China’s premier firm for advising on PRC company law. We assist with China business, China incorporations, China investment, China merger acquisition service and your own China accountant, working for you.
The Company Law of the People's Republic
Translated by the Ministry of Commerce
Amended - October 27, 2005
Effective - January 1, 2006
Contents
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Establishment and Organizational Structure of a Limited Liability Company
Section 1 Establishment
Section 2 Organizational Structure
Section 3 Special Provisions on One-person Limited Liability Companies
Section 4 Special Provisions on Solely State-owned Companies
Chapter III Transfer of Stock Right of a Limited Liability Company
Chapter IV Establishment and Organizational Structure of a Joint Stock Limited Company
Section 1 Establishment
Section 2 Shareholders' Meeting
Section 3 Board of Directors, Managers
Section 4 Board of Supervisors
Section 5 Special Provisions on the Organizational Structure of a Listed Company
Chapter V Issuance and Transfer of Shares of a Joint Stock Limited Company
Section 1 Issuance of Shares
Section 2 Transfer of Shares
Chapter VI Qualifications and Obligations of the Directors, Supervisors and Senior Managers of a Company
Chapter VII Company Bonds
Chapter VIII Financial Affairs and Accounting of a Company
Chapter IX Merger and Split-up of a Company; Increase and Deduction of
Registered Capital
Chapter X Dissolution and Liquidation of a Company
Chapter XI Branches of a Foreign Company
Chapter XII Legal Liabilities Chapter XIII Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1
This Law is formulated for the purposes of regulating the organization and operation of companies, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of companies, shareholders and creditors, maintaining the socialist economic order, and promoting the development of the socialist market economy.
Article 2
The term "company" as mentioned in this Law refers to a limited liability company or a joint stock company limited established within the territory of the People's Republic of China in accordance with the provisions of this law.
Article 3
A company is an enterprise juridical person, which has independent juridical person property and enjoys the property right of the juridical person. And it shall bear the liabilities for its debts with all its property. As for a limited liability company, the shareholders shall be responsible for the company to the extent of the capital contributions they have paid. As for a joint stock limited company, the shareholders shall be responsible for the company to the extent of the shares they have subscribed to.
Article 4
The shareholders of a company shall be entitled to enjoy the capital proceeds, participate in making important decisions, choose managers and enjoy other rights.
Article 5
When undertaking business operations, a company shall comply with the laws and administrative regulations, social morality and business morality. It shall act in good faith, accept the supervision of the government and the general public, and bear social responsibilities. The legitimate rights and interests of a company shall be protected by laws and may not be infringed.
Article 6
For the establishment of a company, an application for establishment and registration shall be filed with the company registration authority. If the application meets the requirements for establishment of this Law, the company registration authority shall register the company as a limited liability company or a joint stock limited company. If the application fails to meet the requirements for establishment of this Law, it shall not be registered as a limited liability company or a joint stock limited company. If any law or administrative regulation stipulates that the establishment of a company shall be subject to approval, the relevant approval formalities shall be gone through prior to the registration of the company. The general public may consult the relevant matters on company registration at a company registration authority, which shall provide consulting services.
Article 7
For a lawfully established company, the company registration authority shall issue the company business license to it, and the date of issuance of the company business license shall be the date of establishment of the company. The company business license shall state the name, domicile, registered capital, actually paid capital, business scope, the name of the legal representative and etc. If any of the items as stated in the business license is changed, the company shall modify the registration, and the company registration authority shall replace the old business license by a new one.
Article 8
For a limited liability company established according to this Law, it shall indicate in its company name the words "limited liability company" or "limited company". For a joint stock limited company established according to this Law, it shall indicate in its company name the words "joint stock limited company" or "joint stock company".
Article 9
The change of a limited liability company to a joint stock limited company shall satisfy the requirements as prescribed in this Law for joint stock limited companies. The change of a joint stock limited company to a limited liability company shall meet the conditions as prescribed in this Law for limited liability companies. Under any of the aforesaid circumstances, the creditor's rights and debts of the company prior to the change shall be succeeded by the company after the change.
Article 10
A company shall regard the locus of its main office as its domicile.
Article 11
The company established according to this law shall formulate its articles of association which are binding on the company, its shareholders, directors, supervisors and senior managers.
Article 12
The company's business scope shall be defined in its articles of association and shall be registered according to law. The company may change its business scope by modifying its articles of association, but shall go through the formalities for modifying the registration. If the business scope of a company covers any item subject to approval pursuant to laws or administrative regulations, the approval shall be obtained according to law.
Article 13
The legal representative of a company shall, according to the provisions of its articles of association, be assumed by the chairman of the board of directors, acting director or manager, and shall be registered according to law. If the legal representative of the company is changed, the company shall go through the formalities for modifying the registration.
Article 14
The company may set up branches. To set up a branch, the company shall file a registration application with the company registration authority, and shall obtain the business license. The branch shall not enjoy the status of an enterprise juridical person, and its civil liabilities shall be born by its parent company. The company may set up subsidiaries which enjoy the status of an enterprise juridical person and shall be independently bear civil liabilities.
Article 15
A company may invest in other enterprises. However, it shall not become a capital contributor that shall bear the joint liabilities for the debts of the enterprises it invests in, unless it is otherwise provided for by any law.
