13 Feb 2016

Appointing Officers

by Holly Crosgrey | posted in: AB Business Corporations Act, BC Business Corporations Act, Canada Business Corporations Act, Directors Resolutions, General Corporate Law, Maintaining Your Company, MB Corporations Act, officers, Ontario Business Corporations Act, The Business Corporations Act (Saskatchewan) | 0

This article will provide guidance on how to appoint officers of a Corporation and how resignations and removal of officers are documented.

The directors of a corporation manage the affairs of the corporation. As part of that management the directors are responsible for appointing officers to assist them with their duties.

Directors can appoint officers at a meeting or a resolution can be signed by all of the directors appointing officers. For more guidance on preparing resolutions refer to directors resolutions. For guidelines on how directors can go about appointing officers at a meeting refer to directors meetings.

The statute of incorporation and the by-laws of a corporation will govern the manner in which officers can be appointed, removed or resign.

Appointing Officers

The directors initially approve the officers of the Corporation upon incorporation or each year at the annual meeting (see below for more information on annual resolutions/meetings).

An example of a resolution appointing officers is as follows:

2-Appointment-of-Officers

Resignation of Officers

When an officer wishes to discontinue working with a company, that person will resign as an officer from the position he or she is holding. See an example of a resignation of an officer below:

1-Resignation-of-Officer

Once a resignation has been received by the directors of a corporation, they will need to decide whether they wish to appoint another officer to replace the person resigning. Depending on the type of position, it may not be necessary to appoint a replacement. In situations where the directors wish to appoint a replacement officer, they will prepare a resolution in the form below:

3-DR-Resigning-Officer

Remove an Officer

The general operating by-law provides the manner in which an officer may be removed. The directors of a corporation will approve a resolution to remove the officer and appoint a replacement to that position. Below is an example of this form of resolution:

4-DR-Removing-an-Officer

Annual Resolutions

Each year a company must approve certain matters. Officers may be excluded from appointment and new ones brought on at this time without being removed or resigning. For more information these approvals see annual resolutions.

For more information about officers titles refer to Officers Titles.

Notice of Change

Most jurisdictions will provide in the governing statute that a notice of change must be filed to update the government’s database with respect to changes in officers and directors. In many cases this can be done online using a company that has access to the databases or a paper filing can be done. Paper filings are not as reliable but in most cases they are free to file.

Statute Reference:

Business Corporations Act (Ontario)

“1(1) “officer” means an officer designated under section 133 and includes the chair of the board of directors, a vice-chair of the board of directors, the president, a vice-president, the secretary, an assistant secretary, the treasurer, an assistant treasurer and the general manager of a corporation, and any other individual designated an officer of a corporation by by-law or by resolution of the directors or any other individual who performs functions for a corporation similar to those normally performed by an individual occupying any such office;

“senior officer” means,

(a) the chair of the board of directors, a vice-chair of the board of directors, the president, a vice-president, the secretary, the treasurer or the general manager of a corporation or any other individual who performs functions for a corporation similar to those normally performed by an individual occupying any such office, and

(b) each of the five highest paid employees of a corporation, including any individual referred to in clause (a);”

“117. (1) After incorporation, a meeting of the directors of a corporation shall be held at which the directors may,… (d) appoint officers;”

“127. (1) Subject to the articles or by-laws, directors of a corporation may appoint from their number a managing director or a committee of directors and delegate to such managing director or committee any of the powers of the directors. 2006, c. 34, Sched. B, s. 21 (1).”

Canada Business Corporations Act

“2(1) “officer” means an individual appointed as an officer under section 121, the chairperson of the board of directors, the president, a vice-president, the secretary, the treasurer, the comptroller, the general counsel, the general manager, a managing director, of a corporation, or any other individual who performs functions for a corporation similar to those normally performed by an individual occupying any of those offices;”

“104 (1) After issue of the certificate of incorporation, a meeting of the directors of the corporation shall be held at which the directors may…..(d) appoint officers;”

Business Corporations Act (Alberta)

“121. Subject to the articles, the bylaws or any unanimous shareholder agreement, (a) the directors may designate the offices of the corporation, appoint as officers individuals of full capacity, specify their duties and delegate to them powers to manage the business and affairs of the corporation, except powers to do anything referred to in section 115(3), (b) a director may be appointed to any office of the corporation, and (c) 2 or more offices of the corporation may be held by the same person.”

