Luxembourg Companies Act 2010
Luxembourg Companies Act 2010
Law of 08 December 1994 (Mem. A – 118 of 28 December 1994, p. 2782; doc. parl. 3887; dir.
1991/674)
Law of 21 December 1994 (Mem. A - 124 of 31 December 1994, p. 3066; doc. parl. 2564)
Law of 12 March 1998 (Mem. A – 24 of 31 March 1998, p 356; doc. parl. 4156; dir.
1992/101)
Law of 10 December 1998 (Mem. A – 105 of 17 December 1998, p. 2516; doc. parl. 4456)
Law of 10 June 1999 (Mem. A – 69 of 11 June 1999, p. 1469; doc. parl. 4463A)
Law of 31 May 1999 (Mem. A – 77 of 21 June 1999, p. 1681; doc. parl. 4328)
Grand Duchy Regulation of 22 December 2000 (Mem. A – 141 of 29
December 2000, p. 3292) of 30 January 1985
Law of 19 December 2002 (Mem. A – 149 of 31 December 2002, p. 3630; doc. parl. 4581; dir.
2003/58)
Law of 10 July 2005 (Mem. A – 98 of 12 July 2005, p. 1726; doc. parl. 5444; dir. 2001/34,
2003/71)
Law of 25 August 2006 (Mem. A - 152 of 31 August 2006, p. 2684; doc. parl. 5352)
Law of 21 December 2006 (Mem. A – 228 of 27 December 2006, p. 4070; doc. parl. 5562)
Law of 23 March 2007 (Mem. A – 46 of 30 March 2007, p. 816; doc. parl. 4992)
Law of 25 August 2006 (Mem. A - 152 of 31 August 2006, p. 2684; doc. parl. 5352)
Law of 23 March 2007 (Mem. A – 46 of 30 March 2007, p. 816; doc. parl. 4992)
Law of 23 March 2007 (Mem. A – 46 of 30 March 2007, p. 826; doc. parl. 5658)
Law of 20 April 2009 (Mem. A – 80 of 27 April 2009, p. 946; doc. parl. 5716; dir. 2003/58)
Law of 10 June 2009 (Mem. A – 151 of 29 June 2009, p. 2268; doc. parl. 5829; dir.
2005/56, 2006/68, 2007/64)
Law of 18 December 2009 (Mem. A – 22 of 19 February 2010, p. 296; doc. parl. 5872; dir.
1978/660, 1983/349, 2006/48)
Law of 10 December 2010 (Mem. A – 225 of 17 December 2010, p. 3634; doc. parl. 5976; dir.
2006/46, 2009/49)
Law of 03 August 2011 (Mem. A – 175 of 12 August 2011, p. 2970; doc. parl. 6227; dir.
2009/109)
Law of 06 April 2013 (Mem. A - 71 of 15 April 2012, p. 890; doc. parl. 6327)
Law of 12 July 2013 (Mem. A - 119 of 15 July 2013, p. 1856; doc. parl. 6471; dir.
2011/61)
Law of 30 July 2013 (Mem. A - 177 of 02 October 2013, p. 3384; doc. parl. 6376)
Law of 10 March 2014 (Mem. A - 39 of 19 March 2014, p. 482; doc. parl. 5974)
Law of 28 July 2014 (Mem. A – 161 of 14 August 2014, p.2484; doc. parl. 6625)
Law of 18 December 2015 (Mem. A – 258 of 28 December 2015, p.6227; doc. parl. 6718)
Law of 27 May 2016 (Mem. A – 94 of 30 May 2016, p.1729; doc. parl. 6624)
Law of 23 July 2016 (Mem. A – 141 of 28 July 2016, p.2390; doc. parl. 6969)
Law of 23 July 2016 (Mem. A – 157 of 04 August 2016, p.2390; doc. parl. 6777)
Law of 10 August 2016 (Mem. A – 167 of 19 August 2016; p.2741; doc. parl. 5730)
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Table of Contents
This free translation is provided for informational purposes only. Hogan Lovells (Luxembourg) LLP does not
guarantee, neither expressly nor implicitly, the accuracy, topicality or completeness of the translation.
Hogan Lovells (Luxembourg) LLP cannot be held liable for any damage caused to a party having relied on
the translation.
Parties shall only rely on the official French version of the law published in the Luxembourg Official Gazette
(Memorial A)
-5-
Civil companies, regardless of the date of their incorporation and provided that it is not
prohibited by any provision of their deed of incorporation, may also be converted into any
type of commercial company, other than a société à responsabilité limitée simplifiée, by
resolution of a general meeting specifically convened for that purpose. Said meeting shall
approve the articles of association of the company. Its resolution shall be valid only if
approved by the vote of shareholders representing at least three fifths of the shares of the
company.
(Law of 10 August 2016; Law of 23 July 2016)
Under the terms of this law, a European economic interest grouping may be converted into
any type of company with legal personality other than a société à responsabilité limitée
simplifiée. Conversely, a company with legal personality may be converted into a European
economic interest grouping.
