Kenya company law: Company meetings and procedures

Meaning of Company Meeting

Ordinarily, a meeting may be defined as assembly of people for lawful purpose or coming together of at least two people for the same reason.

A Co. meeting may under Kenya laws be defined as, “a conference or coming together of at least a quorum of members in order to transact either the ordinary or special business of the company”.
Therefore, a meeting can no more be constituted by one person than it could if no shareholders at all had attended.

Although the word meeting is not defined in the Companies Act, in Sharp vs. Dawe (1876), a meeting was defined as, “an assembly of people for lawful purpose or the coming together of at least two persons for any lawful purpose”.

Meetings are divided into: -
(a)         Public Meetings: - Those meetings which consider maters of public concern and to which all members of the public have access, subject to physical limitations of the place where the meeting is held or conditions imposed by any law.
(b)        Private Meetings: - Those attended by people who have a specific right to attend, for example, Committees of golf club or members of a registered company.  Therefore company meetings fall under this category.

Role of Company Meetings

Since a company is an artificial person, it cannot act on its own.  It is the directors, elected representatives of shareholders who are vested with the powers of control and management of the company. Since directors must work as a team, meetings are held frequently. It is at these meetings that matters relating to the company business are decided.

Similarly shareholders meetings are also important as it is here that shareholders can look after their interest by exercising the powers conferred on them by statute.  These meetings provide an opportunity to shareholders to come together and take decisions for their welfare by controlling the Board of Directors and their activities.




CLASSIFICATION OF MEETINGS 


(a)        STATUTORY MEETING (Section 130)

Every company limited by shares and every company limited by guarantee and having a share capital shall within a period of not less than one month and not more than three months from the date of the of commencement of business, hold a general meeting called statutory meeting. This meeting is held once during the lifetime of the company.

A private company, an unlimited company or a company limited by guarantee having no share capital, is not required to hold a statutory meeting. The notice convening this statutory meeting must be given at least 21 days before the meeting, and must specifically state that the meeting is a statutory meeting.

Objects of the Statutory Meeting

The object of this meeting under Kenya laws is to afford the shareholder an early opportunity of obtaining material information as to the circumstances of the company’s promotion and also its immediate prospects.

According to Palmer, “the object of the statutory meeting is to put the shareholders of the company at as early a date as possible in possession of all the important facts relating to the new company”.

The members have a statutory right to discuss any matters relating to the formation of the company or arising out of the statutory report whether previous notice has been given or not. The other object include: -
(i)      To put members of the Co. in possession of all the important facts relating to the company, for example, what shares have been taken up, what money has been received, what contracts have been entered into and what has been spent on preliminary expenses.
(ii)   To provide the members an opportunity of meeting and discussing the management    methods and prospects of the company.
(iii)  To approve the modification of the terms of any contract named in the prospectus.

Statutory Report

The Kenya laws accordingly requires that the directors send a report known as statutory report to every member of the company at least 14 days before the date of the meeting.  However, if all the members entitled to attend and vote at the meeting agree, the report can be forwarded less than 14 days before the meeting.

Contents of the Statutory Report

The report contains all the necessary information relating to the informational aspect of the company, as follows: -

(i)                 Total shares allocated: – Distinguishing shares allocated as fully or partly paid up otherwise than in cash, and stating shares partly paid up, the extent to which they are so paid up and in either case the consideration for which they have been allocated.
(ii)               Cash received: – The total amount of cash received by the company in respect of shares allocated. 
(iii)             An abstract of receipts and payments made there out up to the date of the report, and an account or estimate of the preliminary expenses.
(iv)             Directors and auditors: - The memos and addresses and occupations of the directors, auditors and managers and secretary and changes that have occurred to such names, addresses and occupations since the date of incorporation of the company.
(v)               Particulars of any contract and the modification or the proposed modification of any contract which is to be submitted for the approval of the members at the meeting.
(vi)             The extent to which the underwriting contracts have not been carried out and reasons therefore.
(vii)           The arrears, if any, due on calls from any directors and the manager.
(viii)         The particulars of any commission or brokerage paid or to be paid to any director or to the manager in connection with the issue or sale of shares or debentures of the Co.