Business Corporations Act (British Columbia)

“141 (1) Subject to subsection (3) and to the memorandum and articles of a company, the directors may appoint officers and may specify their duties.

(2) Unless the memorandum or articles provide otherwise,

(a) any individual, including a director, may be appointed to any office of the company, and

(b) 2 or more offices of the company may be held by the same individual.

(3) An individual who is not qualified under section 124 to become or act as a director of a company is not qualified to become or act as an officer of the company.

(4) Unless the memorandum or articles provide otherwise, the directors may remove any officer.

(5) The removal of an officer is without prejudice to the officer’s contractual rights or rights under law, but the appointment of an officer does not of itself create any contractual rights.”

The Business Corporations Act (Saskatchwan)

“116 Subject to the articles, the bylaws or any unanimous shareholder agreement: (a) the directors may designate the offices of the corporation, appoint as officers persons of full capacity, specify their duties and delegate to them powers to manage the business and affairs of the corporation, except powers to do anything referred to in subsection (3) of section 110; (b) a director may be appointed to any office of the corporation; and (c) two or more offices of the corporation may be held by the same person.”

The Corporations Act (Manitoba)

“99(1). After the issue of the certificate of incorporation, a meeting of the directors of the corporation shall be held at which the directors may…..(d) appoint officers;”

By-law Provisions Regarding Officers

An example of a clause in a general operating by-law which governs how officers are appointed is as follows:

“Appointment – The board may from time to time designate the offices of the Corporation, appoint officers (and assistants to officers), specify their duties and, subject to the Act or the provisions of any unanimous shareholder agreement, delegate to such officers powers to manage the business and affairs of the Corporation. A director may be appointed to any office of the Corporation. Except for the chairman of the board and the managing director, an officer may but need not be a director. Two or more offices may be held by the same person.”

An example of a clause in a by-law which provides for the removal or resignation of an officer is as follows:

“ Term of Office (Removal) – In the absence of a written agreement to the contrary, the board may remove, whether for cause or without cause, any officer of the Corporation. Unless so removed, an officer shall hold office until his successor is appointed or until his resignation, whichever shall first occur.”

12 Feb 2016

Declaring a Dividend on Shares of a Company

Dividends are payments declared by the directors of a company which are paid to the shareholders (owners) of a private or public company out of the profits of that company. When declaring a dividend the dividend must be declared equally to all shareholders of a class of shares and are paid out to each shareholder in proportion to the number of shares held.

When declaring a dividend, dividends can be paid as money, shares, warrants or property.

The directors of a company will pass a resolution at a meeting of the directors or by a resolution signed by all of the directors declaring a dividend to the shareholders of a specific class of shares.

Example of a Dividend Calculation

Below is an example of how a dividend is calculated and declared:

Declaring a Dividend in the aggregate amount of $10,000
The company has 2 shareholders with 100 issued and outstanding shares.
Shareholder #1 owns 40 shares. Shareholder #2 owns 60 shares.
Shareholder #1 will receive $4,000 in dividend profits
Shareholder #2 will receive $6,000 in dividend profits
The dividend per share is equal to $100

Relevant Dates When Declaring a Dividend

The date the dividend is being declared payable. Dividends cannot be declared payable in the past and this date must be either the same date of the resolution approving the dividend or for a future date.
The date upon which the shareholders of record is determined. This provision comes into play more for public companies since shares for those companies regularly trade and the number of shareholders changes from day to day however even private companies must follow the same rules. A record date must be determined when declaring a dividend and the only shareholders who would receive the dividend would be those who were shareholders of record on that particular date. This prevents a shareholder who held shares in the company prior to the declaration of the dividend having a right to a dividend declared after he or she is no longer a shareholder.
The date of the directors resolution approving the dividend. Frequently resolutions are left undated but it is very important when declaring a dividend to include the actual date the resolution was approved so that it is very clear that the dividend is being declared for a current or future date.

Which Classes of Shares are Eligible for Dividends

Common shares have the automatic right to receive dividends, however, preference or special classes of shares are only entitled to receive dividends if the Articles of the Corporation provide for it. As well, there may be certain terms outlined in the Articles to be considered when declaring a dividend on special or preference shares.