(Law of 23 March 2007; Law of 10 August 2016; Law of 23 July 2016)
Lastly, any of the company types listed in Article 2, subparagraph 1, irrespective of their
original purpose or the date of their incorporation and provided that it is not prohibited by
any provision of their deed of incorporation, may be converted into any of the other
company types listed in said Article or into a civil company, other than a société
européenne (SE) or a société à responsabilité limitée simplifiée.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
A société anonyme governed by Luxembourg law may be converted into a société
européenne (SE) if for at least two years it has had a subsidiary company governed by the
law of another Member State of the European Economic Area, hereinafter a Member State.
(Law of 10 August 2016; Law of 23 July 2016)
The provisions of this law concerning conversion also apply to the conversion of legal
persons other than companies into one of the forms granted legal personality under this
law, with the exception of a société à responsabilité limitée simplifiée, subject to the limits
established by the particular laws applicable to such legal persons and subject to
complying with the special provisions of those same particular laws.
A société européenne (SE) with its registered office in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
may be converted into a société anonyme governed by Luxembourg law. No decision on
conversion may be taken before two years have elapsed since its registration or before the
first two sets of annual accounts have been approved.
The conversion provided for in this Article shall not give rise to liquidation nor to the
creation of a new legal entity.
(Law 18 September 1933)
The rights of third parties are reserved.
Art. 4.
(Law of 23 November 1972; Law of 23 July 2016)
Sociétés en nom collectif, sociétés en commandite simple, sociétés cooperatives, civil
companies, sociétés en commandite spéciale and sociétés à responsabilité limitée
simplifiées shall, on pain of nullity, be established by means of a special, notarised or
private deed, in the latter case in compliance with article 1325 of the Civil Code. Two
originals shall be sufficient for civil companies, (…) sociétés coopératives, sociétés en
commandite simple and sociétés en commandite spéciale.
Sociétés anonymes, sociétés en commandite par actions and sociétés à responsabilité
limitée shall, on pain of nullity, be established by means of a special notarised deed.
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paragraphs may be invoked against third parties in accordance with the conditions laid
down in Article 19-3 of the amended law of 19 December 2002 on the register of commerce
and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Art. 11ter.
Any company may issue bonds.
Articles 84 to 94-8 apply to any issue of bonds by a company. However, the issue
documentation for such bonds may supersede these rules.
These rules may also be made wholly or partially applicable to any issue of transferable
securities other than shares or units by companies established under Luxembourg or
foreign law.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Art. 11quater.
The issue of convertible bonds, any other convertible debt instruments or subscription
rights, whether isolated or attached to another security, by companies other than sociétés
anonymes shall be governed by the rules of law concerning the disposal of shares and
units or those concerning the consent of non-partners. These same rules apply to transfers
that occur inter vivos or mortis causa. Consent may be given in advance to non-partners
who are identified or identifiable in the consent resolution, or upon issue of the bonds or
instruments, or subsequently. Such consent is irrevocable if declared as such in the
consent resolution.
Art. 12.
(Law of 25 August 2006; Law of 10 August 2016)
Companies shall act through their managers, directors, members of the management board
or chairperson, as the case may be, the powers of which shall be determined by law or by
the deed of incorporation and any deeds adopted subsequently in accordance with the
deed of incorporation.
(Law of 23 November 1972)
Upon completion of the publication formalities regarding those persons who, as a corporate
body, are empowered to commit a company, no irregularity in their appointment may be
relied upon vis-à-vis third parties, unless the company proves that the said third parties had
knowledge thereof.
(Law of 23 November 1972)
Art. 12bis.
Any person who enters into a commitment of any kind, including by acting as surety or
business manager, in the name of a company which is in the process of formation and has
not yet acquired legal personality, shall be personally and jointly and severally liable for
said company, subject to any agreement to the contrary, if the said commitments are not
assumed by the company within two months of its incorporation, or if the company is not
incorporated within two years after the commitment was entered into.
Where such commitments are taken over by the company, they shall be deemed to have
been contracted by the company from the outset.
(Law of 23 November 1972)
Art. 12ter.
(Law of 24 April 1983; Law of 10 August 2016)
(1) A société anonyme, a société en commandite par actions and a société à responsabilité
limitée may be declared void only in the following cases:
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Art. 12sexies.
No third party objections against a court order declaring the voidance of a company vested
with legal personality or the voidance of a contractual amendment to the deeds governing
the said company, shall be admissible upon the expiry of a period of six months from
publication of the court order in accordance with Article 11bis, section 1, 5).
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Art. 12septies.
(1) A resolution adopted by a general meeting as per this law is void:
1. If the resolution contains a formal irregularity and the claimant can prove the
irregularity has influenced the resolution;
2. If the procedures for the general meeting have been breached or if the general
meeting has deliberated an item not on the agenda with fraudulent intent;
3. If the resolution was in any other way adopted ultra vires or through abuse of
power;
4. If voting rights that were suspended under a legal provision not reversed by this
law were exercised and if, had these voting rights not been unlawfully exercised, the
conditions for quorum and majority required for the resolutions of the general meeting
would not have been met;
5. For any other reason established by this law.
(2) The voidance of a resolution adopted by a general meeting must be announced in a
court ruling.
A claim for voidance will not be admissible if brought by a member who voted in
favour of the resolution, unless that member's consent was legally flawed, or by a
member who has expressly or implicitly waived his right to rely on it, unless the
voidance originates from a rule of public policy.