Article 16
Where a company intends to invest in any other enterprise or provide guarantee for others, it shall, according to the provisions of its articles of association, be decided at the meeting of the board of directors or shareholders or shareholders' convention. If the articles of association prescribe any limit on the total amount of investments or guarantees, or on the amount of a single investment or guarantee, the aforesaid total amount or amount shall not exceed the responsive limited amount. If a company intends to provide guarantee to a shareholder or actual controller of the company, it shall make a resolution through the shareholder's meeting or shareholders' convention. The shareholder as mentioned in the preceding paragraph or the shareholder dominated by the actual controller as mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall not participate in voting on the matter as mentioned in the preceding paragraph. Such matter requires the affirmative votes of more than half of the other shareholders attending the meeting.
Article 17
The company shall protect the lawful rights and interests of its employees, conclude employment contracts with the employees, buy social insurances, strengthen labor protection so as to realize safe production. The company shall, in various forms, reinforce the vocational education and in-service training of its employees so as to improve their personal quality.
Article 18
The employees of a company shall, according to the Labor Union Law of the People's Republic of China, organize a labor union, which shall carry out union activities and safeguard the lawful rights and interests of the employees. The company shall provide necessary conditions for its labor union to carry out activities. The labor union shall, on behalf of the employees, conclude the collective contract with the company with respect to the remuneration, working hours, welfare, insurance, work safety and sanitation and other matters. Pursuant to the Constitution and other relevant laws, a company shall implement democratic management in the form of meeting of the representatives of the employees or any other ways. To make a decision on restructuring or any important issue related to business operation, or to formulate any important regulation, a company shall solicit the opinions of its labor union, and shall solicit the opinions and proposals of the employees through the meeting of the representatives of the employees or in any other way.
Article 19
An organization of the Chinese Communist Party shall, according to the Charter of the Chinese Communist Party, be established in the company to carry out activities of the Chinese Communist Party. And the company shall provide necessary conditions for the activities of the Chinese Communist Party.
Article 20
The shareholders of a company shall comply with the laws, administrative regulations and articles of association, and shall exercise the shareholder's rights according to law. None of them may injure any of the interests of the company or of other shareholders by abusing the shareholder's rights, or injure the interests of any creditor of the company by abusing the independent status of juridical person or the shareholder's limited liabilities. Where any of the shareholders of a company causes any loss to the company or to other shareholders by abusing the shareholder's rights, it shall be subject to compensation. Where any of the shareholders of a company evades the payment of its debts by abusing the independent status of juridical person or the shareholder's limited liabilities, and thus seriously damages the interests of any creditor, it shall bear joint liabilities for the debts of the company.
Article 21
Neither the controlling shareholder, nor the actual controller, any of the directors, supervisors or senior managers of the company may injure the interests of the company by taking advantage of its connection relationship. Anyone who has caused any loss to the company due to violation of the preceding paragraph shall be subject to compensation.
Article 22
The resolution of the shareholders' convention, shareholders' meeting or board of directors of the company that has violated any law or administrative regulation shall be null and void. Where the procedures for convoking and the voting form of a shareholders' convention or shareholders' meeting or meeting of the board of directors, violate any law, administrative regulation or the articles of association, or the resolution is in violation of the articles of association of the company, the shareholders may, within 60 days as of the day when the resolution is made, request the people's court to revoke it. If the shareholders initiate a lawsuit according to the preceding paragraph, the people's court shall, in light of the request of the company, demand the shareholders to provide corresponding guarantee. Where a company has, in light of the resolution of the shareholders' convention, shareholders' meeting or meeting of the board of directors, completed the modification registration, and the people's court declares the resolution null and void or revoke the resolution, the company shall file an application with the company registration authority for revoking the modification registration.
Chapter II Establishment and Organizational Structure of a Limited Liability Company Section 1 Establishment
Article 23
The establishment of a limited liability company shall satisfy the following conditions:
(1)The number of shareholders accords with the quorum;
(2)The amount of capital contributions paid by the shareholders reaches the statutory minimum amount of the registered capital;
(3)The articles of association are worked out jointly by shareholders;
(4)The company has a name and its organizational structure complies with that of a limited liability company;
(5)The company has a domicile.
Article 24
A limited liability company shall be established by not more than 50 shareholders that have made capital contributions.
Article 25
A limited liability company shall state the following items in its articles of association:
(1)the name and domicile of the company;
(2)the business scope of the company;
(3)the registered capital of the company;
(4)names of shareholders;
(5)forms, amount and date of capital contributions made by shareholders;
(6)the organizations of the company and its formation, their functions and rules of procedure;
(7)the legal representative of the company;
(8)other matters deemed necessary by shareholders. The shareholders should affix their signatures or seals on the articles of association of the company.
Article 26
The registered capital of a limited liability company shall be the total amount of the capital contributions subscribed to by all the shareholders that have registered in the company registration authority. The amount of the initial capital contributions made by all shareholders shall be not less than 20% of the registered capital, nor less than the statutory minimum amount of registered capital, and the margin shall be paid off by the shareholders within 2 years as of the day when the company is established; as for an investment company, it may be paid off within 5 years. The minimum amount of registered capital of a limited liability company shall be RMB 30, 000 Yuan. If any law or administrative regulation prescribes a relatively higher minimum amount of registered capital of a limited liability company, the provisions of that law or administrative regulation shall be followed.
Article 27
A shareholder may make capital contributions in currency, in kind or intellectual property right, land use right or other non-monetary properties that may be assessed on the basis of currency and may be transferred according to law, excluding the properties that shall not be treated as capital contributions according to any law or administrative regulation. The value of the non-monetary properties as capital contributions shall be assessed and verified, which shall not be over-valued or under-valued. If any law or administrative regulation prescribes the value assessment, such law or administrative regulation shall be followed. The amount of the capital contributions in currency paid by all the shareholders shall be not less than 30% of the registered capital of the limited liability company.
