Companies Law of the People's Republic of China

(npc.gov.cn)     Updated : 2015-08-17

Article 82 The articles of association of a company limited by shares shall specify the following items:

(1) the name and domicile of the company;

(2) the scope of business of the company;

(3) the means of incorporation of the company;

(4) the total number of shares, the par value for each share and the registered capital of the company;

(5) the names or titles of the promoters, the number of shares subscribed for by them, or the forms and dates of their contributions;

(6) the composition, functions and powers of the board of directors and its rules of procedure;

(7) the legal representative of the company;

(8) the composition, functions and powers of the board of supervisors and its rules of procedure;

(9) methods for distribution of the company’s profits;

(10) the reasons for dissolution of the company and its liquidation methods;

(11) methods for notices and announcements of the company; and

(12) other items that the shareholders general assembly deems necessary to be specified.

Article 83 The provisions of Article 27 of this Law shall be applicable to the forms of contributions made by the promoters.

Article 84 Where a company limited by shares is incorporated by means of promotion, each of the promoters shall, in writing, subscribe for the full portion of the shares to be subscribed for by him as stipulated by the company’s articles of association; if a promoter offers to pay the subscriptions in a lump sum, he shall do so immediately; and if a promoter offers to pay the subscriptions by installments, he shall immediately pay for the first installment. Where a promoter invests with non-currency property, he shall go through the formalities for the transfer of his property rights according to law.

Where a promoter fails to pay the subscriptions in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, he shall be liable for the default in accordance with the promoters’ agreement.

After the initial payment of the subscriptions by the promoters, the board of directors and the board of supervisors shall be elected. The board of directors shall submit to the company registration authority the company’s articles of association, the capital verification certificate issued by the capital verification authority, which is set up according to law, and the other documents specified by laws or administrative regulations, in order to apply for registration of the incorporation of the company.

Article 85 Where a company limited by shares is incorporated by means of share offer, the shares subscribed for by the promoters shall be not less than 35 percent of the total number of the shares issued by the company; where laws or administrative regulations provide otherwise, the provisions there shall prevail.

Article 86 Where shares are to be offered to the general public, the promoters shall publish the prospectus of the company, and prepare subscription forms. In a subscription form shall clearly be stated the items specified by Article 87 of this Law, and the subscriber shall fill in the number of the shares subscribed for, the amount of money involved and his domicile, and shall sign and seal the form. The subscriber shall pay money for the number of the shares he subscribes for.

Article 87 The company’s articles of association formulated by the promoters shall be attached to a prospectus, in which the following items shall clearly be stated: (1) the number of shares subscribed for by the promoters;

(2) the par value and the issue price of each share;

(3) the total number of bearer shares issued;

(4) the purpose of the funds to be raised;

(5) the rights and obligations of the subscribers; and

(6) the dates of start and end for the share offer and a statement to the effect that subscribers may withdraw their share subscriptions when the shares are not fully subscribed for at the expiration of the time limit.

Article 88 Where promoters offer shares to the general public, the shares shall be underwritten by the securities company established according to law, and an underwriting agreement shall be concluded.

Article 89 Where promoters offer shares to the general public, they shall enter into an agreement with a bank on the collection of subscription moneys on their behalf.

The bank entrusted with collecting the subscription moneys shall, in accordance with the agreement, collect and keep the said moneys, issue receipts to the subscribers for their payments, and bear the obligation to issue certificates of receipt of moneys to relevant departments.

Article 90 After payment in full of the subscription moneys for the shares issued, such moneys shall be subject to verification by the capital verification authority established according to law, which shall produce a capital verification certificate. The promoters shall, within 30 days from the date the subscription moneys are paid in full, convene and preside over an inauguration assembly. An inauguration assembly shall be composed of all the promoters and subscribers.

Where the shares issued are not fully subscribed for at the date of expiration as specified in the prospectus, or the promoters fail to convene an inaugural meeting within 30 days from the date the subscription moneys for the shares issued are paid in full, the subscribers may claim refund from the promoters of their subscription moneys paid for the shares, plus their bank deposit interest calculated for the same period.

Article 91 The promoters shall notify each subscriber of the date of the inauguration assembly or make an announcement of such meeting 15 days prior to its convention. The inauguration assembly shall be convened only if the promoters and subscribers representing more than half of the total shares issued are present.

An inauguration assembly shall exercise the following functions and powers:

(1) to examine the promoters’ report on the preparations for the incorporation of the company;

(2) to adopt the articles of association of the company;

(3) to elect members of the board of directors;

(4) to elect the members of the board of supervisors;

(5) to examine and verify the expenses incurred for the incorporation of the company;

(6) to examine and verify the evaluation of the property used by the promoters to pay subscription moneys; and

(7) to adopt a resolution against the incorporation of the company in the event that a force majeure occurs or a major change takes place in the operational conditions, which directly affects the incorporation of the company.

A resolution adopted at the inaugural meeting on the items specified in the preceding paragraph shall be subject to adoption by the subscribers attending the meeting who have more than half of the voting rights.

Article 92 After payment of their subscription moneys or making their capital contributions as substitutes for their share subscriptions, the promoters and subscribers shall not withdraw their share capital except where the shares issued are not fully subscribed for within the time limit, or the promoters fail to convene an inaugural meeting on schedule, or a resolution against the incorporation of the company is adopted at the inaugural meeting.

Article 93 The board of directors shall, within 30 days from the date the inaugural meeting is closed, submit the following documents to the company registration authority to apply for registration of the incorporation of the company:

(1) the written application for registration of the company;

(2) the minutes of the inaugural meeting;

(3) the articles of association of the company;

(4) the capital verification certificate;

(5) the appointment documents and identification certificates of the legal representative, directors and supervisors;

(6) the qualification certificate of the promoter as a legal person or his identification certificate as a natural person; and

(7) the certificate of the domicile of the company.

In the case of a company limited by shares incorporated by means of share offer which publicly issues its shares, it shall, in addition, submit to the company registration authority the approval document issued by the securities regulatory authority under the State Council.

Article 94 Where after the incorporation of a company limited by shares, a promoter fails to pay in full the subscription moneys in accordance with the provisions of the company’s articles of association, he shall pay them in full; and the other promoters shall bear joint and several liability.

Where after the incorporation of a company limited by shares, it is discovered that the actual evaluation of the non-currency property used as capital contributions for the incorporation of the company is obviously less than the evaluation prescribed by the company’ articles of association, the promoters making such contributions shall make up the difference; and the other promoters shall bear joint and several liability.

Article 95 The promoters of a company limited by shares shall bear the following liabilities:

(1) Where the company cannot be incorporated, they shall bear the joint and several liability for all the debts and expenses incurred in the act of incorporation;

(2) Where the company cannot be incorporated, they shall bear the joint and several liability for refunding the subscription moneys paid by the subscribers, plus their bank deposit interest calculated for the same period of time; and

(3) Where the interests of the company are impaired due to the fault committed by the promoters in the process of the incorporation of the company, they shall bear the liability to pay compensation to the company.