(3) The claim for voidance is directed against the company. The claimant may file for
interlocutory proceedings to request the enforcement of the resolution at issue be
provisionally suspended. The suspension order and the ruling announcing the
voidance of the resolution shall be effective from the date of the decision in which
they are announced. However, they are only enforceable against third parties from
when the decision required by Article 11bis, §1 (6) is published and subject to the
requirements of Chapter Vbis, Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on
the register of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of
undertakings.
(4) If the voidance may infringe upon rights that were acquired in good faith by a third party
vis-à-vis the company on the basis of the general meeting's resolution, the court may
rule that the voidance shall be ineffective against those rights, without prejudice to the
claimant's right to request damages, if applicable.
Art. 13.
(Law of 12 July 2013)
Sociétés commerciales momentanées and sociétés commerciales en participation shall not
be subject to the formalities applicable to commercial companies vested with legal
personalities.
Their existence shall be determined by the methods of proof accepted in commercial
matters.
- 13 -
accounts of undertakings”.
The company shall be bound by any acts of the manager(s), even if such acts exceed the
corporate purpose, unless it proves that the third party knew that the act exceeded the
corporate purpose or could not, in view of the circumstances, have been unaware of it.
Each manager represents the company vis-à-vis third parties and in legal proceedings,
either as plaintiff or as defendant.
Writs served on behalf of or against the company shall be validly served in the name of the
company alone.
Art. 18.
A limited partner may enter into any transaction with the société en commandite simple
without his capacity as limited partner in itself affecting his rank as general or preferred
creditor under the terms of the relevant transaction.
He shall be prohibited from carrying out any act of management with regard to third parties.
A limited partner shall be jointly and severally liable with regard to third parties for any
obligations of the common limited partnership in which he participated in violation of the ban
contained in the previous paragraph.
He shall also be jointly and severally liable vis-à-vis third parties for commitments in which
he did not participate, if he has regularly carried out acts of management vis-à-vis such third
parties.
The following do not constitute acts of management for which the limited partner is
indefinitely and jointly and severally liable with regard to third parties: the exercise of partner
prerogatives, the providing of opinions or advice to the partnership, to its affiliates or to their
managers, the carrying out of any control or supervisory measures, the granting of loans,
guarantees or securities or the giving of any other type of assistance to the partnership or its
affiliates, as well as the granting of any authorisation to the managers in the cases provided
for in the partnership agreement for acts outside their powers.
The limited partner may act as a member of a management body or as agent of a manager
of the partnership, even if that manager is a general partner, or may execute documents on
the manager’s behalf under the latter’s corporate signature, even acting in the capacity of a
representative of the partnership, without incurring as a result unlimited joint and several
liability for the obligations of the partnership, provided the capacity of representative which
he represents is indicated.
Art.19.
The distributions and repayments to partners as well as the conditions in which the société
en commandite simple may require their restitution are governed by the partnership
agreement.
Unless otherwise provided in the partnership agreement, profits and losses of the common
limited partnership shall be shared among all partners in proportion to their ownership
interests.
Art. 20.
Unless otherwise provided in the partnership agreement, the voting rights of each partner
shall be in proportion to his ownership interests.
Any amendment of the corporate purpose as well as the change of nationality, conversion or
liquidation must be decided upon by the partners. The partnership agreement shall
determine among the other resolutions those which need not be adopted by the partners. It
shall also determine the formalities and the conditions for passing such resolutions. In the
absence of such provisions in the partnership agreement:
a) resolutions of partners shall be adopted at general meetings or by way of
consultations in writing during which each partner shall receive the exact wording of
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the text of the resolutions or decisions to be adopted and shall cast his vote in
writing;
b) resolutions shall be validly adopted by a majority of the votes cast, regardless
of the portion of ownership interests represented, except for resolutions on
amendments to the corporate purpose, a change of nationality, a conversion of legal
form or liquidation which shall each be adopted only with the consent of partners
representing three-quarters of the ownership interests and in all cases with the
consent of all general partners.
c) such meetings or written consultations may be called or initiated by the
manager(s) or by partners representing more than half of the ownership interests.
Each year at least, the partners shall decide on the annual accounts by special vote which
shall occur on such date as determined in the partnership agreement, but no later than six
months after the end of the financial year. The partnership agreement may provide that the
first special vote may occur within eighteen months after the incorporation of the company.
Fifteen days, or any longer period provided in the partnership agreement before the date on
which the partners must decide on the annual accounts, the partners may inspect and
receive a copy at the registered office of:
1° the annual accounts;
2° the management report, if any;
3° the report of the licensed independent auditors (réviseurs d’entreprises agréés), if
any;
4° any other information provided for in the partnership agreement.
Art. 21.
The ownership interests of limited partners may, on pain of nullity, only be transferred,
divided or pledged in accordance with the terms and in the manners provided for in the
partnership agreement. In the absence of provisions in the partnership agreement, any
transfer other than a transmission in case of death, a division and a pledge of an ownership
interest of a limited partner, requires the consent of the general partner(s).
The ownership interests of general partners may, on pain of nullity, only be transferred,
divided or pledged in accordance with the terms and in the manners provided for in the
partnership agreement. In the absence of provisions in the partnership agreement, any
transfer other than a transmission in case of death, a division and a pledge of an ownership
interest of a general partner requires the consent of the partners who deliberate in the
manner provided for the amendment of the partnership agreement.