Article 28
Every shareholder shall make full payment for the capital contribution it has subscribed to according to the articles of association. If a shareholder makes his/its capital contribution in currency, he shall deposit the full amount of such currency capital contribution into a temporary bank account opened for the limited liability company. If the capital contributions are made in non-monetary properties, the appropriate transfer procedures for the property rights therein shall be followed according to law. Where a shareholder fails to make his/its capital contribution as specified in the preceding paragraph, it shall not only make full payment to the company but also bear the liabilities for breach of the contract to the shareholders who have make full payment of capital contributions on schedule.
Article 29
The capital contributions made by shareholders shall be checked by a lawfully established capital verification institution, which shall issue a certification.
Article 30
After the initial capital contributions made by the shareholders for the first time have been checked by a lawfully established capital verification institution, the representative designated by all the shareholders or the agent entrusted by all the shareholders shall apply for establishment and registration with a company registration application, the articles of association, capital verification and other documents to the company registration authority.
Article 31
After the establishment of a limited liability company, if the actual value of the capital contributions in non-monetary properties is found to be apparently lower than that provided for in the articles of association of the company, the balance shall be supplemented by the shareholder who has offered them, and the other shareholders of the company who have established the company shall bear joint liabilities.
Article 32
After the establishment of a limited liability company, every shareholder shall be issued with a capital contribution certificate, which shall specify the following:
(1)the name of the company;
(2)the date of establishment of the company;
(3)the registered capital of the company;
(4)the name of the shareholder, the amount of his capital contribution, and the day when the capital contribution is made; and
(5)the serial number and date of issuance of the capital contribution certificate. The capital contribution certificate shall bear the seal of the company.
Article 33
A limited liability company shall prepare a register of shareholders, which shall specify the following:
(1)the name of every shareholder and his/its domicile thereof;
(2)the amount of capital contribution made by every shareholder;
(3)the serial number of every capital contribution certificate. The shareholders recorded in the register of shareholders may, in light of the register of shareholders, claim to and exercise the shareholder's rights. A company shall register every shareholder's name and the amount of its capital contribution in the company registration authority. Where any of the registered items is changed, it shall handle the modification of the registration. If the company fails to do so, it shall not, on the basis of the unregistered or un-modified registration item, stand up to any third party.
Article 34
The shareholder shall be entitled to consult and copy the articles of association, records of the shareholders' meetings, resolutions of the meetings of the board of directors, resolutions of the meetings of the board of supervisors, as well as financial reports. The shareholder may request to consult the accounting books of the company. Where a shareholder requests to consult the accounting books of the company, it shall submit to the company a written request which shall state its motives. If the company, pursuant to any justifiable reason, considers that the shareholder's request to consult the accounting books for any improper purpose may damage the legitimate interests of the company, it may reject the request of the shareholder, and shall, within in 15 days after the shareholder submits a written request, give it a written reply which shall include an explanation. If the company rejects the request of any shareholder to consult the accounting books, the shareholder may plead the people's court to demand the company to approve consultation.
Article 35
The shareholders shall distribute dividends in light of the percentages of capital contributions actually made by them, unless all shareholders agree that the dividends are not distributed on the percentages of capital contributions. Where the company is to increase its capital, its shareholders have the preemptive right to contribute to the increased amount on the basis of the same percentages of the old capital contributions they have made, unless all shareholders agree that they will not contribute to the increased amount of capital on the basis of the percentages of the old capital contributions they have made.
Article 36
After the establishment of a company, no shareholder may illegally take away the contribution capital. Section 2 Organizational Structure.
Article 37
The shareholders' meeting of a limited liability company shall comprise all the shareholders. It shall be the authority of the company, and shall exercise its authorities according to this Law.
Article 38
The shareholders' meeting shall exercise the following authorities:
(1)determining the company's operation guidelines and investment plans;
(2)electing and changing the director and supervisors assumed by non-representatives of the employees, and determining the matters concerning their remuneration;
(3)deliberating and approving the reports of the board of directors;
(4)deliberating and approving the reports of the board of supervisors or the supervisor;
(5)deliberating and approving annual financial budget plans and final account plans of the company;
(6)deliberating and approving profit distribution plans and loss recovery plans of the company;
(7)making resolutions on the increase or decrease of the company's registered capital;
(8)making resolutions on the issuance of corporate bonds;
(9)adopting resolutions on the assignment, split-up, change of company form, dissolution, liquidation of the company;
(10)revising the articles of association of the company;
(11)other functions as specified in the articles of association. Where any of the matters as listed in the preceding paragraph is consented by all the shareholders it in writing, it is not required to convene a shareholders' meeting. A decision may be made directly with the signatures or seals of all the shareholders.
Article 39
The shareholders' meeting shall be convened and presided over by the shareholder who has made the largest percentage of capital contributions and shall exercise its authorities according to this Law.
Article 40
The shareholders' meetings shall be classified into regular meetings and temporary meetings. The regular meetings shall be timely held in pursuance with the articles of association. Where a temporary meeting is proposed by the shareholders representing 1/10 of the voting rights or more, or by directors representing 1/3 of the voting rights or more, or by the board of supervisors, or by the supervisors of the company with no board of supervisors, a temporary meeting shall be held.