Statutes Governing the Declaration of Dividends in Canada

Income Tax Act (Canada) deals with dividends in several different sections and it is a good idea to discuss dividends with your accountant before declaring them since there are tax consequences upon declaration of a dividend.

Approval for declaring a dividend is governed by the companies act or corporations act in each individual province or territory of Canada. The various corporation statutes across Canada will provide either some or all of the following provisions:

A corporation shall not declare or pay a dividend if there are reasonable grounds for believing that (a) the corporation is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due; or (b) the realizable value of the corporation’s assets would thereby be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and stated capital of all classes.

A corporation may pay a dividend by issuing fully paid shares of the corporation and a corporation may pay a dividend in money or property.

If shares of a corporation are issued in payment of a dividend, the declared amount of the dividend stated as an amount of money shall be added to the stated capital account maintained or to be maintained for the shares of the class or series issued in payment of the dividend.

Solvency Test When Declaring a Dividend

Most statutes will have a solvency test that must be met before any dividend is issued. The company must not be insolvent and a dividend must not be declared if it would render the company insolvent thereafter.

Resolutions to Approve a Dividend

Example of a Resolution to Approve a Regular Dividend for Money:

“BE IT RESOLVED THAT a dividend in the aggregate amount of $** payable to the holder(s) of the issued and outstanding [common] shares in the capital of the Corporation is declared payable on [declaration date] to the shareholders of record of the Corporation as of [record date].

Any director and/or officer of the Corporation be and is hereby authorized and directed from time to time to execute and deliver all documents, agreements or other writings, whether under the corporate seal of the Corporation or otherwise, as may be necessary or advisable, and to sign for and in the name on behalf of the Corporation all such documents and writings and to take all such steps as in his or her opinion may be necessary or advisable for the purpose of giving effect to the foregoing.”

Certificates of Status for Canadian Companies

Example of a Resolution to Approve a Dividend for Property:

“BE IT RESOLVED THAT a dividend in the form of [described property] now registered in the name of the Corporation (the “Property”) is declared payable to the holder(s) of the issued and outstanding [common] shares in the capital of the Corporation.

Payment of the dividend shall be effected by transferring the Property now registered in the name of the Corporation to the holder(s) of the issued and outstanding [common] shares in the capital of the Corporation on [declaration date] to the shareholders of record of the Corporation as of [record date].

The amount of the dividend shall be equal to the fair market value of the Property, which is [$500,000].

Any director or officer of the Corporation is authorized and directed to do all things and executed all instruments and documents necessary or desirable to carry out the foregoing.”

Example of a Resolution to Approve a Dividend for Shares:

“BE IT RESOLVED THAT a dividend in the aggregate amount of $1,000 is hereby payable to the holder(s) of the issued and outstanding [common] shares in the capital of the Corporation on [declaration date] to the shareholders of record of the Corporation as of [record date], such dividend to be paid and satisfied in full by the issuance to such holder(s) of the aggregate amount of [500] fully paid and non-assessable common shares.

The directors of the Corporation hereby determine that there shall be added to the stated capital account maintained for the [common] shares of the Corporation the amount of $1,000 in respect of the [500 common] shares of the Corporation issued in payment of the dividend declared.

Any one of the directors or officers is authorized and directed to do all things and execute any agreements or documents in order to effect the foregoing including the issuance of a certificate or certificates representing the [500 common] shares to the holders(s) of [common] shares of the Corporation.’

[margin_25t]

Capital Dividends

These dividends are a different type of dividend and the rules are different. This article is with respect to regular dividends only. For more information about these dividends refer to Capital Dividend.

Buy Dividend Resolutions

If you wish to make things easy refer to this link for a number of templates that can be purchased relating to Approving Dividends Templates.

For more information about dividends refer to:

Capital Dividend

Capital Dividend Upon Redemption

Stock Dividend

31 Jan 2016

Annual Resolutions

by Holly Crosgrey | posted in: Annual Resolutions, Canada Business Corporations Act, Directors, Directors Resolutions, Federal, Financial Statements, General Corporate Law, Maintaining Your Company, Ontario, Ontario Business Corporations Act, Shareholder Resolutions | 0

This Article will be specific to the annual corporate approvals (frequently called annuals or annual resolutions) required for companies incorporated pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) and the Canada Business Corporations Act. Most other jurisdictions in Canada would have the same or similar requirements.

