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| Commonwealth Development Corporation Bill [H.L.] |
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These notes refer to the Commonwealth Development Corporation Bill [H.L.], as introduced in the House of Lords on 25th November 1998 [HL Bill 2] Commonwealth Development Corporation Bill [H.L.]
EXPLANATORY NOTESINTRODUCTION1. These explanatory notes relate to the Commonwealth Development Corporation Bill as introduced in the House of Lords on 25 November 1998. They have been prepared by the Department for International Development in order to assist the reader of the Bill and to help inform debate on it. They do not form part of the Bill and have not been endorsed by Parliament.
2. The notes need to be read in conjunction with the Bill. They are not, and are not meant to be, a comprehensive description of the Bill. So where a clause or part of a clause does not seem to require any explanation or comment, none is given. SUMMARY3. The Bill's main purpose is to permit the transformation of the Commonwealth Development Corporation ("CDC") from a statutory corporation (see paragraph 10), governed by its own legislation (primarily the Commonwealth Development Corporation Act 1978) into a public company limited by shares ("plc") governed, as other plcs, primarily by the Companies Act 1985. The transformation will take place without making CDC into a new legal entity. The purpose of this transformation is to make CDC a suitable vehicle for a Public/Private Partnership with private investors. In particular, as a plc, CDC will have a share capital (it does not at present) and will be able to issue shares. The Bill also makes provision for the Government to continue to give certain financial assistance to CDC in the period in which it remains wholly owned by Government and to enable CDC to restructure financially. 4. Although initially the Government will be the sole shareholder, the intention of the Bill is to prepare the way for the eventual sale of the majority holding in CDC plc. The Government intends to retain a substantial minority holding in CDC plc and the Secretary of State will have certain reserved rights as holder of a "Golden Share". BACKGROUND5. CDC has existed since 1948. It is a statutory corporation sponsored by the Department for International Development ("DFID"). The Corporation is the Government's main instrument for directly mobilising investment in developing countries (not confined to the Commonwealth), particularly the poorer economies. It now has an investment portfolio that totalled £1.56 billion at the close of 1997, with around 80% of the portfolio in countries with a GNP/per capita of less than US$1,600. CDC finances from its own resources some £300 million of new investment each year. The Corporation's activities cover investments in a wide range of sectors including infrastructure, agri-business, manufacturing and financial services. As well as making investments alongside other investors, CDC also has a portfolio of businesses majority-owned and managed by CDC. 6. In October 1997 the Prime Minister announced that the Government proposed that CDC would be transformed into a Public/Private Partnership. The principal reason for this is to facilitate the introduction of private capital into CDC. Under the Partnership proposals, CDC will have the status of a plc and the majority of its shares will be held by private investors. There will be a transitional period between the creation of the share capital and eventual sale of the majority shareholding during which time CDC will continue to be wholly Government-owned. Timing of the sale will be determined at a later date, taking account of how the market views both CDC and pre-emerging market conditions at the time when the Partnership is created.
THE BILL7. The Bill has three main areas:
8. It also makes certain connected and supplementary provision, including expanding CDC's powers in the period before registration and broadening the scope of the information and assistance it may be required to give to the Secretary of State in preparing for the Partnership during that period. 9. The Bill does not include provisions determining the relationship between CDC plc and Government under the subsequent Public/Private Partnership or list the reserved rights of the Golden Shareholder (the Secretary of State). Drafts of the memorandum and articles of association of CDC plc have been deposited in the Library of each House.
COMMENTARY ON CLAUSESNote on terminology: functions which the Bill gives to the "Secretary of State" will in practice be performed by the Secretary of State for International Development.
Registration under the Companies Act 1985
10. The principal purpose of the first seven clauses in the Bill is to transform CDC to a plc. At the moment, CDC is a "statutory corporation". This means that it is established as a legal entity by an Act of Parliament. The original Act was the Overseas Resources Development Act 1948, but that has been repealed, and the relevant Act is now the Commonwealth Development Corporation Act 1978 ("the 1978 Act"). Its present constitution is set out in the 1978 Act and regulations made under it. 11. In its first seven clauses, the Bill brings about CDC's conversion to its new status by providing for CDC's registration as a plc under the Companies Act 1985, whereupon CDC exchanges its present constitution under the 1978 Act for a constitution appropriate to a plc. CDC will remain the same legal person but will have been transformed from the status of a statutory corporation to that of a plc. 12. After consulting CDC, the Secretary of State is to determine the day on which CDC is to file documents with the registrar of companies for England and Wales (referred to here as the "registrar") to enable that official to register CDC as a plc and to grant a certificate to that effect. The documents to be filed will, broadly, enable CDC to have the same attributes, after registration, as any other plc, for example, a constitution (memorandum and articles), a share capital, directors, secretary etc. The Companies Act 1985 and other legislation will apply thereafter to CDC as they do to any other plc (with a few necessary modifications to reflect CDC's change of status from a statutory corporation).
