Meaning
Articles of Association is an important document of a Joint Stock Company. It contains the rules and regulations or bye-laws of the company. They are related to the internal working or management of the company. It plays a very important role in the affairs of a company. It deals with the rights of the members of the company between themselves.
Contents:
The contents of articles of association should not contradict with the Companies Act and the MoA. If the document contains anything contrary to the Companies Act or the Memorandum of Association, it will be inoperative. The pvt concern that are limited by shares and those limited by guarantee and unlimited companies must have their articles of association. Public companies may not have their articles but may adopt Model articles given in Table A of Schedule I of Companies Act, 1956. If a public company has only some articles of its own, for the rest, articles of Table A will be applicable.
Articles that are profound to be registered should be printed, segmented well and sequenced consecutively. Each subscriber to Memorandum of Association must sign the articles in the presence of at least one witness.
Contents of Articles of Association
The articles generally deal with the following
1. Classes of shares, their values and the rights attached to each of them.
2. Calls on shares, transfer of shares, forfeiture, conversion of shares and alteration of capital.
3. Directors, their appointment, powers, duties etc.
4. Meetings and minutes, notices etc.
5. Accounts and Audit
6. Appointment of and remuneration to Auditors.
7. Voting, poll, proxy etc.
8. Dividends and Reserves
9. Procedure for winding up.
10. Borrowing powers of Board of Directors and managers etc.
11. Minimum subscription.
12. Rules regarding use and custody of common seal.
13. Rules and regulations regarding conversion of fully paid shares into stock.
14. Lien on shares.