subdivision A of Division 9 of
Part 5.3A; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 41
(ii) any debts for which the administrator is, or may
become, liable under a remittance provision as defined
in section 443BA; or
(iii) his or her remuneration as determined under
section 449E; and
(b) if so, stating:
(i) the identity of each indemnifier; and
(ii) the extent and nature of each indemnity.
declaration of relevant relationships has the meaning given by
section 60.
deductible gift recipient has the same meaning as in the Income
Tax Assessment Act 1997.
deed includes a document having the effect of a deed.
deed of company arrangement means a deed of company
arrangement executed under Part 5.3A or such a deed as varied and
in force from time to time.
defeating condition for a takeover bid means a condition that:
(a) will, in circumstances referred to in the condition, result in
the rescission of, or entitle the bidder to rescind, a takeover
contract; or
(b) prevents a binding takeover contract from resulting from an
acceptance of the offer unless or until the condition is
fulfilled.
defect, in relation to a statutory demand, includes:
(a) an irregularity; and
(b) a misstatement of an amount or total; and
(c) a misdescription of a debt or other matter; and
(d) a misdescription of a person or entity.
deregistered means:
(a) in relation to a company—deregistered under Chapter 5A;
and
(b) in relation to any other body corporate—deregistered in a
way that results in the body corporate ceasing to exist.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
42 Corporations Act 2001
derivative, when used in a provision outside Chapter 7, has the
same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
derivative trade repository rules, when used in a provision outside
Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
derivative transaction rules, when used in a provision outside
Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
director of a company or other body means:
(a) a person who:
(i) is appointed to the position of a director; or
(ii) is appointed to the position of an alternate director and
is acting in that capacity;
regardless of the name that is given to their position; and
(b) unless the contrary intention appears, a person who is not
validly appointed as a director if:
(i) they act in the position of a director; or
(ii) the directors of the company or body are accustomed to
act in accordance with the person’s instructions or
wishes.
Subparagraph (b)(ii) does not apply merely because the directors
act on advice given by the person in the proper performance of
functions attaching to the person’s professional capacity, or the
person’s business relationship with the directors or the company or
body.
Note: Paragraph (b)—Contrary intention—Examples of provisions for
which a person referred to in paragraph (b) would not be included in
the term ―director‖ are:
section 249C (power to call meetings of a company’s members)
subsection 251A(3) (signing minutes of meetings)
section 205B (notice to ASIC of change of address).
disclosing entity has the meaning given by section 111AC.
disclosure document for an offer of securities means:
(a) a prospectus for the offer; or
(b) a profile statement for the offer; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 43
(c) an offer information statement for the offer.
dispose has a meaning affected by the following paragraphs:
(a) when used in relation to financial products in a provision
outside Chapter 7, otherwise than in a situation to which
paragraph (b) applies, dispose has the same meaning as it has
in Chapter 7;
(b) for the purposes of Chapter 6, a person who has a relevant
interest in securities disposes of the securities if, and only if,
they cease to have a relevant interest in the securities.
domestic corporation means a corporation that is incorporated or
formed in Australia or an external Territory.
ED securities has the meaning given by section 111AD.
eligible applicant, in relation to a corporation, means:
(a) ASIC; or
(b) a liquidator or provisional liquidator of the corporation; or
(c) an administrator of the corporation; or
(d) an administrator of a deed of company arrangement executed
by the corporation; or
(e) a person authorised in writing by ASIC to make:
(i) applications under the Division of Part 5.9 in which the
expression occurs; or
(ii) such an application in relation to the corporation.
eligible employee creditor, in relation to a company, means a
creditor whose debt or claim would, in a winding up of the
company, be payable in priority to other unsecured debts and
claims in accordance with paragraph 556(1)(e), (g) or (h) or
section 560 or 561.
eligible employee share scheme means an employee share scheme
for a body corporate in respect of which the following conditions
are met:
(a) the scheme is offered only to employees or directors
mentioned in paragraph (a) of the definition of employee
share scheme;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
44 Corporations Act 2001
(b) the financial products that are offered under the scheme are
offered:
(i) under a disclosure document or Product Disclosure
Statement; or
(ii) without disclosure under Part 6D.2 in accordance with
subsection 708(12);
(c) the financial products which may be acquired under the
scheme are the following:
(i) fully paid ordinary shares;
(ii) options, offered for no more than nominal
consideration, for the issue or transfer of fully paid
ordinary shares;
(iii) units in fully paid ordinary shares.
eligible international emissions unit has the same meaning as in
the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011.
eligible money market dealer means a body corporate in respect of
which a declaration is in force under section 65.
emoluments means the amount or value of any money,
consideration or benefit given, directly or indirectly, to a director
of a body corporate in connection with the management of affairs
of the body or of any holding company or subsidiary of the body,
whether as a director or otherwise, but does not include amounts in
payment or reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred for
the benefit of the body.
employee share scheme for a company means a scheme under
which shares (or units in shares or options to acquire unissued
shares) in the company or a holding company may be acquired:
(a) by, or for the benefit of:
(i) employees of the company, or of a related body
corporate; or
(ii) directors of the company, or of a related body corporate,
who hold a salaried employment or office in the
company or in a related body corporate; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 45
(b) by a corporation all of whose members are:
(i) employees of the company, or of a related body
corporate; or
(ii) directors of the company, or of a related body corporate,
who hold a salaried employment or office in the
company or in a related body corporate.
employee share scheme buy-back means a buy-back under a
scheme that:
(a) has as its purpose the acquisition of shares in a company by,
or on behalf of:
(i) employees of the company, or of a related body
corporate; or
(ii) directors of the company, or a related body corporate,
who hold a salaried employment or office in the
company or in a related body corporate; and
(b) has been approved by the company in general meeting.
enforce, in relation to a security interest in property of a company
under administration, includes:
(a) appoint a receiver of property of the company under a power
contained in an instrument relating to the security interest; or
(b) obtain an order for the appointment of a receiver of such
property for the purpose of enforcing the security interest; or
(c) enter into possession, or assume control, of such property for
that purpose; or
(d) appoint a person so to enter into possession or assume control
(whether as agent for the secured party or for the company);
or
(e) exercise, in relation to property including PPSA retention of
title property, as the secured party or as a receiver or person
so appointed, a right, power or remedy existing because of
the security interest, arising:
(i) under an agreement or instrument relating to the
security interest; or
(ii) in the case of a PPSA security interest—under an
agreement or instrument relating to a transaction or
dealing giving rise to the security interest; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
46 Corporations Act 2001
(iii) under a written or unwritten law; or
(iv) in any other way.
enforcement process, in relation to property, means:
(a) execution against that property; or
(b) any other enforcement process in relation to that property
that involves a court or a sheriff.
engage in audit activity: an individual auditor, audit firm or audit
company engages in audit activity in relation to an audited body
for an audit if the individual auditor, audit firm or audit company:
(a) consents to be appointed as auditor of the audited body for a
financial year; or
(b) acts as the auditor of the audited body for a financial year; or
(c) prepares a report in relation to the audited body that is
required by this Act to be prepared by:
(i) a registered company auditor; or
(ii) an auditor of the audited body in relation to a financial
year or half-year.
engage in conduct means:
(a) do an act; or
(b) omit to perform an act.
enter into: a person who:
(a) enters into, or becomes a party to, a relevant agreement in
relation to voting shares or other securities; or
(b) exercises an option to have voting shares or other securities
issued or granted;
is taken to enter into a transaction in relation to the shares or
securities.
entitlements of an employee of a company has the meaning given
by subsections 596AA(2) and (3).
entity: for the purposes of Chapter 2E an entity is any of the
following:
(a) a body corporate;
(b) a partnership;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 47
(c) an unincorporated body;
(d) an individual;
(e) for a trust that has only 1 trustee—the trustee;
(f) for a trust that has more than 1 trustee—the trustees together.
Otherwise, entity has the meaning given by section 64A.
equal access scheme has the meaning given by
subsections 257B(2) and (3).
event includes any happening, circumstance or state of affairs.
examinable affairs, in relation to a corporation means:
(a) the promotion, formation, management, administration or
winding up of the corporation; or
(b) any other affairs of the corporation (including anything that
is included in the corporation’s affairs because of section 53);
or
(c) the business affairs of a connected entity of the corporation,
in so far as they are, or appear to be, relevant to the
corporation or to anything that is included in the
corporation’s examinable affairs because of paragraph (a) or
(b).
examinable assets and liabilities, in relation to an entity, means all
of the following:
(a) the entity’s property and assets:
(i) whether present or future; and
(ii) whether held alone or jointly with any other person or
persons; and
(iii) whether or not held as agent, bailee or trustee;
(b) the entity’s liabilities:
(i) whether present or future; and
(ii) whether actual or contingent; and
(iii) whether owed alone or jointly with any other person or
persons; and
(iv) whether or not owed as trustee.
examinable operations, in relation to an entity, means all of the
following:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
48 Corporations Act 2001
(a) the entity’s business, trading, transactions and dealings:
(i) whether alone or jointly with any other entity or entities;
and
(ii) whether or not as agent, bailee or trustee;
(b) the entity’s profits, income and receipts;
(c) the entity’s losses, outgoings and expenditure.
excluded security means:
(a) where:
(i) there is attached to a share or debenture a right to
participate in a retirement village scheme; and
(ii) each of the other rights, and each interest (if any),
attached to the share or debenture is a right or interest
that is merely incidental to the right referred to in
subparagraph (i);
the share or debenture or a unit in the share or debenture; or
(b) an interest in a managed investment scheme constituted by a
right to participate in a retirement village scheme.
exempt body has the meaning given by section 66A.
exempt foreign company means a foreign company of a kind
referred to in subsection 601CK(8), whether or not Division 2 of
Part 5B.2 applies to it.
exempt public authority means a body corporate that is
incorporated within Australia or an external Territory and is:
(a) a public authority; or
(b) an instrumentality or agency of the Crown in right of the
Commonwealth, in right of a State or in right of a Territory.
expert, in relation to a matter, means a person whose profession or
reputation gives authority to a statement made by him or her in
relation to that matter.
extend, in relation to a period:
(a) includes further extend; and
(b) has a meaning affected by section 70.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 49
externally-administered body corporate means a body corporate:
(a) that is being wound up; or
(b) in respect of property of which a receiver, or a receiver and
manager, has been appointed (whether or not by a court) and
is acting; or
(c) that is under administration; or
(ca) that has executed a deed of company arrangement that has
not yet terminated; or
(d) that has entered into a compromise or arrangement with
another person the administration of which has not been
concluded.
extract of particulars for a company or a registered scheme means
a statement given by ASIC that contains either or both of the
following:
(a) some or all of the particulars in relation to the company or
scheme that are recorded in the register or registers
maintained by ASIC under subsection 1274(1);
(b) a requirement to provide a particular under section 346B.
extraordinary resolution, in relation to a registered scheme, means
a resolution:
(a) of which notice as set out in paragraph 252J(c) has been
given; and
(b) that has been passed by at least 50% of the total votes that
may be cast by members entitled to vote on the resolution
(including members who are not present in person or by
proxy).
Family Court means the Family Court of Australia.
Federal Court means the Federal Court of Australia.
FHSA product when used in a provision outside Chapter 7, has the
same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
financial benefit (when used in Chapter 2E) has a meaning that is
affected by section 229.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
50 Corporations Act 2001
financial corporation means a financial corporation within the
meaning of paragraph 51(20) of the Constitution.
financial market, when used in a provision outside Chapter 7, has
the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
financial product, when used in a provision outside Chapter 7, has
the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
financial records includes:
(a) invoices, receipts, orders for the payment of money, bills of
exchange, cheques, promissory notes and vouchers; and
(b) documents of prime entry; and
(c) working papers and other documents needed to explain:
(i) the methods by which financial statements are made up;
and
(ii) adjustments to be made in preparing financial
statements.
financial report means an annual financial report or a half-year
financial report prepared under Chapter 2M.
Note: Section 295 deals with the contents of annual financial reports and
section 302 deals with the contents of half-year financial reports.
financial reporting requirements for a financial report means the
requirements imposed under:
(a) section 296 or 297 if the financial report is an annual
financial report; or
(b) section 304 or 305 if the financial report is a half-year
financial report.
financial service, when used in a provision outside Chapter 7, has
the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
financial services business, when used in a provision outside
Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
financial services civil penalty provision has the meaning given by
section 1317DA.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 51
financial services licensee, when used in a provision outside
Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
financial statements means annual financial statements under
section 295 or half-year financial statements under section 303.
financial year has the meaning given by section 323D.
find, in the case of a reference to a court finding a person guilty of
an offence, has a meaning affected by section 73A.
firm, in relation to an administrator or liquidator, means:
(a) if the administrator or liquidator is a partner or employee of a
partnership (the partnership firm) that provides advice or
other services in relation to externally-administered bodies
corporate—the partnership firm; or
(b) if the administrator or liquidator is an officer or employee of
a body corporate (the body corporate firm) that provides
advice or other services in relation to externally-administered
bodies corporate—the body corporate firm.
floating charge includes a charge that conferred a floating security
at the time of its creation but has since become a fixed or specific
charge.
for, in relation to a fee or tax, includes in respect of.
foreign company means:
(a) a body corporate that is incorporated in an external Territory,
or outside Australia and the external Territories, and is not:
(i) a corporation sole; or
(ii) an exempt public authority; or
(b) an unincorporated body that:
(i) is formed in an external Territory or outside Australia
and the external Territories; and
(ii) under the law of its place of formation, may sue or be
sued, or may hold property in the name of its secretary
or of an officer of the body duly appointed for that
purpose; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
52 Corporations Act 2001
(iii) does not have its head office or principal place of
business in Australia.
foreign holder of securities means a holder of the securities whose
address, as shown in the register in which details of their holding is
recorded, is a place outside Australia and the external Territories.
franchise means an arrangement under which a person earns
profits or income by exploiting a right, conferred by the owner of
the right, to use a trade mark or design or other intellectual
property or the goodwill attached to it in connection with the
supply of goods or services. An arrangement is not a franchise if
the person engages the owner of the right, or an associate of the
owner, to exploit the right on the person’s behalf.
Full Court, in relation to a Supreme Court of a State or Territory,
includes any court of the State or Territory to which appeals lie
from a single judge of that Supreme Court.
fully paid share means a share on which no amount remains
unpaid.
function includes a duty.
Gazette notice means a notice published in the Gazette.
general law means the principles and rules of the common law and
equity.
group executives for a consolidated entity means:
(a) the directors of the companies or bodies within the
consolidated entity; and
(b) the secretaries of the companies or bodies within the
consolidated entity; and
(c) the senior managers of any corporation within the
consolidated entity; and
(d) the partners, and senior managers, of any partnership within
the consolidated entity; and
(e) the trustees, and senior managers, of any trusts within the
consolidated entity; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 53
(f) the senior managers of any joint venture within the
consolidated entity.
guarantor, in relation to a debenture, means a body that has
guaranteed, or has agreed to guarantee, the repayment of any
money deposited or lent to the borrower under the debenture.
guilty, in the case of a reference to a court finding a person guilty
of an offence, has a meaning affected by section 73A.
half-year has the meaning given by subsection 323D(5).
have, in relation to information, includes be in possession of the
information.
highest outside purchase price for a takeover bid is the highest
amount paid or payable by the bidder for a security in the bid class
under a purchase made outside the bid and during the bid period.
hold, in relation to a person, in relation to a document that is, or
purports to be, a copy of a licence, means have in the person’s
possession.
holding company, in relation to a body corporate, means a body
corporate of which the first body corporate is a subsidiary.
immediate family member for a person means:
(a) the person’s spouse; or
(b) a person who is wholly or partly dependent on the person for
financial support.
in Australia has the meaning given by section 102C.
included, in relation to an official list, has the meaning given by
section 75.
incorporated in Australia, in relation to a body corporate, includes
incorporated by or under a law of:
(a) the Commonwealth; or
(b) a State; or
(c) an internal Territory.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
54 Corporations Act 2001
incorporation:
(a) of a company—means the company’s first registration under
this Act; and
(b) of any other incorporated body—means the body’s
incorporation by or under a law (other than this Act).
individual auditor means an individual who consents to be
appointed, or is appointed, as auditor of a company or registered
scheme.
industrial instrument means:
(a) a contract of employment; or
(b) a law, award, determination or agreement relating to terms or
conditions of employment.
information includes complaint.
infringement notice has the meaning given by section 1317DAA.
injury compensation means compensation payable under any law
relating to workers compensation.
insolvent has the meaning given by subsection 95A(2).
insolvent transaction has the meaning given by section 588FC.
insolvent under administration means a person who:
(a) under the Bankruptcy Act 1966 or the law of an external
Territory, is a bankrupt in respect of a bankruptcy from
which the person has not been discharged; or
(b) under the law of an external Territory or the law of a foreign
country, has the status of an undischarged bankrupt;
and includes:
(c) a person any of whose property is subject to control under:
(i) section 50 or Division 2 of Part X of the Bankruptcy Act
1966; or
(ii) a corresponding provision of the law of an external
Territory or the law of a foreign country; or
(d) a person who has executed a personal insolvency agreement
under:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 55
(i) Part X of the Bankruptcy Act 1966; or
(ii) the corresponding provisions of the law of an external
Territory or the law of a foreign country;
where the terms of the agreement have not been fully
complied with.
interest in a managed investment scheme means a right to benefits
produced by the scheme (whether the right is actual, prospective or
contingent and whether it is enforceable or not).
investment in a company, disclosing entity or other body means:
(a) a share in the company, disclosing entity or body; or
(b) a debenture of the company, disclosing entity or body; or
(c) a legal or equitable interest in:
(i) a share in the company, disclosing entity or body; or
(ii) a debenture of the company, disclosing entity or body;
or
(d) an option to acquire (whether by way of issue or transfer) an
investment in the company, disclosing entity or body covered
by paragraph (a), (b) or (c); or
(e) an option to dispose of an investment in the company,
disclosing entity or body covered by paragraph (a), (b) or (c);
or
(f) an interest a person holds under an arrangement that is a
derivative if:
(i) the consideration to be provided under the arrangement;
or
(ii) the value of the arrangement;
is ultimately determined, derived from or varies by reference
to an investment in the company, disclosing entity or body
covered by paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e).
To avoid doubt, the consideration to be provided under, or the
value of, an arrangement in relation to an index is not ultimately
determined, derived from or varies by reference to an investment in
the company merely because the investment is taken into account
in determining the value of the index.
investment in a registered scheme means:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
56 Corporations Act 2001
(a) an interest in the scheme; or
(b) a legal or equitable interest in an interest in the scheme; or
(c) an option to acquire (whether by way of issue or transfer) an
investment in the scheme covered by paragraph (a) or (b); or
(d) an option to dispose of an investment in the scheme covered
by paragraph (a) or (b); or
(e) an interest a person holds under an arrangement that is a
derivative if:
(i) the consideration to be provided under the arrangement;
or
(ii) the value of the arrangement;
is ultimately determined, derived from or varies by reference
to an investment in the scheme covered by paragraph (a), (b),
(c) or (d); or
(f) an investment in the responsible entity of the scheme.
To avoid doubt, the consideration to be provided under, or the
value of, an arrangement in relation to an index is taken not to be
ultimately determined, derived from or vary by reference to an
investment in the scheme merely because the investment is taken
into account in determining the value of the index.
investment contract means any contract, scheme or arrangement
that, in substance and irrespective of its form, involves the
investment of money in or under such circumstances that the
investor acquires or may acquire an interest in, or right in respect
of, property, whether in this jurisdiction or elsewhere, that, under,
or in accordance with, the terms of investment will, or may at the
option of the investor, be used or employed in common with any
other interest in, or right in respect of, property, whether in this
jurisdiction or elsewhere, acquired in or under like circumstances.
involved, in relation to a contravention, has the meaning given by
section 79.
issue includes:
(a) in relation to interests in a managed investment scheme—
make available; and
(b) otherwise—circulate, distribute and disseminate.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 57
Note: When issue is used in Chapter 7 in relation to a financial product it
has a meaning affected by section 761E.
Judge means a judge of the Court.
judgment means a judgment, decree or order, whether final or
interlocutory.
key management personnel for an entity has the same meaning as
in the accounting standards.
large proprietary company has the meaning given by
subsection 45A(3).
law of a State or Territory means a law of, or in force in, the State
or Territory.
Note: This definition does not affect the meaning of law when used
otherwise than in a phrase such as ―law of a State or Territory‖.
Examples of such a use is in the phrase ―any provision of any law‖ in
section 100A and the phrase ―law of the Commonwealth‖ in
section 156.
lawyer means a duly qualified legal practitioner and, in relation to
a person, means such a practitioner acting for the person.
lead auditor has the meaning given by section 324AF.
lease does not include a lease of goods that gives rise to a PPSA
security interest in the goods.
Note: An interest that arises under a lease of goods that in substance secures
the payment or performance of an obligation, or that arises under a
PPS lease within the meaning of the Personal Property Securities Act
2009, may be a PPSA security interest (see sections 12 and 13 of that
Act and the definition of PPSA security interest in section 51 of this
Act).
leave of absence means long service leave, extended leave,
recreation leave, annual leave, sick leave or any other form of
leave of absence from employment.
limited company means:
(a) a company limited by shares; or
(b) a company limited by guarantee; or
(c) a company limited both by shares and guarantee;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
58 Corporations Act 2001
but does not include a no liability company.
linked: the incurring of a debt and a contravention of
section 596AB are linked if they are linked under
subsection 596AB(4).
liquidator:
(a) has a meaning affected by paragraph 530(b) (which deals
with 2 or more persons appointed as liquidators); and
(b) in Chapter 7, includes a provisional liquidator.
listed: a company, managed investment scheme or other body is
listed if it is included in the official list of a prescribed financial
market operated in this jurisdiction.
listed corporation means a body corporate that is included in an
official list of a prescribed financial market.
listed disclosing entity has the meaning given by
subsection 111AL(1).
listing market, in relation to a listed disclosing entity, has the
meaning given by subsection 111AE(1) or (1A).
listing rules of a financial market, when used in a provision outside
Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
local agent, in relation to a foreign company, means a person who
is a local agent of the foreign company by virtue of
subsection 601CG(5).
lodge means lodge with ASIC in this jurisdiction.
lower court means a court of a State or Territory that is not a
superior court.
machine-copy, in relation to a document, means a copy made of
the document by any machine in which, or process by which, an
image of the contents of the document is reproduced.
managed investment product, when used in a provision outside
Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 59
managed investment scheme means:
(a) a scheme that has the following features:
(i) people contribute money or money’s worth as
consideration to acquire rights (interests) to benefits
produced by the scheme (whether the rights are actual,
prospective or contingent and whether they are
enforceable or not);
(ii) any of the contributions are to be pooled, or used in a
common enterprise, to produce financial benefits, or
benefits consisting of rights or interests in property, for
the people (the members) who hold interests in the
scheme (whether as contributors to the scheme or as
people who have acquired interests from holders);
(iii) the members do not have day-to-day control over the
operation of the scheme (whether or not they have the
right to be consulted or to give directions); or
(b) a time-sharing scheme;
but does not include the following:
(c) a partnership that has more than 20 members but does not
need to be incorporated or formed under an Australian law
because of regulations made for the purposes of
subsection 115(2);
Note: This paragraph has an extended meaning in relation to Chapter 8 (see subsection 1200A(3)).
(d) a body corporate (other than a body corporate that operates as
a time sharing scheme);
(e) a scheme in which all the members are bodies corporate that
are related to each other and to the body corporate that
promotes the scheme;
(f) a franchise;
(g) a statutory fund maintained under the Life Insurance Act
1995;
(h) a regulated superannuation fund, an approved deposit fund, a
pooled superannuation trust, or a public sector
superannuation scheme, within the meaning of the
Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993;
(ha) an FHSA trust, within the meaning of the First Home Saver
Accounts Act 2008;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
60 Corporations Act 2001
(i) a scheme operated by an Australian ADI in the ordinary
course of its banking business;
Note: This paragraph has an extended meaning in relation to Chapter 8 (see subsection 1200A(3)).
(j) the issue of debentures or convertible notes by a body
corporate;
(k) a barter scheme under which each participant may obtain
goods or services from another participant for consideration
that is wholly or substantially in kind rather than in cash;
(l) a retirement village scheme operating within or outside
Australia:
(i) under which the participants, or a majority of them, are
provided, or are to be provided, with residential
accommodation within a retirement village (whether or
not the entitlement of a participant to be provided with
accommodation derives from a proprietary interest held
by the participant in the premises where the
accommodation is, or is to be, provided); and
(ii) which is not a time-sharing scheme;
(m) a scheme that is operated by a co-operative company
registered under Part VI of the Companies (Co-operative) Act
1943 of Western Australia or under a previous law of
Western Australia that corresponds to that Part;
(ma) a contribution plan;
(n) a scheme of a kind declared by the regulations not to be a
managed investment scheme.
Note: Paragraph (c)—A partnership with less than 20 members will usually
not require registration because of paragraph 601ED(1)(a) and under
section 115 a partnership with more than 20 members can only
operate if covered by regulations made for the purposes of
subsection 115(2).
manager has a meaning affected by section 90.
managerial or executive office has the meaning given by
section 200AA.
managing controller, in relation to property of a corporation,
means:
(a) a receiver and manager of that property; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 61
(b) any other controller of that property who has functions or
powers in connection with managing the corporation;
and has a meaning affected by paragraph 434G(b) (which deals
with 2 or more persons appointed as managing controllers).
marketable securities means debentures, stocks, shares or bonds of
any Government, of any local government authority or of any body
corporate, association or society, and includes any right or option
in respect of shares in any body corporate and any interest in a
managed investment scheme.
market bid means a takeover bid made under Chapter 6 as a market
bid (see section 616).
market integrity rules, when used in a provision outside Chapter 7,
has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
market traded option means an option declared by an operator of a
prescribed financial market to be a market traded option.
member:
(a) in relation to a managed investment schememeans a person
who holds an interest in the scheme; or
(e) in relation to a company—a person who is a member under
section 231.
members’ voluntary winding up means a winding up under
Part 5.5 where a declaration has been made and lodged pursuant to
section 494.
minerals means minerals in any form, whether solid, liquefied or
gaseous and whether organic or inorganic.
minimum holding buy-back means a buy-back of all of a holder’s
shares in a listed corporation if the shares are less than a
marketable parcel within the meaning of the rules of the relevant
financial market.
mining purposes means any or all of the following purposes:
(a) prospecting for ores, metals or minerals;
(b) obtaining, by any mode or method, ores, metals or minerals;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
62 Corporations Act 2001
(c) the sale or other disposal of ores, metals, minerals or other
products of mining;
(d) the carrying on of any business or activity necessary for, or
incidental to, any of the foregoing purposes;
whether in Australia or elsewhere, but does not include quarrying
operations for the sole purpose of obtaining stone for building,
roadmaking or similar purposes.
misconduct includes fraud, negligence, default, breach of trust and
breach of duty.
modifications includes additions, omissions and substitutions.
money includes a payment order.
national newspaper means a daily newspaper that circulates
generally in each State and each internal Territory.
NCSC means the National Companies and Securities Commission.
necessary transfer documents for the transfer of securities to a
person means the documents that are sufficient to enable the person
to become the holder of the securities.
negative, in relation to a document, means a transparent negative
photograph used, or intended to be used, as a medium for
reproducing the contents of the document, and includes a
transparent photograph made from surface contact with the original
negative photograph.
negative solvency resolution means a resolution by the directors of
a company that, in their opinion, there are not reasonable grounds
to believe that the company will be able to pay its debts as and
when they become due and payable.
negotiable instrument, in relation to a body corporate, means:
(a) a bill of exchange, promissory note, cheque or other
negotiable instrument; or
(b) an indorsement on, or order in, a bill of exchange,
promissory note, cheque or other negotiable instrument; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 63
(c) a letter of credit;
of, or purporting to be issued or signed by or on behalf of, the
body.
no liability company means a company that is registered as, or
converts to, a no liability company under this Act.
Note 1: A no liability company can be registered under section 118 or
601BD. A company can convert to a no liability company under
Part 2B.7.
Note 2: A no liability company must have solely mining purposes and
have no contractual right to recover unpaid calls (see
subsection 112(2)).
non-audit services provider for an auditor conducting an audit
means a person who:
(a) is not a professional member of the audit team conducting the
audit of the audited body; and
(b) is either:
(i) if the auditor is an individual auditor—an employee of
the individual auditor (or of an entity acting for, or on
behalf of, the individual auditor); or
(ii) if the auditor is an audit firm—a member of the audit
firm or senior manager of the audit firm (or of an entity
acting for, or on behalf of, the audit firm); or
(iii) if the auditor is an audit company—a director of the
audit company or a senior manager of the audit
company (or of an entity acting for, or on behalf of, the
audit company); and
(c) provides, or has provided, services (other than services
related to the conduct of an audit) to the audited body.
non-voting share, in relation to a body corporate, means an issued
share in the body that is not a voting share in the body.
notice includes a circular and an advertisement.
of, in relation to financial products, means, in the case of interests
in a managed investment scheme, made available by.
offence means an offence against a law of the Commonwealth or a
State or Territory.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
64 Corporations Act 2001
offence based on a particular provision of this Act means, unless a
contrary intention appears:
(a) if that provision creates an offence—an offence against that
provision, or an offence against section 1314 that relates to
that provision; or
(b) if section 1311 creates an offence relating to that provision—
an offence against section 1311 or 1314 that relates to that
provision.
offer information statement means an offer information statement
that is lodged with ASIC.
offer period for a takeover bid is the period for which offers under
the bid remain open.
officer of a corporation means:
(a) a director or secretary of the corporation; or
(b) a person:
(i) who makes, or participates in making, decisions that
affect the whole, or a substantial part, of the business of
the corporation; or
(ii) who has the capacity to affect significantly the
corporation’s financial standing; or
(iii) in accordance with whose instructions or wishes the
directors of the corporation are accustomed to act
(excluding advice given by the person in the proper
performance of functions attaching to the person’s
professional capacity or their business relationship with
the directors or the corporation); or
(c) a receiver, or receiver and manager, of the property of the
corporation; or
(d) an administrator of the corporation; or
(e) an administrator of a deed of company arrangement executed
by the corporation; or
(f) a liquidator of the corporation; or
(g) a trustee or other person administering a compromise or
arrangement made between the corporation and someone
else.
Note: Section 201B contains rules about who is a director of a corporation.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 65
officer of an entity that is neither an individual nor a corporation
means:
(a) a partner in the partnership if the entity is a partnership; or
(b) an office holder of the unincorporated association if the
entity is an unincorporated association; or
(c) a person:
(i) who makes, or participates in making, decisions that
affect the whole, or a substantial part, of the business of
the entity; or
(ii) who has the capacity to affect significantly the entity’s
financial standing.
officer of the Commonwealth has the same meaning as in
paragraph 75(v) of the Constitution.
official liquidator means a person registered as an official
liquidator under section 1283.
off-market bid means a takeover bid made under Chapter 6 as an
off-market bid (see section 616).
old Corporations Law, in relation to a State or Territory, has the
same meaning as it has in Part 10.1.
old Division 11 of Part 11.2 transitionals means the following:
(a) the provisions of Division 11 of Part 11.2 of the old
Corporations Law of each State or Territory in this
jurisdiction, to the extent they continue to have effect
because of section 1408 of this Act; and
(b) if regulations for the purposes of subsection 1408(3) deal
with a matter or matters dealt with in those provisions—the
regulations that so deal with the matter or matters.
old Division 12 of Part 11.2 transitionals means the following:
(a) the provisions of Division 12 of Part 11.2 of the old
Corporations Law of each State or Territory in this
jurisdiction, to the extent they continue to have effect
because of section 1408 of this Act; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
66 Corporations Act 2001
(b) if regulations for the purposes of subsection 1408(3) deal
with a matter or matters dealt with in those provisions—the
regulations that so deal with the matter or matters.
on, in relation to a financial market, includes at or by means of.
on behalf of includes on the instructions of.
on-market: a transaction of any kind is an on-market transaction if
it is effected on a prescribed financial market and is:
(a) an on-market transaction as defined in the rules governing
the operation of the market; or
(b) if those rules do not define on-market transactions—effected
in the ordinary course of trading on the market.
on-market buy-back means a buy-back by a listed corporation on a
prescribed financial market in the ordinary course of trading on
that market.
operated in this jurisdiction, when used in a provision outside
Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
operating rules, when used in a provision outside Chapter 7, has
the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
outside this jurisdiction has a meaning affected by
subsection 102B(2).
outstanding property, in relation to a body corporate that has been
dissolved or deregistered, means outstanding property (other than
unpaid capital, whether called or uncalled) that was vested in the
body, to which it was entitled, or over which it had a disposing
power, when it was dissolved or deregistered, but that neither the
body nor its liquidator got in, realised on or otherwise disposed of
or dealt with.
paid parental leave employer has the meaning given by
subsection 600AA(2).
Panel means the Takeovers Panel.
parent: without limiting who is a parent of a person for the
purposes of this Act, someone is the parent of a person if the
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 67
person is his or her child because of the definition of child in this
section.
Part 5.1 body means:
(a) a company; or
(b) a registrable body that is registered under Division 1 or 2 of
Part 5B.2.
Part 5.7 body means:
(a) a registrable body that is a registrable Australian body and:
(i) is registered under Division 1 of Part 5B.2; or
(ii) is not registered under that Division but carries on
business in this jurisdiction and outside its place of
origin; or
(b) a registrable body that is a foreign company and:
(i) is registered under Division 2 of Part 5B.2; or
(ii) is not registered under that Division but carries on
business in Australia; or
(c) a partnership, association or other body (whether a body
corporate or not) that consists of more than 5 members and
that is not a registrable body;
but does not include an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
corporation.
Note: The winding up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations
is dealt with in Part 11-5 of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander) Act 2006.
Part 10.1 transitionals means the provisions of Part 10.1 and of
regulations for the purposes of those provisions.
participant, when used in a provision (the relevant provision)
outside Chapter 7 in relation to a clearing and settlement facility or
a financial market, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7 in
relation to a clearing and settlement facility or a financial market,
except that it does not include a reference to a recognised affiliate
(within the meaning of that Chapter) in relation to such a facility or
market unless regulations for the purposes of this definition
provide that, in the relevant provision, it does include a recognised
affiliate.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
68 Corporations Act 2001
party, in relation to a transaction that has been completed, given
effect to, or terminated, includes a person who was a party to the
transaction.
payment (when used in Division 2 of Part 2D.2 (sections 200 to
200J) includes a payment by way of damages for breach of
contract.
payment order means a cheque (including a cheque that a bank or
other institution draws on itself), bank draft, money order or postal
order.
person, when used in Division 2 of Part 2D.2 (sections 200 to
200J), includes a superannuation fund.
place of origin:
(a) in relation to a body corporate at a particular time, means:
(i) in the case of a body incorporated at that time in a State
or Territory—that State or Territory; or
(ii) otherwise—the place of the body’s incorporation at that
time; or
(b) in relation to an unincorporated body—the State or Territory,
or other place, in which the body is formed.
play a significant role: a person plays a significant role in the
audit of a company or a registered scheme for a financial year if:
(a) the person is appointed as an individual auditor of the
company or scheme for that financial year and:
(i) acts as an auditor for the company or scheme for that
financial year; or
(ii) prepares an audit report for the company or the scheme
in relation to a financial report of the company or
scheme for that financial year or for a half-year falling
within that financial year; or
(b) a firm or company is appointed as an auditor of the company
or scheme for that financial year and the person:
(i) is a registered company auditor; and
(ii) acts, on behalf of the firm or company, as a lead auditor,
or review auditor, in relation to an audit of the company
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 69
or scheme for that financial year or for a half-year
falling within that financial year.
pooling determination means a determination under
subsection 571(1).
pooling order means an order under subsection 579E(1).
positive solvency resolution means a resolution by the directors of
a company that, in their opinion, there are reasonable grounds to
believe that the company will be able to pay its debts as and when
they become due and payable.
possession has a meaning affected by section 86.
power includes an authority.
PPSA retention of title property (short for Personal Property
Security Act retention of title property) has the meaning given by
section 51F.
PPSA security interest (short for Personal Property Security Act
security interest) has the meaning given by section 51.
premises includes:
(a) a structure, building, aircraft, vehicle or vessel; and
(b) any land or place (whether enclosed or built on or not); and
(c) a part of a structure, building, aircraft, vehicle or vessel or of
such a place.
prescribed derivative trade repository, when used in a provision
outside Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
prescribed financial market means a financial market that is
prescribed by regulations made for the purposes of this definition.
printed includes type-written, lithographed or reproduced by any
mechanical means.
procure includes cause.
Product Disclosure Statement, when used in a provision outside
Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in Chapter 7.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
70 Corporations Act 2001
Note: For the effect of the lodgment of a Replacement Product Disclosure
Statement, see section 1014J.
professional accounting body has the same meaning as in the
ASIC Act.
professional employee of an individual auditor, audit firm or audit
company means an employee of the auditor, firm or company who
participates in the conduct of the audits on behalf of the auditor,
firm or company and, in the course of doing so, exercises
professional judgment in relation to the application of or
compliance with:
(a) accounting standards; or
(b) auditing standards; or
(c) the provisions of this Act dealing with financial reporting and
the conduct of audits.
professional investor means a person in relation to whom one or
more of the following paragraphs apply:
(a) the person is a financial services licensee;
(b) the person is a body regulated by APRA, other than a trustee
of any of the following (within the meaning of the
Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993):
(i) a superannuation fund;
(ii) an approved deposit fund;
(iii) a pooled superannuation trust;
(iv) a public sector superannuation scheme;
(c) the person is a body registered under the Financial
Corporations Act 1974;
(d) the person is the trustee of:
(i) a superannuation fund; or
(ii) an approved deposit fund; or
(iii) a pooled superannuation trust; or
(iv) a public sector superannuation scheme;
within the meaning of the Superannuation Industry
(Supervision) Act 1993 and the fund, trust or scheme has net
assets of at least $10 million;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 71
(e) the person controls at least $10 million (including any
amount held by an associate or under a trust that the person
manages);
(f) the person is a listed entity, or a related body corporate of a
listed entity;
(g) the person is an exempt public authority;
(h) the person is a body corporate, or an unincorporated body,
that:
(i) carries on a business of investment in financial
products, interests in land or other investments; and
(ii) for those purposes, invests funds received (directly or
indirectly) following an offer or invitation to the public,
within the meaning of section 82, the terms of which
provided for the funds subscribed to be invested for
those purposes;
(i) the person is a foreign entity that, if established or
incorporated in Australia, would be covered by one of the
preceding paragraphs.
professional member of an audit team has the meaning given by
section 324AE.
profile statement means a profile statement that is lodged with
ASIC.
property means any legal or equitable estate or interest (whether
present or future and whether vested or contingent) in real or
personal property of any description and includes a thing in action,
and:
(a) in Part 5.3A (administration)—has a meaning affected by
section 435B; and
(b) in Part 5.4B (winding up in insolvency or by the Court)—has
a meaning affected by section 465; and
(c) in Part 5.5 (voluntary winding up)—has a meaning affected
by section 489F; and
(d) in Part 5.6 (winding up generally)—has a meaning affected
by section 513AA; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
72 Corporations Act 2001
(e) in Part 5.7B (recovering property or compensation for
creditors of insolvent company)—has a meaning affected by
section 588C; and
(f) in Part 5.8 (offences relating to external administration)—has
a meaning affected by subsection 589(5); and
(g) in Part 5A.1 (deregistration, and transfer of registration, of
companies)—has a meaning affected by section 601; and
(h) in Part 5B.2 (registrable bodies)—has a meaning affected by
section 601C.
Note: A reference in this Act to the property of a corporation does not
include a reference to any PPSA retention of title property of the
corporation, unless provided otherwise expressly or by necessary
implication (see section 51F). The sections mentioned in
paragraphs (a) to (h) extend references to property of a corporation in
Parts of this Act to PPSA retention of title property (or to certain
PPSA retention of title property).
proportional takeover approval provisions, in relation to a
company, means provisions of the kind referred to in
subsection 648D(1) that are contained in, or that it is proposed to
insert in, the constitution of the company.
proportional takeover bid means an off-market bid for a specified
proportion of the securities in the bid class (see
paragraph 618(1)(b)).
proprietary company has the meaning given by subsection 45A(1).
prospectus means a prospectus that is lodged with ASIC.
prove includes establish in any way (for example, but without
limitation, through the operation of a presumption for which this
Act or a law of a State or Territory provides).
providing finance means:
(a) lending money; or
(b) giving guarantees or security for loans made by someone
else; or
(c) drawing, accepting, indorsing, negotiating or discounting a
bill of exchange, cheque, payment order or promissory note
so that someone can obtain funds.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 73
provision of a law includes:
(a) a subsection, section, Subdivision, Division, Part or Chapter
of the law; and
(b) a Schedule, or an item in a Schedule, to the law.
provisional liquidator has a meaning affected by
paragraph 530AA(b) (which deals with 2 or more persons
appointed as provisional liquidators).
public company means a company other than a proprietary
company and:
(a) in section 195 and Chapter 2E, includes a body corporate
(other than a prescribed body corporate) that:
(i) is incorporated in a State or an internal Territory, but
not under this Act; and
(ii) is included in the official list of a prescribed financial
market; and
(b) in Chapter 2E does not include a company that is not
required to have ―Limited‖ in its name because of
section 150 or 151.
public document, in relation to a body corporate, has the meaning
given by section 88A.
publish:
(a) in relation to a notice—means, in Chapter 7, publish by any
means, including in a newspaper or periodical, on the
internet, by broadcasting or televising or in a cinematograph
film; and
(b) in any case—includes issue.
qualified accountant has the meaning given by section 88B.
qualified privilege has the meaning given by section 89.
quarter day means 31 March, 30 June, 30 September or
31 December.
quotation, in relation to financial products or in relation to a
financial market, includes the displaying or providing, on a
financial market, of information concerning:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
74 Corporations Act 2001
(a) if offers to dispose of, purchase or exchange the financial
product at particular prices, or for particular consideration,
are made or accepted on that financial market—those prices
or that consideration; or
(b) if offers or invitations are made on that financial market,
being offers or invitations that are intended, or may
reasonably be expected, to result in the making or acceptance
of offers to dispose of, purchase or exchange the financial
products at particular prices, or for particular consideration—
those prices or that consideration; or
(c) in any case—the price at which, or the consideration for
which, particular persons, or particular classes of persons,
propose, or may reasonably be expected, to dispose of,
purchase or exchange the financial products.
quoted ED securities has the meaning given by section 111AM.
quoted security means a security that is quoted on a prescribed
financial market.
receiver has a meaning affected by paragraph 434D(b) (which
deals with 2 or more persons appointed as receivers).
receiver and manager has a meaning affected by section 90 and
has a meaning affected by paragraph 434E(b) (which deals with 2
or more persons appointed as receivers and managers).
recognised offer has the meaning given by section 1200B.
redeemable preference share means a preference share in a body
corporate that is, or at the body’s option is to be, liable to be
redeemed.
referring State has the meaning given by section 4.
register means register under this Act.
registered Australian body means a registrable Australian body
that is registered under Division 1 of Part 5B.2.
registered body mean a registered Australian body or a registered
foreign company.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 75
registered company auditor:
(a) means a person registered as an auditor under Part 9.2; and
(b) in relation to a body corporate that is not a company—
includes a person qualified to act as the body’s auditor under
the law of the body’s incorporation.
registered foreign company means a foreign company that is
registered under Division 2 of Part 5B.2.
registered liquidator means a person registered as a liquidator
under subsection 1282(2).
registered office, in relation to a body corporate, means the body’s
registered office under section 142 or 601CT, as the case requires.
registered scheme means a managed investment scheme that is
registered under section 601EB.
registrable Australian body means:
(a) a body corporate, not being:
(i) a company; or
(ii) an exempt public authority; or
(iii) a corporation sole; or
(b) an unincorporated body that, under the law of its place of
formation:
(i) may sue or be sued; or
(ii) may hold property;
in the name of its secretary or of an officer of the body duly
appointed for that purpose;
but does not include a foreign company.
registrable body means a registrable Australian body or a foreign
company.
related body corporate, in relation to a body corporate, means a
body corporate that is related to the first-mentioned body by virtue
of section 50.
related entity, in relation to a body corporate, means any of the
following:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
76 Corporations Act 2001
(a) a promoter of the body;
(b) a relative of such a promoter;
(c) a relative of a spouse of such a promoter;
(d) a director or member of the body or of a related body
corporate;
(e) a relative of such a director or member;
(f) a relative of a spouse of such a director or member;
(g) a body corporate that is related to the first-mentioned body;
(h) a beneficiary under a trust of which the first-mentioned body
is or has at any time been a trustee;
(i) a relative of such a beneficiary;
(j) a relative of a spouse of such a beneficiary;
(k) a body corporate one of whose directors is also a director of
the first-mentioned body;
(l) a trustee of a trust under which a person is a beneficiary,
where the person is a related entity of the first-mentioned
body because of any other application or applications of this
definition.
related party (when used in Chapter 2E) has the meaning given by
section 228.
relation-back day, in relation to a winding up of a company or
Part 5.7 body, means:
(a) if, because of Division 1A of Part 5.6, the winding up is
taken to have begun on the day when an order that the
company or body be wound up was made—the day on which
the application for the order was filed; or
(b) otherwise—the day on which the winding up is taken
because of Division 1A of Part 5.6 to have begun.
relative, in relation to a person, means the spouse, parent or
remoter lineal ancestor, child or remoter issue, or brother or sister
of the person.
relevant agreement means an agreement, arrangement or
understanding:
(a) whether formal or informal or partly formal and partly
informal; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 77
(b) whether written or oral or partly written and partly oral; and
(c) whether or not having legal or equitable force and whether or
not based on legal or equitable rights.
relevant date, in relation to a winding up, means the day on which
the winding up is taken because of Division 1A of Part 5.6 to have
begun.
Note: Subsection 553(1B) modifies the operation of this definition for debts
and claims that arise while a company is under a deed of company
arrangement if the deed terminates immediately before the winding
up.
relevant financial market, for a listed company, or listed
registered scheme, means:
(a) the prescribed financial market on which the company or
scheme is listed; or
(b) if the company or scheme is listed on 2 or more prescribed
financial markets—each of those markets.
relevant interest, in relation to securities, has a meaning given by
sections 608 and 609.
relevant market operator, for a listed company, or listed registered
scheme, means:
(a) if there is only one relevant financial market for the company
or scheme—the operator of that relevant financial market; or
(b) if there is 2 or more relevant financial markets for the
company or scheme—each of the operators of each of those
relevant financial markets.
remedial order means an order that:
(a) restrains a person from exercising any voting or other rights
attached to securities; or
(b) directs a body corporate not to make or to defer payment of
an amount due from the body corporate in respect of
securities; or
(c) restrains a person from acquiring securities or an interest in
securities; or
(d) directs a person to dispose of, or not to dispose of, securities
or interests in securities; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
78 Corporations Act 2001
(e) directs the disposal referred to in paragraph (d):
(i) to be made within a specified time; or
(ii) to be made subject to specified conditions; or
(iii) not to be made to a specified person or persons or to a
specified class or classes of persons;
(f) directs a specified person to pay to the body corporate an
amount equal to any profit or benefit that the person obtains
because of the disposal referred to in paragraph (d); or
(g) vests securities, or an interest in securities, in ASIC; or
(h) directs a body corporate not to register the transfer or
transmission of securities; or
(i) cancels securities issued as consideration for offers under a
takeover bid; or
(j) declares that an exercise of the voting or other rights attached
to securities be disregarded; or
(k) cancels or declares voidable:
(i) an agreement or offer relating to a takeover bid, or a
proposed takeover bid; or
(ii) any other agreement or offer in connection with the
acquisition of securities or relevant interests in
securities;
(l) directs a person to give specified information to the holders
of securities of a body corporate; or
(m) directs a body corporate not to issue securities to a person; or
(n) if an order of a kind referred to in paragraphs (a) to (m) is in
force in respect of securities—directs the registered holder of
the securities to give written notice of the order to any person
whom the holder knows to be entitled to exercise a right to
vote attached to those securities; or
(o) directs a body corporate to repeal or modify its existing
constitution or adopt a particular constitution; or
(p) if a person has failed to comply with a requirement of
Chapter 6, 6A, 6B or 6C—directs that person to comply with
that requirement.
remuneration of an officer or employee of a corporation. A benefit
given to an officer or employee of a corporation is remuneration if
and only if the benefit, were it received by a director of the
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 79
corporation, would be remuneration of the director for the purposes
of an accounting standard that deals with disclosure in companies’
financial reports of information about directors’ remuneration. For
the purposes of this definition, the following are not officers of a
corporation:
(a) a receiver, or receiver and manager, of the property of the
corporation;
(b) an administrator of the corporation;
(c) an administrator of a deed of company arrangement executed
by the corporation;
(d) a liquidator of the corporation;
(e) a trustee or other person administering a compromise or
arrangement made between the corporation and someone
else.
remuneration committee has the meaning given by
paragraph 206K(2)(b).
remuneration consultant means a person:
(a) who makes a remuneration recommendation under a contract
for services with the company to whose key management
personnel the recommendation relates; and
(b) who is not an officer or employee of the company.
remuneration recommendation has the meaning given by
section 9B.
remuneration report means the section of the directors’ report for
a financial year for a listed public company that is included under
subsection 300A(1).
renounceable option means an assignable option to have an
allotment of shares in a body corporate made to the holder of the
option.
Replacement Product Disclosure Statement, when used in a
provision outside Chapter 7, has the same meaning it has in
Chapter 7.
reproduction, in relation to a document, means a machine-copy of
the document or a print made from a negative of the document.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
80 Corporations Act 2001
resolution, in relation to creditors or contributories, means a
resolution passed at a meeting of the creditors or contributories.
resolution for voluntary winding up means the special resolution
referred to in section 491.
responsible entity of a registered scheme means the company
named in ASIC’s record of the scheme’s registration as the
responsible entity or temporary responsible entity of the scheme.
responsible officer, in relation to a body corporate that applies for
an Australian financial services licence, means an officer of the
body who would perform duties in connection with the holding of
the licence.
result includes:
(a) when used as a verb—result indirectly; and
(b) when used as a noun—an indirect result.
retention of title clause: property is subject to a retention of title
clause under a contract for the sale of property:
(a) if the contract contains a provision the effect of which is that
the seller retains title in the property until the purchase price,
or another amount, has been paid in full; and
(b) if the purchase price, or the other amount, as the case may be,
has not been paid in full; and
(c) to the extent that the contract does not give rise to a PPSA
security interest in the property.
Note: See also the definitions of PPSA security interest in section 51 and
PPSA retention of title property in section 51F.
retirement village scheme means a scheme, undertaking or
enterprise (in this definition called the relevant scheme), whether
in Australia or elsewhere, that is being, or is proposed to be,
carried out or undertaken with the intention that the participants, or
a majority of the participants, in the relevant scheme be provided,
in connection with the relevant scheme, with residential
accommodation within a retirement community, whether or not the
entitlement of a participant to be provided with such
accommodation derives from a proprietary interest held by the
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 81
participant in the premises where the accommodation is provided,
but does not include a time-sharing scheme.
return of particulars for a company or a registered scheme means
a statement given by ASIC that contains any or all of the
following:
(a) some or all of the particulars in relation to the company or
scheme that are recorded in the register or registers
maintained by ASIC under subsection 1274(1);
(b) a requirement to provide a particular under section 348B;
(c) a requirement to comply with a subsection of section 348C
(and, if applicable, pass a resolution).
review auditor has the meaning given by section 324AF.
review date has the meaning given by section 345A.
review fee has the meaning given by section 5 of the Corporations
(Review Fees) Act 2003.
revoke, in relation to an accounting standard, means, in the case of
a provision of an accounting standard, vary the last-mentioned
accounting standard by omitting the provision.
rights issue has the meaning given by subsections 9A(1) and (2).
rules means:
(a) rules of the Federal Court; or
(b) rules of the Supreme Court of a State or internal Territory;
as the case requires.
scheme property of a registered scheme means:
(a) contributions of money or money’s worth to the scheme; and
(b) money that forms part of the scheme property under
provisions of this Act or the ASIC Act; and
(c) money borrowed or raised by the responsible entity for the
purposes of the scheme; and
(d) property acquired, directly or indirectly, with, or with the
proceeds of, contributions or money referred to in
paragraph (a), (b) or (c); and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
82 Corporations Act 2001
(e) income and property derived, directly or indirectly, from
contributions, money or property referred to in paragraph (a),
(b), (c) or (d).
Note 1: Paragraph (a)—if what a member contributes to a scheme is rights
over property, the rights in the property that the member retains do
not form part of the scheme property.
Note 2: For provisions that are relevant to paragraph (b), see
subsections 177(4), 1317HA(1A), 1317HB(3) and 1317HD(3) of
this Act and subsection 93A(5) of the ASIC Act.
scrip means documents that are, or are documents of title to,
securities.
section 513C day, in relation to the administration of a company,
has the meaning given by section 513C.
secured creditor has the meaning given by section 51E.
secured party has the meaning given by section 51B.
securities has the meaning given by section 92.
security interest has the meaning given by section 51A.
selective buy-back means a buy-back that is none of the following:
(a) a buy-back under an equal access scheme within the meaning
of subsections 257B(2) and (3);
(b) a minimum holding buy-back;
(c) an on-market buy-back;
(d) an employee share scheme buy-back.
senior manager:
(a) in relation to a corporation—means a person (other than a
director or secretary of the corporation) who:
(i) makes, or participates in making, decisions that affect
the whole, or a substantial part, of the business of the
corporation; or
(ii) has the capacity to affect significantly the corporation’s
financial standing; and
(b) in relation to a partnership—means a person (other than a
partner) who:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 83
(i) makes, or participates in making, decisions that affect
the whole, or a substantial part, of the business of the
partnership; or
(ii) has the capacity to affect significantly the partnership’s
financial standing; and
(c) in relation to a trust—means a person (other than a trustee)
who:
(i) makes, or participates in making, decisions that affect
the whole, or a substantial part, of the business or affairs
of the trust; or
(ii) has the capacity to affect significantly the financial
standing of the trust; and
(d) in relation to a joint venture—means a person (other than a
director or secretary of a corporation participating in the joint
venture) who:
(i) makes, or participates in making, decisions that affect
the whole, or a substantial part, of the business of the
joint venture; or
(ii) has the capacity to affect significantly the financial
standing of the joint venture.
serious fraud means an offence involving fraud or dishonesty,
being an offence:
(a) against an Australian law or any other law; and
(b) punishable by imprisonment for life or for a period, or
maximum period, of at least 3 months.
sheriff includes a person charged with the execution of a writ or
other process.
small company limited by guarantee has the meaning given by
section 45B.
small proprietary company has the meaning given by
subsection 45A(2).
solvency resolution means a resolution by the directors of a
company as to whether or not, in their opinion, there are reasonable
grounds to believe that the company will be able to pay its debts as
and when they become due and payable.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
84 Corporations Act 2001
solvent has the meaning given by subsection 95A(1).
special resolution means:
(a) in relation to a company, a resolution:
(i) of which notice as set out in paragraph 249L(1)(c) has
been given; and
(ii) that has been passed by at least 75% of the votes cast by
members entitled to vote on the resolution; or
(b) in relation to a registered scheme, a resolution:
(i) of which notice as set out in paragraph 252J(c) has been
given; and
(ii) that has been passed by at least 75% of the votes cast by
members entitled to vote on the resolution.
spouse of a person includes a de facto partner of the person within
the meaning of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
staff member, in relation to ASIC, means a person who is a staff
member for the purposes of the ASIC Act.
standard opening hours means 10 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 4
pm each business day.
State, when used in a geographical sense, includes the coastal sea
of the State.
State Fair Trading Act means the following Acts for each State
and Territory:
State Fair Trading Acts
State or Territory Act
1 New South Wales Fair Trading Act 1987
2 Victoria Fair Trading Act 1999
3 Queensland Fair Trading Act 1989
4 South Australia Fair Trading Act 1987
5 Western Australia Fair Trading Act 1987
6 Tasmania Fair Trading Act 1990
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 85
State Fair Trading Acts
State or Territory Act
7 Northern Territory Consumer Affairs and Fair
Trading Act 1990
8 Australian Capital Territory Fair Trading Act 1992
State Family Court, in relation to a State, means a court of that
State to which section 41 of the Family Law Act 1975 applies
because of a Proclamation made under subsection 41(2) of that
Act.
statement, in Chapter 7, includes matter that is not written but
conveys a message.
State or Territory court means a court of a State, the Capital
Territory or the Northern Territory.
State or Territory Supreme Court means the Supreme Court of:
(a) a State; or
(b) the Capital Territory; or
(c) the Northern Territory.
statutory demand means:
(a) a document that is, or purports to be, a demand served under
section 459E; or
(b) such a document as varied by an order under
subsection 459H(4).
statutory minimum means:
(a) if an amount greater than $2,000 is prescribed—the
prescribed amount; or
(b) otherwise—$2,000.
subsection 1337B(3) proceeding means a proceeding with respect
to a matter referred to in subsection 1337B(3).
subsidiary, in relation to a body corporate, means a body corporate
that is a subsidiary of the first-mentioned body by virtue of
Division 6.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
86 Corporations Act 2001
substantial holding: A person has a substantial holding in a body
corporate, or listed registered managed investment scheme, if:
(a) the total votes attached to voting shares in the body, or voting
interests in the scheme, in which they or their associates:
(i) have relevant interests; and
(ii) would have a relevant interest but for subsection 609(6)
(market traded options) or 609(7) (conditional
agreements);
is 5% or more of the total number of votes attached to voting
shares in the body, or interests in the scheme; or
(b) the person has made a takeover bid for voting shares in the
body, or voting interests in the scheme, and the bid period
has started and not yet ended.
Note: For relevant interest, see section 608.
substantial interest has a meaning affected by section 602A.
substantial part, in relation to activities, includes the whole of
those activities.
superannuation guarantee charge has the same meaning as in the
Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992.
superannuation guarantee shortfall has the same meaning as in
the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992.
superior court means the Federal Court of Australia, the Supreme
Court of a State or Territory, the Family Court or a State Family
Court.
superior court matter means a civil matter that this Act clearly
intends (for example, by use of the expression the Court) to be
dealt with only by a superior court.
Supplementary Product Disclosure Statement, when used in a
provision outside Chapter 7, has the same meaning as it has in
Chapter 7.
takeover bid means an off-market bid or market bid made under
Chapter 6.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 87
takeover contract means a contract that results from the acceptance
of an offer made under a takeover bid.
target for a takeover bid means the company, listed body or
managed investment scheme whose securities are to be acquired
under the bid.
target’s statement means a target’s statement under sections 638 to
640 as supplemented.
territorial sea has the same meaning as in the Seas and Submerged
Lands Act 1973.
Territory means:
(a) the Capital Territory; or
(b) the Northern Territory; or
(c) an external Territory;
and, when used in a geographical sense, includes the coastal sea of
the Territory.
this Act includes the regulations.
this jurisdiction means the geographical area that consists of:
(a) each referring State (including its coastal sea); and
(b) the Capital Territory (including the coastal sea of the Jervis
Bay Territory); and
(c) the Northern Territory (including its coastal sea); and
(d) also, for the purposes of the application of a provision of
Chapter 7 or an associated provision (as defined in
section 5)—any external Territory in which the provision
applies because of subsection 5(9) (but only to the extent
provided for in that subsection).
time-sharing scheme means a scheme, undertaking or enterprise,
whether in Australia or elsewhere:
(a) participants in which are, or may become, entitled to use,
occupy or possess, for 2 or more periods during the period
for which the scheme, undertaking or enterprise is to operate,
property to which the scheme, undertaking or enterprise
relates; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
88 Corporations Act 2001
(b) that is to operate for a period of not less than 3 years.
trade, in relation to financial products, in relation to a financial
market, includes:
(a) make or accept on that financial market an offer to dispose
of, acquire or exchange the financial products; and
(b) make on that financial market an offer or invitation that is
intended, or may reasonably be expected, to result in the
making or acceptance of an offer to dispose of, acquire or
exchange the financial products.
trading day of a financial market means a day on which the market
is open for trading in financial products.
transaction, in Part 5.7B, in relation to a body corporate or Part 5.7
body, means a transaction to which the body is a party, for example
(but without limitation):
(a) a conveyance, transfer or other disposition by the body of
property of the body; and
(b) a security interest granted by the body in its property
(including a security interest in the body’s PPSA retention of
title property); and
(c) a guarantee given by the body; and
(d) a payment made by the body; and
(e) an obligation incurred by the body; and
(f) a release or waiver by the body; and
(g) a loan to the body;
and includes such a transaction that has been completed or given
effect to, or that has terminated.
transmission means a transmission, by means of electric or
electromagnetic energy, of:
(a) sounds, including speech and music; or
(b) visual images; or
(c) signals for the communication, whether as between persons
and persons, persons and things or things and things, of any
matter otherwise than in the form of sounds or visual images;
or
(d) signals for the actuation or control of machinery or apparatus.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 89
transparency, in relation to a document, means:
(a) a developed negative or positive photograph of that
document (in this definition called an original photograph)
made, on a transparent base, by means of light reflected from,
or transmitted through, the document; or
(b) a copy of an original photograph made by the use of
photo-sensitive material (being photo-sensitive material on a
transparent base) placed in surface contact with the original
photograph; or
(c) any one of a series of copies of an original photograph, the
first of the series being made by the use of photo-sensitive
material (being photo-sensitive material on a transparent
base) placed in surface contact with a copy referred to in
paragraph (b), and each succeeding copy in the series being
made, in the same manner, from any preceding copy in the
series.
transparency reporting auditor has the meaning given by
subsection 332(1).
transparency reporting year has the meaning given by
subsection 332(2).
