International & Iran Regulation

Internal & International >> Internal >>  ESTABLISHING A JOINT STOCK COMPANY IN IRAN >> Part 2

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Part 6

Annex A

Annex B  

Capital

2.1.   Share Capital

A minimum capital , at time of formation, of Ris. 1,000,000 is required for the private company, and of Ris. 5,000,000 for the public company. Payment for shares may be either in cash or in kind. If payment is made in kind, the value of the property involved must be appraised by an official appraiser of the Ministry of Justice , In the case of payments in cash, only 35% need be paid in at the time of formation and the remainder within five years upon the call of the board of directors or shareholders. In the case of payments in kind, the full amount of the property must be transferred to the company at the time of formation. The share capital may be increased at any time by a two- third (2/3) vote taken at an extraordinary general meeting. Decrease in the capital may also be effected at any  time by a two- third (2/3) vote taken at an extraordinary general meeting and there is a legal requirement for the reduction of capital whenever half of the company’s capital is lost.

2.2.  Subscriptions

Although only 35% of the company’s capital need be paid in at the time of formation, 100% of the capital must be subscribed. Notwithstanding the 100% subscription requirement, a procedure has been developed in practice for “authorized but unissued stock”, enabling the use of such desirable arrangements as employee stock purchase plans. In general, the procedure involves the holding of an extraordinary general meeting at which the shareholders approve to implement the increase in such amounts and at such times as the board may determine.

2. 3.  Par value

 vA Par value, or nominal value, is required to be assigned to the shares of a joint stock company. For the public company, the law prescribes a maximum par value of 10,000 per share, There is no minimum or maximum par value fixed for the shares of a private joint stock company. There is requirement applicable to both the public and private companies that all shares must be of equal par value and this requirement is apparently applicable to both ordinary and preferred shares. Where both ordinary and preferred shares are issued, all apparently musthave the same par value. There is also a related requirement that all calls of the unpaid portion of shares must be made without any discrimination. If provision for the issue of fractional shares is made, the par value of each fraction must also be equal.

2.4.  Share Certificates

Specific requirements as to the form and content of share certificates are provided in the law. They must be uniform, printed, and bear a serial number, and be signed by at least

two authorized persons. Each certificate must contain the following information:

(1)     Name and style of the company and number under which it is registered at the

Companies Registration Office.

(2)    Registered share capital and paid- up portion

(3)   Type of shares ,.

(4)   Par value of the shares and paid- up portion both in words and figures.

(5)   Number of shares represented by the certificate.

2.5. Provisional share Certificates

The law provides that when share certificates have not been issued, the company must issue provisional certificates to the shareholders indicating the number of shares and the amount paid up. The law also provides that until the full par value is paid on bearer shares, the issuance of bearer certificates is prohibited; however, registered certificates may be issued to the subscribers of such shares before the full par value has been paid and in this case the provisions of law regarding the transfer of registered shares will be applicable to such shares.

2.6.  Transfer of shares

Bearer shares may be transferred by physical delivery while the transfer of registered shares is not complete until the transfer is recorded in the share register of the company. At least, in the case of registered shares, restrictions on transfer may be written into the Articles of Association.

2.7  Reserves

A legal reserve to be funded by transfer of 5% of the net profit of a joint stock company each year until the fund reaches ten percent (10%) of capital is required. Net profit is defined as income derived during the year less the expenses, depreciation and any

transfer to reserves (other than the Legal Reserve of five percent (5%) of net profit)

 2.8 Dividend

Dividends must be authorized by the shareholders at general meeting and may be made only out of “distributed profit” which is defined as the net profit earned during the year less (I) losses incurred during preceding years, (ii) other optional reserves, plus distributed profit of the preceding years not previously distributed.

 2.9   Preemptive Rights

Shareholders have the preemptive right to subscribe to new shares. This right may be

rescinded, however, by a two third (2/3) vote taken at an extraordinary general meeting.

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