引言
对于中方企业来说,在进入印度市场的时候,选择合资的方式可以更好地利用当地资源、减少进入阻力。一般情况下,公司秉承着股权多数至上的原则。若中国投资者是少数股东,则面临着保障自己在合资企业中的更多话语权、分红等需要。在实践中,有的中国企业可能是占据了多数股权,但可能因为其仍然在运营中处于弱势地位,日常经营管理权受到其他合资方的钳制。
股东会决议作为公司经营管理的重要决策依据,所涉的决议内容与股东利益息息相关,故股东会决议是中资企业权力制衡、保护自身权益的一项重要法律手段。其中,一些特别表决事项更是与合资企业的责任、发展及股东的切身利益紧密相关,需要更加严格的通过条件,换言之,必须经特别决议通过。
对于想在印度投资的中资企业而言,尤其是处于进入阶段的中资企业,了解印度法体系中的特别决议事项并完善合资企业章程相关内容,对于维护其切身利益譬如公司管理、分红等,非常重要。出于以上考量,本文将聚焦于印度公司法中的特别决议展开,就印度2013年《公司法》中的法定特别决议事项做一梳理。
印度公司法中的特别决议
除印度2013年《公司法》特别规定必须经特别决议通过的事项以及公司章程中股东们意定的必须经特别决议通过的事项外,诸如通过年度财务报表、发放股息等都可以通过普通决议方式作出。根据印度2013年《公司法》第114条规定,若决议以多数赞成票即通过则为普通决议;该条第二款进而规定了特殊决议的构成条件:
(1)召开股东大会的通知或向股东发出的其他通知中已说明将所涉议案作为特别决议提出的意图;
(2)本法规定的通知已正式发出;及
(3)有权投票的股东,可以亲自或委派代表,以举手、电子或邮寄方式投票(视情况而定)投票,且就所涉议案通过而言,有权投票的股东之赞成票数需不少于有权投票的股东之反对票数(如有)的三倍(即取得出席会议股东所持表决权的3/4以上通过)。
Section 5(3)(4) Articles 公司章程
Entrenchment provisions can be set forth in the articles of AOA, but for a public company, a special resolution is required to amend such provisions.
章程中可规定限制性条款,但于上市公司而言,若需修订上述限制性条款则需经特别决议通过。
Section 12(5) Registered office of company 注册办事处
For changing registered office outside the local limits of any city, town or village where such office is situated.
在任何城市、城镇或村庄的地方范围外改变注册办事处需经特别决议通过。
Section 13(1) Alteration of MOA 公司备忘录的更改
For alteration of provisions of memorandum.
备忘录具体条款的更改。
Section 13(8) Alteration of object
公司募集资金目的/用途的更改
If the company is raising funds from the public through a prospectus and there is any unused amount in the funds raised, a special resolution is required to change the object of the aforementioned funds.
若公司是通过招股说明书向公众募集资金且在所募集的资金中仍有任何未使用的金额,则改变前述募集资金的目的/用途需要经过特别决议。
Section 14 Alteration AOA 公司章程的更改
Alteration of articles for conversion of a private company into public company or vice versa.
章程中以下内容可以通过特别决议修改:为将私人公司转变为上市公司或将上市公司转变为私人公司。
Section 27(1) Variation in terms of contract or objects in prospectus 合同条款的变更或发行对象的变更
Variation in the terms of contract referred to in the prospectus or object for which the prospectus was issued.
招股说明书中提到的合同条款或发行对象的变更。
Section 41 Issue of Global Depository Receipts (GDR) 全球存托凭证的发行
To issue Global Depository Receipts (GDR) in any foreign country.
在外国发行全球存托凭证。
Section 42 Private Placement 私募
For making offer or invitation for subscribing securities through private placement needs shareholders approval through special resolution.
对于私募的要约或邀请,需要股东通过特别决议批准。
Section 48(1) Variation of Shareholders Rights 股东权利的变更
Variation of shareholders rights attached to the shares of any class.
所有类别股份所附带股东权利的变更。
Section 54 Issue of sweat equity shares[1] 血汗股权
Issue of sweat equity shares of a class of shares already issued.
发行已发行股份种类的血汗股权。
Section 62(l)(b) Issue of further shares 增发股份
Issue of further shares to employees under a scheme of employee's stock option.
根据员工的股票激励计划向员工进一步发行股票。
Section 62(1)(C) Issue of further shares 增发股份
Issue of further shares to any person whether or not those persons include the existing members or employees for cash or for a consideration other than cash, if the price of such shares is determined by the valuation report.
需要通过发行更多的股份来增加其认购资本时,在这些股份的价格由注册估价师的估价报告确定并符合相关规定的基础上,这些股份应在特别决议授权的情况下,以现金或现金以外的代价向任何人士发售。
Section 62(3) Issue of further shares 增发股份
For approving the terms of issue of debentures or loan containing an option to convert such debentures or loans into shares.
附有选择权的债券或贷款的发行条款在发行前需股东大会上通过特别决议批准。
Section 66 Reduction of share capital 减少股份
For reduction of share capital of the company.