Clause 1: Initial steps13. Clause 1 gives the Secretary of State the power to determine the day on which CDC is to file certain documents with the registrar and lists the steps to be taken by the Secretary of State, in consultation with CDC, prior to the day for the filing of documents with the registrar. The steps include nominating the directors and company secretary, and nominating the persons to whom shares are to be initially allotted. The "authorised minimum" referred to in subsection (6) of clause 1 is defined in section 118 of the Companies Act 1985 and is currently £50,000. The reason for having this provision is that under EC law all public companies are required to have an allotted share capital of at least this amount.
Clause 2: Filing of documents
14. This clause places a duty on CDC to deliver to the registrar the documents listed in Schedule 1 on the filing day. The list of documents delivered to the registrar is closely modelled on the filing requirements of the Companies Act 1985 and includes CDC's memorandum and articles of association which must be approved by the Secretary of State. Clause 2 (5) provides for the Companies Act 1985 to apply to the documents delivered to the registrar with a few modifications set out in Part I of Schedule 2. These modifications are necessary to reflect the fact that CDC is not following the usual company formation route: it is being transformed from the status of statutory corporation to the status of plc. The detail of these modifications is discussed in paragraph 69 below.
15. The purpose of clause 2 (3) is to make clear that in the unlikely event of CDC being unable to state that it has adequate net assets to make the statement required by paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 (see the more detailed discussion in paragraphs 67 and 68 below), it will be released from its statutory duty to file the documents with the registrar. In this event (or if CDC fails to discharge its duty under clause 2 (1) for any other reason) the Secretary of State is able to restart the process on a later date by virtue of clause 2(4).
Clause 3: Appointing day for registration
16. On the day appointed under this clause ("registration day") CDC's transformation to a plc will take place. The purposes of this clause are, first, to provide a mechanism for ensuring that, before the Secretary of State makes the order appointing a day as registration day, all the documents required to be filed with the registrar have in fact been filed and are in order and, secondly, to allow CDC to prepare for the administrative consequences of registration. Consequently, the Secretary of State is not under a duty to name the appointed day until he has received notification from the registrar that he is satisfied that the documents are in order. If the registrar is not satisfied, the Secretary of State is able to restart the process on a later day by virtue of clause 3 (4).
Clause 4: Registration
17. This clause sets out the details of the process by which CDC is registered by the registrar under the Companies Act 1985 as a plc on the registration day. Subsections (1) and (2) of clause 4 are necessary to ensure that the provisions of the Bill dovetail with the provisions of the Companies Act 1985. They reflect the fact noted above that CDC is not being formed as a new company under Part I of the Companies Act 1985 but is being transformed from the status of a statutory corporation to the status of a plc. The Bill therefore specifies that, notwithstanding this fact, the registrar is under the same duty to register and retain CDC's memorandum and articles as he would be in relation to a newly formed company by virtue of section 12 of the Companies Act 1985. It is at the moment of registration of those documents that CDC's conversion to plc status occurs.
18. Subsection (3) describes the contents of the certificate given to CDC by the registrar upon its registration under the Companies Act 1985. The certificate given to CDC is similar but not identical to that given by the registrar under section 13 of the Companies Act 1985. The main difference is that the certificate does not state on it that CDC is incorporated as a new company as is the case under Part I of the Companies Act 1985. Since CDC has already been incorporated as a statutory corporation, the certificate indicates that CDC "remains incorporated."
19. Subsection (5) is again modelled on the provisions of the Companies Act 1985 which provide that the certificate is conclusive evidence of certain matters, i.e. that once a certificate is given the matters in relation to which it is conclusive evidence cannot be re-opened. The main difference between this subsection and the equivalent Companies Act provision is that the certificate is to be conclusive evidence of the time of day at which registration occurs. This is necessary because there needs to be certainty about the time at which CDC's change in status occurs so that CDC can know which constitution it is operating under in the conduct of its affairs at any given time of the day.
Clause 5: Effect of registration20. This clause sets out the matters which occur on CDC's registration under the Companies Act 1985 and makes provision for the consequences of CDC's transformation. Subsection (1) provides for certain modifications to the Companies Act 1985 to take effect on registration. These are described in more detail in paragraphs 70 to 85 below. Subsection (2) provides for the repeal of CDC's present constitution (with the exceptions indicated) under the 1978 Act to occur at the time of registration, i.e. the time at which it acquires its new constitution appropriate to a plc, so that on registration CDC effectively "swaps" constitutions.