Tribunal means the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
ultimate holding company, in relation to a body corporate, means
a body corporate that:
(a) is a holding company of the first-mentioned body; and
(b) is itself a subsidiary of no body corporate.
unclaimed property means:
(a) property paid or transferred to ASIC under a provision of this
Act that provides for property to be transferred, or for the
Court to direct that property be transferred, to ASIC to be
dealt with under Part 9.7; or
(b) any other property that a provision of this Act provides for
ASIC to deal with under Part 9.7; or
(c) property that vests in ASIC under section 1404; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9
90 Corporations Act 2001
(d) an accretion to, or substitution for, property that is unclaimed
property because of any other application or applications of
this definition.
uncommercial transaction has the meaning given by
section 588FB.
underlying securities means:
(a) in relation to an option over securities—those securities; and
(b) in relation to scrip that is constituted by documents that are,
or are documents of title to, securities—those securities.
undertaking, in relation to a managed investment scheme, means
the undertaking, scheme, enterprise, contract or arrangement to
which the scheme relates.
underwrite includes sub-underwrite.
unfair loan has the meaning given by section 588FD.
unfair preference has the meaning given by section 588FA.
unit, in relation to a share, debenture or other interest, means a
right or interest, whether legal or equitable, in the share, debenture
or other interest, by whatever term called, and includes an option to
acquire such a right or interest in the share, debenture or other
interest.
unlimited company means a company whose members have no
limit placed on their liability.
unlisted disclosing entity has the meaning given by
subsection 111AL(2).
unreasonable director-related transaction has the meaning given
by section 588FDA.
unsecured, in relation to a debt, has in Part 5.7B a meaning
affected by section 588D.
value, in relation to an asset, includes amount.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9
Corporations Act 2001 91
voting interest, in relation to a managed investment scheme, means
an issued interest in the scheme that confers a right to vote, not
being a right to vote that is exercisable only in one or more of the
following circumstances:
(a) on a proposal that affects rights attached to the interests;
(b) on a proposal to wind up the scheme;
(c) on a proposal for the disposal of the whole of the scheme
property, business and undertaking;
(d) during the winding up of the scheme.
voting power in a body or managed investment scheme has the
meaning given by section 610.
voting share in a body corporate means an issued share in the body
that carries any voting rights beyond the following:
(a) a right to vote while a dividend (or part of a dividend) in
respect of the share is unpaid;
(b) a right to vote on a proposal to reduce the body’s share
capital;
(c) a right to vote on a resolution to approve the terms of a
buy-back agreement;
(d) a right to vote on a proposal that affects the rights attached to
the share;
(e) a right to vote on a proposal to wind the body up;
(f) a right to vote on a proposal for the disposal of the whole of
the body’s property, business and undertaking;
(g) a right to vote during the body’s winding up.
wages, in relation to a company, means amounts payable to or in
respect of an employee of the company (whether the employee is
remunerated by salary, wages, commission or otherwise) under an
industrial instrument, including amounts payable by way of
allowance or reimbursement but excluding amounts payable in
respect of leave of absence.
wholly-owned subsidiary, in relation to a body corporate, means a
body corporate none of whose members is a person other than:
(a) the first-mentioned body; or
(b) a nominee of the first-mentioned body; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9AA
92 Corporations Act 2001
(c) a subsidiary of the first-mentioned body, being a subsidiary
none of whose members is a person other than:
(i) the first-mentioned body; or
(ii) a nominee of the first-mentioned body; or
(d) a nominee of such a subsidiary.
winding up by the Court includes winding up in insolvency.
wound up by the Court includes wound up in insolvency.
9AA Certain family relationships
For the purposes of this Act, relationships (including the
relationship of being family) are taken to include:
(a) relationships between de facto partners (within the meaning
of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901); and
(b) relationships of child and parent that arise:
(i) if someone is an exnuptial or adoptive child of a person;
or
(ii) if someone is the child of a person because of the
definition of child in this Act; and
(c) relationships traced through relationships referred to in
paragraphs (a) and (b).
9A Meaning of rights issue
(1) A rights issue is an offer of a body’s securities for issue in respect
of which the following conditions are met:
(a) the securities being offered for issue are in a particular class;
(b) either:
(i) the offer is made to every person who holds securities in
that class to issue them, or their assignee, with the
percentage of the securities to be issued that is the same
as the percentage of the securities in that class that they
hold before the offer; or
(ii) if the conditions in subsection (3) are met—such an
offer is made to every person with a registered address
in Australia or New Zealand who holds securities in that
class;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9A
Corporations Act 2001 93
(c) the terms of each offer are the same.
(2) A rights issue is an offer of interests in a managed investment
scheme for issue in respect of which the following conditions are
met:
(a) the interests being offered for issue are in a particular class;
(b) either:
(i) the offer is made to every person who holds interests in
that class to issue them, or their assignee, with the
percentage of the interests to be issued that is the same
as the percentage of the interests in that class that they
hold before the offer; or
(ii) if the conditions in subsection (3) are met—such an
offer is made to every person with a registered address
in Australia or New Zealand who holds interests in that
class;
(c) the terms of each offer are the same.
(3) The conditions in this subsection are met if:
(a) the body or responsible entity (as the case requires) decides
that it is unreasonable to offer securities or interests (as the
case requires) for issue to persons (the non-residents) with a
registered address in a place outside Australia or New
Zealand, after taking into account the following matters:
(i) the number of non-residents, in that place, to whom
offers would otherwise be made;
(ii) the number and value of the securities or interests that
would otherwise be offered for issue;
(iii) the cost of complying with the laws, and any
requirements of any regulatory authority, of the place
where the securities or interests would otherwise be
offered for issue; and
(b) the body or responsible entity:
(i) sends details of the offer to each non-resident in that
place; and
(ii) advises each non-resident in that place that the
non-resident will not be offered the securities or
interests; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 1 General
Section 9B
94 Corporations Act 2001
(c) if the invitation to apply for, or the right to be issued with,
the securities or interests is able to be assigned—the body or
responsible entity:
(i) advises each non-resident in that place that a nominee
will be appointed to sell the invitation or right that
would otherwise have been offered to the non-resident;
and
(ii) advises each non-resident that the nominee will send the
non-resident any net proceeds from the sale of that
invitation or those rights; and
(iii) appoints a nominee in Australia to carry out the
obligations referred to in subparagraphs (i) and (ii).
(4) For the purposes of this section, a reference to an offer of securities
includes a reference to an invitation to apply for the issue of
securities.
9B Meaning of remuneration recommendation
(1) A remuneration recommendation is:
(a) a recommendation about either or both of the following:
(i) how much the remuneration should be;
(ii) what elements the remuneration should have;
for one or more members of the key management personnel
for a company; or
(b) a recommendation or advice about a matter or of a kind
prescribed by the regulations.
(2) None of the following is a remuneration recommendation (even if
it would otherwise be covered by subsection (1)):
(a) advice about the operation of the law (including tax law);
(b) advice about the operation of accounting principles (for
example, about how options should be valued);
(c) advice about the operation of actuarial principles and
practice;
(d) the provision of facts;
(e) the provision of information of a general nature relevant to
all employees of the company;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
General Division 1
Section 9B
Corporations Act 2001 95
(f) a recommendation, or advice or information, of a kind
prescribed by the regulations.
(3) Subsection (2) does not limit the things that are not remuneration
recommendations, nor does it mean that something specified in that
subsection would otherwise be a remuneration recommendation
within the meaning of subsection (1).
(4) ASIC may by writing declare that subsection (1) does not apply to
a specified recommendation or specified advice, but may do so
only if ASIC is satisfied that it would be unreasonable in the
circumstances for the advice or recommendation to be a
remuneration recommendation. The declaration has effect
accordingly. The declaration is not a legislative instrument.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 2 Associates
Section 10
96 Corporations Act 2001
Division 2—Associates
10 Effect of Division
(1) This Division has effect for the purposes of interpreting a reference
(in this Division called the associate reference), in relation to a
person (in this Division called the primary person), to an associate.
(2) A person is not an associate of the primary person except as
provided in this Division.
(3) Nothing in this Division limits the generality of anything else in it.
11 Associates of bodies corporate
If the primary person is a body corporate, the associate reference
includes a reference to:
(a) a director or secretary of the body; and
(b) a related body corporate; and
(c) a director or secretary of a related body corporate.
12 References in Chapters 6 to 6C, and other references relating to
voting power and takeovers etc.
(1) Subject to subsection 16(1), but despite anything else in this Part,
this section applies for the purposes of interpreting a reference to
an associate (the associate reference), in relation to a designated
body, if:
(a) the reference occurs in a provision of Chapter 6, 6A, 6B or
6C; or
(b) the reference occurs in a provision outside those Chapters
that relates to any of the following matters:
(i) the extent, or restriction, of a power to exercise, or to
control the exercise of, the votes attached to voting
shares in the designated body;
(ii) the primary person’s voting power in the designated
body;
(iii) relevant interests in securities in the designated body;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Associates Division 2
Section 12
Corporations Act 2001 97
(iv) a substantial holding in the designated body;
(v) a takeover bid for securities in the designated body;
(vi) the compulsory acquisition, or compulsory buy-out, of
securities in the designated body.
(2) For the purposes of the application of the associate reference in
relation to the designated body, a person (the second person) is an
associate of the primary person if, and only if, one or more of the
following paragraphs applies:
(a) the primary person is a body corporate and the second person
is:
(i) a body corporate the primary person controls; or
(ii) a body corporate that controls the primary person; or
(iii) a body corporate that is controlled by an entity that
controls the primary person;
(b) the second person is a person with whom the primary person
has, or proposes to enter into, a relevant agreement for the
purpose of controlling or influencing the composition of the
designated body’s board or the conduct of the designated
body’s affairs;
(c) the second person is a person with whom the primary person
is acting, or proposing to act, in concert in relation to the
designated body’s affairs.
(3) For the purposes of the application of this section in relation to a
designated body that is a managed investment scheme:
(a) a reference to controlling or influencing the composition of
the designated body’s board is taken to be a reference to
controlling or influencing:
(i) if the scheme is a registered scheme—whether a
particular company becomes or remains the scheme’s
responsible entity; or
(ii) if the scheme is not a registered scheme—whether a
particular person is appointed, or remains appointed, to
the office (by whatever name it is known) in relation to
the scheme that corresponds most closely to the office
of responsible entity of a registered scheme; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 2 Associates
Section 13
98 Corporations Act 2001
(b) a reference to voting shares in the designated body is taken to
be a reference to voting interests in the managed investment
scheme.
(4) In relation to a matter relating to securities in a designated body, a
person may be an associate of the body and the body may be an
associate of the person.
(5) In this section:
designated body means:
(a) a body; or
(b) a managed investment scheme.
13 References in Chapter 7
If the associate reference occurs in Chapter 7, it includes a
reference to:
(a) a person in partnership with whom the primary person carries
on a financial services business; and
(b) subject to subsection 16(2), a person who is a partner of the
primary person otherwise than because of carrying on a
financial services business in partnership with the primary
person; and
(c) a trustee of a trust in relation to which the primary person
benefits, or is capable of benefiting, otherwise than because
of transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business
in connection with the lending of money; and
(d) a director of a body corporate of which the primary person is
also a director and that carries on a financial services
business; and
(e) subject to subsection 16(2), a director of a body corporate of
which the primary person is also a director and that does not
carry on a financial services business.
15 General
(1) The associate reference includes a reference to:
(a) a person in concert with whom the primary person is acting,
or proposes to act; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Associates Division 2
Section 16
Corporations Act 2001 99
(b) a person who, under the regulations, is, for the purposes of
the provision in which the associate reference occurs, an
associate of the primary person; and
(c) a person with whom the primary person is, or proposes to
become, associated, whether formally or informally, in any
other way;
in respect of the matter to which the associate reference relates.
(2) If the primary person has entered, or proposes to enter, into a
transaction, or has done, or proposes to do, any act or thing, in
order to become associated with another person as mentioned in an
applicable provision of this Division, the associate reference
includes a reference to that other person.
16 Exclusions
(1) A person is not an associate of another person by virtue of
section 12 or subsection 15(1), or by virtue of subsection 15(2) as
it applies in relation to section 12 or subsection 15(1), merely
because of one or more of the following:
(a) one gives advice to the other, or acts on the other’s behalf, in
the proper performance of the functions attaching to a
professional capacity or a business relationship;
(b) one, a client, gives specific instructions to the other, whose
ordinary business includes dealing in financial products, to
acquire financial products on the client’s behalf in the
ordinary course of that business;
(c) one had sent, or proposes to send, to the other an offer under
a takeover bid for shares held by the other;
(d) one has appointed the other, otherwise than for valuable
consideration given by the other or by an associate of the
other, to vote as a proxy or representative at a meeting of
members, or of a class of members, of a body corporate.
(2) For the purposes of proceedings under this Act in which it is
alleged that a person was an associate of another person by virtue
of paragraph 13(b) or (e), the first-mentioned person is not taken to
have been an associate of the other person in relation to a matter by
virtue of that paragraph unless it is proved that the first-mentioned
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 2 Associates
Section 17
100 Corporations Act 2001
person knew, or ought to have known, at that time, the material
particulars of that matter.
17 Associates of composite person that carries on a financial services
business
A reference to an associate, in relation to an entity (other than a
body corporate) that carries on a financial services business, is, if 2
or more persons constitute the entity, a reference to an associate of
any of those persons.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Carrying on business Division 3
Section 18
Corporations Act 2001 101
Division 3—Carrying on business
18 Carrying on business: otherwise than for profit
A reference to a person carrying on business, carrying on a
business, or carrying on a business of a particular kind, includes a
reference to the person carrying on business, carrying on a
business, or carrying on a business of that kind, as the case may be:
(a) in any case—otherwise than for profit; or
(b) in the case of a body corporate—otherwise than for the profit
of the members or corporators of the body.
19 Businesses of a particular kind
A reference to a business of a particular kind includes a reference
to a business of that kind that is part of, or is carried on in
conjunction with, any other business.
20 Carrying on a business: alone or together with others
A reference in this Act to a person carrying on a business, or a
business of a particular kind, is a reference to the person carrying
on a business, or a business of that kind, whether alone or together
with any other person or persons.
21 Carrying on business in Australia or a State or Territory
(1) A body corporate that has a place of business in Australia, or in a
State or Territory, carries on business in Australia, or in that State
or Territory, as the case may be.
(2) A reference to a body corporate carrying on business in Australia,
or in a State or Territory, includes a reference to the body:
(a) establishing or using a share transfer office or share
registration office in Australia, or in the State or Territory, as
the case may be; or
(b) administering, managing, or otherwise dealing with, property
situated in Australia, or in the State or Territory, as the case
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 3 Carrying on business
Section 21
102 Corporations Act 2001
may be, as an agent, legal personal representative or trustee,
whether by employees or agents or otherwise.
(3) Despite subsection (2), a body corporate does not carry on business
in Australia, or in a State or Territory, merely because, in
Australia, or in the State or Territory, as the case may be, the body:
(a) is or becomes a party to a proceeding or effects settlement of
a proceeding or of a claim or dispute; or
(b) holds meetings of its directors or shareholders or carries on
other activities concerning its internal affairs; or
(c) maintains a bank account; or
(d) effects a sale through an independent contractor; or
(e) solicits or procures an order that becomes a binding contract
only if the order is accepted outside Australia, or the State or
Territory, as the case may be; or
(f) creates evidence of a debt, or creates a security interest in
property, including PPSA retention of title property of the
body; or
(g) secures or collects any of its debts or enforces its rights in
regard to any securities relating to such debts; or
(h) conducts an isolated transaction that is completed within a
period of 31 days, not being one of a number of similar
transactions repeated from time to time; or
(j) invests any of its funds or holds any property.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Types of company Division 5A
Section 45A
Corporations Act 2001 103
Division 5A—Types of company
45A Proprietary companies
(1) A proprietary company is a company that is registered as, or
converts to, a proprietary company under this Act.
Note 1: A proprietary company can be registered under section 118 or 601BD.
A company can convert to a proprietary company under Part 2B.7.
Note 2: A proprietary company must:
be limited by shares or be an unlimited company with a share capital
have no more than 50 non-employee shareholders
not do anything that would require disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D (except in limited circumstances).
(see section 113).
Small proprietary company
(2) A proprietary company is a small proprietary company for a
financial year if it satisfies at least 2 of the following paragraphs:
(a) the consolidated revenue for the financial year of the
company and the entities it controls (if any) is less than $25
million, or any other amount prescribed by the regulations for
the purposes of this paragraph;
(b) the value of the consolidated gross assets at the end of the
financial year of the company and the entities it controls (if
any) is less than $12.5 million, or any other amount
prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this
paragraph;
(c) the company and the entities it controls (if any) have fewer
than 50, or any other number prescribed by the regulations
for the purposes of this paragraph, employees at the end of
the financial year.
Note: A small proprietary company generally has reduced financial
reporting requirements (see subsection 292(2)).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 5A Types of company
Section 45A
104 Corporations Act 2001
Large proprietary company
(3) A proprietary company is a large proprietary company for a
financial year if it satisfies at least 2 of the following paragraphs:
(a) the consolidated revenue for the financial year of the
company and the entities it controls (if any) is $25 million, or
any other amount prescribed by the regulations for the
purposes of paragraph (2)(a), or more;
(b) the value of the consolidated gross assets at the end of the
financial year of the company and the entities it controls (if
any) is $12.5 million, or any other amount prescribed by the
regulations for the purposes of paragraph (2)(b), or more;
(c) the company and the entities it controls (if any) have 50, or
any other number prescribed by the regulations for the
purposes of paragraph (2)(c), or more employees at the end
of the financial year.
When a company controls an entity
(4) For the purposes of this section, the question whether a proprietary
company controls an entity is to be decided in accordance with the
accounting standards made for the purposes of paragraph 295(2)(b)
(even if the standards do not otherwise apply to the company).
Counting employees
(5) In counting employees for the purposes of subsections (2) and (3),
take part-time employees into account as an appropriate fraction of
a full-time equivalent.
Accounting standards
(6) Consolidated revenue and the value of consolidated gross assets
are to be calculated for the purposes of this section in accordance
with accounting standards in force at the relevant time (even if the
standard does not otherwise apply to the financial year of some or
all of the companies concerned).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Types of company Division 5A
Section 45B
Corporations Act 2001 105
45B Small companies limited by guarantee
(1) A company is a small company limited by guarantee in a
particular financial year if:
(a) it is a company limited by guarantee for the whole of the
financial year; and
(b) it is not a deductible gift recipient at any time during the
financial year; and
(c) either:
(i) where the company is not required by the accounting
standards to be included in consolidated financial
statements—the revenue of the company for the
financial year is less than the threshold amount; or
(ii) where the company is required by the accounting
standards to be included in consolidated financial
statements—the consolidated revenue of the
consolidated entity for the financial year is less than the
threshold amount; and
(d) it is not one of the following:
(i) a Commonwealth company for the purposes of the
Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997;
(ii) a subsidiary of a Commonwealth company for the
purposes of that Act;
(iii) a subsidiary of a Commonwealth authority for the
purposes of that Act; and
(e) it has not been a transferring financial institution of a State or
Territory within the meaning of clause 1 of Schedule 4 to this
Act; and
(f) it is not a company that is permitted to use the expression
building society, credit society or credit union under
section 66 of the Banking Act 1959 at any time during the
financial year.
(2) The threshold amount, for the purposes of subparagraphs (1)(c)(i)
and (ii), is $250,000, or any other amount prescribed by the
regulations for the purposes of this subsection.
(3) Revenue and consolidated revenue are to be calculated for the
purposes of this section in accordance with accounting standards in
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 5A Types of company
Section 45B
106 Corporations Act 2001
force at the relevant time (even if the standard does not otherwise
apply to the financial year of some or all of the companies
concerned).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Subsidiaries and related bodies corporate Division 6
Section 46
Corporations Act 2001 107
Division 6—Subsidiaries and related bodies corporate
46 What is a subsidiary
A body corporate (in this section called the first body) is a
subsidiary of another body corporate if, and only if:
(a) the other body:
(i) controls the composition of the first body’s board; or
(ii) is in a position to cast, or control the casting of, more
than one-half of the maximum number of votes that
might be cast at a general meeting of the first body; or
(iii) holds more than one-half of the issued share capital of
the first body (excluding any part of that issued share
capital that carries no right to participate beyond a
specified amount in a distribution of either profits or
capitan( � or
(b) the first body is a subsidiary of a subsidiary of the other
body.
47 Control of a body corporate’s board
Without limiting by implication the circumstances in which the
composition of a body corporate’s board is taken to be controlled
by another body corporate, the composition of the board is taken to
be so controlled if the other body, by exercising a power
exercisable (whether with or without the consent or concurrence of
any other person) by it, can appoint or remove all, or the majority,
of the directors of the first-mentioned body, and, for the purposes
of this Division, the other body is taken to have power to make
such an appointment if:
(a) a person cannot be appointed as a director of the
first-mentioned body without the exercise by the other body
of such a power in the person’s favour; or
(b) a person’s appointment as a director of the first-mentioned
body follows necessarily from the person being a director or
other officer of the other body.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 6 Subsidiaries and related bodies corporate
Section 48
108 Corporations Act 2001
48 Matters to be disregarded
(1) This section applies for the purposes of determining whether a
body corporate (in this section called the first body) is a subsidiary
of another body corporate.
(2) Any shares held, or power exercisable, by the other body in a
fiduciary capacity are treated as not held or exercisable by it.
(3) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), any shares held, or power
exercisable:
(a) by a person as a nominee for the other body (except where
the other body is concerned only in a fiduciary capacity); or
(b) by, or by a nominee for, a subsidiary of the other body (not
being a subsidiary that is concerned only in a fiduciary
capacity);
are treated as held or exercisable by the other body.
(4) Any shares held, or power exercisable, by a person by virtue of the
provisions of debentures of the first body, or of a trust deed for
securing an issue of such debentures, are to be disregarded.
(5) Any shares held, or power exercisable, otherwise than as
mentioned in subsection (4), by, or by a nominee for, the other
body or a subsidiary of it are to be treated as not held or
exercisable by the other body if:
(a) the ordinary business of the other body or that subsidiary, as
the case may be, includes lending money; and
(b) the shares are held, or the power is exercisable, only by way
of security given for the purposes of a transaction entered
into in the ordinary course of business in connection with
lending money, not being a transaction entered into with an
associate of the other body, or of that subsidiary, as the case
may be.
49 References in this Division to a subsidiary
A reference in paragraph 46(b) or 48(3)(b) or subsection 48(5) to
being a subsidiary, or to a subsidiary, of a body corporate includes
a reference to being a subsidiary, or to a body corporate that is a
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Subsidiaries and related bodies corporate Division 6
Section 50
Corporations Act 2001 109
subsidiary, as the case may be, of the first-mentioned body by
virtue of any other application or applications of this Division.
50 Related bodies corporate
Where a body corporate is:
(a) a holding company of another body corporate; or
(b) a subsidiary of another body corporate; or
(c) a subsidiary of a holding company of another body corporate;
the first-mentioned body and the other body are related to each
other.
50AAA Associated entities
(1) One entity (the associate) is an associated entity of another entity
(the principal) if subsection (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) or (7) is satisfied.
(2) This subsection is satisfied if the associate and the principal are
related bodies corporate.
(3) This subsection is satisfied if the principal controls the associate.
(4) This subsection is satisfied if:
(a) the associate controls the principal; and
(b) the operations, resources or affairs of the principal are
material to the associate.
(5) This subsection is satisfied if:
(a) the associate has a qualifying investment (see subsection (8))
in the principal; and
(b) the associate has significant influence over the principal; and
(c) the interest is material to the associate.
(6) This subsection is satisfied if:
(a) the principal has a qualifying investment (see subsection (8))
in the associate; and
(b) the principal has significant influence over the associate; and
(c) the interest is material to the principal.
(7) This subsection is satisfied if:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 6 Subsidiaries and related bodies corporate
Section 50AA
110 Corporations Act 2001
(a) an entity (the third entity) controls both the principal and the
associate; and
(b) the operations, resources or affairs of the principal and the
associate are both material to the third entity.
(8) For the purposes of this section, one entity (the first entity) has a
qualifying investment in another entity (the second entity) if the
first entity:
(a) has an asset that is an investment in the second entity; or
(b) has an asset that is the beneficial interest in an investment in
the second entity and has control over that asset.
50AA Control
(1) For the purposes of this Act, an entity controls a second entity if
the first entity has the capacity to determine the outcome of
decisions about the second entity’s financial and operating policies.
(2) In determining whether the first entity has this capacity:
(a) the practical influence the first entity can exert (rather than
the rights it can enforce) is the issue to be considered; and
(b) any practice or pattern of behaviour affecting the second
entity’s financial or operating policies is to be taken into
account (even if it involves a breach of an agreement or a
breach of trust).
(3) The first entity does not control the second entity merely because
the first entity and a third entity jointly have the capacity to
determine the outcome of decisions about the second entity’s
financial and operating policies.
(4) If the first entity:
(a) has the capacity to influence decisions about the second
entity’s financial and operating policies; and
(b) is under a legal obligation to exercise that capacity for the
benefit of someone other than the first entity’s members;
the first entity is taken not to control the second entity.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Security interests Division 6A
Section 51
Corporations Act 2001 111
Division 6A—Security interests
51 Meaning of PPSA security interest
In this Act:
PPSA security interest (short for Personal Property Securities Act
security interest) means a security interest within the meaning of
the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 and to which that Act
applies, other than a transitional security interest within the
meaning of that Act.
Note 1: The Personal Property Securities Act 2009 applies to certain security
interests in personal property. See the following provisions of that
Act:
(a) section 8 (interests to which the Act does not apply);
(b) section 12 (meaning of security interest);
(c) Chapter 9 (transitional provisions).
Note 2: For the meaning of transitional security interest, see section 308 of
the Personal Property Securities Act 2009.
51A Meaning of security interest
In this Act:
security interest means:
(a) a PPSA security interest; or
(b) a charge, lien or pledge.
51B Meaning of secured party
In this Act:
secured party, in relation to a security interest, means:
(a) if the security interest is a PPSA security interest—a secured
party within the meaning of the Personal Property Securities
Act 2009; or
(b) if the security interest is not a PPSA security interest, but
consists of a charge, lien or pledge in relation to the
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 6A Security interests
Section 51C
112 Corporations Act 2001
property—a chargee, lienee or pledgee in relation to the
charge, lien or pledge.
Note: Security interests are either PPSA security interests, or charges, liens
or pledges (see section 51A).
51C Meaning of circulating security interest
In this Act:
circulating security interest means a security interest that is:
(a) a PPSA security interest, if:
(i) the security interest has attached to a circulating asset
within the meaning of the Personal Property Securities
Act 2009; and
(ii) the grantor (within the meaning of that Act) has title to
the asset; or
(b) a floating charge.
Note: Security interests are either PPSA security interests, or charges, liens
or pledges (see section 51A).
51D Meaning of possessory security interest
In this Act:
possessory security interest, in relation to property, means a
security interest that is:
(a) a PPSA security interest in the property that is perfected by
possession or control, within the meaning of the Personal
Property Securities Act 2009; or
(b) a lien or a pledge in relation to the property.
Note: Security interests are either PPSA security interests, or charges, liens
or pledges (see section 51A).
51E Meaning of secured creditor
In this Act:
secured creditor of a corporation means a creditor of the
corporation, if the debt owing to the creditor is secured by a
security interest.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Security interests Division 6A
Section 51F
Corporations Act 2001 113
51F Meaning of PPSA retention of title property
Definition
(1) Property is PPSA retention of title property (short for Personal
Property Securities Act retention of title property) of a corporation
if:
(a) the property is personal property; and
(b) the property is used or occupied by, or is in the possession of,
the corporation; and
(c) the corporation does not have title to the property; and
(d) a PPSA security interest is attached to the property, within
the meaning of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009;
and
(e) the corporation is the grantor in relation to the PPSA security
interest, within the meaning of that Act.
Examples: The following personal property is PPSA retention of title property if
a PPSA security interest attaches to the property by virtue of the
transaction concerned, and the grantor is a corporation:
(a) property that is the subject of an agreement to sell subject to retention of title, or a hire purchase agreement, that secures the payment or performance of an obligation (see subsection 12(2) of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009);
(b) property that is the subject of a lease, or a consignment agreement, that secures the payment or performance of an obligation (see subsection 12(2) of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009);
(c) goods that are the subject of a commercial consignment (see subsection 12(3) of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009);
(d) goods that are leased or bailed under a PPS lease (see subsection 12(3) of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009).
References to property of a corporation
(2) A reference in this Act to the property of a corporation does not
include a reference to any PPSA retention of title property of the
corporation, unless provided otherwise expressly or by necessary
implication.
Note: See also the definition of property in section 9.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 7 Interpretation of other expressions
Section 52
114 Corporations Act 2001
Division 7—Interpretation of other expressions
52 Doing acts
A reference to doing an act or thing includes a reference to causing
or authorising the act or thing to be done.
52A Signing
Without affecting the law on agency, if this Act requires that
something be signed, it can be signed by an individual using a
power of attorney from the person required to sign.
53 Affairs of a body corporate
For the purposes of the definition of examinable affairs in
section 9, section 53AA, 232, 233 or 234, paragraph 461(1)(e),
section 487, subsection 1307(1) or section 1309, or of a prescribed
provision of this Act, the affairs of a body corporate include:
(a) the promotion, formation, membership, control, business,
trading, transactions and dealings (whether alone or jointly
with any other person or persons and including transactions
and dealings as agent, bailee or trustee), property (whether
held alone or jointly with any other person or persons and
including property held as agent, bailee or trustee), liabilities
(including liabilities owed jointly with any other person or
persons and liabilities as trustee), profits and other income,
receipts, losses, outgoings and expenditure of the body; and
(b) in the case of a body corporate (not being a licensed trustee
company within the meaning of Chapter 5D or the Public
Trustee of a State or Territory) that is a trustee (but without
limiting the generality of paragraph (a))—matters concerned
with the ascertainment of the identity of the persons who are
beneficiaries under the trust, their rights under the trust and
any payments that they have received, or are entitled to
receive, under the terms of the trust; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Interpretation of other expressions Division 7
Section 53
Corporations Act 2001 115
(c) the internal management and proceedings of the body; and
(d) any act or thing done (including any contract made and any
transaction entered into) by or on behalf of the body, or to or
in relation to the body or its business or property, at a time
when:
(i) a receiver, or a receiver and manager, is in possession
of, or has control over, property of the body; or
(ii) the body is under administration; or
(iia) a deed of company arrangement executed by the body
has not yet terminated; or
(iii) a compromise or arrangement made between the body
and any other person or persons is being administered;
or
(iv) the body is being wound up;
and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any
conduct of such a receiver or such a receiver and manager, of
an administrator of the body, of an administrator of such a
deed of company arrangement, of a person administering
such a compromise or arrangement or of a liquidator or
provisional liquidator of the body; and
(e) the ownership of shares in, debentures of, and interests in a
managed investment scheme made available by, the body;
and
(f) the power of persons to exercise, or to control the exercise of,
the rights to vote attached to shares in the body or to dispose
of, or to exercise control over the disposal of, such shares;
and
(g) matters concerned with the ascertainment of the persons who
are or have been financially interested in the success or
failure, or apparent success or failure, of the body or are or
have been able to control or materially to influence the policy
of the body; and
(h) the circumstances under which a person acquired or disposed
of, or became entitled to acquire or dispose of, shares in,
debentures of, or interests in a managed investment scheme
made available by, the body; and
(j) where the body has made available interests in a managed
investment scheme—any matters concerning the financial or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 7 Interpretation of other expressions
Section 53AA
116 Corporations Act 2001
business undertaking, scheme, common enterprise or
investment contract to which the interests relate; and
(k) matters relating to or arising out of the audit of, or working
papers or reports of an auditor concerning, any matters
referred to in a preceding paragraph.
53AA Business affairs of a body corporate
A body corporate’s business affairs include (without limitation):
(a) any of the body’s affairs (including anything that is included
in the body’s affairs because of section 53); and
(b) matters concerned with ascertaining the corporations with
which the body is or has been connected.
53AB Business affairs of a natural person
A natural person’s business affairs include (without limitation):
(a) the person’s examinable operations and examinable assets
and liabilities; and
(b) any act done (including any contract made and any
transaction entered into) by or on behalf of the person, or to
or in relation to the person or his or her business or property,
at a time when:
(i) the person was, under the Bankruptcy Act 1966 or the
law of an external Territory, a bankrupt in respect of a
bankruptcy from which the person had not been
discharged; or
(ii) the person had, under a law of an external Territory or
of a foreign country, the status of an undischarged
bankrupt; or
(iii) the person’s property was subject to control under
Division 2 of Part X of the Bankruptcy Act 1966
because of an authority given by the person under
section 188 of that Act; or
(iv) a personal insolvency agreement under Part X of the
Bankruptcy Act 1966 or under the corresponding
provisions of the law of an external Territory or of a
foreign country was in effect in relation to the person or
the person’s property; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Interpretation of other expressions Division 7
Section 53AC
Corporations Act 2001 117
(c) without limiting the generality of paragraph (b), any conduct
of the trustee of such a bankrupt estate or of such a personal
insolvency agreement or a person acting under such an
authority; and
(d) matters concerned with ascertaining the corporations with
which the person is or has been connected.
53AC Business affairs of a partnership
A partnership’s business affairs include (without limitation):
(a) the partnership’s promotion, formation, membership, control,
examinable operations and examinable assets and liabilities;
and
(b) the partnership’s management and proceedings; and
(c) any act done (including any contract made and any
transaction entered into) by or on behalf of the partnership, or
to or in relation to the partnership, at a time when the
partnership is being wound up; and
(d) matters concerned with ascertaining the corporations with
which the partnership is or has been connected.
53AD Business affairs of a trust
A trust’s business affairs include (without limitation):
(a) the creation of the trust; and
(b) matters arising under, or otherwise relating to, the terms of
the trust; and
(c) the appointment and removal of a trustee of the trust; and
(d) the business, trading, transactions and dealings of the trustee
of the trust; and
(e) the profits, income and receipts of the trustee of the trust; and
(f) the losses, outgoings and expenditure of the trustee of the
trust; and
(g) the trust property, including transactions and dealings in, and
the income arising from, the trust property; and
(h) the liabilities of the trustee of the trust; and
(j) the management of the trust; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 7 Interpretation of other expressions
Section 57
118 Corporations Act 2001
(k) any act done (including any contract made and any
transaction entered into) by or on behalf of the trustee of the
trust, or to or in relation to the trust, at a time when the trust
is being wound up; and
(l) matters concerned with ascertaining the corporations with
which the trust is or has been connected.
57 Classes of shares or interests in managed investment schemes
(1) The shares in a body corporate, if not divided into 2 or more
classes, constitute a class.
(2) If the interests in a managed investment scheme to which an
undertaking relates are not divided into 2 or more classes, they
constitute a class.
57A Meaning of corporation
(1) Subject to this section, in this Act, corporation includes:
(a) a company; and
(b) any body corporate (whether incorporated in this jurisdiction
or elsewhere); and
(c) an unincorporated body that under the law of its place of
origin, may sue or be sued, or may hold property in the name
of its secretary or of an office holder of the body duly
appointed for that purpose.
(2) Neither of the following is a corporation:
(a) an exempt public authority;
(b) a corporation sole.
(3) To avoid doubt, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
corporation is taken to be a corporation for the purposes of this
Act.
Note: Various provisions of this Act that generally apply to corporations do
not apply to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations
because of express provisions to that effect: see section 190B,
subsection 197(5), section 206HB and subsections 1309(6), 1318(5),
1321(2) and 1335(3).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Interpretation of other expressions Division 7
Section 58AA
Corporations Act 2001 119
58AA Meaning of court and Court
(1) Subject to subsection (2), in this Act:
court means any court.
Court means any of the following courts:
(a) the Federal Court;
(b) the Supreme Court of a State or Territory;
(c) the Family Court of Australia;
(d) a court to which section 41 of the Family Law Act 1975
applies because of a Proclamation made under
subsection 41(2) of that Act.
(2) Except where there is a clear expression of a contrary intention (for
example, by use of the expression ―the Court‖), proceedings in
relation to a matter under this Act may, subject to Part 9.6A, be
brought in any court.
Note: The matters dealt with in Part 9.6A include the applicability of limits
on the jurisdictional competence of courts.
58B Discharge of obligations under this Act
(2) Subject to subsection (3), an act required to be done under this Act
may, for the purposes of this Act, be done anywhere in Australia,
whether in or outside this jurisdiction.
(3) Nothing in subsection (2) affects the operation of any provision of
this Act that:
(a) expressly requires a particular act to be done in this
jurisdiction; or
(b) expressly or by implication permits a particular act to be
done outside Australia.
59 Debentures as consideration for acquisition of shares
A reference to a body corporate that offers debentures as
consideration for the acquisition of shares in a body corporate
includes a reference to a body corporate that offers a cash sum as
consideration for the acquisition of shares where it is to be a term
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 7 Interpretation of other expressions
Section 60
120 Corporations Act 2001
of the contract for the acquisition of those shares that the offeree
makes, or that the sum is applied in whole or in part in making, a
payment by way of deposit with, or loan to, the body corporate that
offers the sum.
60 Declaration of relevant relationships
Administrator
(1) In this Act, a declaration of relevant relationships, in relation to
an administrator of a company under administration, means a
written declaration:
(a) stating whether any of the following:
(i) the administrator;
(ii) if the administrator’s firm (if any) is a partnership—a
partner in that partnership;
(iii) if the administrator’s firm (if any) is a body corporate—
that body corporate or an associate of that body
corporate;
has, or has had within the preceding 24 months, a
relationship with:
(iv) the company; or
(v) an associate of the company; or
(vi) a former liquidator, or former provisional liquidator, of
the company; or
(vii) a person who is entitled to enforce a security interest in
the whole, or substantially the whole, of the company’s
property (including any PPSA retention of title
property); and
(b) if so, stating the administrator’s reasons for believing that
none of the relevant relationships result in the administrator
having a conflict of interest or duty.
Liquidator
(2) In this Act, a declaration of relevant relationships, in relation to a
liquidator of a company, means a written declaration:
(a) stating whether any of the following:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Interpretation of other expressions Division 7
Section 64
Corporations Act 2001 121
(i) the liquidator;
(ii) if the liquidator’s firm (if any) is a partnership—a
partner in that partnership;
(iii) if the liquidator’s firm (if any) is a body corporate—that
body corporate or an associate of that body corporate;
has, or has had within the preceding 24 months, a
relationship with:
(iv) the company; or
(v) an associate of the company; or
(vi) a former liquidator, or former provisional liquidator, of
the company; or
(vii) a former administrator of the company; or
(viii) a former administrator of a deed of company
arrangement executed by the company; and
(b) if so, stating the liquidator’s reasons for believing that none
of the relevant relationships result in the liquidator having a
conflict of interest or duty.
64 Entering into a transaction in relation to shares or securities
A reference in Chapter 6 to entering into a transaction in relation to
shares or securities includes a reference to:
(a) entering into, or becoming a party to, a relevant agreement in
relation to the shares or securities; and
(b) exercising an option to have the shares or securities allotted.
64A Entities
Except in Chapter 2E, a reference to an entity:
(a) is a reference to a natural person, a body corporate (other
than an exempt public authority), a partnership or a trust; and
(b) includes, in the case of a trust, a reference to the trustee of the
trust.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 7 Interpretation of other expressions
Section 64B
122 Corporations Act 2001
64B Entities connected with a corporation
Body corporate
(1) A body corporate is connected with a corporation if, and only if,
the corporation:
(a) can control, or influence materially, the body’s activities or
internal affairs; or
(b) is a member of the body; or
(c) is in a position to cast, or to control the casting of, a vote at a
general meeting of the body; or
(d) has power to dispose of, or to exercise control over the
disposal of, a share in the body; or
(e) is financially interested in the body’s success or failure or
apparent success or failure; or
(f) is owed a debt by the body; or
(g) is engaged by the body under a contract for services; or
(h) acts as agent for the body in any transaction or dealing.
Natural person
(2) A natural person is connected with a corporation if, and only if, the
corporation:
(a) is a trustee of a trust under which the person is capable of
benefiting; or
(b) is engaged by the person under a contract for services; or
(c) acts as agent for the person in any transaction or dealing; or
(d) is an attorney of the person under a power of attorney; or
(e) has appointed the person as the corporation’s attorney under
a power of attorney; or
(f) is given financial, business or legal advice by the person in
the performance of the functions attaching to the person’s
professional capacity.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Interpretation of other expressions Division 7
Section 65
Corporations Act 2001 123
Partnership
(3) A partnership is connected with a corporation if, and only if, the
corporation:
(a) is a partner in the partnership; or
(b) can control, or influence materially, the partnership’s
activities or internal affairs; or
(c) is financially interested in the partnership’s success or failure
or apparent success or failure; or
(d) is a creditor of the partnership; or
(e) is engaged by the partnership under a contract for services; or
(f) acts as agent for the partnership in any transaction or dealing.
Trust
(4) A trust is connected with a corporation if, and only if, the
corporation:
(a) is the settlor, or one of the settlors, of the trust; or
(b) has power under the terms of the trust to appoint or remove a
trustee of the trust or to vary, or cause to be varied, any of the
terms of the trust; or
(c) is a trustee of the trust; or
(d) can control, or influence materially, the activities of the trust;
or
(e) is capable of benefiting under the trust; or
(f) is a creditor of the trustee of the trust; or
(g) is engaged by the trustee of the trust under a contract for
services; or
(h) acts as agent for the trustee of the trust in any transaction or
dealing.
65 Eligible money market dealer
ASIC may declare a body corporate to be an authorised dealer in
the short term money market by notice published in the Gazette.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 7 Interpretation of other expressions
Section 66A
124 Corporations Act 2001
66A Exempt bodies
A body corporate is an exempt body of a State or Territory if, and
only if, it:
(a) is not a company; and
(b) is incorporated by or under a law of the State or Territory.
70 Extension of period for doing an act
Where this Act confers power to extend the period for doing an act,
an application for the exercise of the power may be made, and the
power may be exercised, even if the period, or the period as last
extended, as the case requires, has ended.
73A When a court is taken to find a person guilty of an offence
An Australian court finds a person guilty of an offence if, and only
if:
(a) the court convicts the person of the offence; or
(b) the person is charged before the court with the offence and is
found in the court to have committed the offence, but the
court does not proceed to convict the person of the offence.
75 Inclusion in official list
A reference to a body corporate or other person included in an
official list of a body corporate is a reference to:
(a) a body corporate or other person whose name is included in
that official list; or
(b) a body corporate or other person whose name has been
changed but whose previous name was included in that
official list immediately before the change and is still so
included.
79 Involvement in contraventions
A person is involved in a contravention if, and only if, the person:
(a) has aided, abetted, counselled or procured the contravention;
or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Interpretation of other expressions Division 7
Section 80
Corporations Act 2001 125
(b) has induced, whether by threats or promises or otherwise, the
contravention; or
(c) has been in any way, by act or omission, directly or
indirectly, knowingly concerned in, or party to, the
contravention; or
(d) has conspired with others to effect the contravention.
80 Jervis Bay Territory taken to be part of the Australian Capital
Territory
The Jervis Bay Territory is taken to be part of the Australian
Capital Territory.
82 Offers and invitations to the public
A reference in this Act to, or to the making of, an offer to the
public or to, or to the issuing of, an invitation to the public is,
unless the contrary intention appears, to be construed as including
a reference to, or to the making of, an offer to any section of the
public or to, or to the issuing of, an invitation to any section of the
public, as the case may be, whether selected as clients of the person
making the offer or issuing the invitation or in any other manner
and notwithstanding that the offer is capable of acceptance only by
each person to whom it is made or that an offer or application may
be made pursuant to the invitation only by a person to whom the
invitation is issued, but a bona fide offer or invitation is not taken
to be an offer or invitation to the public if it:
(a) is an offer or invitation to enter into an underwriting
agreement; or
(b) is made or issued to a person whose ordinary business is to
buy or sell shares, debentures or interests in managed
investment schemes, whether as principal or agent; or
(c) is made or issued to existing members or debenture holders
of a corporation and relates to shares in, or debentures of,
that corporation; or
(d) is made or issued to existing members of a company in
connection with a proposal referred to in section 507 and
relates to shares in that company.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 7 Interpretation of other expressions
Section 83
126 Corporations Act 2001
83 Officers, and other persons, in default
A reference, in relation to a contravention, to an officer of a body
corporate, or to a person, who is in default is a reference to an
officer of the body (including a person who later ceases to be such
an officer), or to a person, as the case may be, who is involved in
the contravention.
86 Possession
A thing that is in a person’s custody or under a person’s control is
in the person’s possession.
88A Public document of a body corporate
(1) Subject to this section, public document, in relation to a body,
means:
(a) an instrument of, or purporting to be signed, issued or
published by or on behalf of, the body that:
(i) when signed, issued or published, is intended to be
lodged or is required by or under this Act or the ASIC
Act to be lodged; or
(ii) is signed, issued or published under or for the purposes
of this Act, the ASIC Act or any other Australian law;
or
(b) an instrument of, or purporting to be signed or issued by or
on behalf of, the body that is signed or issued in the course
of, or for the purposes of, a particular transaction or dealing;
or
(c) without limiting paragraph (a) or (b), a business letter,
statement of account, invoice, receipt, order for goods, order
for services or official notice of, or purporting to be signed or
issued by or on behalf of, the body.
(2) A thing is not a public document of a body if it:
(a) is applied, or is intended or required to be applied:
(i) to goods; or
(ii) to a package, label, reel or thing in or with which goods
are, or are to be, supplied; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Interpretation of other expressions Division 7
Section 88B
Corporations Act 2001 127
(b) is so applied, or is intended or required to be so applied, for a
purpose connected with the supply of the goods.
(3) In subsection (2):
apply to includes print on, weave in, impress on, work into, or
annex, affix or attach to.
label includes a band or ticket.
package includes:
(a) a covering, stopper, glass, bottle, vessel, box, capsule, case,
frame or wrapper; or
(b) any other container or thing in which goods are, or are to be,
packed.
88B Qualified accountants
(1) For the purposes of this Act, a qualified accountant is a person
covered by a declaration in force under subsection (2).
(2) ASIC may, in writing, declare that all members of a specified
professional body, or all persons in a specified class of members of
a specified professional body, are qualified accountants for the
purposes of this Act.
(3) ASIC may, in writing, vary or revoke a declaration made under
subsection (2).
89 Qualified privilege
(1) Where this Act provides that a person has qualified privilege in
respect of an act, matter or thing, the person:
(a) has qualified privilege in proceedings for defamation; or
(b) is not, in the absence of malice on the person’s part, liable to
an action for defamation at the suit of a person;
as the case requires, in respect of that act, matter or thing.
(2) In subsection (1):
malice includes ill will to the person concerned or any other
improper motive.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 7 Interpretation of other expressions
Section 90
128 Corporations Act 2001
(3) Neither this section nor a provision of this Act that provides as
mentioned in subsection (1) limits or affects any right, privilege or
immunity that a person has, apart from this section or such a
provision, as defendant in proceedings, or an action, for
defamation.
90 Receivers and managers
A receiver of property of a body corporate is also a manager if the
receiver manages, or has under the terms of the receiver’s
appointment power to manage, affairs of the body.
92 Securities
(1) Subject to this section, securities means:
(a) debentures, stocks or bonds issued or proposed to be issued
by a government; or
(b) shares in, or debentures of, a body; or
(c) interests in a managed investment scheme; or
(d) units of such shares;
but does not include:
(f) a derivative (as defined in Chapter 7), other than an option to
acquire by way of transfer a security covered by
paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d); or
(g) an excluded security.
Note: A derivative does not include an option to acquire a security by way
of issue (see the combined effect of paragraph 761D(3)(c),
paragraph 764A(1)(a) and paragraph (d) of the definition of security
in section 761A).
(2) The expression securities, when used in relation to a body, means:
(a) shares in the body; or
(b) debentures of the body; or
(c) interests in a managed investment scheme made available by
the body; or
(d) units of such shares;
but does not include:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Interpretation of other expressions Division 7
Section 95A
Corporations Act 2001 129
(e) a derivative (as defined in Chapter 7), other than an option to
acquire by way of transfer a security covered by
paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d); or
(f) an excluded security.
Note: A derivative does not include an option to acquire a security by way
of issue (see the note to subsection (1)).
(3) In Chapters 6 to 6CA (inclusive) and Part 1.2A:
securities means:
(a) shares in a body; or
(b) debentures of a body; or
(c) interests in a registered managed investment scheme; or
(d) legal or equitable rights or interests in:
(i) shares; or
(ii) debentures; or
(iii) interests in a registered managed investment scheme;
(e) options to acquire (whether by way of issue or transfer) a
security covered by paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d).
It does not cover:
(f) a derivative (as defined in Chapter 7), other than an option to
acquire by way of transfer a security covered by
paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d); or
(g) a market traded option.
Note: A derivative does not include an option to acquire a security by way
of issue (see the note to subsection (1)).
Note: Section 9 defines body.
(4) In Chapter 6D securities has the meaning given by section 700 and
in Chapter 7 security has the meaning given by section 761A.
95A Solvency and insolvency
(1) A person is solvent if, and only if, the person is able to pay all the
person’s debts, as and when they become due and payable.
(2) A person who is not solvent is insolvent.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 8 Miscellaneous interpretation rules
Section 100
130 Corporations Act 2001
Division 8—Miscellaneous interpretation rules
100 Address of registered office etc.
(1) Where a provision of this Act requires a notice to be lodged of, or
information in an application to specify:
(a) the address of an office, or of a proposed office, of a body
corporate or other person; or
(b) a change in the situation of an office of a body corporate or
other person;
the notice:
(c) must specify the full address, or the full new address, as the
case requires, of the relevant office including, where
applicable, the number of the room and of the floor or level
of the building on which the office is situated; and
(d) where the notice or application relates to the address or
situation of an office of a body corporate and the address
specified in accordance with paragraph (a) is the address of
premises that are not to be occupied by the body corporate—
must include a written statement to the effect that the person
who occupies those premises has consented in writing to the
address being specified in the notice or application and has
not withdrawn that consent.
(2) ASIC may require a person who has lodged a notice or application
that includes a statement under paragraph (1)(d) to produce to
ASIC the consent referred to in the statement.
100A Operation of certain laws relating to instruments on which
stamp duty has not been paid
Nothing in this Act affects the operation of any provision of any
law:
(a) relating to the admissibility in evidence, or any other use, in
any proceedings, of a document in respect of which any
applicable stamp duty has not been paid; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Miscellaneous interpretation rules Division 8
Section 101
Corporations Act 2001 131
(b) prohibiting the registration by a company of a transfer of
securities if any stamp duty applicable in respect of the
transfer has not been paid.
101 Amount of stock representing a number of shares
In relation to a body corporate the whole or a portion of whose
share capital consists of stock, a reference to a number of shares
(including a number expressed as a percentage) is, in relation to an
amount of stock, a reference to the amount of stock that represents
that number of shares.
102 Applications to be in writing
An application to ASIC for the issuing of a document or the doing
of any other act or thing by ASIC under this Act must be in
writing.
Note: For electronic lodgment of documents with ASIC, see section 352.
102B In Australia or elsewhere, in this jurisdiction or elsewhere etc.
(1) The expression in Australia or elsewhere, or a similar expression,
does not limit the generality of the expression in this jurisdiction
or elsewhere or a similar expression.
(2) The expression outside this jurisdiction includes places outside
Australia.
102C In Australia
In Australia means in Australia (whether in this jurisdiction or
not).
Note: This definition is needed if there is a State that is not a referring State.
If all the States are referring States, every place in Australia will also
be in this jurisdiction.
103 Effect of certain contraventions of this Act
(1) This section has effect except so far as this Act otherwise provides.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 8 Miscellaneous interpretation rules
Section 104
132 Corporations Act 2001
(2) An act, transaction, agreement, instrument, matter or thing is not
invalid merely because of:
(a) a contravention of section 115, 208, 209, 601CA or 601CD;
or
(b) a failure to comply with a requirement of this Act that a
person cause a notice, or a copy of a document, to be
published in the Gazette or in a newspaper.
Note: Section 1101H provides that a failure to comply with requirements of
Chapter 7 generally does not affect the validity or enforceability of
any transaction, contract or other arrangement.
(4) In this section:
invalid includes void, voidable and unenforceable.
(5) Nothing in this section limits the generality of anything else in it.
104 Effect of provisions empowering a person to require or prohibit
conduct
Where, in accordance with a provision of this Act other than the
replaceable rules, a person requires another person to do, or
prohibits another person from doing, a particular act, that provision
is taken to require the other person to comply with the requirement
or prohibition, as the case may be.
105 Calculation of time
Without limiting subsection 36(1) of the Acts Interpretation Act
1901, in calculating how many days a particular day, act or event is
before or after another day, act or event, the first-mentioned day, or
the day of the first-mentioned act or event, is to be counted but not
the other day, or the day of the other act or event.
106 Performance of functions by Commission delegate
For the purpose of the performance of a function, or the exercise of
a power, under this Act by a Commission delegate, a reference to
ASIC in a provision of this Act relating to the performance of the
function, or the exercise of the power, includes a reference to the
Commission delegate.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interpretation Part 1.2
Miscellaneous interpretation rules Division 8
Section 107
Corporations Act 2001 133
107 Notice in relation to top 20 members of a class
For the purposes of subsection 163(3B), section 178B and
paragraph 601BC(2)(lc), if 2 or more members in the top 20
members of a class of shares each hold the same number of shares,
details of each of those members must be included in any notice
given in relation to those provisions.
108 Parts of dollar to be disregarded in determining majority in
value of creditors etc.
In determining whether a majority in value of creditors, or a
particular proportion in value of creditors, has passed a resolution
or done any other act or thing, if a creditor’s debt consists of a
number of whole dollars and a part of a dollar, the part of the dollar
is to be disregarded.
109 References to persons, things and matters
(1) Except so far as the contrary intention appears, a provision of this
Act is to be interpreted in such a manner that any 2 or more
references in the provision are capable of having the same referent
or referents, or of having a referent or referents in common, as the
case requires.
(2) In subsection (1), referent, in relation to a reference in a provision,
means:
(a) in so far as the reference is interpreted as being in the
singular number—a person to whom, or a thing or matter to
which; or
(b) in so far as the reference is interpreted as being in the plural
number—any one or 2 or more persons to whom, or of 2 or
more things or matters to which;
the reference is taken, in the application of the provision, to refer.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2 Interpretation
Division 8 Miscellaneous interpretation rules
Section 109X
134 Corporations Act 2001
109X Service of documents
(1) For the purposes of any law, a document may be served on a
company by:
(a) leaving it at, or posting it to, the company’s registered office;
or
(b) delivering a copy of the document personally to a director of
the company who resides in Australia or in an external
Territory; or
(c) if a liquidator of the company has been appointed—leaving it
at, or posting it to, the address of the liquidator’s office in the
most recent notice of that address lodged with ASIC; or
(d) if an administrator of the company has been appointed—
leaving it at, or posting it to, the address of the administrator
in the most recent notice of that address lodged with ASIC.
(2) For the purposes of any law, a document may be served on a
director or company secretary by leaving it at, or posting it to, the
alternative address notified to ASIC under subsection 5H(2),
117(2), 205B(1) or (4) or 601BC(2). However, this only applies to
service on the director or company secretary:
(a) in their capacity as a director or company secretary; or
(b) for the purposes of a proceeding in respect of conduct they
engaged in as a director or company secretary.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to a process, order or
document that may be served under section 9 of the Service and
Execution of Process Act 1992.
(6) This section does not affect:
(a) any other provision of this Act, or any provision of another
law, that permits; or
(b) the power of a court to authorise;
a document to be served in a different way.
(7) This section applies to provisions of a law dealing with service
whether it uses the expression ―serve‖ or uses any other similar
expression such as ―give‖ or ―send‖.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Disclosing entities Part 1.2A
Object of Part Division 1
Section 111AA
Corporations Act 2001 135
Part 1.2A—Disclosing entities
Division 1—Object of Part
111AA Object of Part
The object of this Part is:
(a) to define disclosing entity and other key terms relevant to
disclosing entities (this is done in Division 2); and
(b) to outline the significance for this Act of being a disclosing
entity (this is done in Division 3); and
(c) to provide for exemptions from, and modifications of, the
special requirements imposed by this Act in relation to
disclosing entities (this is done in Division 4).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2A Disclosing entities
Division 2 Definitions
Section 111AB
136 Corporations Act 2001
Division 2—Definitions
111AB Terms defined in Division
This Division contains definitions of the following terms:
(a) disclosing entity (section 111AC);
(b) ED securities (section 111AD);
(c) ED securities of a disclosing entity (section 111AK);
(d) listed disclosing entity (subsection 111AL(1));
(e) quoted ED securities (section 111AM);
(f) unlisted disclosing entity (subsection 111AL(2)).
111AC Disclosing entity
(1) If any securities of a body (except interests in a managed
investment scheme) are ED securities, the body is a disclosing
entity for the purposes of this Act.
(2) If any interests in a managed investment scheme are ED securities,
the undertaking to which the interests relate is a disclosing entity
for the purposes of this Act.
111AD ED securities
(1) Securities of a body are ED securities (short for ―enhanced
disclosure securities‖) for the purposes of this Act if, and only if:
(a) they are ED securities under section 111AE, 111AF,
111AFA, 111AG or 111AI; and
(b) they are not declared under section 111AJ not to be ED
securities.
(2) For the purposes of sections 111AE, 111AF, 111AG and 111AI, a
class of shares or debentures is taken to include units of shares or
debentures in that class.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Disclosing entities Part 1.2A
Definitions Division 2
Section 111AE
Corporations Act 2001 137
111AE Securities of body or undertaking that is included in a
licensed market’s official list
(1) If:
(a) a body corporate is, with its agreement, consent or
acquiescence, included in the official list of a prescribed
financial market; and
(b) the market’s listing rules (according to their terms) apply to
the body in relation to a class (which may be some or all) of
securities issued by the body;
securities issued by the body in that class are ED securities, and
that market is a listing market in relation to that body.
(1A) If:
(a) an undertaking to which interests in a registered scheme
relates is, with the agreement, consent or acquiescence of the
responsible entity, included in the official list of a prescribed
financial market; and
(b) the market’s listing rules (according to their terms) apply to
the undertaking in relation to a class (which may be some or
all) of managed investment products that relate to the
scheme;
managed investment products in that class that relate to the scheme
are ED securities, and that market is a listing market in relation to
the undertaking.
(2) Subsections (1) and (1A) do not apply to securities of a body if:
(a) the body is a public authority of the Commonwealth or an
instrumentality or agency of the Crown in right of the
Commonwealth; and
(b) the only securities issued by the body that would otherwise
be ED securities because of subsection (1) or (1A) are
debentures; and
(c) both the repayment of principal, and the payment of interest,
in respect of those debentures is guaranteed by the
Commonwealth.
(3) Subsections (1) and (1A) do not apply to securities of a body that
is:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2A Disclosing entities
Division 2 Definitions
Section 111AF
138 Corporations Act 2001
(a) a public authority of a State or Territory; or
(b) an instrumentality or agency of the Crown in right of a State
or Territory.
111AF Securities (except debentures and managed investment
products) held by 100 or more persons
(1) Securities (except debentures or managed investment products) in a
class of securities of a body are ED securities if:
(a) a disclosure document in relation to securities in that class
has been lodged with ASIC under Chapter 6D; and
(b) securities in that class have been issued pursuant to the
disclosure document; and
(c) after an issue of securities in that class pursuant to the
disclosure document, 100 or more persons held securities in
that class; and
(d) securities in that class have been held by 100 or more persons
at all times since the issue of securities referred to in
paragraph (c).
(2) Securities (except debentures and managed investment products) in
a class of securities of a body are ED securities if securities in that
class have been issued under a recognised offer and the offeror’s
records indicate that 100 or more people who reside in this
jurisdiction have held securities in that class (whether or not as a
result of the recognised offer) at all times since the issue.
111AFA Managed investment products held by 100 or more persons
(1) Managed investment products in a class of managed investment
products issued by a body are ED securities if 100 or more people
hold managed investment products in that class as a result of offers
that gave rise to obligations to give Product Disclosure Statements
(whether or not all in the same terms) under Chapter 7.
(2) Interests in a class of interests in a managed investment scheme
issued by a body are ED securities if interests in that class have
been issued under a recognised offer and the offeror’s records
indicate that 100 or more people who reside in this jurisdiction
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Disclosing entities Part 1.2A
Definitions Division 2
Section 111AG
Corporations Act 2001 139
have held interests in that class (whether or not as a result of the
recognised offer) at all times since the issue.
111AG Securities issued as consideration for an acquisition under
an off-market takeover bid or Part 5.1 compromise or
arrangement
(1) Securities (except debentures) in a class of securities of a body are
ED securities if:
(a) securities in that class have been issued by the body as
consideration for offers under an off-market bid; and
(b) after an issue of securities in that class under the off-market
bid, 100 or more persons held securities in that class; and
(c) securities in that class have been held by 100 or more persons
at all times since the issue of securities referred to in
paragraph (b).
(2) Securities in a class of securities of a body are ED securities if:
(a) securities in that class have been issued as consideration for
the acquisition or cancellation of securities of another body
pursuant to a compromise or arrangement under Part 5.1; and
(b) securities in that class, or those or any other securities of the
other body, were ED securities immediately before securities
in that class were first issued pursuant to the compromise or
arrangement; and
(c) after an issue of securities in that class pursuant to the
compromise or arrangement, 100 or more persons held
securities in that class; and
(d) securities in that class have been held by 100 or more persons
at all times since the issue of securities referred to in
paragraph (c).
111AH When a person holds securities for the purposes of
sections 111AF, 111AFA and 111AG
(1) For the purposes of sections 111AF, 111AFA and 111AG, a person
holds securities if, and only if:
(a) the person is registered as the holder of the securities in a
register under section 169, 170, 171 or 601CZB; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2A Disclosing entities
Division 2 Definitions
Section 111AI
140 Corporations Act 2001
(b) the person is entitled to be so registered.
(2) For the purposes of sections 111AF, 111AFA and 111AG, joint
holders of securities count as one person.
111AI Debentures
Debentures of a borrower are ED securities if:
(a) section 283AA requires the borrower to appoint a trustee; or
(b) section 283AA does not apply to the borrower only because
the offer of the debentures to which section 283AA would
otherwise have applied is a recognised offer.
111AJ Regulations may declare securities not to be ED securities
(1) The regulations may declare specified securities of bodies not to be
ED securities.
(2) Regulations in force for the purposes of subsection (1) have effect
accordingly, despite anything else in this Division.
111AK ED securities of a disclosing entity
For the purposes of this Act, ED securities because of which
(having regard to section 111AC) a disclosing entity is such an
entity are ED securities of the entity.
111AL Listed or unlisted disclosing entity
(1) For the purposes of this Act, a disclosing entity is a listed
disclosing entity if all or any ED securities of the entity are quoted
ED securities.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, a disclosing entity that is not a listed
disclosing entity is an unlisted disclosing entity.
111AM Quoted ED securities
For the purposes of this Act, ED securities are quoted ED
securities if they are ED securities because of section 111AE.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Disclosing entities Part 1.2A
Significance of being a disclosing entity Division 3
Section 111AN
Corporations Act 2001 141
Division 3—Significance of being a disclosing entity
111AN Division contains outline of significance of being a disclosing
entity
This Division outlines the significance for this Act of being a
disclosing entity.
111ANA Requirements relating to remuneration recommendations
in relation to key management personnel
There are special requirements in Part 2D.8 for remuneration
recommendations in relation to key management personnel for
disclosing entities that are companies.