In order to document these approvals a series of resolutions are prepared and signed by the directors and shareholders of the company. Below is a breakdown of each document that is normally prepared and approved.

For more information about the rules of preparing and signing resolutions refer to Preparing Resolutions.[margin_30t]

Annual Resolutions can also be approved a meetings of the directors and shareholders and public companies will hold meetings each year to approve annual resolutions.

Purchase a Word Version Version of Annual Resolutions

Purchase Word Versions of Dividend Approval Resolutions

Approval of Financial Statements by Directors

All Canadian companies are required to file a federal tax return each year and as part of that procedure financial statements are prepared by the accountant of the Corporation.

As part of the annual resolutions, the directors of the Corporation must (a) approve the financial statements, (b) approve the directors executing the financial statements; and (3) approve the financial statements being shown to the shareholders. Below is a form of resolution that handles all three of these approvals:

Statute Reference:

Business Corporations Act (Ontario)

“Section 155. The financial statements required under this Act shall be prepared as prescribed by regulation and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. R.S.O. 1990, c. B.16, s. 155.”

“Section 159. (1) The financial statements shall be approved by the board of directors and the approval shall be evidenced by the signature at the foot of the balance sheet of any director authorized to sign and the auditor’s report, unless the corporation is exempt under section 148, shall be attached to or accompany the financial statements. R.S.O. 1990, c. B.16, s. 159 (1); 2010, c. 16, Sched. 5, s. 1 (2).”

Note: An offering corporation is a public corporation. Financial statements of public corporations must be audited. The above paragraph is referring to non-offering corporations, which are private corporations, and have an option to be audited or unaudited.

Canada Business Corporations Act

“Section 158 (1) The directors of a corporation shall approve the financial statements referred to in section 155 and the approval shall be evidenced by the manual signature of one or more directors or a facsimile of the signatures reproduced in the statements.”[margin_30t]

Acceptance of Financial Statements by Shareholders

Once the directors have approved the financial statements they are mandated to provide the shareholders with a copy of the financial statements. Below is an example of a shareholders resolution acknowledging receipt of the financial statements:

Statute Reference:

Business Corporations Act (Ontario)

“Section 154. (1) The directors shall place before each annual meeting of shareholders,….(a) in the case of a corporation that is not an offering corporation, financial statements for the period that began on the date the corporation came into existence and ended not more than six months before the annual meeting or, if the corporation has completed a financial year, the period that began immediately after the end of the last completed financial year and ended not more than six months before the annual meeting;”

Canada Business Corporations Act

“Section 155 (1) Subject to section 156, the directors of a corporation shall place before the shareholders at every annual meeting (a) comparative financial statements as prescribed relating separately to (i) the period that began on the date the corporation came into existence and ended not more than six months before the annual meeting or, if the corporation has completed a financial year, the period that began immediately after the end of the last completed financial year and ended not more than six months before the annual meeting, and (ii) the immediately preceding financial year;”[margin_30t]

Election of Directors by Shareholders

The shareholders of the Corporation will elect the directors of the Corporation for the next year as part of the annual resolutions. Even if the directors are not changing a resolution should be prepared to elect the directors. If this resolution is not approved the current directors would still hold office.

Statute Reference:

Business Corporations Act (Ontario)

“Section 119 (4) Subject to clause 120 (a), shareholders of a corporation shall elect, at the first meeting of shareholders and at each succeeding annual meeting at which an election of directors is required, directors to hold office for a term expiring not later than the close of the third annual meeting of shareholders following the election. R.S.O. 1990, c. B.16, s. 119 (4).”

Canada Business Corporations Act

“Section 106(3) Subject to paragraph 107(b), shareholders of a corporation shall, by ordinary resolution at the first meeting of shareholders and at each succeeding annual meeting at which an election of directors is required, elect directors to hold office for a term expiring not later than the close of the third annual meeting of shareholders following the election.”[margin_30t]

Consent to Act as a Director

Every director who is elected or appointed must consent to act as a director of the Corporation and agree in writing to act. A consent to act is only required to be provided once during the term of appointment, however, customarily these consents are included in the annual resolutions package.

25% of the directors must be resident Canadians and the consent confirms the residency.