21. Subsection (3) provides for CDC to be known by the name in its memorandum. The preservation of section 28 in this subsection makes it clear that CDC is nevertheless free, as is any other company registered under the Companies Act 1985, to change its name in accordance with the provisions of that Act.
22. Subsection (4) is modelled on section 13(5) of the Companies Act 1985 and provides for those persons nominated by the Secretary of State under clause 1 of the Bill to take up their offices on CDC's registration.
Clause 6: Initial Allotment of Shares23. This clause deals with the initial allotment of shares provided for by the Secretary of State in the order made by him under clause 1(3). At present CDC is a statutory corporation without a share capital and without shareholders. This clause, together with the Secretary of State's order under clause 1(3), provides the mechanism whereby CDC acquires its initial share capital as a plc and its first shareholders. Subsection (1) makes clear that the effect of the Secretary of State's order under clause 1(3) is to give those persons he nominates as allottees the unconditional right to be included in CDC's register of members, i.e. to acquire the same rights as if those shares had been allotted in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 1985. Paragraph 7 of Part II of Schedule 2 then provides that those persons nominated by the Secretary of State are entered in CDC's register of members on registration, thereby becoming the first members of CDC plc.
24. Subsection (2) specifies how the shares are to be treated. The intention is that the shares should be paid up from CDC's existing reserves, rather than by a cash payment. Paragraphs (a) and (b) ensure that the Companies Act 1985 consequences applying to shares which are not fully paid up in cash of an amount equal to the shares' nominal value do not ensue. Paragraph (a) puts beyond doubt the question whether the shares are fully paid up by reason of the movement of funds mentioned above. If a share is not fully paid up, the member of the company concerned is liable to pay the unpaid portion of the shares if a call is made on those shares (section 1 Companies Act 1985). Further, a public limited company cannot have shares paid up as to less than 25% (section 101(1) Companies Act 1985). Paragraph (b) puts beyond doubt the question whether two provisions of the Companies Act 1985 apply to the payment. These provisions are: (1) section 103 which stipulates that certain conditions must be fulfilled where shares in a public company are paid for in non cash consideration; and (2) section 130 which provides that if shares are issued at a premium, i.e. for more than their nominal (or face) value, a company is obliged to open a share premium account to which special rules apply. Paragraph (c) specifies the tax consequences of this initial issue of shares.
25. Subsection (3) disapplies (in relation to the initial allotment of shares only) section 88 of the Companies Act 1985 which places an obligation on a company to deliver details of an allotment of shares to the registrar in the form prescribed by that section. This is unnecessary in the case of CDC's initial allotment of shares since details of the allotments are contained in the Secretary of State's order made under clause 1(3)(b) which is delivered to the registrar.
Clause 7: Repeal of 1978 Act; savings etc.
26. This clause deals with certain matters arising from the repeal of the 1978 Act (CDC's present constitution) and preserves the effect of certain provisions of that Act.
27. Subsection (1) provides that section 1(1) of the 1978 Act, which simply confirms the existence of CDC as a body corporate, is not to be repealed as that body corporate (i.e. legal entity) continues to exist as CDC plc. This continued existence of the body corporate does not, however, affect normal insolvency arrangements applicable to a plc, nor does it affect CDC's ability to adopt a new name under its memorandum of association.
28. The effect of subsections (2) and (4) is that CDC must produce a report on its activities, together with audited accounts (as required by the 1978 Act), for its last full financial year before registration. CDC's financial year runs from January to December. Without this provision, depending on the timing, it is possible that clause 5(2) might repeal these duties before they were fulfilled for that year.
29. Subsection (3) refers to section 14 of the 1978 Act which places an obligation on CDC to maintain a reserve fund which is subject to a restriction that the fund can only be used for the purposes of CDC, the statutory corporation. That section of the 1978 Act is to be repealed on registration. This provision is intended to remove any doubt that CDC will have the same powers and be subject to the same obligations in respect of its funds as any other plc.
Financial assistance by Government
30. As explained above, the main purpose of the Bill is to put CDC into a legal form which will provide a vehicle for the introduction of private capital, through the sale of shares and other forms of securities. The other aspect of Government involvement will be continuing Government financial assistance to CDC in the period before the sale of its shares to private investors and to enable CDC to restructure its balance sheet. However, there will be a period of Government ownership, during which provisions relating to the continuation of existing financial assistance are required.
