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As enacted
Contents

Part II · Private Companies

31. Unanimous agreement of shareholders

Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.

(1)

Where all the shareholders of a private company agree in writing to any action which has been taken, or is to be taken by the company—

(a)

the taking of that action is deemed to be validly authorised by the company, notwithstanding any provision in the articles of the company to the contrary; and

(b)

the provisions contained in the list of sections of this Act specified in the Second Schedule hereto, shall not apply to and in relation to that action.

(2)

Without limiting the matters which may be agreed to under subsection (1), the provisions of that subsection shall apply where all the shareholders of a private company agree to or concur in —

(a)

the issue of shares by the company;

(b)

the making of a distribution by the company;

(c)

the repurchase or redemption of shares in the company;

(d)

the giving of financial assistance by a company for the purpose of or in connection with the purchase of shares in the company;

(e)

the payment of remuneration to a director, or the making of a loan to a director, or the conferment of any other benefit on a director; or

(f)

the entering into a contract between an interested director and the company.

(3)

Where a distribution is made by a company under subsection (2) and as a consequence of making that distribution the company fails to satisfy the solvency test, such distribution shall be deemed not to have been made validly.

(4)

A distribution to a shareholder which is deemed not to have been validly made under subsection (3) may be recovered by the company from such shareholder, unless —

(a)

the shareholder received the distribution in good faith and without knowledge of the company’s failure to satisfy the solvency test;

(b)

the shareholder has altered his position relying on the validity of such distribution; and

(c)

it would be unreasonable in view of the circumstances, to require repayment in full or at all.

(5)

Where reasonable grounds did not exist for believing that the company would be able to satisfy the solvency test after the making of a distribution which is deemed not to have been validly made, each shareholder who agreed to the making of such distribution will be personally liable to the company, to repay to the company so much of the distribution which the company is not able to recover from the shareholders to whom the distribution was made.

(6)

Where an action for recovery is brought against a shareholder under subsection (4) or (5), and the court is satisfied that the company could by making a distribution of a lesser amount have satisfied the solvency test, the court may —

(a)

permit the shareholder to retain; or

(b)

relieve the shareholder from liability in respect of, an amount equal to the value of any distribution that the company could properly have made under the circumstances.

Part III

Companies Limited by Guarantee

Part IV

Shares and Debentures Prospectus

Part V

Shareholders and Their Rights and Obligations

Part VI

Registration of Charges Registration of Charges with Registrar

Part VII

Management and Administration Registered Office

Part VIII

Amalgamations

Part IX

Compromises with Creditors

Part X

Approval of Arrangements, Amalgamations, and Compromises by Court

Part XI

Provisions Relating to Offshore Companies

Part XII

Winding Up

Part XIII

Administrators Appointment of Administrator

Part XIV

Floating Charges

Part XV

Receivers and Managers

Part XVI

Registrar-General of Companies and Registration Appointment of Officers

Part XVII

Application of Act to Existing Companies

Part XVIII

Overseas Companies

Part XIX

Advisory Commission

Part XX

Companies Disputes Board

Part XXI

Offences Miscellaneous Offences

Part XXII

Miscellaneous Prohibition of Partnership with More Than Twenty Members

Part XXIII

Repeals and Amendments

Schedules