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The Role & Powers of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement

The Role & Powers of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. Presentation to the Dublin City University MBA Association Corporate Governance Seminar 23 rd February 2002 Ian Drennan Corporate Compliance Manager, ODCE. Presentation Overview.

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The Role & Powers of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement

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  1. The Role & Powers of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Presentation to the Dublin City University MBA Association Corporate Governance Seminar 23rd February 2002 Ian Drennan Corporate Compliance Manager, ODCE

  2. Presentation Overview • Background to the establishment of the ODCE • Role & Powers of the ODCE • Steps Company Directors Can Take To Improve Compliance

  3. Background to the Establishment of the ODCE • Increased public concern arising from a number of alleged instances of corporate malpractice e.g. McCracken (Ansbacher (Cayman) Ltd. etc.), Moriarty, Flood, NIB etc. • Working Group on Company Law Compliance & Enforcement (1998) • DIRT Investigation (1999) and resultant reports

  4. Working Group on Company Law Compliance & Enforcement • Established by Government and Chaired by Mr. Michael McDowell SC AG • Government’s decision to establish the Group was influenced by the emergence of strong indications of abuses of company law and the need to allay public concerns • Membership comprised representatives from Government Departments & Agencies, the business community and the legal and accountancy professions

  5. Report of the Working Group • The Working Group, which reported in November 1998, found, inter alia, that: • Irish company law has been characterised by a culture of non-compliance • enforcement of the law in relation to non-registration offences has been very rare and wholly unpredictable • those tempted to commit serious breaches have had little reason to fear detection

  6. How Change Has Been Effected • Two Companies Acts enacted in 1999 (dealing with, inter alia, examinerships and audit exemptions) • Review Group on Auditing, Chaired by Senator Joe O’Toole, established post DIRT (reported in 2000) • Enactment of the Company Law Enforcement Act, 2001

  7. Company Law Enforcement Act, 2001 • Enforcement of filing obligations remains with the Registrar of Companies • Company Law Review Group established, on a statutory basis, in recognition of the need for a modern company law regime • Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement establishedto deal with Companies Acts in general • Other measuresintroduced to streamline enforcement

  8. Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement • Director: Mr. Paul Appleby • Staff of approximately 40 comprising legal and accounting professionals, members of An Garda Síochana and administrative staff • Budget of approximately €3.7m per annum

  9. Role and Powers of the ODCE • Under the provisions of the Corporate Enforcement Act, 2001, the role of the ODCE is twofold i.e. • a Compliance role, and; • an Enforcement role

  10. Compliance Role • The ODCE will encourage compliance with the Companies Acts through: • The delivery of public presentations • Pursuing information strategies through the electronic and printed media e.g. Consultation Papers (2 issued to date) • Decision Notices • Engaging with relevant professional and represenative bodies • Other initiatives as appropriate

  11. Enforcement Role • Company investigations • Breaches of the Companies Acts • Restriction • Disqualification • Unliquidated insolvent companies and companies in liquidation • Supervision of liquidators and receivers • Other measures

  12. Company Investigations The Director may: • conduct a preliminary examination of a company’s books and records for the purposes of establishing whether breaches have taken place • appoint an Inspector directly to establish the beneficial ownership and control of a company’s shares/debentures • apply to the High Court for the appointment of an Inspectorto conduct a wide-ranginginquiry

  13. Breaches of the Acts • Where breaches of the Companies Acts are detected, the Director can: • Impose a fine in respect of summary offences. (Where the fine is paid and the default remedied within 21 days of notification, no prosecution will ensue) • Initiate a summary prosecution • Refer the case to the DPP for decision

  14. Restriction • The Company Law Enforcement Act, 2001 requires the liquidators of insolvent companies to apply to the Court for the restriction of directors, unless exempted from doing so by the Director • The Director may also apply to the Court for restriction orders e.g. against directors of unliquidated insolvent companies

  15. Disqualification • The Director can seek a disqualification order from the Court where: • a person is guilty of three or more defaults in relation to Companies Acts requirements • where a person is guilty of two or more offences of failing to keep proper books (new) • a director of an insolvent company fails to file all annual returns due and the company is subsequently struck off

  16. Unliquidated Insolvent Companies and Companies in Liquidation In such cases, the Director can seek: • a Court order to inspect books • to have Court examine directors, officers etc • a Court order to search for and acquire property, etc. • an arrest warrant • a Court assessment of damages • an Asset-Freezing Order

  17. Other Measures • Corporate Enforcement Act, 2001 introduced the mandatory reporting of suspected breaches of company law by auditors, liquidators and professional bodies • Penalty provisions have been increased (maximum fines have been increased to €1,900 (£1,500) and prison terms to 5 years) • Director is responsible for the regulation of undischarged bankrupts acting as company directors • The Director may also seek other Court orders/injunctions

  18. Steps Directors Can Take • Ensure that general filing obligations are satisfied e.g. • Annual return • Change in directors/secretary • Change of registered office • Increase in nominal/issued share capital • Registration of mortgages/charges

  19. Steps Directors Can Take • Ensure that the following are maintained, kept up to date and are readily available for inspection: • Minutes • Register of directors and secretary • Register of directors’/secretary’s interests • Directors’ service contracts • Register of members • Register of debenture holders

  20. Steps Directors Can Take • Hold regular Board meetings • Maintain proper books and records • Regularly prepare and review management accounts • Ensure that delegatees are properly supervised • Seek professional advice where necessary • Hold an AGM when required • Circulate members with signed financial statements and audit report in advance of AGM • Hold EGMs where the circumstances require

  21. Conclusion Immediate priorities of the ODCE are to: • prepare Company Law Compliance Statements (ongoing) • expand the ODCE Website (http://www.odce.ie) • further develop the ODCE Role • enforce suspected Companies Acts breaches End

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