The statutory report must be certified as correct, by not less as two directors one of whom shall be the Managing Director if any.  The auditors of the company shall also certify as correct regarding the shares allotted, cash received in respect of any shares and the receipts and payments of the company. A certified copy of the report shall be delivered to the registrar for registration immediately after the same has bean sent to the members of the company.

Procedure at the Meeting

At the commencement of the meeting, the board shall place a list showing the names, addresses and occupations of the members of the company and the number of shares held by them.  The list shall remain open for inspection by members during continuance of the meeting.  The members present at the meeting may discuss any matter relating to the formation of the company or arising out of statutory report.

But the meeting cannot pass any resolution on any item or on a subject of which notice has not been given by the Act.

Section 130 (8) provides that the meeting may adjourn from time to time and at any adjourned meting, a resolution can be passed after due notice in accordance with the articles has been given so that if the company at the original meeting wishes to pass a resolution and sufficient notice has not been given, it can resolve to adjourn for the necessary period in order to allow notice to be given.

The adjourned meeting is treated as if it is an original meeting for the purpose of transacting business.

Effects of Non-Compliance

If default is made in complying with Section 130, every director of the company who is knowingly and willfully guilty of the default, or in the case of the company, every officer of the company who is in default, is liable to fine up to Sh. 1,000 shillings.

In addition, default in delivering the statutory report or in holding the statutory meeting is one of the grounds for petition for winding up order against the company.

The court ordinarily does not take such serious view of default. So instead of making a winding up order, Section 222 (3) provides that the courts may direct the report to be delivered or the meeting to be held and order the costs to be paid by the persons in default.

(b)       ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Every company must under Kenya laws in each year hold, in addition to any other meeting, Annual General Meeting. The notice conveying the meeting must specify that it is a notice of the Annual General Meeting.

The first Annual General Meeting must be held within 18 months from the date of incorporation, meaning that the Co. is not required to hold an Annual General Meeting in the year of incorporation or in the next year.

For example, a company incorporated on October 1, 2004 may hold it Annual General Meeting by April 1 2006 and then no other meeting will be necessary either in 2005 or 2006.  Similarly, if a company is incorporated in January 1, 2005, it may hold its Annual General Meeting within 18 months, that is, by July 1, 2006.  If the meeting is held say in June 2006, the company need not hold any other meeting in the year 2005 and 2006.

Every Annual General Meeting must be held during business hours and on working days.

The registrar may, for any special reason, extend the time for holding any Annual General Meeting by any given period; but no extension of time is granted for holding the first Annual General Meeting.

There should be at least one Annual General Meeting per year and as many meetings as there are years.

Case Law: Sree Meenakshi Mills Co. Ltd vs. Assistant Registrar of Co. AIR (1938)
The Annual General Meeting of a company called in December 1934 was adjourned and held in 1935 March. The next meeting was held in January 1936, no other meeting being held in 1935.  The company was prosecuted for failure to call the Annual General Meeting in 1935.  The company argued that it did hold a meeting in the year 1935, but it was held by court that the meeting of March 1935 was the adjourned meeting of 1934.

If default is made in holding an Annual General Meeting, a member may apply to the registrar of companies to call or direct the calling of such meeting.

Default in accordance with provision of Section 131 or in complying with any directions of the registrar, renders the company and its officers who are in default liable to a fine up to Sh. 2,000.

Requirements of Notice

Proper length of notice must be provided by statute or articles.  Section 133 of the Act provides that minimum notice required for company meetings, other than the adjourned meeting is as follows: -
(a)     In case of Annual General Meeting, 21 days notice in writing is given.
(b)    Incase of a meeting other than AGM or a meeting of passing a special resolution, 14 days notice in writing and 7 days incase of unlimited company.

Any provision contained in the articles shall be valid in so far as it provides for the calling of a meeting by a short notice than it is provide by this section.

Ordinary Business of Annual General Meeting

The normal business transacted at an Annual General Meeting depends upon the articles.  Article 52 of Table A provides that the ordinary business of such a meeting shall be:-
(i)                 The declaration of dividends.
(ii)               The consideration of accounts.
(iii)             The election of directors in place of the retiring.
(iv)             Appointment of and fixing of the remuneration of auditors.

Any business which is not defined as “ordinary business” of an Annual General Meeting is known as special business.