Transfers and divisions of ownership interests shall not be valid with regard to the limited
partnership or third parties until after they shall have been notified to the limited partnership
or accepted by it. They will however not be binding on third parties with regard to the
obligations of the limited partnership which arose prior to their publication, except if the third
party knew or could not have been unaware of them.
The partnership agreement may authorise management or the partners to reduce or to
redeem, as the case may be upon request of one or more partners, all or part of the
ownership interests of one or more of the partners, and determine the terms of such
reduction or redemption.
Art. 22.
In the event of the general partner’s death, dissolution, legal incapacity, dismissal,
resignation, inability to act or bankruptcy or in case the general partner is in another
situation affecting the rights of creditors generally, and there is no other general partner and
it has been provided that, in such an event, the company would continue to exist, the
general partner shall be replaced. Unless otherwise specifically provided for in the
partnership agreement, the judge presiding the chamber of the district court dealing with
commercial matters may appoint, at the request of any interested parties, a temporary
- 17 -
administrator, who may but need not be a partner, who shall take all urgent and purely
administrative measures alone, until the resolution of the partners, which this administrator
shall have passed within two weeks following his appointment. The administrator shall be
liable only for the performance of his mandate. Any interested party may object to the order;
the objection shall be notified both to the company as well as to the person appointed and to
the person who applied for the appointment. The proceedings regarding the objection shall
be heard as in urgent applications.
distinct limited partner who are validly committed. Articles 12quater to 12sexies shall
apply.
Art. 22-2
(1) Registrations and other formalities regarding the assets pooled within the société en
commandite spéciale or on which it has any right, shall be made in the name of the
partnership.
(2) The assets pooled within the société en commandite spéciale shall satisfy
exclusively the rights of creditors which arose from the constitution, operation or
liquidation of the limited partnership.
Art. 22-3
The management of a société en commandite spéciale is performed by one or more
managers, who may but need not be general partners, appointed in accordance with the
partnership agreement.
Managers who are not general partners shall be liable in accordance with Article 59.
The partnership agreement may allow the managers to delegate their powers to one or
more agents who are liable only for the performance of their mandate.
Unless otherwise provided in the partnership agreement, each manager may on behalf of
the partnership take any action necessary or useful to the fulfilment of the corporate
purpose. Any restrictions provided in the partnership agreement with respect to the powers
of the managers are not binding on third parties, even if they are published. However, the
partnership agreement may authorise one or more managers to represent the limited
partnership, either alone or jointly, and a clause to that effect is binding on third parties
subject to the conditions laid down in “Chapter Vbis, Title I of the amended Law of 19
December 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual
accounts of undertakings”.
The limited partnership shall be bound by any acts of the manager(s), even if such acts
exceed the corporate purpose, unless it proves that the third party knew that the act
exceeded the corporate purpose or could not, in view of the circumstances, have been
unaware of it.
Each manager represents the company vis-à-vis third parties and in legal proceedings,
either as plaintiff or as defendant.
Writs served on behalf of or upon the société en commandite spéciale shall be served
validly in the name of the société en commandite spéciale alone, represented by one of its
managers.
Art. 22-4
A limited partner may enter into any transaction with the société en commandite spéciale
without his capacity as limited partner affecting his rank as unsecured or preferred creditor
according to the terms of the relevant transaction.
He shall be prohibited from carrying out any act of management with regard to third parties.
A limited partner shall be jointly and severally liable vis-à-vis third parties for any obligations
of the limited partnership in which he participated in violation of the prohibition contained in
the previous paragraph.
He shall also be jointly and severally liable vis-à-vis third parties for commitments in which
he did not participate, if he has regularly carried out acts of management vis-à-vis such third
parties.
Exercising partner prerogatives, providing opinions or advice to the société en commandite
spéciale, to its affiliates or to their managers, carrying out any control or supervisory
measures, granting of loans, guarantees or securities or giving any other type of assistance
to the société en commandite spéciale or its affiliates, as well as giving any authorisation to
- 19 -
the managers in the cases provided for in the partnership agreement for acts outside their
powers do not constitute acts of management for which the limited partner is jointly and
severally liable vis-à-vis third parties.
The limited partner may act as a member of a management body or as the authorised
representative of a manager of the société en commandite spéciale, even if that manager is
an unlimited partner, or may execute documents on the manager’s behalf or under the
latter’s corporate signature, even acting in the capacity of a representative of the société en
commandite spéciale, without incurring as a result unlimited joint and several liability for the
obligations of the limited partnership, provided that the capacity of representative in which
he acts is indicated.
Art. 22-5
The distributions and repayments to partners as well as the conditions in which the société
en commandite spéciale may require they be repaid are governed by the partnership
agreement.
Unless otherwise specified in the partnership agreement, profits and losses of the société en
commandite spéciale shall be shared among all partners in proportion to their ownership
interests.
Art. 22-6
Unless otherwise provided in the partnership agreement, the voting rights of each partner
shall be in proportion to his ownership interests.