Article 41
Where a limited liability company has set up a board of directors, the shareholders' meetings shall be convened by the board of directors and presided over by the chairman of the board of directors. If the chairman is unable or does not perform his duties, the meetings thereof shall be presided over by the deputy chairman of the board of directors. If the deputy chairman of the board of directors is unable or does not perform his duties, the meetings shall be presided over by a director jointly recommended by half or more of the directors. Where a limited liability company has not set up the board of directors, the shareholders' meetings shall be convened and presided over by the acting director. If the board of directors or the acting director is unable or does not perform the duties of convening the shareholders' meeting, the board of supervisors or the supervisor of the company with no board of supervisors may convene and preside over such meetings. If the board of supervisors or supervisor does not convene or preside over such meetings, the shareholder representing 1 / 10 or more of the voting rights may convene and preside over such meetings on his/its own initiative.
Article 42
Every shareholder shall be notified 15 days before a shareholders' meeting is held, unless it is otherwise prescribed by the articles of association or it is otherwise stipulated by all the shareholders. A shareholders' meeting shall make records for the decisions on the matters discussed at the meeting. The shareholders who attend the meeting shall affix their signatures to the records.
Article 43
The shareholders shall exercise their voting rights at the shareholders' meetings on the basis of their respective percentage of the capital contributions, unless it is otherwise stipulated by the articles of association.
Article 44
The discussion methods and voting procedures of the shareholders' meeting shall be prescribed in the articles of association, unless it is otherwise provided for by this Law. A resolution made at a shareholders' meeting on amending the articles of association, increasing or reducing the registered capital, merger, split-up, dissolution or change of the company form shall be adopted by the shareholders representing 2 / 3 or more of the voting rights.
Article 45
The board of directors established by a limited liability company shall comprise 3 up to 13 members, unless it is otherwise provided for in Article 51 of this Law. If a limited liability company established by 2 or more state-funded enterprises or other state-funded investors, the board of directors shall comprise the representatives of employees of this company. The board of directors of any other limited liability company may also comprise the representatives of employees of the company concerned. The employees' representatives who are to serve as the board of directors shall be democratically elected by the employees of the company through the general meeting of the representatives of employees, employees' meeting of the company or in any other way. The board of directors shall have one board chairman and may have one or more deputy chairman. The appointment of the chairman and deputy chairman shall be prescribed in the articles of association.
Article 46
The terms of office of the directors shall be provided for in the articles of association, but each term of office shall not exceed 3 years. The directors may, after the expiry of their term of office, hold a consecutive term upon re-election. If no reelection is timely carried out after the expiry of the term of office of the directors, or if the number of the members of the board of directors is less than the quorum due to the resignation of some directors from the board of directors prior to the expiry of their term of office, the original directors shall, before the newly elected directors assume their posts, exercise the authorities of the directors according to laws, administrative regulations as well as the articles of association.
Article 47
The board of directors shall be responsible for the shareholders' meeting and exercise the following authorities:
(1)convening shareholders' meetings and reporting the status on work thereto;
(2)carrying out the resolutions made at the shareholders' meetings;
(3)determining the operation plans and investment plans;
(4)working out the company's annual financial budget plans and final account plans;
(5)working out the company's profit distribution plans and loss recovery plans;
(6)working out the company's plans on the increase or decrease of registered capital, as well as on the issuance of corporate bonds;
(7)working out the company's plans on merger, split-up, change of the company form, dissolution, and etc.;
(8)making decisions on the establishment of the company's internal management departments;
(9)making decisions on hiring or dismissing the company's manager and his remuneration, and, according to the nomination of the manager, deciding on the hiring or dismissing of vice manager(s) and the person in charge of finance as well as their remuneration;
(10)working out the company's basic management system; and(11)other functions as prescribed in the articles of association.
Article 48
The meeting of the board of directors shall be convened and presided over by the chairman of the board of directors. If the chairman of the board of directors is unable or does not perform his duties, the meeting may be convened or presided over by the deputy chairman of the board of directors. If the deputy chairman of the board of directors is unable or does not perform his duties, the meeting may be convened or presided over by a director jointly recommended by half or more of the directors.
Article 49
The discussion methods and voting procedures of the board of directors shall be prescribed by the articles of association, unless it is otherwise provided for by this Law. The board of directors shall make records of the decisions on the matters discussed at the meetings thereof. The shareholders who attend the meeting shall affix their signatures to the records. In the voting on a resolution of the board of directors, one person shall have one vote.
Article 50
A limited liability company may have a manager who shall be hired or dismissed upon the decision of the board of directors. The manager shall be responsible for the board of directors and shall exercise the following authorities:(
1)taking charge of the management of the production and business operations of the company, and organizing to implement the resolutions of the board of directors;
(2)organizing the execution of the company's annual operational plans and investment plans;
(3)drafting plans on the establishment of the company's internal management departments;
(4)drafting the company's basic management system;
(5)formulating the company's concrete bylaws;
(6)proposing to hire or dismiss the company's vice manager(s) and person(s) in charge of finance;
(7)deciding on the hiring or dismissing of the persons-in-charge other than those who shall be decided by the board of directors;
(8)other authorities conferred by the board of directors. If the articles of association prescribe otherwise the authorities of managers, the provisions in the articles of association shall be followed. The manager attends the meetings of the board of directors as a non-voting delegate.
Article 51
As for a limited liability company with relatively less shareholders or a relatively small limited liability company, it may have an acting director and no board of directors. The acting director may concurrently hold the post of the company's manger. The authorities of the acting director shall be prescribed in the articles of association.