Section 148 of the Act provides that at the Annual General Meeting, the directors of a company must lay before the company the Profit and Loss Account.

The proceedings at the meeting are commenced by the chairman, who usually makes a speech on the company’s affairs and any other circumstances of interest to the company and also answers questions from the members if any.  After this, he initiates or proposes a motion relating to the adoption of accounts and payments of dividends if any.

The next item of business deals with the proposal for election or re-election of directors. Section 184 must be complied here.  This section stipulates that if single resolution is passed for election or re-election of more than one director of a public company, such a resolution is invalid unless resolution was previously passed that all the directors concerned can be elected by a single composite resolution.

Thirdly, a motion regarding the remuneration of the company’s auditors is proposed.  This is obligatory.

Although the appointment of auditors must be made at this Annual General Meeting, they are automatically re-elected, provided they are qualified without any resolution to that effect, unless: -
(a)    They have resigned, or
(b)   They are unwilling to act, or
(c)    A resolution has been passed expressly providing that they shall not be reappointed
(d)   Other auditors in their place have been appointed.

Role of an Annual General Meeting under Kenya laws
(i)     It is only at an Annual General Meeting that shareholders can exercise any control over the affairs of the company. They can confront the directors, their elected representatives at least once a year.
(ii)   They also get an opportunity to discuss the affairs and review the working of the company.
(iii) They can put necessary measures to protect their interests, for example, they may refuse to re-elect a director whose actions and policy they disapprove.
(iv) They can also take up any matter of the company for discussion.
(v)   Appointment of auditors is done in this meeting.
(vi) Annual accounts are also presented for consideration.
(vii)Dividends are declared.

(c)        EXTRA –ORDINARY MEETING (Section 312)

A statutory meeting and an Annual General Meeting are called ordinary meetings. Every other meeting of the company which is not the above is an “extra ordinary meeting”.

Extra ordinary meetings can be convened either by the directors whenever they think fit or on the requisition of members of the company, under Article 49.

Where directors think fit to convene a meting, they do so by resolution passed at a duly convened and constituted meeting of the Board.  Article 52 of Table A, states that all business that is transacted at extra ordinary meeting shall be deemed as special.

The extra ordinary general meeting may be convened:-
(a)    By Board of Directors on its own or on the requisition of the members.
(b)   By the requisitionists themselves on the failure of Board of Directors to call the meeting.

Extra-ordinary meeting convened by Board of Directors:-
(a)      On its own:– The BOD may call an extra ordinary meeting whenever some special business is to be transacted which in the opinion of the Board of Directors, cannot be postponed till the next Annual General Meeting.
(b)      On requisition of members: - The requisite number of members of a company may ask for an extra ordinary general mee$ting to be held.  The Board of Directors shall proceed to call such a meting.  The requisition for such a meeting by the members shall be signed:-
(i)     Incase of company with share capital holders of not less than 10% of the paid up capital of the company having a right of voting in regard to the matter of acquisition.
(ii)   Incase of company with no share capital, by members representing not less than one tenth of the total voting power in regard to the matter of requisition.

A requisition signed by one of the joint owners of the shares has the same force and effects as if it has been signed by all of them.

The requisition shall set out all matters for consideration on which the meeting is called and shall be deposited in the registered office of the company.  The directors are required to convene such a meeting within 21 days from the date of deposit of the requisition, but if the fail to do so, the requisitionists themselves may convene the meetings, as nearly as possible in the manner required by the company’s articles for convening the meeting, under Section 132.

The company must compensate the requisitionists for any reasonable expenses incurred and may repay out of sums payable by the company to such directors as were in default.
Notice
Unless the meeting is called to pass a special resolution, the requisite notice for an extra ordinary general meeting is 14 days (Saturdays, Sundays, Public holidays are not included).  In case of unlimited company, 7 days notice is required, but where special resolution is required, 21 days.

(d)       CLASS MEETINGS

Class meetings are generally held for obtaining the consent of a particular class of shareholders for altering their rights and privileges or for the conversion, of one class into another, for instance, there may be a meeting of preference shareholders for varying their rate of dividend.
Prima facie, a class meeting should be attended by the members of the class in order that the discussion of the matter which the meeting has to consider may be carried unhampered.