Clause 8: Repayment of old loans etc.
31. The Government's financial relationship with CDC is governed by the 1978 Act (which this Bill will repeal on CDC's registration). The main purpose of clause 8 is to maintain that relationship unaltered, pending financial restructuring.
32. Three provisions of the 1978 Act are mentioned in this clause:
33. The effect of clause 8 is that the terms of all funding provided to CDC under the powers of the 1978 Act can continue to apply, even after registration; and subsection (2) (b) permits the Secretary of State after registration to vary the terms on which an advance or guarantee was provided, if CDC and (see clause 21(1)(a)) the Treasury consent. Subsection (4) preserves the effect of provisions requiring the Secretary of State to render accounts of sums issued and received by him under the 1978 Act, and subsection (5) preserves the effect of guarantees given under the 1978 Act, and the effect of similar accounting provisions in relation to them.
Clause 9: New loans to CDC
34. Clause 9 allows the Secretary of State to provide loans to CDC, by means of the NLF, while the Corporation remains wholly Government-owned: see subsections (1) and (2).
35. Although the NLF is operated by the Treasury, loans made from it are routed via the Secretary of State's account at the Office of the Paymaster-General. Thus, NLF loans are made by the Secretary of State.
36. The terms of such loans are determined by the Secretary of State, with the consent of the Treasury: see subsection (3) and clause 21(1)(c). Subsection (4) provides that when the Corporation repays the loan or pays interest on it to the Secretary of State he must pay the sums received back into the NLF
Clause 10: New guarantees
37. Clause 10 permits two kinds of guarantee (see paragraph 32 above), which are:
38. The Treasury is not permitted to guarantee sums borrowed by CDC from the Secretary of State or from a company associated with CDC (see subsection (2)), and the Secretary of State is not permitted to guarantee sums borrowed by a company associated with CDC from another such company or from CDC itself (subsection (4)). By subsection (5), a guarantee may be given only when CDC is wholly owned by the Crown: that expression is defined in clause 24. A guarantee cannot be given unless the Treasury or the Secretary of State (as the case may be) has entered into an agreement so that, if CDC or the associated company defaults on its obligations and the Government has to make payments to the person to whom it gave the guarantee, CDC or the associated company will be liable to repay the Government: see subsection (7).
Clause 11: Guarantees; Supplemental
39. Clause 11 contains provisions to supplement clause 10. Subsections (1) to (3) are technical provisions concerning the sources from which sums needed to meet calls on guarantees are to be drawn (i.e. to pay the third party if CDC or its associated company defaults), and the destination of any sums received to repay the Government under the agreements made under clause 10(7) (see above).
40. Subsections (4) to (7) place on the Treasury and the Secretary of State certain duties to give information to Parliament about guarantees. If the Treasury gives a guarantee it must lay a statement of the guarantee before each House as soon as is practicable after giving it: subsection (4). Under subsection (5), if the Treasury makes a payment under a guarantee, it must lay a statement relating to the sum before Parliament as soon as practicable after the end of the financial year in which the payment was made (and in practice that statement will appear in the annual Supplementary Statements to the Consolidated Fund Accounts); and as soon as practicable after the end of any subsequent financial year in which an obligation guaranteed by the Treasury is still outstanding, the Treasury shall lay a statement relating to the sum owing before each House.
41. Under subsection (6), as soon as practicable after the Secretary of State has given a guarantee under clause 10, or made a payment to fulfil a guarantee, he shall lay a statement of the guarantee or the sum before each House. Subsection (7) requires the Secretary of State or the Treasury to lay a statement before each House if CDC or an associated company fails to make any payment required of it under an agreement made in accordance with clause 10 (7).
Clause 12: Other assistance
42. The Secretary of State's principal general power to give developmental assistance is to be found in section 1(1) of the Overseas Development and Co-operation Act 1980. Section 1(9) of that Act presently provides that section 1(1) cannot be used to give assistance to CDC. Clause 12 repeals that restriction, giving CDC, in legal terms, the same access to funding from the development assistance programme as other bodies. At present financial assistance to CDC is provided under the 1978 Act, and CDC is only funded from the development assistance programme in so far as the 1978 Act allows.
Clause 13: Accounts43. Clause 13 places a duty on the Secretary of State to produce accounts for each financial year on any loans made to CDC under clause 9, and any sums received from it under that clause. It also provides for those accounts to be examined each financial year (beginning 1 April) by the Comptroller and Auditor General, who is to lay copies of the accounts and his report before each House of Parliament.
