Corporate and Business Law (English) : Tuesday 2 December 2008
Corporate and Business Law (English) : Tuesday 2 December 2008
Corporate and Business Law (English) : Tuesday 2 December 2008
Corporate and
Business Law
(English)
Tuesday 2 December 2008
Time allowed
Reading and planning: 15 minutes
Writing: 3 hours
1 In relation to the English legal system, explain the main sources of contemporary law.
(10 marks)
2 In relation to the law of contract, explain what is meant by breach of contract, paying attention to anticipatory
breach.
(10 marks)
(10 marks)
(d) the difference between nominal value and market value. (2 marks)
(10 marks)
5 In relation to private companies, explain the meaning of, and the procedure for passing, the following:
(a) an ordinary and a special resolution; (5 marks)
(10 marks)
6 In relation to the Companies Act, 2006, explain the duty of directors to promote the success of the company, and
to whom such a duty is owed.
(10 marks)
(10 marks)
2
8 Alvin runs a business selling expensive cars. Last Monday he mistakenly placed a notice on one car indicating that it
was for sale for £5,000 when in fact its real price was £25,000. Bert later noticed the sign and, recognising what a
bargain it was, immediately indicated to Alvin that he accepted the offer and would take the car for the indicated
amount. Alvin, however, told Bert that there had been a mistake and that the true price of the car was £25,000. Bert
insisted that he was entitled to get the car at the lower price, and when Alvin would not give it to him at that price
Bert said that he would sue Alvin.
After Bert had left, Alvin changed the price on the car to £25,000 and subsequently Cat came in and said she would
like to buy the car, but that she would have to arrange finance.
On Tuesday Del came by and offered Alvin the full £25,000 cash there and then and Alvin sold it to him.
Required:
Advise Alvin, Bert, Cat and Del as to their rights and liabilities in the law of contract.
(10 marks)
9 Fred is a member of Glad Ltd, a small publishing company, holding 100 of its 500 shares; the other 400 shares are
held by four other members.
It has recently become apparent that Fred has set up a rival business to Glad Ltd and the other members have decided
that he should be expelled from the company.
To that end they propose to alter the articles of association to include a new power to ‘require any member to transfer
their shares for fair value to the other members upon the passing of a resolution so to do’.
Required:
Advise the parties concerned whether or not the proposed change to the articles is legally enforceable and
whether or not it can be used to force Fred to sell his shares.
(10 marks)
10 Ham, Sam and Tam formed a partnership to run a petrol station. The partnership agreement expressly stated that the
partnership business was to be limited exclusively to the sale of petrol.
In January 2008 Sam received £10,000 from the partnership’s bank drawn on its overdraft facility. He told the bank
that the money was to finance a short-term partnership debt but in fact he used the money to pay for a round the
world cruise. In February Tam entered into a £15,000 contract on behalf of the partnership to buy some used cars,
which he hoped to sell from the garage forecourt. In March the partnership’s bank refused to honour its cheque for
the payment of its monthly petrol account, on the basis that there were no funds in its account and it had reached
its overdraft facility.
Required:
Advise Ham, Sam and Tam as to their various rights and liabilities in relation to partnership law.
(10 marks)