Any amendment of the corporate purpose, as well as the change of nationality, conversion
or liquidation must be decided upon by the partners. The partnership agreement shall
determine among the other resolutions those which need not be adopted by the partners. It
shall also determine the formalities and the conditions for passing such resolutions. In the
absence of such provisions in the partnership agreement:
a) resolutions of partners shall be adopted at general meetings or by way of
consultations in writing during which each partner shall receive the exact wording of
the text of the resolutions or decisions to be adopted and shall cast his vote in writing;
b) resolutions shall only be validly adopted by a majority of the votes cast,
regardless of the portion of ownership interests represented, except for resolutions on
amendments to the corporate purpose, a change of nationality, or a conversion or
liquidation which shall be adopted only with the consent of partners representing
three-quarters of the ownership interests and in all cases with the consent of all
general partners.
c) such meetings or written consultations may be called or initiated by the
manager(s) or by partners representing more than half of the ownership interests.
Only the information provided for in the partnership agreement may be submitted to
the partners.
Art. 22-7
The ownership interests of limited partners may, on pain of nullity, only be transferred,
divided or pledged in accordance with the terms and in the manners provided for in the
partnership agreement. In the absence of provisions in the partnership agreement, any
transfer other than a transmission in case of death, a division and a pledge of an ownership
interest of a limited partner, requires the consent of the general partner(s).
The ownership interests of general partners may, on pain of nullity, only be transferred,
divided or pledged in accordance with the terms and in the manners provided for in the
partnership agreement. In the absence of provisions in the partnership agreement, any
transfer other than a transmission in case of death, a division and a pledge of an ownership
interest of a general partner requires the consent of the partners who deliberate in the
manner provided for the amendment of the partnership agreement.
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Transfers and divisions of ownership interests shall not be valid vis-à-vis the limited
partnership or third parties until they shall have been notified to the limited partnership or
accepted by it. They will however not be binding on third parties with regard to the
obligations of the limited partnership which arose prior to their publication, except if the third
party knew or could not have been unaware of them.
The partnership agreement may authorise management or the partners to reduce or
redeem, as the case may be upon request of one or more partners, all or part of the
interests of one or more partners in the partnership and determine the terms thereof.
Art. 22-8
In the event of the general partner’s death, dissolution, legal incapacity, dismissal,
resignation, inability to act or bankruptcy or in case the general partner is in another
situation affecting the rights of creditors generally, and there is no other general partner and
it has been provided that, in such an event, the société en commandite spéciale would
continue to exist, the general partner shall be replaced. Unless otherwise specifically
provided for in the partnership agreement, the judge presiding the chamber of the district
court dealing with commercial matters may appoint, at the request of any interested parties,
a temporary administrator, who may but need not be a partner, who shall take all urgent and
purely administrative measures alone, until the resolution of the partners, which this
administrator shall have passed within two weeks following his appointment. The
administrator shall be liable only for the performance of his mandate. Any interested party
may object to the order; the objection shall be notified both to the company as well as to the
person appointed and to the person who applied for the appointment. The proceedings
regarding the objection shall be heard as in urgent applications.
Art. 22-9
The conversion of a société en commandite spéciale into a company of one of the other
types provided for in Article 2, paragraph 1, shall give rise to a new legal entity. In addition to
the conditions specified under the partnership agreement, the substantive and formal
requirements applicable to the incorporation of a company with the corporate form into
which the société en commandite spéciale is converted shall apply.
- 21 -
under the law of a Member State, with their registered office and head office within
the European Union and who subscribe for its shares, provided at least two of them:
a) are governed by the laws of different Member States, or
b) have for at least two years had a subsidiary company governed by the law of another
Member State or a branch situated in another Member State.
(4) A company the head office of which is not in a Member State may participate in the
formation of a société européenne ( SE) provided that company is formed under the
law of a Member State, has its registered office in that same Member State and has a
real and continuous link with a Member State’s economy.
Art. 26ter.
A société européenne (SE) holding may be formed in accordance with article 26bis
paragraph (2).
The companies promoting the formation of a société européenne (SE) shall continue to
exist.
Articles 26 quarter to 26 octies shall apply.
Art. 26quater.
The management bodies of the companies which promote the operation shall draw up draft
terms of formation of the société européenne (SE).
The draft terms shall include a report explaining and justifying the legal and economic
aspects of the formation and indicating the implications for the shareholders and for the
employees of the decision to adopt the form of a société européenne (SE).
The draft terms shall also indicate:
a) the trade name and registered office of the companies forming the société européenne
(SE) together with those proposed for the société européenne (SE);
b) the exchange ratio for the shares or corporate units and, if applicable, the amount
of any cash payment;
c) the terms for the allotment of shares in the société européenne (SE);
d) the rights conferred by the société européenne (SE) on the shareholders having
special rights and on the holders of securities other than shares or corporate units, or
the measures proposed concerning them;
e) any special advantage granted to the experts who examine the draft terms of merger
or to the members of the administrative, management, supervisory or controlling bodies
of the merging companies;
f) the articles of association of the société européenne (SE);
g) information on the procedures by which arrangements for employee involvement
are determined in implementation of Directive 2001/86/EC;
h) the minimum proportion of the shares or corporate units in each of the companies
promoting the operation which the shareholders must contribute in order for the
société européenne (SE) to be formed.
Said proportion shall be made up of shares or corporate units conferring more than 50% of
the permanent voting rights.
Art. 26quinquies.