Article 52
A limited liability company may set up a board of supervisors, which shall comprise at least 3 persons. A limited liability company, which has relatively less shareholders or is relatively small in scale, may have 1 or 2 supervisors, and does not have to establish a board of supervisors. The board of supervisors shall include representatives of shareholders and representatives of the employees of the company at an appropriate ratio which shall be specifically stimulated in the articles of association. The employees' representatives, who are to serve as members of the board of supervisors, shall be democratically elected by the employees of the company through the meeting of the employees' representatives or employees' meeting, or by any other means. The board of supervisors shall have one chairman, who shall be elected by half or more of all the supervisors. The chairman of the board of supervisors shall convene and preside over the meetings of the board of supervisors. If the chairman of the board of supervisors is unable to or does not perform his duties, the supervisor recommended by half or more of the supervisors shall convene and preside over the meetings of the board of supervisors. No director or senior manager may concurrently work as a supervisor.
Article 53
Every term of office of the supervisors shall be 3 years. The supervisors may, after the expiry of their term of office, hold a consecutive term upon re-election. If no reelection is timely carried out after the expiry of the term of office of the supervisors, or the number of the members of the board of directors is less than the quorum due to the resignation of some directors from the board of supervisors prior to the expiry of their term of office, the original supervisors shall, before the newly elected supervisors assume their posts, exercise the authorities of the supervisors according to laws, administrative regulations as well as the articles of association.
Article 54
The board of supervisors or supervisor of a company with no board of supervisors may exercise the following authorities:
(1)checking the financial affairs of the company;
(2)supervising the duty-related acts of the directors and senior managers, and bringing forward proposals on the removal of any director or senior manager who violates any law, administrative regulation, the articles of association or any resolution of the shareholders' meeting;
(3)demanding any director or senior manager to make corrections if his act has injured the interests of the company;
(4)proposing to convening temporary shareholders' meetings, and convening and presiding over shareholders' meetings when the board of directors does not exercise the functions of convening and presiding over the shareholders' meetings as prescribed in this Law;
(5)bringing forwar, d proposals at shareholders' meetings;
(6)initiating actions against directors or senior managers according to Article 152 of this Law;
(7)other duties as prescribed by the articles of association.
Article 55 T
The supervisors may attend the meetings of the board of directors as non-voting delegates, and may raise questions or suggestions on the matters to be decided by the board of directors. If the board of supervisors or supervisor of the company with no board of directors finds that the company is running abnormally, it (he) may make investigations. Where necessary, it (he) may hire an accounting firm to help it (him) with the relevant expenses being born by the company.
Article 56
The board of supervisors shall hold meetings at least once a year. The supervisors may propose to hold temporary meetings of the board of supervisors. The disc, , ussion methods and voting procedures of the board of supervisors shall be prescribed in the articles of association, unless it is otherwise stimulated in this Law. The resolution of the board of supervisors shall be adopted by half or more of the supervisors. The board of supervisors shall make records for the resolutions on the matter it discusses, which shall be signed by the supervisors in presence.
Article 57
The expenses necessary for the board of supervisors or the supervisor of a company with no board of supervisors to perform its (his) duties shall be borne by the company. Section 3 Special Provisions on One-person Limited Liability Companies
Article 58
The provisions of this Section shall apply to the establishment and organizational structure of a one-person limited liability. As for any matter not prescribed in this Section, it shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of this Chapter. The term "one-person limited liability company" as mentioned in this Law refers to a limited liability company with only one natural person shareholder or a juridical person shareholder.
Article 59
The minimum amount of registered capital of a one-person limited liability company shall be RMB 100, 000 Yuan. The shareholder shall, in a lump sum, pay the capital contribution as specified in the articles of association. One natural person is allowed to establish merely one one-person limited liability company which shall not set up any further one-person limited liability company.
Article 60
A one-person limited liability company shall, in the company registration, give a clear indication that it is solely-funded by one natural person or one juridical person, and the same shall be specified in the business license of the company.
Article 61
The articles of association of a one-person limited liability company shall be formulated by the shareholders.
Article 62
A one-person limited liability company may not set up the board of directors. When the shareholders make a decision on any of the matters as listed in Article 38 of this Law, they shall make it in written form, and preserve it in the company after signed by the shareholders.
Article 63
A one-person limited liability company shall make a financial statement at the end of every fiscal year, which shall be subject to the audit by an accounting firm.
Article 64
If the shareholder of a one-person limited liability company is unable to prove that the property of the one-person limited liability company is independent from his own property, he shall bear joint liabilities for the debts of the company. Section 4 Special Provisions on Solely State-funded Companies.
Article 65
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to the establishment and organizational structure of the solely state-owned companies. Any matter not prescribed by this Chapter shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of this Chapter.The term "solely state-owned company" as mentioned in this law refers to a limited liability company established through investment solely by the state, for which the State Council or the local people's government authorizes the state-owned assets supervision and administration institution of the people's government at the same level to perform the functions of the capital contributors.
Article 66
The articles of association of a solely state-owned company shall be formulated by the state-owned assets supervision and administration institution, or shall be drafted by the board of directors and then be reported to the state-owned assets supervision and administration institution for approval.
Article 67
A solely state-owned company shall not set up the shareholders' meeting, and the functions of the shareholders' meeting shall be exercised by the state-owned assets supervision and administration institution. The state-owned assets supervision and administration institution may authorize the board of directors of the company to exercise some of the functions of the shareholders' meeting and decide on important matters of the company, excluding those that must be decided by the state-owned assets supervision and administration such as merger, split-up, dissolution of the company, increase or decrease of registered capital as well as the issuance of corporate bonds. The merger, split-up, dissolution or application for bankruptcy of an important solely state-owned company shall be subject to the examination of the state-owned assets supervision and administration institution, and then be reported to the people's government at the same level for approval. The term "important solely state-owned company" as mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be determined according to the provisions of the State Council.