111AO Accounting requirements
A disclosing entity incorporated or formed in Australia has to
prepare financial statements and reports for half-years as well as
full financial years. These requirements are set out in Chapter 2M.
111AP Continuous disclosure requirements
(1) A disclosing entity is subject to the continuous disclosure
requirements of sections 674 and 675.
111AQ Prospectus relief
Section 713 applies (subject to certain qualifications) to
prospectuses for quoted ED securities of disclosing entities. The
section’s requirements for the content of prospectuses are less
comprehensive than those that apply to other prospectuses under
section 710.
111AQA Product Disclosure Statement relief
Obligations that apply to disclosing entities can be taken into
account in deciding what information should be included in a
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2A Disclosing entities
Division 3 Significance of being a disclosing entity
Section 111AQA
142 Corporations Act 2001
Product Disclosure Statement—see section 1013FA and
paragraph 1013F(2)(d).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Disclosing entities Part 1.2A
Exemptions and modifications Division 4
Section 111AR
Corporations Act 2001 143
Division 4—Exemptions and modifications
111AR Meaning of disclosing entity provisions
(1) For the purposes of this Division, the disclosing entity provisions
are the provisions of the following:
(a) Chapter 2M as it applies to disclosing entities;
(d) sections 674 and 675.
(2) A reference in subsection (1) to a Part, Division or section includes
a reference to regulations in force for the purposes of the Part,
Division or section.
111AS Exemptions by regulations
(1) The regulations may exempt specified persons from all or specified
disclosing entity provisions:
(a) either generally or as otherwise specified; and
(b) either unconditionally or subject to specified conditions.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), an exemption may relate to
specified securities.
111AT Exemptions by ASIC
(1) ASIC may, by writing, exempt specified persons from all or
specified disclosing entity provisions:
(a) either generally or as otherwise specified; and
(b) either unconditionally or subject to specified conditions.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), an exemption may relate to
specified securities.
(3) ASIC must cause a copy of an exemption to be published in the
Gazette.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.2A Disclosing entities
Division 4 Exemptions and modifications
Section 111AU
144 Corporations Act 2001
111AU Enforcing conditions of exemptions
(1) A person must not intentionally or recklessly contravene a
condition to which an exemption under section 111AS or 111AT is
subject.
(2) If a person contravenes such a condition, the Court may, on the
application of ASIC, order the person to comply with the
condition.
111AV Modifications by regulations
(1) The regulations may make modifications of all or specified
disclosing entity provisions.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a modification may relate to
specified securities.
111AW Exemptions and modifications have effect
Exemptions and modifications under this Division have effect
accordingly.
111AX Effect of Division
Nothing in this Division limits, or is limited by, any other
exemption or modification power (for example, section 340, 341 or
741).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Technical provisions about aids for readers Part 1.4
Section 111J
Corporations Act 2001 145
Part 1.4—Technical provisions about aids for
readers
111J Small business guide
(1) If, because of:
(a) regulations made under this Act; or
(b) instruments issued by ASIC under this Act;
the small business guide as set out in Part 1.5 has become out of
date, the regulations may set out modifications of the guide that
would bring it up to date. The guide then is to be read as if it were
so modified.
(2) The small business guide is divided into sections (numbered 1, 2,
3…) and the sections are divided into paragraphs (numbered 1.1, 1.2, 1.3…). For example, a reference in the guide to 3.1 is a
reference to paragraph 3.1 of the guide.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.5 Small business guide
Section 1
146 Corporations Act 2001
Part 1.5—Small business guide
This guide summarises the main rules in the Corporations Act (the
Corporations Act 2001) that apply to proprietary companies
limited by shares—the most common type of company used by
small business. The guide gives a general overview of the
Corporations Act as it applies to those companies and directs
readers to the operative provisions in the Corporations Act.
The notes in square brackets at the end of paragraphs in the guide
indicate the main provisions of the Corporations Act, the
regulations made under the Corporations Act, and ASIC Practice
Notes that are relevant to the information in the paragraphs.
Other Commonwealth, State and Territory laws also impose
obligations on proprietary companies and their operators.
1 What registration means
1.1 Separate legal entity that has its own powers
As far as the law is concerned, a company has a separate legal
existence that is distinct from that of its owners, managers,
operators, employees and agents. A company has its own property,
its own rights and its own obligations. A company’s money and
other assets belong to the company and must be used for the
company’s purposes.
A company has the powers of an individual, including the powers
to:
• own and dispose of property and other assets
• enter into contracts
• sue and be sued.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Small business guide Part 1.5
Section 1
Corporations Act 2001 147
Once a company is registered, its separate legal status, property,
rights and liabilities continue until ASIC (Australian Securities and
Investments Commission) deregisters the company.
[sections 119, 124—125, 601AA—601AD]
1.2 Limited liability of shareholders
Shareholders of a company are not liable (in their capacity as
shareholders) for the company’s debts. As shareholders, their only
obligation is to pay the company any amount unpaid on their
shares if they are called upon to do so. However, particularly if a
shareholder is also a director, this limitation may be affected by
other laws and the commercial practices discussed in 1.3 and 1.4.
[section 516]
1.3 Director’s liability for company’s debts
A director of a company may be liable for debts incurred by the
company at a time when the company itself is unable to pay those
debts as they fall due.
A director of a company may be liable to compensate the company
for any losses the company suffers from a breach of certain of the
director’s duties to the company (see 5.3).
In addition to having liability for the company’s debts or to pay
compensation to the company, a director may also be subject to a
civil penalty.
If a company holds property on trust, a director of the company
may be liable in some circumstances for liabilities incurred by the
company as trustee.
[sections 197, 344, 588G, 588J, 588M, 1317H]
1.4 Director’s liability as guarantor/security over personal assets
As a matter of commercial practice, a bank, trade creditor or
anyone else providing finance or credit to a company may ask a
director of the company:
• for a personal guarantee of the company’s liabilities; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.5 Small business guide
Section 1
148 Corporations Act 2001
• for some form of security over their house or personal
assets to secure the performance by the company of its
obligations.
The director of a company may, for example, be asked by a bank to
give a mortgage over their house to secure the company’s
repayment of a loan. If the company does not repay the loan as
agreed with the bank, the director may lose the house.
1.5 Continuous existence
A company continues to exist even if 1 or more of its shareholders
or directors sells their shares, dies or leaves the company. If a
company has only 1 shareholder who is also the only director of
the company and that person dies, their personal representative is
able to ensure that the company continues to operate.
[sections 119, 224A]
1.6 Rules for the internal management of a company
The Corporations Act contains a basic set of rules for the internal
management of a company (appointments, meetings etc.).
Some of these rules are mandatory for all companies. There are a
few special rules for single shareholder/single director companies.
Other internal management rules in the Corporations Act are
replaceable rules. The replaceable rules do not apply to:
• a single shareholder/single director company; or
• a company that had a constitution before the introduction
of the replaceable rules regime and has not repealed it.
A company does not need to have a separate constitution of its
own; it can simply take advantage of the rules in the Corporations
Act. The company will need a constitution only if it wants to
displace, modify or add to the replaceable rules.
[sections 134-141 and 198E]
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Small business guide Part 1.5
Section 1
Corporations Act 2001 149
1.7 How a company acts
A company does not have a physical existence. It must act through
other people.
Individual directors, the company secretary, company employees
or agents may be authorised to enter into contracts that bind the
company (see 7).
In some circumstances, a company will be bound by something
done by another person (see 1.8).
1.8 Directors
The directors of a company are responsible for managing the
company’s business. It is a replaceable rule (see 1.6) that generally
the directors may exercise all the powers of the company except a
power that the Corporations Act, a replaceable rule or a provision
of the company’s constitution (if any) requires the company to
exercise in general meeting.
The only director of a company who is also the only shareholder is
responsible for managing the company’s business and may
exercise all of the company’s powers.
The Corporations Act sets out rules dealing with the calling and
conduct of directors’ meetings. Directors must keep a written
record (minutes) of their resolutions and meetings.
There are 2 ways that directors may pass resolutions:
• at a meeting; or
• by having all of the directors record and sign their
decision.
If a company has only 1 director, the sole director may also pass a
resolution by recording and signing their decision.
[sections 198A, 198E, 202C, subsection 202F(1), sections 248A-248G, 251A]
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.5 Small business guide
Section 1
150 Corporations Act 2001
1.9 Shareholders
The shareholders of a company own the company, but the
company has a separate legal existence and the company’s assets
belong to the company.
Shareholders can make decisions about the company by passing a
resolution, usually at a meeting. A ―special resolution‖ usually
involves more important questions affecting the company as a
whole or the rights of some or all of its shareholders.
There are 2 ways that shareholders may pass a resolution:
• at a meeting; or
• by having all of the shareholders record and sign their
decision.
If a meeting is held, an ordinary resolution must be passed by a
majority of the votes cast by shareholders of the company entitled
to vote on the resolution at the meeting in person or by proxy (if
proxies are allowed). A special resolution must be passed by at
least 75% of the votes cast by shareholders of the company entitled
to vote on the resolution and who vote at the meeting in person or
by proxy (if proxies are allowed).
The sole shareholder of a company may pass a resolution by
recording and signing their decision.
A company must keep a written record (minutes) of the members’
resolutions and meetings.
[sections 9 (special resolution), 249A, 249B, 249L, 251A]
1.10 What others can assume about the company
Anyone who does any business with the company is entitled to
assume that the company has a legal right to conduct that business
unless the person knows, or suspects, otherwise. For example, an
outsider dealing with the company is entitled to assume:
• that a person who is shown in a notice lodged with ASIC
as being the director or company secretary of a company
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Small business guide Part 1.5
Section 2
Corporations Act 2001 151
has been properly appointed and is authorised to act for the
company; and
• that a person who is held out by the company to be a
director, company secretary or agent of the company has
been properly appointed and is authorised to act for the
company.
[sections 128—130]
2 The company structure for small business
2.1 Proprietary company for small business
Generally, a proprietary company limited by shares is the most
suitable company for use by small business. Such a proprietary
company must have a least 1 shareholder but no more than 50
shareholders (not counting employee shareholders). It may have 1
or more directors.
[sections 112—113]
3 Setting up a new company
The operators of small businesses can either buy ―shelf‖ companies
or set up new companies themselves.
3.1 “Shelf” companies
The operator of a small business may find it more convenient to
buy a ―shelf‖ company (a company that has already been registered
but has not traded) from businesses which set up companies for
this purpose or from some legal or accounting firms.
3.2 Setting up a company
To set up a new company themselves, the operator must apply to
ASIC for registration of the company.
A proprietary company limited by shares must have at least 1
shareholder.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.5 Small business guide
Section 3
152 Corporations Act 2001
To obtain registration, a person must lodge a properly completed
application form with ASIC. The form must set out certain
information including details of every person who has consented to
be a shareholder, director or company secretary of the company.
The company comes into existence when ASIC registers it.
[sections 117—119, 135—136, 140]
3.3 ACN and name
When a company is registered, ASIC allocates to it a unique 9 digit
number called the Australian Company Number (ACN). (For use
of the ACN see 4.1).
In practice, a new company must have a name that is different from
the name of a company that is already registered. A proprietary
company limited by shares must have the words ―Proprietary
Limited‖ as part of its name. Those words can be abbreviated to
―Pty Ltd‖.
A proprietary company may adopt its ACN as its name. If it does
so, its name must also contain the words ―Australian Company
Number‖ (which can be abbreviated to ―ACN‖). For example, the
company’s name might be ―ACN 123 456 789 Pty Ltd‖.
[sections 119, 147—161]
3.4 Contracts entered into before the company is registered
A company can ratify a contract entered into by someone on its
behalf or for its benefit before it was registered. If the company
does not ratify the contract, the person who entered into the
contract may be personally liable.
[sections 131—133]
3.5 First shareholders, directors and company secretary
A person listed with their consent as a shareholder, director or
company secretary in the application for registration of the
company becomes a shareholder, director or company secretary of
the company on its registration.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Small business guide Part 1.5
Section 3
Corporations Act 2001 153
The same person may be both a director of the company and the
company secretary.
See 5.1 and 5.2 for directors and 5.4 for company secretaries. See
6.1 for shareholders.
[section 120]
3.6 Issuing shares
It is a replaceable rule (see 1.6) that, before issuing new shares, a
company must first offer them to the existing shareholders in the
proportions that the shareholders already hold. A company may
issue shares at a price it determines.
[sections 254B, 254D]
3.7 Registered office
A company must have a registered office in Australia and must
inform ASIC of the location of the office. A post office box cannot
be the registered office of a company. The purpose of the
registered office is to have a place where all communications and
notices to the company may be sent.
If the company does not occupy the premises where its registered
office is located, the occupier of the premises must agree in writing
to having the company’s registered office located there.
A proprietary company is not required to open its registered office
to the public but this does not affect its obligation to make
documents available for inspection.
The company must notify ASIC of any change of address of its
registered office.
[sections 100, 142, 143, 173, 1300]
3.8 Principal place of business
If a company has a principal place of business that is different from
its registered office, it must notify ASIC of the address of its
principal place of business and of any changes to that address.
[sections 117, 146]
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.5 Small business guide
Section 4
154 Corporations Act 2001
3.9 Registers kept by the company
A company must keep registers, including a register of
shareholders. A company must keep its registers at:
• the company’s registered office; or
• the company’s principal place of business; or
• a place (whether on premises of the company or of
someone else) where the work in maintaining the register
is done; or
• another place approved by ASIC.
A register may be kept either in a bound or looseleaf book or on
computer.
If a register is kept on computer, its contents must be capable of
being printed out in hard copy.
[sections 172, 1300, 1301, 1306]
3.10 Register of shareholders
A company must keep in its register of shareholders such
information as:
• the names and addresses of its shareholders; and
• details of shares held by individual shareholders.
[sections 168—169]
4 Continuing obligations after the company is set up
The Corporations Act and other laws impose obligations on
companies themselves and on their directors and company
secretaries. Some of the more important obligations imposed under
the Corporations Act are discussed below.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Small business guide Part 1.5
Section 4
Corporations Act 2001 155
4.1 Use of company name and ACN
The name of a company must be shown at all the company’s
business premises (including its registered office) that are open to
the public. The company’s name and its ACN or ABN (if the last 9
digits are the same, and in the same order, as the last 9 digits of its
ACN) must appear:
• on some of its public documents; and
• on its cheques and negotiable instruments; and
• on all documents lodged with ASIC; and
• if it has one, on its common seal.
[sections 123, 144, 147—156, ASIC Practice Note 47]
4.2 Extract of particulars
Each year, ASIC issues each company with an extract of
particulars within 2 weeks of the company’s review date (which is
generally the anniversary of the company’s registration). The
extract includes details recorded on ASIC’s database such as:
• names and addresses of each director and company
secretary;
• issued shares and options granted;
• details of its shareholders;
• address of its registered office;
• address of its principal place of business.
If any of the details are not correct as at the date the extract is
received, the company must correct those details.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.5 Small business guide
Section 4
156 Corporations Act 2001
The correction may be lodged with ASIC on a printed form or, if
an agreement is in place to lodge electronically, in accordance with
the agreement.
[Sections 346A and 346C, 352]
4.3 Review fee
A company must pay a review fee to ASIC each year.
[Corporations (Review Fees) Act 2003]
4.4 Notification to ASIC of changes
The company must notify ASIC if certain basic changes to the
company occur. The following table sets out these notification
requirements.
Notification requirements
If... the company must
notify ASIC of the
change...
see section...
1 a company issues shares within 28 days after the
issue
254X
2 a company changes the location
of a register
within 7 days after the
change
172
3 a company changes the address of
its registered office or principal
place of business
within 28 days after the
change
142, 146
4 a company changes its directors
or company secretary
within 28 days after the
change (unless the
director or company
secretary has notified
ASIC of the change)
205B
5 there is a change in the name or
address of the company’s
directors or secretary
within 28 days after the
change
205B
7 a company has a new ultimate
holding company, or details about
the ultimate holding company
change
within 28 days after the
change happens
349A
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Small business guide Part 1.5
Section 5
Corporations Act 2001 157
Notification requirements
If... the company must
notify ASIC of the
change...
see section...
8 any of the changes in items 1 to 7
means that:
(a) the company must add or alter
particulars in its member
register kept under
section 169; or
(b) the company must add or alter
particulars in its member
register kept under
section 169, and as a result,
details about the number and
class of shares on issue, or the
amount paid and unpaid on
the shares, alter.
within the time
determined under the
table in section 178D
178A
178C
5 Company directors and company secretaries
5.1 Who can be a director
Only an individual who is at least 18 years old can be a director. If
a company has only 1 director, they must ordinarily reside in
Australia. If a company has more than 1 director, at least 1 of the
directors must ordinarily reside in Australia.
A director must consent in writing to holding the position of
director. The company must keep the consent and must notify
ASIC of the appointment.
In some circumstances, the Corporations Act imposes the duties
and obligations of a director on a person who, although not
formally appointed as a director of a company, nevertheless acts as
a director or gives instructions to the formally appointed directors
as to how they should act.
The Court or ASIC may prohibit a person from being a director or
from otherwise being involved in the management of a company if,
for example, the person has breached the Corporations Act.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.5 Small business guide
Section 5
158 Corporations Act 2001
A person needs the Court’s permission to be a director if the person
has been convicted of certain offences or is, in some
circumstances, unable to pay their debts as they fall due.
Generally, a director may resign by giving notice of the resignation
to the company. A director who resigns may notify ASIC of the
resignation. If the director does not do so, the company must notify
ASIC of the director’s resignation.
[sections 9, 201A, 201B, 201D, 205A, 205B and 206A-206G, 228-230 and 242 and subsection 1317EA(3)]
5.2 Appointment of new directors
It is a replaceable rule (see 1.6) that shareholders may appoint
directors by resolution at a general meeting.
[section 201G]
5.3 Duties and liabilities of directors
In managing the business of a company (see 1.7), each of its
directors is subject to a wide range of duties under the
Corporations Act and other laws. Some of the more important
duties are:
• to act in good faith
• to act in the best interests of the company
• to avoid conflicts between the interests of the company and
the director’s interests
• to act honestly
• to exercise care and diligence
• to prevent the company trading while it is unable to pay its
debts
• if the company is being wound up—to report to the
liquidator on the affairs of the company
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Small business guide Part 1.5
Section 5
Corporations Act 2001 159
• if the company is being wound up—to help the liquidator
(by, for example, giving to the liquidator any records of the
company that the director has).
A director who fails to perform their duties:
• may be guilty of a criminal offence with a penalty of
$200,000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both; and
• may contravene a civil penalty provision (and the Court
may order the person to pay to the Commonwealth an
amount of up to $200,000); and
• may be personally liable to compensate the company or
others for any loss or damage they suffer; and
• may be prohibited from managing a company.
A director’s obligations may continue even after the company has
been deregistered.
[Sections 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 475, 530A, 588G, 596, 601AE, 601AH, 1317H]
5.4 Company secretaries
A company other than a proprietary company must have a
company secretary. However, a proprietary company may choose
to have a company secretary. The directors appoint the company
secretary. A company secretary must be at least 18 years old. If a
company has only 1 company secretary, they must ordinarily reside
in Australia. If a company has more than 1 company secretary, at
least 1 of them must ordinarily reside in Australia.
A company secretary must consent in writing to holding the
position of company secretary. The company must keep the
consent and must notify ASIC of the appointment.
The same person may be both a director of a company and the
company secretary.
Generally, a company secretary may resign by giving written
notice of the resignation to the company. A company secretary
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.5 Small business guide
Section 6
160 Corporations Act 2001
who resigns may notify ASIC of the resignation. If the company
secretary does not do so, the company must notify ASIC of the
company secretary’s resignation.
The company secretary is an officer of the company and, in that
capacity, may be subject to the requirements imposed by the
Corporations Act on company officers.
The company secretary has specific responsibilities under the
Corporations Act, including responsibility for ensuring that the
company:
• notifies ASIC about changes to the identities, names and
addresses of the company’s directors and company
secretaries; and
• notifies ASIC about changes to the register of members;
and
• notifies ASIC about changes to any ultimate holding
company; and
• responds, if necessary, to an extract of particulars that it
receives and that it responds to any return of particulars
that it receives.
A company secretary’s obligations may continue even after the
company has been deregistered.
[sections 83, 142, 178A, 178C, 188, 204A-204G, 205A, 205B, 346C, 348D, 349A, 601AD, 601AH]
6 Shares and shareholders
A proprietary company limited by shares must have a share capital
and at least 1 shareholder. ASIC may apply to a Court to have a
company wound up if it does not have any shareholders.
[sections 461—462]
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Small business guide Part 1.5
Section 6
Corporations Act 2001 161
6.1 Becoming a shareholder and ceasing to be a shareholder
A person may become a shareholder of a company in several ways,
including the following:
• the person being listed as a shareholder of the company in
the application for registration of the company
• the company issuing shares to the person
• the person buying shares in the company from an existing
shareholder and the company registering the transfer.
Some of the ways in which a person ceases to be a shareholder are:
• the person sells all of their shares in the company and the
company registers the transfer of the shares
• the company buys back all the person’s shares
• ASIC cancels the company’s registration.
[sections 117, 120, 601AA—601AD]
6.2 Classes of shares
A company may have different classes of shares. The rights and
restrictions attached to the shares in a class distinguish it from
other classes of shares.
[sections 254A—254B]
6.3 Meetings of shareholders
Directors have the power to call meetings of all shareholders or
meetings of only those shareholders who hold a particular class of
shares.
Shareholders who hold at least 5% of the votes which may be cast
at a general meeting of a company have the power to call and hold
a meeting themselves or to require the directors to call and hold a
meeting. Meetings may be held regularly or to resolve specific
questions about the management or business of the company.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.5 Small business guide
Section 7
162 Corporations Act 2001
The Corporations Act sets out rules dealing with shareholders’
meetings.
A shareholder of a company may ask the company for a copy of
the record of a meeting or of a decision of shareholders taken
without a meeting.
[sections 249A—251B]
6.4 Voting rights
Different rights to vote at meetings of shareholders may attach to
different classes of shares. It is a replaceable rule (see 1.6) that,
subject to those different rights, each shareholder has 1 vote on a
show of hands and, on a poll, 1 vote for each share held.
[sections 250E, 254A—254B]
6.5 Buying and selling shares
A shareholder may sell their shares but only if the sale would not
breach the company’s constitution (if any). It is a replaceable rule
(see 1.6) that the directors have a discretion to refuse to register a
transfer of shares.
[sections 1091D—1091E]
7 Signing company documents
A company’s power to sign, discharge and otherwise deal with
contracts can be exercised by an individual acting with the
company’s authority and on its behalf. A company can deal with
contracts without using a common seal.
A company may execute a document by having it signed by:
• 2 directors of the company; or
• a director and the company secretary; or
• for a company with a sole director who is also the sole
secretary—that director.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Small business guide Part 1.5
Section 8
Corporations Act 2001 163
If the document is to have effect as a deed, it should be expressed
to be a deed.
[sections 126—127]
A company is not required to have a common seal. If it does, the
seal must show the company’s name and its ACN or ABN (if the
last 9 digits are the same, and in the same order, as the last 9 digits
of its ACN). The seal is equivalent to the company’s signature and
may be used on important company documents such as mortgages.
[sections 123, 127(2)]
8 Funding the company’s operations
The shareholders may fund the company’s operations by lending
money to the company or by taking up other shares in the
company. Except if it is raising funds from its own employees or
shareholders, a proprietary company must not engage in any
fundraising activity that would require disclosure to investors
under Chapter 6D (for example, advertising in a newspaper
inviting people to invest in the company).
The company may also borrow money from banks and other
financial organisations.
Anyone who has lent money, or provided credit, to the company
may ask for a security interest in the company’s assets to secure the
performance by the company of its obligations.
[sections 113, 124]
9 Returns to shareholders
Shareholders can take money out of the company in a number of
ways, but only if the company complies with its constitution (if
any), the Corporations Act and all other relevant laws. If a
company pays out money in a way that results in the company
being unable to pay its debts as they fall due, its directors may be
liable:
• to pay compensation; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.5 Small business guide
Section 10
164 Corporations Act 2001
• for criminal and civil penalties.
[sections 588G, 1317E, 1317G, 1317H, 1317P]
9.1 Dividends
Dividends are payments to shareholders. They can only be paid if:
• the company’s assets are sufficiently in excess of its
liabilities immediately before the dividend is declared; and
• the payment of the dividend is fair and reasonable to the
company’s shareholders as a whole and does not materially
prejudice the company’s ability to pay its creditors.
It is a replaceable rule (see 1.6) that the directors decide whether
the company should pay a dividend.
[sections 254T, 254U]
9.2 Buy-back of shares
A company can buy back shares from shareholders.
[sections 257A—257J]
9.4 Distribution of surplus assets on winding up
If a company is wound up and there are any assets left over after all
the company’s debts have been paid, the surplus is distributed to
shareholders in accordance with the rights attaching to their shares.
10 Annual financial reports and audit
10.1 The small/large distinction
The accounting requirements imposed on a proprietary company
under the Corporations Act depend on whether the company is
classified as small or large. A company’s classification can change
from 1 financial year to another as its circumstances change.
A company is classified as small for a financial year if it satisfies at
least 2 of the following tests:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Small business guide Part 1.5
Section 10
Corporations Act 2001 165
• gross operating revenue of less than $10 million for the
year
• gross assets of less than $5 million at the end of the year
• fewer than 50 employees at the end of the year.
A company that does not satisfy at least 2 of these tests is classified
as large.
[section 45A]
As the great majority of proprietary companies are small under
these tests, the discussion below deals mainly with the accounting
requirements for small proprietary companies.
[sections 286—301]
10.2 Financial records
Under the Corporations Act, all proprietary companies must keep
sufficient financial records to record and explain their transactions
and financial position and to allow true and fair financial
statements to be prepared and audited. Financial record here
means some kind of systematic record of the company’s financial
transactions—not merely a collection of receipts, invoices, bank
statements and cheque butts. Financial records may be kept on
computer.
[sections 286—289]
10.3 Preparing annual financial reports and directors’ reports
The Corporations Act requires a small proprietary company to
prepare an annual financial report (an annual profit and loss
statement, a balance sheet and a statement of cash flows) and a
directors’ report (about the company’s operations, dividends paid
or recommended, options issued etc.) if:
• the shareholders with at least 5% of the votes in the
company direct it to do so; or
• ASIC directs it to do so.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.5 Small business guide
Section 11
166 Corporations Act 2001
Unless the shareholders’ direction specifies otherwise, the
company must prepare the annual financial report in accordance
with the applicable accounting standards.
Although the Corporations Act itself may not require a small
proprietary company to prepare a financial report except in the
circumstances mentioned, the company may need to prepare the
annual financial reports for the purposes of other laws (for
example, income tax laws). Moreover, good business practice may
also make it advisable for the company to prepare the financial
reports so that it can monitor and better manage its financial
position.
Large proprietary companies must prepare annual financial reports
and a directors’ report, have the financial report audited and send
both reports to shareholders. They must also lodge the annual
financial reports with ASIC unless exempted.
[sections 286—301, 319—320]
11 Disagreements within the company
11.1 Special problems faced by minority shareholders
There are remedies available to a shareholder of a company if:
• the affairs of the company are being conducted in a way
that is unfair to that shareholder or to other shareholders of
the company; or
• the affairs of the company are being conducted in a way
that is against the interests of the company as a whole.
A Court may, for example, order the winding up of a company or
the appointment of a receiver.
[sections 232-235, 461]
11.2 Buy—back of shares
A company may buy back the shares of a shareholder who wants to
sever their relationship with the company.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Small business guide Part 1.5
Section 12
Corporations Act 2001 167
[sections 257A—257J]
11.3 Selling shares
A shareholder in a company who wants to sever their relationship
with the company may decide to sell their shares. However, the
shareholder may not be able to sell their shares readily—
particularly if they want to sell their shares to someone who is not
an existing shareholder. Some of the difficulties they may face in
that case are:
• under the replaceable rules the directors have a discretion
to refuse to transfer the shares; and
• restrictions in the company’s constitution (if any) on
transferring shares.
[sections 707, 1041H, 1091D-1091E]
12 Companies in financial trouble
12.1 Voluntary administration
If a company experiences financial problems, the directors may
appoint an administrator to take over the operations of the
company to see if the company’s creditors and the company can
work out a solution to the company’s problems.
If the company’s creditors and the company cannot agree, the
company may be wound up (see 12.3).
[Part 5.3A]
12.2 Receivers
A receiver, or receiver and manager, may be appointed by order of
a Court or under an agreement with a secured creditor to take over
some or all of the assets of a company. Generally this would occur
if the company is in financial difficulty. A receiver may be
appointed, for example, because an amount owed to a secured
creditor is overdue.
[Part 5.2]
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.5 Small business guide
Section 12
168 Corporations Act 2001
12.3 Winding up and distribution
A company may be wound up by order of a Court, or voluntarily if
the shareholders of the company pass a special resolution to do so.
A liquidator is appointed:
• when a Court orders a company to be wound up; or
• the shareholders of a company pass a resolution to wind up
the company.
[Parts 5.4, 5.4B, 5.5].
12.4 Liquidators
A liquidator is appointed to administer the winding up of a
company. The liquidator’s main functions are:
• to take possession of the company’s assets; and
• to determine debts owed by the company and pay the
company’s creditors; and
• to distribute to shareholders any assets of the company left
over after paying creditors (any distribution to shareholders
is made according to the rights attaching to their shares);
and
• finally, to have the company deregistered.
[Parts 5.4B, 5.6]
12.5 Order of payment of debts
Generally, creditors who hold security interests in company assets
are paid first.
[Division 6 of Part 5.6]
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Small business guide Part 1.5
Section 12
Corporations Act 2001 169
12.6 Cancellation of registration
If a company has ceased trading or has been wound up, it remains
on the register until ASIC cancels the company’s registration. Once
a company is deregistered, it ceases to exist.
[sections 601AA—601AB, 601AH]
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.6 Interaction with Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act
2012
Section 111K
170 Corporations Act 2001
Part 1.6—Interaction with Australian Charities and
Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012
111K Bodies corporate registered under the Australian Charities and
Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012
This Part applies to a body corporate that:
(a) is registered under the Australian Charities and
Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012; and
(b) is none of the following:
(i) a Commonwealth company for the purposes of the
Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997;
(ii) a subsidiary of a Commonwealth company for the
purposes of that Act;
(iii) a subsidiary of a Commonwealth authority for the
purposes of that Act.
111L Provisions not applicable to the body corporate
(1) A provision of this Act mentioned in the following table does not
apply to the body corporate, subject to any conditions prescribed
by the regulations for the purposes of this subsection in relation to
the provision:
Provisions of this Act that do not apply to bodies corporate registered under the
ACNC Act
Item Column 1
Provision(s)
Column 2
Topic
1 subsection 136(5) Public company must lodge with
ASIC a copy of a special resolution
adopting, modifying or repealing its
constitution
2 section 138 ASIC may direct company to lodge
consolidated constitution
3 section 139 Company must send copy of
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interaction with Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 Part
1.6
Section 111L
Corporations Act 2001 171
Provisions of this Act that do not apply to bodies corporate registered under the
ACNC Act
Item Column 1
Provision(s)
Column 2
Topic
constitution to member
4 subsection 142(2), section 146 and
subsection 146A(2)
Company must notify ASIC of
changes of address
5 (a) sections 180 to 183; and
(b) section 185, to the extent that it
relates to sections 180 to 183
Duties of directors etc.
6 section 188, to the extent it relates to
a provision mentioned in another
item of this table
Responsibility of secretaries and
directors for certain contraventions
7 sections 191 to 194 Interests of directors
8 (a) sections 201L and 205A to 205C;
and
(b) section 205D, to the extent it
relates to section 205B; and
(c) section 205E
Public information about directors
etc.
9 (a) Part 2G.2 (other than
sections 250PAA and 250PAB);
and
(b) Part 2G.3, to the extent that it
relates to meetings of the body
corporate’s members
Meetings of members
10 (a) Parts 2M.1 and 2M.2; and
(b) Part 2M.3
Financial reports and audit
11 Chapter 2N Updating ASIC information about
companies and registered schemes
12 sections 601CDA, 601CK and
601CTA
Foreign companies
13 subsection 601CT(3),
section 601CV and
subsections 601DH(1) and (1A)
Registered body must notify ASIC
of certain changes
(2) Regulations made for the purposes of subsection (1) may be
indefinite or limited to a specified period.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.6 Interaction with Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act
2012
Section 111M
172 Corporations Act 2001
Reporting by debenture issuers
(3) Item 10 of the table in subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a
financial year if the body corporate was a borrower in relation to
debentures at the end of the year.
Prescribed provisions
(4) A provision of this Act prescribed by the regulations for the
purposes of this subsection does not apply to the body corporate.
(5) Regulations made for the purposes of subsection (4) may:
(a) be expressed to be subject to conditions; and
(b) be indefinite or limited to a specified period; and
(c) specify a provision even if the provision is mentioned in
another section of this Part.
111M Member approval
(1) This section applies if:
(a) a provision of this Act provides that one or more conditions
must be satisfied for there to be member approval (however
described) in relation to the body corporate; and
Example:Division 3 of Part 2E.1.
(b) the governance standards (within the meaning of the
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act
2012) provide that one or more conditions must be satisfied
for there to be such member approval.
(2) Paragraph (1)(a) does not apply to a condition that a person give to
another person particular information that relates to the matter that
is the subject of the member approval.
Example: Paragraph 218(1)(b).
(3) The provision mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) has effect, in relation
to the body corporate, as if it, instead of providing for the
conditions mentioned in that paragraph, provided for the conditions
mentioned in paragraph (1)(b).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Introductory Chapter 1
Interaction with Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 Part
1.6
Section 111N
Corporations Act 2001 173
111N Notices
Notice of change of address
(1) For the purposes of subsection 142(3), the body corporate is treated
as having lodged with ASIC on a day a notice that the address of
its registered office has changed to a new address, if, on that day,
the body corporate notifies the Commissioner of the ACNC, in
accordance with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits
Commission Act 2012, that the body corporate’s address for service
has changed to that new address.
(2) The Commissioner must give a copy of the notice to ASIC.
Notice of change of name—registered Australian bodies and
registered foreign companies
(3) For the purpose of subsection 601DH(2), the body corporate is
treated as having given ASIC on a day written notice of a change
to its name if, on that day, the body corporate gives the
Commissioner of the ACNC, in accordance with the Australian
Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012, notice of the
change.
(4) The Commissioner must give a copy of the notice to ASIC.
111P Annual general meetings
(1) An order made under section 250PAA applies to a requirement in
the governance standards (within the meaning of the Australian
Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012) for the
holding of an annual general meeting in the same way as the order
applies to the requirement in section 250N.
(2) An exemption under section 250PAB applies to a provision of the
governance standards (within the meaning of the Australian
Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012) that requires
the holding of an annual general meeting in the same way as the
exemption applies to section 250N.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 1 Introductory
Part 1.6 Interaction with Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act
2012
Section 111Q
174 Corporations Act 2001
111Q Presumptions to be made in recovery proceedings
(1) Paragraph 588E(4)(a) and subsection 588E(5) apply to the body
corporate as if the references in those provisions to
subsection 286(1) were references to subsections 55-5(1) to (3) of
the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012.
(2) Paragraph 588E(4)(b) and subsection 588E(6) apply to the body
corporate as if the references in those provisions to
subsection 286(2) were references to subsections 55-5(4) and (5) of
the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Registering a company Chapter 2A
What companies can be registered Part 2A.1
Section 112
Corporations Act 2001 175
Chapter 2A—Registering a company
Part 2A.1—What companies can be registered
112 Types of companies
Types of companies
(1) The following types of companies can be registered under this Act:
Proprietary companies Limited by shares
Unlimited with share capital
Public companies Limited by shares
Limited by guarantee
Unlimited with share capital
No liability company
Note: Other types of companies that were previously allowed continue to
exist under the Part 10.1 transitionals.
No liability companies
(2) A company may be registered as a no liability company only if:
(a) the company has a share capital; and
(b) the company’s constitution states that its sole objects are
mining purposes; and
(c) the company has no contractual right under its constitution to
recover calls made on its shares from a shareholder who fails
to pay them.
Note 1: Section 9 defines mining purposes and minerals.
Note 2: Special provisions on no liability companies are found in the
provisions referred to in the following table:
No liability company provisions
item topic provisions
1 names 148, 156, 162
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2A Registering a company
Part 2A.1 What companies can be registered
Section 113
176 Corporations Act 2001
No liability company provisions
item topic provisions
2 terms of issue of shares 254B
3 liability on partly-paid shares 254M
4 calls 254P-254R
5 winding up 477-478, 483, 514
6 registering a body as a company 601BA
7 transitional the Part 10.1
transitionals
(3) A no liability company must not engage in activities that are
outside its mining purposes objects.
(4) The directors of a no liability company must not:
(a) let the whole or proportion of a mine or claim on tribute; or
(b) make any contract for working any land on tribute;
unless:
(c) the letting or contract is approved by a special resolution; or
(d) no such letting or contract has been made within the period
of 2 years immediately preceding the proposed letting or
contract.
(5) An act or transaction is not invalid merely because of a
contravention of subsection (3) or (4).
113 Proprietary companies
(1) A company must have no more than 50 non—employee
shareholders if it is to:
(a) be registered as a proprietary company; or
(b) change to a proprietary company; or
(c) remain registered as a proprietary company.
Note: Proprietary companies have different financial reporting obligations
depending on whether they are small proprietary companies or large
proprietary companies (see section 45A and Part 2M.3).
(2) In applying subsection (1):
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Registering a company Chapter 2A
What companies can be registered Part 2A.1
Section 114
Corporations Act 2001 177
(a) count joint holders of a particular parcel of shares as 1
person; and
(b) an employee shareholder is:
(i) a shareholder who is an employee of the company or of
a subsidiary of the company; or
(ii) a shareholder who was an employee of the company, or
of a subsidiary of the company, when they became a
shareholder.
(3) A proprietary company must not engage in any activity that would
require disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D, except for an
offer of its shares to:
(a) existing shareholders of the company; or
(b) employees of the company or of a subsidiary of the company.
(3A) An offence based on subsection (3) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(4) An act or transaction is not invalid merely because of a
contravention of subsection (3).
Note: If a proprietary company contravenes this section, ASIC may require
it to change to a public company (see section 165).
114 Minimum of 1 member
A company needs to have at least 1 member.
115 Restrictions on size of partnerships and associations
(1) A person must not participate in the formation of a partnership or
association that:
(a) has as an object gain for itself or for any of its members; and
(b) has more than 20 members;
unless the partnership or association is incorporated or formed
under an Australian law.
Note: For the effect of a contravention of this section, see section 103.
(2) The regulations may specify a higher number that is higher than
the number specified in paragraph (1)(b) for the purposes of the
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2A Registering a company
Part 2A.1 What companies can be registered
Section 116
178 Corporations Act 2001
application of that paragraph to a particular kind of partnership or
association.
(3) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
116 Trade unions cannot be registered
A trade union cannot be registered under this Act.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Registering a company Chapter 2A
How a company is registered Part 2A.2
Section 117
Corporations Act 2001 179
Part 2A.2—How a company is registered
117 Applying for registration
Lodging application
(1) To register a company, a person must lodge an application with
ASIC.
Note: For the types of companies that can be registered, see section 112.
Contents of the application
(2) The application must state the following:
(a) the type of company that is proposed to be registered under
this Act;
(b) the company’s proposed name (unless the ACN is to be used
in its name);
(c) the name and address of each person who consents to become
a member;
(d) the present given and family name, all former given and
family names and the date and place of birth of each person
who consents in writing to become a director;
(e) the present given and family name, all former given and
family names and the date and place of birth of each person
who consents in writing to become a company secretary;
(f) the address of each person who consents in writing to
become a director or company secretary;
(g) the address of the company’s proposed registered office;
(h) for a public company—the proposed opening hours of its
registered office (if they are not the standard opening hours);
(j) the address of the company’s proposed principal place of
business (if it is not the address of the proposed registered
office);
(k) for a company limited by shares or an unlimited company—
the following:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2A Registering a company
Part 2A.2 How a company is registered
Section 117
180 Corporations Act 2001
(i) the number and class of shares each member agrees in
writing to take up;
(ii) the amount (if any) each member agrees in writing to
pay for each share;
(iia) whether the shares each member agrees in writing to
take up will be fully paid on registration;
(iii) if that amount is not to be paid in full on registration—
the amount (if any) each member agrees in writing to be
unpaid on each share;
(iv) whether or not the shares each member agrees in writing
to take up will be beneficially owned by the member on
registration;
(l) for a public company that is limited by shares or is an
unlimited company, if shares will be issued for non-cash
consideration—the prescribed particulars about the issue of
the shares, unless the shares will be issued under a written
contract and a copy of the contract is lodged with the
application;
(m) for a company limited by guarantee—the proposed amount of
the guarantee that each member agrees to in writing;
(ma) whether or not, on registration, the company will have an
ultimate holding company;
(mb) if, on registration, the company will have an ultimate holding
company—the following:
(i) the name of the ultimate holding company;
(ii) if the ultimate holding company is registered in
Australia—its ABN, ACN or ARBN;
(iii) if the ultimate holding company is not registered in
Australia—the place at which it was incorporated or
formed;
(n) the State or Territory in this jurisdiction in which the
company is to be taken to be registered.
Note 1: Paragraph (b)—sections 147 and 152 deal with the availability and
reservation of names.
Note 2: Paragraph (f)—the address that must be stated is usually the
residential address, although an alternative address can sometimes be
stated instead (see section 205D).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Registering a company Chapter 2A
How a company is registered Part 2A.2
Section 118
Corporations Act 2001 181
Note 3: Paragraph (g)—if the company is not to be the occupier of premises at
the address of its registered office, the application must state that the
occupier has consented to the address being specified in the
application and has not withdrawn that consent (see section 100).
Note 4: Paragraph (h)—for standard opening hours, see section 9.
(3) If the company is to be a public company and is to have a
constitution on registration, a copy of the constitution must be
lodged with the application.
(4) The application must be in the prescribed form.
(5) An applicant must have the consents and agreements referred to in
subsection (2) when the application is lodged. After the company is
registered, the applicant must give the consents and agreements to
the company. The company must keep the consents and
agreements.
(6) An offence based on subsection (5) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
118 ASIC gives company ACN, registers company and issues
certificate
Registration
(1) If an application is lodged under section 117, ASIC may:
(a) give the company an ACN; and
(b) register the company; and
(c) issue a certificate that states:
(i) the company’s name; and
(ii) the company’s ACN; and
(iii) the company’s type; and
(iv) that the company is registered as a company under this
Act; and
(v) the State or Territory in this jurisdiction in which the
company is taken to be registered; and
(vi) the date of registration.
Note: For the evidentiary value of a certificate of registration, see
subsection 1274(7A).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2A Registering a company
Part 2A.2 How a company is registered
Section 119
182 Corporations Act 2001
ASIC must keep record of registration
(2) ASIC must keep a record of the registration. Subsections 1274(2)
and (5) apply to the record as if it were a document lodged with
ASIC.
119 Company comes into existence on registration
A company comes into existence as a body corporate at the
beginning of the day on which it is registered. The company’s
name is the name specified in the certificate of registration.
Note: The company remains in existence until it is deregistered (see
Chapter 5A).
119A Jurisdiction of incorporation and jurisdiction of registration
Jurisdiction in which company incorporated
(1) A company is incorporated in this jurisdiction.
Jurisdiction of registration
(2) A company is taken to be registered in:
(a) the State or Territory specified:
(i) in the application for the company’s registration under
paragraph 117(2)(n) (registration of company under this
Part); or
(ii) in the application for the company’s registration under
paragraph 601BC(2)(o) (registration of registrable body
as company under Part 5B.1); or
(b) the State or Territory in which the company is taken to be
registered under paragraph 5H(4)(b) (registration of body as
company on basis of State or Territory law).
This subsection has effect subject to subsection (3).
Note 1: ASIC must specify the State or Territory in which the company is
taken to be registered in the company’s certificate of registration (see
paragraph 118(1)(c)(v) and 601BD(1)(c)(v)).
Note 2: The company’s legal capacity and powers do not depend in any way
on the particular State or Territory it is taken to be registered in (see
section 124).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Registering a company Chapter 2A
How a company is registered Part 2A.2
Section 120
Corporations Act 2001 183
Note 3: A law of a State or Territory may impose obligations, or confer rights
or powers, on a person by reference to the State or Territory in which
a company is taken to be registered for the purposes of this Act. For
example, a State or Territory law dealing with stamp duty on share
transfers might impose duty on transfers of shares in companies that
are taken to be registered in that State or Territory for the purposes of
this Act.
(3) The State or Territory in which a company is taken to be registered
changes to the State or Territory in this jurisdiction nominated by
the company if:
(a) either:
(i) the relevant Minister of the State or Territory in which
the company is taken to be registered before the change
approves the change; or
(ii) the State in which the company is taken to be registered
ceases to be a referring State; and
(b) the procedural requirements specified in the regulations are
satisfied.
(4) A company continues to be registered under this Act even if the
State in which the company is taken to be registered ceases to be a
referring State.
120 Members, directors and company secretary of a company
(1) A person becomes a member, director or company secretary of a
company on registration if the person is specified in the application
with their consent as a proposed member, director or company
secretary of the company.
(2) The shares to be taken up by the members as specified in the
application are taken to be issued to the members on registration of
the company.
Note: A member’s name must be entered in the register of members (see
section 169).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2A Registering a company
Part 2A.2 How a company is registered
Section 121
184 Corporations Act 2001
121 Registered office
The address specified in the application for registration for the
company’s proposed registered office becomes the address of the
company’s registered office on registration.
122 Expenses incurred in promoting and setting up company
The expenses incurred before registration in promoting and setting
up a company may be paid out of the company’s assets.
123 Company may have common seal
(1) A company may have a common seal. If a company does have a
common seal, the company must set out on it:
(a) for a company that has its ACN in its name—the company’s
name; or
(b) otherwise—the company’s name and either:
(i) the expression ―Australian Company Number‖ and the
company’s ACN; or
(ii) if the last 9 digits of the company’s ABN are the same,
and in the same order, as the last 9 digits of its ACN—
the expression ―Australian Business Number‖ and the
company’s ABN.
Note 1: A company may make contracts and execute documents without using
a seal (see sections 126 and 127).
Note 2: For abbreviations that can be used on a seal, see section 149.
(2) A company may have a duplicate common seal. The duplicate
must be a copy of the common seal with the words ―duplicate
seal‖, ―share seal‖ or ―certificate seal‖ added.
(3) A person must not use, or authorise the use of, a seal that purports
to be the common seal of a company or a duplicate if the seal does
not comply with the requirements set out in subsection (1) or (2).
(4) An offence based on subsection (3) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Company powers and how they are exercised Part 2B.1
Section 124
Corporations Act 2001 185
Chapter 2B—Basic features of a company
Part 2B.1—Company powers and how they are
exercised
124 Legal capacity and powers of a company
(1) A company has the legal capacity and powers of an individual both
in and outside this jurisdiction. A company also has all the powers
of a body corporate, including the power to:
(a) issue and cancel shares in the company;
(b) issue debentures (despite any rule of law or equity to the
contrary, this power includes a power to issue debentures that
are irredeemable, redeemable only if a contingency, however
remote, occurs, or redeemable only at the end of a period,
however long);
(c) grant options over unissued shares in the company;
(d) distribute any of the company’s property among the
members, in kind or otherwise;
(e) grant a security interest in uncalled capital;
(f) grant a circulating security interest over the company’s
property;
(g) arrange for the company to be registered or recognised as a
body corporate in any place outside this jurisdiction;
(h) do anything that it is authorised to do by any other law
(including a law of a foreign country).
A company limited by guarantee does not have the power to issue
shares.
Note: For a company’s power to issue bonus, partly—paid, preference and
redeemable preference shares, see section 254A.
(2) A company’s legal capacity to do something is not affected by the
fact that the company’s interests are not, or would not be, served
by doing it.
(3) For the avoidance of doubt, this section does not:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.1 Company powers and how they are exercised
Section 125
186 Corporations Act 2001
(a) authorise a company to do an act that is prohibited by a law
of a State or Territory; or
(b) give a company a right that a law of a State or Territory
denies to the company.
125 Constitution may limit powers and set out objects
(1) If a company has a constitution, it may contain an express
restriction on, or a prohibition of, the company’s exercise of any of
its powers. The exercise of a power by the company is not invalid
merely because it is contrary to an express restriction or prohibition
in the company’s constitution.
(2) If a company has a constitution, it may set out the company’s
objects. An act of the company is not invalid merely because it is
contrary to or beyond any objects in the company’s constitution.
126 Agent exercising a company’s power to make contracts
(1) A company’s power to make, vary, ratify or discharge a contract
may be exercised by an individual acting with the company’s
express or implied authority and on behalf of the company. The
power may be exercised without using a common seal.
(2) This section does not affect the operation of a law that requires a
particular procedure to be complied with in relation to the contract.
127 Execution of documents (including deeds) by the company itself
(1) A company may execute a document without using a common seal
if the document is signed by:
(a) 2 directors of the company; or
(b) a director and a company secretary of the company; or
(c) for a proprietary company that has a sole director who is also
the sole company secretary—that director.
Note: If a company executes a document in this way, people will be able to
rely on the assumptions in subsection 129(5) for dealings in relation to
the company.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Company powers and how they are exercised Part 2B.1
Section 127
Corporations Act 2001 187
(2) A company with a common seal may execute a document if the
seal is fixed to the document and the fixing of the seal is witnessed
by:
(a) 2 directors of the company; or
(b) a director and a company secretary of the company; or
(c) for a proprietary company that has a sole director who is also
the sole company secretary—that director.
Note: If a company executes a document in this way, people will be able to
rely on the assumptions in subsection 129(6) for dealings in relation to
the company.
(3) A company may execute a document as a deed if the document is
expressed to be executed as a deed and is executed in accordance
with subsection (1) or (2).
(4) This section does not limit the ways in which a company may
execute a document (including a deed).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.2 Assumptions people dealing with companies are entitled to make
Section 128
188 Corporations Act 2001
Part 2B.2—Assumptions people dealing with
companies are entitled to make
128 Entitlement to make assumptions
(1) A person is entitled to make the assumptions in section 129 in
relation to dealings with a company. The company is not entitled to
assert in proceedings in relation to the dealings that any of the
assumptions are incorrect.
(2) A person is entitled to make the assumptions in section 129 in
relation to dealings with another person who has, or purports to
have, directly or indirectly acquired title to property from a
company. The company and the other person are not entitled to
assert in proceedings in relation to the dealings that any of the
assumptions are incorrect.
(3) The assumptions may be made even if an officer or agent of the
company acts fraudulently, or forges a document, in connection
with the dealings.
(4) A person is not entitled to make an assumption in section 129 if at
the time of the dealings they knew or suspected that the assumption
was incorrect.
129 Assumptions that can be made under section 128
Constitution and replaceable rules complied with
(1) A person may assume that the company’s constitution (if any), and
any provisions of this Act that apply to the company as replaceable
rules, have been complied with.
Director or company secretary
(2) A person may assume that anyone who appears, from information
provided by the company that is available to the public from ASIC,
to be a director or a company secretary of the company:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Assumptions people dealing with companies are entitled to make Part 2B.2
Section 129
Corporations Act 2001 189
(a) has been duly appointed; and
(b) has authority to exercise the powers and perform the duties
customarily exercised or performed by a director or company
secretary of a similar company.
Officer or agent
(3) A person may assume that anyone who is held out by the company
to be an officer or agent of the company:
(a) has been duly appointed; and
(b) has authority to exercise the powers and perform the duties
customarily exercised or performed by that kind of officer or
agent of a similar company.
Proper performance of duties
(4) A person may assume that the officers and agents of the company
properly perform their duties to the company.
Document duly executed without seal
(5) A person may assume that a document has been duly executed by
the company if the document appears to have been signed in
accordance with subsection 127(1). For the purposes of making the
assumption, a person may also assume that anyone who signs the
document and states next to their signature that they are the sole
director and sole company secretary of the company occupies both
offices.
Document duly executed with seal
(6) A person may assume that a document has been duly executed by
the company if:
(a) the company’s common seal appears to have been fixed to
the document in accordance with subsection 127(2); and
(b) the fixing of the common seal appears to have been
witnessed in accordance with that subsection.
For the purposes of making the assumption, a person may also
assume that anyone who witnesses the fixing of the common seal
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.2 Assumptions people dealing with companies are entitled to make
Section 130
190 Corporations Act 2001
and states next to their signature that they are the sole director and
sole company secretary of the company occupies both offices.
Officer or agent with authority to warrant that document is
genuine or true copy
(7) A person may assume that an officer or agent of the company who
has authority to issue a document or a certified copy of a document
on its behalf also has authority to warrant that the document is
genuine or is a true copy.
(8) Without limiting the generality of this section, the assumptions that
may be made under this section apply for the purposes of this
section.
130 Information available to the public from ASIC does not
constitute constructive notice
A person is not taken to have information about a company merely
because the information is available to the public from ASIC.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Contracts before registration Part 2B.3
Section 131
Corporations Act 2001 191
Part 2B.3—Contracts before registration
131 Contracts before registration
(1) If a person enters into, or purports to enter into, a contract on
behalf of, or for the benefit of, a company before it is registered,
the company becomes bound by the contract and entitled to its
benefit if the company, or a company that is reasonably identifiable
with it, is registered and ratifies the contract:
(a) within the time agreed to by the parties to the contract; or
(b) if there is no agreed time—within a reasonable time after the
contract is entered into.
(2) The person is liable to pay damages to each other party to the
pre-registration contract if the company is not registered, or the
company is registered but does not ratify the contract or enter into
a substitute for it:
(a) within the time agreed to by the parties to the contract; or
(b) if there is no agreed time—within a reasonable time after the
contract is entered into.
The amount that the person is liable to pay to a party is the amount
the company would be liable to pay to the party if the company had
ratified the contract and then did not perform it at all.
(3) If proceedings are brought to recover damages under subsection (2)
because the company is registered but does not ratify the
pre-registration contract or enter into a substitute for it, the court
may do anything that it considers appropriate in the circumstances,
including ordering the company to do 1 or more of the following:
(a) pay all or part of the damages that the person is liable to pay;
(b) transfer property that the company received because of the
contract to a party to the contract;
(c) pay an amount to a party to the contract.
(4) If the company ratifies the pre—registration contract but fails to
perform all or part of it, the court may order the person to pay all or
part of the damages that the company is ordered to pay.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.3 Contracts before registration
Section 132
192 Corporations Act 2001
132 Person may be released from liability but is not entitled to
indemnity
(1) A party to the pre—registration contract may release the person
from all or part of their liability under section 131 to the party by
signing a release.
(2) Despite any rule of law or equity, the person does not have any
right of indemnity against the company in respect of the person’s
liability under this Part. This is so even if the person was acting, or
purporting to act, as trustee for the company.
133 This Part replaces other rights and liabilities
This Part replaces any rights or liabilities anyone would otherwise
have on the pre—registration contract.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Replaceable rules and constitution Part 2B.4
Section 134
Corporations Act 2001 193
Part 2B.4—Replaceable rules and constitution
134 Internal management of companies
A company’s internal management may be governed by provisions
of this Act that apply to the company as replaceable rules, by a
constitution or by a combination of both.
Note: There are additional rules about internal management in ordinary
provisions of this Act and also in the common law.
135 Replaceable rules
Companies to which replaceable rules apply
(1) A section or subsection (except subsection 129(1), this section and
sections 140 and 141) whose heading contains the words:
(a) replaceable rule—applies as a replaceable rule to:
(i) each company that is or was registered after 1 July
1998; and
(ii) any company registered before 1 July 1998 that repeals
or repealed its constitution after that day; and
(b) replaceable rule for proprietary companies and mandatory
rule for public companies—applies:
(i) as a replaceable rule to any proprietary company that is
or was registered after 1 July 1998; and
(ii) as a replaceable rule to any company that is or eas
registered after 1 July 1998 and that changes or changed
to a proprietary company (but only while it is a
proprietary company); and
(iii) as a replaceable rule to any proprietary company that is
or was registered before 1 July 1998 that repeals or
repealed its constitution after that day; and
(iv) as an ordinary provision of this Act to any public
company whenever registered.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.4 Replaceable rules and constitution
Section 136
194 Corporations Act 2001
The section or subsection does not apply to a proprietary company
while the same person is both its sole director and sole shareholder.
Note 1: See sections 198E, 201F and 202C for the special provisions that
apply to a proprietary company while the same person is both its sole
director and sole shareholder.
Note 2: A company may include in its constitution (by reference or otherwise)
a replaceable rule that does not otherwise apply to it.
Company’s constitution can displace or modify replaceable rules
(2) A provision of a section or subsection that applies to a company as
a replaceable rule can be displaced or modified by the company’s
constitution.
Failure to comply with replaceable rules
(3) A failure to comply with the replaceable rules as they apply to a
company is not of itself a contravention of this Act (so the
provisions about criminal liability, civil liability and injunctions do
not apply).
Note: Replaceable rules that apply to a company have effect as a contract
(see section 140).
136 Constitution of a company
(1) A company adopts a constitution:
(a) on registration—if each person specified in the application
for the company’s registration as a person who consents to
become a member agrees in writing to the terms of a
constitution before the application is lodged; or
(b) after registration—if the company passes a special resolution
adopting a constitution or a court order is made under
section 233 that requires the company to adopt the
constitution.
Note: The Life Insurance Act 1995 has rules about how benefit fund rules
become part of a company’s constitution and about amending those
rules. They override this Act (see section 1348 of this Act).
Consequential amendments to the rest of the company’s constitution
can be made under that Act or this Act (see Subdivision 2 of
Division 4 of Part 2A of that Act).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Replaceable rules and constitution Part 2B.4
Section 137
Corporations Act 2001 195
(2) The company may modify or repeal its constitution, or a provision
of its constitution, by special resolution.
Note: The company may need leave of the Court to modify or repeal its
constitution if it was adopted as the result of a Court order (see
subsection 233(3)).
(3) The company’s constitution may provide that the special resolution
does not have any effect unless a further requirement specified in
the constitution relating to that modification or repeal has been
complied with.
(4) Unless the constitution provides otherwise, the company may
modify or repeal a further requirement described in subsection (3)
only if the further requirement is itself complied with.
(5) A public company must lodge with ASIC a copy of a special
resolution adopting, modifying or repealing its constitution within
14 days after it is passed. The company must also lodge with ASIC
within that period:
(a) if the company adopts a constitution—a copy of that
constitution; or
(b) if the company modifies its constitution—a copy of that
modification.
This also applies to a proprietary company that has applied under
Part 2B.7 to change to a public company, while its application has
not yet been determined.
(6) An offence based on subsection (5) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
137 Date of effect of adoption, modification or repeal of constitution
If a new constitution is adopted or an existing constitution is
modified or repealed, that adoption, modification or repeal takes
effect:
(a) if it is the result of a special resolution:
(i) on the date on which the resolution is passed if it
specified no later date; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.4 Replaceable rules and constitution
Section 138
196 Corporations Act 2001
(ii) on a date specified in, or determined in accordance with,
the resolution if the relevant date is later than the date
on which the resolution is passed; or
(b) if it is the result of a Court order made under section 233:
(i) on the date on which the order is made if it specifies no
later date; or
(ii) on a date specified by the order.
138 ASIC may direct company to lodge consolidated constitution
ASIC may direct a company to lodge a consolidated copy of its
constitution with ASIC.
139 Company must send copy of constitution to member
(1) A company must send a copy of its constitution to a member of the
company within 7 days if the member:
(a) asks the company, in writing, for the copy; and
(b) pays any fee (up to the prescribed amount) required by the
company.
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
140 Effect of constitution and replaceable rules
(1) A company’s constitution (if any) and any replaceable rules that
apply to the company have effect as a contract:
(a) between the company and each member; and
(b) between the company and each director and company
secretary; and
(c) between a member and each other member;
under which each person agrees to observe and perform the
constitution and rules so far as they apply to that person.
(2) Unless a member of a company agrees in writing to be bound, they
are not bound by a modification of the constitution made after the
date on which they became a member so far as the modification:
(a) requires the member to take up additional shares; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Replaceable rules and constitution Part 2B.4
Section 141
Corporations Act 2001 197
(b) increases the member’s liability to contribute to the share
capital of, or otherwise to pay money to, the company; or
(c) imposes or increases restrictions on the right to transfer the
shares already held by the member, unless the modification is
made:
(i) in connection with the company’s change from a public
company to a proprietary company under Part 2B.7; or
(ii) to insert proportional takeover approval provisions into
the company’s constitution.
141 Table of replaceable rules
The following table sets out the provisions of this Act that apply as
replaceable rules.
Provisions that apply as replaceable rules
Officers and Employees
1 Voting and completion of transactions—directors of
proprietary companies
194
2 Powers of directors 198A
3 Negotiable instruments 198B
4 Managing director 198C
5 Company may appoint a director 201G
6 Directors may appoint other directors 201H
7 Appointment of managing directors 201J
8 Alternate directors 201K
9 Remuneration of directors 202A
10 Director may resign by giving written notice to company 203A
11 Removal by members—proprietary company 203C
12 Termination of appointment of managing director 203F
13 Terms and conditions of office for secretaries 204F
Inspection of books
14 Company or directors may allow member to inspect books 247D
Director’s Meetings
15 Circulating resolutions of companies with more than 1 director 248A
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.4 Replaceable rules and constitution
Section 141
198 Corporations Act 2001
Provisions that apply as replaceable rules
16 Calling directors’ meetings 248C
17 Chairing directors’ meetings 248E
18 Quorum at directors’ meetings 248F
19 Passing of directors’ resolutions 248G
Meetings of members
20 Calling of meetings of members by a director 249C
21 Notice to joint members 249J(2)
22 When notice by post or fax is given 249J(4)
22A When notice under paragraph 249J(3)(cb) is given 249J(5)
23 Notice of adjourned meetings 249M
24 Quorum 249T
25 Chairing meetings of members 249U
26 Business at adjourned meetings 249W(2)
27 Who can appoint a proxy
[replaceable rule for proprietary companies only]
249X
28 Proxy vote valid even if member dies, revokes appointment
etc.
250C(2)
29 How many votes a member has 250E
30 Jointly held shares 250F
31 Objections to right to vote 250G
32 How voting is carried out 250J
33 When and how polls must be taken 250M
Shares
33A Pre-emption for existing shareholders on issue of shares
in proprietary company
254D
33B Other provisions about paying dividends 254U
34 Dividend rights for shares in proprietary companies 254W(2)
Transfer of shares
35 Transmission of shares on death 1072A
36 Transmission of shares on bankruptcy 1072B
37 Transmission of shares on mental incapacity 1072D
38 Registration of transfers 1072F
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Replaceable rules and constitution Part 2B.4
Section 141
Corporations Act 2001 199
Provisions that apply as replaceable rules
39 Additional general discretion for directors of proprietary
companies to refuse to register transfers
1072G
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.5 Registered office and places of business
Section 142
200 Corporations Act 2001
Part 2B.5—Registered office and places of business
142 Registered office
(1) A company must have a registered office in this jurisdiction.
