382. (1) The first statutory auditors of a company may be appointed by the directors at any time before the first annual general meeting of the company.

(2) Statutory auditors so appointed shall hold office until the conclusion of that first annual general meeting save that the company may, at a prior general meeting, remove any such auditors and appoint in their place as statutory auditors of the company any other persons who have been nominated for such appointment by any member of the company.

(3) Notice of the nomination of those persons for such appointment shall have been given to the members of the company not less than 14 days before the date of the prior meeting.

(4) If the directors of the company fail to exercise their powers under subsection (1), the company in general meeting may appoint the first statutory auditors of the company and, in the event of their doing so, those powers of the directors shall then cease.

(5) Statutory auditors appointed by the company in general meeting pursuant to subsection (2) or (4) shall hold office until the conclusion of the first annual general meeting of the company.