Companies Act 2014

982

Variation of rights attached to special classes of shares

982. (1) This section shall have effect with respect to the variation of the rights attached to any class of shares in a DAC whose share capital is divided into shares of different classes, whether or not the DAC is being wound up.

(2) Where the rights are attached to a class of shares in the DAC otherwise than by the memorandum, and the articles of the DAC do not contain provision with respect to the variation of the rights, those rights may be varied if, but only if—

(a) the holders of 75 per cent, in nominal value, of the issued shares of that class, consent in writing to the variation, or

(b) a special resolution, passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of that class, sanctions the variation,

and any requirement (however it is imposed) in relation to the variation of those rights is complied with, to the extent that it is not comprised in the requirements in paragraphs (a) and (b).

(3) Where—

(a) the rights are attached to a class of shares in the DAC by the memorandum or otherwise,

(b) the memorandum or articles contain provision for the variation of those rights, and

(c) the variation of those rights is connected with the giving, variation, revocation or renewal of an authority for the purposes of section 69(1) or with a reduction of the company’s company capital by either of the means referred to in section 84,

those rights shall not be varied unless—

(i) the requirement in subsection (2)(a) or (b) is satisfied, and

(ii) any requirement of the memorandum or articles in relation to the variation of rights of that class is complied with to the extent that it is not comprised in the requirement in subsection (2)(a) or (b).

(4) Where the rights are attached to a class of shares in the DAC by the memorandum or otherwise and—

(a) where they are so attached by the memorandum, the articles contain provision with respect to their variation which had been included in the articles at the time of the DAC’s original incorporation, or

(b) where they are so attached otherwise, the articles contain such provision (whenever first so included),

and in either case the variation is not connected as mentioned in subsection (3)(c), those rights may only be varied in accordance with that provision of the articles.

(5) Where the rights are attached to a class of shares in the DAC by the memorandum and the memorandum and articles do not contain provisions with respect to the variation of the rights, those rights may be varied if all the members of the DAC agree to the variation.

(6) The provisions of sections 180 and 181 and the provisions of the DAC’s articles relating to general meetings shall, so far as applicable, apply in relation to any meeting of shareholders required by this section or otherwise to take place in connection with the variation of the rights attached to a class of shares and shall so apply with the necessary modifications and subject to the following provisions, namely:

(a) the necessary quorum at any such meeting, other than an adjourned meeting, shall be 2 persons holding or representing by proxy at least one-third in nominal value of the issued shares of the class in question and at an adjourned meeting one person holding shares of the class in question or his or her proxy;

(b) any holder of shares of the class in question present in person or by proxy may demand a poll.

(7) Any amendment of a provision contained in the articles of a DAC for the variation of the rights attached to a class of shares or the insertion of any such provision into the DAC’s articles shall itself be treated as a variation of those rights.

(8) Section 89 shall apply in relation to a variation, pursuant to this section, of rights attached to any class of shares as it applies in relation to a variation, pursuant to section 88, of such rights.

(9) References to the variation of the rights attached to a class of shares in—

(a) this section, and

(b) except where the context otherwise requires, in any provision for the variation of the rights attached to a class of shares contained in the DAC’s memorandum or articles,

shall include references to their abrogation.

(10) Nothing in subsections (2) to (5) shall be read as derogating from the powers of the court under section 1287 or any of the following sections, that is to say, sections 212, 453, 455, 974 and 975.