Communications and notices to the company may be addressed to
its registered office.
Note 1: A document may be served on a company by leaving it at, or posting
it to, the company’s registered office (see subsection 109X(1)).
Note 2: Communications and notices from ASIC may also be addressed to the
company’s contact address (see section 146A).
(2) A company must lodge notice of a change of address of its
registered office with ASIC not later than 28 days after the date on
which the change occurs. The notice must be in the prescribed
form.
Note: If the company is not to be the occupier of premises at the address of
its new registered office, the notice must state that the occupier has
consented to the address being specified in the notice and has not
withdrawn that consent (see section 100).
(2A) An offence based on subsection (1) or (2) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(3) A notice of change of address takes effect from the later of:
(a) the seventh day after the notice was lodged; or
(b) a later day specified in the notice as the date from which the
change is to take effect.
143 ASIC may change address of registered office to a director’s
address
(1) A company that does not occupy the premises at the address of its
registered office must be able to show to ASIC the occupier’s
written consent to the company’s use of those premises as its
registered office.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Registered office and places of business Part 2B.5
Section 144
Corporations Act 2001 201
Note: ASIC can require the company to produce the consent (see
section 100).
(1A) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(2) If ASIC becomes aware that the occupier of those premises:
(a) has not consented to the use of the premises as the address of
the company’s registered office; or
(b) has withdrawn the consent;
ASIC may give written notice to a director of the company who
resides in this jurisdiction that ASIC intends to change the address
of the company’s registered office to the director’s address.
(3) If ASIC is not notified of the address of the company’s proposed
new registered office under subsection 142(2) within 28 days after
the notice under subsection (2) is sent, ASIC may change the
address of the company’s registered office to the director’s address.
144 Company’s name must be displayed at registered office etc.
(1) A company must display its name prominently at every place at
which the company carries on business and that is open to the
public.
(2) A public company must also display its name and the words
―Registered Office‖ prominently at its registered office.
(3) An offence based on subsection (1) or (2) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
145 Opening hours of registered office of public company
(1) The registered office of a public company must be open to the
public:
(a) each business day from at least 10 am to 12 noon and from at
least 2 pm to 4 pm; or
(b) at least 3 hours chosen by the company between 9 am and 5
pm each business day.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.5 Registered office and places of business
Section 146
202 Corporations Act 2001
(2) If the company chooses its own opening hours, the hours must be
specified:
(a) if the company is to have its own opening hours from its
registration—in the application for registration of the
company under section 117 (normal registration process) or
the notice lodged under section 5H (registration of body as
company on basis of State or Territory law); or
(b) if the company changes its opening hours after its
registration—in the most recent notice of change of opening
hours lodged with ASIC under subsection (3).
(3) The company must lodge notice of a change in the opening hours
of its registered office with ASIC before the day on which a change
occurs. The notice must be in the prescribed form.
(4) An offence based on subsection (1) or (3) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
146 Change of address of principal place of business
(1) A company must lodge with ASIC notice of a change of the
address of its principal place of business not later than 28 days
after the date on which the change occurs. The notice must be in
the prescribed form.
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
146A Contact address
(1) A company may have a contact address (whether or not in this
jurisdiction). Communications and notices from ASIC to the
company may be addressed to its contact address.
(2) If a company is to have a contact address, the company must lodge
notice of the address in the prescribed form.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Names Part 2B.6
Selecting and using a name Division 1
Section 147
Corporations Act 2001 203
Part 2B.6—Names
Division 1—Selecting and using a name
147 When a name is available
Name is available unless identical or unacceptable
(1) A name is available to a company unless the name is:
(a) identical (under rules set out in the regulations) to a name
that is reserved or registered under this Act for another body;
or
(b) identical (under rules set out in the regulations) to a name
that is held or registered on the Business Names Register in
respect of another individual or body who is not the person
applying to have the name; or
(c) unacceptable for registration under the regulations.
Minister may consent to a name being available to a company
(2) The Minister may consent in writing to a name being available to a
company even if the name is:
(a) identical to a name that is reserved or registered under this
Act for another body; or
(b) unacceptable for registration under the regulations.
(3) The Minister’s consent may be given subject to conditions.
Note: If the company breaches a condition, ASIC may direct it to change its
name under section 158.
(4) The regulations may specify that a particular unacceptable name is
available to a company if:
(a) a specified public authority, or an instrumentality or agency
of the Crown in right of the Commonwealth, a State or an
internal Territory has consented to the company using or
assuming the name; or
(b) the company is otherwise permitted to use or assume the
name by or under:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.6 Names
Division 1 Selecting and using a name
Section 148
204 Corporations Act 2001
(i) an Act of the Commonwealth, a State or an internal
Territory; or
(ii) a specified provision of an Act of the Commonwealth, a
State or an internal Territory.
The consent of the authority, instrumentality or agency may be
given subject to conditions.
Note: If the consent is withdrawn, the company ceases to be permitted or the
company breaches a condition, ASIC may direct it to change its name
under section 158.
148 A company’s name
Company may use available name or ACN
(1) A company may have as its name:
(a) an available name; or
(b) the expression ―Australian Company Number‖ followed by
the company’s ACN.
The name must also include the words required by subsection (2)
or (3).
Limited companies
(2) A limited public company must have the word ―Limited‖ at the end
of its name unless section 150 or 151 applies. A limited proprietary
company must have the words ―Proprietary Limited‖ at the end of
its name.
Unlimited proprietary companies
(3) An unlimited proprietary company must have the word
―Proprietary‖ at the end of its name.
No liability companies
(4) A no liability company must have the words ―No Liability‖ at the
end of its name.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Names Part 2B.6
Selecting and using a name Division 1
Section 149
Corporations Act 2001 205
Public companies with “Proprietary” included in their name
(5) A public company must not include the word ―Proprietary‖ (or an
abbreviation of it) in its name unless:
(a) it was a public company before 1 July 1998; and
(b) the word ―Proprietary‖ (or an abbreviation of it) was
included in its name before 1 July 1998.
(6) An offence based on subsection (2), (3), (4) or (5) is an offence of
strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
149 Acceptable abbreviations
(1) The abbreviations set out in the following table may be used:
(a) instead of words that this Act requires to be part of a
company’s name or to be included in a document or on a
company’s common seal; and
(b) instead of words that are part of a company’s name; and
(c) with or without full stops.
Acceptable abbreviations [operative table]
Word Abbreviation
1 Company Co or Coy
2 Proprietary Pty
3 Limited Ltd
4 No Liability NL
5 Australian Aust
6 Number No
7 and &
8 Australian Company Number ACN
9 Australian Business Number ABN
(2) If a company’s name includes any of these abbreviations, the word
corresponding to the abbreviation may be used instead.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.6 Names
Division 1 Selecting and using a name
Section 150
206 Corporations Act 2001
150 Exception to requirement for using ―Limited‖ in name
Name
(1) A company is not required to have the word ―Limited‖ at the end
of its name if:
(a) the company is registered under the Australian Charities and
Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 as the type of entity
mentioned in column 1 of item 1 of the table in
subsection 25-5(5) of that Act (charity); and
(b) the company’s constitution:
(i) prohibits the company paying fees to its directors; and
(ii) requires the directors to approve all other payments the
company makes to directors.
(2) A company that, in accordance with subsection (1), does not have
―Limited‖ at the end of its name must notify ASIC as soon as
practicable if:
(a) the company ceases to be registered as mentioned in
paragraph (1)(a); or
(b) any of the prohibitions or requirements mentioned in
paragraph (1)(b) are not complied with or the company’s
constitution is modified to remove any of those prohibitions
or requirements.
(3) An offence based on subsection (2) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(4) Paragraph 157(1)(a) (company must pass special resolution to
change name) does not apply to a change of the name of a
company to omit the word ―Limited‖ in accordance with this
section.
Name may be stated without “Limited”
(5) If a company:
(a) has the word ―Limited‖ at the end of its name; but
(b) under subsection (1), is not required to do so;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Names Part 2B.6
Selecting and using a name Division 1
Section 151
Corporations Act 2001 207
the word ―Limited‖ may be omitted anywhere that the name of the
company is required to be used (including on the company’s
common seal).
151 Exception to requirement for using ―Limited‖ in name—
pre-existing licences
(1) A licence that:
(a) allowed a company to omit ―Limited‖ from its name; and
(b) was in force immediately before 1 July 1998; and
(c) was in force immediately before the commencement of this
section;
continues in force subject to subsection (3).
(2) The company must notify ASIC as soon as practicable if it:
(a) breaches a condition of the licence; or
(b) pursues objects or purposes that would have prevented it
being granted the licence; or
(c) applies its profits or other income to promote objects or
purposes that would have prevented it being granted the
licence; or
(d) pays a dividend to its members; or
(e) modifies its constitution to allow it to do anything set out in
paragraphs (a) to (d).
(2AA) If:
(a) a company holds a licence that is in force under this section;
and
(b) either the licence or the company’s constitution requires a
modification to the constitution to have previously been
submitted to, and approved by:
(i) the Minister; or
(ii) another Minister of the Commonwealth, a State or a
Territory; or
(iii) an officer, instrumentality or agency of the
Commonwealth, a State or a Territory;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.6 Names
Division 1 Selecting and using a name
Section 152
208 Corporations Act 2001
then the licence or constitution (as the case requires) is taken
instead to require the company to notify ASIC as soon as
practicable of the modification.
(2A) An offence based on subsection (2) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(3) ASIC may revoke the company’s licence if:
(a) the company does anything set out in paragraphs (2)(a) to (e);
or
(b) the company fails to notify ASIC in accordance with
subsection (2AA).
152 Reserving a name
(1) A person may lodge an application in the prescribed form with
ASIC to reserve a name for a company. If the name is available,
ASIC must reserve it.
Note: For available names, see section 147.
(2) The reservation lasts for 2 months from the date when the
application was lodged. An applicant may ask ASIC in writing for
an extension of the reservation during a period that the name is
reserved, and ASIC may extend the reservation for 2 months.
(3) ASIC must cancel a reservation if the applicant asks ASIC in
writing to do so.
153 Using a name and ACN on documents
(1) A company must set out its name on all its public documents and
negotiable instruments.
(2) Subject to sections 154 and 155, if the company’s ACN is not used
in its name, the company must also set out with its name, or with 1
of the references to its name, either:
(a) the expression ―Australian Company Number‖ followed by
the company’s ACN; or
(b) if the last 9 digits of the company’s ABN are the same, and in
the same order, as the last 9 digits of its ACN—the words
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Names Part 2B.6
Selecting and using a name Division 1
Section 154
Corporations Act 2001 209
―Australian Business Number‖ followed by the company’s
ABN.
If the company’s name appears on 2 or more pages of the
document or instrument, this must be done on the first of those
pages.
Note 1: If a company has a common seal, its name and ACN or ABN must be
set out on the seal (see section 123).
Note 2: A public company must display its name at its registered office. Every
company must display its name at places at which the company carries
on business and that are open to the public (see section 144).
Note 3: Section 149 provides that ―ACN‖ is an acceptable abbreviation of
―Australian Company Number‖, and that ―ABN‖ is an acceptable
abbreviation of ―Australian Business Number‖.
Note 4: In any case where the company’s ACN would be used, the company’s
ABN may be used instead if section 1344 is satisfied.
(3) An offence based on subsection (1) or (2) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
154 Exception to requirement to have ACN on receipts
A company does not have to set out the expression ―Australian
Company Number‖ followed by its ACN on a receipt (for example,
a cash register receipt) that sets out information recorded in the
machine that produced the receipt.
155 Regulations may exempt from requirement to set out
information on documents
The regulations may exempt a specified company, or a class of
companies, from the requirement in subsection 153(2) to set out
information on its public documents and negotiable instruments.
The exemption may relate to specified documents or instruments,
or a class of documents or instruments.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.6 Names
Division 1 Selecting and using a name
Section 156
210 Corporations Act 2001
156 Carrying on business using ―Limited‖, ―No Liability‖ or
―Proprietary‖ in name
(1) A person must not carry on business in this jurisdiction under a
name or title that:
(a) has the words ―Limited‖ or ―No Liability‖ (or an
abbreviation of those words) at the end; or
(b) includes the word ―Proprietary‖ (or an abbreviation of it).
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to the extent that the person is
allowed or required to carry on business in this jurisdiction under
the name or title under a law of the Commonwealth or a law of a
State or Territory in this jurisdiction.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in
subsection (3), see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Names Part 2B.6
Changing a company’s name Division 2
Section 157
Corporations Act 2001 211
Division 2—Changing a company’s name
157 Company changing its name
(1) If a company wants to change its name, it must:
(a) pass a special resolution adopting a new name; and
(b) lodge an application in the prescribed form with ASIC.
Note: The company may reserve a name before the resolution is passed or
the application is lodged (see section 152).
(2) The company must lodge a copy of the special resolution with
ASIC within 14 days after it is passed.
(2A) An offence based on subsection (2) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(3) If the proposed name is available, ASIC must change the
company’s name by altering the details of the company’s
registration to reflect the change. The change of name takes effect
when ASIC alters the details of the company’s registration.
Note: For available names, see section 147.
157A Change of name of company under external administration
Application by liquidator
(1) The liquidator of a company that is being wound up may lodge an
application with ASIC to change the name of the company if the
liquidator is satisfied that the proposed change of name is in the
interests of the creditors of the company as a whole.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a members’ voluntary winding up.
Application by administrator
(3) The administrator of a company under administration may lodge an
application with ASIC to change the name of the company if the
administrator is satisfied that the proposed change of name is in the
interests of the creditors of the company as a whole.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.6 Names
Division 2 Changing a company’s name
Section 157A
212 Corporations Act 2001
Application by deed administrator
(4) The administrator of a deed of company arrangement may lodge an
application with ASIC to change the name of the company if the
administrator is satisfied that the proposed change of name is in the
interests of the creditors of the company as a whole.
Application by managing controller
(5) If:
(a) a person is the managing controller of property of a
company; and
(b) the person is entitled to enforce a security interest in the
whole, or substantially the whole, of the company’s property;
the person may lodge an application with ASIC to change the name
of the company if the person is satisfied that the proposed change
of name is in the interests of the creditors of the company as a
whole.
Application by receiver
(6) If:
(a) a person is a receiver of property of a company; and
(b) the property subject to the receivership consists of, or
includes, goodwill in relation to the name of the company;
the person may lodge an application with ASIC to change the name
of the company if the person is satisfied that the proposed change
of name is in the interests of the creditors of the company as a
whole.
Change of name
(7) If:
(a) an application is lodged under subsection (1), (3), (4), (5) or
(6); and
(b) the proposed name is available;
ASIC must change the company’s name by altering the details of
the company’s registration to reflect the change. The change of
name takes effect when ASIC alters the details of the company’s
registration.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Names Part 2B.6
Changing a company’s name Division 2
Section 158
Corporations Act 2001 213
Note: For available names, see section 147.
158 ASIC’s power to direct company to change its name
(1) ASIC may direct a company in writing to change its name within 2
months if:
(a) the name should not have been registered; or
(b) the company has breached a condition under
subsection 147(3) on the availability of the name; or
(c) a consent given under subsection 147(4) to use or assume the
name has been withdrawn; or
(d) the company has breached a condition on a consent given
under subsection 147(4); or
(e) the company ceases to be permitted to use or assume the
name (as referred to in paragraph 147(4)(b)).
(2) The company must comply with the direction within 2 months after
being given it by doing everything necessary to change its name
under section 157.
(2A) An offence based on subsection (2) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(3) If the company does not comply with subsection (2), ASIC may
change the company’s name to its ACN and any other words that
section 148 requires, by altering the details of the company’s
registration to reflect the change.
(4) A change of name under subsection (3) takes effect when ASIC
alters the details of the company’s registration.
159 ASIC’s power to include ―Limited‖ in company’s name
(1) ASIC may change a company’s name so that it includes the word
―Limited‖ by altering the details of the company’s registration to
reflect the change if:
(a) the company contravenes any of the requirements or
prohibitions in its constitution referred to in
subsection 150(1); or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.6 Names
Division 2 Changing a company’s name
Section 160
214 Corporations Act 2001
(b) the company modifies its constitution to remove any of those
requirements or prohibitions; or
(c) ASIC revokes a licence referred to in section 151 that applies
to the company.
(2) The change of name takes effect when ASIC alters the details of
the company’s registration.
160 ASIC must issue new certificate if company’s name changes
If ASIC changes a company’s name, it must give the company a
new certificate of registration. The company’s new name is the
name specified in the certificate of registration issued under this
section.
Note: For the evidentiary value of a certificate of registration, see
subsection 1274(7A).
161 Effect of name change
(1) A change of company name does not:
(a) create a new legal entity; or
(b) affect the company’s existing property, rights or obligations;
or
(c) render defective any legal proceedings by or against the
company.
(2) Any legal proceedings that could have been continued or begun by
or against the company in its former name may be continued or
begun by or against it in its new name.
161A Company under external administration—former name to be
used on documents
(1) This section applies to a company if:
(a) any of the following conditions is satisfied:
(i) the company is being wound up;
(ii) the company is under administration;
(iii) the company has executed a deed of company
arrangement that has not yet terminated;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Names Part 2B.6
Changing a company’s name Division 2
Section 161A
Corporations Act 2001 215
(iv) there is a managing controller of property of the
company;
(v) there is a receiver of property of the company; and
(b) any of the following conditions is satisfied:
(i) a change of the company’s name takes effect;
(ii) in the case of a company that is being wound up—a
change of the company’s name took effect during the
6-month period ending immediately before the relevant
date;
(iii) in the case of a company under administration—a
change of the company’s name took effect during the
6-month period ending immediately before the
administration began;
(iv) in the case of a company that has executed a deed of
company arrangement—a change of the company’s
name took effect during the 6-month period ending
immediately before the beginning of the administration
that ended when the deed was executed;
(v) in the case of a company where there is a managing
controller—a change in the company’s name took effect
during the 6-month period ending immediately before
the appointment of the managing controller;
(vi) in the case of a company where there is a receiver—a
change in the company’s name took effect during the
6-month period ending immediately before the
appointment of the receiver.
(2) If subparagraph (1)(b)(i), (ii), (iii), (v) or (vi) applies, the company
must set out its former name on all its public documents and
negotiable instruments.
(3) If subparagraph (1)(b)(iv) applies, then, except with the leave of
the Court, the company must set out its former name on all its
public documents and negotiable instruments.
(4) An offence based on subsection (2) or (3) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.6 Names
Division 2 Changing a company’s name
Section 161A
216 Corporations Act 2001
(5) The regulations may exempt a specified company, or a class of
companies, from the requirement in subsection (2) or (3). The
exemption may relate to specified documents or instruments, or a
specified class of documents or instruments.
(6) The Court may only grant leave under subsection (3) on the
application of the administrator of the deed of company
arrangement.
(7) The Court may only grant leave under subsection (3) if it is
satisfied that the granting of leave will not result in any significant
risk to the interests of the company’s creditors (including
contingent or prospective creditors) as a whole.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Changing company type Part 2B.7
Section 162
Corporations Act 2001 217
Part 2B.7—Changing company type
162 Changing company type
(1) A company may change to a company of a different type as set out
in the following table by:
(a) passing a special resolution resolving to change its type; and
(b) complying with sections 163 and 164.
Allowed conversions [operative table]
This type of company may change… …to this type of company
1 proprietary company limited by shares unlimited proprietary company
unlimited public company
public company limited by shares
2 unlimited proprietary company proprietary company limited by
shares (but only if, within the last 3
years, it was not a limited company
that became an unlimited company)
public company limited by shares
(but only if, within the last 3 years, it
was not a limited company that
became an unlimited company)
unlimited public company
3 public company limited by shares unlimited public company
unlimited proprietary company
proprietary company limited by
shares
no liability company (see
subsection (2))
4 company limited by guarantee public company limited by shares
unlimited public company
proprietary company limited by
shares
unlimited proprietary company
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.7 Changing company type
Section 162
218 Corporations Act 2001
Allowed conversions [operative table]
This type of company may change… …to this type of company
5 unlimited public company public company limited by shares
(but only if, within the last 3 years, it
was not a limited company that
became an unlimited company)
proprietary company limited by
shares (but only if, within the last 3
years, it was not a limited company
that became an unlimited company)
unlimited proprietary company
6 public no liability company public company limited by shares
(but only if all the issued shares are
fully paid up)
proprietary company limited by
shares (but only if all the issued
shares are fully paid up)
Note 1: A public company seeking to change to a proprietary company must
comply with the requirements for proprietary companies set out in
section 113.
Note 2: Other types of companies that were previously allowed can change
type under the Part 10.1 transitionals.
(2) A public company limited by shares may only convert to a no
liability company if:
(a) the company’s constitution states that its sole objects are
mining purposes; and
(b) under the constitution the company has no contractual right
to recover calls made on its shares from a shareholder who
fails to pay them; and
(c) all the company’s issued shares are fully paid up.
Note: Section 9 defines mining purposes and minerals.
(3) The company must lodge a copy of the special resolution with
ASIC within 14 days after it is passed.
(3A) An offence based on subsection (3) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Changing company type Part 2B.7
Section 163
Corporations Act 2001 219
(4) A special resolution to change an unlimited company that has share
capital to a company limited by shares may also provide that a
specified portion of its uncalled share capital may only be called up
if the company becomes an externally-administered body
corporate.
163 Applying for change of type
Lodging application
(1) To change its type, a company must lodge an application with
ASIC.
Contents of the application
(2) The application must be accompanied by the following:
(a) a copy of:
(i) the special resolution that resolves to change the type of
the company, specifies the new type and the company’s
new name (if a change of name is necessary); and
(ii) any other special resolution passed in connection with
the change of type;
(b) for a company limited by guarantee changing to a company
limited by shares:
(i) a statement signed by the directors of the company that
in their opinion the company’s creditors are not likely to
be materially prejudiced by the change of type and that
sets out their reasons for that opinion; and
(ii) any special resolution dealing with an issue of shares
according to section 167;
(c) for a company limited by shares or a company limited by
guarantee changing to an unlimited company:
(i) an assent to the change of type in the prescribed form
signed by all the members of the company; and
(ii) a statement signed by a director or a company secretary
of the company that all the members of the company
have signed the assent;
(d) for a proprietary company changing to a public company:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.7 Changing company type
Section 163
220 Corporations Act 2001
(i) a consolidated copy of the company’s constitution (if
any) as at the date of lodgment; and
(ii) a copy of each document (including an agreement or
consent) or resolution that is necessary to ascertain the
rights attached to issued or unissued shares of the
company.
Note 1: The company must lodge a copy of any special resolution modifying
its constitution passed after the application is lodged (see
subsection 136(5)).
Note 2: The company must lodge information relating to any change of rights
attached to its shares, or any division or conversion of its shares into
new classes, occurring after the application is lodged (see
section 246F).
Company limited by guarantee to company limited by shares
(3) If shares will be issued to persons under paragraph 166(2)(c) on the
change of type from a company limited by guarantee to a company
limited by shares, the application must state:
(a) that the company has prepared a list that sets out the
following details about each person to whom the shares will
be issued:
(i) name and address;
(ii) the number and class of shares the person will take up;
(iii) the amount (if any) the person will pay for the shares;
(iv) the amount (if any) that will be unpaid on the shares;
and
(b) the number and class of shares those persons will take up;
and
(c) the amount (if any) those persons will pay for the shares; and
(ca) the amount (if any) that will be unpaid on the shares; and
(d) if the shares will be issued for non-cash consideration—the
prescribed particulars about the issue of the shares, unless the
shares will be issued under a written contract and a copy of
the contract is lodged with the application; and
(e) that each of those persons who is not a member of the
company when the application is made consents in writing to
the inclusion in the list of the details about them that are
referred to in paragraph (a).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Changing company type Part 2B.7
Section 163
Corporations Act 2001 221
The shares may be issued to existing members only, to new
members only or to existing and new members.
Note: An offer of shares associated with a proposed change of type may
need disclosure to investors under Part 6D.2 (see sections 706, 707,
708, 708AA and 708A).
(3A) For a company changing to a proprietary company, if any of the
particulars in the register kept by the company under section 169
and mentioned in paragraph 178A(1)(b) are different from the
particulars set out:
(a) in the latest extract of particulars received by the company;
or
(b) if the company responded to the latest extract it received—in
the company’s extract taken together with the company’s
response to the extract;
the application must set out those different particulars in addition
to the other information required by this section.
(3B) If the company has more than 20 members, the company is only
required to set out the different particulars under subsection (3A)
that relate to a person who is a top 20 member of a class of the
company.
Note: See also section 107.
(3C) If subsection (3A) applies and any details mentioned in
subsection 178C(1) are different from the details set out:
(a) in the latest extract of particulars received by the company;
or
(b) if the company responded to the latest extract it received—in
the company’s extract taken together with the company’s
response to the extract;
the application must set out those different details as well.
(4) The application must be in the prescribed form.
(5) The company must have the consents referred to in
paragraph (3)(e) (if any) when the application is lodged. The
company must keep the consents.
(6) An offence based on subsection (5) is an offence of strict liability.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.7 Changing company type
Section 164
222 Corporations Act 2001
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
164 ASIC changes type of company
(1) ASIC must give notice under subsection (3) that it intends to alter
the details of the company’s registration if:
(a) ASIC is satisfied that:
(i) the application complies with section 163; and
(ii) for an application by a company limited by guarantee to
change to a company limited by shares—the company’s
creditors are not likely to be materially prejudiced by
the change; and
(b) for an application by a company limited by guarantee to
change to a company limited by shares that is accompanied
by a copy of a special resolution dealing with an issue of
shares according to section 167—ASIC is not of the opinion
that the obligations that would attach to the shares are
unreasonable compared with the obligations that attach to
membership of the company limited by guarantee.
(2) To make a decision under subparagraph (1)(a)(ii), ASIC may direct
the company in writing to:
(a) notify some or all of its creditors of the proposed change in
the way ASIC specifies; and
(b) invite those creditors to make submissions to ASIC.
(3) The notice that ASIC intends to alter the details of the company’s
registration must be:
(a) included on ASIC database; and
(b) published in the Gazette.
The notice must also state that ASIC will alter the details of the
company’s registration 1 month after the notice has been published
in the Gazette unless an order by a court or the Administrative
Appeals Tribunal prevents it from doing so.
(4) Subject to an order made by a court or the Administrative Appeals
Tribunal within that month, after that month has passed ASIC must
alter the details of the company’s registration to reflect the
company’s new type.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Changing company type Part 2B.7
Section 165
Corporations Act 2001 223
(5) A change of type under this section takes effect when ASIC alters
the details of the company’s registration. Despite
subsection 246D(3) and section 246E, a special resolution passed
in connection with the change of type also takes effect when ASIC
alters the details of the company’s registration.
(6) ASIC must give the company a new certificate of registration after
it alters the details of the company’s registration. The company’s
name is the name specified in the certificate of registration issued
under this section.
Note: For the evidentiary value of a certificate of registration, see
subsection 1274(7A).
(7) If ASIC alters the details of a company’s registration under
subsection (4), a court is not to make an order reversing the
alteration of the details of the company’s registration.
Note: The Administrative Appeals Tribunal cannot review the change of the
company’s type once ASIC has issued a new certificate of registration
to the company (see subsection 1274(7A) and paragraph 1317C(b)).
165 ASIC may direct a proprietary company to change to a public
company in certain circumstances
(1) ASIC may direct a proprietary company in writing to change to a
public company within 2 months if it is satisfied that the company
has contravened section 113 (requirements for proprietary
companies).
(2) The company must comply with the direction within 2 months after
being given it by doing everything necessary to change to a public
company under section 164.
(2A) An offence based on subsection (2) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(3) If a proprietary company does not comply with subsection (2),
ASIC may change the company from a proprietary to a public
company by altering the details of the company’s registration to
reflect the company’s new type.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2B Basic features of a company
Part 2B.7 Changing company type
Section 166
224 Corporations Act 2001
(4) A change of type under this section takes effect when ASIC alters
the details of the company’s registration.
(5) ASIC must give the company a new certificate of registration after
it alters the details of the company’s registration under
subsection (3). The company’s name is the name specified in the
certificate of registration issued under this section.
Note: For the evidentiary value of a certificate of registration, see
subsection 1274(7A).
166 Effect of change of type
(1) A change of type does not:
(a) create a new legal entity; or
(b) affect the company’s existing property, rights or obligations
(except as against the members of the company in their
capacity as members); or
(c) render defective any legal proceedings by or against the
company or its members.
(2) On the change of type of a company from a company limited by
guarantee to a company limited by shares:
(a) the liability of each member and past member as a guarantor
on the winding up of the company is extinguished; and
(b) the members cease to be members of the company; and
(c) if shares are to be issued to a person as specified in the list
referred to in subsection 163(3):
(i) the shares are taken to be issued to that person; and
(ii) the person is taken to have consented to be a member of
the company; and
(iii) the person becomes a member of the company.
Note: The company must maintain a register of members that complies with
subsection 169(3).
167 Issue of shares by company or holding company—company
limited by guarantee changing to company limited by
shares
(1) If:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Basic features of a company Chapter 2B
Changing company type Part 2B.7
Section 167AA
Corporations Act 2001 225
(a) a company limited by guarantee changes type under this Part
to a company limited by shares; and
(b) that company, or another company that beneficially owns all
the shares in that company, issues shares to a person who was
a member of that company immediately before the change of
type took effect;
the person becomes a member of the company issuing the shares if:
(c) the issue of the shares is in accordance with the special
resolution that accompanied the application to change type
under subparagraph 163(2)(a)(ii); and
(d) the shares are fully paid up; and
(e) the business, assets and liabilities of the issuing company
(together with its subsidiaries) when the shares are issued are
substantially the same as the business, assets and liabilities of
the company changing type (together with its subsidiaries)
immediately before the change of type took effect.
(2) If shares are issued according to this section, a court is not to make
an order reversing the issue of the shares.
167AA Application of Part to company limited both by shares and
by guarantee
(1) A company limited both by shares and by guarantee may change to
one of the following types of companies under this Part:
(a) a proprietary company limited by shares;
(b) a public company limited by shares;
(c) a company limited by guarantee.
(2) This Part applies to the change with any modifications that are
necessary.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2C Registers
Part 2C.1 Registers generally
Section 167A
226 Corporations Act 2001
Chapter 2C—Registers
Part 2C.1—Registers generally
167A Who is covered by this Chapter
(1) This Chapter covers:
(a) all companies; and
(b) all registered schemes.
(2) A registered scheme’s responsible entity:
(a) must perform the obligations imposed under this Chapter in
respect of the scheme; and
(b) may exercise the powers given by this Chapter in respect of
the scheme.
168 Registers to be maintained
(1) A company or registered scheme must set up and maintain:
(a) a register of members (see section 169); and
(b) if the company or scheme grants options over unissued
shares or interests—a register of option holders and copies of
options documents (see section 170); and
(c) if the company issues debentures—a register of debenture
holders (see section 171).
Note 1A: See also section 672DA (register of relevant interests in listed
company or registered scheme).
Note 2: The registers may be kept on computer (see section 1306).
(1A) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(2) For the purposes of this Chapter, choses in action (including an
undertaking) that fall into one of the exceptions in paragraphs (a),
(b), (e) and (f) of the definition of debenture in section 9 must also
be entered into the register of debenture holders.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Registers Chapter 2C
Registers generally Part 2C.1
Section 169
Corporations Act 2001 227
169 Register of members
General requirements
(1) The register of members must contain the following information
about each member:
(a) the member’s name and address;
(b) the date on which the entry of the member’s name in the
register is made.
Index to register
(2) If the company or scheme has more than 50 members, the company
or scheme must include in the register an up-to-date index of
members’ names. The index must be convenient to use and allow a
member’s entry in the register to be readily found. A separate
index need not be included if the register itself is kept in a form
that operates effectively as an index.
Companies with share capital
(3) If the company has a share capital, the register must also show:
(a) the date on which every allotment of shares takes place; and
(b) the number of shares in each allotment; and
(c) the shares held by each member; and
(d) the class of shares; and
(e) the share numbers (if any), or share certificate numbers (if
any), of the shares; and
(ea) the amount paid on the shares; and
(eb) whether or not the shares are fully paid; and
(f) the amount unpaid on the shares (if any).
Note 1: Transfers of shares are entered in the register under section 1071D.
Section 1072E deals with the registration of trustees etc. on the death,
incapacity or bankruptcy of the shareholder.
Note 2: For the treatment of joint holders see subsection (8).
(4) The register does not have to show the amount unpaid on the
shares (see paragraph (1)(f)) if:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2C Registers
Part 2C.1 Registers generally
Section 169
228 Corporations Act 2001
(a) all of the company’s shares were issued before 1 July 1998;
and
(b) the register continues to show the par values of the shares as
they were immediately before 1 July 1998.
(5) The register does not have to show the amount unpaid on the
shares (see paragraph (1)(f)) if:
(a) all of the company’s shares were issued before 1 July 1998;
and
(b) the company is not a listed company.
Non-beneficial ownership—companies other than listed companies
(5A) The register of a company that:
(a) has a share capital; and
(b) is neither a listed company (within the meaning of
section 603) nor a company covered by an order under
section 707;
must indicate any shares that a member does not hold beneficially.
Note: See also section 1072H (in particular, subsection 1072H(8) which
contains relevant presumptions about beneficial ownership).
(6) In deciding for the purposes of subsection (5A) whether a member
holds shares beneficially or non-beneficially, the company is to
have regard only to information in notices given to the company
under section 1072H, 672B or 672C.
Registered schemes
(6A) The register of a registered scheme must also show:
(a) the date on which every issue of interests takes place; and
(b) the number of interests in each issue; and
(c) the interests held by each member; and
(d) the class of interests; and
(e) the amount paid, or agreed to be considered as paid, on the
interests.
Former members
(7) A register of members must also show:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Registers Chapter 2C
Registers generally Part 2C.1
Section 170
Corporations Act 2001 229
(a) the name and details of each person who stopped being a
member of the company or scheme within the last 7 years;
and
(b) the date on which the person stopped being a member.
The company or scheme may keep these entries separately from
the rest of the register.
Joint holders
(8) For the purposes of this section:
(a) 2 or more persons who jointly hold shares in the company or
interests in the scheme are taken to be a single member of the
company or scheme in relation to those shares or interests;
and
(b) 2 or more persons who have given a guarantee jointly are
taken to be a single member of the company.
They may also be members of the company or scheme because of
shares or interests that they hold, or a guarantee that they have
given, in their own right or jointly with others.
170 Register of option holders and copies of options documents
(1) The register of option holders must contain the following
information about each holder of options over unissued shares in
the company or unissued interests in the scheme:
(a) the option holder’s name and address;
(b) the date on which the entry of the option holder’s name in the
register is made;
(c) the date of grant of the options;
(d) the number and description of the shares or interests over
which the options were granted;
(e) either:
(i) the period during which the options may be exercised;
or
(ii) the time at which the options may be exercised;
(f) any event that must happen before the options can be
exercised;
(g) any consideration for the grant of the options;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2C Registers
Part 2C.1 Registers generally
Section 171
230 Corporations Act 2001
(h) any consideration for the exercise of the options or the
method by which that consideration is to be determined.
Because it is a register of the holders of options that are still
exercisable, the register must be updated whenever options are
exercised or expire.
(2) Information about the grant of an option must be entered in the
register within 14 days after the grant of the option.
Copies of options documents
(3) The company or scheme must keep with the register a copy of
every document that grants an option over unissued shares or
interests.
(3A) An offence based on subsection (3) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(3B) Subsection (3) does not apply if the option is listed for quotation on
a prescribed financial market.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in
subsection (3B), see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
(4) The company or scheme must change the register to reflect the
transfer of an option only if the person transferring the option gives
the company or scheme written notice of the transfer.
(5) A failure to comply with this section in relation to an option does
not affect the option itself.
171 Register of debenture holders
(1) The register of debenture holders must contain the following
information about each holder of a debenture:
(a) the debenture holder’s name and address;
(b) the amount of the debentures held.
Note: See subsection 168(2) for the coverage of debenture.
(2) A company’s failure to comply with this section in relation to a
debenture does not affect the debenture itself.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Registers Chapter 2C
Registers generally Part 2C.1
Section 172
Corporations Act 2001 231
172 Location of registers
(1) A register kept under this Chapter that relates to a company must
be kept at:
(a) the company’s registered office; or
(b) the company’s principal place of business in this jurisdiction;
or
(c) a place in this jurisdiction (whether of the company or of
someone else) where the work involved in maintaining the
register is done; or
(d) another place in this jurisdiction approved by ASIC.
(1A) A register kept under this Chapter that relates to a registered
scheme must be kept at:
(a) the responsible entity’s registered office; or
(b) an office at the responsible entity’s principal place of
business in this jurisdiction; or
(c) an office in this jurisdiction (whether of the responsible
entity or of someone else) where the work involved in
maintaining the register is done; or
(d) another office in this jurisdiction approved by ASIC.
Notice to ASIC
(2) The company or scheme must lodge with ASIC a notice of the
address at which the register is kept within 7 days after the register
is:
(a) established at an office that:
(i) is not the registered office of the company or
responsible entity; and
(ii) is not at the principal place of business of the company
or responsible entity in this jurisdiction; or
(b) moved from one place to another.
Notice is not required for moving the register between the
registered office and the principal place of business in this
jurisdiction.
(3) An offence based on subsection (1), (1A) or (2) is an offence of
strict liability.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2C Registers
Part 2C.1 Registers generally
Section 173
232 Corporations Act 2001
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
173 Right to inspect and get copies
Right to inspect
(1) A company or registered scheme must allow anyone to inspect a
register kept under this Chapter. If the register is not kept on a
computer, the person inspects the register itself. If the register is
kept on a computer, the person inspects the register by computer.
Note: Other provisions that are relevant to the inspection of registers are:
section 1300 (place and times for inspection)
section 1301 (the location of documents that are kept on computers)
section 1306 (form and evidentiary value).
Inspection fees
(2) A member of a company or a registered scheme, a registered
option holder or a registered debenture holder may inspect a
register kept under this Chapter without charge. Other people may
inspect the register only on payment of any fee (up to the
prescribed amount) required by the company or scheme.
Right to get copies
(3) The company or scheme must give a person a copy of the register
(or a part of the register) within 7 days if the person:
(a) makes an application to the company or registered scheme in
accordance with subsection (3A); and
(b) pays any fee (up to the prescribed amount) required by the
company or scheme.
ASIC may allow a longer period to comply with the request. If the
register is kept on a computer, the company or registered scheme
must give the copy to the person in the prescribed form.
(3A) An application is in accordance with this subsection if:
(a) the application states each purpose for which the person is
accessing the copy; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Registers Chapter 2C
Registers generally Part 2C.1
Section 174
Corporations Act 2001 233
(b) none of those purposes is a prescribed purpose; and
(c) the application is in the prescribed form.
Note: Sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code create offences for
providing false or misleading information or documents.
(4) A person has the same rights to inspect, and obtain copies of,
thedocuments kept under subsection 170(3) as the person has in
respect of the register of option holders itself.
(5) The company is not required under subsection (1) or (3) to allow a
person to see, or to give a person a copy that contains, share
certificate numbers.
ASIC power in relation to register of debenture holders
(6) ASIC may exempt a company from complying with
subsections (1) and (3) in relation to information in a register of
debenture holders about debentures that are not convertible into
shares or options over unissued shares.
(7) The exemption:
(a) must be in writing; and
(b) may be general or limited; and
(c) may be subject to conditions specified in the exemption.
(8) ASIC must publish a copy of the exemption in the Gazette.
(9) A person must not contravene a condition of the exemption.
(9A) An offence based on subsection (1), (3) or (9) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(10) On application by ASIC, the Court may order a person who
contravenes a condition of the exemption to comply with the
condition.
174 Agent’s obligations
(1) A person who agrees to maintain a register on behalf of a company
or registered scheme for the purposes of this Chapter must:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2C Registers
Part 2C.1 Registers generally
Section 175
234 Corporations Act 2001
(a) make the register available for inspection under this Chapter;
and
(b) provide the copies required by this Chapter.
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
175 Correction of registers
(1) A company or registered scheme or a person aggrieved may apply
to the Court to have a register kept by the company or scheme
under this Part corrected.
(2) If the Court orders the company or scheme to correct the register, it
may also order the company or scheme to compensate a party to
the application for loss or damage suffered.
(3) If:
(a) the Court orders a company or scheme to correct its register
of members; and
(b) the company or scheme has lodged a list of its members with
ASIC;
the company or scheme must lodge notice of the correction with
ASIC.
Note: A proprietary company may also have to notify certain particulars
under Part 2C.2 of this Chapter.
176 Evidentiary value of registers
In the absence of evidence to the contrary, a register kept under
this Chapter is proof of the matters shown in the register under this
Chapter.
177 Use of information on registers
(1) A person must not:
(a) use information about a person obtained from a register kept
under this Chapter to contact or send material to the person;
or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Registers Chapter 2C
Registers generally Part 2C.1
Section 177
Corporations Act 2001 235
(b) disclose information of that kind knowing that the
information is likely to be used to contact or send material to
the person.
Note: An example of using information to send material to a person is
putting a person’s name and address on a mailing list for advertising
material.
(1AA) A person must not:
(a) use information obtained from a register kept under this
Chapter for any purpose prescribed by regulations made for
the purposes of paragraph 173(3A)(b); or
(b) disclose information of that kind knowing that the
information is likely to be used for any such purpose.
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply if the use or disclosure of the
information is:
(a) relevant to the holding of the interests recorded in the register
or the exercise of the rights attaching to them; or
(b) approved by the company or scheme.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in
subsection (1A), see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
(1B) An offence based on subsection (1) or (1AA) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (1AA) is liable to
compensate anyone else who suffers loss or damage because of the
contravention.
(3) A person who makes a profit from a contravention of
subsection (1) or (1AA) owes a debt to the company or the scheme.
The amount of the debt is the amount of the profit.
(4) If a person owes a debt under subsection (3) to the scheme:
(a) the debt may be recovered by the responsible entity as a debt
due to it; and
(b) any amount paid or recovered in respect of the debt forms
part of the scheme property.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2C Registers
Part 2C.1 Registers generally
Section 178
236 Corporations Act 2001
178 Overseas branch registers
(1) A company may keep a branch register of members at a place
outside Australia.
(2) If a company keeps an overseas branch register under
subsection (1):
(a) the company must keep the branch register in the same
manner as this Act requires the company to keep the register
kept under section 169 (the principal register); and
(b) the company must enter in the principal register the details
contained in the branch register; and
(c) the company must distinguish shares that are registered in the
branch register from the shares registered in the principal
register.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Registers Chapter 2C
Notice by proprietary companies of changes to member register Part 2C.2
Section 178A
Corporations Act 2001 237
Part 2C.2—Notice by proprietary companies of
changes to member register
178A Notice of change to member register
(1) A proprietary company must notify ASIC within the time
determined under section 178D and in the prescribed form, if:
(a) it is required to add or alter a particular in the register it
maintains under section 169; and
(b) the particular is one required to be kept under any of the
following:
(i) subsection 169(1) (name and address and date of entry
of member’s name into register);
(ii) paragraph 169(3)(b) (number of shares in each
allotment to the member);
(iii) paragraph 169(3)(c) (the number of shares held by the
member);
(iv) paragraph 169(3)(d) (the class of shares held by the
member);
(v) paragraph 169(3)(ea) (the amount paid on the member’s
shares);
(vi) paragraph 169(3)(eb) (whether the member’s shares are
fully paid);
(vii) paragraph 169(3)(f) (the amount unpaid, if any, on the
member’s shares);
(viii) subsection 169(5A) (statement whether any of the
member’s shares are held beneficially).
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2C Registers
Part 2C.2 Notice by proprietary companies of changes to member register
Section 178B
238 Corporations Act 2001
178B Top 20 only
If a proprietary company has more than 20 members, the company
is only required to notify additions or alterations of particulars
under section 178A that relate to a person who is, or as a result of
the addition or alteration will become, a top 20 member of a class
of the company.
Note: See also section 107.
178C Notice of change to share structure
(1) A proprietary company that is required to notify ASIC under
section 178A of an addition or alteration must also notify ASIC, at
the same time, of any of the following details in relation to the
company that are different from the details previously notified to
ASIC:
(a) the total number of the company’s shares on issue;
(b) the classes into which the shares are divided;
(c) for each class issued:
(i) the total number of shares for the class;
(ii) the total amount paid up for the class;
(iii) the total amount unpaid for the class.
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
178D Time within which ASIC must be notified
A proprietary company must notify ASIC under section 178A
within the time determined by this table.
Time within which the company must notify ASIC
Item If the need to add or alter a
particular arises in connection
with this event...
The company must notify ASIC
within this time...
1 the Court orders the company to
correct its member register kept
under section 169
at the same time that it notifies ASIC
of the correction under
subsection 175(3)
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Registers Chapter 2C
Notice by proprietary companies of changes to member register Part 2C.2
Section 178D
Corporations Act 2001 239
Time within which the company must notify ASIC
Item If the need to add or alter a
particular arises in connection
with this event...
The company must notify ASIC
within this time...
2 the company divides shares into
classes, or converts shares of a class
into shares of another class
within the time within which it must
notify ASIC of the particulars of the
division or conversion under
subsection 246F(1)
3 the company issues shares within the time within which it must
notify ASIC of the particulars of the
issue under subsection 254X(1)
4 the company reduces its share
capital
within the time within which it must
notify ASIC of shareholder approval
of the reduction under
subsection 256C(3)
5 an event not covered by items 1 to 4 within 28 days after the day on
which it adds or alters the particular
in the register
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.1 Duties and powers
Section 179
240 Corporations Act 2001
Chapter 2D—Officers and employees
Part 2D.1—Duties and powers
179 Background to duties of directors, other officers and employees
(1) This Part sets out some of the most significant duties of directors,
secretaries, other officers and employees of corporations. Other
duties are imposed by other provisions of this Act and other laws
(including the general law).
(2) Section 9 defines both director and officer. Officer includes, as
well as directors and secretaries, some other people who manage
the corporation or its property (such as receivers and liquidators).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Duties and powers Part 2D.1
General duties Division 1
Section 180
Corporations Act 2001 241
Division 1—General duties
180 Care and diligence—civil obligation only
Care and diligence—directors and other officers
(1) A director or other officer of a corporation must exercise their
powers and discharge their duties with the degree of care and
diligence that a reasonable person would exercise if they:
(a) were a director or officer of a corporation in the corporation’s
circumstances; and
(b) occupied the office held by, and had the same responsibilities
within the corporation as, the director or officer.
Note: This subsection is a civil penalty provision (see section 1317E).
Business judgment rule
(2) A director or other officer of a corporation who makes a business
judgment is taken to meet the requirements of subsection (1), and
their equivalent duties at common law and in equity, in respect of
the judgment if they:
(a) make the judgment in good faith for a proper purpose; and
(b) do not have a material personal interest in the subject matter
of the judgment; and
(c) inform themselves about the subject matter of the judgment
to the extent they reasonably believe to be appropriate; and
(d) rationally believe that the judgment is in the best interests of
the corporation.
The director’s or officer’s belief that the judgment is in the best
interests of the corporation is a rational one unless the belief is one
that no reasonable person in their position would hold.
Note: This subsection only operates in relation to duties under this section
and their equivalent duties at common law or in equity (including the
duty of care that arises under the common law principles governing
liability for negligence)—it does not operate in relation to duties under
any other provision of this Act or under any other laws.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.1 Duties and powers
Division 1 General duties
Section 181
242 Corporations Act 2001
(3) In this section:
business judgment means any decision to take or not take action in
respect of a matter relevant to the business operations of the
corporation.
181 Good faith—civil obligations
Good faith—directors and other officers
(1) A director or other officer of a corporation must exercise their
powers and discharge their duties:
(a) in good faith in the best interests of the corporation; and
(b) for a proper purpose.
Note 1: This subsection is a civil penalty provision (see section 1317E).
Note 2: Section 187 deals with the situation of directors of wholly-owned
subsidiaries.
(2) A person who is involved in a contravention of subsection (1)
contravenes this subsection.
Note 1: Section 79 defines involved.
Note 2: This subsection is a civil penalty provision (see section 1317E).
182 Use of position—civil obligations
Use of position—directors, other officers and employees
(1) A director, secretary, other officer or employee of a corporation
must not improperly use their position to:
(a) gain an advantage for themselves or someone else; or
(b) cause detriment to the corporation.
Note: This subsection is a civil penalty provision (see section 1317E).
(2) A person who is involved in a contravention of subsection (1)
contravenes this subsection.
Note 1: Section 79 defines involved.
Note 2: This subsection is a civil penalty provision (see section 1317E).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Duties and powers Part 2D.1
General duties Division 1
Section 183
Corporations Act 2001 243
183 Use of information—civil obligations
Use of information—directors, other officers and employees
(1) A person who obtains information because they are, or have been,
a director or other officer or employee of a corporation must not
improperly use the information to:
(a) gain an advantage for themselves or someone else; or
(b) cause detriment to the corporation.
Note 1: This duty continues after the person stops being an officer or
employee of the corporation.
Note 2: This subsection is a civil penalty provision (see section 1317E).
(2) A person who is involved in a contravention of subsection (1)
contravenes this subsection.
Note 1: Section 79 defines involved.
Note 2: This subsection is a civil penalty provision (see section 1317E).
184 Good faith, use of position and use of information—criminal
offences
Good faith—directors and other officers
(1) A director or other officer of a corporation commits an offence if
they:
(a) are reckless; or
(b) are intentionally dishonest;
and fail to exercise their powers and discharge their duties:
(c) in good faith in the best interests of the corporation; or
(d) for a proper purpose.
Note: Section 187 deals with the situation of directors of wholly-owned
subsidiaries.
Use of position—directors, other officers and employees
(2) A director, other officer or employee of a corporation commits an
offence if they use their position dishonestly:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.1 Duties and powers
Division 1 General duties
Section 185
244 Corporations Act 2001
(a) with the intention of directly or indirectly gaining an
advantage for themselves, or someone else, or causing
detriment to the corporation; or
(b) recklessly as to whether the use may result in themselves or
someone else directly or indirectly gaining an advantage, or
in causing detriment to the corporation.
Use of information—directors, other officers and employees
(3) A person who obtains information because they are, or have been,
a director or other officer or employee of a corporation commits an
offence if they use the information dishonestly:
(a) with the intention of directly or indirectly gaining an
advantage for themselves, or someone else, or causing
detriment to the corporation; or
(b) recklessly as to whether the use may result in themselves or
someone else directly or indirectly gaining an advantage, or
in causing detriment to the corporation.
185 Interaction of sections 180 to 184 with other laws etc.
Sections 180 to 184:
(a) have effect in addition to, and not in derogation of, any rule
of law relating to the duty or liability of a person because of
their office or employment in relation to a corporation; and
(b) do not prevent the commencement of civil proceedings for a
breach of a duty or in respect of a liability referred to in
paragraph (a).
This section does not apply to subsections 180(2) and (3) to the
extent to which they operate on the duties at common law and in
equity that are equivalent to the requirements of subsection 180(1).
186 Territorial application of sections 180 to 184
Sections 180 to 184 do not apply to an act or omission by a director
or other officer or employee of a foreign company unless the act or
omission occurred in connection with:
(a) the foreign company carrying on business in this jurisdiction;
or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Duties and powers Part 2D.1
General duties Division 1
Section 187
Corporations Act 2001 245
(b) an act that the foreign company does, or proposes to do, in
this jurisdiction; or
(c) a decision by the foreign company whether or not to do, or
refrain from doing, an act in this jurisdiction.
187 Directors of wholly-owned subsidiaries
A director of a corporation that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a
body corporate is taken to act in good faith in the best interests of
the subsidiary if:
(a) the constitution of the subsidiary expressly authorises the
director to act in the best interests of the holding company;
and
(b) the director acts in good faith in the best interests of the
holding company; and
(c) the subsidiary is not insolvent at the time the director acts
and does not become insolvent because of the director’s act.
188 Responsibility of secretaries etc. for certain corporate
contraventions
Responsibility of company secretaries
(1) A secretary of a company contravenes this subsection if the
company contravenes any of the following provisions (each of
which is a corporate responsibility provision):
(a) section 142 (registered office);
(b) section 145 (public company’s registered office to be open to
public);
(c) section 146 (change of principal place of business);
(d) section 178A (change to proprietary company’s member
register);
(e) section 178C (change to proprietary company’s share
structure);
(f) section 205B (lodgement of notices with ASIC);
(g) section 254X (issue of shares);
(h) section 319 (lodgement of annual reports with ASIC);
(i) section 320 (lodgement of half-year reports with ASIC);
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.1 Duties and powers
Division 1 General duties
Section 189
246 Corporations Act 2001
(j) section 346C (response to extract of particulars);
(k) section 348D (response to return of particulars);
(l) section 349A (change to proprietary company’s ultimate
holding company).
Note 1: See section 204A for the circumstances in which a company must
have a secretary.
Note 2: This subsection is a civil penalty provision (see section 1317E).
Responsibility of directors of proprietary companies
(2) Each director of a proprietary company contravenes this subsection
if:
(a) the proprietary company contravenes a corporate
responsibility provision; and
(b) the proprietary company does not have a secretary when it
contravenes that provision.
Note 1: See section 204A for the circumstances in which a company must
have a secretary.
Note 2: This subsection is a civil penalty provision (see section 1317E).
Defence of reasonable steps
(3) A person does not contravene subsection (1) or (2) in relation to a
company’s contravention of a corporate responsibility provision if
the person shows that he or she took reasonable steps to ensure that
the company complied with the provision.
189 Reliance on information or advice provided by others
If:
(a) a director relies on information, or professional or expert
advice, given or prepared by:
(i) an employee of the corporation whom the director
believes on reasonable grounds to be reliable and
competent in relation to the matters concerned; or
(ii) a professional adviser or expert in relation to matters
that the director believes on reasonable grounds to be
within the person’s professional or expert competence;
or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Duties and powers Part 2D.1
General duties Division 1
Section 190
Corporations Act 2001 247
(iii) another director or officer in relation to matters within
the director’s or officer’s authority; or
(iv) a committee of directors on which the director did not
serve in relation to matters within the committee’s
authority; and
(b) the reliance was made:
(i) in good faith; and
(ii) after making an independent assessment of the
information or advice, having regard to the director’s
knowledge of the corporation and the complexity of the
structure and operations of the corporation; and
(c) the reasonableness of the director’s reliance on the
information or advice arises in proceedings brought to
determine whether a director has performed a duty under this
Part or an equivalent general law duty;
the director’s reliance on the information or advice is taken to be
reasonable unless the contrary is proved.
190 Responsibility for actions of delegate
(1) If the directors delegate a power under section 198D, a director is
responsible for the exercise of the power by the delegate as if the
power had been exercised by the directors themselves.
(2) A director is not responsible under subsection (1) if:
(a) the director believed on reasonable grounds at all times that
the delegate would exercise the power in conformity with the
duties imposed on directors of the company by this Act and
the company’s constitution (if any); and
(b) the director believed:
(i) on reasonable grounds; and
(ii) in good faith; and
(iii) after making proper inquiry if the circumstances
indicated the need for inquiry;
that the delegate was reliable and competent in relation to the
power delegated.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.1 Duties and powers
Division 1 General duties
Section 190A
248 Corporations Act 2001
190A Limited application of Division to registrable Australian
bodies
This Division does not apply to an act or omission by a director or
other officer or employee of a corporation that is a registrable
Australian body unless the act or omission occurred in connection
with:
(a) the body carrying on business outside its place of origin; or
(b) an act that the body does or proposed to do outside its place
of origin; or
(c) a decision by the body whether or not to do or refrain from
doing outside its place of origin.
190B Division does not apply to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander corporations
This Division does not apply to a corporation that is an Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander corporation.
Note: Division 265 of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander) Act 2006 deals with the general duties of directors,
secretaries, officers and employees of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander corporations.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Duties and powers Part 2D.1
Disclosure of, and voting on matters involving, material personal interests Division 2
Section 191
Corporations Act 2001 249
Division 2—Disclosure of, and voting on matters involving,
material personal interests
191 Material personal interest—director’s duty to disclose
Director’s duty to notify other directors of material personal
interest when conflict arises
(1) A director of a company who has a material personal interest in a
matter that relates to the affairs of the company must give the other
directors notice of the interest unless subsection (2) says otherwise.
(1A) For an offence based on subsection (1), strict liability applies to the
circumstance, that the director of a company has a material
personal interest in a matter that relates to the affairs of the
company.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(2) The director does not need to give notice of an interest under
subsection (1) if:
(a) the interest:
(i) arises because the director is a member of the company
and is held in common with the other members of the
company; or
(ii) arises in relation to the director’s remuneration as a
director of the company; or
(iii) relates to a contract the company is proposing to enter
into that is subject to approval by the members and will
not impose any obligation on the company if it is not
approved by the members; or
(iv) arises merely because the director is a guarantor or has
given an indemnity or security for all or part of a loan
(or proposed loan) to the company; or
(v) arises merely because the director has a right of
subrogation in relation to a guarantee or indemnity
referred to in subparagraph (iv); or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.1 Duties and powers
Division 2 Disclosure of, and voting on matters involving, material personal interests
Section 191
250 Corporations Act 2001
(vi) relates to a contract that insures, or would insure, the
director against liabilities the director incurs as an
officer of the company (but only if the contract does not
make the company or a related body corporate the
insurer); or
(vii) relates to any payment by the company or a related body
corporate in respect of an indemnity permitted under
section 199A or any contract relating to such an
indemnity; or
(viii) is in a contract, or proposed contract, with, or for the
benefit of, or on behalf of, a related body corporate and
arises merely because the director is a director of the
related body corporate; or
(b) the company is a proprietary company and the other directors
are aware of the nature and extent of the interest and its
relation to the affairs of the company; or
(c) all the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) the director has already given notice of the nature and
extent of the interest and its relation to the affairs of the
company under subsection (1);
(ii) if a person who was not a director of the company at the
time when the notice under subsection (1) was given is
appointed as a director of the company—the notice is
given to that person;
(iii) the nature or extent of the interest has not materially
increased above that disclosed in the notice; or
(d) the director has given a standing notice of the nature and
extent of the interest under section 192 and the notice is still
effective in relation to the interest.
Note: Subparagraph (c)(ii)—the notice may be given to the person referred
to in this subparagraph by someone other than the director to whose
interests it relates (for example, by the secretary).
(3) The notice required by subsection (1) must:
(a) give details of:
(i) the nature and extent of the interest; and
(ii) the relation of the interest to the affairs of the company;
and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Duties and powers Part 2D.1
Disclosure of, and voting on matters involving, material personal interests Division 2
Section 192
Corporations Act 2001 251
(b) be given at a directors’ meeting as soon as practicable after
the director becomes aware of their interest in the matter.
The details must be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
Effect of contravention by director
(4) A contravention of this section by a director does not affect the
validity of any act, transaction, agreement, instrument, resolution
or other thing.
Section does not apply to single director proprietary company
(5) This section does not apply to a proprietary company that has only
1 director.
192 Director may give other directors standing notice about an
interest
Power to give notice
(1) A director of a company who has an interest in a matter may give
the other directors standing notice of the nature and extent of the
interest in the matter in accordance with subsection (2). The notice
may be given at any time and whether or not the matter relates to
the affairs of the company at the time the notice is given.
Note: The standing notice may be given to the other directors before the
interest becomes a material personal interest.
(2) The notice under subsection (1) must:
(a) give details of the nature and extent of the interest; and
(b) be given:
(i) at a directors’ meeting (either orally or in writing); or
(ii) to the other directors individually in writing.
The standing notice is given under subparagraph (b)(ii) when it has
been given to every director.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.1 Duties and powers
Division 2 Disclosure of, and voting on matters involving, material personal interests
Section 192
252 Corporations Act 2001
Standing notice must be tabled at meeting if given to directors
individually
(3) If the standing notice is given to the other directors individually in
writing, it must be tabled at the next directors’ meeting after it is
given.
Nature and extent of interest must be recorded in minutes
(4) The director must ensure that the nature and extent of the interest
disclosed in the standing notice is recorded in the minutes of the
meeting at which the standing notice is given or tabled.
Dates of effect and expiry of standing notice
(5) The standing notice:
(a) takes effect as soon as it is given; and
(b) ceases to have effect if a person who was not a director of the
company at the time when the notice was given is appointed
as a director of the company.
A standing notice that ceases to have effect under paragraph (b)
commences to have effect again if it is given to the person referred
to in that paragraph.
Note: The notice may be given to the person referred to in paragraph (b) by
someone other than the director to whose interests it relates (for
example, by the secretary).
Effect of material increase in nature or extent of interest
(6) The standing notice ceases to have effect in relation to a particular
interest if the nature or extent of the interest materially increases
above that disclosed in the notice.
Effect of contravention by director
(7) A contravention of this section by a director does not affect the
validity of any act, transaction, agreement, instrument, resolution
or other thing.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Duties and powers Part 2D.1
Disclosure of, and voting on matters involving, material personal interests Division 2
Section 193
Corporations Act 2001 253
193 Interaction of sections 191 and 192 with other laws etc.
Sections 191 and 192 have effect in addition to, and not in
derogation of:
(a) any general law rule about conflicts of interest; and
(b) any provision in a company’s constitution (if any) that
restricts a director from:
(i) having a material personal interest in a matter; or
(ii) holding an office or possessing property;
involving duties or interests that conflict with their duties or
interests as a director.
194 Voting and completion of transactions—directors of proprietary
companies (replaceable rule—see section 135)
If a director of a proprietary company has a material personal
interest in a matter that relates to the affairs of the company and:
(a) under section 191 the director discloses the nature and extent
of the interest and its relation to the affairs of the company at
a meeting of the directors; or
(b) the interest is one that does not need to be disclosed under
section 191;
then:
(c) the director may vote on matters that relate to the interest;
and
(d) any transactions that relate to the interest may proceed; and
(e) the director may retain benefits under the transaction even
though the director has the interest; and
(f) the company cannot avoid the transaction merely because of
the existence of the interest.
If disclosure is required under section 191, paragraphs (e) and (f)
apply only if the disclosure is made before the transaction is
entered into.
Note: A director may need to give notice to the other directors if the director
has a material personal interest in a matter relating to the affairs of the
company (see section 191).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.1 Duties and powers
Division 2 Disclosure of, and voting on matters involving, material personal interests
Section 195
254 Corporations Act 2001
195 Restrictions on voting—directors of public companies only
Restrictions on voting and being present
(1) A director of a public company who has a material personal
interest in a matter that is being considered at a directors’ meeting
must not:
(a) be present while the matter is being considered at the
meeting; or
(b) vote on the matter.