Clause 14: Waiver of payments44. This clause enables the Secretary of State to waive the requirement for CDC to repay "advances" or to make payments in respect of sums issued to meet guarantees while CDC is wholly owned by Government. Registration in itself will not change CDC's financial relationship with Government. However, in the period after registration and while CDC remains wholly Government-owned some restructuring will take place, once CDC has assumed the legal structure of a public limited company. This clause will assist in that financial restructuring.
Clause 15: Limit on Government assistance
45. This clause sets a limit of £1,500 million on the total amount of financial assistance by Government to CDC. The types of assistance that are to count as part of the total are listed in subsection (2). The existing limit set on borrowing, by the 1978 Act, is £1,100 million but can be raised to £1,500 million by order made by the Secretary of State with the consent of the Treasury.
Miscellaneous
Clause 16: Requirement to issue securities
46. Clause 16 empowers the Secretary of State, following consultation with CDC and with the consent of the Treasury (see clause 21(1)(g)), to direct the Corporation or one of the companies associated with it (see clause 24) to issue securities to the Secretary of State (or a person nominated by him). This is only whilst the Corporation remains wholly Government-owned. Securities are defined in clause 25(1) and may include, for example, shares and debentures. "A person nominated by the Secretary of State" could be a nominee (who acts on the Secretary's behalf) or an independent third party, such as a bank. Clause 19(2)(b) makes it clear that this is so by indicating that a person who holds securities by virtue of clause 16 on the Secretary of State's behalf is to hold and deal with them as the Secretary of State directs. By implication, therefore, an independent third party can also hold shares or securities by virtue of clause 16.
47. Subsection (4) makes provision in relation to shares so issued, which is similar to clause 6(2) (see explanation in paragraph 24 above).
Clause 17: Acquisition of securities48. Clause 17 empowers the Secretary of State (or a person nominated by the Secretary of State) with the consent of the Treasury (see clause 21(1)(i)) to acquire securities of CDC or one of its subsidiaries. The purchase of these securities will be paid for from money provided by Parliament.
49. Unlike the previous clause, this provides for the Secretary of State to buy the securities. It also applies, not just when CDC is wholly Government-owned, but at any time after that.
50. It is unlikely that the power will be used to buy securities in the open market (although it could be used that way). It is more likely to be used to provide additional funds to CDC, by buying debt securities issued on terms that provide a commercial rate of return to the Secretary of State. Unlike clause 16, here the meaning of "a nominated person" is restricted, by virtue of clause 19(2) to a person who must hold and deal with securities or rights as the Secretary of State directs, and does not include an independent third party.
Clause 18: Crown share-holding
51. This clause entrenches the Government involvement in CDC so that certain changes to the position can only take place with Parliamentary approval. Government involvement will have two main aspects. First, it is intended that the Government should hold at least 25% of the issued ordinary share capital of CDC. Second, the Government's special share, to consist of one special rights redeemable preference share of £1 in the capital of CDC, gives the Secretary of State certain rights under the articles of association of CDC in relation to the Government's role in the intended public/private partnership. For example, the articles of association will not allow the investment policy of CDC to be altered without the consent of the special shareholder. Clause 18 will prevent the Secretary of State from reducing his shareholding below 25%, losing his special share, or varying any rights under the articles in relation to it, without Parliamentary approval.
52. Subsection (1) places a duty on the Secretary of State to ensure that the government holds (within the meaning of clause 24) at least 25% of CDC's issued ordinary share capital and also ensures that the Government will continue to hold any special share (described in clause 18(2)) in CDC.
53. If the Secretary of State wishes either to reduce the Crown shareholding in CDC below 25% or, for example, to require CDC to redeem the special share under the articles of association of CDC, he will have to seek Parliament's approval to do so (by making an order under clause 18(5)): see paragraph 56 below.
54. Subsection (3) prevents the Secretary of State from consenting to any alteration of CDC's articles of association which requires his consent as special shareholder unless a statement of the intended consent has been laid before and approved by resolution of Parliament. This means that the Secretary of State would not be able to consent, without Parliamentary approval, to a change in the articles of association so that, for example, he gave up his right of veto as regards any alteration to the investment policy of CDC. The Secretary of State's duty under clause 18(1) will continue notwithstanding any change to the articles under this subsection.
55. Subsection (4) makes it clear that the title of a third party relating to shares in CDC, would not be affected if, for example, the Crown's shareholding inadvertently fell below 25% as a result of a sale, for instance, to that third party.
56. Subsection (5) gives the Secretary of State powers to amend or repeal the section. The Secretary of State could return to Parliament therefore for approval to a restructuring of CDC or, for example, in relation to a change of policy as regards the extent of Government involvement in CDC so that, for instance, he was absolved from the duty to ensure that the Government maintained a 25% share-holding in the company.