减少公司股份。
Section 67(3)(b) Restriction on purchase by company or giving of loans by it for purchase of its shares 对公司购买或提供贷款购买其股份的限制
Special resolution required for approving any scheme for the purchase of, or subscription for, fully paid-up shares in company or its holding company, if the purchase of, or the subscription for the shares held by trustees for the benefit of the employees or such shares held by the employee of the company.
如果购买或认购受托人为雇员利益而持有的股份或公司雇员持有的此类股份,则需要通过特别决议批准购买或认购公司或其控股公司的已缴足股份的相关计划。
Section 68 Power of company to purchase its own shares 公司购买公司股份的权利
For authorizing company to purchase its own shares.
需要经过特别决议授权公司购买该公司股份。
Section 71 Debentures 债券
Issue of debentures with an option to convert whole or part of the debentures into shares at the time of the total number of members reside.
公司可发行附有在赎回时将该等债券全部或部分转换为股份的选择权的债券;但发行附有将该等债券全部或部分转换为股份的选择权的债券,应在股东大会上通过特别决议予以批准。
Section 94 Place of keeping and inspection of registers, return 登记册、申报表等的保存和检查
To keep registers, return and other records at any other place than the registered office, where more than 1/10 of the total number of members reside.
在注册办事处以外的其他地方(该地有超过总人数的1/10的成员居住)保存登记册、申报表或其他记录,则需要在公司的股东大会上通过特别决议批准。
Section 140 Removal, resignation of auditor and giving of special resolution 审计师的罢免、辞职和发出特别决议
Removal of the auditor before expiry of his term require special resolution.
在任期届满前撤职审计师需要通过特别决议。
Section 149(1) Board of Directors 董事会
For appointing more than 15 directors by company.
若需委任15名以上的董事,需要经过特别决议。
Section 149(10) Board of Directors 董事会
Reappointment of Independent director after expiry of his term.
独立董事的连任需经过特别决议。
Section 165(2) Number of directorships 董事会成员数量
For specifying any lesser number of companies in which director of the company may act as director.
如果该公司董事可能在其他少量公司(在该条(1)款的限制下,“少量”不超过20)担任董事,则需要通过特别决议。
Section 180 Restriction on powers of board 董事会权力的限制
Board's powers as mentioned in section 180(1) can only be exercised with the consent of the company.经过公司特别同意,董事会才可行使该法第180条规定的权力。
Section 185 Loans to directors 董事借款
For approving a scheme pursuant to which any loan may be given to a managing or whole-time director.
批准允许向董事总经理或全职董事提供贷款的计划,需要经过特别决议。
Section 186 Loans and Investment by Company 公司的贷款和投资
In case of giving of any loan or guarantee or providing any security or the acquisition in excess of 60% of its paid-up share capital, free reserves and security premium account or 100% of its fees reserves and security premium account, whichever is more, shall be approved by special resolution.
如果提供任何贷款、保证或抵押,或进行超过其实收股本、自由储备金和安全溢价账户的60%或其费用储备金和安全溢价账户的100%(以较多者为准)的收购,应通过特别决议批准。
Section 196 Appointment of managing director, whole time director or manager 任命常务董事、全职董事或经理
For appointing any person as a managing director, whole time director or manager who has attained the age of 70 years.
任命年满70岁的人担任总经理、全职董事或经理。
Section 197(4) Overall maximum managerial remuneration and managerial remuneration in case of absence or inadequacy of profits. 管理人员的总体最高薪酬和在没有利润或利润不足的情况下的管理人员薪酬
For approving the managerial remuneration payable to directors of the company including managing director or whole-time director or manager.
给管理人员的薪酬,应在该规定的限制下,由公司章程,或股东大会普通决议或股东大会特别决议(如果章程有此要求)来确定。
Section 210 Investigation into affairs of company 公司事务的调查
In case affairs of the company are to be investigated upon any intimation.
若有调查之需,则可以通过特别决议确定应予调查某事项。
Section 212 Investigation into affairs of company by Serious Fraud Investigation Office 印度严重欺诈调查局官员对公司事务的调查
In case affairs of the company are to be investigated by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office upon any intimation.
若有调查之需,则可以通过特别决议确定应予调查某事项。
Section 248 Power of registrar to remove name of company from registrar of company 登记员将公司名称从公司登记处移除的权力
For applying with registrar for removing the name of company from the registrar of companies.
向注册处申请将公司名称从注册处除名。
Section 271 Circumstance in which company may be wound up by tribunal 公司在何种情况下可由法庭进行清算
For winding up of the company by tribunal.
公司可通过特别决议,决定由法庭对该公司进行清算。
Section 371 Effect of registration under this Part 注册效力
In case required to adopt table F in schedule I.
若要适用于2013年《公司法》附录I中表F中规定的内容,则需经特别决议通过。
结语
对于中国的投资者而言,除了需要了解印度公司法中的法定特别决议事项以避免出现章程规定或决议通过不符合相关规定的情形,还需要注意:按照印度公司法的规定,特别决议做出后30天内,需要将上述决议的相关信息报送至公司事务部相关主管部门进行备案。
注释:
参考文献:
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作者简介
叶巧媚,上海兰迪(深圳)律师事务所国际投资与贸易部成员,西南政法大学法学硕士,拥有法律职业资格,专注于国际投资与贸易、海外企业合规以及国际商事仲裁等。