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply if:
(a) subsection (2) or (3) allows the director to be present; or
(b) the interest does not need to be disclosed under section 191.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in
subsection (1A), see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
(1B) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
Participation with approval of other directors
(2) The director may be present and vote if directors who do not have
a material personal interest in the matter have passed a resolution
that:
(a) identifies the director, the nature and extent of the director’s
interest in the matter and its relation to the affairs of the
company; and
(b) states that those directors are satisfied that the interest should
not disqualify the director from voting or being present.
Participation with ASIC approval
(3) The director may be present and vote if they are so entitled under a
declaration or order made by ASIC under section 196.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Duties and powers Part 2D.1
Disclosure of, and voting on matters involving, material personal interests Division 2
Section 196
Corporations Act 2001 255
Director may consider or vote on resolution to deal with matter at
general meeting
(4) If there are not enough directors to form a quorum for a directors’
meeting because of subsection (1), 1 or more of the directors
(including those who have a material personal interest in that
matter) may call a general meeting and the general meeting may
pass a resolution to deal with the matter.
Effect of contravention by director
(5) A contravention by a director of:
(a) this section; or
(b) a condition attached to a declaration or order made by ASIC
under section 196;
does not affect the validity of any resolution.
196 ASIC power to make declarations and class orders
ASIC’s power to make specific declarations
(1) ASIC may declare in writing that a director of a public company
who has a material personal interest in a matter that is being, or is
to be, considered at a directors’ meeting may, despite the director’s
interest, be present while the matter is being considered at the
meeting, vote on the matter, or both be present and vote. However,
ASIC may only make the declaration if:
(a) the number of directors entitled to be present and vote on the
matter would be less than the quorum for a directors’ meeting
if the director were not allowed to vote on the matter at the
meeting; and
(b) the matter needs to be dealt with urgently, or there is some
other compelling reason for the matter being dealt with at the
directors’ meeting, rather than by a general meeting called
under subsection 195(4).
(2) The declaration may:
(a) apply to all or only some of the directors; or
(b) specify conditions that the company or director must comply
with.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.1 Duties and powers
Division 2 Disclosure of, and voting on matters involving, material personal interests
Section 196
256 Corporations Act 2001
ASIC’s power to make class orders
(3) ASIC may make an order in writing that enables directors who
have a material personal interest in a matter to be present while the
matter is being considered at a directors’ meeting, vote on that
matter, or both be present and vote. The order may be made in
respect of a specified class of public companies, directors,
resolutions or interests.
(4) The order may be expressed to be subject to conditions.
(5) Notice of the making, revocation or suspension of the order must
be published in the Gazette.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Duties and powers Part 2D.1
Duty to discharge certain trust liabilities Division 3
Section 197
Corporations Act 2001 257
Division 3—Duty to discharge certain trust liabilities
197 Directors liable for debts and other obligations incurred by
corporation as trustee
(1) A person who is a director of a corporation when it incurs a
liability while acting, or purporting to act, as trustee, is liable to
discharge the whole or a part of the liability if the corporation:
(a) has not discharged, and cannot discharge, the liability or that
part of it; and
(b) is not entitled to be fully indemnified against the liability out
of trust assets solely because of one or more of the following:
(i) a breach of trust by the corporation;
(ii) the corporation’s acting outside the scope of its powers
as trustee;
(iii) a term of the trust denying, or limiting, the corporation’s
right to be indemnified against the liability.
The person is liable both individually and jointly with the
corporation and anyone else who is liable under this subsection.
Note: The person will not be liable under this subsection merely because
there are insufficient trust assets out of which the corporation can be
indemnified.
(2) The person is not liable under subsection (1) if the person would be
entitled to have been fully indemnified by 1 of the other directors
against the liability had all the directors of the corporation been
trustees when the liability was incurred.
(3) This section does not apply to a liability incurred outside Australia
by a foreign company.
(4) This section does not apply to a liability incurred by a registrable
Australian body outside its place of origin.
(5) This section does not apply to a corporation that is an Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander corporation.
Note: Section 271-1 of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander) Act 2006 deals with the liability of directors of Aboriginal
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.1 Duties and powers
Division 3 Duty to discharge certain trust liabilities
Section 197
258 Corporations Act 2001
and Torres Strait Islander corporations for debts and other liabilities
incurred by those corporations as trustee.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Duties and powers Part 2D.1
Powers Division 4
Section 198A
Corporations Act 2001 259
Division 4—Powers
198A Powers of directors (replaceable rule—see section 135)
(1) The business of a company is to be managed by or under the
direction of the directors.
Note: See section 198E for special rules about the powers of directors who
are the single director/shareholder of proprietary companies.
(2) The directors may exercise all the powers of the company except
any powers that this Act or the company’s constitution (if any)
requires the company to exercise in general meeting.
Note: For example, the directors may issue shares, borrow money and issue
debentures.
198B Negotiable instruments (replaceable rule—see section 135)
(1) Any 2 directors of a company that has 2 or more directors, or the
director of a proprietary company that has only 1 director, may
sign, draw, accept, endorse or otherwise execute a negotiable
instrument.
(2) The directors may determine that a negotiable instrument may be
signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed in a
different way.
198C Managing director (replaceable rule—see section 135)
(1) The directors of a company may confer on a managing director any
of the powers that the directors can exercise.
(2) The directors may revoke or vary a conferral of powers on the
managing director.
198D Delegation
(1) Unless the company’s constitution provides otherwise, the
directors of a company may delegate any of their powers to:
(a) a committee of directors; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.1 Duties and powers
Division 4 Powers
Section 198E
260 Corporations Act 2001
(b) a director; or
(c) an employee of the company; or
(d) any other person.
Note: The delegation must be recorded in the company’s minute book (see
section 251A).
(2) The delegate must exercise the powers delegated in accordance
with any directions of the directors.
(3) The exercise of the power by the delegate is as effective as if the
directors had exercised it.
198E Single director/shareholder proprietary companies
Powers of director
(1) The director of a proprietary company who is its only director and
only shareholder may exercise all the powers of the company
except any powers that this Act or the company’s constitution (if
any) requires the company to exercise in general meeting. The
business of the company is to be managed by or under the direction
of the director.
Note: For example, the director may issue shares, borrow money and issue
debentures.
Negotiable instruments
(2) The director of a proprietary company who is its only director and
only shareholder may sign, draw, accept, endorse or otherwise
execute a negotiable instrument. The director may determine that a
negotiable instrument may be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or
otherwise executed in a different way.
198F Right of access to company books
Right while director
(1) A director of a company may inspect the books of the company
(other than its financial records) at all reasonable times for the
purposes of a legal proceeding:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Duties and powers Part 2D.1
Powers Division 4
Section 198F
Corporations Act 2001 261
(a) to which the person is a party; or
(b) that the person proposes in good faith to bring; or
(c) that the person has reason to believe will be brought against
them.
Note: Section 290 gives the director a right of access to financial records.
Right during 7 years after ceasing to be director
(2) A person who has ceased to be a director of a company may
inspect the books of the company (including its financial records)
at all reasonable times for the purposes of a legal proceeding:
(a) to which the person is a party; or
(b) that the person proposes in good faith to bring; or
(c) that the person has reason to believe will be brought against
them.
This right continues for 7 years after the person ceased to be a
director of the company.
Right to take copies
(3) A person authorised to inspect books under this section for the
purposes of a legal proceeding may make copies of the books for
the purposes of those proceedings.
Company not to refuse access
(4) A company must allow a person to exercise their rights to inspect
or take copies of the books under this section.
Interaction with other rules
(5) This section does not limit any right of access to company books
that a person has apart from this section.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.2 Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments
Division 1 Indemnities and insurance for officers and auditors
Section 199A
262 Corporations Act 2001
Part 2D.2—Restrictions on indemnities, insurance
and termination payments
Division 1—Indemnities and insurance for officers and
auditors
199A Indemnification and exemption of officer or auditor
Exemptions not allowed
(1) A company or a related body corporate must not exempt a person
(whether directly or through an interposed entity) from a liability to
the company incurred as an officer or auditor of the company.
When indemnity for liability (other than for legal costs) not
allowed
(2) A company or a related body corporate must not indemnify a
person (whether by agreement or by making a payment and
whether directly or through an interposed entity) against any of the
following liabilities incurred as an officer or auditor of the
company:
(a) a liability owed to the company or a related body corporate;
(b) a liability for a pecuniary penalty order under section 1317G
or a compensation order under section 961M, 1317H,
1317HA or 1317HB;
(c) a liability that is owed to someone other than the company or
a related body corporate and did not arise out of conduct in
good faith.
This subsection does not apply to a liability for legal costs.
When indemnity for legal costs not allowed
(3) A company or related body corporate must not indemnify a person
(whether by agreement or by making a payment and whether
directly or through an interposed entity) against legal costs
incurred in defending an action for a liability incurred as an officer
or auditor of the company if the costs are incurred:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments Part 2D.2
Indemnities and insurance for officers and auditors Division 1
Section 199B
Corporations Act 2001 263
(a) in defending or resisting proceedings in which the person is
found to have a liability for which they could not be
indemnified under subsection (2); or
(b) in defending or resisting criminal proceedings in which the
person is found guilty; or
(c) in defending or resisting proceedings brought by ASIC or a
liquidator for a court order if the grounds for making the
order are found by the court to have been established; or
(d) in connection with proceedings for relief to the person under
this Act in which the Court denies the relief.
Paragraph (c) does not apply to costs incurred in responding to
actions taken by ASIC or a liquidator as part of an investigation
before commencing proceedings for the court order.
Note 1: Paragraph (c)—This includes proceedings by ASIC for an order under
section 206C, 206D, 206E or 206EAA (disqualification), section 232
(oppression), section 961M, 1317E, 1317G, 1317H, 1317HA or
1317HB (civil penalties) or section 1324 (injunction).
Note 2: The company may be able to give the person a loan or advance in
respect of the legal costs (see section 212).
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), the outcome of proceedings is
the outcome of the proceedings and any appeal in relation to the
proceedings.
199B Insurance premiums for certain liabilities of director,
secretary, other officer or auditor
(1) A company or a related body corporate must not pay, or agree to
pay, a premium for a contract insuring a person who is or has been
an officer or auditor of the company against a liability (other than
one for legal costs) arising out of:
(a) conduct involving a wilful breach of duty in relation to the
company; or
(b) a contravention of section 182 or 183.
This section applies to a premium whether it is paid directly or
through an interposed entity.
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.2 Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments
Division 1 Indemnities and insurance for officers and auditors
Section 199C
264 Corporations Act 2001
199C Certain indemnities, exemptions, payments and agreements
not authorised and certain documents void
(1) Sections 199A and 199B do not authorise anything that would
otherwise be unlawful.
(2) Anything that purports to indemnify or insure a person against a
liability, or exempt them from a liability, is void to the extent that
it contravenes section 199A or 199B.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments Part 2D.2
Termination payments Division 2
Section 200
Corporations Act 2001 265
Division 2—Termination payments
200 Interpreting this Division
For the purposes of this Division, in determining whether a benefit
is given:
(a) give a broad interpretation to benefits being given, even if
criminal or civil penalties may be involved; and
(b) the economic and commercial substance of conduct is to
prevail over its legal form.
200AA Meaning of managerial or executive office
If the company is a disclosing entity
(1) For a company to which section 300A applies for the previous
financial year for the company, a person holds a managerial or
executive office in the company during the current financial year if
the person’s details were included in the directors’ report for that
previous financial year for the company in accordance with
paragraph 300A(1)(c).
Note: A person holding a managerial or executive office ceases to do so if
the person’s details are not included in the next directors’ report.
However, this is not relevant to whether the person has retired from an
office or position in the company (see paragraph 200A(1)(f)).
(2) The person is taken to hold the managerial or executive office for
the whole of the current financial year unless and until the person
retires from an office or position in the company before the end of
that year.
Note: Retires has an extended meaning (see section 200A).
Otherwise
(3) For a body corporate not covered by subsection (1), a managerial
or executive office for the body corporate is:
(a) an office of director of the body corporate; or
(b) any other office or position in connection with the
management of the body corporate’s affairs that is held by a
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.2 Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments
Division 2 Termination payments
Section 200AB
266 Corporations Act 2001
person who also holds an office of director of the body
corporate or a related body corporate.
200AB Meaning of benefit
(1) For the purposes of this Division, a benefit includes any of the
following:
(a) a payment or other valuable consideration;
(b) any kind of real or personal property;
(c) any legal or equitable estate or interest in real or personal
property;
(d) any legal or equitable right;
(e) a thing specified in regulations made for the purposes of this
paragraph.
Note: For specification by class, see subsection 13(3) of the Legislative
Instruments Act 2003.
(2) However, for the purposes of this Division, a benefit does not
include a thing specified in regulations made for the purposes of
this subsection.
Note: For specification by class, see subsection 13(3) of the Legislative
Instruments Act 2003.
200A When benefit given in connection with retirement from an
office or position
General rules
(1) For the purposes of this Division:
(a) a benefit is given in connection with a person’s retirement
from an office or position if the benefit is given:
(i) by way of compensation for, or otherwise in connection
with, the loss by the person of the office or position; or
(ii) in connection with the person’s retirement from the
office or position; and
(b) giving a benefit includes:
(i) if the benefit is a payment—making the payment; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments Part 2D.2
Termination payments Division 2
Section 200A
Corporations Act 2001 267
(ii) if the benefit is an interest in property—transferring the
interest; and
(c) a person gives a benefit even if the person is obliged to give
the benefit under a contract; and
(d) a pension or lump sum is paid or payable in connection with
the person’s retirement from an office or position if the
pension or lump sum is paid or payable:
(i) by way of compensation for, or otherwise in connection
with, the loss by the person of the office or position; or
(ii) in connection with the person’s retirement from the
office or position; and
(e) retirement from an office or position includes:
(i) loss of the office or position; and
(ii) resignation from the office or position; and
(iii) death of a person at a time when they hold the office or
position; and
(f) when working out whether a person has retired from an
office or position, disregard whether or not the person’s
details are included in a directors’ report in accordance with
paragraph 300A(1)(c).
Rules in regulations
(1A) Without limiting subsection (1), a benefit is given in connection
with a person’s retirement from an office or position if the benefit
is given in circumstances specified in regulations made for the
purposes of this subsection.
Note: For specification by class, see subsection 13(3) of the Legislative
Instruments Act 2003.
Related benefits
(2) For the purposes of this Division, if:
(a) a person (person A) gives another person a benefit (benefit
A); and
(b) person A gives benefit A for the purpose, or for purposes
including the purpose, of enabling or assisting someone to
give a person a benefit in connection with the retirement of a
person (person B) from an office or position;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.2 Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments
Division 2 Termination payments
Section 200B
268 Corporations Act 2001
person A is taken to give benefit A in connection with the person
B’s retirement from that office or position.
200B Retirement benefits generally need membership approval
Benefits in connection with retirement if person has held a
managerial or executive office
(1) An entity mentioned in subsection (1AA) must not give a person a
benefit in connection with a person’s (the retiree’s) retirement
from an office, or position of employment, in a company or a
related body corporate if:
(a) the office or position is a managerial or executive office; or
(b) the retiree has, at any time during the last 3 years before his
or her retirement, held a managerial or executive office in the
company or a related body corporate;
unless there is member approval under section 200E for the giving
of the benefit.
Note 1: This subsection extends to benefits given by way of compensation for,
or otherwise in connection with, a person’s loss of an office or
position (see subsections 200A(1) and (3)).
Note 2: Sections 200F, 200G and 200H provide for exceptions to this
subsection.
Note 3: The recipient of the benefit need not be the retiree.
(1AA) The entities are as follows:
(a) the company;
(b) an associate of the company (other than a body corporate that
is related to the company and is itself a company);
(c) a prescribed superannuation fund in relation to the company.
(1A) For an offence based on subsection (1), strict liability applies to the
circumstance, that the benefit is in connection with the retiree’s, or
someone else’s, retirement.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
Prescribed superannuation funds
(2) For the purposes of this section:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments Part 2D.2
Termination payments Division 2
Section 200C
Corporations Act 2001 269
(a) a superannuation fund is taken to be a prescribed
superannuation fund in relation to a company if the company,
or an associate of the company, gives a benefit to the
superannuation fund in prescribed circumstances; and
(b) if a prescribed superannuation fund in relation to a company
gives a benefit to another superannuation fund in prescribed
circumstances, the other superannuation fund is taken to be a
prescribed superannuation fund in relation to the company.
Prescribed circumstances
(3) For the purposes of this section, if:
(a) a company, or an associate of a company, gives a benefit to a
superannuation fund solely for the purpose of enabling or
assisting the superannuation fund to give to a person a benefit
in connection with the retiree’s retirement from an office or
position in the company or a related body corporate; or
(b) a superannuation fund gives a benefit to another
superannuation fund solely for the purpose of enabling or
assisting the other superannuation fund to give to a person a
benefit in connection with the retiree’s retirement from an
office or position in a company or a related body corporate;
the benefit first referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) is taken to be
given in prescribed circumstances.
(4) In this section:
superannuation fund means a provident, benefit, superannuation
or retirement fund.
200C Benefits on transfer of undertaking or property need
membership approval
(1) A person must not give a benefit to a person who:
(a) holds, or has at any previous time held, a managerial or
executive office in a company or a related body corporate; or
(b) is the spouse of a person referred to in paragraph (a); or
(c) is a relative of a person referred to in paragraph (a) or of the
spouse of such a person; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.2 Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments
Division 2 Termination payments
Section 200D
270 Corporations Act 2001
(d) is an associate of a person referred to in paragraph (a) or the
spouse of an associate of such a person;
in connection with the transfer of the whole or any part of the
undertaking or property of the company.
(2) For an offence based on subsection (1), strict liability applies to the
circumstance, that the transfer is in connection with the transfer of
the whole or any part of the undertaking or property of the
company.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to the extent that there is member
approval under section 200E.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in
subsection (3), see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
200D Contravention to receive benefit without member approval
(1) A person who:
(a) holds, or has at any previous time held, a managerial or
executive office in a company or related body corporate; or
(b) is the spouse of a person referred to in paragraph (a); or
(c) is a relative of a person referred to in paragraph (a) or of the
spouse of such a person; or
(d) is an associate of a person referred to in paragraph (a) or the
spouse of an associate of such a person;
must not receive a benefit if the giving of the benefit contravenes
section 200B or 200C.
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
200E Approval by members
Conditions for member approval
(1) For the purposes of section 200B, the conditions set out in
subsections (1B), (2) and (2A) must be satisfied for there to be
member approval under this section for the giving of the benefit to
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments Part 2D.2
Termination payments Division 2
Section 200E
Corporations Act 2001 271
the person in connection with the retiree’s retirement from the
office or position.
(1A) For the purposes of section 200C, the conditions set out in
subsections (1B) and (2) must be satisfied for there to be member
approval under this section for the giving of the benefit.
First condition
(1B) The first condition is that the giving of the benefit be approved by
a resolution passed at a general meeting of:
(a) the company; and
(b) if the company is a subsidiary of a listed domestic
corporation—the listed corporation; and
(c) if the company has a holding company that:
(i) is a domestic corporation that is not listed; and
(ii) is not itself a subsidiary of a domestic corporation;
the holding company.
Second condition
(2) The second condition is that details of the benefit must be set out
in, or accompany, the notice of the general meeting that is to
consider the resolution. The details must include:
(a) if the proposed benefit is a payment:
(i) the amount of the payment; or
(ii) if that amount cannot be ascertained at the time of the
disclosure—the manner in which that amount is to be
calculated and any matter, event or circumstance that
will, or is likely to, affect the calculation of that amount;
and
(b) otherwise:
(i) the money value of the proposed benefit; or
(ii) if that value cannot be ascertained at the time of the
disclosure—the manner in which that value is to be
calculated and any matter, event or circumstance that
will, or is likely to, affect the calculation of that value.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.2 Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments
Division 2 Termination payments
Section 200F
272 Corporations Act 2001
These requirements are in addition to, and not in derogation of, any
other law that requires disclosure to be made with respect to giving
or receiving a benefit.
Third condition—for approvals relating to section 200B
(2A) The third condition is that at the general meeting, a vote on the
resolution must not be cast (in any capacity) by or on behalf of:
(a) the retiree; or
(b) an associate of the retiree.
(2B) Subsection (2A) does not prevent the casting of a vote if:
(a) it is cast by a person as a proxy appointed by writing that
specifies how the proxy is to vote on the resolution; and
(b) it is not cast on behalf of the retiree or an associate of the
retiree.
(2C) The regulations may prescribe cases where subsection (2A) does
not apply.
Meeting may approve a lesser benefit
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1B), the resolution may give
approval by approving the giving of another benefit to the person
if:
(a) the other benefit is given to the person instead of the
proposed benefit; and
(b) the amount or money value of the benefit is less than the
amount or money value of the proposed benefit.
Effect of approval on directors’ duties
(4) Member approval under this section does not relieve a director of a
body corporate from any duty to the body corporate (whether under
section 180, 181, 182, 183 or 184 or otherwise and whether of a
fiduciary nature or not) in connection with the giving of the
benefit.
200F Exempt benefits and benefits given in certain circumstances
(1) Subsection 200B(1) does not apply to:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments Part 2D.2
Termination payments Division 2
Section 200F
Corporations Act 2001 273
(a) a benefit that is a payment made in respect of leave of
absence to which the person is entitled under an industrial
instrument; or
(aa) a benefit given under an order of a court; or
(b) a benefit given in prescribed circumstances.
(2) Subsection 200B(1) does not apply to a benefit given in connection
with a person’s retirement from an office or position in relation to a
company if:
(a) the benefit is:
(i) a genuine payment by way of damages for breach of
contract; or
(ii) given to the person under an agreement made between
the company and the person before the person became
the holder of the office or position as the consideration,
or part of the consideration, for the person agreeing to
hold the office or position; and
(b) the value of the benefit, when added to the value of all other
benefits (if any) already given in connection with the
person’s retirement from offices or positions in the company
and related bodies corporate, does not exceed the amount
worked out under whichever of subsections (3) and (4) is
applicable.
(3) This subsection applies if the relevant period for the person is less
than 1 year. The amount worked out under this subsection is:
where:
estimated annual base salary is a reasonable estimate of the base
salary that the person would have received from the company and
related bodies corporate during the relevant period if the relevant
period had been 1 year.
Note: The relevant period for the person is defined in subsection (5).
(4) This subsection applies in every other case. The amount worked
out under this subsection is:
Estimated Number of days in annual base salary relevant period
365
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.2 Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments
Division 2 Termination payments
Section 200F
274 Corporations Act 2001
(a) if the relevant period is 1 year—the base salary that the
person received from the company and related bodies
corporate during the relevant period; or
(b) if the relevant period is more than 1 year but less than 2
years—the average annual base salary that the person
received from the company and related bodies corporate
during the relevant period, worked out as if:
(i) the relevant period were 2 years; and
(ii) the person’s annual base salary for the second year were
a reasonable estimate of what the person would have
received as base salary after the first year of the relevant
period had the relevant period been 2 years; or
(c) if the relevant period is 2 years—the average annual base
salary that the person received from the company and related
bodies corporate during the relevant period; or
(d) if the relevant period is more than 2 years but less than 3
years—the average annual base salary that the person
received from the company and related bodies corporate
during the relevant period, worked out as if:
(i) the relevant period were 3 years; and
(ii) the person’s annual base salary for the third year were a
reasonable estimate of what the person would have
received as base salary after the second year of the
relevant period had the relevant period been 3 years; or
(e) if the relevant period is 3 years or more—the average annual
base salary that the person received from the company and
related bodies corporate during the last 3 years of the relevant
period.
(5) For the purposes of this section, if a person has held a managerial
or executive office in relation to a company:
(a) throughout a period; or
(b) throughout a number of periods;
the relevant period for that person is that period or the period
consisting of those periods.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments Part 2D.2
Termination payments Division 2
Section 200G
Corporations Act 2001 275
200G Genuine payments of pension and lump sum
(1) Subsection 200B(1) does not apply to a benefit if:
(a) the benefit is a payment in connection with a person’s
retirement from an office or position in a company or a
related body corporate; and
(b) the payment is for past services the person rendered to:
(i) the company; or
(ii) a related body corporate; or
(iii) a body that was a related body corporate of the company
when the past services were rendered; and
(c) the value of the benefit, when added to the value of all other
benefits (if any) already given in connection with the
person’s retirement from offices or positions in the company
and related bodies corporate does not exceed the amount
worked out under whichever of subsections (2) and (3) is
applicable.
In applying paragraph (c), disregard any pensions or lump sums
that section 200F applies to.
(2) This subsection applies if the relevant period for the person is less
than 1 year. The amount worked out under this subsection is:
where:
estimated annual base salary is a reasonable estimate of the base
salary that the person would have received from the company and
related bodies corporate during the relevant period if the relevant
period had been 1 year.
Note: The relevant period for the person is defined in subsection (6).
(3) This subsection applies in every other case. The amount worked
out under this subsection is:
(a) if the relevant period is 1 year—the base salary that the
person received from the company and related bodies
corporate during the relevant period; or
Estimated Number of days in annual base salary relevant period
365
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.2 Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments
Division 2 Termination payments
Section 200G
276 Corporations Act 2001
(b) if the relevant period is more than 1 year but less than 2
years—the average annual base salary that the person
received from the company and related bodies corporate
during the relevant period, worked out as if:
(i) the relevant period were 2 years; and
(ii) the person’s annual base salary for the second year were
a reasonable estimate of what the person would have
received as base salary after the first year of the relevant
period had the relevant period been 2 years; or
(c) if the relevant period is 2 years—the average annual base
salary that the person received from the company and related
bodies corporate during the relevant period; or
(d) if the relevant period is more than 2 years but less than 3
years—the average annual base salary that the person
received from the company and related bodies corporate
during the relevant period, worked out as if:
(i) the relevant period were 3 years; and
(ii) the person’s annual base salary for the third year were a
reasonable estimate of what the person would have
received as base salary after the second year of the
relevant period had the relevant period been 3 years; or
(e) if the relevant period is 3 years or more—the average annual
base salary that the person received from the company and
related bodies corporate during the last 3 years of the relevant
period.
(4) In determining for the purposes of paragraph (1)(c) the value of a
pension or lump sum payment, disregard any part of the pension or
lump sum payment that is attributable to:
(a) a contribution made by the person; or
(b) a contribution made by a person other than:
(i) the company; or
(ii) a body corporate (a relevant body corporate) that is a
related body corporate of the company, or that was,
when the contribution was made, such a related body
corporate; or
(iii) an associate of the company, or of a relevant body
corporate, in respect of:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments Part 2D.2
Termination payments Division 2
Section 200H
Corporations Act 2001 277
(A) the payment of the pension, or the making of
the lump sum payment, as the case may be; or
(B) the making of the contribution.
(6) In this section:
payment means a payment by way of pension or lump sum and
includes a superannuation, retiring allowance, superannuation
gratuity or similar payment.
relevant period: if a person has held a managerial or executive
office in the company or a related body corporate:
(a) throughout a period; or
(b) throughout a number of periods;
the relevant period for that person is that period or the period
consisting of those periods.
200H Benefits required by law
Subsection 200B(1) does not apply to a benefit given by a person if
failure to give the benefit would constitute a contravention of a law
in force in Australia or elsewhere (otherwise than because of
breach of contract or breach of trust).
200J Benefits to be held on trust and repaid
(1) If an entity (the giver) contravenes section 200B by giving a
benefit to a person (the recipient), then the amount of the benefit,
or the money value of the benefit if it is not a payment:
(a) is taken to be received by the recipient on trust for the giver;
and
(b) must be immediately repaid by the recipient to the giver.
(1A) An amount repayable under subsection (1) to the giver:
(a) is a debt due to the giver; and
(b) may be recovered by the giver in a court of competent
jurisdiction.
(2) Subsection (1) applies to the whole of the amount of a payment or
of the money value of the benefit even though giving the benefit
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.2 Restrictions on indemnities, insurance and termination payments
Division 2 Termination payments
Section 200J
278 Corporations Act 2001
would not have contravened section 200B if that amount or value
of the benefit had been less.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors Part 2D.3
Appointment of directors Division 1
Section 201A
Corporations Act 2001 279
Part 2D.3—Appointment, remuneration and
cessation of appointment of directors
Division 1—Appointment of directors
Subdivision A—General rules
201A Minimum number of directors
Proprietary companies
(1) A proprietary company must have at least 1 director. That director
must ordinarily reside in Australia.
Public companies
(2) A public company must have at least 3 directors (not counting
alternate directors). At least 2 directors must ordinarily reside in
Australia.
201B Who can be a director
(1) Only an individual who is at least 18 may be appointed as a
director of a company.
(2) A person who is disqualified from managing corporations under
Part 2D.6 may only be appointed as director of a company if the
appointment is made with permission granted by ASIC under
section 206F or leave granted by the Court under section 206G.
201D Consent to act as director
(1) A company contravenes this subsection if a person does not give
the company a signed consent to act as a director of the company
before being appointed.
(2) The company must keep the consent.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.3 Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors
Division 1 Appointment of directors
Section 201E
280 Corporations Act 2001
(3) An offence based on subsection (1) or (2) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
201E Special rules for the appointment of public company directors
(1) A resolution passed at a general meeting of a public company
appointing or confirming the appointment of 2 or more directors is
void unless:
(a) the meeting has resolved that the appointments or
confirmations may be voted on together; and
(b) no votes were cast against the resolution.
(2) This section does not affect:
(a) a resolution to appoint directors by an amendment to the
company’s constitution (if any); or
(b) a ballot or poll to elect 2 or more directors if the ballot or poll
does not require members voting for 1 candidate to vote for
another candidate.
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b), a ballot or poll does not
require a member to vote for a candidate merely because the
member is required to express a preference among individual
candidates in order to cast a valid vote.
201F Special rules for the appointment of directors for single
director/single shareholder proprietary companies
(1) The director of a proprietary company who is its only director and
only shareholder may appoint another director by recording the
appointment and signing the record.
Appointment of new director on death, mental incapacity or
bankruptcy
(2) If a person who is the only director and the only shareholder of a
proprietary company:
(a) dies; or
(b) cannot manage the company because of the person’s mental
incapacity;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors Part 2D.3
Appointment of directors Division 1
Section 201G
Corporations Act 2001 281
and a personal representative or trustee is appointed to administer
the person’s estate or property, the personal representative or
trustee may appoint a person as the director of the company.
(3) If:
(a) the office of the director of a proprietary company is vacated
under subsection 206B(3) or (4) because of the bankruptcy of
the director; and
(b) the person is the only director and the only shareholder of the
company; and
(c) a trustee in bankruptcy is appointed to the person’s property;
the trustee may appoint a person as the director of the company.
(4) A person who has a power of appointment under subsection (2) or
(3) may appoint themselves as director.
(5) A person appointed as a director of a company under
subsection (2), (3) or (4) holds office as if they had been appointed
in the usual way.
201G Company may appoint a director (replaceable rule—see
section 135)
A company may appoint a person as a director by resolution passed
in general meeting.
201H Directors may appoint other directors (replaceable rule—see
section 135)
Appointment by other directors
(1) The directors of a company may appoint a person as a director. A
person can be appointed as a director in order to make up a quorum
for a directors’ meeting even if the total number of directors of the
company is not enough to make up that quorum.
Proprietary company—confirmation by meeting within 2 months
(2) If a person is appointed under this section as a director of a
proprietary company, the company must confirm the appointment
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.3 Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors
Division 1 Appointment of directors
Section 201J
282 Corporations Act 2001
by resolution within 2 months after the appointment is made. If the
appointment is not confirmed, the person ceases to be a director of
the company at the end of those 2 months.
Public company—confirmation by next AGM
(3) If a person is appointed by the other directors as a director of a
public company, the company must confirm the appointment by
resolution at the company’s next AGM. If the appointment is not
confirmed, the person ceases to be a director of the company at the
end of the AGM.
201J Appointment of managing directors (replaceable rule—see
section 135)
The directors of a company may appoint 1 or more of themselves
to the office of managing director of the company for the period,
and on the terms (including as to remuneration), as the directors
see fit.
201K Alternate directors (replaceable rule—see section 135)
(1) With the other directors’ approval, a director may appoint an
alternate to exercise some or all of the director’s powers for a
specified period.
(2) If the appointing director requests the company to give the
alternate notice of directors’ meetings, the company must do so.
(3) When an alternate exercises the director’s powers, the exercise of
the powers is just as effective as if the powers were exercised by
the director.
(4) The appointing director may terminate the alternate’s appointment
at any time.
(5) An appointment or its termination must be in writing. A copy must
be given to the company.
Note: ASIC must be given notice of the appointment and termination of
appointment of an alternate (see subsections 205B(2) and (5)).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors Part 2D.3
Appointment of directors Division 1
Section 201L
Corporations Act 2001 283
201L Signpost—ASIC to be notified of appointment
Under section 205B, a company must notify ASIC within 28 days
if a person is appointed as a director or as an alternate director.
201M Effectiveness of acts by directors
(1) An act done by a director is effective even if their appointment, or
the continuance of their appointment, is invalid because the
company or director did not comply with the company’s
constitution (if any) or any provision of this Act.
(2) Subsection (1) does not deal with the question whether an effective
act by a director:
(a) binds the company in its dealings with other people; or
(b) makes the company liable to another person.
Note: The kinds of acts that this section validates are those that are only
legally effective if the person doing them is a director (for example,
calling a meeting of the company’s members or signing a document to
be lodged with ASIC or minutes of a meeting). Sections 128-130
contain rules about the assumptions people are entitled to make when
dealing with a company and its officers.
Subdivision B—Limits on numbers of directors of public
companies
201N Application of Subdivision
(1) This Subdivision applies in relation to a public company if its
constitution allows its directors to set a limit (a board limit) whose
effect is to restrict the number of directors of the company to a
number less than the maximum number of directors specified in the
constitution.
Note: This Subdivision applies however the constitution or board limit is
expressed.
(2) If a company’s constitution provides that the maximum number of
directors is either a specified number or another number
determined by the directors:
(a) any number determined by the directors that is lower than the
specified number is a board limit; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.3 Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors
Division 1 Appointment of directors
Section 201P
284 Corporations Act 2001
(b) any lowering by the directors of that lower number is also a
board limit.
(3) Subsection (2) does not limit, and is not limited by, subsection (1).
201P Directors must not set board limit unless proposed limit has
been approved by general meeting
(1) The directors must not set a board limit unless:
(a) a resolution (a board limit resolution) approving the proposal
to set the limit specified in the resolution has been passed by
a general meeting of the company; and
(b) the notice of the meeting set out an intention to propose the
board limit resolution and stated the resolution; and
(c) the notice was accompanied by a statement explaining the
resolution and meeting the requirements in section 201Q.
Note 1: Subsection 249L(3) requires information in the notice of meeting to be
presented clearly, concisely and effectively.
Note 2: Section 201U specifies the consequences of a contravention of
subsection (1) of this section. Also, section 1324 provides for
injunctions to enforce subsection (1) of this section.
(2) A board limit resolution has effect until immediately before the
start of the first AGM of the company after the general meeting by
which the resolution was passed.
(3) A board limit resolution does not prevent the appointment of a
person as a director of the company by the other directors of the
company between general meetings of the company.
(4) However, if a person is appointed by the other directors as a
director of the company while a board limit resolution has effect,
the company must confirm the appointment by resolution at the
company’s next AGM. If the appointment is not confirmed, the
person ceases to be a director of the company at the end of the
AGM.
(5) Subsections (1), (2) and (4) have effect despite the company’s
constitution.
Note: Although subsection (4) is like subsection 201H(3) in many ways, it is
not a replaceable rule like subsection 201H(3).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors Part 2D.3
Appointment of directors Division 1
Section 201Q
Corporations Act 2001 285
201Q Requirements for explanatory statement to members
The statement accompanying the notice of a general meeting
stating an intention to propose the board limit resolution must be in
writing and set out clearly, concisely and effectively:
(a) the directors’ reasons for proposing the board limit
resolution; and
(b) all other information that:
(i) is reasonably required by members in order to decide
whether or not it is in the company’s interests to pass
the proposed board limit resolution; and
(ii) is known to the company or to any of its directors.
Note: Section 1309 creates offences where false and misleading material
relating to a corporation’s affairs is made available or furnished to
members.
201R Records of voting on board limit resolution if poll demanded
(1) This section applies if a poll is duly demanded on the question that
the board limit resolution be passed.
(2) For each member of the company who votes on the poll in person,
the company must record in writing:
(a) the member’s name; and
(b) how many votes the member casts for the resolution and how
many against.
Note: Failure to comply with this subsection is an offence: see
subsection 1311(1).
(3) For each member of the company who votes on the poll by proxy,
or by a representative authorised under section 250D, the company
must record in writing:
(a) the member’s name; and
(b) in relation to each person who votes as proxy, or as such a
representative, for the member:
(i) the person’s name; and
(ii) how many votes the person casts on the resolution as
proxy, or as such a representative, for the member; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.3 Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors
Division 1 Appointment of directors
Section 201S
286 Corporations Act 2001
(iii) how many of those votes the person casts for the
resolution and how many against.
Note: Failure to comply with this subsection is an offence: see
subsection 1311(1).
201S Notice of resolution to be lodged
The company must lodge a notice setting out the text of the board
limit resolution within 14 days after the resolution is passed.
201T Declaration by court of substantial compliance
(1) The Court may declare that a requirement set by section 201Q,
201R or 201S has been satisfied if the Court finds that it has been
substantially satisfied.
(2) A declaration may be made only on the application of an interested
person.
201U Consequences of setting board limit in breach of section 201P
Application
(1) This section applies if the directors of the company set a board
limit in contravention of subsection 201P(1).
Board limit etc. ineffective
(2) The board limit and anything done in reliance on it have no effect
for the purposes of:
(a) the company’s constitution; or
(b) this Act, except this section.
Note: If a board limit resolution is not passed, the number of directors of a
company that can be appointed (for example by a general meeting)
depends on the maximum number of directors specified by the
company’s constitution. This is so even if the directors purport to set a
board limit despite the fact the board limit resolution was not passed.
(3) If:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors Part 2D.3
Appointment of directors Division 1
Section 201U
Corporations Act 2001 287
(a) one or more directors are appointed by one or more
resolutions passed at a particular general meeting of the
company; and
(b) because of the board limit, the general meeting was not given
the opportunity to pass one or more resolutions appointing a
number of directors such that the number of directors of the
company would (if those resolutions had been passed) have
exceeded the board limit;
every appointment of director made by a resolution passed at the
general meeting is invalid.
Note: This subsection does not apply if a shortage of persons consenting to
be appointed director was the reason the general meeting was not
given the opportunity to pass one or more resolutions appointing a
number of directors such that the number of directors of the company
would (if those resolutions had been passed) have exceeded the board
limit.
(4) Subsections (2) and (3) have effect despite anything else in the
company’s constitution or in this Act, except sections 128, 129 and
201M.
Note: Sections 128 and 129 deal with assumptions a person dealing with the
company may make, including assumptions about the due
appointment of directors. Section 201M deals with effectiveness of
acts by a director in circumstances where the director’s appointment is
invalid for certain reasons.
Company and candidates for directors may seek compensation
(5) Subsection (6) applies if either of the following (the suffering
party) suffers loss or damage because of the setting of the board
limit in contravention of subsection 201P(1):
(a) the company;
(b) a person for whom both the following conditions are met:
(i) the person had given the company a written indication
that he or she would be a candidate to be appointed
director at a general meeting;
(ii) because of the board limit, the general meeting was not
given the opportunity to consider passing a resolution to
appoint the person as director.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.3 Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors
Division 1 Appointment of directors
Section 201U
288 Corporations Act 2001
(6) The suffering party may institute a proceeding in the Court for the
contravention.
Note: Section 1325 deals with the orders the Court may make to compensate
the suffering party for the loss.
Contravention does not give rise to an offence
(7) A person is not guilty of an offence because of the contravention.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors Part 2D.3
Remuneration of directors Division 2
Section 202A
Corporations Act 2001 289
Division 2—Remuneration of directors
202A Remuneration of directors (replaceable rule—see section 135)
(1) The directors of a company are to be paid the remuneration that the
company determines by resolution.
Note: Chapter 2E makes special provision for the payment of remuneration
to the directors of public companies.
(2) The company may also pay the directors’ travelling and other
expenses that they properly incur:
(a) in attending directors’ meetings or any meetings of
committees of directors; and
(b) in attending any general meetings of the company; and
(c) in connection with the company’s business.
202B Members may obtain information about directors’
remuneration
(1) A company must disclose the remuneration paid to each director of
the company or a subsidiary (if any) by the company or by an
entity controlled by the company if the company is directed to
disclose the information by:
(a) members with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at a
general meeting of the company; or
(b) at least 100 members who are entitled to vote at a general
meeting of the company.
The company must disclose all remuneration paid to the director,
regardless of whether it is paid to the director in relation to their
capacity as director or another capacity.
(1A) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(2) The company must comply with the direction as soon as
practicable by:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.3 Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors
Division 2 Remuneration of directors
Section 202C
290 Corporations Act 2001
(a) preparing a statement of the remuneration of each director of
the company or subsidiary for the last financial year before
the direction was given; and
(b) having the statement audited; and
(c) sending a copy of the audited statement to each person
entitled to receive notice of general meetings of the company.
202C Special rule for single director/single shareholder proprietary
companies
A person who is the only director and the only shareholder of a
proprietary company is to be paid any remuneration for being a
director that the company determines by resolution. The company
may also pay the director’s travelling and other expenses properly
incurred by the director in connection with the company’s
business.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors Part 2D.3
Resignation, retirement or removal of directors Division 3
Section 203A
Corporations Act 2001 291
Division 3—Resignation, retirement or removal of
directors
203A Director may resign by giving written notice to company
(replaceable rule—see section 135)
A director of a company may resign as a director of the company
by giving a written notice of resignation to the company at its
registered office.
203B Signpost to consequences of disqualification from managing
corporations
A person ceases to be a director of a company if the person
becomes disqualified from managing corporations under Part 2D.6
(see subsection 206A(2)) unless ASIC or the Court allows them to
manage the company (see sections 206F and 206G).
203C Removal by members—proprietary companies (replaceable
rule—see section 135)
A proprietary company:
(a) may by resolution remove a director from office; and
(b) may by resolution appoint another person as a director
instead.
203D Removal by members—public companies
Resolution for removal of director
(1) A public company may by resolution remove a director from office
despite anything in:
(a) the company’s constitution (if any); or
(b) an agreement between the company and the director; or
(c) an agreement between any or all members of the company
and the director.
If the director was appointed to represent the interests of particular
shareholders or debenture holders, the resolution to remove the
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.3 Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors
Division 3 Resignation, retirement or removal of directors
Section 203D
292 Corporations Act 2001
director does not take effect until a replacement to represent their
interests has been appointed.
Note: See sections 249C to 249G for the rules on who may call meetings,
sections 249H to 249M on how to call meetings and sections 249N to
249Q for rules on members’ resolutions.
Notice of intention to move resolution for removal of director
(2) Notice of intention to move the resolution must be given to the
company at least 2 months before the meeting is to be held.
However, if the company calls a meeting after the notice of
intention is given under this subsection, the meeting may pass the
resolution even though the meeting is held less than 2 months after
the notice of intention is given.
Note: Short notice of the meeting cannot be given for this resolution (see
subsection 249H(3)).
Director to be informed
(3) The company must give the director a copy of the notice as soon as
practicable after it is received.
Director’s right to put case to members
(4) The director is entitled to put their case to members by:
(a) giving the company a written statement for circulation to
members (see subsections (5) and (6)); and
(b) speaking to the motion at the meeting (whether or not the
director is a member of the company).
(5) The written statement is to be circulated by the company to
members by:
(a) sending a copy to everyone to whom notice of the meeting is
sent if there is time to do so; or
(b) if there is not time to comply with paragraph (a)—having the
statement distributed to members attending the meeting and
read out at the meeting before the resolution is voted on.
(6) The director’s statement does not have to be circulated to members
if it is more than 1,000 words long or defamatory.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors Part 2D.3
Resignation, retirement or removal of directors Division 3
Section 203E
Corporations Act 2001 293
Time of retirement
(7) If a person is appointed to replace a director removed under this
section, the time at which:
(a) the replacement director; or
(b) any other director;
is to retire is to be worked out as if the replacement director had
become director on the day on which the replaced director was last
appointed a director.
Strict liability offences
(8) An offence based on subsection (3) or (5) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
203E Director cannot be removed by other directors—public
companies
A resolution, request or notice of any or all of the directors of a
public company is void to the extent that it purports to:
(a) remove a director from their office; or
(b) require a director to vacate their office.
203F Termination of appointment of managing director (replaceable
rule—see section 135)
(1) A person ceases to be managing director if they cease to be a
director.
(2) The directors may revoke or vary an appointment of a managing
director.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.4 Appointment of secretaries
Section 204A
294 Corporations Act 2001
Part 2D.4—Appointment of secretaries
204A Minimum number of secretaries
Proprietary companies
(1) A proprietary company is not required to have a secretary but, if it
does have 1 or more secretaries, at least 1 of them must ordinarily
reside in Australia.
Public companies
(2) A public company must have at least 1 secretary. At least 1 of them
must ordinarily reside in Australia.
Strict liability offences
(3) An offence based on subsection (1) or (2) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
204B Who can be a secretary
(1) Only an individual who is at least 18 may be appointed as a
secretary of a company.
(2) A person who is disqualified from managing corporations under
Part 2D.6 may only be appointed as a secretary of a company if the
appointment is made with permission granted by ASIC under
section 206F or leave granted by the Court under section 206G.
204C Consent to act as secretary
(1) A company contravenes this subsection if a person does not give
the company a signed consent to act as secretary of the company
before being appointed.
(2) The company must keep the consent.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Appointment of secretaries Part 2D.4
Section 204D
Corporations Act 2001 295
(3) An offence based on subsection (1) or (2) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
204D How a secretary is appointed
A secretary is to be appointed by the directors.
Note 1: The company must notify ASIC of the appointment within 28 days
(see subsection 205B(1)).
Note 2: Section 188 deals with the responsibilities of secretaries for
contraventions by the company.
204E Effectiveness of acts by secretaries
(1) An act done by a secretary is effective even if their appointment, or
the continuance of their appointment, is invalid because the
company or secretary did not comply with the company’s
constitution (if any) or any provision of this Act.
(2) Subsection (1) does not deal with the question whether an effective
act by a secretary:
(a) binds the company in its dealings with other people; or
(b) makes the company liable to another person.
Note: The kinds of acts that this section validates are those that are only
legally effective if the person doing them is a secretary (for example,
signing and sending out a notice of a meeting of directors if the
company’s constitution authorises the secretary to do so or signing a
document to be lodged with ASIC). Sections 128-130 contain rules
about the assumptions people are entitled to make when dealing with a
company and its officers.
204F Terms and conditions of office for secretaries (replaceable
rule—see section 135)
A secretary holds office on the terms and conditions (including as
to remuneration) that the directors determine.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.4 Appointment of secretaries
Section 204G
296 Corporations Act 2001
204G Signpost to consequences of disqualification from managing
corporations
A person ceases to be a secretary of a company if the person
becomes disqualified from managing corporations under Part 2D.6
(see subsection 206A(2)) unless ASIC or the Court allows them to
manage the company (see sections 206F and 206G).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Public information about directors and secretaries Part 2D.5
Section 205A
Corporations Act 2001 297
Part 2D.5—Public information about directors and
secretaries
205A Director, secretary or alternate director may notify ASIC of
resignation or retirement
(1) If a director, secretary or alternate director retires or resigns, they
may give ASIC written notice of the retirement or resignation. The
notice must be in the prescribed form.
(2) To be effective, a notice of resignation must be accompanied by a
copy of the letter of resignation given to the company.
Note: If a director, secretary or alternative director of a company gives a
written notice in accordance with this section, the company is not
required to lodge a notice with ASIC under subsection 205B(5) (see
subsection 205B(6)).
205B Notice of name and address of directors and secretaries to
ASIC
New directors or secretaries
(1) A company must lodge with ASIC a notice of the personal details
of a director or secretary within 28 days after they are appointed.
The notice must be in the prescribed form.
Note 1: If a person becomes a director under subsection 120(1) there is no
appointment and no notice is required under this subsection.
Note 2: If a person who was appointed as an alternate director becomes a
director under the terms of their appointment as an alternate director,
there is no appointment as a director and no notice is required under
this subsection.
New alternate directors
(2) A company must lodge with ASIC a notice of:
(a) the personal details of a person who is appointed as an
alternate director; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.5 Public information about directors and secretaries
Section 205B
298 Corporations Act 2001
(b) the terms of their appointment (including terms about when
the alternate director is to act as a director);
within 28 days after their appointment as an alternate director. The
notice must be in the prescribed form.
Personal details
(3) The personal details of a director, alternate director, or secretary
are:
(a) their given and family names; and
(b) all of their former given and family names; and
(c) their date and place of birth; and
(d) their address.
Note: For address see section 205D.
Changes in details
(4) The company must lodge with ASIC notice of any change in the
personal details of a director, alternate director or secretary within
28 days after the change. The notice must be in the prescribed
form.
Notice required if person stops being a director or secretary
(5) If a person stops being a director, alternate director or secretary of
the company, the company must lodge with ASIC notice of the fact
within 28 days. The notice must be in the prescribed form.
(6) Subsection (5) does not apply if:
(a) the person was an alternate director who stopped being a
director in accordance with the terms of their appointment as
an alternate director; or
(b) the person gives ASIC a written notice of the person’s
retirement or resignation as a director, alternate director or
secretary of the company in accordance with section 205A.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in
subsection (6), see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
(7) An offence based on subsection (1), (2), (4) or (5) is an offence of
strict liability.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Public information about directors and secretaries Part 2D.5
Section 205C
Corporations Act 2001 299
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
205C Director and secretary must give information to company
(1) A director, alternate director or secretary must give the company
any information the company needs to comply with
subsection 205B(1) or (2) within 7 days after their initial
appointment unless they have previously given the information to
the company.
(2) A director, alternate director or secretary must give the company
any information the company needs to comply with
subsection 205B(4) within 7 days after any change in their personal
details.
(3) An offence based on subsection (1) or (2) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
205D Address for officers
Address is normally residential address
(1) A person’s address for the purposes of a notice or application
under subsection 5H(2), 117(2), 205B(1), (2) or (4) or 601BC(2)
must be their usual residential address unless they are entitled to
have an alternative address substituted for their usual residential
address under subsection (2).
Entitlement to have alternative address
(2) The person is entitled to have an alternative address substituted for
their usual residential address if:
(a) their name, but not their residential address, is on an electoral
roll under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 because of
section 104 of that Act; or
(b) their name is not on an electoral roll under that Act and ASIC
determines, in writing, that including their residential address
in the notice or application would put at risk their personal
safety or the personal safety of members of their family.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.5 Public information about directors and secretaries
Section 205E
300 Corporations Act 2001
This alternative address must be in Australia and be one at which
documents can be served on the person. At any particular time, a
person is entitled to have only 1 alternative address under this
section.
Note: See subsection 109X(2) on the status of the alternative address as an
address for service.
(3) A person who takes advantage of subsection (2) must:
(a) before or at the same time as the alternative address is first
included in a notice or application, lodge with ASIC notice of
the person’s usual residential address; and
(b) lodge with ASIC notice of any change in the person’s usual
residential address within 14 days after the change.
A notice under this subsection must be in the prescribed form.
(4) If a court gives a judgment for payment of a sum of money against
a person who is taking advantage of subsection (2), ASIC may give
details of the person’s usual residential address to an officer of the
court for the purposes of enforcing the judgment debt.
205E ASIC’s power to ask for information about person’s position
as director or secretary
(1) ASIC may ask a person, in writing, to inform ASIC:
(a) whether the person is a director or secretary of a particular
company; and
(b) if the person is no longer a director or secretary of the
company—the date on which the person stopped being a
director or secretary.
(2) The person must give the information to ASIC in writing by the
date specified in the request.
(3) An offence based on subsection (2) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
205F Director must give information to company
(1) A director must give the company any information affecting or
relating to the director that the company needs, or will need, to
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Public information about directors and secretaries Part 2D.5
Section 205G
Corporations Act 2001 301
comply with Chapter 6. The director must give the information to
the company as soon as practicable after becoming aware that the
company needs, or will need, the information. The company must
give the information to each of the other directors of the company
within 7 days of receiving it.
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
205G Listed company—director to notify market operator of
shareholdings etc.
Notifiable interests
(1) A director of a listed public company must notify the relevant
market operator under subsections (3) and (4) of the following
interests of the director:
(a) relevant interests in securities of the company or a related
body corporate;
(b) contracts:
(i) to which the director is a party or under which the
director is entitled to a benefit; and
(ii) that confer a right to call for or deliver shares in,
debentures of, or interests in a managed investment
scheme made available by, the company or a related
body corporate.
Note: Under section 353, ASIC may determine conditions that must be
complied with when lodging documents electronically under this
subsection.
(2) A notice of a relevant interest in securities under paragraph (1)(a)
must give details of:
(a) the number of securities; and
(b) the circumstances giving rise to the relevant interest.
Occasions for initial notification
(3) The director must notify the relevant market operator within 14
days after each of the following occasions:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.5 Public information about directors and secretaries
Section 205G
302 Corporations Act 2001
(a) appointment as a director of the company;
(b) the listing of the company.
Paragraph (a) does not apply to a director who retires and is then
reappointed at the same meeting.
Note: Under section 353, ASIC may determine conditions that must be
complied with when lodging documents electronically under this
subsection.
Updating notices
(4) The director must notify the relevant market operator within 14
days after any change in the director’s interests.
Note: Under section 353, ASIC may determine conditions that must be
complied with when lodging documents electronically under this
subsection.
(5) The director need not give the information to the relevant market
operator under this section if the director has already given the
information to the relevant market operator.
ASIC’s power to make class orders
(6) ASIC may make an order in writing relieving a director of the
obligation to notify the relevant market operator of an interest in a
security or contract. The order may be made in respect of a
specified class of companies, directors, securities or contracts.
(7) The order may be expressed to be subject to conditions.
(8) Notice of the making, revocation or suspension of the order must
be published in the Gazette.
Strict liability offences
(9) An offence based on subsection (1), (3) or (4) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Disqualification from managing corporations Part 2D.6
Section 206A
Corporations Act 2001 303
Part 2D.6—Disqualification from managing
corporations
206A Disqualified person not to manage corporations
(1) A person who is disqualified from managing corporations under
this Part commits an offence if:
(a) they make, or participate in making, decisions that affect the
whole, or a substantial part, of the business of the
corporation; or
(b) they exercise the capacity to affect significantly the
corporation’s financial standing; or
(c) they communicate instructions or wishes (other than advice
given by the person in the proper performance of functions
attaching to the person’s professional capacity or their
business relationship with the directors or the corporation) to
the directors of the corporation:
(i) knowing that the directors are accustomed to act in
accordance with the person’s instructions or wishes; or
(ii) intending that the directors will act in accordance with
those instructions or wishes.
Note: Under section 1274AA, ASIC is required to keep a record of persons
disqualified from managing corporations.
(1A) For an offence based on subsection (1), strict liability applies to the
circumstance, that the person is disqualified from managing
corporations under this Part.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(1B) It is a defence to a contravention of subsection (1) if the person had
permission to manage the corporation under either section 206F or
206G and their conduct was within the terms of that permission.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matters in
subsection (1B), see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
(2) A person ceases to be a director, alternate director or a secretary of
a company if:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.6 Disqualification from managing corporations
Section 206B
304 Corporations Act 2001
(a) the person becomes disqualified from managing corporations
under this Part; and
(b) they are not given permission to manage the corporation
under section 206F or 206G.
Note: If a person ceases to be a director, alternate director or a secretary
under subsection (2) the company must notify ASIC (see
subsection 205B(5)).
206B Automatic disqualification
Convictions
(1) A person becomes disqualified from managing corporations if the
person:
(a) is convicted on indictment of an offence that:
(i) concerns the making, or participation in making, of
decisions that affect the whole or a substantial part of
the business of the corporation; or
(ii) concerns an act that has the capacity to affect
significantly the corporation’s financial standing; or
(b) is convicted of an offence that:
(i) is a contravention of this Act and is punishable by
imprisonment for a period greater than 12 months; or
(ii) involves dishonesty and is punishable by imprisonment
for at least 3 months; or
(c) is convicted of an offence against the law of a foreign
country that is punishable by imprisonment for a period
greater than 12 months.
The offences covered by paragraph (a) and subparagraph (b)(ii)
include offences against the law of a foreign country.
(2) The period of disqualification under subsection (1) starts on the
day the person is convicted and lasts for:
(a) if the person does not serve a term of imprisonment—5 years
after the day on which they are convicted; or
(b) if the person serves a term of imprisonment—5 years after
the day on which they are released from prison.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Disqualification from managing corporations Part 2D.6
Section 206BA
Corporations Act 2001 305
Bankruptcy or personal insolvency agreement
(3) A person is disqualified from managing corporations if the person
is an undischarged bankrupt under the law of Australia, its external
territories or another country.
(4) A person is disqualified from managing corporations if:
(a) the person has executed a personal insolvency agreement
under:
(i) Part X of the Bankruptcy Act 1966; or
(ii) a similar law of an external Territory or a foreign
country; and
(b) the terms of the agreement have not been fully complied
with.
(5) A person is disqualified from managing corporations at a particular
time if the person is, at that time, disqualified from managing
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations under Part 6-5
of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act
2006.
Foreign court orders
(6) A person is disqualified from managing corporations if the person
is disqualified, under an order made by a court of a foreign
jurisdiction that is in force, from:
(a) being a director of a foreign company; or
(b) being concerned in the management of a foreign company.
Definitions
(7) In this section:
foreign jurisdiction means a foreign country, or part of a foreign
country, prescribed by the regulations as a foreign jurisdiction for
the purposes of this section.
206BA Extension of period of automatic disqualification
(1) This section applies if:
(a) under subsection 206B(1); or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.6 Disqualification from managing corporations
Section 206C
306 Corporations Act 2001
(b) as a result of the operation of subsection 279-5(1) of the
Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act
2006 and subsection 206B(5) of this Act;
a person is disqualified from managing corporations on being
convicted of an offence.
(2) On application by ASIC, the Court may extend by up to an
additional 15 years the period of disqualification.
(3) ASIC must apply:
(a) before the period of disqualification begins; or
(b) before the end of the first year of the disqualification.
(4) ASIC may apply only once in relation to the disqualification.
(5) In determining whether an extension is justified (and if so, for how
long), the Court may have regard to any matters that the Court
considers appropriate.
206C Court power of disqualification—contravention of civil
penalty provision
(1) On application by ASIC, the Court may disqualify a person from
managing corporations for a period that the Court considers
appropriate if:
(a) a declaration is made under:
(i) section 1317E (civil penalty provision) that the person
has contravened a corporation/scheme civil penalty
provision; or
(ii) section 386-1 (civil penalty provision) of the
Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander)
Act 2006 that the person has contravened a civil penalty
provision (within the meaning of that Act); and
(b) the Court is satisfied that the disqualification is justified.
(2) In determining whether the disqualification is justified, the Court
may have regard to:
(a) the person’s conduct in relation to the management, business
or property of any corporation; and
(b) any other matters that the Court considers appropriate.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Disqualification from managing corporations Part 2D.6
Section 206D
Corporations Act 2001 307
(3) To avoid doubt, the reference in paragraph (2)(a) to a corporation
includes a reference to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
corporation.
206D Court power of disqualification—insolvency and non-payment
of debts
(1) On application by ASIC, the Court may disqualify a person from
managing corporations for up to 20 years if:
(a) within the last 7 years, the person has been an officer of 2 or
more corporations when they have failed; and
(b) the Court is satisfied that:
(i) the manner in which the corporation was managed was
wholly or partly responsible for the corporation failing;
and
(ii) the disqualification is justified.
(1A) To avoid doubt, the references in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) to a
corporation include references to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander corporation.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a corporation fails if:
(a) a Court orders the corporation to be wound up under:
(i) section 459B of this Act; or
(ii) section 526-1 of the Corporations (Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006;
because the Court is satisfied that the corporation is
insolvent; or
(b) the corporation enters into voluntary liquidation and creditors
are not fully paid or are unlikely to be fully paid; or
(c) the corporation executes a deed of company arrangement and
creditors are not fully paid or are unlikely to be fully paid; or
(d) the corporation ceases to carry on business and creditors are
not fully paid or are unlikely to be fully paid; or
(e) a levy of execution against the corporation is not satisfied; or
(f) a receiver, receiver and manager, or provisional liquidator is
appointed in relation to the corporation; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.6 Disqualification from managing corporations
Section 206D
308 Corporations Act 2001
(g) the corporation enters into a compromise or arrangement
with its creditors under Part 5.1 (including that Part as
applied by section 45-1 of the Corporations (Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006); or
(h) the corporation is wound up and a liquidator lodges a report
under subsection 533(1) (including that subsection as applied
by section 526-35 of the Corporations (Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006) about the corporation’s
inability to pay its debts.
Note: To satisfy paragraph (h), a corporation must begin to be wound up
while the person is an officer or within 12 months after the person
ceases to be an officer. However, the report under subsection 533(1)
may be lodged by the liquidator at a time that is more than 12 months
after the person ceases to be an officer. Sections 513A to 513D
contain rules about when a company begins to be wound up.
(2A) The reference in paragraph (2)(c) to a deed of company
arrangement includes a reference to a deed of corporation
arrangement (within the meaning of the Corporations (Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.
(2B) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person is an officer of an
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation if the person is an
officer of that corporation within the meaning of the Corporations
(Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.
(3) In determining whether the disqualification is justified, the Court
may have regard to:
(a) the person’s conduct in relation to the management, business
or property of any corporation; and
(b) any other matters that the Court considers appropriate.
(4) To avoid doubt, the reference in paragraph (3)(a) to a corporation
includes a reference to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
corporation.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Disqualification from managing corporations Part 2D.6
Section 206E
Corporations Act 2001 309
206E Court power of disqualification—repeated contraventions of
Act
(1) On application by ASIC, the Court may disqualify a person from
managing corporations for the period that the Court considers
appropriate if:
(a) the person:
(i) has at least twice been an officer of a body corporate
that has contravened this Act or the Corporations
(Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 while
they were an officer of the body corporate and each time
the person has failed to take reasonable steps to prevent
the contravention; or
(ii) has at least twice contravened this Act or the
Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander)
Act 2006 while they were an officer of a body corporate;
or
(iii) has been an officer of a body corporate and has done
something that would have contravened
subsection 180(1) or section 181 if the body corporate
had been a corporation; and
(b) the Court is satisfied that the disqualification is justified.