(Law of 27 May 2016; Law of 10 August 2016)
The draft terms of formation shall be published for each of the companies promoting the
operation in accordance with the requirements of Chapter VIbis, Title I of the amended Law
of 19 December 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and the accounting and
annual accounts of undertakings or in the manner laid down in each Member State’s
- 24 -
national law in accordance with Article 3 of Directive 2009/101/EC, at least one month
before the date of the general meeting called to decide on the draft terms of formation.
Art. 26sexies.
(1) The draft terms of formation shall be examined and a written report shall be drawn up
for the shareholders. For each company promoting the operation, an examination shall
be carried out and a report shall be drawn up by one or more independent experts
who shall be appointed or approved by a judicial or administrative body in the Member
State to which each company is subject, in accordance with national provisions
adopted in implementation of Directive 78/855/EEC.
(Law of 18 December 2009; Law of 23 July 2016)
For companies subject to Luxembourg law, such experts are appointed by the management
body and must be selected among the independent auditors . However, the report may be
drawn up by one or more independent experts for all the companies promoting the operation.
In such case, the appointment is made, on the joint application of the companies concerned,
by a judicial or administrative body in the Member State to which one of the companies
concerned or the proposed société européenne (SE) is subject, in accordance with national
provisions adopted in implementation of Directive 78/855/EEC. In Luxembourg this authority
shall be the judge presiding the chamber of the district court dealing in commercial matters in
the district in which the registered office of one of the companies concerned is located, sitting
as in urgent proceedings.
(2) In the report referred to in paragraph (1), the experts shall in any case declare
whether the proposed share exchange ratio is or is not fair and reasonable. This
declaration shall:
a) indicate the methods used for the determination of the proposed exchange ratio;
b) indicate whether such methods are adequate in the circumstances and the values
resulting from each such method, and provide an opinion as to the relative
importance attributed to such methods in determining the value actually retained.
In addition, the report shall describe any particular difficulties of valuation.
(3)The rules provided in Article 26-1 paragraphs (2) to (4) shall not apply.
(4) Each expert shall be entitled to obtain from the companies promoting the operation all
useful information and documents and to carry out all necessary verifications.
Art. 26septies.
The general meeting of each company promoting the operation as well as, if applicable, the
general meeting of the holders of securities other than shares or corporate units, shall
approve the draft terms of the formation of the société européenne (SE).
Employee involvement in the société européenne (SE) shall be decided pursuant to the
provisions adopted in implementation of Directive 2001/86 EC. The general meeting of
each company promoting the operation may reserve the right to make registration of the
société européenne (SE) conditional upon its express ratification of the arrangements so
decided.
Art. 26 octies.
(1) The shareholders of the companies promoting the operation shall have a period of
three months in which to inform the promoting companies whether they intend to
contribute their shares or corporate units to the formation of the société européenne
(SE). This period shall begin on the date upon which the deed of incorporation of the
société européenne (SE) shall have been approved by the meetings referred to in
Article 26septies.
(2) The société européenne (SE) shall be formed only if, within the period referred to in
paragraph (1), the shareholders of the companies promoting the operation have
contributed the minimum percentage of shares or corporate units in each company as
- 25 -
provided for in the draft terms of formation and if all the other conditions are fulfilled.
(Law of 27 May 2016)
(3) The establishment by the notary that all the conditions for the formation of the société
européenne (SE) are fulfilled in accordance with paragraph (2) shall, in respect of
each of the promoting companies, be published in accordance with the requirements
of chapter Vbis, Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of
commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings
or in the form provided by the law of each Member State adopted in implementation
of Article 3 of Directive 68/151/EEC. Shareholders of the companies concerned who
have not indicated within the period referred to in paragraph (1) whether they intend
to make their shares or corporate units available to the promoting companies for the
purpose of forming the société européenne (SE) shall have a further month in which
to do so.
(4) Shareholders who have contributed their securities to the formation of the société
européenne (SE) shall receive shares therein.
(5) The société européenne (SE) may not be registered until it is shown that the formalities
referred to in Articles 26ter to 26septies and the conditions referred to in paragraph (2)
have been fulfilled.
Art. 26nonies.
A subsidiary société européenne (SE) may be formed in accordance with Article 26bis
paragraph (3).
Companies and other legal entities referred to in Article 26bis paragraph (3) participating in
such an operation shall be subject to the provisions governing their participation in the
formation of a subsidiary in the form of a société anonyme under national law.
(Law of 24 April 1983)
Art. 26-1
(1) Any shares issued against contributions in kind must be paid-up within a period of five
years after the time of incorporation.
(Law of 18 December 2009; Law of 23 July 2016)
(2) Contributions in kind shall, prior to the incorporation of the company, be subject to
review by the independent auditor who shall be appointed by the founders.
(Law of 24 April 1983)
(3) This report must give a description of each of the proposed contributions as well as of
the methods of valuation used and shall state whether the values reached by the
application of these methods correspond at least to the number and nominal value,
or, in the absence of a nominal value, the accounting par value and, where
applicable, the share premium of the shares to be issued in consideration thereof.
The report shall remain appended to the deed provided for in Article 27 or the draft
deed provided for in Article 29. The conclusions thereof must be reproduced in the
above-mentioned documents.