The presence of a number of persons with conflicting interests would render it impossible for the members of the class to adequately discuss the matter from their point of view.

And if the presence of the outsiders is retained in spite of the ascertained wish of the constituents of the meeting for their exclusion, it cannot be said that a separate meeting of the class had been fully held.  But where the constituents of the meeting meet together and no one infact raised any objection to the presence of strangers or outsiders within the same four walls, there is no reason why their meeting should be a perfectly good meeting, as per Carruth vs. Imperical Chemicals Industries (1937).

Rights of Minority

Although the articles may allow the variation of class rights with the consent of a specified proportion of class shareholders, the minority of that particular class of shareholders has a valuable right to object.

Section 74 stipulates that the holders of not less than 15% of the issued shares of the class, being persons who did not consent to the resolution or abstained or did not vote at all, may object within 30 days to the alteration approved by the majority of the class.

The court must disallow the variation if it is not satisfied it would unfairly prejudice the shareholders of a class, but if not saTisfied, then it wilL confirm the variatiOn.  A letter of the court confirming this must be sent to the registrar within 30 dayS.  If memorandum or articles of the company do not provide For the variation of class of rights and it is desired that The variation be effected, then this must be done under SectiOn 207 which giv%s power to the compaNy to compromise with its credItors, or any class Of them.

Meeting of the Board

The company is entitled to the combined wisdom of the directors a.d the directors are required to meet Together as a board; and directors must meet as frequently as possible.  These are known As board meetings. It is at these meetings that vital matters relating to the company are discussed and decided upon.

Meetings of Committees of Directors

In a large company where directors are many, it is often Necessary to delegate certain matters to committees of their number.  But this power must be provided by the articles.  By so doing, the full board will probably not need to meet more frequently.

REQUISITES OF A VALID MEETING

 A meeting can validly transact any business if the following requirements under Kenya laws are satisfied:-

(i)     Proper authority.
(ii)   Proper notice.
(iii) Quorum must be present.
(iv) Chairman must preside.
(v)   Minutes of the meeting must be kept.
These are explained below: -

(i)         Proper Authority- 
A meeting to be valid must be convened by a proper authority.  It isthe Board of Directors who has the authority to call a meeting, be it statutory, annual or extra ordinary.  If the Board do not attend the meeting the members of the company may call the meeting.
Even if the meeting of the Board at which it is resolved to call a General Meeting is not properly constituted, the general meeting called by the Board can act.

(ii)        Proper Notice

The second requirement of a valid meeting under Kenya laws is that all those who are concerned with the business of the meeting andare entitled to attend, are communicated of the date, time, place and "usiness of the meeting.  Such communication is called notice.

The length of notice required by Section 133 for calLing a general meeting is 21 days.  Section 133, since statutory, overrides any provision in the articles for a shorter notice, but articles can validly provide for longer notice than that laid down by statute.

The meeting can however be called by giving a shorter notice in the following cases:-

(a)    In case of an Annual General Meeting, by the consent of all the members entitled to attend and vote.
(b)   In case of any other meeting, by the consent of the members holding not less than 5% of paid- up capital of the company or not less than 95% of voting power.

If members agree to accept a shorter notice, a resolution to that effect must be recordeD in the minutes of the meeting with sufficient details of votingn

Case Law: Bailey, Hay & Co. Re (171)
The notice of a meeting for theVoluntary winding up of a company was short by one dAy.  All thefive members attended.  ThE necessary resolution was passed by the votes of two members, the other three ab3tained from voting.  It was held that the resolution was validly passeD with the unanimous assent of all the members and those who abstained were treated as having acquiesced in the winding up.

Omission to give Notice

Under Kenya laws deliberate omission to give a notice even to one member may invalidate the meeting.  An accidental omission or non-receipt of notice by any member doeS not inValidatE the proceedings at the meeting. “AccidentAl loss –not deliberate”.

Case Law: Mussel white vs. CH Mussel white & Sons Ltd (1962)
M sold shares inM Ltd to D.  The payment was to be made by D to M by instalments.  M was to remain on the register of members until the last instalment was paid.  Before the last instalment was paid, an annual general meeting was held, but M did not receive the notice of the meeting as the directors erroneously believed that M was no longer a member.