Article 68
A solely state-owned company shall establish the board of directors, which shall exercise its functions according to Articles 47 and 67 of this Law. Every term of office of the directors shall not exceed 3 years. The board of directors shall comprise representatives of the employees. And the members of the board of directors shall be designated by the state-owned assets supervision and administration institution, but of whom the representatives of the employees shall be elected through the meeting of the representatives of the employees of the company. The board of directors shall have one chairman and may have a deputy chairman. The chairman and deputy chairman shall be designated by the state-owned assets supervision and administration institution from the members of the board of directors.
Article 69
A solely state-owned company shall have a manager, who shall be hired or dismissed by the board of directors and exercise his authorities according to Article 50 of this Law. Upon consent of the state-owned assets supervision and administration institution, the members of the board of directors may concurrently hold the post of manager.
Article 70
None of the chairman, deputy chairman, directors and senior managers of a solely state-owned company may concurrently hold a post in any other limited liability company, joint stock limited company or any other economic organization, unless it is permitted by the state-owned assets supervision and administration institution.
Article 71
The board of supervisors of a solely state-owned company shall comprise at least 5 persons, of whom the employees' representatives shall account for not less than 1/3, and the concrete percentage shall be specified in the articles of association. The members of the board of supervisors shall be appointed by the state-owned assets supervision and administration institution, however, of whom the employees' representatives shall be elected through the meeting of representatives of the employees of the company. The chairman of the board of supervisors shall be appointed by the state-owned assets supervision and administration institution from the members of the board of supervisors. The board of supervisions shall exercise the functions as mentioned in Article 54 (1) through (3) of this Law and those prescribed by the State Council.
Chapter III Transfer of Stock Rights of a Limited Liability Company
Article 72
All or some of the stock rights of the shareholders of a limited liability company may be transferred between the shareholders. Where a shareholder intends to transfer his/its stock rights to any non-shareholder, he/it shall be subject to the approval of more than half of the other shareholders. The shareholder shall notify the other shareholders in written form of the matters on the transfer of stock rights for their approval. If any of the other shareholders fails to give it a reply within 30 days after the receipt of the written notice, it shall be deemed to have agreed to the transfer. If half or more of the other shareholders disagree to the transfer, the shareholders who disagree to the transfer shall purchase the stock rights to be transferred. If they refuse to purchase these stock rights, they shall be deemed to have agreed to the transfer. Under the same conditions, the other shareholders have a preemptive right to purchase the stock rights to be transferred upon their approval. If two or more shareholders claim the preemptive rights, they shall determine their respective percentage of purchase through negotiation. If they fail to reach an agreement during the negotiation, they shall exercise the preemptive rights on the basis of their respective percentage of capital contributions. Unless it is otherwise provided for of the transfer of stock rights in the articles of association, the articles of association shall be followed.
Article 73
When the people's court transfers the stock rights of a shareholder in light of the mandatory enforcement procedures as provided for in laws, it shall notify the company and all the shareholders, and the other shareholders have a preemptive right under the same conditions. If any of the other shareholders fails to exercise their preemptive rights within 20 days after he/it receives the notice of the court, it shall be deemed to have waived his/its preemptive right.
Article 74
After a company transfers its stock rights according to Articles 72 and 73 of this Law, it shall cancel the capital contribution certificate of the former shareholder, issue a capital contribution certificate to the new shareholder and modify the record on the shareholders and their capital contributions in the articles of association and the register of shareholders. And no voting of the shareholders' meeting is needed for the modification of the articles of association.
Article 75
Under any of the following circumstances, a shareholder, who votes against the resolution of the shareholders' meeting, may request the company to purchase its stock rights at a reasonable price:(1)The company has not distributed any profit to the shareholders for 5 consecutive years, though it has made profits for five consecutive years and meets the profit distribution conditions as prescribed in this Law;(2)The merger, split-up, or transfer of the main properties of the company is undertaken;(3)When the business term as prescribed in the articles of association expires or other reasons for dissolution as stipulated in the articles of association occur, the shareholders' meeting makes the company continue existing by adopting a resolution on modifying the articles of association. Within 60 days after the resolution is adopted at the shareholders' meeting, if the shareholder and the company fail to reach an agreement on the purchase of stock rights, the shareholder may file a lawsuit to the people's court within 90 days after the resolution is adopted at the shareholders' meeting.
Article 76
After the death of a natural person shareholder, his lawful inheritor may inherit the shareholder's qualifications, unless it is otherwise prescribed by the articles of association.
Chapter IV Establishment and Organizational Structure of a Joint Stock Limited Company Section 1 Establishment
Article 77
The establishment of a joint stock limited company shall meet the following conditions:
(1)The number of initiators meets the quorum;
(2)The capital stock subscribed for and raised by the initiators reaches the minimum amount of the statutory capital;
(3)The issuance of shares and the preparatory work accord with the provisions of the law;
(4)The articles of association are formulated by the initiators, and are adopted at the establishment meeting if the company is to be launched by stock floatation;
(5)The company has a name, and its organizational structure accords with that of a joint stock limited company;
(6)The company has a domicile.
Article 78
A joint stock limited company may be established by ways of promotion or stock floatation. The establishment of a company by promotion means that the initiators establish a company by subscribing for all of the shares that should be issued by the company. The establishment of a company by stock floatation means that the initiators establish a company by subscribing for some of the shares that should be issued by the company and offering the remaining shares to the general public or to particular objects for subscription.
