Fundamental changes in a company

At some point in the life of a company, the owners may wish to make fundamental changes in the company. Some of these changes may merely be basically administrative, such as changing the company’s name. Other changes may entail alteration of the company’s structure. These changes sometimes place the rights of the creditors and minority shareholders at risk and are thus subject to special statutory regulation. The main examples of the types of alterations which fall into this group are constitutional amendments, mergers, consolidations, sale of substantially all assets, acquisition of controlling shares and liquidation.

The most common constitutional alterations in a company include alteration of the company’s name, capital or objects. According to English law, a change of name can be made by special resolution in a general meeting, or all the members must sign a written resolution that the name of the company be changed to the new name. A signed copy of the resolution containing the new name must then be submitted to the Registrar of Companies. If the submission is in order, Companies House will issue a Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name.

A company may alter its capital structure, provided that the articles of association grant such power. Such an alteration might entail such things as an increase in share capital, a consolidation or division of shares or a cancellation of shares.

A company may also reduce its share capital following court confirmation. A company may alter its objects clause by special resolution. However, the court may at its discretion set aside such a resolution upon application by a small group of minority shareholders.

A merger takes place when one company is absorbed into another company. Where company X is merged into company Y, company Y is the acquiring company and survives, while company X is the acquired (target) company and disappears. In a consolidation, both company X and company Y disappear and a new company Z is formed.

A company may also gain control of another company by purchasing substantially all of the other company’s assets. At common law, a sale of this kind normally required unanimous shareholder approval. However, today such sales may take place upon approval by some majority of the shareholders. Acquisition of shares is another method of gaining control of another company. This is achieved by purchasing all or the controlling portion of outstanding shares in a company.

Many times this is achieved through a takeover bid, whereby company Y (the acquirer) makes a public invitation to shareholders of company X (the target company) to sell their stock, generally at a price above the market price. There can be hostile takeovers and friendly takeovers. In the former, the takeover is opposed by the target company’s management, while in the latter the action is supported by management. Various regulations apply largely to protect the target company shareholders.

1. Speak on the main types of alterations a company can face. Give your reasons for such changes. Exemplify your answer.

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