The statute also provides that directors can hold meetings by electronic means provided the directors consent to such meetings.

Not just anyone can be a director of a corporation. Refer to Qualifications of Directors of Federal Companies and Qualifications of Directors of Ontario Companies for more information.[margin_15t]

Statute Reference:

Business Corporations Act (Ontario)

“Section 1(1) “resident Canadian” means an individual who is,

(a) a Canadian citizen ordinarily resident in Canada,

(b) a Canadian citizen not ordinarily resident in Canada who is a member of a prescribed class of persons, or

(c) a permanent resident within the meaning of the Immigration Act (Canada) and ordinarily resident in Canada;”

“Section 118(3) At least 25 per cent of the directors of a corporation other than a non-resident corporation shall be resident Canadians, but where a corporation has less than four directors, at least one director shall be a resident Canadian. 2006, c. 34, Sched. B, s. 19 (2).”

“Section 119(9) Subject to subsection (10), the election or appointment of a director under this Act is not effective unless the person elected or appointed consents in writing before or within 10 days after the date of the election or appointment. 1999, c. 12, Sched. F, s. 8.”

“Section 119(10) If the person elected or appointed consents in writing after the time period mentioned in subsection (9), the election or appointment is valid. 1999, c. 12, Sched. F, s. 8.”

“Section 119(11) Subsection (9) does not apply to a director who is re-elected or re-appointed where there is no break in the director’s term of office. 1999, c. 12, Sched. F, s. 8.”

“Section 126(13) Unless the by-laws otherwise provide, if all the directors of a corporation present at or participating in the meeting consent, a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors may be held by means of such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously, and a director participating in such a meeting by such means is deemed for the purposes of this Act to be present at that meeting. R.S.O. 1990, c. B.16, s. 126 (13).”

Canada Business Corporations Act

“Section 2(1) resident Canadian means an individual who is (a) a Canadian citizen ordinarily resident in Canada, (b) a Canadian citizen not ordinarily resident in Canada who is a member of a prescribed class of persons, or (c) a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and ordinarily resident in Canada, except a permanent resident who has been ordinarily resident in Canada for more than one year after the time at which he or she first became eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship;”

“Section 106(9) An individual who is elected or appointed to hold office as a director is not a director and is deemed not to have been elected or appointed to hold office as a director unless (a) he or she was present at the meeting when the election or appointment took place and he or she did not refuse to hold office as a director; or (b) he or she was not present at the meeting when the election or appointment took place and (i) he or she consented to hold office as a director in writing before the election or appointment or within ten days after it, or (ii) he or she has acted as a director pursuant to the election or appointment.”

“Section 114(9) Subject to the by-laws, a director may, in accordance with the regulations, if any, and if all the directors of the corporation consent, participate in a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility that permits all participants to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting. A director participating in such a meeting by such means is deemed for the purposes of this Act to be present at that meeting.”[margin_30t]

Appointment of Officers by Directors

The directors elected at the annual meeting or by annual resolutions will then appoint the officers they wish to assist them for the next year. It can be the same officers as in the previous year. The form of approval is as follows:

Statute Reference:

Business Corporations Act (Ontario

“Section 133. Subject to the articles, the by-laws or any unanimous shareholder agreement, (a) the directors may designate the offices of the corporation, appoint officers, specify their duties and delegate to them powers to manage the business and affairs of the corporation, except, subject to section 184, powers to do anything referred to in subsection 127 (3); (b) a director may be appointed to any office of the corporation; and (c) two or more offices of the corporation may be held by the same person.”

Canada Business Corporations Act

“Section 121 Subject to the articles, the by-laws or any unanimous shareholder agreement, (a) the directors may designate the offices of the corporation, appoint as officers persons of full capacity, specify their duties and delegate to them powers to manage the business and affairs of the corporation, except powers to do anything referred to in subsection 115(3); (b) a director may be appointed to any office of the corporation; and (c) two or more offices of the corporation may be held by the same person.”[margin_30t]

Appointment of Accountant or Auditor

The shareholders of a Corporation will either appoint an accountant or appoint an auditor for the ensuing year. Below is the form of resolution that can be modified for either situation.

