The Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (revoked)

Variation of class rightsF2 N.I.

135.—(1) This Article is concerned with the variation of the rights attached to any class of shares in a company whose share capital is divided into shares of different classes.

(2) Where the rights are attached to a class of shares otherwise than by the company's memorandum, and the company's articles do not contain provision with respect to the variation of the rights, those rights may be varied if, but only if—

(a) the holders of three-quarters in nominal value of the issued shares of that class[F1 (excluding any shares of that class held as treasury shares)] consent in writing to the variation; or

(b) an extraordinary resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of that class sanctions the variation;

and any requirement (howsoever imposed) in relation to the variation of those rights is complied with to the extent that it is not comprised in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b).

(3) Where—

(a) the rights are attached to a class of shares by the memorandum or otherwise;

(b) the memorandum or articles contain provision for the variation of those rights; and

(c) the variation of those rights is connected with the giving, variation, revocation or renewal of an authority for allotment under Article 90 or with a reduction of the company's share capital under Article 145;

those rights shall not be varied unless—

(i) the condition mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) or (b) is satisfied; and

(ii) any requirement of the memorandum or articles in relation to the variation of rights of that class is complied with to the extent that it is not comprised in that condition.

(4) If the rights are attached to a class of shares in the company by the memorandum or otherwise and—

(a) where they are so attached by the memorandum, its articles contain provision with respect to their variation which had been included in the articles at the time of the company's original incorporation; or

(b) where they are so attached otherwise, its articles contain such provision (whenever first so included),

and in either case the variation is not connected as mentioned in paragraph (3)(c), those rights may only be varied in accordance with that provision of the company's articles.

(5) If the rights are attached to a class of shares by the memorandum, and the memorandum and articles do not contain provision with respect to the variation of those rights, those rights may be varied if all the members of the company[F1 (excluding any member holding shares as treasury shares)] agree to the variation.

(6) The provisions of Article 377 (length of notice for calling company meetings), Article 378 (general provisions as to meetings and votes), and Articles 384 and 385 (circulation of members' resolutions) and the provisions of the company's articles relating to general meetings shall, so far as applicable, apply in relation to any meeting of shareholders required by this Article or otherwise to take place in connection with the variation of the rights attached to a class of shares, and shall so apply with the necessary modifications and subject to the following provisions, namely—

(a) the necessary quorum at any such meeting other than an adjourned meeting shall be 2 persons holding or representing by proxy at least one-third in nominal value of the issued shares of the class in question[F1 (excluding any shares of that class held as treasury shares)] and at an adjourned meeting one person holding shares of the class in question or his proxy;

(b) any holder of shares of the class in question present in person or by proxy may demand a poll.

(7) Any alteration of a provision contained in a company's articles for the variation of the rights attached to a class of shares, or the insertion of any such provision into its articles, is itself to be treated as a variation of those rights.

(8) In this Article and (except where the context otherwise requires) in any provision for the variation of the rights attached to a class of shares contained in a company's memorandum or articles, references to the variation of those rights are to be read as including references to their abrogation.

F1 SR 2004/275

F2 Order repealed (prosp.) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), ss. 1284(2), 1295, 1300(2), Sch. 16 and the repeal being partly in force, as to which see individual Articles (with savings (with adaptations) by Companies Act 2006 (Commencement No. 6, Saving and Commencement Nos. 3 and 5 (Amendment)) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/674), arts. 2(3), {4}, Sch. 2) and subject to amendments (6.4.2008) by Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), arts. 2(2), 3(1)(b)(2), Sch. 1 paras. 135, 147, 148 {Sch. 2 Note 1} (with arts. 6, 11, 12) and subject to amendments (6.4.2008) by S.R. 2008/133, {regs. 2, 3}