(Law 10 June 2009)
(3bis) Where, upon a decision of the board of directors or the management board, the
contribution in kind is made up of transferable securities as defined in point 18 of
Article 4, paragraph 1 of Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 21 April, 2004 on markets in financial instruments or money-market
instruments as defined in point 19 of Article 4, paragraph 1 of said Directive and
those securities or instruments are valued at the weighted average price at which
they have been traded on one or more regulated market(s) as defined in point 14 of
Article 4, paragraph 1 of the Directive during a period of 6 months preceding the
effective date of the contribution in kind, paragraphs (2) and (3) shall not be
- 26 -
applicable.
However, where that price has been affected by exceptional circumstances that
would significantly change the value of the asset at the effective date of its
contribution, including situations where the market for such transferable securities or
money-market instruments has become illiquid, a revaluation shall be carried out on
the initiative and under the responsibility of the board of directors or the management
board. For the purposes of the aforementioned revaluation, paragraphs (2) and (3)
shall apply.
(Law of 23 July 2016)
(3ter) Where, upon a decision of the board of directors or the management board, the
contribution in kind is made up of assets other than the transferable securities and
money-market instruments referred to in paragraphs (3bis) to (3quater) which have
already been subject to a fair value opinion by an independent auditor and where the
following conditions are fulfilled:
a) the fair value is determined at a date not more than six months before the effective
date of the contribution;
b) the valuation has been performed in accordance with generally accepted valuation
standards and principles in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, which are applicable to
the kind of assets to be contributed,
paragraphs (2) and (3) shall not be applicable.
In the case of new circumstances that would significantly change the fair value of the
asset at the effective date of its contribution, a revaluation shall be carried out on the
initiative and under the responsibility of the board of directors or the management
board. For the purposes of the aforementioned revaluation, paragraphs (2) and (3)
shall apply.
In the absence of such a revaluation, one or more shareholders holding a total
percentage of at least 5% of the company’s subscribed capital on the day of the
decision to increase the capital may request a valuation by an independent auditor, in
which case paragraphs (2) and (3) shall apply. Such shareholder(s) may submit a
request up until the effective date of the contribution, provided that, at the date of the
request, the shareholder(s) in question still hold(s) a total percentage of at least 5% of
the company’s subscribed capital, as was the case on the day of the decision to
increase the capital.
(3quater) Where, upon a decision of the board of directors or the management board, the
contribution in kind is made of assets other than the transferable securities and
money-market instruments referred to in paragraph (3bis) whose fair value is derived,
for each individual asset, from the statutory accounts of the previous financial year,
provided that the statutory accounts have been subject to an audit in accordance with
Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May, 2006
on statutory audits of annual accounts and consolidated accounts, paragraphs (2) and
(3) shall not apply.
The second and third subparagraphs of paragraph (3ter) shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(Law of 27 May 2016)
(3quinquies) Where a contribution in kind as referred to in paragraphs (3bis) to (3quater) occurs
without a report of an independent auditor as referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3), a
declaration containing the following particulars shall be published in accordance with
the requirements of chapter Vbis, Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on
the register of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of
undertakings within one month after the effective date of the contribution:
a) a description of the non-cash contribution;
b) its value, the source of this valuation and, where appropriate, the method of
- 27 -
valuation;
c) a statement detailing whether the value obtained corresponds at least to the
number, to the nominal value or, where there is no nominal value, the accounting
par value and, where appropriate, to the premium on the shares to be issued
against such contribution;
d) a statement that no new circumstances with regard to the original valuation have
occurred.
The declaration shall also include indications on the nominal value of the shares or
where there is no such value, the number of shares issued against each contribution
in kind, as well as the name of the investor having made the contribution.
(Law of 27 May 2016)
(3sexies) Where a contribution in kind is proposed without a report of an independent auditor as
referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3), in relation to an increase in the capital which is
proposed to be made under Article 32, paragraphs (2) and (3), an announcement
containing the date on which the decision to increase the capital was adopted and the
information listed in paragraph (3quinquies) shall be published in accordance with the
requirements of chapter Vbis, Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on
the register of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of
undertakings before the contribution in kind represented by the asset is to become
effective. In this event, the declaration pursuant to subparagraph 1 of paragraph
(3quinquies) shall be limited to a statement that no new circumstances have occurred
since the aforementioned announcement was published.
(Law of 24 April 1983)
(4) Paragraphs (2) and (3) are not applicable where at least 90 per cent of the nominal
value or accounting par value of all the shares are issued against contributions in kind
made by one or more companies and where the following requirements are met:
a) with regard to the company to which the contributions are made, the natural or
legal persons referred to in Article 27 have agreed to dispense with the expert's
report;
b) a record of the dispense remains appended to the instrument;
c) the companies making such contributions have reserves which, under law or their
articles of association, may not be distributed and which are at least equal to the
nominal value, or in the absence of a nominal value, the accounting par value, of the
shares issued against contributions in kind;
d) the companies making such contributions guarantee, up to an amount equal to that
indicated in c), the debts of the recipient company arising between the time the
shares are issued against contributions in kind and one year after publication of that
company’s annual accounts for the financial year during which those contributions
were made. Any transfer of these shares is prohibited within this period;
e) the guarantee referred to under d) must be given in an appendix to the instrument
provided for in Article 27;
f) the companies making these contributions shall place a sum equal to that indicated
in c) into a reserve which may not be distributed until three years after publication of
the annual accounts of the recipient company for the financial year during which the
contributions were made or, where applicable, until such later date as all the claims
relating to the guarantee referred to in d) which are submitted during that period shall
have been settled.