It was held that the failure to give notice was not incidental and the meeting held without notice was void.
Contents of the Notice;-

(i)   Specify the date, place and hour of the meeting.
(ii) Statement of the business to be transacted/agenda, with sufficient details.

Special Notice

Certain powers which are exercisable by members by ordinary resolution or special resolution, requires “special notice”.

A special notice is under Kenya laws required for the following resolutions:-
(i)       Removing a director.
(ii)     Authorising a director who is over 70 years.
(iii)   Appointment of an auditor.
(iv)   Providing expressly that a retiring auditor shall not be appointed.

(iii)       Quorum

Quorum under Kenya laws means the minimum number of members who must be present in order to constitute a valid meeting.  The quorum is generally stated by articles.

Articles 53 Table A provides that no business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the time the meeting proceeds to business.
Three persons/members present in person shall be quorum.
Thus those members who intend to vote by proxy are not taken into account when determining whether or not a quorum is present.
Where no provision is made as to quorum in the articles, Section 134 (c) prescribes two members in case of private company and in other cases three.
If the articles provide that proxies be included in quorum, then it can be counted.

Rule: If no quorum is present, there is no meeting and any business conducted is invalid.
            Unless otherwise provided in the articles, if within half an hour from the time
appointed for holding a meeting of the company, a quorum is not present the meeting:-
(a)    If called upon by the requisition of members stand dissolved
(b)   Other cases stand adjourned to the same date in the next week at the same time, as the directors may determine.

Note: If the quorum is not present at the adjourned meeting, then the present members shall be quorum.

Quorum should be present at the time the meeting proceeds to business not present throughout or at the time of voting.

SHARP VS. DAWES RULE

One person, except in exceptional cases cannot constitute a quorum.  The word “meeting” prima-facie means a coming together of more than one person. Strictly speaking therefore, one shareholder cannot constitute a meeting.  This is Sharp vs. Dawes rule.

Case Law: Sharp vs. Dawes (1876)
A general meeting of a company was called for the purpose of making a call.  Only one shareholder attended.  The business of the company was carried through including a call on the shareholders.  Dawes was sued for the call he failed to pay.  In his defence, Dawes argued that the call had not been validly made at a general meeting.  It was held that one person could not constitute a meeting.

Meltish L.J. said, “according to ordinary English language, a meeting could no more be constituted by one person than a meeting could have been constituted if no share holder at all had attended. No business could be done at such a meeting.

Re. Sanitary Carbon Co. (1877) appeared to lend support to the above decision as it was held that a meeting of a company attended by one shareholder only was not validly constituted, even though that shareholder held the proxies of all other members.

Therefore, as a general rule, one individual alone does not constitute a meeting even if he/she represent two or more members, for example, by being both a member and a proxy for another member.

(iv)       Chairman
The chairman:-
(i)     Conducts a meeting.
(ii)   He is the presiding officer.
(iii)  Keeps order and conducts the meeting.
(iv) Must give members present a reasonable chance to discuss any proposed     resolution.
(v)  Should not adjourn the meeting without the consent of the members.

(v)        Minutes of the Meeting

Section 145 of the Act states that every company must keep minutes containing a fair and correct summary of all proceedings of general meetings and directors in books kept for that purpose.

The term “minutes” means official record of all the meetings of a company.  These are summary of the business transacted, decisions and the resolutions arrived at the meeting.

Any minute purporting to be signed by the chairman of a meeting is evidence of the proceedings of the meeting in which it relates.
PROXIES

A proxy under Kenya laws is an authority to represent and vote for another person at a meeting.  It is also an instrument appointing a person as a proxy.  The person so appointed is known as a proxy.

A proxy is not entitled to act contrary to the instructions of the appointer.  Notice calling a meeting must contain the right to attend and speak at the meeting.  The right to appoint a proxy is provided under Section 136 and any clause purporting to take away this right is void.

Voting and Poll under Kenya law

Voting by show of hands: - Questions arising in a general meeting are to be decided in the first instance by show of hands.  On a show of hands, each member has one vote irrespective of the number of shares, and a proxy cannot vote unless the articles otherwise provides.

