The law:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/part/13/chapter/3/crossheading/calling-meetings
Google - "how to obtain usual residential address of shareholders for a meeting"
AI Overview
To obtain shareholders' usual residential addresses in the UK, you must consult the company's internal Register of Members, which is a private document not available to the public but must be provided to shareholders upon request. You cannot typically find this information on the public register at Companies House, as it contains the company's public information, not private shareholder details, unless a shareholder has specifically agreed to use their home address as their service address.
Steps to Obtain Shareholders' Residential Addresses
1. Request the Register of Members:
Shareholders have a statutory right to inspect the company's Register of Members, which contains the names of all shareholders and their addresses.
2. Inspect the Register:
The company must allow shareholders to view this register, typically kept at the company's registered office or another agreed-upon location.
3. Identify the Required Addresses:
Once you have access to the register, you can find the usual residential addresses of the shareholders for the meeting.
Why the Information Isn't Public
Private Company Information:
The Register of Members is a private company register, not part of the public information held by Companies House.
Data Protection:
The home addresses of directors and shareholders are considered private information to protect their privacy and prevent misuse, according to GOV.UK.
What You Will Find on the Public Register
Company Information:
The public register at Companies House contains public information about the company and its directors, but not the shareholders' private details.
Service Addresses:
Directors must provide a service address, which is made public and can be the company's registered office or the director's home address.
By law, the company is obliged to maintain and provide access to its Register of Members to shareholders, making it the correct place to find the necessary addresses for a meeting.
How to obtain usual residential address of shareholders for a meeting
For private individuals (non-officers)
You cannot access the register of members for free or for any purpose, unlike public records at Companies House. To get a copy of the addresses for a meeting, you must submit a formal request for a "proper purpose".
Request
Submit a formal request to the company. This request must be in writing and include:
- Your name and address.
- The purpose for which the information is to be used. For example, to contact fellow shareholders about a general meeting.
- Details of any other person to whom you intend to disclose the information.
- State your "proper purpose." The company can only refuse your request if they can prove in court that it is not for a proper purpose, such as a legitimate shareholder meeting.
Response
The company must respond. The company has five working days to either comply with the request or apply to the court to refuse it.
A fee may apply. While a member is entitled to inspect the register for free, a company can charge a fee for a copy of the register.
Using addresses from Companies House
Public information from Companies House may be misleading and is not a reliable source for current shareholder addresses.
Incorporation documents:
The addresses of the initial shareholders (subscribers) are on the public record at Companies House via the company's incorporation documents.
Post-incorporation changes:
The addresses of shareholders who join after incorporation are generally not publicly available from Companies House. This is to protect personal privacy.
Public register vs. internal register:
- The public register at Companies House is distinct from the company's internal register of members.
- The internal register is the definitive and most up-to-date source of shareholder information.
The Institute of Directors
https://www.iod.com/resources/company-structure/removal-of-a-director/
Unless there is a special provision in the company’s Articles of Association a director cannot be removed from office by the Board of Directors, and only the shareholders can remove a director.
The statutory procedure allows any director to be removed by ordinary resolution of the shareholders in general meetings (i.e., the holders of more than 50% of the voting shares must agree). This right of removal by the shareholders cannot be excluded by the Articles or by any agreement.
https://www.iod.com/resources/company-structure/the-role-of-the-company-secretary/
Secretaries of private companies (where they continue) are not required to have any particular qualifications or experience.
Directors’ duties are formally set out in sections 171–177 of the Companies Act 2006.