quorumThe minimum number of shareholders or directors who must be present before a shareholders’or, as appropriate, directors’ meeting can start. When this number is reached, the meeting is said to be “quorate”.
rankWhen either capital or income is distributed to shareholders, it is paid out according to the rank (orranking) of the shares. For example, a share which ranks ahead of (or above) another share in sharing in a company’s income is entitled to have its dividends paid first, before any dividends are paid on shares which rank below (or after) it. If there is not enough income to pay dividends on all shares, the available income must be used first to pay dividends on shares which rank first, and then to shares which rank next. The same applies for repayments of capital. Capital must be paid first to shares which rank first in sharing in the company’s capital, and then to shares which rank next. A company’s preference shares (if it has any) generally rank ahead of its ordinary shares.
recognised investment exchangeAn investment exchange which has been officially recognised by theUK authorities. An investment exchange is a place where investments, such as shares, are traded. The London Stock Exchange is a recognised investment exchange.
redeem, redemption and redeemableWhen a share is redeemed, it goes back to the company in returnfor a sum of money which was fixed (or calculated from a formula fixed) before the share wasissued. This process is called “redemption”. A share which can be redeemed is called a “redeemable” share.
relevant systemThis is a term used in the legislation for a computer system which allows shares withoutshare certificates to be transferred without using transfer forms. The CREST system for paperless share dealing is a “relevant system”.
renounces and renunciationWhere a share has been allotted, but nobody has been entered on theshare register for the share, it can be renounced to another person. This transfers the right to have the share registered to another person. This process is called “renunciation”.
reservesA fund which has been set aside in the accounts of a company - profits which are not paid out toshareholders as dividends, or used up in some other way, are held in a reserve by the company.
revokeTo withdraw or cancel.
share premium accountIf a new share is issuedby a company for more than its nominal value, theamount above thenominal value is thepremium and the total of thesepremiums is held in areserve (which cannot be used to pay dividends) called the share premium account.
show of handsA vote where each person who is entitled to vote has just one vote, however many shareshe holds.
special resolutionA decision reached by a majority of at least 75 per cent. of votes cast.
special rightsThese are the rights of a particular class of shares as distinct from rights which apply to allshares generally. Typical examples of special rights are: where the sharesrank; their rights to sharing in income andassets; and voting rights.
statutory declarationA formal way of declaring something in writing. Particular words and formalitiesmust be used - these are laid down by the Statutory Declarations Act of 1835.
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