Clause 19: Securities held by or for Crown57. Clause 19 stipulates that the proceeds of the sale of shares in CDC or income received by the Secretary of State (or a person nominated by the Secretary of State) from dividends or securities should be paid into the Consolidated Fund. It also provides that a person holding securities-
shall deal with them as the Secretary of State may (with the consent of the Treasury) direct.
Clause 20: Trustee Investments Act 1961
58. This is a technical provision which facilitates investment in CDC by the trustees of trust funds. The 1961 Act broadens the powers of trustees by allowing them to invest the funds for which they are responsible in a wider range of investments, including certain types of company shares. However, to help ensure that funds are not wasted by investment in loss-making or financially unsound businesses, the Act allows trustees to invest only in companies with a proven "track-record" of paying dividends on shares over the five years prior to the investment the trustee wants to make. Since CDC is at present a statutory corporation with no shares, it has not had the opportunity to build up that track-record. Thus, this provision avoids the application of the limitation in the 1961 Act by deeming CDC to have paid the necessary dividends in past years.
Clause 21: Treasury Consent
59. The purpose of this clause is to ensure that the Secretary of State can act only with the approval of Treasury in taking certain financial steps during the period in which the Corporation is wholly Government-owned or in buying securities in CDC plc after the sale of shares. The actions which need the Treasury's consent are varying the terms of a loan under the 1978 Act, under clause 8(2); making a loan out of the NLF under clause 9; determining the terms of a loan under clause 9, the terms of a guarantee under clause 10 or the terms on which sums paid by the Secretary of State under a guarantee will be repaid to him;
Clause 22: House of Commons disqualification
60. Members of the present Board are disqualified from being Members of Parliament, or Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly. After registration, disqualification will only apply to any Directors of CDC appointed by the Secretary of State.
Clause 23: Powers and duties of Corporation before registration
61. The effect of this clause is to give CDC additional powers and duties to enable work in preparation for the establishment of the public/private partnership to be carried out between Royal Assent and CDC's registration (at which point CDC will have the usual powers of a plc). Subsection (1) gives CDC the power to do various matters related to the preparation of the Public/Private Partnership and subsection (2) places a duty on CDC to supply information or assistance to the Secretary of State on request.
General
Clauses 24: Interpretation: companies and shares 62. The purpose of clause 24 is to explain what is meant in the Bill by a wholly Government-owned company and an associated company. Following the creation of share capital, the Government will continue to wholly own the Corporation when the Secretary of State (or his nominee) is the only shareholder. This clause also describes the mechanism by which a company becomes "associated" with CDC. There are various consequences in the Bill for a company which is associated with CDC: in particular it can be subject to the powers described in clauses 16 and 17. In order for a company to acquire the status of associated company it must be wholly owned by the Crown (within the meaning given in the Bill) and must be designated as such by order of the Secretary of State made by statutory instrument.
63. The purpose of subsection (5) is to deal with the case of CDC's investments. CDC wholly owns, as part of its investment portfolio, certain overseas companies. It is not intended that these companies should be designated "associated" companies, and, for the avoidance of doubt, this subsection allows that possibility to be formally excluded; if those companies are designated under this subsection there is no possibility of them being designated "associated".
SCHEDULES
Schedule 1: Documents to be filed
64. This Schedule contains the list of documents CDC is under a duty to deliver to the registrar by virtue of clause 2. The list is closely modelled on the filing requirements of the Companies Act 1985. Part I of Schedule 2 specifies the modifications to that Act which apply to this Schedule (see paragraph 69 below).
65. The first two documents are the memorandum and articles of association of CDC. These are the constitutional documents of a company containing certain specified information about the company (such as its objects) and the company's internal regulations. These paragraphs make clear that CDC's constitutional documents must comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 1985 which apply to the constitutional documents of a plc, with the modifications set out in Part I of Schedule 2.
66. The statement under paragraph 3 is again intended to fulfil one of the filing requirements of the Companies Act 1985. It requires the particulars of CDC's directors and secretary as nominated by the Secretary of State under clause 1 to be filed with the registrar.
67. Paragraphs 4-6 are based upon the requirements of section 43 (and the following sections) of the Companies Act 1985. These sections provide the means by which a private company can convert to the status of a public company. As noted above, there are EC law obligations applying to public companies which stipulate the minimum amount of share capital such a company may have. Section 43 of the Companies Act 1985 implements these EC requirements by, broadly, requiring that a company wishing to change its status to public company status must be able to demonstrate to the registrar that it has sufficient net assets to support its share capital and undistributable reserves. Since CDC is converting to public company status, it too must comply with these EC law-derived requirements.