Statute Reference:

Business Corporations Act (Ontario)

“Section 149(2) The shareholders shall at each annual meeting appoint one or more auditors to hold office until the close of the next annual meeting and, if an appointment is not so made, the auditor in office continues in office until a successor is appointed. R.S.O. 1990, c. B.16, s. 149 (2).”

“Section 149(7) The remuneration of an auditor appointed by the shareholders shall be fixed by the shareholders, or by the directors if they are authorized so to do by the shareholders, and the remuneration of an auditor appointed by the directors shall be fixed by the directors. R.S.O. 1990, c. B.16, s. 149 (7).”

Canada Business Corporations Act

“Section 162 (1) Subject to section 163, shareholders of a corporation shall, by ordinary resolution, at the first annual meeting of shareholders and at each succeeding annual meeting, appoint an auditor to hold office until the close of the next annual meeting.”

“Section 162(4) The remuneration of an auditor may be fixed by ordinary resolution of the shareholders or, if not so fixed, may be fixed by the directors. 1974-75-76, c. 33, s. 156; 1978-79, c. 9, ss. 1(F), 4″[margin_30t]

Consent to Non-Appointment of An Auditor

Most companies do not have their financial statements audited by an auditor. Instead they have financial statements prepared by an accountant. In those cases, the shareholders of the Corporation must approve the non-appointment of an auditor. This approval requires the consent of all of the voting and non-voting shareholders as follows:[margin_15t]

Statute Reference:

Business Corporations Act (Ontario)

Section 148. In respect of a financial year of a corporation, the corporation is exempt from the requirements of this Part regarding the appointment and duties of an auditor if, (a) the corporation is not an offering corporation; and (b) all of the shareholders consent in writing to the exemption in respect of that year. 1998, c. 18, Sched. E, s. 23.

Canada Business Corporations Act

Section 163 (1) The shareholders of a corporation that is not a distributing corporation may resolve not to appoint an auditor. 163 (2) A resolution under subsection (1) is valid only until the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders. (3) A resolution under subsection (1) is not valid unless it is consented to by all the shareholders, including shareholders not otherwise entitled to vote.

Note: Reference to distributing corporation is another way of saying public corporation.

Appointment of Auditor

In the case where an auditor is being appointed for an upcoming financial year of the Corporation, the auditor should receive notice of its appointment as follows:[margin_20t]

Statute Reference:

Business Corporations Act (Ontario)

Section 149 (9) The corporation shall give notice in writing to an auditor of the auditor’s appointment forthwith after the appointment is made. R.S.O. 1990, c. B.16, s. 149 (9).

Canada Business Corporations Act

Silent

When Should Annual Resolutions Be Approved

The financial statements of a Corporation must be finalized and incorporated into the corporate tax return for the company within six months of the end of the financial year. Therefore, the annual resolutions cannot be dated prior to the financial statements being prepared and no later than six months after the financial year end.

Declaration of Dividends

As part of the preparation and approval of annual resolutions frequently dividends will be declared. For more information about how to approve a dividend refer to Declaring a Dividend.

21 Nov 2015

Stock Dividend

by Holly Crosgrey | posted in: Corporate Law, Directors, Directors Resolutions, Dividends, Maintaining Your Company, Shares | 0

Subject to the Articles, the directors of a corporation may declare and a corporation may pay a stock dividend by issuing fully paid shares of the corporation or options or rights to acquire fully paid shares of the corporation.

All shareholders of a corporation own shares. When a dividend is declared upon a class of shares of a corporation all shareholders that hold shares of that class are entitled to receive the dividend equally in proportion to the number of shares they own.

To understand how these dividends are declared, consider the following scenario. The directors of the Corporation approve a stock dividend on the issued common shares of a company on the basis of 10 common shares for every issued and outstanding share owned. The corporation has the following shareholders:

John Doe (holding 10 common shares)

Jim Holding Company Limited (holding 20 common shares)

If a stock dividend is declared on the issued shares of a corporation providing for ten:one ratio, after the stock dividend is issued the additional number of shares each shareholder will own is:

John Doe (10 x 10) – 100 common shares

Jim Holding Company Limited (20 x 10) = 200 common shares

The total number of shares owned by each shareholder including the original number of shares held and the additional shares allotted pursuant to the stock dividend are:

John Doe – 110 common shares

Jim Holding Company Limited – 220 common shares

Subsequent to the approval of a stock dividend each of the shareholders having a right to the stock dividend shall receive a share certificate for the additional shares they received.

