Corporations Act. Australia
proprietary company proprietary company limited by shares (but only if, within the last 3 years, it was not a limited company that became an unlimited company) public company limited by shares (but only if, within the last 3 years, it was not a limited company that became an unlimited company) unlimited public company
3
public company limited by shares unlimited public company
unlimited proprietary company
proprietary company limited by shares
no liability company (see subsection (2))
4
company limited by guarantee
public company limited by shares
unlimited public company
proprietary company limited by shares
unlimited proprietary company
5
unlimited public company
public company limited by shares (but only if, within the last 3 years, it was not a limited company that became an unlimited company)
proprietary company limited by shares (but only if, within the last 3 years, it was not a limited company that became an unlimited company)
unlimited proprietary company
6
public no liability company
public company limited by shares (but only if all the issued shares are fully paid up)
proprietary company limited by shares (but only if all the issued shares are fully paid up)
Note 1: A public company seeking to change to a proprietary company must comply with the requirements for proprietary companies set out in section 113.
Note 2: Other types of companies that were previously allowed can change type under the Part 10.1 transitionals.
(2) A public company limited by shares may only convert to a no liability company if:
(a) the company’s constitution states that its sole objects are mining purposes; and
(b) under the constitution the company has no contractual right to recover calls made on its shares from a shareholder who fails to pay them; and
(c) all the company’s issued shares are fully paid up.
Note: Section 9 defines mining purposes and minerals.
(3) The company must lodge a copy of the special resolution with ASIC within 14 days after it is passed.
(3A) An offence based on subsection (3) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(4) A special resolution to change an unlimited company that has share capital to a company limited by shares may also provide that a specified portion of its uncalled share capital may only be called up if the company becomes an externally‑administered body corporate.
163 Applying for change of type
Lodging application
(1) To change its type, a company must lodge an application with ASIC.
Contents of the application
(2) The application must be accompanied by the following:
(a) a copy of:
(i) the special resolution that resolves to change the type of the company, specifies the new type and the company’s new name (if a change of name is necessary); and
(ii) any other special resolution passed in connection with the change of type;
(b) for a company limited by guarantee changing to a company limited by shares:
(i) a statement signed by the directors of the company that in their opinion the company’s creditors are not likely to be materially prejudiced by the change of type and that sets out their reasons for that opinion; and
(ii) any special resolution dealing with an issue of shares according to section 167;
(c) for a company limited by shares or a company limited by guarantee changing to an unlimited company:
(i) an assent to the change of type in the prescribed form signed by all the members of the company; and
(ii) a statement signed by a director or a company secretary of the company that all the members of the company have signed the assent;
(d) for a proprietary company changing to a public company:
(i) a consolidated copy of the company’s constitution (if any) as at the date of lodgment; and
(ii) a copy of each document (including an agreement or consent) or resolution that is necessary to ascertain the rights attached to issued or unissued shares of the company.
Note 1: The company must lodge a copy of any special resolution modifying its constitution passed after the application is lodged (see subsection 136(5)).
Note 2: The company must lodge information relating to any change of rights attached to its shares, or any division or conversion of its shares into new classes, occurring after the application is lodged (see section 246F).
Company limited by guarantee to company limited by shares
(3) If shares will be issued to persons under paragraph 166(2)(c) on the change of type from a company limited by guarantee to a company limited by shares, the application must state:
(a) that the company has prepared a list that sets out the following details about each person to whom the shares will be issued:
(i) name and address;
(ii) the number and class of shares the person will take up;
(iii) the amount (if any) the person will pay for the shares;
(iv) the amount (if any) that will be unpaid on the shares; and
(b) the number and class of shares those persons will take up; and
(c) the amount (if any) those persons will pay for the shares; and
(ca) the amount (if any) that will be unpaid on the shares; and
(d) if the shares will be issued for non‑cash consideration — the prescribed particulars about the issue of the shares, unless the shares will be issued under a written contract and a copy of the contract is lodged with the application; and
(e) that each of those persons who is not a member of the company when the application is made consents in writing to the inclusion in the list of the details about them that are referred to in paragraph (a).
The shares may be issued to existing members only, to new members only or to existing and new members.
Note: An offer of shares associated with a proposed change of type may need disclosure to investors under Part 6D.2 (see sections 706, 707, 708, 708AA and 708A).
(3A) For a company changing to a proprietary company, if any of the particulars in the register kept by the company under section 169 and mentioned in paragraph 178A(1)(b) are different from the particulars set out:
(a) in the latest extract of particulars received by the company; or
(b) if the company responded to the latest extract it received — in the company’s extract taken together with the company’s response to the extract;
the application must set out those different particulars in addition to the other information required by