68. Consequently, these paragraphs of the Bill replicate the requirements of section 43 with the modifications which are necessary to reflect the fact that CDC is a statutory corporation without a share capital at the time it needs to demonstrate that it has sufficient net assets. The statements made by the auditors and by CDC are, therefore, made on the assumption that CDC has been converted to plc status at the time the statements are made and that its share capital has been created in accordance with the Secretary of State's order under clause 1(3)(b). In addition there is an assumption that CDC has not given notice of intention to carry on business as an investment company since different provisions of the Companies Act 1985 apply to investment companies.
Schedule 2: Modification of Companies Act 1985, etc.
Part I: Modifications before registration
69. These modifications apply to Schedule 1. They all make provision for the fact that there are to be no subscribers to CDC's memorandum of association. Under Part I of the Companies Act 1985, a necessary step in the formation of a new company is for the persons wishing to set up a new company to subscribe their names to a memorandum of association which will become one of the constitutional documents of the company. The subscribers become the first members of a newly formed company. They are required, in addition, to sign the articles of association and the statement containing the names and particulars of the company's future directors and secretaries. It is not necessary or appropriate for CDC to have subscribers since it is not being formed as a new company: it already exists as a statutory corporation. Consequently the Companies Act 1985 will have effect with the modifications necessary to reflect the fact that there will be no subscribers.
Part II: Modifications on and after registration
70. The modifications in this Part are necessary to provide for the fact that CDC is not brought under the governing regime of the Companies Act 1985 (and other relevant legislation) by the usual route of formation as a new company.
71. Paragraph 2 reflects the fact that CDC is not being incorporated (i.e. formed as new body corporate) under the Companies Act 1985; CDC has already been incorporated, originally under the Overseas Resources Development Act 1948. CDC is, however, being registered under the Companies Act 1985. Since certain provisions of the Companies Act 1985 refer to a company's incorporation under the Companies Act 1985 (e.g. section 366 which specifies the date of a company's first general meeting by reference to its date of incorporation) in order for those provisions to operate with respect to CDC, it is necessary for those references to incorporation to be read as references to its registration. This provision applies to the Companies Act 1985 and all other legislation other than taxation legislation, where it is appropriate for references to a body corporate's incorporation to continue to be taken as references to CDC's incorporation.
72. Paragraph 4 ensures that references to a company's certificate of incorporation in the Companies Act 1985 (and elsewhere) can be construed as a reference to CDC's certificate which is to be called "a certificate of registration" to reflect the fact that CDC is not being incorporated by virtue of the Bill.
73. Paragraph 5: section 735 of the Companies Act 1985 contains a definition of "company". It is defined, so far as relevant here, as a company formed and registered under the Companies Act 1985. CDC will not have been formed under the Companies Act 1985; it will have changed status from a statutory corporation to a plc. Thus, in order to make clear that CDC nonetheless falls within the definition, this paragraph provides that references to companies formed and registered are to have effect as if the reference to formation were omitted. This provision also applies to any other statutory references to companies formed and registered under the Companies Act 1985.
74. Paragraph 6 disapplies section 13 of the Companies Act 1985. Many of the provisions in that section are inappropriate to CDC since they deal with the position of a newly formed company. The Bill contains corresponding provisions adapted to CDC's circumstances which have been discussed in the paragraphs above.
75. Paragraph 7 is closely modelled on section 22 of the Companies Act 1985 and provides the mechanism by which CDC acquires its first members as a plc. It differs from the Companies Act 1985 provision in that the persons nominated by the Secretary of State become CDC's first members.
76. Paragraph 8 refers to section 34 of the Companies Act 1985. This section imposes penalties on a person who trades or carries on business with a name of which "limited" is the last word, unless that person has been duly incorporated with limited liability. CDC was incorporated as a statutory corporation and was not incorporated with limited liability. Although this provision is not of immediate relevance to CDC since CDC will be a public limited company and this provision is aimed at private limited companies, this provision ensures that CDC will not be prevented from converting to private company status at some point in the future.
77. Paragraph 9 disapplies two related provisions of the Companies Act 1985 and the Insolvency Act 1986. Section 117 of the Companies Act 1985 imposes an obligation on a company registered as a public company on its original incorporation to obtain a certificate from the registrar before it may do business or exercise its borrowing powers. Section 122(1)(b) of the Insolvency Act 1986 provides that a company may in certain circumstances be wound up by the Court for lack of a certificate under section 117. The section 117 obligation implements EC law minimum capital requirements; it imposes an obligation on a company applying for the certificate to demonstrate to the registrar that it has adequate share capital. CDC will already be complying with equivalent obligations as discussed in paragraphs 67 and 68 above and therefore need not comply with this provision which is not appropriate to CDC's circumstances since CDC is already carrying on business as a statutory corporation.
