Corporations Act. Australia
subsection 254L(3). Section 79 defines involved.
254L Consequences of contravening section 254J or 254K
(1) If a company redeems shares in contravention of section 254J or 254K:
(a) the contravention does not affect the validity of the redemption or of any contract or transaction connected with it; and
(b) the company is not guilty of an offence.
(2) Any person who is involved in a company’s contravention of section 254J or 254K contravenes this subsection.
Note: 1: Subsection (2) is a civil penalty provision (see section 1317E).
Note: 2: Section 79 defines involved.
(3) A person commits an offence if they are involved in a company’s contravention of section 254J or 254K and the involvement is dishonest.
Part 2H.3 — Partly‑paid shares
254M Liability on partly‑paid shares
General rule about shareholder’s liability for calls
(1) If shares in a company are partly‑paid, the shareholder is liable to pay calls on the shares in accordance with the terms on which the shares are on issue. This subsection does not apply to a no liability company.
Note: The shareholder may also be liable as a contributory under sections 514‑529 if the company is wound up.
No liability companies
(2) The acceptance by a person of a share in a no liability company, whether by issue or transfer, does not constitute a contract by the person to pay:
(a) calls in respect of the share; or
(b) any contribution to the debts and liabilities of the company.
254N Calls may be limited to when company is externally‑administered
(1) A limited company may provide by special resolution that the whole or a part of its unpaid share capital may be called up only if the company becomes an externally‑administered body corporate.
(2) The company must lodge with ASIC a copy of the special resolution within 14 days after it is passed.
(3) An offence based on subsection (2) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
254P No liability companies — calls on shares
Making calls
(1) A call on a share in a no liability company is not effective unless it is made payable at least 14 days after the call is made.
Notice of call
(2) At least 7 days before a call on shares in a no liability company becomes payable, the company must give the holders of the shares notice of:
(a) the amount of the call; and
(b) the day when it is payable; and
(c) the place for payment.
The notice must be sent by post. If the notice is not given, the call is not payable.
(3) A call does not have any effect on a forfeited share that is held by or in trust for the company under subsection 254Q(6). However, when the share is re‑issued or sold by the company, the share may be credited as paid up to the amount determined by the company in accordance with its constitution or by resolution.
254Q No liability companies — forfeiture and sale of shares for failure to meet call
Forfeiture and sale of shares
(1) A share in a no liability company is immediately forfeited if:
(a) a call is made on the share; and
(b) the call is unpaid at the end of 14 days after it became payable.
Note: The holder of the share may redeem it under section 254R.
(2) The forfeited share must then be offered for sale by public auction within 6 weeks after the call became payable.
Advertisement of sale
(3) At least 14 days, and not more than 21 days, before the day of the sale, the sale must be advertised in a daily newspaper circulating generally throughout Australia. The specific number of shares to be offered need not be specified in the advertisement and it is sufficient to give notice of the sale by advertising to the effect that all shares on which a call remains unpaid will be sold.
Postponement of sale
(4) An intended sale of forfeited shares that has been duly advertised may be postponed for not more than 21 days from the advertised date of sale. The date to which the sale is postponed must be advertised in a daily newspaper circulating generally in Australia.
(5) There may be more than 1 postponement but the sale cannot be postponed to a date more than 90 days from the first date fixed for the intended sale.
Shares may be offered as credited to a particular amount
(6) The share may be sold credited as paid up to the sum of:
(a) the amount paid upon the share at the time of forfeiture; and
(b) the amount of the call; and
(c) the amount of any other calls becoming payable on or before the day of the sale;
if the company in accordance with its constitution or by ordinary resolution so determines.
Reserve price
(7) The directors may fix a reserve price for the share that does not exceed the sum of:
(a) the amount of the call due and unpaid on the share at the time of forfeiture; and
(b) the amount of any other calls that become payable on or before the date of the sale.
Withdrawal from sale
(8) The share may be withdrawn from sale if no bid at least equal to the reserve price is made at the sale.
Disposal of shares withdrawn from sale
(9) If:
(a) no bid for the share is received at the sale; or
(b) the share is withdrawn from sale;
the share must be held by the directors in trust for the company. It must be then disposed of in the manner determined by the company in accordance with its constitution or by resolution. Unless otherwise specifically provided by resolution, the share must first be offered to shareholders for a period of 14 days before being disposed of in any other manner.
Suspension of voting rights attached to share held in trust
(10) At any meeting of the company, no person is entitled to any vote in respect of the shares held by the directors in trust under subsection (9).
Application of proceeds of sale
(11) The proceeds of the sale under subsection (2) or the disposal under subsection (9) must be applied to pay:
(a) first, the expenses of the sale; and
(b) then, any expenses necessarily incurred in respect of the forfeiture; and
(c) then, the calls on the share that are due and unpaid.
The balance (if any) must be paid to the member whose share has been sold. If there is a share certificate that relates to the share, the balance does not have to be paid until the member delivers the certificate to the company.
Validity of sale
(12) If a sale