Article 79
To establish a joint stock limited company, there shall be not less than 2 but not more than 200 initiators, of whom half or more shall have a domicile within the territory of China.
Article 80
The initiators of a joint stock limited company shall undertake the preparatory work of the company. They shall conclude an agreement of initiators to clarify their respective rights and obligations during the course of establishing the company.
Article 81
Where a joint stock limited company is established by promotion, its registered capital shall be the total capital stock subscribed for by all the initiators as registered in the company registration authority. The minimum amount of initial capital contributions to be made by all initiators shall be not less than 20% of the total registered capital, and the remaining amount shall be paid off by the initiators within 2 years as of the day when the company is established, while for an investment company, the remaining amount may be paid off within 5 years. Before the registered capital is paid off, no stock may be offered to others for subscription. Where a joint stock limited company is established by stock floatation, its registered capital shall be the total actually paid capital stock as registered in the company registration authority. The minimum amount of the registered capital of a joint stock limited company shall be RMB 5 million Yuan. If any law or administrative regulation prescribes a relatively higher minimum amount of registered capital, such provision shall be followed.
Article 82
The articles of association of a joint stock limited company shall specify the following matters:
(1)the name and domicile of the company;
(2)the business scope of the company;
(3)the form of company establishment;
(4)total shares, value of each share, and the amount of registered capital of the company;
(5)the name of every initiator, the shares it has subscribed for, as well as the form and date of capital contributions;(6)the composition, authorities, term of office, and rules of procedure of the board of directors,
(7)the legal representative of the company;
(8)the composition, authorities, term of office, and rules of procedure of the board of supervisors;
(9)the methods for profit distribution of the company;
(10)the reasons for dissolution of the company and liquidation methods;
(11)the methods for issuing notices or public announcements of the company;
(12)other matters deemed necessary by the meetings of shareholders.
Article 83
The form of capital contributions of initiators shall be subject to the provisions in Article 27 of this Law.
Article 84
When establishing a joint stock limited company by promotion, the initiators shall subscribe, in writing, for the full amount of shares prescribed in the articles of association. In the case of paying the capital contributions at one time, the initiators shall make the payment in a lump sum; in the case of paying the capital contributions by installments, the initiators shall make the down payment immediately. In the case of making capital contributions in non-monetary properties, the initiators shall go through the procedures for the transfer of property rights according to law. If any of the initiators fails to make capital contributions by following the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it shall bear the liabilities for breach of contract according to the stipulations in the initiators agreement. After the initiators have made their down payment, they should elect the board of directors and the board of supervisors. The board of directors shall file a registration application with the company registration authority and submit thereto the articles of association, the capital verification certification as issued by a lawfully established capital verification institution, as well as other documents as stimulated by the laws and administrative regulations.
Article 85
For a joint stock limited company established by stock flotation, the shares subscribed for by the initiators shall not be less than 35 % of the total shares. However, if it is otherwise provided for by any law or administrative regulation, such law or administrative regulation shall prevail.
Article 86
When raising shares in the public, the initiators shall publish a prospectus and prepare share subscription forms. The share subscription form shall involve the items listed in Article 87, and a subscriber shall fill in the number and amount of shares he subscribes for and his domicile, and shall affix his signature or seal thereto. The subscriber shall pay the shares pursuant to the number of shares he has subscribed for.
Article 87
The prospectus shall be accompanied by the articles of association formulated by the initiators and shall state the following:
(1)the number of shares subscribed for by the initiators;
(2)the value and issuing price of each share;
(3)the total number of unregistered stocks issued;
(4)the purposes of the funds raised;
(5)the rights and obligations of the subscribers;
(6)the beginning and ending dates for the public offer and a statement that the subscribers may revoke their subscriptions if the offer is under-subscribed at the close of the offer.
Article 88
The public offer shares shall be underwritten by a lawfully established securities company, and an underwriting agreement shall be concluded.
Article 89
As for the public offer shares, the initiators shall sign an agreement with the receiving bank. The receiving bank shall receive and hold as an agent the payments for shares in light of the agreement, issue receipts to subscribers who have made the payments and be obliged to issue evidence of receipt of payments to the relevant departments.
Article 90
After the full payment for the public offer shares, they shall be verified by a lawfully established capital verification institution, and a certification shall be issued thereby. The initiators shall hold a company establishment meeting within 30 days, which shall comprise the subscribers. If the public offer shares are not fully subscribed for at the expiration of the time limit prescribed in the prospectus, or the initiators fail to hold an establishment meeting within 30 days after the full payment for the public offer shares, the subscribers may demand the initiators to make repayments for the public offer shares plus an interest calculated at the bank deposit interest rate for the same period.
Article 91
The initiators shall notify every subscriber of the date of the establishment meeting or make a public announcement on the meeting 15 days in advance. The establishment meeting may not be held, unless subscribers representing at least half of the shares appear. The establishment meeting shall exercise the following authorities:
(1)deliberating the report on the pre-establishment activities prepared by the sponsors;
(2)adopting the articles of association;
(3)electing members of the board of directors;
(4)electing members of the board of supervisors;
(5)checking the expenses incurred for the establishment of the company;
(6)checking the value of the assets contributed by the initiators in lieu of pecuniary payment for the shares;
(7)Where any major change of the operation conditions directly affect the establishment of the company, the resolution not to establish the company may be adopted. A resolution adopted at the establishment meeting on any of the matters as mentioned in the previous paragraph requires affirmative votes by subscribers representing more than half of the votes of those attending the meeting.
