articles of association
The document that governs the running of a registered company. It sets out voting rights of shareholders, conduct of shareholders’ and directors’ meetings, powers of the management, etc. Either the ...
articles of incorporation
In the USA, an official document that details a company's existence. It is similar to the UK memorandum of association.
authorized capital
The total value of the shares that a registered company is authorized to issue in order to raise capital. The authorized capital of a company limited by shares (see limited company) must be stated in ...
authorized share capital
The maximum amount of share capital that may be issued by a company, as detailed in the company's memorandum of association. At present the authorized share capital must be disclosed on the face of ...
capital
1 (share capital) A fund representing the contributions given to the company by shareholders in return for their shares. These assets are intended to protect the interests of any creditors in the ...
certificate of incorporation
The certificate that brings a company into existence; it is issued to the shareholders of a company by the Registrar of Companies. Currently, it is issued when the memorandum and articles of ...
Companies House
The office of the Registrar of Companies (see registration of a company). Companies with a registered office in England or Wales are served by the registry at Cardiff; those in Scotland by the ...
company
A form of organization for a business, with a legal personality distinct from the individuals taking part in it. This has been found essential in organizing large and complex businesses. The ...
company formation
The procedure to be adopted for forming a company in the UK. The subscribers to the company must send to the Registrar of Companies a statement giving details of the registered address of the new ...
company limited by guarantee
An incorporated organization in which the liability of members is limited by the memorandum of association to the amount they agree to pay in the event of a liquidation. Such a company does not issue ...
company limited by shares
An incorporated organization in which the liability of members is limited by the memorandum of association to the amounts paid, or due to be paid, for shares. See limited company.
company member
A person who holds shares in a company or, in the case of a company that does not issue shares (such as a company limited by guarantee), any of those who have signed the memorandum of association or ...
company name
The title of a registered company, as stated in the application for registration, on the company's certificate of incorporation, and in the Register of Companies. The names with which companies can ...
constitution
(of corporation)A document formally constituting a company and adopted by it either on initial registration, by agreement in writing of all the people consenting to be members, or after ...
corporate charter
(USA).The legal basis upon which companies are registered and operated. In the UK the same documents are called the memorandum and articles of association.
general meeting
Under the Companies Act 2006, a meeting of company members that is not an annual general meeting. Such a meeting was formerly known as an extraordinary general meeting. The Companies Act requires ...
intra vires
[Latin: within the powers]Describing an act carried out by a body (such as a public authority or a company) that is within the limits of the powers conferred on it by statute or some other ...
management
The act of directing and controlling the affairs of a business, organization, or other body to ensure that they operate efficiently and effectively, in order to accomplish agreed objectives. See also ...
member of a company
A shareholder of a company whose name is entered in the register of members. Founder members (see founders' shares) are those who sign the memorandum of association; anyone subsequently coming into ...
objects clause
A clause contained in the articles of association of a company setting out the objects for which the company has been formed. The Companies Act 2006 removes the former requirement for a company to ...