78. Paragraphs 10 and 11 deal with the fact that CDC is carrying on business as a statutory corporation and already has accounting and financial cycles. It is therefore necessary to make special provision for CDC's first accounting reference period and financial year as a plc to dovetail with CDC's current cycles. Thereafter CDC will be subject to the same regime as all other "Companies Act" companies.
79. Paragraph 12 provides for a charge created by CDC whilst a statutory corporation to be subject to the Companies Act 1985 provisions applying to charges, provided that the charge in question is of a kind that would be caught by the Companies Act provisions. The effect of this paragraph is that any such charge must be registered with the registrar within 21 days of CDC's registration. Failure to do so renders the charge void against liquidators, administrators and creditors. This provision does not affect the validity of any action taken to enforce the charge before CDC's conversion.
80. Sub-paragraph (4) places CDC under an additional duty to notify persons entitled to the charge of the fact that it will become subject to the new regime. This additional duty reflects the fact that under section 399 (1) of the Companies Act 1985 any person interested in the charge may apply for it to be registered. Since persons entitled to the charge may not necessarily be aware of the fact that CDC is converting to plc status, they may not have the opportunity to register the charge themselves unless they have been notified by CDC in the way provided for.
81. Paragraph 13 ensures: (1) that CDC will be subject to the same fee regime in respect of the performance by the registrar of his functions as are all other companies; and (2) that the registrar can charge the same fee for a copy of CDC's certificate of registration as would apply in relation to a company's certificate of incorporation.
82. Paragraph 14 provides that the Secretary of State is not to be regarded as a shadow director of CDC or associated companies during the period in which CDC is wholly owned by the Crown for certain purposes of the Companies Act 1985.
83. A shadow director is defined in the Companies Act 1985 as " a person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of the company are accustomed to act" (section 741 Companies Act 1985). The consequence of a person falling within this definition is that he is subject to certain of the legal requirements which affect actual directors of a company.
84. During the period in which CDC is wholly owned by the Crown it is possible that, in the absence of this provision, the Secretary of State would be regarded as a shadow director of CDC and of certain of the associated companies.
85. Certain of the Companies Act 1985 provisions which apply to shadow directors would be cumbersome and time-consuming for the Secretary of State to comply with and would serve no obvious purpose in the case of a company which is wholly owned by the Crown. These sections are disapplied with respect to the Secretary of State by virtue of this paragraph. The sections which are disapplied impose duties of an administrative nature on shadow directors or the company, such as section 288 which imposes obligations on a company to keep particulars of its directors (name, address and occupation) and to notify the registrar of any changes, or impose restrictions on financial dealings between the company and its shadow directors or persons connected with them, such as section 320 which provides, broadly, that before certain transactions between a company and its directors can be entered into, a general meeting of the company must be held to approve the transaction.
FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF THE BILL86. The Bill will have no direct effect on public sector finances. In due course there will be proceeds from the sale of shares and dividends arising from the Government shareholding.
EFFECTS OF THE BILL ON PUBLIC SERVICE MANPOWER
87. There are no direct consequences arising from the Bill, but once the Public/Private Partnership is created CDC employees will no longer be employed by a public body.
SUMMARY OF THE REGULATORY APPRAISAL88. The Bill will not impose costs on businesses, charities or voluntary bodies. No Regulatory Impact Assessment therefore has taken place.
COMMENCEMENT89. Any Act resulting from the Bill will come into force on Royal Assent, but in fact, none of its provisions (except clause 23: extra powers for CDC) will have any practical impact until the Secretary of State has determined the filing day under clause 1(1). That will trigger the process culminating in registration, and upon registration, the rest of the Act (including, as explained in paragraph 20 above, the repeal of most of the 1978 Act) will take effect.
EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
90. Section 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998 requires the Minister in charge of a Bill in either House of Parliament to make a statement, before second reading, about the compatibility of the provisions of the Bill with the Convention rights (as defined by section 1 of that Act). On 25 November 1998 Lord McIntosh of Haringey made the following statement:
"In my view, the provisions of the Commonwealth Development Corporation Bill are compatible with the Convention rights".
[signed]
McINTOSH OF HARINGEY
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| © Parliamentary copyright 1998 | Prepared: 26 november 1998 |