Since voting by show of hands does not always reflect the true interests of a member upon a “value” basis, a provision has been made in Section 137 by virtue of which, except on the question of election of chairman or an adjournment of meeting, the members have a statutory right to demand that a poll be taken.
The demand for a poll may be made effective:-
(i)         By the chairman.
(ii)        By not less than five members having the right to vote at the meeting.
(iii)       By a member representing not less than 1/10th of the total voting rights.

Vote by show of hands is not an accurate method f ascertaining the wishes of the members of the company because the votes of those voting by proxy are not counted.  Also it does not pay due regard to the wishes of a member holding a large number of shares since he/she has only one vote on a show of hands method.

A poll is more proper and effective means of arriving at the wishes of all the members. A poll may be demanded before or on the declaration of the result of the voting on a show of hands.

RESOLUTIONS

 Decisions of the company are made by resolutions of its members passed at meetings of members.  A proposal when passed and accepted by the members becomes resolution.
There are three kinds of resolutions under Kenya law:-
(i)   Ordinary resolution
(ii)  Special resolution
(iii) Resolutions requiring a special notice

(i)         Ordinary Resolution

This is one passed by members at a general meeting by a simple majority of members entitled to vote therein. Simple majority means that the votes cast either by show of hands or on a poll in favour of a particular proposal including the casting vote of the chairman, exceeds the votes cast against it. Votes may be cast by members in person or by proxy.
A proper notice should be given, that is, 21 days notice.

For example, in a general meeting of a company, out of 1,000 members entitle to vote, only 700 were present. Of the 700, 251 members vote in favour of a resolution, 250 against it and 199 abstained from voting.  The resolution was passed by a simple majority.

Ordinary resolution is necessary for the following among other purposes:
(i)         To authorise the issue of shares at discount – Section 59.
(ii)        To increase the share capital.
(iii)       To appoint an auditor.
(iv)       To appoint directors.
(v)        To declare dividend
(vi)       To approve accounts
(vii)      To wind up voluntarily where provision to that effect is provided by articles

Extra ordinary Resolution

This is one which has been passed by a majority of not less than ¾th of such members, as being entitled to do, vote in person or where proxies are allowed, vote by proxy at a general meeting of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as extraordinary has been duly given. This resolution is not in Kenya.

(ii)        Special Resolution

A resolution shall be a special resolution, says the Act, Section 141 when:-
(i)     The intention to propose the resolution as special resolution has been duly specified in the notice.
(ii)   The notice required under the Act, of 21 days has been duly given
(iii) The votes cast in favour of the resolution by members entitled to vote either in person or by proxy are not less than three fourths of such members as being entitled to vote in person or by proxy, where proxies are allowed.
The votes may be cast either by show of hands or by poll.

Special resolutions are the most vital part of the mechanism of the company. It is by and through this instrument that the companies carry out vital administrative and executive acts. The aim of passing special resolution is to ensure that every important change shall be made only after due deliberations and with the sanction of the greater body of shareholders of the company.
The articles may provide certain types of business that requires special resolutions as follows:-
(i)          To alter the objects of a company- Section 8.
(ii)        To alter the articles – Section 13.
(iii)      To change the name of the company – Section 20.
(iv)      To create new reserve liability – Section 62.
(v)        To alter the provisions of the memorandum for changing the place of    registered office from one state to another.
(vi)      To reduce share capital of a company – Section 69.
(vii)    To appoint inspectors to inspect or investigate the affairs of the company - Section 166.
(viii)  To resolve that a company be wound up by order of the court -Section 271.
(ix)      To institute members’ voluntary winding up – Section 280.
(x)        To authorise the liquidator to accept shares in consideration for the sale of company’s sharers.

(iii)       Resolutions requiring “Special Notice”

This resolution requires a special notice to be given to the members. A resolution requiring a special notice may be passed by the members at a general meeting by a simple majority or ¾th majority.

A special resolution, for which special notice will be invalid, unless 28 days notice before the meeting at which the resolution is to be moved, is given to the company by a member.
Special notice is required by the Act in the following matters:-
(i)                 A resolution at an Annual General Meeting appointing as an auditor a person other than a retiring one- Section 60.
(ii)               A resolution at an Annual General Meeting to provide that a retiring auditor shall not be appointed.
(iii)             A special resolution to appoint a director who is over any applicable age limit.
(iv)             A special resolution to remove a director before the expiry of his period of office or to appoint another director in place of the removed director – Section 185(2).