(1A) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person is an officer of an
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation if the person is an
officer of that corporation within the meaning of the Corporations
(Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.
(2) In determining whether the disqualification is justified, the Court
may have regard to:
(a) the person’s conduct in relation to the management, business
or property of any corporation; and
(b) any other matters that the Court considers appropriate.
(3) To avoid doubt, the reference in paragraph (2)(a) to a corporation
includes a reference to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
corporation.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.6 Disqualification from managing corporations
Section 206EAA
310 Corporations Act 2001
206EAA Court power of disqualification—disqualification under a
law of a foreign jurisdiction
(1) On application by ASIC, the Court may disqualify a person from
managing corporations for the period that the Court considers
appropriate if:
(a) the person is disqualified under the law of a foreign
jurisdiction from:
(i) being a director of, or being concerned in the
management of, a foreign company; or
(ii) carrying on activities that the Court is satisfied are
substantially similar to being a director of, or being
concerned in the management of, a foreign company;
and
(b) the Court is satisfied that the disqualification under this
subsection is justified.
(2) In determining what is an appropriate period for which to
disqualify the person, the Court may have regard to the period for
which the person is disqualified under the law of the foreign
jurisdiction.
(3) In determining whether the disqualification is justified, the Court
may have regard to:
(a) the person’s conduct in relation to the management, business
or property of a foreign company; and
(b) any other matters that the Court considers appropriate.
(4) In this section:
foreign jurisdiction has the same meaning as in section 206B.
206EA Disqualification under the Competition and Consumer Act
2010 etc.
A person is disqualified from managing corporations if a court
order disqualifying the person from managing corporations is in
force under:
(a) section 86E of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Disqualification from managing corporations Part 2D.6
Section 206EB
Corporations Act 2001 311
(b) section 248 of Schedule 2 to that Act, as that section applies
as a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.
206EB Disqualification under the ASIC Act
A person is disqualified from managing corporations if a court
order disqualifying the person from managing corporations is in
force under section 12GLD of the ASIC Act.
206F ASIC’s power of disqualification
Power to disqualify
(1) ASIC may disqualify a person from managing corporations for up
to 5 years if:
(a) within 7 years immediately before ASIC gives a notice under
paragraph (b)(i):
(i) the person has been an officer of 2 or more
corporations; and
(ii) while the person was an officer, or within 12 months
after the person ceased to be an officer of those
corporations, each of the corporations was wound up
and a liquidator lodged a report under subsection 533(1)
(including that subsection as applied by section 526-35
of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander) Act 2006) about the corporation’s inability to
pay its debts; and
(b) ASIC has given the person:
(i) a notice in the prescribed form requiring them to
demonstrate why they should not be disqualified; and
(ii) an opportunity to be heard on the question; and
(c) ASIC is satisfied that the disqualification is justified.
(1A) To avoid doubt, the references in paragraph (1)(a) to corporations
include references to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
corporations.
Grounds for disqualification
(2) In determining whether disqualification is justified, ASIC:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.6 Disqualification from managing corporations
Section 206G
312 Corporations Act 2001
(a) must have regard to whether any of the corporations
mentioned in subsection (1) were related to one another; and
(b) may have regard to:
(i) the person’s conduct in relation to the management,
business or property of any corporation; and
(ii) whether the disqualification would be in the public
interest; and
(iii) any other matters that ASIC considers appropriate.
(2A) To avoid doubt, the references in subsection (2) to a corporation
includes a reference to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
corporation.
Notice of disqualification
(3) If ASIC disqualifies a person from managing corporations under
this section, ASIC must serve a notice on the person advising them
of the disqualification. The notice must be in the prescribed form.
Start of disqualification
(4) The disqualification takes effect from the time when a notice
referred to in subsection (3) is served on the person.
ASIC power to grant leave
(5) ASIC may give a person who it has disqualified from managing
corporations under this Part written permission to manage a
particular corporation or corporations. The permission may be
expressed to be subject to conditions and exceptions determined by
ASIC.
206G Court power to grant leave
(1) A person who is disqualified from managing corporations may
apply to the Court for leave to manage:
(a) corporations; or
(b) a particular class of corporations; or
(c) a particular corporation;
if the person was not disqualified by ASIC.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Disqualification from managing corporations Part 2D.6
Section 206GA
Corporations Act 2001 313
(2) The person must lodge a notice with ASIC at least 21 days before
commencing the proceedings. The notice must be in the prescribed
form.
(3) The order granting leave may be expressed to be subject to
exceptions and conditions determined by the Court.
Note: If the Court grants the person leave to manage the corporation, the
person may be appointed as a director (see section 201B) or secretary
(see section 204B) of a company.
(4) The person must lodge with ASIC a copy of any order granting
leave within 14 days after the order is made.
(5) On application by ASIC, the Court may revoke the leave. The
order revoking leave does not take effect until it is served on the
person.
206GA Involvement of ACCC—leave orders under section 206G
Scope of section
(1) This section applies in relation to a person who is disqualified from
managing corporations under section 206EA.
Notice lodged with ASIC before leave application
(2) If the person lodges a notice with ASIC under subsection 206G(2),
ASIC must give the ACCC a copy of the notice.
Leave orders
(3) If the person lodges a copy of an order with ASIC under
subsection 206G(4), ASIC must give the ACCC a copy of the
order.
Revoking leave
(4) If ASIC decides to apply for an order under subsection 206G(5) in
relation to the person, it must consult the ACCC before making the
application.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.6 Disqualification from managing corporations
Section 206H
314 Corporations Act 2001
Definition
(5) In this section:
ACCC means the Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission.
206H Territorial application of this Part
This Part (except for subsection 206B(6) and section 206EAA)
does not apply in respect of an act or omission by a person while
they are managing a corporation that is a foreign company unless
the act or omission occurred in connection with:
(a) the foreign company carrying on business in this jurisdiction;
or
(b) an act that the foreign company does, or proposes to do, in
this jurisdiction; or
(c) a decision by the foreign company whether or not to do, or
refrain from doing, an act in this jurisdiction.
206HA Limited application of Part to registrable Australian bodies
This Part does not apply in respect of an act or omission by a
person while they are managing a corporation that is a registrable
Australian body unless the act or omission occurred in connection
with:
(a) the body carrying on business outside its place of origin; or
(b) an act that the body does or proposes to do outside its place
of origin; or
(c) a decision by the body whether or not to do, or refrain from
doing, an act outside its place of origin.
206HB Part does not apply to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
corporations
This Part does not apply, of its own force, to disqualify a person
from managing a corporation that is an Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander corporation.
Note 1: Subsection 279-5(5) of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander) Act 2006 provides that a person who is disqualified
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Disqualification from managing corporations Part 2D.6
Section 206HB
Corporations Act 2001 315
from managing corporations under this Part will be automatically
disqualified under Part 6-5 of that Act from managing Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander corporations.
Note 2: Similarly, subsection 206B(5) of this Act provides that a person who
is disqualified from managing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
corporations under Part 6-5 of the Corporations (Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 will be automatically disqualified
under this Part from managing corporations.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.7 Ban on hedging remuneration of key management personnel
Section 206J
316 Corporations Act 2001
Part 2D.7—Ban on hedging remuneration of key
management personnel
206J No hedging of remuneration of key management personnel
(1) A member of the key management personnel for a company that is
a disclosing entity, or a closely related party of such a member,
must not enter into an arrangement (with anyone) if the
arrangement would have the effect of limiting the exposure of the
member to risk relating to an element of the member’s
remuneration that:
(a) has not vested in the member; or
(b) has vested in the member but remains subject to a holding
lock.
(2) Without limiting paragraph (1)(a), remuneration that is not payable
to a member until a particular day is, until that day, remuneration
that has not vested in the member.
(3) In determining whether an arrangement has the effect described in
subsection (1) in relation to an element of remuneration described
in that subsection, regard is to be had to the regulations (if any)
made for the purposes of this subsection.
(4) A member of the key management personnel for a company who
contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence.
(5) An offence against subsection (4) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(6) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person is a member of the key management personnel for
a company; and
(b) a closely related party of the member contravenes
subsection (1) in relation to the member; and
(c) the person is reckless as to the contravention.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Ban on hedging remuneration of key management personnel Part 2D.7
Section 206J
Corporations Act 2001 317
(7) A closely related party of a member of the key management
personnel for a company commits an offence if the party
intentionally contravenes subsection (1) in relation to the member.
(8) ASIC may by writing declare that subsection (1) does not apply to
a specified arrangement, but may do so only if ASIC is satisfied
that the operation of that subsection would be unreasonable in the
circumstances. The declaration has effect accordingly. The
declaration is not a legislative instrument.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in
subsection (8): see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.8 Remuneration recommendations in relation to key management personnel
for disclosing entities
Section 206K
318 Corporations Act 2001
Part 2D.8—Remuneration recommendations in
relation to key management personnel for
disclosing entities
206K Board to approve remuneration consultants
(1) This section applies to a contract (a remuneration consultancy
contract):
(a) that is for services that include making a remuneration
recommendation in relation to one or more members of the
key management personnel for a company that is a disclosing
entity; and
(b) that is between the company and a person (the proposed
consultant) who, by making the recommendation under the
contract, will be a remuneration consultant.
(2) Before a company enters into a remuneration consultancy contract,
the proposed consultant must be approved by:
(a) the directors of the company; or
(b) the members of a committee (the remuneration committee)
that:
(i) is a committee of the board of directors of the company;
and
(ii) has functions relating to the remuneration of key
management personnel for the company.
(3) A contravention of subsection (2):
(a) is not an offence except as provided by subsection (4); and
(b) does not affect the validity of the contract.
(4) The company commits an offence if, at the time the company
enters into the contract, the proposed consultant has not been
approved in accordance with subsection (2).
(5) An offence against subsection (4) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Officers and employees Chapter 2D
Remuneration recommendations in relation to key management personnel for disclosing
entities Part 2D.8
Section 206L
Corporations Act 2001 319
206L Remuneration recommendation by remuneration consultants
(1) This section applies to a remuneration recommendation made by a
remuneration consultant in relation to one or more members of the
key management personnel for a company that is a disclosing
entity.
(2) The remuneration consultant must provide the recommendation
directly to either or both of the following:
(a) the directors of the company;
(b) the members of the remuneration committee (if any).
(3) However, the remuneration consultant must not provide the
recommendation to a person who is an executive director of the
company unless all the directors of the company are executive
directors of the company.
(4) The remuneration consultant must not provide the recommendation
to a person who is neither a director of the company nor a member
of the remuneration committee.
(5) If the remuneration consultant contravenes subsection (2) the
remuneration consultant is not guilty of an offence. This does not
prevent the remuneration consultant from being guilty of an
offence for contravening subsection (3) or (4).
Note: Subsection 1311(1) makes it an offence for the remuneration
consultant to contravene subsection (3) or (4).
(6) This section does not prevent someone other than the remuneration
consultant from providing the recommendation to a person who is
neither a director of the company nor a member of the
remuneration committee.
206M Declaration by remuneration consultant
(1) This section applies to a remuneration consultant who makes a
remuneration recommendation in relation to one or more members
of the key management personnel for a company that is a
disclosing entity.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2D Officers and employees
Part 2D.8 Remuneration recommendations in relation to key management personnel
for disclosing entities
Section 206M
320 Corporations Act 2001
(2) The remuneration consultant must include with the
recommendation a declaration about whether the consultant’s
recommendation is made free from undue influence by the member
or members of the key management personnel to whom the
recommendation relates.
Note: Failure to comply with this subsection is an offence: see
subsection 1311(1).
(3) An offence based on subsection (2) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Related party transactions Chapter 2E
Section 207
Corporations Act 2001 321
Chapter 2E—Related party transactions
207 Purpose
The rules in this Chapter are designed to protect the interests of a
public company’s members as a whole, by requiring member
approval for giving financial benefits to related parties that could
endanger those interests.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2E Related party transactions
Part 2E.1 Member approval needed for related party benefit
Division 1 Need for member approval
Section 208
322 Corporations Act 2001
Part 2E.1—Member approval needed for related
party benefit
Division 1—Need for member approval
208 Need for member approval for financial benefit
(1) For a public company, or an entity that the public company
controls, to give a financial benefit to a related party of the public
company:
(a) the public company or entity must:
(i) obtain the approval of the public company’s members in
the way set out in sections 217 to 227; and
(ii) give the benefit within 15 months after the approval; or
(b) the giving of the benefit must fall within an exception set out
in sections 210 to 216.
Note 1: Section 228 defines related party, section 9 defines entity,
section 50AA defines control and section 229 affects the meaning of
giving a financial benefit.
Note 2: For the criminal liability of a person dishonestly involved in a
contravention of this subsection, see subsection 209(3). Section 79
defines involved.
(2) If:
(a) the giving of the benefit is required by a contract; and
(b) the making of the contract was approved in accordance with
subparagraph (1)(a)(i) as a financial benefit given to the
related party; and
(c) the contract was made:
(i) within 15 months after that approval; or
(ii) before that approval, if the contract was conditional on
the approval being obtained;
member approval for the giving of the benefit is taken to have been
given and the benefit need not be given within the 15 months.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Related party transactions Chapter 2E
Member approval needed for related party benefit Part 2E.1
Need for member approval Division 1
Section 209
Corporations Act 2001 323
209 Consequences of breach
(1) If the public company or entity contravenes section 208:
(a) the contravention does not affect the validity of any contract
or transaction connected with the giving of the benefit; and
(b) the public company or entity is not guilty of an offence.
Note: A Court may order an injunction to stop the company or entity giving
the benefit to the related party (see section 1324).
(2) A person contravenes this subsection if they are involved in a
contravention of section 208 by a public company or entity.
Note 1: This subsection is a civil penalty provision.
Note 2: Section 79 defines involved.
(3) A person commits an offence if they are involved in a
contravention of section 208 by a public company or entity and the
involvement is dishonest.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2E Related party transactions
Part 2E.1 Member approval needed for related party benefit
Division 2 Exceptions to the requirement for member approval
Section 210
324 Corporations Act 2001
Division 2—Exceptions to the requirement for member
approval
210 Arm’s length terms
Member approval is not needed to give a financial benefit on terms
that:
(a) would be reasonable in the circumstances if the public
company or entity and the related party were dealing at arm’s
length; or
(b) are less favourable to the related party than the terms referred
to in paragraph (a).
211 Remuneration and reimbursement for officer or employee
Benefits that are reasonable remuneration
(1) Member approval is not needed to give a financial benefit if:
(a) the benefit is remuneration to a related party as an officer or
employee of the following:
(i) the public company;
(ii) an entity that the public company controls;
(iii) an entity that controls the public company;
(iv) an entity that is controlled by an entity that controls the
public company; and
(b) to give the remuneration would be reasonable given:
(i) the circumstances of the public company or entity
giving the remuneration; and
(ii) the related party’s circumstances (including the
responsibilities involved in the office or employment).
Benefits that are payments of expenses incurred
(2) Member approval is not needed to give a financial benefit if:
(a) the benefit is payment of expenses incurred or to be incurred,
or reimbursement for expenses incurred, by a related party in
performing duties as an officer or employee of the following:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Related party transactions Chapter 2E
Member approval needed for related party benefit Part 2E.1
Exceptions to the requirement for member approval Division 2
Section 212
Corporations Act 2001 325
(i) the public company;
(ii) an entity that the public company controls;
(iii) an entity that controls the public company;
(iv) an entity that is controlled by an entity that controls the
public company; and
(b) to give the benefit would be reasonable in the circumstances
of the public company or entity giving the remuneration.
(3) For the purposes of this section:
(a) a contribution made by a body corporate to a fund for the
purpose of making provision for, or obtaining,
superannuation benefits for an officer of the body, or for
dependants of an officer of the body, is remuneration
provided by the body to the officer of the body; and
(b) a financial benefit given to a person because of the person
ceasing to hold an office or employment as an officer or
employee of a body corporate is remuneration paid or
provided to the person in a capacity as an officer of the body.
212 Indemnities, exemptions, insurance premiums and payment for
legal costs for officers
Indemnities, exemptions and insurance premiums
(1) Member approval is not needed to give a financial benefit if:
(a) the benefit is for a related party who is an officer of the
public company or entity; and
(b) the benefit is:
(i) an indemnity, exemption or insurance premium in
respect of a liability incurred as an officer of the public
company or entity; or
(ii) an agreement to give an indemnity or exemption, or to
pay an insurance premium, of that kind; and
(c) to give the benefit would be reasonable in the circumstances
of the public company or entity giving the benefit.
Note: Sections 199A to 199C may prohibit giving an indemnity or
exemption or paying an insurance premium for an officer.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2E Related party transactions
Part 2E.1 Member approval needed for related party benefit
Division 2 Exceptions to the requirement for member approval
Section 213
326 Corporations Act 2001
Payments in respect of legal costs
(2) Member approval is not needed to give a financial benefit if:
(a) the benefit is for a related party who is an officer of the
public company or entity; and
(b) the benefit is the making of, or an agreement to make, a
payment (whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise) in
respect of legal costs incurred by the officer in defending an
action for a liability incurred as an officer of the public
company or entity; and
(c) either:
(i) section 199A does not apply to the costs; or
(ii) if section 199A applies to the costs—the officer must
repay the amount paid if the costs become costs for
which the company must not give the officer an
indemnity under that section; and
(d) to give the benefit would be reasonable in the circumstances
of the public company or entity giving the benefit.
(3) In working out for the purposes of subsection (1) or (2) whether
giving the benefit is reasonable in the circumstances:
(a) assess whether it would be reasonable on the basis of the
circumstances existing:
(i) if the benefit is given under an agreement—at the time
when the agreement is or was made; or
(ii) if the benefit is not given under an agreement—at the
time when the benefit is or was given; and
(b) disregard any other financial benefit given or payable to the
officer by the public company or entity.
213 Small amounts given to related entity
(1) Member approval is not needed to give a financial benefit to a
related party in a financial year if the total of the following
amounts or values is less than or equal to the amount prescribed by
the regulations for the purposes of this section:
(a) the amount or value of the financial benefit;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Related party transactions Chapter 2E
Member approval needed for related party benefit Part 2E.1
Exceptions to the requirement for member approval Division 2
Section 214
Corporations Act 2001 327
(b) the total of all other amounts or values of financial benefits
given to the related party, in the financial year, for which
member approval was not needed because of this section.
(2) In working out the total of the amounts or values referred to in
paragraphs (1)(a) and (b):
(a) add in all amounts or values of financial benefits given to the
related party in the financial year by:
(i) the public company or entity; and
(ii) any entities controlled by the public company or entity;
and
(b) disregard:
(i) amounts that have been repaid; and
(ii) amounts that fall under any other exception in this Part.
For the purposes of this subsection, the time at which the entity
must be controlled by the public company is the time at which the
financial benefit is given.
214 Benefit to or by closely-held subsidiary
(1) Member approval is not needed to give a financial benefit if the
benefit is given:
(a) by a body corporate to a closely-held subsidiary of the body;
or
(b) by a closely-held subsidiary of a body corporate to the body
or an entity it controls.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a body corporate is a closely-held
subsidiary of another body corporate if, and only if, no member of
the first-mentioned body is a person other than:
(a) the other body; or
(b) a nominee of the other body; or
(c) a body corporate that is a closely-held subsidiary of the other
body because of any other application or applications of this
subsection; or
(d) a nominee of a body referred to in paragraph (c).
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), disregard shares that are not
voting shares.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2E Related party transactions
Part 2E.1 Member approval needed for related party benefit
Division 2 Exceptions to the requirement for member approval
Section 215
328 Corporations Act 2001
215 Benefits to members that do not discriminate unfairly
Member approval is not needed to give a financial benefit if:
(a) the benefit is given to the related party in their capacity as a
member of the public company; and
(b) giving the benefit does not discriminate unfairly against the
other members of the public company.
216 Court order
Member approval is not needed to give a financial benefit under an
order of a court.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Related party transactions Chapter 2E
Member approval needed for related party benefit Part 2E.1
Procedure for obtaining member approval Division 3
Section 217
Corporations Act 2001 329
Division 3—Procedure for obtaining member approval
217 Resolution may specify matters by class or kind
A resolution under this Division may specify anything either in
particular or by reference to class or kind.
218 Company must lodge material that will be put to members with
ASIC
(1) At least 14 days before the notice convening the relevant meeting
is given, the public company must lodge:
(a) a proposed notice of meeting setting out the text of the
proposed resolution; and
(b) a proposed explanatory statement satisfying section 219; and
(c) any other document that is proposed to accompany the notice
convening the meeting and that relates to the proposed
resolution; and
(d) any other document that any of the following proposes to
give to members of the public company before or at the
meeting:
(i) the company;
(ii) a related party of the company to whom the proposed
resolution would permit a financial benefit to be given;
(iii) an associate of the company or of such a related party;
and can reasonably be expected to be material to a member in
deciding how to vote on the proposed resolution.
(2) If, when the notice convening the meeting is given, ASIC:
(a) has approved in writing a period of less than 14 days for the
purposes of subsection (1); and
(b) has not revoked the approval by written notice to the public
company;
subsection (1) applies as if the reference to 14 days were a
reference to the approved period.
(3) ASIC may give and revoke approvals for the purposes of
subsection (2).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2E Related party transactions
Part 2E.1 Member approval needed for related party benefit
Division 3 Procedure for obtaining member approval
Section 219
330 Corporations Act 2001
219 Requirements for explanatory statement to members
(1) The proposed explanatory statement lodged under section 218 must
be in writing and set out:
(a) the related parties to whom the proposed resolution would
permit financial benefits to be given; and
(b) the nature of the financial benefits; and
(c) in relation to each director of the company:
(i) if the director wanted to make a recommendation to
members about the proposed resolution—the
recommendation and his or her reasons for it; or
(ii) if not—why not; or
(iii) if the director was not available to consider the
proposed resolution—why not; and
(d) in relation to each such director:
(i) whether the director had an interest in the outcome of
the proposed resolution; and
(ii) if so—what it was; and
(e) all other information that:
(i) is reasonably required by members in order to decide
whether or not it is in the company’s interests to pass
the proposed resolution; and
(ii) is known to the company or to any of its directors.
(2) An example of the kind of information referred to in
paragraph (1)(e) is information about what, from an economic and
commercial point of view, are the true potential costs and
detriments of, or resulting from, giving financial benefits as
permitted by the proposed resolution, including (without
limitation):
(a) opportunity costs; and
(b) taxation consequences (such as liability to fringe benefits
tax); and
(c) benefits forgone by whoever would give the benefits.
Note: Sections 180 and 181 require an officer of a corporation to act
honestly and to exercise care and diligence. These duties extend to
preparing an explanatory statement under this section. Section 1309
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Related party transactions Chapter 2E
Member approval needed for related party benefit Part 2E.1
Procedure for obtaining member approval Division 3
Section 220
Corporations Act 2001 331
creates offences where false and misleading material relating to a
corporation’s affairs is made available or furnished to members.
220 ASIC may comment on proposed resolution
(1) Within 14 days after a public company lodges documents under
section 218, ASIC may give to the company written comments on
those documents (other than comments about whether the proposed
resolution is in the company’s best interests).
(2) If the company is listed, ASIC may consult with the relevant
market operator for the purposes of giving comments to the
company.
(3) Subsection (2) does not limit the persons with whom ASIC may
consult.
(4) ASIC must keep a copy of the written comments it gives to a
company under subsection (1), and subsections 1274(2) and (5)
apply to the copy as if it were a document lodged with ASIC.
(5) The fact that ASIC has given particular comments, or has declined
to give comments, under subsection (1) does not in any way affect
the performance or exercise of any of ASIC’s functions and
powers.
221 Requirements for notice of meeting
The notice convening the meeting:
(a) must be the same, in all material respects, as the proposed
notice lodged under section 218; and
(b) must be accompanied by an explanatory statement that is the
same, in all material respects, as the proposed explanatory
statement lodged under that section; and
(c) must be accompanied by a document that is, or documents
that are, the same, in all material respects, as the document or
documents (if any) lodged under paragraph 218(1)(c); and
(d) if ASIC has given to the public company, under section 220,
comments on the documents lodged under section 218—must
be accompanied by a copy of those comments; and
(e) must not be accompanied by any other documents.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2E Related party transactions
Part 2E.1 Member approval needed for related party benefit
Division 3 Procedure for obtaining member approval
Section 222
332 Corporations Act 2001
222 Other material put to members
Each document (if any) that:
(a) did not accompany the notice convening the meeting; and
(b) was given to members of the public company before or at the
meeting by:
(i) the public company; or
(ii) a related party of the public company to whom the
proposed resolution would permit a financial benefit to
be given; or
(iii) an associate of the public company or of such a related
party; and
(c) can reasonably be expected to have been material to a
member in deciding how to vote on the proposed resolution;
must be the same, in all material respects, as a document lodged
under paragraph 218(1)(d).
223 Proposed resolution cannot be varied
The resolution must be the same as the proposed resolution set out
in the proposed notice lodged under section 218.
224 Voting by or on behalf of related party interested in proposed
resolution
(1) At a general meeting, a vote on a proposed resolution under this
Division must not be cast (in any capacity) by or on behalf of:
(a) a related party of the public company to whom the resolution
would permit a financial benefit to be given; or
(b) an associate of such a related party.
(2) Subsection (1) does not prevent the casting of a vote if:
(a) it is cast by a person as a proxy appointed by writing that
specifies how the proxy is to vote on the proposed resolution;
and
(b) it is not cast on behalf of a related party or associate of a kind
referred to in subsection (1).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Related party transactions Chapter 2E
Member approval needed for related party benefit Part 2E.1
Procedure for obtaining member approval Division 3
Section 224
Corporations Act 2001 333
(3) The regulations may prescribe cases where subsection (1) does not
apply.
(4) ASIC may by writing declare that:
(a) subsection (1) does not apply to a specified proposed
resolution; or
(b) subsection (1) does not prevent the casting of a vote, on a
specified proposed resolution, by a specified entity, or on
behalf of a specified entity;
but may only do so if satisfied that the declaration will not cause
unfair prejudice to the interests of any member of the public
company.
(5) A declaration in force under subsection (4) has effect accordingly.
(6) If a vote is cast in contravention of subsection (1), the related party
or associate, as the case may be, contravenes this subsection,
whether or not the proposed resolution is passed.
(7) For the purposes of this section, a vote is cast on behalf of an entity
if, and only if, it is cast:
(a) as proxy for the entity; or
(b) otherwise on behalf of the entity; or
(c) in respect of a share in respect of which the entity has:
(i) power to vote; or
(ii) power to exercise, or control the exercise of, a right to
vote.
(8) Subject to subsection 225(1), a contravention of this section does
not affect the validity of a resolution.
(9) Subject to Part 1.1A, this section has effect despite:
(a) anything else in:
(i) this Act; or
(ii) any other law (including the general law) of a State or
Territory; or
(b) anything in a body corporate’s constitution.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2E Related party transactions
Part 2E.1 Member approval needed for related party benefit
Division 3 Procedure for obtaining member approval
Section 225
334 Corporations Act 2001
225 Voting on the resolution
(1) If any votes on the resolution are cast in contravention of
subsection 224(1), it must be the case that the resolution would still
be passed even if those votes were disregarded.
(2) If a poll was duly demanded on the question that the resolution be
passed, subsections (3) and (4) apply in relation to voting on the
poll.
(3) In relation to each member of the public company who voted on
the resolution in person, the public company must record in
writing:
(a) the member’s name; and
(b) how many votes the member cast for the resolution and how
many against.
(4) In relation to each member of the public company who voted on
the resolution by proxy, or by a representative authorised under
section 250D, the public company must record in writing:
(a) the member’s name; and
(b) in relation to each person who voted as proxy, or as such a
representative, for the member:
(i) the person’s name; and
(ii) how many votes the person cast on the resolution as
proxy, or as such a representative, for the member; and
(iii) how many of those votes the person cast for the
resolution and how many against.
(5) For 7 years after the day when a resolution under this Division is
passed, the public company must retain the records it made under
this section in relation to the resolution.
(6) An offence based on subsection (3), (4) or (5) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Related party transactions Chapter 2E
Member approval needed for related party benefit Part 2E.1
Procedure for obtaining member approval Division 3
Section 226
Corporations Act 2001 335
226 Notice of resolution to be lodged
The public company must lodge a notice setting out the text of the
resolution within 14 days after the resolution is passed.
227 Declaration by court of substantial compliance
(1) The Court may declare that the conditions prescribed by this
Division have been satisfied if it finds that they have been
substantially satisfied.
(2) A declaration may be made only on the application of an interested
person.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2E Related party transactions
Part 2E.2 Related parties and financial benefits
Section 228
336 Corporations Act 2001
Part 2E.2—Related parties and financial benefits
228 Related parties
Controlling entities
(1) An entity that controls a public company is a related party of the
public company.
Directors and their spouses
(2) The following persons are related parties of a public company:
(a) directors of the public company;
(b) directors (if any) of an entity that controls the public
company;
(c) if the public company is controlled by an entity that is not a
body corporate—each of the persons making up the
controlling entity;
(d) spouses of the persons referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and
(c).
Relatives of directors and spouses
(3) The following relatives of persons referred to in subsection (2) are
related parties of the public company:
(a) parents;
(b) children.
Entities controlled by other related parties
(4) An entity controlled by a related party referred to in subsection (1),
(2) or (3) is a related party of the public company unless the entity
is also controlled by the public company.
Related party in previous 6 months
(5) An entity is a related party of a public company at a particular time
if the entity was a related party of the public company of a kind
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Related party transactions Chapter 2E
Related parties and financial benefits Part 2E.2
Section 229
Corporations Act 2001 337
referred to in subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4) at any time within the
previous 6 months.
Entity has reasonable grounds to believe it will become related
party in future
(6) An entity is a related party of a public company at a particular time
if the entity believes or has reasonable grounds to believe that it is
likely to become a related party of the public company of a kind
referred to in subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4) at any time in the future.
Acting in concert with related party
(7) An entity is a related party of a public company if the entity acts in
concert with a related party of the public company on the
understanding that the related party will receive a financial benefit
if the public company gives the entity a financial benefit.
229 Giving a financial benefit
(1) In determining whether a financial benefit is given for the purposes
of this Chapter:
(a) give a broad interpretation to financial benefits being given,
even if criminal or civil penalties may be involved; and
(b) the economic and commercial substance of conduct is to
prevail over its legal form; and
(c) disregard any consideration that is or may be given for the
benefit, even if the consideration is adequate.
(2) Giving a financial benefit includes the following:
(a) giving a financial benefit indirectly, for example, through 1
or more interposed entities;
(b) giving a financial benefit by making an informal agreement,
oral agreement or an agreement that has no binding force;
(c) giving a financial benefit that does not involve paying money
(for example by conferring a financial advantage).
(3) The following are examples of giving a financial benefit to a
related party:
(a) giving or providing the related party finance or property;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2E Related party transactions
Part 2E.2 Related parties and financial benefits
Section 229
338 Corporations Act 2001
(b) buying an asset from or selling an asset to the related party;
(c) leasing an asset from or to the related party;
(d) supplying services to or receiving services from the related
party;
(e) issuing securities or granting an option to the related party;
(f) taking up or releasing an obligation of the related party.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Related party transactions Chapter 2E
Interaction with other rules Part 2E.3
Section 230
Corporations Act 2001 339
Part 2E.3—Interaction with other rules
230 General duties still apply
A director is not relieved from any of their duties under this Act
(including sections 180 and 184), or their fiduciary duties, in
connection with a transaction merely because the transaction is
authorised by a provision of this Chapter or is approved by a
resolution of members under a provision of this Chapter.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2F Members’ rights and remedies
Section 231
340 Corporations Act 2001
Chapter 2F—Members’ rights and remedies
231 Membership of a company
A person is a member of a company if they:
(a) are a member of the company on its registration; or
(b) agree to become a member of the company after its
registration and their name is entered on the register of
members; or
(c) become a member of the company under section 167
(membership arising from conversion of a company from one
limited by guarantee to one limited by shares).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Members’ rights and remedies Chapter 2F
Oppressive conduct of affairs Part 2F.1
Section 232
Corporations Act 2001 341
Part 2F.1—Oppressive conduct of affairs
232 Grounds for Court order
The Court may make an order under section 233 if:
(a) the conduct of a company’s affairs; or
(b) an actual or proposed act or omission by or on behalf of a
company; or
(c) a resolution, or a proposed resolution, of members or a class
of members of a company;
is either:
(d) contrary to the interests of the members as a whole; or
(e) oppressive to, unfairly prejudicial to, or unfairly
discriminatory against, a member or members whether in that
capacity or in any other capacity.
For the purposes of this Part, a person to whom a share in the
company has been transmitted by will or by operation of law is
taken to be a member of the company.
Note: For affairs, see section 53.
233 Orders the Court can make
(1) The Court can make any order under this section that it considers
appropriate in relation to the company, including an order:
(a) that the company be wound up;
(b) that the company’s existing constitution be modified or
repealed;
(c) regulating the conduct of the company’s affairs in the future;
(d) for the purchase of any shares by any member or person to
whom a share in the company has been transmitted by will or
by operation of law;
(e) for the purchase of shares with an appropriate reduction of
the company’s share capital;
(f) for the company to institute, prosecute, defend or discontinue
specified proceedings;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2F Members’ rights and remedies
Part 2F.1 Oppressive conduct of affairs
Section 234
342 Corporations Act 2001
(g) authorising a member, or a person to whom a share in the
company has been transmitted by will or by operation of law,
to institute, prosecute, defend or discontinue specified
proceedings in the name and on behalf of the company;
(h) appointing a receiver or a receiver and manager of any or all
of the company’s property;
(i) restraining a person from engaging in specified conduct or
from doing a specified act;
(j) requiring a person to do a specified act.
Order that the company be wound up
(2) If an order that a company be wound up is made under this section,
the provisions of this Act relating to the winding up of companies
apply:
(a) as if the order were made under section 461; and
(b) with such changes as are necessary.
Order altering constitution
(3) If an order made under this section repeals or modifies a
company’s constitution, or requires the company to adopt a
constitution, the company does not have the power under
section 136 to change or repeal the constitution if that change or
repeal would be inconsistent with the provisions of the order,
unless:
(a) the order states that the company does have the power to
make such a change or repeal; or
(b) the company first obtains the leave of the Court.
234 Who can apply for order
An application for an order under section 233 in relation to a
company may be made by:
(a) a member of the company, even if the application relates to
an act or omission that is against:
(i) the member in a capacity other than as a member; or
(ii) another member in their capacity as a member; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Members’ rights and remedies Chapter 2F
Oppressive conduct of affairs Part 2F.1
Section 235
Corporations Act 2001 343
(b) a person who has been removed from the register of members
because of a selective reduction; or
(c) a person who has ceased to be a member of the company if
the application relates to the circumstances in which they
ceased to be a member; or
(d) a person to whom a share in the company has been
transmitted by will or by operation of law; or
(e) a person whom ASIC thinks appropriate having regard to
investigations it is conducting or has conducted into:
(i) the company’s affairs; or
(ii) matters connected with the company’s affairs.
Note 1: If an application is made under this section, in certain cases the court
may order that the company be wound up in insolvency (see
section 459B).
Note 2: For selective reduction, see subsection 256B(2).
235 Requirement for person to lodge order
(1) If an order is made under section 233, the applicant must lodge a
copy of the order with ASIC within 14 days after it is made.
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2F Members’ rights and remedies
Part 2F.1A Proceedings on behalf of a company by members and others
Section 236
344 Corporations Act 2001
Part 2F.1A—Proceedings on behalf of a company
by members and others
236 Bringing, or intervening in, proceedings on behalf of a company
(1) A person may bring proceedings on behalf of a company, or
intervene in any proceedings to which the company is a party for
the purpose of taking responsibility on behalf of the company for
those proceedings, or for a particular step in those proceedings (for
example, compromising or settling them), if:
(a) the person is:
(i) a member, former member, or person entitled to be
registered as a member, of the company or of a related
body corporate; or
(ii) an officer or former officer of the company; and
(b) the person is acting with leave granted under section 237.
(2) Proceedings brought on behalf of a company must be brought in
the company’s name.
(3) The right of a person at general law to bring, or intervene in,
proceedings on behalf of a company is abolished.
Note 1: For the right to inspect company books, see subsections 247A(3) to
(6).
Note 2: For the requirements to disclose proceedings and leave applications in
the annual directors’ report, see subsections 300(14) and (15).
Note 3: This section does not prevent a person bringing, or intervening in,
proceedings on their own behalf in respect of a personal right.
237 Applying for and granting leave
(1) A person referred to in paragraph 236(1)(a) may apply to the Court
for leave to bring, or to intervene in, proceedings.
(2) The Court must grant the application if it is satisfied that:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Members’ rights and remedies Chapter 2F
Proceedings on behalf of a company by members and others Part 2F.1A
Section 237
Corporations Act 2001 345
(a) it is probable that the company will not itself bring the
proceedings, or properly take responsibility for them, or for
the steps in them; and
(b) the applicant is acting in good faith; and
(c) it is in the best interests of the company that the applicant be
granted leave; and
(d) if the applicant is applying for leave to bring proceedings—
there is a serious question to be tried; and
(e) either:
(i) at least 14 days before making the application, the
applicant gave written notice to the company of the
intention to apply for leave and of the reasons for
applying; or
(ii) it is appropriate to grant leave even though
subparagraph (i) is not satisfied.
(3) A rebuttable presumption that granting leave is not in the best
interests of the company arises if it is established that:
(a) the proceedings are:
(i) by the company against a third party; or
(ii) by a third party against the company; and
(b) the company has decided:
(i) not to bring the proceedings; or
(ii) not to defend the proceedings; or
(iii) to discontinue, settle or compromise the proceedings;
and
(c) all of the directors who participated in that decision:
(i) acted in good faith for a proper purpose; and
(ii) did not have a material personal interest in the decision;
and
(iii) informed themselves about the subject matter of the
decision to the extent they reasonably believed to be
appropriate; and
(iv) rationally believed that the decision was in the best
interests of the company.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2F Members’ rights and remedies
Part 2F.1A Proceedings on behalf of a company by members and others
Section 238
346 Corporations Act 2001
The director’s belief that the decision was in the best interests of
the company is a rational one unless the belief is one that no
reasonable person in their position would hold.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3):
(a) a person is a third party if:
(i) the company is a public company and the person is not a
related party of the company; or
(ii) the company is not a public company and the person
would not be a related party of the company if the
company were a public company; and
(b) proceedings by or against the company include any appeal
from a decision made in proceedings by or against the
company.
Note: Related party is defined in section 228.
238 Substitution of another person for the person granted leave
(1) Any of the following persons may apply to the Court for an order
that they be substituted for a person to whom leave has been
granted under section 237:
(a) a member, former member, or a person entitled to be
registered as a member, of the company or of a related body
corporate;
(b) an officer, or former officer, of the company.
(2) The Court may make the order if it is satisfied that:
(a) the applicant is acting in good faith; and
(b) it is appropriate to make the order in all the circumstances.
(3) An order substituting one person for another has the effect that:
(a) the grant of leave is taken to have been made in favour of the
substituted person; and
(b) if the other person has already brought the proceedings or
intervened—the substituted person is taken to have brought
those proceedings or to have made that intervention.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Members’ rights and remedies Chapter 2F
Proceedings on behalf of a company by members and others Part 2F.1A
Section 239
Corporations Act 2001 347
239 Effect of ratification by members
(1) If the members of a company ratify or approve conduct, the
ratification or approval:
(a) does not prevent a person from bringing or intervening in
proceedings with leave under section 237 or from applying
for leave under that section; and
(b) does not have the effect that proceedings brought or
intervened in with leave under section 237 must be
determined in favour of the defendant, or that an application
for leave under that section must be refused.
(2) If members of a company ratify or approve conduct, the Court may
take the ratification or approval into account in deciding what order
or judgment (including as to damages) to make in proceedings
brought or intervened in with leave under section 237 or in relation
to an application for leave under that section. In doing this, it must
have regard to:
(a) how well-informed about the conduct the members were
when deciding whether to ratify or approve the conduct; and
(b) whether the members who ratified or approved the conduct
were acting for proper purposes.
240 Leave to discontinue, compromise or settle proceedings brought,
or intervened in, with leave
Proceedings brought or intervened in with leave must not be
discontinued, compromised or settled without the leave of the
Court.
241 General powers of the Court
(1) The Court may make any orders, and give any directions, that it
considers appropriate in relation to proceedings brought or
intervened in with leave, or an application for leave, including:
(a) interim orders; and
(b) directions about the conduct of the proceedings, including
requiring mediation; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2F Members’ rights and remedies
Part 2F.1A Proceedings on behalf of a company by members and others
Section 242
348 Corporations Act 2001
(c) an order directing the company, or an officer of the company,
to do, or not to do, any act; and
(d) an order appointing an independent person to investigate, and
report to the Court on:
(i) the financial affairs of the company; or
(ii) the facts or circumstances which gave rise to the cause
of action the subject of the proceedings; or
(iii) the costs incurred in the proceedings by the parties to
the proceedings and the person granted leave.
(2) A person appointed by the Court under paragraph (1)(d) is entitled,
on giving reasonable notice to the company, to inspect any books
of the company for any purpose connected with their appointment.
(3) If the Court appoints a person under paragraph (1)(d):
(a) the Court must also make an order stating who is liable for
the remuneration and expenses of the person appointed; and
(b) the Court may vary the order at any time; and
(c) the persons who may be made liable under the order, or the
order as varied, are:
(i) all or any of the parties to the proceedings or
application; and
(ii) the company; and
(d) if the order, or the order as varied, makes 2 or more persons
liable, the order may also determine the nature and extent of
the liability of each of those persons.
(4) Subsection (3) does not affect the powers of the Court as to costs.
242 Power of the Court to make costs orders
The Court may at any time make any orders it considers
appropriate about the costs of the following persons in relation to
proceedings brought or intervened in with leave under section 237
or an application for leave under that section:
(a) the person who applied for or was granted leave;
(b) the company;
(c) any other party to the proceedings or application.
An order under this section may require indemnification for costs.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Members’ rights and remedies Chapter 2F
Class rights Part 2F.2
Section 246B
Corporations Act 2001 349
Part 2F.2—Class rights
Note: This Part does not apply to the adoption or amendment of benefit fund rules or to consequential amendments to the rest of the company’s constitution made under the Life Insurance Act 1995, see Subdivision 2 of Division 4 of Part 2A of that Act.
246B Varying and cancelling class rights
If constitution sets out procedure
(1) If a company has a constitution that sets out the procedure for
varying or cancelling:
(a) for a company with a share capital—rights attached to shares
in a class of shares; or
(b) for a company without a share capital—rights of members in
a class of members;
those rights may be varied or cancelled only in accordance with the
procedure. The procedure may be changed only if the procedure
itself is complied with.
If constitution does not set out procedure
(2) If a company does not have a constitution, or has a constitution that
does not set out the procedure for varying or cancelling:
(a) for a company with a share capital—rights attached to shares
in a class of shares; or
(b) for a company without a share capital—rights of members in
a class of members;
those rights may be varied or cancelled only by special resolution
of the company and:
(c) by special resolution passed at a meeting:
(i) for a company with a share capital of the class of
members holding shares in the class; or
(ii) for a company without a share capital of the class of
members whose rights are being varied or cancelled; or
(d) with the written consent of members with at least 75% of the
votes in the class.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2F Members’ rights and remedies
Part 2F.2 Class rights
Section 246C
350 Corporations Act 2001
(3) The company must give written notice of the variation or
cancellation to the members of the class within 7 days after the
variation or cancellation is made.
(4) An offence based on subsection (3) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
246C Certain actions taken to vary rights etc.
Company with share capital
(1) If the shares in a class of shares in a company are divided into
further classes, and after the division the rights attached to all of
those shares are not the same:
(a) the division is taken to vary the rights attached to every share
that was in the class existing before the division; and
(b) members who hold shares to which the same rights are
attached after the division form a separate class.
(2) If the rights attached to some of the shares in a class of shares in a
company are varied:
(a) the variation is taken to vary the rights attached to every
other share that was in the class existing before the variation;
and
(b) members who hold shares to which the same rights are
attached after the variation form a separate class.
Company without share capital
(3) If the members in a class of members in a company without share
capital are divided into further classes of members, and after the
division the rights of all of those members are not the same:
(a) the division is taken to vary the rights of every member who
was in the class existing before the division; and
(b) members who have the same rights after the division form a
separate class.
(4) If the rights of some of the members in a class of members in a
company without a share capital are varied:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Members’ rights and remedies Chapter 2F
Class rights Part 2F.2
Section 246D
Corporations Act 2001 351
(a) the variation is taken to vary the rights of every other
member who was in the class existing before the variation;
and
(b) members who have the same rights after the variation form a
separate class.
Company with 1 class of shares issuing new class of shares
(5) If a company with 1 class of shares issues new shares, the issue is
taken to vary the rights attached to shares already issued if:
(a) the rights attaching to the new shares are not the same as the
rights attached to shares already issued; and
(b) those rights are not provided for in:
(i) the company’s constitution (if any); or
(ii) a notice, document or resolution that is lodged with
ASIC.
(6) If a company issues new preference shares that rank equally with
existing preference shares, the issue is taken to vary the rights
attached to the existing preference shares unless the issue is
authorised by:
(a) the terms of issue of the existing preference shares; or
(b) the company’s constitution (if any) as in force when the
existing preference shares were issued.
246D Variation, cancellation or modification without unanimous
support of class
(1) If members in a class do not all agree (whether by resolution or
written consent) to:
(a) a variation or cancellation of their rights; or
(b) a modification of the company’s constitution (if any) to allow
their rights to be varied or cancelled;
members with at least 10% of the votes in the class may apply to
the Court to have the variation, cancellation or modification set
aside.
(2) An application may only be made within 1 month after the
variation, cancellation or modification is made.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2F Members’ rights and remedies
Part 2F.2 Class rights
Section 246E
352 Corporations Act 2001
(3) The variation, cancellation or modification takes effect:
(a) if no application is made to the Court to have it set aside—1
month after the variation, cancellation or modification is
made; or
(b) if an application is made to the Court to have it set aside—
when the application is withdrawn or finally determined.
(4) The members of the class who want to have the variation,
cancellation or modification set aside may appoint 1 or more of
themselves to make the application on their behalf. The
appointment must be in writing.
(5) The Court may set aside the variation, cancellation or modification
if it is satisfied that it would unfairly prejudice the applicants.
However, the Court must confirm the variation, cancellation or
modification if the Court is not satisfied of unfair prejudice.
(6) Within 14 days after the Court makes an order, the company must
lodge a copy of it with ASIC.
(7) An offence based on subsection (6) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
246E Variation, cancellation or modification with unanimous
support of class
If the members in a class all agree (whether by resolution or
written consent) to the variation, cancellation or modification, it
takes effect:
(a) if no later date is specified in the resolution or consent—on
the date of the resolution or consent; or
(b) on a later date specified in the resolution or consent.
246F Company must lodge documents and resolutions with ASIC
(1) A company must lodge with ASIC a notice in the prescribed form
setting out particulars of any of the following:
(a) a division of shares in the company into classes if the shares
were not previously so divided;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Members’ rights and remedies Chapter 2F
Class rights Part 2F.2
Section 246G
Corporations Act 2001 353
(b) a conversion of shares in a class of shares in the company
into shares in another class.
Note: A proprietary company may also have to notify certain particulars
under Part 2C.2.
(2) The notice must be lodged within 14 days after the division or
conversion.
(3) A public company must lodge with ASIC a copy of each document
(including an agreement or consent) or resolution that:
(a) does any of the following:
(i) attaches rights to issued or unissued shares;
(ii) varies or cancels rights attaching to issued or unissued
shares;
(iii) varies or cancels rights of members in a class of
members of a company that does not have a share
capital;
(iv) binds a class of members; and
(b) is not already lodged with ASIC.
This also applies to a proprietary company that has applied under
Part 2B.7 to change to a public company, while its application has
not yet been determined.
(3A) An offence based on subsection (1) or (3) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(4) The document must be lodged within 14 days after it is made. The
resolution must be lodged within 14 days after it is passed.
246G Member’s copies of documents and resolutions
(1) A member of a company may ask the company in writing for a
copy of a document or resolution referred to in section 246F. The
company must send the copy to the member.
(1A) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2F Members’ rights and remedies
Part 2F.2 Class rights
Section 246G
354 Corporations Act 2001
(2) If the company requires the member to pay for the copy, the
company must send it:
(a) within 7 days after the company receives the payment; or
(b) within any longer period approved by ASIC.
(3) The amount of any payment the company requires cannot exceed
the prescribed amount.
(4) If the company does not require payment for the copy, the
company must send it:
(a) within 7 days after the member asks for it; or
(b) within any longer period approved by ASIC.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Members’ rights and remedies Chapter 2F
Inspection of books Part 2F.3
Section 247A
Corporations Act 2001 355
Part 2F.3—Inspection of books
247A Order for inspection of books of company or registered
managed investment scheme
(1) On application by a member of a company or registered managed
investment scheme, the Court may make an order:
(a) authorising the applicant to inspect books of the company or
scheme; or
(b) authorising another person (whether a member or not) to
inspect books of the company or scheme on the applicant’s
behalf.
The Court may only make the order if it is satisfied that the
applicant is acting in good faith and that the inspection is to be
made for a proper purpose.
(2) A person authorised to inspect books may make copies of the
books unless the Court orders otherwise.
(3) A person who:
(a) is granted leave under section 237; or
(b) applies for leave under that section; or
(c) is eligible to apply for leave under that section;
may apply to the Court for an order under this section.
(4) On application, the Court may make an order authorising:
(a) the applicant to inspect books of the company; or
(b) another person to inspect books of the company on the
applicant’s behalf.
(5) The Court may make the order only if it is satisfied that:
(a) the applicant is acting in good faith; and
(b) the inspection is to be made for a purpose connected with:
(i) applying for leave under section 237; or
(ii) bringing or intervening in proceedings with leave under
that section.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2F Members’ rights and remedies
Part 2F.3 Inspection of books
Section 247B
356 Corporations Act 2001
(6) A person authorised to inspect books may make copies of the
books unless the Court orders otherwise.
247B Ancillary orders
If the Court makes an order under section 247A, the Court may
make any other orders it considers appropriate, including either or
both of the following:
(a) an order limiting the use that a person who inspects books
may make of information obtained during the inspection;
(b) an order limiting the right of a person who inspects books to
make copies in accordance with subsection 247A(2).
247C Disclosure of information acquired in inspection
(1) A person who inspects books on behalf of an applicant under
section 247A must not disclose information obtained during the
inspection.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the extent that the disclosure is to:
(a) ASIC; or
(b) the applicant.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in
subsection (2), see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
(3) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
247D Company or directors may allow member to inspect books
(replaceable rule see section 135)
The directors of a company, or the company by a resolution passed
at a general meeting, may authorise a member to inspect books of
the company.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Members’ rights and remedies Chapter 2F
Proceedings against a company by members and others Part 2F.4
Section 247E
Corporations Act 2001 357
Part 2F.4—Proceedings against a company by
members and others
247E Shareholding does not prevent compensation claim
A person is not prevented from obtaining damages or other
compensation from a company only because the person:
(a) holds, or has held, shares in the company; or
(b) has subscribed for shares in the company; or
(c) has a right to be included in the register that the company
maintains under section 169.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.1 Directors’ meetings
Division 1 Resolutions and declarations without meetings
Section 248A
358 Corporations Act 2001
Chapter 2G—Meetings
Part 2G.1—Directors’ meetings
Division 1—Resolutions and declarations without meetings
248A Circulating resolutions of companies with more than 1
director (replaceable rule see section 135)
Resolutions
(1) The directors of a company may pass a resolution without a
directors’ meeting being held if all the directors entitled to vote on
the resolution sign a document containing a statement that they are
in favour of the resolution set out in the document.
Copies
(2) Separate copies of a document may be used for signing by
directors if the wording of the resolution and statement is identical
in each copy.
When the resolution is passed
(3) The resolution is passed when the last director signs.
Note: Passage of a resolution under this section must be recorded in the
company’s minute books (see section 251A).
248B Resolutions and declarations of 1 director proprietary
companies
Resolutions
(1) The director of a proprietary company that has only 1 director may
pass a resolution by recording it and signing the record.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Directors’ meetings Part 2G.1
Resolutions and declarations without meetings Division 1
Section 248B
Corporations Act 2001 359
Declarations
(2) The director of a proprietary company that has only 1 director may
make a declaration by recording it and signing the record.
Recording and signing the declaration satisfies any requirement in
this Act that the declaration be made at a directors’ meeting.
Note 1: For directors’ declarations, see sections 295 and 494.
Note 2: Passage of a resolution or the making of a declaration under this
section must be recorded in the company’s minute books (see
section 251A).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.1 Directors’ meetings
Division 2 Directors’ meetings
Section 248C
360 Corporations Act 2001
Division 2—Directors’ meetings
248C Calling directors’ meetings (replaceable rule see section 135)
A directors’ meeting may be called by a director giving reasonable
notice individually to every other director.
Note: A director who has appointed an alternate director may ask for the
notice to be sent to the alternate director (see subsection 201K(2)).
248D Use of technology
A directors’ meeting may be called or held using any technology
consented to by all the directors. The consent may be a standing
one. A director may only withdraw their consent within a
reasonable period before the meeting.
248E Chairing directors’ meetings (replaceable rule see section 135)
(1) The directors may elect a director to chair their meetings. The
directors may determine the period for which the director is to be
the chair.
(2) The directors must elect a director present to chair a meeting, or
part of it, if:
(a) a director has not already been elected to chair the meeting;
or
(b) a previously elected chair is not available or declines to act,
for the meeting or the part of the meeting.
248F Quorum at directors’ meetings (replaceable rule see
section 135)
Unless the directors determine otherwise, the quorum for a
directors’ meeting is 2 directors and the quorum must be present at
all times during the meeting.
Note 1: For special quorum rules for public companies, see section 195.
Note 2: For resolutions of 1 director proprietary companies without meetings,
see section 248B.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Directors’ meetings Part 2G.1
Directors’ meetings Division 2
Section 248G
Corporations Act 2001 361
248G Passing of directors’ resolutions (replaceable rule see
section 135)
(1) A resolution of the directors must be passed by a majority of the
votes cast by directors entitled to vote on the resolution.
(2) The chair has a casting vote if necessary in addition to any vote
they have in their capacity as a director.
Note: The chair may be precluded from voting, for example, by a conflict of
interest.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 1 Resolutions without meetings
Section 249A
362 Corporations Act 2001
Part 2G.2—Meetings of members of companies
Division 1—Resolutions without meetings
249A Circulating resolutions of proprietary companies with more
than 1 member
(1) This section applies to resolutions of the members of proprietary
companies that this Act or, if a company has a constitution, the
company’s constitution requires or permits to be passed at a
general meeting. It does not apply to a resolution under section 329
to remove an auditor.
(2) A company may pass a resolution without a general meeting being
held if all the members entitled to vote on the resolution sign a
document containing a statement that they are in favour of the
resolution set out in the document. Each member of a joint
membership must sign.
(3) Separate copies of a document may be used for signing by
members if the wording of the resolution and statement is identical
in each copy.
(4) The resolution is passed when the last member signs.
(5) A company that passes a resolution under this section without
holding a meeting satisfies any requirement in this Act:
(a) to give members information or a document relating to the
resolution—by giving members that information or document
with the document to be signed; and
(b) to lodge with ASIC a copy of a notice of meeting to consider
the resolution—by lodging a copy of the document to be
signed by members; and
(c) to lodge a copy of a document that accompanies a notice of
meeting to consider the resolution—by lodging a copy of the
information or documents referred to in paragraph (a).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
Resolutions without meetings Division 1
Section 249B
Corporations Act 2001 363
(6) The passage of the resolution satisfies any requirement in this Act,
or a company’s constitution (if any), that the resolution be passed
at a general meeting.
(7) This section does not affect any rule of law relating to the assent of
members not given at a general meeting.
Note 1: A body corporate representative may sign a circulating resolution (see
section 250D).
Note 2: Passage of a resolution under this section must be recorded in the
company’s minute books (see section 251A).
249B Resolutions of 1 member companies
(1) A company that has only 1 member may pass a resolution by the
member recording it and signing the record.
(2) If this Act requires information or a document relating to the
resolution to be lodged with ASIC, that requirement is satisfied by
lodging the information or document with the resolution that is
passed.
Note 1: A body corporate representative may sign such a resolution (see
section 250D).
Note 2: Passage of a resolution under this section must be recorded in the
company’s minute books (see section 251A).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 2 Who may call meetings of members
Section 249C
364 Corporations Act 2001
Division 2—Who may call meetings of members
249C Calling of meetings of members by a director (replaceable
rule—see section 135)
A director may call a meeting of the company’s members.
249CA Calling of meetings of members of a listed company by a
director
(1) A director may call a meeting of the company’s members.
(2) This section only applies to a company that is listed.
(3) This section applies despite anything in the company’s
constitution.
249D Calling of general meeting by directors when requested by
members
(1) The directors of a company must call and arrange to hold a general
meeting on the request of:
(a) members with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at the
general meeting; or
(b) at least 100 members who are entitled to vote at the general
meeting.
(1A) The regulations may prescribe a different number of members for
the purposes of the application of paragraph (1)(b) to:
(a) a particular company; or
(b) a particular class of company.
Without limiting this, the regulations may specify the number as a
percentage of the total number of members of the company.
(2) The request must:
(a) be in writing; and
(b) state any resolution to be proposed at the meeting; and
(c) be signed by the members making the request; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
Who may call meetings of members Division 2
Section 249E
Corporations Act 2001 365
(d) be given to the company.
(3) Separate copies of a document setting out the request may be used
for signing by members if the wording of the request is identical in
each copy.
(4) The percentage of votes that members have is to be worked out as
at the midnight before the request is given to the company.
(5) The directors must call the meeting within 21 days after the request
is given to the company. The meeting is to be held not later than 2
months after the request is given to the company.
249E Failure of directors to call general meeting
(1) Members with more than 50% of the votes of all of the members
who make a request under section 249D may call and arrange to
hold a general meeting if the directors do not do so within 21 days
after the request is given to the company.
(2) The meeting must be called in the same way—so far as is
possible—in which general meetings of the company may be
called. The meeting must be held not later than 3 months after the
request is given to the company.
(3) To call the meeting the members requesting the meeting may ask
the company under section 173 for a copy of the register of
members. Despite paragraph 173(3)(b), the company must give the
members the copy of the register without charge.
(4) The company must pay the reasonable expenses the members
incurred because the directors failed to call and arrange to hold the
meeting.
(4A) An offence based on subsection (3) or (4) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(5) The company may recover the amount of the expenses from the
directors. However, a director is not liable for the amount if they
prove that they took all reasonable steps to cause the directors to
comply with section 249D. The directors who are liable are jointly
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 2 Who may call meetings of members
Section 249F
366 Corporations Act 2001
and individually liable for the amount. If a director who is liable
for the amount does not reimburse the company, the company must
deduct the amount from any sum payable as fees to, or
remuneration of, the director.
249F Calling of general meetings by members
(1) Members with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at a general
meeting of the company may call, and arrange to hold, a general
meeting. The members calling the meeting must pay the expenses
of calling and holding the meeting.
(2) The meeting must be called in the same way—so far as is
possible—in which general meetings of the company may be
called.
(3) The percentage of votes that members have is to be worked out as
at the midnight before the meeting is called.
249G Calling of meetings of members by the Court
(1) The Court may order a meeting of the company’s members to be
called if it is impracticable to call the meeting in any other way.
(2) The Court may make the order on application by:
(a) any director; or
(b) any member who would be entitled to vote at the meeting.
Note: For the directions the Court may give for calling, holding or
conducting a meeting it has ordered be called, see section 1319.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
How to call meetings of members Division 3
Section 249H
Corporations Act 2001 367
Division 3—How to call meetings of members
249H Amount of notice of meetings
General rule
(1) Subject to subsection (2), at least 21 days notice must be given of a
meeting of a company’s members. However, if a company has a
constitution, it may specify a longer minimum period of notice.
Calling meetings on shorter notice
(2) A company may call on shorter notice:
(a) an AGM, if all the members entitled to attend and vote at the
AGM agree beforehand; and
(b) any other general meeting, if members with at least 95% of
the votes that may be cast at the meeting agree beforehand.
A company cannot call an AGM or other general meeting on
shorter notice if it is a meeting of the kind referred to in
subsection (3) or (4).
Shorter notice not allowed—removing or appointing director
(3) At least 21 days notice must be given of a meeting of the members
of a public company at which a resolution will be moved to:
(a) remove a director under section 203D; or
(b) appoint a director in place of a director removed under that
section.
Shorter notice not allowed—removing auditor
(4) At least 21 days notice must be given of a meeting of a company at
which a resolution will be moved to remove an auditor under
section 329.
249HA Amount of notice of meetings of listed company
(1) Despite section 249H, at least 28 days notice must be given of a
meeting of a company’s members.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 3 How to call meetings of members
Section 249J
368 Corporations Act 2001
(2) This section only applies to a company that is listed.
(3) This section applies despite anything in the company’s
constitution.
249J Notice of meetings of members to members and directors
Notice to members and directors individually
(1) Written notice of a meeting of a company’s members must be
given individually to each member entitled to vote at the meeting
and to each director. Notice need only be given to 1 member of a
joint membership.
Notice to joint members (replaceable rule—see section 135)
(2) Notice to joint members must be given to the joint member named
first in the register of members.
How notice is given
(3) A company may give the notice of meeting to a member:
(a) personally; or
(b) by sending it by post to the address for the member in the
register of members or the alternative address (if any)
nominated by the member; or
(c) by sending it to the fax number or electronic address (if any)
nominated by the member; or
(ca) by sending it to the member by other electronic means (if
any) nominated by the member; or
(cb) by notifying the member in accordance with subsection (3A);
or
(d) by any other means that the company’s constitution (if any)
permits.
Note: A defect in the notice given may not invalidate a meeting (see
section 1322).
(3A) If the member nominates:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
How to call meetings of members Division 3
Section 249K
Corporations Act 2001 369
(a) an electronic means (the nominated notification means) by
which the member may be notified that notices of meeting
are available; and
(b) an electronic means (the nominated access means) the
member may use to access notices of meeting;
the company may give the member notice of the meeting by
notifying the member (using the nominated notification means):
(c) that the notice of meeting is available; and
(d) how the member may use the nominated access means to
access the notice of meeting.
This subsection does not limit subsection (3).