Below is an example of a directors resolution approving a stock dividend:

Buy Dividend Resolutions

If you wish to make things easy refer to this link for a number of templates that can be purchased relating to Approving Dividends Templates.

For more information about dividends refer to:

Declaring a Dividend

Capital Dividend

Capital Dividend Upon Redemption

21 Nov 2015

Capital Dividend Upon Redemption

by Holly Crosgrey | posted in: Corporate Law, Directors, Directors Resolutions, Dividends, General Corporate Law, Income Tax Act (Canada), Maintaining Your Company, redemption of shares | 0

Under certain circumstances, and provided the Articles of the Corporation provide, the directors of a Corporation may approve a deemed capital dividend upon redemption of a class of shares.

Redemption of Shares Resulting in a Capital Dividend upon Redemption

When shares are redeemed they are cancelled and, in some cases, returned to Treasury. The Articles of a corporation set out the basis pursuant to which a class of shares can be redeemed and the amount of money those shares can be redeemed for. If the Articles do not contain any provisions for redemption, the shares cannot be redeemed.

Statute Governing Capital Dividends Upon Redemption

Section 83 of the Income Tax Act (Canada) governs the basis upon which a capital dividend can be declared . Refer to Section 83 of the Income Tax Act for more information on the legal requirements to be followed when declaring a capital dividend upon redemption.

Director Approval of a Capital Dividend Upon Redemption

The directors of a Corporation must approve a capital dividend upon redemption and a certified copy of such resolution must be filed with Revenue Canada Agency along with the election form.

Once issued shares of a corporation are redeemed, the share certificate evidencing those shares will be marked cancelled and the share register for those shares will be reduced by the number of shares redeemed.

Example of Directors Resolution Approving Capital Dividend Upon Redemption

Below is an example of a directors resolution approving a deemed capital dividend upon redemption:

Certified copy of Resolution of the Directors Approving a Capital Dividend upon the Redemption of Shares:

Many statutes will have a legal requirement which provides that a company cannot declare a dividend unless there are reasonable grounds it will be able to pay its liabilities. Below is a form of confirmation of Solvency by the President of a company upon a redemption.

Buy Dividend Resolutions

If you wish to make things easy refer to this link for a number of templates that can be purchased relating to Approving Dividends Templates.

For more information about dividends refer to:

Declaring a Dividend

Capital Dividend

Stock Dividend

18 Nov 2015

Capital Dividend

by Holly Crosgrey | posted in: Directors Resolutions, Dividends, General Corporate Law, Income Tax Act (Canada) | 0

Under subsection 83(2) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), the directors of a private Canadian corporation may pay a capital dividend to its shareholders out of the capital dividend account of the Corporation.

Capital Dividend Account

The capital dividend account records tax-free surpluses accumulated by a Canadian private company. These surpluses may be distributed free of tax in the form of capital dividends to the Canadian resident shareholders of a corporation.

Revenue Canada Election Requirement for a Declaration of a Capital Dividend

A corporation that intends to pay a capital dividend must file an election in respect of the dividend when the dividend is paid or becomes payable, although a late filing can be done only in certain circumstances.

Revenue Canada Agency Rules Respecting Capital Dividends

For more information about the Revenue Canada Agency rules around capital dividends, refer to:

Election for a Capital Dividend

Election Form and Procedure for Paying a Capital Dividend

The directors of a corporation must approve a capital dividend. This can be done by holding a validly held directors meeting or by all of the directors signing a directors resolution. Examples can be found at Ontario Directors Resolutions.

Once approved the President, or another officer, must certify that the resolution approved by the directors respecting the capital dividend is in full force and effect.

The certified copy of the resolution must be filed together with Election Form T2054. There are very specific rules around the timing of filing of the election form.

Directors Resolution to Approve a Capital Dividend

Below is an example of a directors resolution approving a capital dividend:

Below is an example of a certified copy of a directors resolution approving a capital dividend which must be annexed to Form 2054:

Buy Dividend Resolutions

If you wish to make things easy refer to this link for a number of templates that can be purchased relating to Approving Dividends Templates.

For more information about dividends refer to:

Declaring a Dividend

Capital Dividend Upon Redemption

Stock Dividend