Article 92
The initiators and subscribers shall not withdraw their share capital after making payments for the shares they have subscribed for or after making capital contributions by using non-monetary properties, unless the public offer shares have not been fully subscribed within the time limit, the initiators fail to convene the establishment meeting within the time limit or the establishment meeting has decided not to set up the company.
Article 93
The board of directors shall, within 30 days after the establishment meeting ends, file an application for registration with the company registration authority and submit the following documents to it:
(1)a company registration application;
(2)the records of the establishment meeting;
(3)the articles of association;
(4)a capital verification certification;
(5)the appointment documents and identity certificates of the legal representative, directors and supervisors;
(6)the certifications for the juridical person or natural person status of the initiators;
(7)the certification on the domicile of the company. As for a joint stock limited company established by stock floatation that makes public stock offers, in additions to the aforementioned documents, it shall submit to the company registration authority the approval document issued by the securities regulatory institution of the State Council.
Article 94
After the establishment of a joint stock limited company, if any of the initiators fails to make full payment for the capital contributions as provided for in the articles of association, it shall make up the arrears, and the other initiators shall bear joint liabilities. After the establishment of a joint stock limited company, if it is found that the actual value of the non-monetary properties used as capital contributions for the establishment of the company is obviously lower than that as prescribed in the articles of association, the initiator who has made the capital contribution shall make up the balance, and the other initiators shall bear joint liabilities.
Article 95
The initiators of a joint stock limited company shall bear the following responsibilities:
(1)In the case of failure to establish the company, bearing joint liabilities for the debts and expenses resulted from the pre-establishment activities;
(2)In the case of failure to establish the company, bearing joint liabilities for refunding the paid-in capital as well as the interests thereof computed at the bank interest rate for the same period;
(3)If the company's interest is injured in the course of its establishment due to the negligence of the initiators, being liable for making compensations to the company.
Article 96
Where a limited liability company is changed into a joint stock limited company, the total amount of the paid-in capital shall be not less than the total amount of the net assets. Where a limited liability company is changed into a joint stock limited company, the public offer stocks issued for the purpose of increasing the capital shall comply with the law.
Article 97
A joint stock limited company shall prepare and keep in the company the articles of association, register of the shareholders, counterfoil of corporate bonds, records of the shareholders' meetings, records of the meetings of the board of directors, records of the meetings of the board of supervisors, and financial reports.
Article 98
The shareholders shall be entitled to refer to the articles of association, register of the shareholders, counterfoil of corporate bonds, records of the shareholders' meeting meetings, records of the meetings of the board of directors, records of the meetings of the board of supervisors and financial reports, and may bring forward proposals or raise questions about the business operation of the company. Section 2 Shareholders' Meeting
Article 99
The shareholders' meeting of a joint stock limited company shall comprise all the shareholders. It is the company's organ of power, which shall exercise its authorities according to law.
Article 100
The provisions regarding the authorities of the shareholders' meeting of a limited liability company as prescribed in the first paragraph of Article 38 of this law shall apply to the shareholders' meeting of a joint stock limited company.
Article 101
An annual session of the shareholders' meeting shall be held each year. Under any of the following circumstances, a temporary shareholders' meeting shall be held within 2 months:
(1)The number of directors is less than two-thirds of the number of directors as required by this law or the number of directors as prescribed in the articles of association;
(2)The un-recovered losses of the company reach one-third of the total pain-in capital;
(3)At the request of the shareholders separately or aggregately holding 10% or more of the company's shares;
(4)The board of directors deems it necessary;
(5)At the request of the board of supervisors;
(6)Other circumstances as prescribed in the articles of association.
Article 102
A session of the shareholders' meeting shall be convened by the board of directors and be presided over by the chairman of the board of directors. If the chairman is unable or fails to perform his duties, the meetings thereof shall be presided over by the deputy chairman of the board of directors. If the deputy chairman of the board of directors is unable or fails to perform his duties, the meetings shall be presided over by a director jointly recommended by half or more of the directors. If the board of directors or the acting director is unable or fails to fulfill the obligation of convening the meetings of the shareholders' meeting, the board of supervisors shall convene and preside over such meetings. If the board of supervisors does not convene or preside over such meetings, the shareholders separately or aggregately holding 1/10 or more of the shares may convene and preside over such meetings on their own initiative.
Article 103
As for a shareholders' meeting to be held, a notice shall be given to every shareholder 20 days in advance, which shall state the time and place of the meeting as well as the matters to be deliberated at the meeting. As for a temporary meeting of the shareholders' meeting, a notice shall be given to every shareholder 15 days in advance. As for the issue of unregistered stocks, the time and place of the meeting as well as the matters to be deliberated at the meeting shall be announced 30 days in advance. The shareholders separately or aggregately holding 3% or more of the shares of the company may put forward a written temporary proposal to the board of directors 10 days before a shareholders' meeting is held. The board of directors may notify other shareholders within 2 days and submit the temporary proposal to the meeting of the shareholders' meeting for deliberation. The contents of a temporary proposal shall fall within the scope to be decided by the shareholders' meeting, and the temporary proposal shall have a clear topic for discussion and matters to be decided. The shareholders' meeting shall not make any decision on any matter not listed in the notice as mentioned in the preceding two paragraphs. If the holders of unregistered stocks attend the shareholders' meeting, they shall have their stocks preserved in the company during the period from 5 days before the meeting is held to the day when the shareholders' meeting is closed.
！