When notice by post or fax is given (replaceable rule—see
section 135)
(4) A notice of meeting sent by post is taken to be given 3 days after it
is posted. A notice of meeting sent by fax, or other electronic
means, is taken to be given on the business day after it is sent.
When notice under paragraph (3)(cb) is given (replaceable rule—
see section 135)
(5) A notice of meeting given to a member under paragraph (3)(cb) is
taken to be given on the business day after the day on which the
member is notified that the notice of meeting is available.
249K Auditor entitled to notice and other communications
(1) A company must give its auditor:
(a) notice of a general meeting in the same way that a member of
the company is entitled to receive notice; and
(b) any other communications relating to the general meeting
that a member of the company is entitled to receive.
Note 1: For when a company must have an auditor, see Part 2M.3.
Note 2: An auditor may appoint a representative to attend a meeting (see
subsection 249V(4)).
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 3 How to call meetings of members
Section 249L
370 Corporations Act 2001
249L Contents of notice of meetings of members
(1) A notice of a meeting of a company’s members must:
(a) set out the place, date and time for the meeting (and, if the
meeting is to be held in 2 or more places, the technology that
will be used to facilitate this); and
(b) state the general nature of the meeting’s business; and
(c) if a special resolution is to be proposed at the meeting—set
out an intention to propose the special resolution and state the
resolution; and
(d) if a member is entitled to appoint a proxy—contain a
statement setting out the following information:
(i) that the member has a right to appoint a proxy;
(ii) whether or not the proxy needs to be a member of the
company;
(iii) that a member who is entitled to cast 2 or more votes
may appoint 2 proxies and may specify the proportion
or number of votes each proxy is appointed to exercise.
Note: There may be other requirements for disclosure to members.
(2) The notice of the AGM of a listed company must also:
(a) inform members that the resolution referred to in
subsection 250R(2) (resolution on remuneration report) will
be put at the AGM; and
(b) if at the previous AGM at least 25% of the votes cast on a
resolution that the remuneration report be adopted were
against adoption of the report (but the same was not the case
at the AGM before that):
(i) explain the circumstances in which subsection 250V(1)
would apply; and
(ii) inform members that the resolution described in
subsection 250V(1) as the spill resolution will be put at
the AGM if that subsection applies.
Note: Subsection 250R(2) requires a resolution to adopt a remuneration
report for a listed company to be put to the vote at the company’s
AGM.
(3) The information included in the notice of meeting must be worded
and presented in a clear, concise and effective manner.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
How to call meetings of members Division 3
Section 249LA
Corporations Act 2001 371
249LA Notice of meeting not required to contain certain
information
(1) The regulations may provide that a notice of a meeting of a
company’s members is not required by section 249L or otherwise
to include information specified in the regulations if any conditions
specified in the regulations are satisfied.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the regulations may specify
different conditions for:
(a) different kinds of information; and
(b) a notice of meeting given by a company or a class of
companies.
(3) If:
(a) regulations are made for the purposes of subsection (1); and
(b) a notice of meeting does not include particular information in
accordance with those regulations;
the information is taken to be included in the notice of meeting.
249M Notice of adjourned meetings (replaceable rule—see
section 135)
When a meeting is adjourned, new notice of the resumed meeting
must be given if the meeting is adjourned for 1 month or more.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 4 Members’ rights to put resolutions etc. at general meetings
Section 249N
372 Corporations Act 2001
Division 4—Members’ rights to put resolutions etc. at
general meetings
249N Members’ resolutions
(1) The following members may give a company notice of a resolution
that they propose to move at a general meeting:
(a) members with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast on the
resolution; or
(b) at least 100 members who are entitled to vote at a general
meeting.
(1A) The regulations may prescribe a different number of members for
the purposes of the application of paragraph (1)(b) to:
(a) a particular company; or
(b) a particular class of company.
Without limiting this, the regulations may specify the number as a
percentage of the total number of members of the company.
(2) The notice must:
(a) be in writing; and:
(b) set out the wording of the proposed resolution; and
(c) be signed by the members proposing to move the resolution.
(3) Separate copies of a document setting out the notice may be used
for signing by members if the wording of the notice is identical in
each copy.
(4) The percentage of votes that members have is to be worked out as
at the midnight before the members give the notice.
249O Company giving notice of members’ resolutions
(1) If a company has been given notice of a resolution under
section 249N, the resolution is to be considered at the next general
meeting that occurs more than 2 months after the notice is given.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
Members’ rights to put resolutions etc. at general meetings Division 4
Section 249P
Corporations Act 2001 373
(2) The company must give all its members notice of the resolution at
the same time, or as soon as practicable afterwards, and in the same
way, as it gives notice of a meeting.
(3) The company is responsible for the cost of giving members notice
of the resolution if the company receives the notice in time to send
it out to members with the notice of meeting.
(4) The members requesting the meeting are jointly and individually
liable for the expenses reasonably incurred by the company in
giving members notice of the resolution if the company does not
receive the members’ notice in time to send it out with the notice
of meeting. At a general meeting, the company may resolve to
meet the expenses itself.
(5) The company need not give notice of the resolution:
(a) if it is more than 1,000 words long or defamatory; or
(b) if the members making the request are to bear the expenses of
sending the notice out—unless the members give the
company a sum reasonably sufficient to meet the expenses
that it will reasonably incur in giving the notice.
249P Members’ statements to be distributed
(1) Members may request a company to give to all its members a
statement provided by the members making the request about:
(a) a resolution that is proposed to be moved at a general
meeting; or
(b) any other matter that may be properly considered at a general
meeting.
(2) The request must be made by:
(a) members with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast on the
resolution; or
(b) at least 100 members who are entitled to vote at the meeting.
(2A) The regulations may prescribe a different number of members for
the purposes of the application of paragraph (2)(b) to:
(a) a particular company; or
(b) a particular class of company.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 4 Members’ rights to put resolutions etc. at general meetings
Section 249P
374 Corporations Act 2001
Without limiting this, the regulations may specify the number as a
percentage of the total number of members of the company.
(3) The request must be:
(a) in writing; and
(b) signed by the members making the request; and
(c) given to the company.
(4) Separate copies of a document setting out the request may be used
for signing by members if the wording of the request is identical in
each copy.
(5) The percentage of votes that members have is to be worked out as
at the midnight before the request is given to the company.
(6) After receiving the request, the company must distribute to all its
members a copy of the statement at the same time, or as soon as
practicable afterwards, and in the same way, as it gives notice of a
general meeting.
(7) The company is responsible for the cost of making the distribution
if the company receives the statement in time to send it out to
members with the notice of meeting.
(8) The members making the request are jointly and individually liable
for the expenses reasonably incurred by the company in making the
distribution if the company does not receive the statement in time
to send it out with the notice of meeting. At a general meeting, the
company may resolve to meet the expenses itself.
(9) The company need not comply with the request:
(a) if the statement is more than 1,000 words long or
defamatory; or
(b) if the members making the request are responsible for the
expenses of the distribution—unless the members give the
company a sum reasonably sufficient to meet the expenses
that it will reasonably incur in making the distribution.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
Holding meetings of members Division 5
Section 249Q
Corporations Act 2001 375
Division 5—Holding meetings of members
249Q Purpose
A meeting of a company’s members must be held for a proper
purpose.
249R Time and place for meetings of members
A meeting of a company’s members must be held at a reasonable
time and place.
249S Technology
A company may hold a meeting of its members at 2 or more
venues using any technology that gives the members as a whole a
reasonable opportunity to participate.
Note: See section 1322 for the consequences of a member not being given a
reasonable opportunity to participate.
249T Quorum (replaceable rule—see section 135)
(1) The quorum for a meeting of a company’s members is 2 members
and the quorum must be present at all times during the meeting.
Note: For single member companies, see section 249B.
(2) In determining whether a quorum is present, count individuals
attending as proxies or body corporate representatives. However, if
a member has appointed more than 1 proxy or representative, count
only 1 of them. If an individual is attending both as a member and
as a proxy or body corporate representative, count them only once.
Note 1: For rights to appoint proxies, see section 249X.
Note 2: For body corporate representatives, see section 250D.
(3) A meeting of the company’s members that does not have a quorum
present within 30 minutes after the time for the meeting set out in
the notice of meeting is adjourned to the date, time and place the
directors specify. If the directors do not specify 1 or more of those
things, the meeting is adjourned to:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 5 Holding meetings of members
Section 249U
376 Corporations Act 2001
(a) if the date is not specified—the same day in the next week;
and
(b) if the time is not specified—the same time; and
(c) if the place is not specified—the same place.
(4) If no quorum is present at the resumed meeting within
30 minutes after the time for the meeting, the meeting is dissolved.
249U Chairing meetings of members (replaceable rule—see
section 135)
(1) The directors may elect an individual to chair meetings of the
company’s members.
(2) The directors at a meeting of the company’s members must elect
an individual present to chair the meeting (or part of it) if an
individual has not already been elected by the directors to chair it
or, having been elected, is not available to chair it, or declines to
act, for the meeting (or part of the meeting).
(3) The members at a meeting of the company’s members must elect a
member present to chair the meeting (or part of it) if:
(a) a chair has not previously been elected by the directors to
chair the meeting; or
(b) a previously elected chair is not available, or declines to act,
for the meeting (or part of the meeting).
(4) The chair must adjourn a meeting of the company’s members if the
members present with a majority of votes at the meeting agree or
direct that the chair must do so.
249V Auditor’s right to be heard at general meetings
(1) A company’s auditor is entitled to attend any general meeting of
the company.
Note: Section 250RA imposes on the auditor of a listed public company an
obligation to attend or be represented at the AGM.
(2) The auditor is entitled to be heard at the meeting on any part of the
business of the meeting that concerns the auditor in their capacity
as auditor.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
Holding meetings of members Division 5
Section 249W
Corporations Act 2001 377
(3) The auditor is entitled to be heard even if:
(a) the auditor retires at the meeting; or
(b) the meeting passes a resolution to remove the auditor from
office.
(4) The auditor may authorise a person in writing as their
representative for the purpose of attending and speaking at any
general meeting.
Note 1: At an AGM, members may ask the auditor questions (see
section 250T).
Note 2: For when a company must have an auditor, see Part 2M.3.
249W Adjourned meetings
When resolution passed
(1) A resolution passed at a meeting resumed after an adjournment is
passed on the day it was passed.
Business at adjourned meetings (replaceable rule—see
section 135)
(2) Only unfinished business is to be transacted at a meeting resumed
after an adjournment
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 6 Proxies and body corporate representatives
Section 249X
378 Corporations Act 2001
Division 6—Proxies and body corporate representatives
249X Who can appoint a proxy (replaceable rule for proprietary
companies and mandatory rule for public companies—see
section 135)
(1) A member of a company who is entitled to attend and cast a vote at
a meeting of the company’s members may appoint a person as the
member’s proxy to attend and vote for the member at the meeting.
(1A) The person appointed as the member’s proxy may be an individual
or a body corporate.
Note: A body corporate may appoint a representative to exercise the powers
that the body corporate may exercise as the member’s proxy, see
section 250D.
(2) The appointment may specify the proportion or number of votes
that the proxy may exercise.
(3) Each member may appoint a proxy. If the member is entitled to
cast 2 or more votes at the meeting, they may appoint 2 proxies. If
the member appoints 2 proxies and the appointment does not
specify the proportion or number of the member’s votes each proxy
may exercise, each proxy may exercise half of the votes.
(4) Disregard any fractions of votes resulting from the application of
subsection (2) or (3).
249Y Rights of proxies
Rights of proxies
(1) A proxy appointed to attend and vote for a member has the same
rights as the member:
(a) to speak at the meeting; and
(b) to vote (but only to the extent allowed by the appointment);
and
(c) join in a demand for a poll.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
Proxies and body corporate representatives Division 6
Section 249Z
Corporations Act 2001 379
Proxy’s right to vote
(2) If a company has a constitution, the constitution may provide that a
proxy is not entitled to vote on a show of hands.
Note: Even if the proxy is not entitled to vote on a show of hands, they may
make or join in the demand for a poll.
Effect of member’s presence on proxy’s authority
(3) A company’s constitution (if any) may provide for the effect that a
member’s presence at a meeting has on the authority of a proxy
appointed to attend and vote for the member. However, if the
constitution does not deal with this, a proxy’s authority to speak
and vote for a member at a meeting is suspended while the member
is present at the meeting.
249Z Company sending appointment forms or lists of proxies must
send to all members
(1) If a company sends a member a proxy appointment form for a
meeting or a list of persons willing to act as proxies at a meeting:
(a) if the member requested the form or list—the company must
send the form or list to all members who ask for it and who
are entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote at the
meeting; or
(b) otherwise—the company must send the form or list to all its
members entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote at the
meeting.
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
250A Appointing a proxy
(1) An appointment of a proxy is valid if it is signed, or otherwise
authenticated in a manner prescribed by the regulations, by the
member of the company making the appointment and contains the
following information:
(a) the member’s name and address;
(b) the company’s name;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 6 Proxies and body corporate representatives
Section 250B
380 Corporations Act 2001
(c) the proxy’s name or the name of the office held by the proxy;
(d) the meetings at which the appointment may be used.
An appointment may be a standing one.
(1A) The regulations made for the purposes of subsection (1) may
prescribe different requirements for the authentication of an
appointment given to the company by different means (electronic
or otherwise).
(2) If a company has a constitution, the constitution may provide that
an appointment is valid even if it contains only some of the
information required by subsection (1).
(3) An undated appointment is taken to have been dated on the day it
is given to the company.
(6) An appointment does not have to be witnessed.
(7) A later appointment revokes an earlier one if both appointments
could not be validly exercised at the meeting.
250B Proxy documents
Documents to be received by company before meeting
(1) For an appointment of a proxy for a meeting of a company’s
members to be effective, the following documents must be
received by the company at least 48 hours before the meeting:
(a) the proxy’s appointment;
(b) if the appointment is signed, or otherwise authenticated in a
manner prescribed by regulations made for the purposes of
subsection 250A(1), by the appointor’s attorney—the
authority under which the appointment was signed or
authenticated or a certified copy of the authority.
Documents received following adjournment of meeting
(2) If a meeting of a company’s members has been adjourned, an
appointment and any authority received by the company at least 48
hours before the resumption of the meeting are effective for the
resumed part of the meeting.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
Proxies and body corporate representatives Division 6
Section 250BA
Corporations Act 2001 381
Receipt of documents
(3) A company receives a document referred to in subsection (1):
(a) when the document is received at any of the following:
(i) the company’s registered office;
(ii) a fax number at the company’s registered office;
(iii) a place, fax number or electronic address specified for
the purpose in the notice of meeting; and
(b) if the notice of meeting specifies other electronic means by
which a member may give the document—when the
document given by those means is received by the company
as prescribed by the regulations.
Constitution or notice of meeting may provide for different
notification period
(5) The company’s constitution (if any) or the notice of meeting may
reduce the period of 48 hours referred to in subsection (1) or (2).
250BA Proxy documents—listed companies
(1) In a notice of meeting for a meeting of the members of the
company, the company:
(a) must specify a place and a fax number for the purposes of
receipt of proxy appointments and proxy appointment
authorities; and
(b) may specify:
(i) an electronic address for the purposes of receipt of
proxy appointments and proxy appointment authorities;
and
(ii) other electronic means by which a member may give the
company a proxy appointment or proxy appointment
authority.
(2) This section only applies to a company that is listed.
(3) This section applies despite anything in the company’s
constitution.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 6 Proxies and body corporate representatives
Section 250BB
382 Corporations Act 2001
250BB Proxy vote if appointment specifies way to vote
(1) An appointment of a proxy may specify the way the proxy is to
vote on a particular resolution. If it does:
(a) the proxy need not vote on a show of hands, but if the proxy
does so, the proxy must vote that way; and
(b) if the proxy has 2 or more appointments that specify different
ways to vote on the resolution—the proxy must not vote on a
show of hands; and
(c) if the proxy is the chair of the meeting at which the resolution
is voted on—the proxy must vote on a poll, and must vote
that way; and
(d) if the proxy is not the chair—the proxy need not vote on the
poll, but if the proxy does so, the proxy must vote that way.
If a proxy is also a member, this subsection does not affect the way
that the person can cast any votes they hold as a member.
Note: A company’s constitution may provide that a proxy is not entitled to
vote on a show of hands (see subsection 249Y(2)).
(2) If the chair contravenes subsection (1), the chair commits an
offence if the appointment as a proxy resulted from:
(a) the company sending to members:
(i) a list of persons willing to act as proxies; or
(ii) a proxy appointment form holding the chair out as being
willing to act as a proxy; or
(b) the operation of section 250BC.
(3) If a person other than the chair contravenes paragraph (1)(a) or (d),
the person commits an offence if the person:
(a) agreed to the appointment; or
(b) held himself or herself out, or caused another person to hold
him or her out, as being willing to act as a proxy in relation
to the appointment.
(4) If a person other than the chair contravenes paragraph (1)(b), the
person commits an offence if, in relation to at least 2 of the
different ways of voting specified by the appointments, the person:
(a) agreed to at least one of the appointments specifying that way
of voting; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
Proxies and body corporate representatives Division 6
Section 250BC
Corporations Act 2001 383
(b) held himself or herself out, or caused another person to hold
him or her out, as being willing to act as a proxy in relation
to at least one of the appointments specifying that way of
voting.
(5) An offence against subsection (2), (3) or (4) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
250BC Transfer of non-chair proxy to chair in certain
circumstances
If:
(a) an appointment of a proxy specifies the way the proxy is to
vote on a particular resolution at a meeting of the company’s
members; and
(b) the appointed proxy is not the chair of the meeting; and
(c) at the meeting, a poll is duly demanded on the question that
the resolution be passed; and
(d) either of the following apply:
(i) if a record of attendance is made for the meeting—the
proxy is not recorded as attending;
(ii) the proxy does not vote on the resolution;
the chair of the meeting is taken, before voting on the resolution
closes, to have been appointed as the proxy for the purposes of
voting on the resolution at that meeting.
250BD Proxy voting by key management personnel or closely
related parties
(1) A person appointed as a proxy must not vote, on the basis of that
appointment, on a resolution connected directly or indirectly with
the remuneration of a member of the key management personnel
for the company or, if the company is part of a consolidated entity,
for the entity if:
(a) the person is either:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 6 Proxies and body corporate representatives
Section 250BD
384 Corporations Act 2001
(i) a member of the key management personnel for the
company or, if the company is part of a consolidated
entity, for the entity; or
(ii) a closely related party of a member of the key
management personnel for the company or, if the
company is part of a consolidated entity, for the entity;
and
(b) the appointment does not specify the way the proxy is to vote
on the resolution.
Note 1: Examples of resolutions connected directly or indirectly with the
remuneration of a member of the key management personnel for the
company or entity include:
(a) resolutions that must be put to the vote under subsection 250R(2) (about a resolution that the remuneration report for a listed company be adopted); and
(b) resolutions that must be put to the vote under subsection 250V(1) (about fresh elections for directors at meetings arising from concerns about remuneration reports); and
(c) resolutions determining directors’ remuneration as mentioned in section 202A; and
(d) resolutions for the purposes of Chapter 2E (about public companies and entities they control giving financial benefits to related parties of public companies) affecting directors’ remuneration.
Note 2: Subsections 250R(4) and 250V(2) also prevent the person from voting
on the resolution if it is a resolution that must be put to the vote under
subsection 250R(2) or 250V(1).
Note 3: Section 224 may also prohibit the person from voting on the
resolution if it is a resolution for the purposes of Chapter 2E.
Note 4: Failure to comply with this subsection is an offence: see
subsection 1311(1).
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if:
(a) the person is the chair of the meeting at which the resolution
is voted on; and
(b) the appointment expressly authorises the chair to exercise the
proxy even if the resolution is connected directly or
indirectly with the remuneration of a member of the key
management personnel for the company or, if the company is
part of a consolidated entity, for the entity.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
Proxies and body corporate representatives Division 6
Section 250C
Corporations Act 2001 385
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in
subsection (2): see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
(3) ASIC may by writing declare that:
(a) subsection (1) does not apply to a specified resolution; or
(b) subsection (1) does not prevent the casting of a vote, on a
specified resolution, by or on behalf of a specified entity;
but may do so only if satisfied that the declaration will not cause
unfair prejudice to the interests of any member of the company.
The declaration has effect accordingly. The declaration is not a
legislative instrument.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in
subsection (3): see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
(4) A vote cast in contravention of subsection (1) is taken not to have
been cast. This subsection has effect for the purposes of this Act
except subsection (1) and subsections 250R(4) and (7), and
section 1311 and Schedule 3 so far as they relate to any of those
subsections.
Note: This means the vote is not counted in working out a percentage of
votes cast or whether the resolution is passed, and does not affect the
validity of the resolution.
250C Validity of proxy vote
Proxy vote valid even if proxy cannot vote as member
(1) A proxy who is not entitled to vote on a resolution as a member
may vote as a proxy for another member who can vote if their
appointment specifies the way they are to vote on the resolution
and they vote that way.
Proxy vote valid even if member dies, revokes appointment etc.
(replaceable rule—see section 135)
(2) Unless the company has received written notice of the matter
before the start or resumption of the meeting at which a proxy
votes, a vote cast by the proxy will be valid even if, before the
proxy votes:
(a) the appointing member dies; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 6 Proxies and body corporate representatives
Section 250D
386 Corporations Act 2001
(b) the member is mentally incapacitated; or
(c) the member revokes the proxy’s appointment; or
(d) the member revokes the authority under which the proxy was
appointed by a third party; or
(e) the member transfers the share in respect of which the proxy
was given.
Note: A proxy’s authority to vote is suspended while the member is present
at the meeting (see subsection 249Y(3)).
250D Body corporate representative
(1) A body corporate may appoint an individual as a representative to
exercise all or any of the powers the body corporate may exercise:
(a) at meetings of a company’s members; or
(b) at meetings of creditors or debenture holders; or
(c) relating to resolutions to be passed without meetings; or
(d) in the capacity of a member’s proxy appointed under
subsection 249X(1).
The appointment may be a standing one.
(2) The appointment may set out restrictions on the representative’s
powers. If the appointment is to be by reference to a position held,
the appointment must identify the position.
(3) A body corporate may appoint more than 1 representative but only
1 representative may exercise the body’s powers at any one time.
(4) Unless otherwise specified in the appointment, the representative
may exercise, on the body corporate’s behalf, all of the powers that
the body could exercise at a meeting or in voting on a resolution.
Note: For resolutions of members without meetings, see sections 249A and
249B.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
Voting at meetings of members Division 7
Section 250E
Corporations Act 2001 387
Division 7—Voting at meetings of members
250E How many votes a member has (replaceable rule—see
section 135)
Company with share capital
(1) Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any class of shares,
at a meeting of members of a company with a share capital:
(a) on a show of hands, each member has 1 vote; and
(b) on a poll, each member has 1 vote for each share they hold.
Note: Unless otherwise specified in the appointment, a body corporate
representative has all the powers that a body corporate has as a
member (including the power to vote on a show of hands).
Company without share capital
(2) Each member of a company that does not have a share capital has 1
vote, both on a show of hands and a poll.
Chair’s casting vote
(3) The chair has a casting vote, and also, if they are a member, any
vote they have in their capacity as a member.
Note 1: The chair may be precluded from voting, for example, by a conflict of
interest.
Note 2: For rights to appoint proxies, see section 249X.
250F Jointly held shares (replaceable rule—see section 135)
If a share is held jointly and more than 1 member votes in respect
of that share, only the vote of the member whose name appears
first in the register of members counts.
250G Objections to right to vote (replaceable rule—see section 135)
A challenge to a right to vote at a meeting of a company’s
members:
(a) may only be made at the meeting; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 7 Voting at meetings of members
Section 250H
388 Corporations Act 2001
(b) must be determined by the chair, whose decision is final.
250H Votes need not all be cast in the same way
On a poll a person voting who is entitled to 2 or more votes:
(a) need not cast all their votes; and
(b) may cast their votes in different ways.
Note: For proxy appointments that specify the way the proxy is to vote on a
particular resolution, see subsection 250BB(1).
250J How voting is carried out (replaceable rule—see section 135)
(1) A resolution put to the vote at a meeting of a company’s members
must be decided on a show of hands unless a poll is demanded.
(1A) Before a vote is taken the chair must inform the meeting whether
any proxy votes have been received and how the proxy votes are to
be cast.
(2) On a show of hands, a declaration by the chair is conclusive
evidence of the result, provided that the declaration reflects the
show of hands and the votes of the proxies received. Neither the
chair nor the minutes need to state the number or proportion of the
votes recorded in favour or against.
Note: Even though the chair’s declaration is conclusive of the voting results,
the members present may demand a poll (see paragraph 250L(3)(c)).
250K Matters on which a poll may be demanded
(1) A poll may be demanded on any resolution.
(2) If a company has a constitution, the constitution may provide that a
poll cannot be demanded on any resolution concerning:
(a) the election of the chair of a meeting; or
(b) the adjournment of a meeting.
(3) A demand for a poll may be withdrawn.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
Voting at meetings of members Division 7
Section 250L
Corporations Act 2001 389
250L When a poll is effectively demanded
(1) At a meeting of a company’s members, a poll may be demanded
by:
(a) at least 5 members entitled to vote on the resolution; or
(b) members with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast on the
resolution on a poll; or
(c) the chair.
Note: A proxy may join in the demand for a poll (see
paragraph 249Y(1)(c)).
(2) If a company has a constitution, the constitution may provide that
fewer members or members with a lesser percentage of votes may
demand a poll.
(3) The poll may be demanded:
(a) before a vote is taken; or
(b) before the voting results on a show of hands are declared; or
(c) immediately after the voting results on a show of hands are
declared.
(4) The percentage of votes that members have is to be worked out as
at the midnight before the poll is demanded.
250M When and how polls must be taken (replaceable rule—see
section 135)
(1) A poll demanded on a matter other than the election of a chair or
the question of an adjournment must be taken when and in the
manner the chair directs.
(2) A poll on the election of a chair or on the question of an
adjournment must be taken immediately.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 8 AGMs of public companies
Section 250N
390 Corporations Act 2001
Division 8—AGMs of public companies
250N Public company must hold AGM
(1) A public company must hold an annual general meeting (AGM)
within 18 months after its registration.
(2) A public company must hold an AGM at least once in each
calendar year and within 5 months after the end of its financial
year.
Note: An AGM held to satisfy this subsection may also satisfy
subsection (1).
(2A) An offence based on subsection (1) or (2) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(3) An AGM is to be held in addition to any other meetings held by a
public company in the year.
Note 1: The company’s annual financial report, directors’ report and auditor’s
report must be laid before the AGM (see section 317).
Note 2: The rules in sections 249C-250M apply to an AGM.
(4) A public company that has only 1 member is not required to hold
an AGM under this section.
250P Extension of time for holding AGM
(1) A public company may lodge an application with ASIC to extend
the period within which section 250N requires the company to hold
an AGM.
(2) If the company applies before the end of the period within which
the company would otherwise be required to hold an AGM, ASIC
may extend the period in writing. ASIC must specify the period of
the extension.
(3) A company granted an extension under subsection (2) must hold its
AGM within the extended period.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
AGMs of public companies Division 8
Section 250PAA
Corporations Act 2001 391
(4) ASIC may impose conditions on the extension and the company
must comply with those conditions.
(5) An offence based on subsection (3) or (4) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
250PAA Exemptions by ASIC—class orders relating to
externally-administered companies
(1) ASIC may, by legislative instrument, make an order exempting any
of the following from section 250N:
(a) a specified class of companies that are being wound up;
(b) a specified class of companies under administration;
(c) a specified class of companies subject to deeds of company
arrangement.
(2) The order may be:
(a) unconditional; or
(b) subject to one or more specified conditions.
(3) ASIC must cause a copy of the order to be published in the
Gazette.
250PAB Exemptions by ASIC—individual externally-administered
companies
(1) The liquidator of a company that is being wound up may lodge an
application with ASIC to exempt the company from section 250N.
(2) The administrator of a company under administration may lodge an
application with ASIC to exempt the company from section 250N.
(3) The administrator of a deed of company arrangement may lodge an
application with ASIC to exempt the company from section 250N.
(4) If an application is lodged under subsection (1), (2) or (3), ASIC
may, by writing, exempt the company from section 250N.
(5) The exemption may be:
(a) unconditional; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 8 AGMs of public companies
Section 250PA
392 Corporations Act 2001
(b) subject to one or more specified conditions.
(6) ASIC must cause a copy of the exemption to be published in the
Gazette.
250PA Written questions to auditor submitted by members of listed
company before AGM
Member may submit question
(1) A member of a listed company who is entitled to cast a vote at the
AGM may submit a written question to the auditor under this
section if the question is relevant to:
(a) the content of the auditor’s report to be considered at the
AGM; or
(b) the conduct of the audit of the annual financial report to be
considered at the AGM.
The member submits the question to the auditor under this
subsection by giving the question to the listed company no later
than the fifth business day before the day on which the AGM is
held.
(2) Despite the question being one that is addressed to the auditor, the
listed company may:
(a) examine the contents of the question; and
(b) make a copy of the question.
Company to pass question on to auditor
(3) The listed company must, as soon as practicable after the question
is received by the company, pass the question on to the auditor.
The company must pass the question on to the auditor even if the
company believes the question is not relevant to the matters
specified in paragraph (1)(a) and (b).
Contravention by individual auditor
(4) If the auditor is an individual auditor, the auditor contravenes this
subsection if the auditor does not prepare, and give to the listed
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
AGMs of public companies Division 8
Section 250PA
Corporations Act 2001 393
company, a document (the question list) that sets out the questions
that:
(a) the listed company has passed on to the auditor; and
(b) the auditor considers to be relevant to the matters specified in
paragraphs (1)(a) and (b);
as soon as practicable after the end of the time for submitting
questions under subsection (1) and a reasonable time before the
AGM.
(5) An offence based on subsection (4) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
Contravention by lead auditor
(6) A person contravenes this subsection if:
(a) the auditor is an audit firm or audit company; and
(b) the person is the lead auditor for the audit; and
(c) the person does not prepare, and give to the listed company, a
document (the question list) that sets out the questions that:
(i) the listed company has passed on to the auditor; and
(ii) the person considers to be relevant to the matters
specified in paragraphs (1)(a) or (b);
as soon as practicable after the end of the time for submitting
questions under subsection (1) and a reasonable time before
the AGM.
(7) An offence based on subsection (6) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
Certain questions do not need to be included in question list
(8) A question need not be included in the question list under
subsection (4) or (6) if:
(a) the question list includes a question that is the same in
substance as that question (even if it is differently expressed);
or
(b) it is not practicable to include the question in the question
list, or to decide whether to include the question in the
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 8 AGMs of public companies
Section 250R
394 Corporations Act 2001
question list, because of the time when the question is passed
on to the auditor.
Listed company to make question list available at AGM
(9) The listed company must, at or before the start of the AGM, make
copies of the question list reasonably available to the members
attending the AGM.
250R Business of AGM
(1) The business of an AGM may include any of the following, even if
not referred to in the notice of meeting:
(a) the consideration of the annual financial report, directors’
report and auditor’s report;
(b) the election of directors;
(c) the appointment of the auditor;
(d) the fixing of the auditor’s remuneration.
Advisory resolution for adoption of remuneration report
(2) At a listed company’s AGM, a resolution that the remuneration
report be adopted must be put to the vote.
Note: Under paragraph 249L(2)(a), the notice of the AGM must inform
members that this resolution will be put at the AGM.
(3) The vote on the resolution is advisory only and does not bind the
directors or the company.
Voting on advisory resolution by key management personnel or
closely related parties
(4) A vote on the resolution must not be cast (in any capacity) by or on
behalf of either of the following persons:
(a) a member of the key management personnel details of whose
remuneration are included in the remuneration report;
(b) a closely related party of such a member.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
AGMs of public companies Division 8
Section 250R
Corporations Act 2001 395
(5) However, a person (the voter) described in subsection (4) may cast
a vote on the resolution as a proxy if the vote is not cast on behalf
of a person described in subsection (4) and either:
(a) the voter is appointed as a proxy by writing that specifies the
way the proxy is to vote on the resolution; or
(b) the voter is the chair of the meeting and the appointment of
the chair as proxy:
(i) does not specify the way the proxy is to vote on the
resolution; and
(ii) expressly authorises the chair to exercise the proxy even
if the resolution is connected directly or indirectly with
the remuneration of a member of the key management
personnel for the company or, if the company is part of
a consolidated entity, for the entity.
(6) ASIC may by writing declare that:
(a) subsection (4) does not apply to a specified resolution; or
(b) subsection (4) does not prevent the casting of a vote, on a
specified resolution, by or on behalf of a specified entity;
but may do so only if satisfied that the declaration will not cause
unfair prejudice to the interests of any member of the listed
company. The declaration has effect accordingly. The declaration
is not a legislative instrument.
(7) A person described in subsection (4) contravenes this subsection if
a vote on the resolution is cast by or on behalf of the person in
contravention of that subsection (whether or not the resolution is
passed).
Note: A contravention of this subsection is an offence: see
subsection 1311(1).
(8) A vote cast in contravention of subsection (4) is taken not to have
been cast. This subsection has effect for the purposes of this Act
except subsections (4) and (7) and subsection 250BD(1), and
section 1311 and Schedule 3 so far as they relate to any of those
subsections.
Note: This means the vote is not counted in working out a percentage of
votes cast or whether the resolution is passed, and does not affect the
validity of the resolution.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 8 AGMs of public companies
Section 250RA
396 Corporations Act 2001
(9) For the purposes of this section, a vote is cast on behalf of a person
if, and only if, it is cast:
(a) as proxy for the person; or
(b) otherwise on behalf of the person; or
(c) in respect of a share in respect of which the person has:
(i) power to vote; or
(ii) power to exercise, or control the exercise of, a right to
vote.
(10) Subject to Part 1.1A, subsections (4), (5), (6), (7), (8) and (9) have
effect despite:
(a) anything else in:
(i) this Act; or
(ii) any other law (including the general law) of a State or
Territory; and
(b) anything in the company’s constitution.
250RA Auditor required to attend listed company’s AGM
Contravention by individual auditor
(1) If a listed company’s auditor for a financial year is an individual
auditor, the auditor contravenes this subsection if:
(a) the auditor does not attend the company’s AGM at which the
audit report for that financial year is considered; and
(b) the auditor does not arrange to be represented, at that AGM,
by a person who:
(i) is a suitably qualified member of the audit team that
conducted the audit; and
(ii) is in a position to answer questions about the audit.
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
Contravention by lead auditor
(3) A person contravenes this subsection if:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
AGMs of public companies Division 8
Section 250S
Corporations Act 2001 397
(a) a listed company’s auditor for a financial year is an audit
firm or an audit company; and
(b) the person is the lead auditor for the audit; and
(c) the person is not represented, at the AGM at which the audit
report for that financial year is considered, by a person who:
(i) is a suitably qualified member of the audit team that
conducted the audit; and
(ii) is in a position to answer questions about the audit.
(4) An offence based on subsection (3) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
250S Questions and comments by members on company
management at AGM
(1) The chair of an AGM must allow a reasonable opportunity for the
members as a whole at the meeting to ask questions about or make
comments on the management of the company.
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
250SA Listed company—remuneration report
At a listed company’s AGM, the chair must allow a reasonable
opportunity for the members as a whole to ask questions about, or
make comments on, the remuneration report. This section does not
limit section 250S.
250T Questions by members of auditors at AGM
(1) If the company’s auditor or their representative is at the meeting,
the chair of an AGM must:
(a) allow a reasonable opportunity for the members as a whole at
the meeting to ask the auditor or the auditor’s representative
questions relevant to:
(i) the conduct of the audit; and
(ii) the preparation and content of the auditor’s report; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 8 AGMs of public companies
Section 250T
398 Corporations Act 2001
(iii) the accounting policies adopted by the company in
relation to the preparation of the financial statements;
and
(iv) the independence of the auditor in relation to the
conduct of the audit; and
(b) allow a reasonable opportunity for the auditor or their
representative to answer written questions submitted to the
auditor under section 250PA.
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(3) If :
(a) the company’s auditor or their representative is at the
meeting; and
(b) the auditor has prepared a written answer to a written
question submitted to the auditor under section 250PA;
the Chair of the AGM may permit the auditor or their
representative to table the written answer to the written question.
(4) The listed company must make the written answer tabled under
subsection (3) reasonably available to members as soon as
practicable after the AGM.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
Meetings arising from concerns about remuneration reports Division 9
Section 250U
Corporations Act 2001 399
Division 9—Meetings arising from concerns about
remuneration reports
250U Application
This Division applies in relation to a listed company if:
(a) at an AGM (the later AGM) of the company, at least 25% of
the votes cast on a resolution that the remuneration report be
adopted were against adoption of the report; and
(b) at the immediately preceding AGM (the earlier AGM) of the
company, at least 25% of the votes cast on a resolution that
the remuneration report be adopted were against adoption of
the report; and
(c) a resolution was not put to the vote at the earlier AGM under
an earlier application of section 250V.
Note: Subsection 250R(2) requires a resolution to adopt a remuneration
report for a listed company to be put to the vote at the company’s
AGM.
250V Resolution to hold fresh elections for directors at special
meeting to be put to vote at AGM
(1) At the later AGM, there must be put to the vote a resolution (the
spill resolution) that:
(a) another meeting (the spill meeting) of the company’s
members be held within 90 days; and
(b) all the company’s directors who:
(i) were directors of the company when the resolution to
make the directors’ report considered at the later AGM
was passed; and
(ii) are not a managing director of the company who may,
in accordance with the listing rules for a prescribed
financial market in whose official list the company is
included, continue to hold office indefinitely without
being re-elected to the office;
cease to hold office immediately before the end of the spill
meeting; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 9 Meetings arising from concerns about remuneration reports
Section 250W
400 Corporations Act 2001
(c) resolutions to appoint persons to offices that will be vacated
immediately before the end of the spill meeting be put to the
vote at the spill meeting.
(2) Subsections 250R(4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10), and other
provisions of this Act so far as they relate to any of those
subsections, apply in relation to the spill resolution in the same
way as they apply in relation to a resolution that a remuneration
report be adopted.
(3) To avoid doubt, section 203D does not apply in relation to the spill
resolution.
250W Consequences of spill resolution being passed
(1) This section applies if the spill resolution is passed.
Deadline for holding spill meeting
(2) The company must hold the spill meeting within 90 days after the
spill resolution was passed.
(3) Nothing in subsection (2) authorises any person to disregard:
(a) section 249HA (Amount of notice of meetings of listed
company); or
(b) if a person intends to move a resolution relating to the
appointment of a director of the company—any provision of
the company’s constitution that requires a minimum period
of notice for such a resolution.
Note: Division 3 (which includes section 249HA) deals with giving notice of
the spill meeting. Division 5 contains rules relevant to holding the
spill meeting.
If relevant directors cease to hold office before deadline
(4) The company need not hold the spill meeting within 90 days after
the spill resolution was passed if, before the end of that period,
none of the company’s directors described in paragraph 250V(1)(b)
remain as directors of the company.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
Meetings arising from concerns about remuneration reports Division 9
Section 250X
Corporations Act 2001 401
Consequences of failure to hold spill meeting in time
(5) If the company does not hold the spill meeting within 90 days after
the spill resolution was passed, each person who is a director of the
company at the end of those 90 days commits an offence.
Note: A person who is a director at the end of those 90 days may commit an
offence even if he or she was not a director when the spill resolution
was passed.
(6) An offence against subsection (5) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(7) Subsection (5) does not apply if the company need not hold the
spill meeting because of subsection (4).
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in
subsection (7): see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
(8) Subsection (5) does not apply to a person who was not a director of
the company at any time during the period:
(a) starting when the spill resolution was passed; and
(b) ending at the last time notice of the spill meeting could have
been given to hold the spill meeting within 90 days after the
spill resolution was passed and comply with section 249HA
(Amount of notice of meetings of listed company).
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in
subsection (8): see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
Cessation of relevant directors and commencement of
newly-appointed directors
(9) All the company’s directors described in paragraph 250V(1)(b)
cease to hold office immediately before the end of the spill meeting
and the directors appointed by the meeting commence to hold
office at the end of that meeting. This subsection has effect despite
anything else in this Act and the company’s constitution.
250X Ensuring there are at least 3 directors after spill meeting
(1) This section applies if there would be fewer than 3 directors of the
company immediately after the spill meeting apart from this
section.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.2 Meetings of members of companies
Division 9 Meetings arising from concerns about remuneration reports
Section 250X
402 Corporations Act 2001
Note: Subsection 201A(2) requires the company to have at least 3 directors.
(2) Enough directors to ensure that the company has 3 directors
immediately after the spill meeting are taken to have been
appointed, by resolution passed at the spill meeting, from the
persons who:
(a) gave the company signed consents to act as directors of the
company in anticipation of being appointed by such a
resolution; and
(b) were not appointed as directors by such a resolution apart
from this section.
Note: The number of directors taken under subsection (2) to have been
appointed is the difference between 3 and the number of directors
holding office immediately after the spill meeting apart from this
section.
(3) The persons taken to have been appointed are those with the
highest percentages of votes favouring their appointment cast at the
spill meeting on the resolution for their appointment (even if less
than half the votes cast on the resolution were in favour of their
appointment).
Example: Suppose that, under subsection (2), 2 directors are taken to have been
appointed, and the percentages of votes favouring appointment were
50% for Jean, 40% for Karl and 30% for Lionel. Jean and Karl would
both be taken to have been appointed directors, but Lionel would not.
(4) For the purposes of this section, if 2 or more persons have the same
percentage of votes favouring their appointment, the one of those
persons chosen by the director or directors who hold office apart
from this subsection is taken to have a higher percentage than the
rest of those persons.
Note: A director who holds office apart from subsection (4) could make a
series of choices if 3 or more persons all have the same percentage of
votes favouring their appointment and it is necessary to work out
which 2 of those persons are taken to be appointed as directors.
(5) If a person is taken to have been appointed because of a choice
under subsection (4), the company must confirm the appointment
by resolution at the company’s next AGM. If the appointment is
not confirmed, the person ceases to be a director of the company at
the end of the AGM.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of companies Part 2G.2
Meetings arising from concerns about remuneration reports Division 9
Section 250Y
Corporations Act 2001 403
(6) This section has effect despite anything else in this Act and the
company’s constitution.
250Y Term of office of director reappointed at spill meeting
If a director who ceased to hold office immediately before the end
of the spill meeting is appointed as director by resolution passed at
the spill meeting, his or her term of office runs as if the cessation
and appointment had not happened.
Note: This section is subject to subsection 250X(5).
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.3 Minutes and members’ access to minutes
Section 251A
404 Corporations Act 2001
Part 2G.3—Minutes and members’ access to
minutes
251A Minutes
(1) A company must keep minute books in which it records within 1
month:
(a) proceedings and resolutions of meetings of the company’s
members; and
(b) proceedings and resolutions of directors’ meetings (including
meetings of a committee of directors); and
(c) resolutions passed by members without a meeting; and
(d) resolutions passed by directors without a meeting; and
(e) if the company is a proprietary company with only 1
director—the making of declarations by the director.
Note: For resolutions and declarations without meetings, see sections 248A,
248B, 249A and 249B.
(2) The company must ensure that minutes of a meeting are signed
within a reasonable time after the meeting by 1 of the following:
(a) the chair of the meeting;
(b) the chair of the next meeting.
(3) The company must ensure that minutes of the passing of a
resolution without a meeting are signed by a director within a
reasonable time after the resolution is passed.
(4) The director of a proprietary company with only 1 director must
sign the minutes of the making of a declaration by the director
within a reasonable time after the declaration is made.
(5) A company must keep its minute books at:
(a) its registered office; or
(b) its principal place of business in this jurisdiction; or
(c) another place in this jurisdiction approved by ASIC.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Minutes and members’ access to minutes Part 2G.3
Section 251AA
Corporations Act 2001 405
(5A) An offence based on subsection (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) is an offence
of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(6) A minute that is so recorded and signed is evidence of the
proceeding, resolution or declaration to which it relates, unless the
contrary is proved.
251AA Disclosure of proxy votes—listed companies
(1) A company must record in the minutes of a meeting, in respect of
each resolution in the notice of meeting, the total number of proxy
votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed and:
(a) if the resolution is decided by a show of hands—the total
number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments
specified that:
(i) the proxy is to vote for the resolution; and
(ii) the proxy is to vote against the resolution; and
(iii) the proxy is to abstain on the resolution; and
(iv) the proxy may vote at the proxy’s discretion; and
(b) if the resolution is decided on a poll—the information
specified in paragraph (a) and the total number of votes cast
on the poll:
(i) in favour of the resolution; and
(ii) against the resolution; and
(iii) abstaining on the resolution.
(2) A company that must notify the operator of each market on which
financial products of the company are listed of a resolution passed
by members at a meeting of the company must, at the same time,
give the relevant market operator the information specified in
subsection (1).
(3) This section only applies to a company that is listed.
(4) This section applies despite anything in the company’s
constitution.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.3 Minutes and members’ access to minutes
Section 251B
406 Corporations Act 2001
251B Members’ access to minutes
(1) A company must ensure that the minute books for the meetings of
its members and for resolutions of members passed without
meetings are open for inspection by members free of charge.
(2) A member of a company may ask the company in writing for a
copy of:
(a) any minutes of a meeting of the company’s members or an
extract of the minutes; or
(b) any minutes of a resolution passed by members without a
meeting.
(3) If the company does not require the member to pay for the copy,
the company must send it:
(a) within 14 days after the member asks for it; or
(b) within any longer period that ASIC approves.
(4) If the company requires payment for the copy, the company must
send it:
(a) within 14 days after the company receives the payment; or
(b) within any longer period that ASIC approves.
The amount of any payment the company requires cannot exceed
the prescribed amount.
(5) An offence based on subsection (1), (3) or (4) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes Part 2G.4
Who may call meetings of members Division 1
Section 252A
Corporations Act 2001 407
Part 2G.4—Meetings of members of registered
managed investment schemes
Division 1—Who may call meetings of members
252A Calling of meetings of members by responsible entity
The responsible entity of a registered scheme may call a meeting of
the scheme’s members.
252B Calling of meetings of members by responsible entity when
requested by members
(1) The responsible entity of a registered scheme must call and arrange
to hold a meeting of the scheme’s members to consider and vote on
a proposed special or extraordinary resolution on the request of:
(a) members with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast on the
resolution; or
(b) at least 100 members who are entitled to vote on the
resolution.
(1A) The regulations may prescribe a different number of members for
the purposes of the application of paragraph (1)(b) to:
(a) a particular scheme; or
(b) a particular class of scheme.
Without limiting this, the regulations may specify the number as a
percentage of the total number of members of the scheme.
(2) The request must:
(a) be in writing; and
(b) state any resolution to be proposed at the meeting; and
(c) be signed by the members proposing to move the resolution.
(3) The request may be accompanied by a statement about the
proposed resolution provided by the members making the request.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.4 Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes
Division 1 Who may call meetings of members
Section 252C
408 Corporations Act 2001
(4) Separate copies of a document setting out the request and statement
(if any) may be used for signing by members if the wording of the
request and statement (if any) is identical in each copy.
(5) The percentage of the votes that members have is to be worked out
as at the midnight before the request is given to the responsible
entity.
(6) The responsible entity must call the meeting within 21 days after
the request is given to it. The meeting is to be held not later than 2
months after the request is given to the responsible entity.
(7) The responsible entity must give to each of the members a copy of
the proposed resolution and statement (if any) at the same time, or
as soon as practicable afterwards, as it gives notice of the meeting.
The responsible entity must distribute the copies in the same way
in which it gives notice of the meeting.
(8) The responsible entity does not have to distribute a copy of the
resolution or statement if either is more than 1,000 words long or
defamatory.
(9) The responsible entity is responsible for the expenses of calling
and holding the meeting and making the distribution. The
responsible entity may meet those expenses from the scheme’s
assets.
252C Failure of responsible entity to call meeting of the scheme’s
members
(1) Members with more than 50% of the votes carried by interests held
by the members who make a request under section 252B may call
and arrange to hold a meeting of the scheme’s members and
distribute the statement (if any) if the responsible entity does not
do so within 21 days after the request is given to the responsible
entity.
(2) The meeting must be called and the statement is to be distributed in
the same way—so far as is possible—in which meetings of the
scheme’s members may be called by the responsible entity and
information is distributed to members by the responsible entity.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes Part 2G.4
Who may call meetings of members Division 1
Section 252D
Corporations Act 2001 409
The meeting must be held not later than 3 months after the request
is given to the responsible entity.
(3) To call the meeting the members requesting the meeting may ask
the responsible entity under section 173 for a copy of the register
of members. Despite paragraph 173(3)(b), the responsible entity
must give the members requesting the meeting the copy of the
register without charge.
(4) The responsible entity must pay the reasonable expenses the
members incurred because the responsible entity failed to call and
arrange to hold the meeting and to make the distribution (if any).
The responsible entity must not pay those expenses from the
scheme’s assets.
(5) An offence based on subsection (3) or (4) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
252D Calling of meetings of members by members
(1) Members of a registered scheme who hold interests carrying at
least 5% of the votes that may be cast at a meeting of the scheme’s
members may call and arrange to hold a meeting of the scheme’s
members to consider and vote on a proposed special resolution or a
proposed extraordinary resolution. The members calling the
meeting must pay the expenses of calling and holding the meeting.
(2) The meeting must be called in the same way—so far as is
possible—in which meetings of the scheme’s members may be
called by the responsible entity.
(3) The percentage of the votes carried by interests that members hold
is to be worked out as at the midnight before the meeting is called.
252E Calling of meetings of members by the Court
(1) The Court may order a meeting of a registered scheme’s members
to be called to consider and vote on a proposed special or
extraordinary resolution if it is impracticable to call the meeting in
any other way.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.4 Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes
Division 1 Who may call meetings of members
Section 252E
410 Corporations Act 2001
(2) The Court may make the order on application by:
(a) the responsible entity; or
(b) any member of the scheme who would be entitled to vote at
the meeting.
Note: For the directions the Court may give for calling, holding or
conducting a meeting it has ordered be called, see section 1319.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes Part 2G.4
How to call meetings of members Division 2
Section 252F
Corporations Act 2001 411
Division 2—How to call meetings of members
252F Amount of notice of meetings
At least 21 days notice must be given of a meeting of the members
of a registered scheme. However, the scheme’s constitution may
specify a longer minimum period of notice.
252G Notice of meetings of members to members, directors and
auditors
Notice to members, directors and auditors individually
(1) Written notice of a meeting of a registered scheme’s members must
be given to:
(a) each member of the scheme entitled to vote at the meeting;
and
(b) each director of the responsible entity; and
(c) the auditor of the scheme; and
(d) the auditor of the scheme compliance plan.
If an interest is held jointly, notice need only be given to 1 of the
members.
Notice to joint members
(2) Unless the scheme’s constitution provides otherwise, notice to joint
members must be given to the joint member named first in the
register of members.
How notice is given
(3) Unless the scheme’s constitution provides otherwise, the
responsible entity may give notice of the meeting to a member:
(a) personally; or
(b) by sending it by post to the address for the member in the
register of members or an alternative address (if any)
nominated by the member; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.4 Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes
Division 2 How to call meetings of members
Section 252H
412 Corporations Act 2001
(c) by sending it to the fax number or electronic address (if any)
nominated by the member.
Note: A defect in the notice given may not invalidate a meeting (see
section 1322).
When notice by post or fax is given
(4) Unless the scheme’s constitution provides otherwise, a notice of
meeting sent by post is taken to be given 3 days after it is posted. A
notice of meeting sent by fax, or other electronic means, is taken to
be given on the business day after it is sent.
252H Auditors entitled to other communications
(1) The responsible entity of a registered scheme must give the auditor
of the scheme and the auditor of the scheme compliance plan any
other communications relating to the meeting that a member of the
scheme is entitled to receive.
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
252J Contents of notice of meetings of members
A notice of a meeting of a registered scheme’s members must:
(a) set out the place, date and time for the meeting (and, if the
meeting is to be held in 2 or more places, the technology that
will be used to facilitate this); and
(b) state the general nature of the meeting’s business; and
(c) if a special or extraordinary resolution is to be proposed at
the meeting—set out an intention to propose the special or
extraordinary resolution and state the resolution; and
(d) contain a statement setting out the following information:
(i) that the member has a right to appoint a proxy;
(ii) that the proxy does not need to be a member of the
registered scheme;
(iii) that if the member appoints 2 proxies the member may
specify the proportion or number of votes the proxy is
appointed to exercise.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes Part 2G.4
How to call meetings of members Division 2
Section 252K
Corporations Act 2001 413
Note: There may be other requirements for disclosure to members.
252K Notice of adjourned meetings
When a meeting is adjourned, new notice of the adjourned meeting
must be given if the meeting is adjourned for 1 month or more.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.4 Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes
Division 3 Members’ rights to put resolutions etc. at meetings of members
Section 252L
414 Corporations Act 2001
Division 3—Members’ rights to put resolutions etc. at
meetings of members
252L Members’ resolutions
(1) The following members of a registered scheme may give the
responsible entity notice of a resolution that they propose to move
at a meeting of the scheme’s members:
(a) members with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast on the
resolution; or
(b) at least 100 members who are entitled to vote at a meeting of
the scheme’s members.
(1A) The regulations may prescribe a different number of members for
the purposes of the application of paragraph (1)(b) to:
(a) a particular scheme; or
(b) a particular class of scheme.
Without limiting this, the regulations may specify the number as a
percentage of the total number of members of the scheme.
(1B) The resolution must be:
(a) a special resolution; or
(b) an extraordinary resolution; or
(c) a resolution to remove the responsible entity of a scheme that
is listed and choose a new responsible entity.
(2) The notice must:
(a) be in writing; and
(b) set out the wording of the proposed resolution; and
(c) be signed by the members giving the notice.
(3) Separate copies of a document setting out the notice may be used
for signing by members if the wording of the notice is identical in
each copy.
(4) The percentage of the votes that members have is to be worked out
as at the midnight before the members give the notice.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes Part 2G.4
Members’ rights to put resolutions etc. at meetings of members Division 3
Section 252M
Corporations Act 2001 415
252M Responsible entity giving notice of members’ resolutions
(1) If a responsible entity has been given notice of a resolution under
section 252L, the resolution is to be considered at the next meeting
of the scheme’s members that occurs more than 2 months after the
notice is given.
(2) The responsible entity must give all the members of the scheme
notice of the resolution at the same time, or as soon as practicable
afterwards, and in the same way, as it gives notice of a meeting.
(3) The responsible entity is responsible for the cost of giving
members notice of the resolution if the responsible entity receives
the notice in time to send it out to members with the notice of
meeting.
(4) The members requesting the meeting are jointly and individually
liable for the expenses reasonably incurred by the responsible
entity in giving members notice of the resolution if the responsible
entity does not receive the members’ notice in time to send it out
with the notice of meeting. A resolution may be passed at a
meeting of the scheme’s members that the responsible entity is to
meet the expenses out of the scheme’s assets.
(5) The responsible entity need not give notice of the resolution:
(a) if it is more than 1,000 words long or defamatory; or
(b) if the members making the request are to bear the expenses of
sending the notice out—unless the members give the
responsible entity a sum reasonably sufficient to meet the
expenses that it will reasonably incur in giving the notice.
252N Members’ statements to be distributed
(1) Members may request a responsible entity to give to all its
members a statement provided by the members making the request
about:
(a) a resolution that is proposed to be moved at a meeting of the
scheme’s members; or
(b) any other matter that may be properly considered at a
meeting of the scheme’s members.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.4 Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes
Division 3 Members’ rights to put resolutions etc. at meetings of members
Section 252N
416 Corporations Act 2001
(2) The request must be made by:
(a) members with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast on the
resolution; or
(b) at least 100 members who are entitled to vote at the meeting.
(2A) The regulations may prescribe a different number of members for
the purposes of the application of paragraph (2)(b) to:
(a) a particular scheme; or
(b) a particular class of scheme.
Without limiting this, the regulations may specify the number as a
percentage of the total number of members of the scheme.
(3) The request must be:
(a) in writing; and
(b) signed by the members making the request; and
(c) given to the responsible entity.
(4) Separate copies of a document setting out the request may be used
for signing by members if the wording of the request is identical in
each copy.
(5) The percentage of the votes that members have is to be worked out
as at the midnight before the request is given to the responsible
entity.
(6) After receiving the request, the responsible entity must distribute to
all the members of the scheme a copy of the statement at the same
time, or as soon as practicable afterwards, and in the same way, as
it gives notice of a meeting.
(7) The responsible entity is responsible for the cost of making the
distribution if the responsible entity receives the statement in time
to send it out to members with the notice of meeting.
(8) The members making the request are jointly and individually liable
for the expenses reasonably incurred by the responsible entity in
making the distribution if the responsible entity does not receive
the statement in time to send it out with the notice of meeting. A
resolution may be passed at a meeting of the scheme’s members
that the responsible entity is to meet the expenses out of the
scheme’s assets.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes Part 2G.4
Members’ rights to put resolutions etc. at meetings of members Division 3
Section 252N
Corporations Act 2001 417
(9) The responsible entity need not comply with the request:
(a) if the statement is more than 1,000 words long or
defamatory; or
(b) if the members making the request are responsible for the
expenses of the distribution—unless the members give the
company a sum reasonably sufficient to meet the expenses
that it will reasonably incur in making the distribution.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.4 Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes
Division 4 Holding meetings of members
Section 252P
418 Corporations Act 2001
Division 4—Holding meetings of members
252P Time and place for meetings of members
A meeting of a registered scheme’s members must be held at a
reasonable time and place.
252Q Technology
A responsible entity of a registered scheme may hold a meeting of
the scheme’s members at 2 or more venues using any technology
that gives the members as a whole a reasonable opportunity to
participate.
Note: See section 1322 for the consequences of members not being given a
reasonable opportunity to participate.
252R Quorum
(1) This section applies to a registered scheme subject to the
provisions of the scheme’s constitution.
(2) The quorum for a meeting of a registered scheme’s members is 2
members and the quorum must be present at all times during the
meeting.
(3) In determining whether a quorum is present, count individuals
attending as proxies or body corporate representatives. However, if
a member has appointed more than 1 proxy or representative, count
only 1 of them. If an individual is attending both as a member and
as a proxy or body corporate representative, count them only once.
Note 1: For rights to appoint proxies, see section 252V.
Note 2: For body corporate representatives, see section 253B.
(4) A meeting of the scheme’s members that does not have a quorum
present within 30 minutes after the time for the start of the meeting
set out in the notice of meeting is adjourned to the date, time and
place the responsible entity specifies. If the responsible entity does
not specify 1 or more of those things, the meeting is adjourned to:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes Part 2G.4
Holding meetings of members Division 4
Section 252S
Corporations Act 2001 419
(a) if the date is not specified—the same day in the next week;
and
(b) if the time is not specified—the same time; and
(c) if the place is not specified—the same place.
(5) If no quorum is present at the resumed meeting within 30 minutes
after the time for the start of the meeting, the meeting is dissolved.
252S Chairing meetings of members
(1) The responsible entity may, in writing, appoint an individual to
chair a meeting called under section 252A or 252B.
(2) The members present at a meeting called under section 252A or
252B must elect a member present to chair the meeting (or part of
it) if:
(a) a chair has not previously been appointed to chair the
meeting; or
(b) a previously appointed chair is not available, or declines to
act, for the meeting (or part of the meeting).
(3) The members present at a meeting called under section 252C,
252D or 252E must elect a member present to chair the meeting.
This is not so if the meeting is called under section 252E and the
Court has directed otherwise under section 1319.
252T Auditors’ right to be heard at meetings of members
(1) The auditor of a registered scheme and the auditor of the scheme
compliance plan are entitled to attend any meeting of the scheme’s
members.
(2) An auditor is entitled to be heard at the meeting on any part of the
business of the meeting that concerns the auditor in their capacity
as auditor.
(3) An auditor may authorise a person in writing as their representative
for the purpose of attending and speaking at any meeting of the
scheme’s members.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.4 Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes
Division 4 Holding meetings of members
Section 252U
420 Corporations Act 2001
252U Adjourned meetings
(1) A resolution passed at a meeting resumed after an adjournment is
passed on the day it was passed.
(2) Only unfinished business is to be transacted at a meeting resumed
after an adjournment.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes Part 2G.4
Proxies and body corporate representatives Division 5
Section 252V
Corporations Act 2001 421
Division 5—Proxies and body corporate representatives
252V Who can appoint a proxy
(1) A member of a registered scheme who is entitled to attend and cast
a vote at a meeting of the scheme’s members may appoint a person
as the member’s proxy to attend and vote for the member at the
meeting.
(2) The appointment may specify the proportion or number of votes
that the proxy may exercise.
(3) A member may appoint 1 or 2 proxies. If the member appoints 2
proxies and the appointment does not specify the proportion or
number of the member’s votes each proxy may exercise, each
proxy may exercise half of the votes.
(4) Disregard any fractions of votes resulting from the application of
subsection (2) or (3).
252W Rights of proxies
Rights of proxies
(1) A proxy appointed to attend and vote for a member has the same
rights as the member:
(a) to speak at the meeting; and
(b) to vote (but only to the extent allowed by the appointment).
Proxy’s right to vote
(2) A registered scheme’s constitution (if any) may provide that a
proxy is not entitled to vote on a show of hands.
Note: Even if the proxy is not entitled to vote on a show of hands, they may
make or join in the demand for a poll (see section 253L).
Effect of member’s presence on proxy’s authority
(3) A registered scheme’s constitution (if any) may provide for the
effect that a member’s presence at a meeting has on the authority
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.4 Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes
Division 5 Proxies and body corporate representatives
Section 252X
422 Corporations Act 2001
of a proxy appointed to attend and vote for the member. However,
if the constitution does not make such provision, a proxy’s
authority to speak and vote for a member at a meeting is suspended
while the member is present at the meeting.
252X Responsible entity sending appointment forms or lists of
proxies must send to all members
(1) If the responsible entity of a registered scheme sends a member a
proxy appointment form for a meeting or a list of persons willing
to act as proxies at a meeting:
(a) if the member requested the form or list—the responsible
entity must send the form or list to all members who ask for
it and who are entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote
at the meeting; or
(b) otherwise—the responsible entity must send the form or list
to all its members entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and
vote at the meeting.
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
252Y Appointing a proxy
(1) An appointment of a proxy is valid if it is signed by the member of
the registered scheme making the appointment and contains the
following information:
(a) the member’s name and address;
(b) the scheme’s name;
(c) the proxy’s name or the name of the office held by the proxy;
(d) the meetings at which the appointment may be used.
An appointment may be a standing one
(2) A registered scheme’s constitution may provide that an
appointment is valid even if it contains only some of the
information required by subsection (1).
(3) An undated appointment is taken to have been dated on the day it
is given to the responsible entity.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes Part 2G.4
Proxies and body corporate representatives Division 5
Section 252Z
Corporations Act 2001 423
(4) An appointment may specify the way the proxy is to vote on a
particular resolution. If it does:
(a) the proxy need not vote on a show of hands, but if the proxy
does so, the proxy must vote that way; and
(b) if the proxy has 2 or more appointments that specify different
ways to vote on the resolution—the proxy must not vote on a
show of hands; and
(c) if the proxy is the chair—the proxy must vote on a poll, and
must vote that way; and
(d) if the proxy is not the chair—the proxy need not vote on a
poll, but if the proxy does so, the proxy must vote that way.
If a proxy is also a member, this subsection does not affect the way
that the person can cast any votes they hold as a member.
Note: The scheme’s constitution may provide that a proxy is not entitled to
vote on a show of hands (see subsection 252W(2)).
(5) A person who contravenes subsection (4) is guilty of an offence,
but only if their appointment as a proxy resulted from the
responsible entity sending to members:
(a) a list of persons willing to act as proxies; or
(b) a proxy appointment form holding the person out as being
willing to act as a proxy.
(5A) An offence based on subsection (5) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(6) An appointment does not have to be witnessed.
(7) A later appointment revokes an earlier one if both appointments
could not be validly exercised at the meeting.
252Z Proxy documents
Section applies subject to scheme’s constitution
(1) Subsections (2), (3) and (4) apply to a registered scheme subject to
the provisions of the scheme’s constitution.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.4 Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes
Division 5 Proxies and body corporate representatives
Section 252Z
424 Corporations Act 2001
Documents to be received by responsible entity before meeting
(2) For an appointment of a proxy for a meeting of the scheme’s
members to be effective, the following documents must be
received by the responsible entity at least 48 hours before the
meeting:
(a) the proxy’s appointment
(b) if the appointment is signed by the appointor’s attorney—the
authority under which the appointment was signed or a
certified copy of the authority.
Documents received following adjournment of meeting
(3) If a meeting of the scheme’s members has been adjourned, an
appointment and any authority received by the responsible entity at
least 48 hours before the resumption of the meeting are effective
for the resumed part of the meeting.
Receipt of documents
(3A) A responsible entity receives an appointment authority when it is
received at any of the following:
(a) the responsible entity’s registered office;
(b) a fax number at the responsible entity’s registered office;
(c) a place, fax number or electronic address specified for the
purpose in the notice of meeting.
Ineffective appointments of fax or electronic notification
(4) An appointment of a proxy is ineffective if:
(a) the responsible entity receives either or both the appointment
or authority at a fax number or electronic address; and
(b) a requirement (if any) in the notice of meeting that:
(i) the transmission be verified in a way specified in the
notice; or
(ii) the proxy produce the appointment and authority (if
any) at the meeting;
is not complied with.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes Part 2G.4
Proxies and body corporate representatives Division 5
Section 253A
Corporations Act 2001 425
Constitution or notice of meeting may provide for different
notification period
(5) The scheme’s constitution or the notice of meeting may reduce the
period of 48 hours referred to in subsection (2) or (3).
253A Validity of proxy vote
Proxy vote valid even if member dies, revokes appointment etc.
(1) Unless the responsible entity has received written notice of the
matter before the start or resumption of the meeting at which a
proxy votes, a vote cast by the proxy will be valid even if, before
the proxy votes:
(a) the appointing member dies; or
(b) the member is mentally incapacitated; or
(c) the member revokes the proxy’s appointment; or
(d) the member revokes the authority under which the proxy was
appointed by a third party; or
(e) the member transfers the interest in respect of which the
proxy was given.
This subsection applies to a registered scheme subject to the
provisions of the scheme’s constitution.
Note: A proxy’s authority to vote is suspended while the member is present
at the meeting (see subsection 252W(3)).
Proxy vote valid even if proxy cannot vote as member
(2) A proxy who is not entitled to vote on a resolution as a member
may vote as a proxy for another member who can vote if their
appointment specifies the way they are to vote on the resolution
and they vote that way.
253B Body corporate representative
(1) A body corporate may appoint an individual as a representative to
exercise all or any of its powers at a meeting of a registered
scheme’s members. The appointment may be a standing one.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.4 Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes
Division 5 Proxies and body corporate representatives
Section 253B
426 Corporations Act 2001
(2) The appointment must set out what the representative is appointed
to do and may set out restrictions on the representative’s powers. If
the appointment is to be by reference to a position held, the
appointment must identify the position.
(3) A body corporate may appoint more than 1 representative but only
1 representative may exercise the body’s powers at any one time.
(4) Unless otherwise specified in the appointment, the representative
may exercise, on the body corporate’s behalf, all of the powers that
the body could exercise at a meeting or in voting on a resolution.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes Part 2G.4
Voting at meetings of members Division 6
Section 253C
Corporations Act 2001 427
Division 6—Voting at meetings of members
253C How many votes a member has
(1) On a show of hands, each member of a registered scheme has 1
vote.
(2) On a poll, each member of the scheme has 1 vote for each dollar of
the value of the total interests they have in the scheme.
Note 1: For rights to appoint proxies, see section 252V.
Note 2: Unless otherwise specified in the appointment, a body corporate
representative has all the powers that a body corporate has as a
member (including the power to vote on a show of hands).
253D Jointly held interests
If an interest in a registered scheme is held jointly and more than 1
member votes in respect of that interest, only the vote of the
member whose name appears first in the register of members
counts.
253E Responsible entity and associates cannot vote if interested in
resolution
The responsible entity of a registered scheme and its associates are
not entitled to vote their interest on a resolution at a meeting of the
scheme’s members if they have an interest in the resolution or
matter other than as a member. However, if the scheme is listed,
the responsible entity and its associates are entitled to vote their
interest on resolutions to remove the responsible entity and choose
a new responsible entity.
Note: The responsible entity and its associates may vote as proxies if their
appointments specify the way they are to vote and they vote that way
(see subsection 253A(2)).
253F How to work out the value of an interest
The value of an interest in a registered scheme is:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.4 Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes
Division 6 Voting at meetings of members
Section 253G
428 Corporations Act 2001
(a) if it is quoted on a prescribed financial market—the last sale
price on that market on the trading day immediately before
the day on which the poll is taken; or
(b) if it is not quoted on a prescribed financial market and the
scheme is liquid and has a withdrawal provision in its
constitution—the amount that would be paid for the interest
under that provision on the business day immediately before
the day on which the poll is taken; or
(c) in any other case—the amount that the responsible entity
determines in writing to be the price that a willing but not
anxious buyer would pay for the interest if it was sold on the
business day immediately before the day on which the poll is
taken.
253G Objections to a right to vote
A challenge to a right to vote at a meeting of members of a
registered scheme:
(a) may only be made at the meeting; and
(b) must be determined by the chair, whose decision is final.
253H Votes need not all be cast in the same way
On a poll a person voting who is entitled to 2 or more votes:
(a) need not cast all their votes; and
(b) may cast their votes in different ways.
Note: For proxy appointments that specify the proxy is to vote on a
particular resolution, see subsection 252Y(4).
253J How voting is carried out
(1) A special or extraordinary resolution put to the vote at a meeting of
a registered scheme’s members must be decided on a poll.
(2) Any other resolution put to the vote at a meeting of the scheme’s
members must be decided on a show of hands unless a poll is
demanded. The resolution is passed on a poll if it has been passed
by at least 50% of the votes cast by members entitled to vote on the
resolution.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes Part 2G.4
Voting at meetings of members Division 6
Section 253K
Corporations Act 2001 429
(3) On a show of hands, a declaration by the chair is conclusive
evidence of the result. Neither the chair nor the minutes need to
state the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour or
against.
Note: Even though the chair’s declaration is conclusive of the voting results,
the members present may demand a poll (see paragraph 253L(3)(c)).
253K Matters on which a poll may be demanded
(1) A poll may be demanded on any resolution.
(2) A registered scheme’s constitution may provide that a poll cannot
be demanded on any resolution concerning:
(a) the election of the chair of a meeting; or
(b) the adjournment of a meeting.
(3) A demand for a poll may be withdrawn.
253L When a poll is effectively demanded
(1) At a meeting of a registered scheme’s members, a poll may be
demanded by:
(a) at least 5 members present entitled to vote on the resolution;
or
(b) members present with at least 5% of the votes that may be
cast on the resolution on a poll; or
(c) the chair.
(2) A registered scheme’s constitution may provide that fewer
members or members with a lesser percentage of votes may
demand a poll.
(3) The poll may be demanded:
(a) before a vote is taken; or
(b) before the voting results on a show of hands are declared; or
(c) immediately after the voting results on a show of hands are
declared.
(4) The percentage of votes that members have is to be worked out as
at close of business on the day before the poll is demanded.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2G Meetings
Part 2G.4 Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes
Division 7 Minutes and members’ access to minutes
Section 253M
430 Corporations Act 2001
Division 7—Minutes and members’ access to minutes
253M Minutes
(1) A responsible entity of a registered scheme must keep minute
books in which it records within 1 month:
(a) proceedings of meetings of the scheme’s members; and
(b) resolutions of meetings of the scheme’s members.
(2) The responsible entity must ensure that minutes of a meeting are
signed within a reasonable time after the meeting by the chair of
the meeting or the chair of the next meeting.
(3) The responsible entity must keep the minute books at:
(a) its registered office; or
(b) its principal place of business in this jurisdiction; or
(c) another place in this jurisdiction approved by ASIC.
(3A) An offence based on subsection (1), (2) or (3) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(4) A minute that is so recorded and signed is evidence of the
proceeding or resolution to which it relates, unless the contrary is
proved.
253N Members’ access to minutes
(1) The responsible entity of a registered scheme must ensure that the
minute books for the meetings of the scheme’s members are open
for inspection by members free of charge.
(2) A member of a registered scheme may ask the responsible entity in
writing for a copy of any minutes of a meeting of the scheme’s
members or an extract of the minutes.
(3) If the responsible entity does not require the member to pay for the
copy, the responsible entity must send it:
(a) within 14 days after the member asks for it; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Meetings Chapter 2G
Meetings of members of registered managed investment schemes Part 2G.4
Minutes and members’ access to minutes Division 7
Section 253N
Corporations Act 2001 431
(b) within any longer period that ASIC approves.
(4) If the responsible entity requires payment for the copy, the
responsible entity must send it:
(a) within 14 days after the responsible entity receives the
payment; or
(b) within any longer period that ASIC approves.
The amount of any payment the responsible entity requires cannot
exceed the prescribed amount.
(5) An offence based on subsection (1), (3) or (4) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2H Shares
Part 2H.1 Issuing and converting shares
Section 254A
432 Corporations Act 2001
Chapter 2H—Shares
Part 2H.1—Issuing and converting shares
254A Power to issue bonus, partly-paid, preference and redeemable
preference shares
(1) A company’s power under section 124 to issue shares includes the
power to issue:
(a) bonus shares (shares for whose issue no consideration is
payable to the issuing company); and
(b) preference shares (including redeemable preference shares);
and
(c) partly-paid shares (whether or not on the same terms for the
amount of calls to be paid or the time for paying calls).
Note 1: Subsections 246C(5) and (6) provide that in certain circumstances the
issue of preference shares is taken to be a variation of class rights.
Note 2: Partly-paid shares are dealt with in sections 254M-254N.
Note 3: On the issue of a bonus share there need not be any increase in the
company’s share capital.
(2) A company can issue preference shares only if the rights attached
to the preference shares with respect to the following matters are
set out in the company’s constitution (if any) or have been
otherwise approved by special resolution of the company:
(a) repayment of capital;
(b) participation in surplus assets and profits;
(c) cumulative and non-cumulative dividends;
(d) voting;
(e) priority of payment of capital and dividends in relation to
other shares or classes of preference shares.
(3) Redeemable preference shares are preference shares that are issued
on the terms that they are liable to be redeemed. They may be
redeemable:
(a) at a fixed time or on the happening of a particular event; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Shares Chapter 2H
Issuing and converting shares Part 2H.1
Section 254B
Corporations Act 2001 433
(b) at the company’s option; or
(c) at the shareholder’s option.
Note: Redeemable preference shares are dealt with in sections 254J-254L.
254B Terms of issue
(1) A company may determine:
(a) the terms on which its shares are issued; and
(b) the rights and restrictions attaching to the shares.
Note 1: Details of any division of shares into classes or conversion of classes
of shares must be given to ASIC by a notice in the prescribed form
(see subsection 246F(1)).
Note 2: For public companies, any document or resolution that attaches rights
to shares or varies or cancels rights attaching to shares must be lodged
with ASIC (see subsection 246F(3)).
Note 3: Sections 246B-246G provide safeguards in cases where class rights
are cancelled or varied.
Note 4: The company cannot issue par value shares (see section 254C) or
bearer shares (see section 254F).
No liability companies—special terms of issue
(2) A share in a no liability company is issued on the following terms:
(a) if a no liability company is wound up and a surplus remains,
it must be distributed among the parties entitled to it in
proportion to the number of shares held by them, irrespective
of the amounts paid up on the shares; and
(b) a member who is in arrears in payment of a call on a share,
but whose share has not been forfeited, is not entitled to
participate in the distribution on the basis of holding that
share until the amount owing in respect of the call has been
fully paid and satisfied.
Companies incorporated as no liability companies—special terms
of issue
(3) If a company:
(a) either:
(i) is a no liability company; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2H Shares
Part 2H.1 Issuing and converting shares
Section 254C
434 Corporations Act 2001
(ii) was initially registered as a no liability company and
has changed its status under section 162 to another type
of company; and
(b) ceases to carry on business within 12 months after its
registration and is wound up;
shares issued for cash rank (to the extent of the capital contributed
by subscribing shareholders) in the winding up in priority to shares
issued to vendors or promoters, or both, for consideration other
than cash.
(4) The holders of shares issued to vendors or promoters are not
entitled to preference on the winding up of a company that:
(a) is a no liability company; or
(b) was initially registered as a no liability company and has
changed its status under section 162 to another type of
company.
This is so despite anything in the company’s constitution or the
terms on which the shares are on issue.
254C No par value shares
Shares of a company have no par value.
Note: The Part 10.1 transitional provisions contain provisions that deal with
the introduction of no par value shares. See also subsection 169(4).
254D Pre-emption for existing shareholders on issue of shares in
proprietary company (replaceable rule—see section 135)
(1) Before issuing shares of a particular class, the directors of a
proprietary company must offer them to the existing holders of
shares of that class. As far as practicable, the number of shares
offered to each shareholder must be in proportion to the number of
shares of that class that they already hold.
(2) To make the offer, the directors must give the shareholders a
statement setting out the terms of the offer, including:
(a) the number of shares offered; and
(b) the period for which it will remain open.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Shares Chapter 2H
Issuing and converting shares Part 2H.1
Section 254E
Corporations Act 2001 435
(3) The directors may issue any shares not taken up under the offer
under subsection (1) as they see fit.
(4) The company may by resolution passed at a general meeting
authorise the directors to make a particular issue of shares without
complying with subsection (1).
254E Court validation of issue
(1) On application by a company, a shareholder, a creditor or any other
person whose interests have been or may be affected, the Court
may make an order validating, or confirming the terms of, a
purported issue of shares if:
(a) the issue is or may be invalid for any reason; or
(b) the terms of the issue are inconsistent with or not authorised
by:
(i) this Act; or
(ii) another law of a State or Territory; or
(iii) the company’s constitution (if any).
(2) On lodgment of a copy of the order with ASIC, the order has effect
from the time of the purported issue.
254F Bearer shares and stock must not be issued
A company does not have the power to:
(a) issue bearer shares; or
(b) issue stock or convert shares into stock.
Note: The Part 10.1 transitionals contain provisions for the conversion of
existing stock into shares.
254G Conversion of shares
(1) A company may:
(a) convert an ordinary share into a preference share; and
(b) convert a preference share into an ordinary share.
Note: The variation of class rights provisions (sections 246B-246G) will
apply to the conversion.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2H Shares
Part 2H.1 Issuing and converting shares
Section 254H
436 Corporations Act 2001
(2) A company can convert ordinary shares into preference shares only
if the holders’ rights with respect to the following matters are set
out in the company’s constitution (if any) or have been otherwise
approved by special resolution of the company:
(a) repayment of capital;
(b) participation in surplus assets and profits;
(c) cumulative and non-cumulative dividends;
(d) voting;
(e) priority of payment of capital and dividends in relation to
other shares or classes of preference shares.
(3) A share that is not a redeemable preference share when issued
cannot afterwards be converted into a redeemable preference share.
254H Resolution to convert shares into larger or smaller number
(1) A company may convert all or any of its shares into a larger or
smaller number of shares by resolution passed at a general
meeting.
Note: The variation of class rights provisions (sections 246B-246G) may
apply to the conversion.
(2) The conversion takes effect on:
(a) the day the resolution is passed; or
(b) a later date specified in the resolution.
(3) Any amount unpaid on shares being converted is to be divided
equally among the replacement shares.
(4) The company must lodge a copy of the resolution with ASIC
within 1 month after it is passed.
(5) An offence based on subsection (4) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Shares Chapter 2H
Redemption of redeemable preference shares Part 2H.2
Section 254J
Corporations Act 2001 437
Part 2H.2—Redemption of redeemable preference
shares
254J Redemption must be in accordance with terms of issue
(1) A company may redeem redeemable preference shares only on the
terms on which they are on issue. On redemption, the shares are
cancelled.
Note 1: For the power to issue redeemable preference shares see
paragraph 254A(1)(b) and subsections 254A(2) and (3).
Note 2: For the criminal liability of a person dishonestly involved in a
contravention of this section, see subsection 254L(3). Section 79
defines involved.
(2) This section does not affect the terms on which redeemable
preference shares may be cancelled under a reduction of capital or
a share buy-back under Part 2J.1.
254K Other requirements about redemption
A company may only redeem redeemable preference shares:
(a) if the shares are fully paid-up; and
(b) out of profits or the proceeds of a new issue of shares made
for the purpose of the redemption.
Note 1: For a director’s duty to prevent insolvent trading on redeeming
redeemable preference shares, see section 588G.
Note 2: For the criminal liability of a person dishonestly involved in a
contravention of this section, see subsection 254L(3). Section 79
defines involved.
254L Consequences of contravening section 254J or 254K
(1) If a company redeems shares in contravention of section 254J or
254K:
(a) the contravention does not affect the validity of the
redemption or of any contract or transaction connected with
it; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2H Shares
Part 2H.2 Redemption of redeemable preference shares
Section 254L
438 Corporations Act 2001
(b) the company is not guilty of an offence.
(2) Any person who is involved in a company’s contravention of
section 254J or 254K contravenes this subsection.
Note 1: Subsection (2) is a civil penalty provision (see section 1317E).
Note 2: Section 79 defines involved.
(3) A person commits an offence if they are involved in a company’s
contravention of section 254J or 254K and the involvement is
dishonest.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Shares Chapter 2H
Partly-paid shares Part 2H.3
Section 254M
Corporations Act 2001 439
Part 2H.3—Partly-paid shares
254M Liability on partly-paid shares
General rule about shareholder’s liability for calls
(1) If shares in a company are partly-paid, the shareholder is liable to
pay calls on the shares in accordance with the terms on which the
shares are on issue. This subsection does not apply to a no liability
company.
Note: The shareholder may also be liable as a contributory under
sections 514-529 if the company is wound up.
No liability companies
(2) The acceptance by a person of a share in a no liability company,
whether by issue or transfer, does not constitute a contract by the
person to pay:
(a) calls in respect of the share; or
(b) any contribution to the debts and liabilities of the company.
254N Calls may be limited to when company is
externally-administered
(1) A limited company may provide by special resolution that the
whole or a part of its unpaid share capital may be called up only if
the company becomes an externally-administered body corporate.
(2) The company must lodge with ASIC a copy of the special
resolution within 14 days after it is passed.
(3) An offence based on subsection (2) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2H Shares
Part 2H.3 Partly-paid shares
Section 254P
440 Corporations Act 2001
254P No liability companies—calls on shares
Making calls
(1) A call on a share in a no liability company is not effective unless it
is made payable at least 14 days after the call is made.
Notice of call
(2) At least 7 days before a call on shares in a no liability company
becomes payable, the company must give the holders of the shares
notice of:
(a) the amount of the call; and
(b) the day when it is payable; and
(c) the place for payment.
The notice must be sent by post. If the notice is not given, the call
is not payable.
(3) A call does not have any effect on a forfeited share that is held by
or in trust for the company under subsection 254Q(6). However,
when the share is re-issued or sold by the company, the share may
be credited as paid up to the amount determined by the company in
accordance with its constitution or by resolution.
254Q No liability companies—forfeiture and sale of shares for
failure to meet call
Forfeiture and sale of shares
(1) A share in a no liability company is immediately forfeited if:
(a) a call is made on the share; and
(b) the call is unpaid at the end of 14 days after it became
payable.
Note: The holder of the share may redeem it under section 254R.
(2) The forfeited share must then be offered for sale by public auction
within 6 weeks after the call became payable.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Shares Chapter 2H
Partly-paid shares Part 2H.3
Section 254Q
Corporations Act 2001 441
Advertisement of sale
(3) At least 14 days, and not more than 21 days, before the day of the
sale, the sale must be advertised in a daily newspaper circulating
generally throughout Australia. The specific number of shares to be
offered need not be specified in the advertisement and it is
sufficient to give notice of the sale by advertising to the effect that
all shares on which a call remains unpaid will be sold.
Postponement of sale
(4) An intended sale of forfeited shares that has been duly advertised
may be postponed for not more than 21 days from the advertised
date of sale. The date to which the sale is postponed must be
advertised in a daily newspaper circulating generally in Australia.
(5) There may be more than 1 postponement but the sale cannot be
postponed to a date more than 90 days from the first date fixed for
the intended sale.
Shares may be offered as credited to a particular amount
(6) The share may be sold credited as paid up to the sum of:
(a) the amount paid upon the share at the time of forfeiture; and
(b) the amount of the call; and
(c) the amount of any other calls becoming payable on or before
the day of the sale;
if the company in accordance with its constitution or by ordinary
resolution so determines.
Reserve price
(7) The directors may fix a reserve price for the share that does not
exceed the sum of:
(a) the amount of the call due and unpaid on the share at the time
of forfeiture; and
(b) the amount of any other calls that become payable on or
before the date of the sale.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2H Shares
Part 2H.3 Partly-paid shares
Section 254Q
442 Corporations Act 2001
Withdrawal from sale
(8) The share may be withdrawn from sale if no bid at least equal to
the reserve price is made at the sale.
Disposal of shares withdrawn from sale
(9) If:
(a) no bid for the share is received at the sale; or
(b) the share is withdrawn from sale;
the share must be held by the directors in trust for the company. It
must be then disposed of in the manner determined by the
company in accordance with its constitution or by resolution.
Unless otherwise specifically provided by resolution, the share
must first be offered to shareholders for a period of 14 days before
being disposed of in any other manner.
Suspension of voting rights attached to share held in trust
(10) At any meeting of the company, no person is entitled to any vote in
respect of the shares held by the directors in trust under
subsection (9).
Application of proceeds of sale
(11) The proceeds of the sale under subsection (2) or the disposal under
subsection (9) must be applied to pay:
(a) first, the expenses of the sale; and
(b) then, any expenses necessarily incurred in respect of the
forfeiture; and
(c) then, the calls on the share that are due and unpaid.
The balance (if any) must be paid to the member whose share has
been sold. If there is a share certificate that relates to the share, the
balance does not have to be paid until the member delivers the
certificate to the company.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Shares Chapter 2H
Partly-paid shares Part 2H.3
Section 254R
Corporations Act 2001 443
Validity of sale
(12) If a sale is not held in time because of error or inadvertence, a late
sale is not invalid if it is held as soon as practicable after the
discovery of the error or inadvertence.
Failure to comply an offence
(13) If there is failure to comply with subsection (2) or (3), the company
is guilty of an offence.
Strict liability offences
(14) An offence by the company based on subsection (13) is an offence
of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
254R No liability companies—redemption of forfeited shares
(1) Despite section 254Q, if a person’s share has been forfeited, the
person may redeem the share, at any time up to or on the last
business day before the proposed sale, by paying the company:
(a) all calls due on the share; and
(b) if the company so requires:
(i) a portion, calculated on a pro rata basis, of all expenses
incurred by the company in respect of the forfeiture; and
(ii) a portion, calculated on a pro rata basis, of all costs and
expenses of any proceeding that has been taken in
respect of the forfeiture.
On payment, the person is entitled to the share as if the forfeiture
had not occurred.
(2) On the last business day before the proposed sale, the registered
office of the company must be open during the hours for which it is
by this Act required to be open and accessible to the public.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2H Shares
Part 2H.4 Capitalisation of profits
Section 254S
444 Corporations Act 2001
Part 2H.4—Capitalisation of profits
254S Capitalisation of profits
A company may capitalise profits. The capitalisation need not be
accompanied by the issue of shares.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Shares Chapter 2H
Dividends Part 2H.5
Section 254SA
Corporations Act 2001 445
Part 2H.5—Dividends
254SA Companies limited by guarantee not to pay dividends
A company limited by guarantee must not pay a dividend to its
members.
254T Circumstances in which a dividend may be paid
(1) A company must not pay a dividend unless:
(a) the company’s assets exceed its liabilities immediately before
the dividend is declared and the excess is sufficient for the
payment of the dividend; and
(b) the payment of the dividend is fair and reasonable to the
company’s shareholders as a whole; and
(c) the payment of the dividend does not materially prejudice the
company’s ability to pay its creditors.
Note 1: As an example, the payment of a dividend would materially prejudice
the company’s ability to pay its creditors if the company would
become insolvent as a result of the payment.
Note 2: For a director’s duty to prevent insolvent trading on payment of
dividends, see section 588G.
(2) Assets and liabilities are to be calculated for the purposes of this
section in accordance with accounting standards in force at the
relevant time (even if the standard does not otherwise apply to the
financial year of some or all of the companies concerned).
254U Other provisions about paying dividends (replaceable rule—see
section 135)
(1) The directors may determine that a dividend is payable and fix:
(a) the amount; and
(b) the time for payment; and
(c) the method of payment.
The methods of payment may include the payment of cash, the
issue of shares, the grant of options and the transfer of assets.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2H Shares
Part 2H.5 Dividends
Section 254V
446 Corporations Act 2001
(2) Interest is not payable on a dividend.
254V When does the company incur a debt?
(1) A company does not incur a debt merely by fixing the amount or
time for payment of a dividend. The debt arises only when the time
fixed for payment arrives and the decision to pay the dividend may
be revoked at any time before then.
(2) However, if the company has a constitution and it provides for the
declaration of dividends, the company incurs a debt when the
dividend is declared.
254W Dividend rights
Shares in public companies
(1) Each share in a class of shares in a public company has the same
dividend rights unless:
(a) the company has a constitution and it provides for the shares
to have different dividend rights; or
(b) different dividend rights are provided for by special
resolution of the company.
Shares in proprietary companies (replaceable rule—see
section 135)
(2) Subject to the terms on which shares in a proprietary company are
on issue, the directors may pay dividends as they see fit.
No liability companies
(3) A person is not entitled to a dividend on a share in a no liability
company if a call:
(a) has been made on the share; and
(b) is due and unpaid.
(4) Dividends are payable to the shareholders in a no liability company
in proportion to the number of shares held by them, irrespective of
the amount paid up, or credited as paid up, on the shares. This
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Shares Chapter 2H
Dividends Part 2H.5
Section 254W
Corporations Act 2001 447
subsection has effect subject to any provisions in the company’s
constitution relating to shares that are not ordinary shares.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2H Shares
Part 2H.6 Notice requirements
Section 254X
448 Corporations Act 2001
Part 2H.6—Notice requirements
254X Notice to ASIC of share issue
(1) Within 28 days after issuing shares, a company must lodge with
ASIC a notice in the prescribed form that sets out:
(a) the number of shares that were issued; and
(b) if the company has different classes of shares—the class to
which each of those shares belongs; and
(c) the amount (if any) paid, or agreed to be considered as paid,
on each of those shares; and
(d) the amount unpaid (if any) on each of those shares; and
(e) if the company is a public company and the shares were
issued for non-cash consideration—the prescribed particulars
about the issue of the shares, unless the shares were issued
under a written contract and a copy of the contract is lodged
with the notice.
Note 1: The company must lodge information when rights attached to the
shares change, or when the shares are divided or converted into new
classes (see section 246F).
Note 2: A proprietary company may also have to notify certain particulars
under Part 2C.2.
(2) If the shares were issued for non-cash consideration under a
contract, the company must also lodge with ASIC a certificate
stating that all stamp duty payable on the contract under any
applicable law relating to stamp duty has been paid. This certificate
must be lodged with the subsection (1) notice or at a later time
permitted by the regulations or by ASIC.
(2A) An offence based on subsection (1) or (2) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(3) The company does not have to lodge a subsection (1) notice about
the issue of shares to a person on the registration of the company or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Shares Chapter 2H
Notice requirements Part 2H.6
Section 254Y
Corporations Act 2001 449
on the company changing its type from a company limited by
guarantee to a company limited by shares.
Note: Information about shares issued in these situations will come to ASIC
under subsections 5H(2), 117(2), 163(3) and 601BC(2).
254Y Notice to ASIC of share cancellation
(1) Within 1 month after shares are cancelled, the company must lodge
with ASIC a notice in the prescribed form that sets out:
(a) the number of shares cancelled; and
(b) any amount paid by the company (in cash or otherwise) on
the cancellation of the shares; and
(c) if the shares are cancelled following a share buy-back—the
amount paid by the company (in cash or otherwise) on the
buy-back; and
(d) if the company has different classes of shares—the class to
which each cancelled share belonged.
Note: Provisions under which shares are cancelled include section 254J
(redeemable preference shares), section 256B (capital reductions),
subsection 257H(3) (shares a company has bought back),
section 258D (forfeited shares), and subsections 258E(2) and (3)
(shares returned to a company).
(2) An offence based on subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2J Transactions affecting share capital
Part 2J.1 Share capital reductions and share buy-backs
Section 256A
450 Corporations Act 2001
Chapter 2J—Transactions affecting share
capital
Part 2J.1—Share capital reductions and share
buy-backs
256A Purpose
This Part states the rules to be followed by a company for
reductions in share capital and for share buy-backs. The rules are
designed to protect the interests of shareholders and creditors by:
(a) addressing the risk of these transactions leading to the
company’s insolvency
(b) seeking to ensure fairness between the company’s
shareholders
(c) requiring the company to disclose all material information.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Transactions affecting share capital Chapter 2J
Share capital reductions and share buy-backs Part 2J.1
Reductions in share capital not otherwise authorised by law Division 1
Section 256B
Corporations Act 2001 451
Division 1—Reductions in share capital not otherwise
authorised by law
256B Company may make reduction not otherwise authorised
(1) A company may reduce its share capital in a way that is not
otherwise authorised by law if the reduction:
(a) is fair and reasonable to the company’s shareholders as a
whole; and
(b) does not materially prejudice the company’s ability to pay its
creditors; and
(c) is approved by shareholders under section 256C.
A cancellation of a share for no consideration is a reduction of
share capital, but paragraph (b) does not apply to this kind of
reduction.
Note 1: One of the ways in which a company might reduce its share capital is
cancelling uncalled capital.
Note 2: Sections 258A-258F deal with some of the other situations in which
reductions of share capital are authorised. Subsection 254K(2)
authorises capital reductions involved in the redemption of
redeemable preference shares and subsection 257A(2) authorises
reductions involved in share buy-backs.
Note 3: For a director’s duty to prevent insolvent trading on reductions of
share capital, see section 588G.
Note 4: For the criminal liability of a person dishonestly involved in a
contravention of subsection 256D(1) based on this subsection, see
subsection 256D(4). Section 79 defines involved.
(1A) To avoid doubt, a cancellation of a partly-paid share is taken to be
for consideration.
(2) The reduction is either an equal reduction or a selective reduction.
The reduction is an equal reduction if:
(a) it relates only to ordinary shares; and
(b) it applies to each holder of ordinary shares in proportion to
the number of ordinary shares they hold; and
(c) the terms of the reduction are the same for each holder of
ordinary shares.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2J Transactions affecting share capital
Part 2J.1 Share capital reductions and share buy-backs
Division 1 Reductions in share capital not otherwise authorised by law
Section 256C
452 Corporations Act 2001
Otherwise, the reduction is a selective reduction.
(3) In applying subsection (2), ignore differences in the terms of the
reduction that are:
(a) attributable to the fact that shares have different accrued
dividend entitlements; or
(b) attributable to the fact that shares have different amounts
unpaid on them; or
(c) introduced solely to ensure that each shareholder is left with
a whole number of shares.
256C Shareholder approval
Ordinary resolution required for equal reduction
(1) If the reduction is an equal reduction, it must be approved by a
resolution passed at a general meeting of the company.
Special shareholder approval for selective reduction
(2) If the reduction is a selective reduction, it must be approved by
either:
(a) a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the
company, with no votes being cast in favour of the resolution
by any person who is to receive consideration as part of the
reduction or whose liability to pay amounts unpaid on shares
is to be reduced, or by their associates; or
(b) a resolution agreed to, at a general meeting, by all ordinary
shareholders.
If the reduction involves the cancellation of shares, the reduction
must also be approved by a special resolution passed at a meeting
of the shareholders whose shares are to be cancelled.
(3) The company must lodge with ASIC a copy of any resolution
under subsection (2) within 14 days after it is passed. The company
must not make the reduction until 14 days after lodgment.
Note: A proprietary company may also have to notify certain particulars
under Part 2C.2.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Transactions affecting share capital Chapter 2J
Share capital reductions and share buy-backs Part 2J.1
Reductions in share capital not otherwise authorised by law Division 1
Section 256D
Corporations Act 2001 453
Information to accompany the notice of meeting
(4) The company must include with the notice of the meeting a
statement setting out all information known to the company that is
material to the decision on how to vote on the resolution. However,
the company does not have to disclose information if it would be
unreasonable to require the company to do so because the company
had previously disclosed the information to its shareholders.
Documents to be lodged with ASIC
(5) Before the notice of the meeting is sent to shareholders, the
company must lodge with ASIC a copy of:
(a) the notice of the meeting; and
(b) any document relating to the reduction that will accompany
the notice of the meeting sent to shareholders.
256D Consequences of failing to comply with section 256B
(1) The company must not make the reduction unless it complies with
subsection 256B(1).
(2) If the company contravenes subsection (1):
(a) the contravention does not affect the validity of the reduction
or of any contract or transaction connected with it; and
(b) the company is not guilty of an offence.
(3) Any person who is involved in a company’s contravention of
subsection (1) contravenes this subsection.
Note 1: Subsection (3) is a civil penalty provision (see section 1317E).
Note 2: Section 79 defines involved.
(4) A person commits an offence if they are involved in a company’s
contravention of subsection (1) and the involvement is dishonest.
256E Signposts to other relevant provisions
The following table lists other provisions of this Act that are
relevant to reductions in share capital.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2J Transactions affecting share capital
Part 2J.1 Share capital reductions and share buy-backs
Division 1 Reductions in share capital not otherwise authorised by law
Section 256E
454 Corporations Act 2001
Other provisions relevant to reductions in share capital
1 section 588G
section 1317H
liability of directors on insolvency
Under the combined operation of these sections the directors
may have to compensate the company if the company is, or
becomes, insolvent when the company reduces its share
capital.
2 section 1324 injunctions to restrain contravention
Under this section the Court may grant an injunction against
conduct that constitutes or would constitute a contravention
of this Act.
4 Chapter 6CA continuous disclosure provisions
Under this Chapter a disclosing entity is required to disclose
information about its securities that is material and not
generally available.
5 Chapter 2E benefits to related parties to be disclosed
Under this Chapter a financial benefit to a director or other
related party that could adversely affect the interests of a
public company’s members as a whole must be approved at a
general meeting before it can be given.
6 section 125 provisions in constitution
This section deals with the way in which a company’s
constitution may restrict the exercise of the company’s
powers and the consequences of a failure to observe these
restrictions.
7 sections 246B-2
46G
variation of class rights
These sections deal with the variation of rights attached to a
class of shares. This variation may be governed by the
provisions of the company’s constitution.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Transactions affecting share capital Chapter 2J
Share capital reductions and share buy-backs Part 2J.1
Share buy-backs Division 2
Section 257A
Corporations Act 2001 455
Division 2—Share buy-backs
257A The company’s power to buy back its own shares
A company may buy back its own shares if:
(a) the buy-back does not materially prejudice the company’s
ability to pay its creditors; and
(b) the company follows the procedures laid down in this
Division.
Note 1: If a company has a constitution, it may include provisions in the
constitution that preclude the company buying back its own shares or
impose restrictions on the exercise of the company’s power to buy
back its own shares.
Note 2: A company may buy-back redeemable preference shares and may do
so on terms other than the terms on which they could be redeemed.
For the redemption of redeemable preference shares, see
sections 254J-254L.
257B Buy-back procedure—general
(1) The following table specifies the steps required for, and the
sections that apply to, the different types of buy-back.
Procedures
[and sections applied]
minimum
holding
employee share
scheme
on-market equal access
scheme
selective
buy-back
within
10/12
limit
over
10/12
limit
within
10/12
limit
over
10/12
limit
within
10/12
limit
over
10/12
limit
ordinary resolution
[257C]
— — yes — yes — yes —
special/unanimous
resolution [257D]
— — — — — — — yes
lodge offer documents
with ASIC [257E]
— — — — — yes yes yes
14 days notice [257F] — yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
disclose relevant
information when offer
— — — — — yes yes yes
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2J Transactions affecting share capital
Part 2J.1 Share capital reductions and share buy-backs
Division 2 Share buy-backs
Section 257B
456 Corporations Act 2001
Procedures
[and sections applied]
minimum
holding
employee share
scheme
on-market equal access
scheme
selective
buy-back
within
10/12
limit
over
10/12
limit
within
10/12
limit
over
10/12
limit
within
10/12
limit
over
10/12
limit
made [257G]
cancel shares [257H] yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
notify cancellation to
ASIC [254Y]
yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Note: Subsections (2) and (3) of this section explain what an equal access
scheme is. The 10/12 limit is the 10% in 12 months limit laid down in
subsections (4) and (5). Subsections (6) and (7) of this section explain
what an on-market buy-back is. See section 9 for definitions of minimum
holding buy-back, employee share scheme buy-back and selective
buy-back.
Equal access scheme
(2) An equal access scheme is a scheme that satisfies all the following
conditions:
(a) the offers under the scheme relate only to ordinary shares;
(b) the offers are to be made to every person who holds ordinary
shares to buy back the same percentage of their ordinary
shares;
(c) all of those persons have a reasonable opportunity to accept
the offers made to them;
(d) buy-back agreements are not entered into until a specified
time for acceptances of offers has closed;
(e) the terms of all the offers are the same.
(3) In applying subsection (2), ignore:
(a) differences in consideration attributable to the fact that the
offers relate to shares having different accrued dividend
entitlements;
(b) differences in consideration attributable to the fact that the
offers relate to shares on which different amounts remain
unpaid;
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Transactions affecting share capital Chapter 2J
Share capital reductions and share buy-backs Part 2J.1
Share buy-backs Division 2
Section 257B
Corporations Act 2001 457
(c) differences in the offers introduced solely to ensure that each
shareholder is left with a whole number of shares.
10/12 limit
(4) The 10/12 limit for a company proposing to make a buy-back is
10% of the smallest number, at any time during the last 12 months,
of votes attaching to voting shares of the company.
Exceeding the 10/12 limit
(5) A proposed buy-back would exceed the 10/12 limit if the number
of votes attaching to:
(a) all the voting shares in the company that have been bought
back during the last 12 months; and
(b) the voting shares that will be bought back if the proposed
buy-back is made;
would exceed the 10/12 limit.
On-market buy-backs
(6) A buy-back is an on-market buy-back if it results from an offer
made by a listed corporation on a prescribed financial market in the
ordinary course of trading on that market.
(7) A buy-back by a company (whether listed or not) is also an
on-market buy-back if it results from an offer made in the ordinary
course of trading in a financial market outside Australia which
ASIC declares in writing to be an approved overseas financial
market for the purposes of this subsection. A buy-back by a listed
company is an on-market buy-back under this subsection only if an
offer to buy-back those shares is also made on a prescribed
financial market at the same time.
(8) A declaration under subsection (7) may be subject to conditions.
Notice of the making of the declaration must be published in the
Gazette.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2J Transactions affecting share capital
Part 2J.1 Share capital reductions and share buy-backs
Division 2 Share buy-backs
Section 257C
458 Corporations Act 2001
257C Buy-back procedure—shareholder approval if the 10/12 limit
exceeded
Ordinary resolution required
(1) If section 257B applies this section to a buy-back, the terms of the
buy-back agreement must be approved before it is entered into by a
resolution passed at a general meeting of the company, or the
agreement must be conditional on such an approval.
Information to accompany the notice of meeting
(2) The company must include with the notice of the meeting a
statement setting out all information known to the company that is
material to the decision how to vote on the resolution. However,
the company does not have to disclose information if it would be
unreasonable to require the company to do so because the company
had previously disclosed the information to its shareholders.
Documents to be lodged with the ASIC
(3) Before the notice of the meeting is sent to shareholders, the
company must lodge with ASIC a copy of:
(a) the notice of the meeting; and
(b) any document relating to the buy-back that will accompany
the notice of the meeting sent to shareholders.
257D Buy-back procedure—special shareholder approval for
selective buy-back
Selective buy-back requires special or unanimous resolution
(1) If section 257B applies this section to a buy-back, the terms of the
buy-back agreement must be approved before it is entered into by
either:
(a) a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the
company, with no votes being cast in favour of the resolution
by any person whose shares are proposed to be bought back
or by their associates; or
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Transactions affecting share capital Chapter 2J
Share capital reductions and share buy-backs Part 2J.1
Share buy-backs Division 2
Section 257E
Corporations Act 2001 459
(b) a resolution agreed to, at a general meeting, by all ordinary
shareholders;
or the agreement must be conditional on such an approval.
Information to accompany the notice of meeting
(2) The company must include with the notice of the meeting a
statement setting out all information known to the company that is
material to the decision how to vote on the resolution. However,
the company does not have to disclose information if it would be
unreasonable to require the company to do so because the company
had previously disclosed the information to its shareholders.
Documents to be lodged with the ASIC
(3) Before the notice of the meeting is sent to shareholders, the
company must lodge with ASIC a copy of:
(a) the notice of the meeting; and
(b) any document relating to the buy-back that will accompany
the notice of the meeting sent to shareholders.
(4) ASIC may exempt a company from the operation of this section.
The exemption:
(a) must be in writing; and
(b) must be granted before the buy-back agreement is entered
into; and
(c) may be granted subject to conditions.
257E Buy-back procedure—lodgment of offer documents with ASIC
If section 257B applies this section to a buy-back, the company
must lodge with ASIC, before the buy-back agreement is entered
into, a copy of:
(a) a document setting out the terms of the offer; and
(b) any document that is to accompany the offer.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2J Transactions affecting share capital
Part 2J.1 Share capital reductions and share buy-backs
Division 2 Share buy-backs
Section 257F
460 Corporations Act 2001
257F Notice of intended buy-back
(1) If section 257B applies this section to a buy-back, the company
must satisfy the lodgment requirement in subsection (2) at least 14
days before:
(a) if the buy-back agreement is conditional on the passing of a
resolution under subsection 257C(1) or 257D(1)—the
resolution is passed; or
(b) if it is not—the agreement is entered into.
(2) The company satisfies the lodgment requirement when it lodges
with ASIC:
(a) documents under subsection 257C(3) or 257D(3) or
section 257E; or
(b) a notice that the company intends to carry out the buy-back.
Note 1: A company that has to lodge documents under section 257C, 257D or
257E needs to lodge a notice under paragraph (2)(b) of this section
only if it wants for some reason to enter into the agreement or pass the
resolution less than 14 days after lodging the section 257C, 257D or
257E documents.
Note 2: The company may specify a buy-back under paragraph (2)(b) in any
way. It may, for instance, choose to lodge a notice covering buy-backs
to be carried out:
under a particular scheme; or
as part of particular on-market buy-back activity.
257G Buy-back procedure—disclosure of relevant information when
offer made
If section 257B applies this section to a buy-back, the company
must include with the offer to buy back shares a statement setting
out all information known to the company that is material to the
decision whether to accept the offer.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Transactions affecting share capital Chapter 2J
Share capital reductions and share buy-backs Part 2J.1
Share buy-backs Division 2
Section 257H
Corporations Act 2001 461
257H Acceptance of offer and transfer of shares to the company
Effect of acceptance of the buy-back offer on share rights
(1) Once a company has entered into an agreement to buy back shares,
all rights attaching to the shares are suspended. The suspension is
lifted if the agreement is terminated.
Shares transferred to the company and cancelled
(2) A company must not dispose of shares it buys back. An agreement
entered into in contravention of this subsection is void.
(3) Immediately after the registration of the transfer to the company of
the shares bought back, the shares are cancelled.
Note: ASIC must be notified of the cancellation under section 254Y.
257J Signposts to other relevant provisions
The following table sets out other provisions of this Act that are
relevant to buy-backs.
Other provisions relevant to buy-backs
provision comment
1 section 588G
section 1317H
liability of directors on insolvency
The directors may have to compensate the company if the
company is, or becomes, insolvent when the company
enters into the buy-back agreement.
2 section 1324 injunctions to restrain contravention
The Court may grant an injunction against conduct that
constitutes, or would constitute, a contravention of this Act.
4 subsection 609(4
) section 611
(item 19 of the
table)
application of takeover provisions
These sections deal with the application of Chapter 6 to
buy-backs.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2J Transactions affecting share capital
Part 2J.1 Share capital reductions and share buy-backs
Division 2 Share buy-backs
Section 257J
462 Corporations Act 2001
Other provisions relevant to buy-backs
provision comment
5 section 259A consequences of failure to follow procedures—the
company and the officers
If a company fails to follow the procedure in this Division,
the company contravenes this section and the officers who
are involved in the contravention are liable to a civil
penalty under Part 9.4B and may commit an offence.
6 section 256D consequences of failure to follow procedures if reduction
in share capital involved—the company and the officers
If the buy-back involves a reduction in share capital and the
company fails to follow the procedures in this Division, the
company contravenes this section and the officers who are
involved in the contravention are liable to a civil penalty
under Part 9.4B and may commit an offence.
7 section 256D consequences of failure to follow procedures if reduction
in share capital involved—the transaction
This section provides that a failure to follow the procedures
for share capital reductions does not affect the validity of
the buy-back transaction itself.
8 Chapter 6CA continuous disclosure provisions
Under this Chapter a disclosing entity is required to
disclose information about its securities that is material and
not generally available.
9 Chapter 2E benefits to related parties to be disclosed
Under this Chapter, a financial benefit to a director or other
related party may need to be approved at a general meeting
before it is given.
10 section 125 provisions in constitution
This section deals with the way in which a company’s
constitution may restrict the exercise of the company’s
powers and the consequences of a failure to observe these
restrictions.
11 sections 246B-24
6G
variation of class rights
These sections deal with the variation of rights attached to a
class of shares. This variation may be governed by the
provisions of a company’s constitution.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Transactions affecting share capital Chapter 2J
Share capital reductions and share buy-backs Part 2J.1
Other share capital reductions Division 3
Section 258A
Corporations Act 2001 463
Division 3—Other share capital reductions
258A Unlimited companies
An unlimited company may reduce its share capital in any way.
258B Right to occupy or use real property
(1) If a company has a constitution, under it the company may grant to
a shareholder, as a shareholder, a right to occupy or use real
property that the company owns or holds under lease, whether the
right is a lease or licence or a contractual right.
Note: Before the introduction of strata or unit titles systems, rights to occupy
real property were sometimes based on a holding of shares in a
company.
(2) A company may transfer to a person an interest in land in exchange
for, or in satisfaction of, a right to occupy or use the land of the
kind referred to in subsection (1).
Example: A person has a right to occupy an apartment in a block of units
because they hold shares in a company. As part of converting the
block of units to strata title, the person surrenders the shares in return
for a transfer of strata title over the apartment. The capital reduction
involved in the transfer is authorised under this subsection.
258C Brokerage or commission
A company may pay brokerage or commission to a person in
respect of that person or another person agreeing to take up shares
in the company.
258D Cancellation of forfeited shares
A company may, by resolution passed at a general meeting, cancel
shares that have been forfeited under the terms on which the shares
are on issue.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2J Transactions affecting share capital
Part 2J.1 Share capital reductions and share buy-backs
Division 3 Other share capital reductions
Section 258E
464 Corporations Act 2001
258E Other share cancellations
(1) Any reduction in share capital involved in:
(a) the redemption of redeemable preference shares out of the
proceeds of a new issue of shares made for the purpose of the
redemption (see section 254K); or
(b) a company’s buying-back of its own shares under
sections 257A to 257J if the shares are paid for out of share
capital.
is authorised by this section.
(2) A company may cancel shares returned to it under section 651C,
724(2), 737 or 738 and any reduction in the company’s share
capital that is involved is authorised by this subsection.
(3) Any reduction in a company’s share capital because of an order
under section 1325A is authorised by this subsection.
258F Reductions because of lost capital
(1) A company may reduce its share capital by cancelling any paid-up
share capital that is lost or is not represented by available assets.
(2) This power does not apply if:
(a) the company also cancels shares; or
(b) the cancellation of paid-up share capital is inconsistent with
the requirements of any accounting standard.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Transactions affecting share capital Chapter 2J
Self-acquisition and control of shares Part 2J.2
Section 259A
Corporations Act 2001 465
Part 2J.2—Self-acquisition and control of shares
259A Directly acquiring own shares
A company must not acquire shares (or units of shares) in itself
except:
(a) in buying back shares under section 257A; or
(b) in acquiring an interest (other than a legal interest) in
fully-paid shares in the company if no consideration is given
for the acquisition by the company or an entity it controls; or
(c) under a court order; or
(d) in circumstances covered by subsection 259B(2) or (3).
Note: For the criminal liability of a person dishonestly involved in a
contravention of this section, see subsection 259F(3). Section 79
defines involved.
259B Taking security over own shares or shares in holding company
(1) A company must not take security over shares (or units of shares)
in itself or in a company that controls it, except as permitted by
subsection (2) or (3).
Note: For the criminal liability of a person dishonestly involved in a
contravention of this subsection, see subsection 259F(3). Section 79
defines involved.
(2) A company may take security over shares in itself under an
employee share scheme that has been approved by:
(a) a resolution passed at a general meeting of the company; and
(b) if the company is a subsidiary of a listed domestic
corporation—a resolution passed at a general meeting of the
listed domestic corporation; and
(c) if paragraph (b) does not apply but the company has a
holding company that is a domestic corporation and that is
not itself a subsidiary of a domestic corporation—a
resolution passed at a general meeting of that holding
company.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2J Transactions affecting share capital
Part 2J.2 Self-acquisition and control of shares
Section 259C
466 Corporations Act 2001
Special exemptions for financial institutions
(3) A company’s taking security over shares (or units of shares) in
itself or in a company that controls it is exempted from
subsection (1) if:
(a) the company’s ordinary business includes providing finance;
and
(b) the security is taken in the ordinary course of that business
and on ordinary commercial terms.
(4) If a company acquires shares (or units of shares) in itself because it
exercises rights under a security permitted by subsection (2) or (3),
then, within the following 12 months, the company must cease to
hold those shares (or units of shares). ASIC may extend this period
of 12 months if the company applies for the extension before the
end of the period.
(5) Any voting rights attached to the shares (or units of shares) cannot
be exercised while the company continues to hold them.
(6) If, at the end of the 12 months (or extended period), the company
still holds any of the shares (or units of shares), the company
commits an offence for each day while that situation continues.
(7) An offence based on subsection (6) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
259C Issuing or transferring shares to controlled entity
(1) The issue or transfer of shares (or units of shares) of a company to
an entity it controls is void unless:
(a) the issue or transfer is to the entity as a personal
representative; or
(b) the issue or transfer is to the entity as trustee and neither the
company nor any entity it controls has a beneficial interest in
the trust, other than a beneficial interest that satisfies these
conditions:
(i) the interest arises from a security given for the purposes
of a transaction entered into in the ordinary course of
business in connection with providing finance; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Transactions affecting share capital Chapter 2J
Self-acquisition and control of shares Part 2J.2
Section 259D
Corporations Act 2001 467
(ii) that transaction was not entered into with an associate of
the company or an entity it controls; or
(c) the issue to the entity is made as a result of an offer to all the
members of the company who hold shares of the class being
issued and is made on a basis that does not discriminate
unfairly, either directly or indirectly, in favour of the entity;
or
(d) the transfer to the entity is by a wholly-owned subsidiary of a
body corporate and the entity is also a wholly-owned
subsidiary of that body corporate.
(2) ASIC may exempt a company from the operation of this section.
The exemption:
(a) must be in writing; and
(b) may be granted subject to conditions.
(3) If paragraph (1)(c) or (d) applies to an issue or transfer of shares
(or units of shares), section 259D applies.
259D Company controlling entity that holds shares in it
(1) If any of the following occur:
(a) a company obtains control of an entity that holds shares (or
units of shares) in the company;
(b) a company’s control over an entity that holds shares (or units
of shares) in the company increases;
(c) a company issues shares (or units of shares) to an entity it
controls in the situation covered by paragraph 259C(1)(c);
(d) shares (or units of shares) in the company are transferred to
an entity it controls in the situation covered by
paragraph 259C(1)(d);
then, within 12 months after it occurs either:
(e) the entity must cease to hold the shares (or units); or
(f) the company must cease to control the entity.
ASIC may extend this period of 12 months if the company applies
for the extension before the end of the period.
(2) If this section applies to shares (or units of shares), it also applies
to bonus shares issued in respect of those shares (or units of
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2J Transactions affecting share capital
Part 2J.2 Self-acquisition and control of shares
Section 259E
468 Corporations Act 2001
shares). Within the same period that applies to the shares
themselves under subsection (1), either:
(a) the entity must cease to hold the bonus shares; or
(b) the company must cease to control the entity.
(3) Any voting rights attached to the shares (or units of shares) cannot
be exercised while the company continues to control the entity.
(4) If, at the end of the 12 months (or extended period), the company
still controls the entity and the entity still holds the shares (or units
of shares), the company commits an offence for each day while
that situation continues.
(4A) An offence based on subsection (4) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(5) This section does not apply to shares (or units of shares) if:
(a) they are held by the entity as a personal representative; or
(b) they are held by the entity as trustee and neither the company
nor any entity it controls has a beneficial interest in the trust,
other than a beneficial interest that satisfies these conditions:
(i) the interest arises from a security given for the purposes
of a transaction entered into in the ordinary course of
business in connection with providing finance; and
(ii) that transaction was not entered into with an associate of
the company or an entity it controls.
(6) A contravention of this section does not affect the validity of any
transaction.
259E When a company controls an entity
(1) For the purposes of this Part, a company controls an entity if the
company has the capacity to determine the outcome of decisions
about the entity’s financial and operating policies.
(2) In determining whether a company has this capacity:
(a) the practical influence the company can exert (rather than the
rights it can enforce) is the issue to be addressed; and
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Transactions affecting share capital Chapter 2J
Self-acquisition and control of shares Part 2J.2
Section 259F
Corporations Act 2001 469
(b) any practice or pattern of behaviour affecting the entity’s
financial or operating policies is to be taken into account
(even if it involves a breach of an agreement or a breach of
trust).
(3) Merely because the company and an unrelated entity jointly have
the capacity to determine the outcome of decisions about another
entity’s financial and operating policies, the company does not
control the other entity.
(4) A company is not taken to control an entity merely because of a
capacity that it is under a legal obligation to exercise for the benefit
of someone other than its shareholders.
Note: This situation could arise, for example, if the company holds shares as
a trustee or is performing duties as a liquidator.
259F Consequences of failing to comply with section 259A or 259B
(1) If a company contravenes section 259A or subsection 259B(1):
(a) the contravention does not affect the validity of the
acquisition or security or of any contract or transaction
connected with it; and
(b) the company is not guilty of an offence.
(2) Any person who is involved in a company’s contravention of
section 259A or subsection 259B(1) contravenes this subsection.
Note 1: Subsection (2) is a civil penalty provision (see section 1317E).
Note 2: Section 79 defines involved.
(3) A person commits an offence if they are involved in a company’s
contravention of section 259A or subsection 259B(1) and the
involvement is dishonest.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2J Transactions affecting share capital
Part 2J.3 Financial assistance
Section 260A
470 Corporations Act 2001
Part 2J.3—Financial assistance
260A Financial assistance by a company for acquiring shares in the
company or a holding company
(1) A company may financially assist a person to acquire shares (or
units of shares) in the company or a holding company of the
company only if:
(a) giving the assistance does not materially prejudice:
(i) the interests of the company or its shareholders; or
(ii) the company’s ability to pay its creditors; or
(b) the assistance is approved by shareholders under
section 260B (that section also requires advance notice to
ASIC); or
(c) the assistance is exempted under section 260C.
Note: For the criminal liability of a person dishonestly involved in a
contravention of this section, see subsection 260D(3). Section 79
defines involved.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), financial assistance may:
(a) be given before or after the acquisition of shares (or units of
shares); and
(b) take the form of paying a dividend.
(3) Subsection (1) extends to the acquisition of shares (or units of
shares) by:
(a) issue; or
(b) transfer; or
(c) any other means.
260B Shareholder approval
Approval by company’s own shareholders
(1) Shareholder approval for financial assistance by a company must
be given by:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Transactions affecting share capital Chapter 2J
Financial assistance Part 2J.3
Section 260B
Corporations Act 2001 471
(a) a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the
company, with no votes being cast in favour of the resolution
by the person acquiring the shares (or units of shares) or by
their associates; or
(b) a resolution agreed to, at a general meeting, by all ordinary
shareholders.
Approval by shareholders of listed holding corporation
(2) If the company will be a subsidiary of a listed domestic corporation
immediately after the acquisition referred to in section 260A
occurs, the financial assistance must also be approved by a special
resolution passed at a general meeting of that corporation.
Approval by shareholders in ultimate Australian holding company
(3) If, immediately after the acquisition, the company will have a
holding company that:
(a) is a domestic corporation but not listed; and
(b) is not itself a subsidiary of a domestic corporation;
the financial assistance must also be approved by a special
resolution passed at a general meeting of the body corporate that
will be the holding company.
Information to accompany the notice of meeting
(4) A company or other body that calls a meeting for the purpose of
subsection (1), (2) or (3) must include with the notice of the
meeting a statement setting out all the information known to the
company or body that is material to the decision on how to vote on
the resolution. However, the company or body does not have to
disclose information if it would be unreasonable to require the
company or body to do so because the company or body had
previously disclosed the information to its members.
Documents to be lodged with the ASIC before notice of meeting is
sent out
(5) Before the notice of a meeting for the purpose of subsection (1),
(2) or (3) is sent to members of a company or other body, the
company or body must lodge with ASIC a copy of:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2J Transactions affecting share capital
Part 2J.3 Financial assistance
Section 260C
472 Corporations Act 2001
(a) the notice of the meeting; and
(b) any document relating to the financial assistance that will
accompany the notice of the meeting sent to the members.
(6) The company must lodge with ASIC, at least 14 days before giving
the financial assistance, a notice in the prescribed form stating that
the assistance has been approved under this section.
Lodgment of special resolutions
(7) A special resolution passed for the purpose of subsection (1), (2) or
(3) must be lodged with ASIC by the company, listed domestic
corporation or holding company within 14 days after it is passed.
260C Exempted financial assistance
General exemptions based on ordinary course of commercial
dealing
(1) Financial assistance is exempted from section 260A if it is given in
the ordinary course of commercial dealing and consists of:
(a) acquiring or creating a lien on partly-paid shares in the
company for amounts payable to the company on the shares;
or
(b) entering into an agreement with a person under which the
person may make payments to the company on shares by
instalments.
Special exemptions for financial institutions
(2) Financial assistance is exempted from section 260A if:
(a) the company’s ordinary business includes providing finance;
and
(b) the financial assistance is given in the ordinary course of that
business and on ordinary commercial terms.
Special exemptions for subsidiaries of debenture issuers
(3) Financial assistance is exempted from section 260A if:
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Transactions affecting share capital Chapter 2J
Financial assistance Part 2J.3
Section 260C
Corporations Act 2001 473
(a) the company is a subsidiary of a borrower in relation to
debentures; and
(b) the financial assistance is a guarantee or other security given
by the company for the repayment by the borrower of money
that it is or will be liable to repay; and
(c) the borrower is a borrower in relation to the debentures
because it is or will be liable to repay the money; and
(d) the guarantee or security is given by the company in the
ordinary course of commercial dealing.
Special exemption for approved employee share schemes
(4) Financial assistance is exempted from section 260A if it is given
under an employee share scheme that has been approved by:
(a) a resolution passed at a general meeting of the company; and
(b) if the company is a subsidiary of a listed domestic
corporation—a resolution passed at a general meeting of the
listed domestic corporation; and
(c) if paragraph (b) does not apply but the company has a
holding company that is a domestic corporation and that is
not itself a subsidiary of a domestic corporation—a
resolution passed at a general meeting of that holding
company.
Other exemptions
(5) The following types of financial assistance are exempted from
section 260A:
(a) a reduction of share capital in accordance with Division 1 of
Part 2J.1;
(b) a share buy-back in accordance with Division 2 of Part 2J.1;
(c) assistance given under a court order;
(d) a discharge on ordinary commercial terms of a liability that
the company incurred as a result of a transaction entered into
on ordinary commercial terms.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Chapter 2J Transactions affecting share capital
Part 2J.3 Financial assistance
Section 260D
474 Corporations Act 2001
260D Consequences of failing to comply with section 260A
(1) If a company provides financial assistance in contravention of
section 260A:
(a) the contravention does not affect the validity of the financial
assistance or of any contract or transaction connected with it;
and
(b) the company is not guilty of an offence.
(2) Any person who is involved in a company’s contravention of
section 260A contravenes this subsection.
Note 1: Subsection (2) is a civil penalty provision (see section 1317E).
Note 2: Section 79 defines involved.
(3) A person commits an offence if they are involved in a company’s
contravention of section 260A and the involvement is dishonest.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605
Transactions affecting share capital Chapter 2J
Interaction with general directors’ duties Part 2J.4
Section 260E
Corporations Act 2001 475
Part 2J.4—Interaction with general directors’
duties
260E General duties still apply
A director is not relieved from any of their duties under this Act
(including sections 180, 181, 182, 183 and 184), or their fiduciary
duties, in connection with a transaction merely because the
transaction is authorised by a provision of this Chapter or is
approved by a resolution of members under a provision of this
Chapter.
ComLaw Authoritative Act C2013C00605