- 28 -
a notarial deed and shall be published as a draft. The parties to this deed shall be
deemed to be the founders of the company.
(Law of 10 July 2005; Law of 10 August 2016)
(3) Subscriptions shall contain a notice convening the subscribers to a meeting to be
held within three months for the purpose of the final incorporation of the company.
(Law of 24 April 1983)
(4) They shall contain a notice convening the subscribers to a meeting to be held within
three months for the purpose of the final incorporation of the company.
(Law of 10 July 2005)
(5) (...)
(6) (...)
Art. 30.
(Law of 24 April 1983)
(1) On the scheduled date, the founder(s) shall present to the meeting, which shall be
held in the presence of a notary, proof, together with supporting documents, that the
conditions laid down by Article 26 have been satisfied.
(2) If the majority of the subscribers present in person or represented by the holder(s) of
notarised or private proxies, other than the founder(s), have no objection to the
incorporation of the company, the founder(s) shall declare that it is definitively
incorporated.
(Law of 27 May 2016)
(3) If the targeted capital has not been subscribed in its entirety, the company may
nevertheless be incorporated with an amount of capital corresponding to the total
amount subscribed, provided that the deed of incorporation published in accordance
with chapter Vbis, Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of
commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings
has allowed for such a possibility.
(4) The notarised minutes of the meeting of the subscribers, which shall contain a list of
the subscribers and a statement of the payments made, shall definitively incorporate
the company.
Art. 31.
(Law of 24 April 1983; Law of 10 August 2016)
(1) The founders shall be jointly and severally liable towards all interested parties,
notwithstanding any provision to the contrary for:
1) any portion of the capital which will not have been validly subscribed, and any
potential difference between the minimum capital provided for by Article 26 and
the amount subscribed; they shall ipso jure be deemed to be subscribers thereof;
2) the full and complete payment of up to one quarter of the shares subscribed for,
and the payment within a period of five years of the shares issued against
contributions in kind; they shall likewise be held joint and severally liable for the
full and complete payment of the portion of the capital of which they are deemed
to be subscribers pursuant to the foregoing paragraph;
3) the indemnification of the damage which is the immediate and direct result of
either the voidance of the company or the omission or incorrectness in the deed
or draft deed of the company or in the subscription forms of the statements
prescribed by Articles 27 and 29.
(2) Any person who enters into a commitment for a third party mentioned by name in the
deed and acting either as agent or as surety, shall be deemed to be personally
- 31 -
committed if they have no valid mandate or the commitment is not ratified within two
months of the commitment.
The founders shall be jointly and severally liable for such commitments.
Art. 31-1
(Law of 10 August 2016)
– (…)
(Law of 25 August 2006, renumbered by the Law of 10 August 2016)
Art. 31-1.
The following procedure shall be observed in case of conversion of a société européenne
(SE) into a société anonyme in accordance with article 3.
1) The management body of the société européenne (SE) shall draw up draft terms
of conversion in writing and a report explaining and justifying the legal and
economic aspects of the conversion and indicating the implications for the
shareholders and for the employees of the adoption of the form of a société
anonyme.
(Law of 27 December 2016)
2) The draft terms of conversion shall be made public as per chapter Vbis, Title I of
the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of commerce and
companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings, at least one
month prior to the date of the general meeting called to rule on the proposed
conversion.
(Law of 18 December 2009)
3) Prior to the general meeting referred to in paragraph (4), one or more licensed
independent auditor appointed by the management body shall certify that the
company has assets at least equivalent to its capital.
4) The general meeting of the société européenne (SE) shall approve the draft terms
of conversion together with the articles of the société anonyme. The decision of the
general meeting requires that the conditions as to quorum and majority laid down
for the amendments to the articles of association be fulfilled.
(Renumbered by the Law of 10 August 2016)
Art. 31-2.
The following procedure shall be observed in case of conversion of a société anonyme into
a société européenne (SE) in accordance with article 3.
(1) The management body of the société anonyme shall draw up draft terms for the
conversion in writing and a report explaining and justifying the legal and economic
aspects of the conversion and indicating the implications for the shareholders and for
the employees of the adoption of the form of a société européenne (SE).
(Law of 27 December 2016)
(2) The draft terms of conversion shall be made public as per chapter Vbis, Title I of the
amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and
the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings, at least one month prior to the
date of the general meeting called to rule on the proposed conversion.
(Law of 18 December 2009; Law of 23 July 2016)
(3) Prior to the general meeting referred to in paragraph (4), one or more independent
auditors appointed by the management body shall certify that the company has net
assets at least equivalent to its capital plus the reserves which may not be distributed
under law or by virtue of the articles of association.
- 32 -
The absence of the report from the company auditor, as described in sub-paragraph
2, shall annul the vote of the general meeting unless all shareholders have
unanimously waived the need for such report.
(7) Notwithstanding paragraph (6), share issues in which the nominal value below the
accountable par of former shares of the same category is not mentioned may also be
made, within the limits of the authorised capital, provided however that the delegation
granted to the board of directors or, if applicable, the management board as per
paragraphs (2) or (3) includes an authorisation to issue new actions below the
accountable par of former shares of the same category.
If the motion to authorise the board of directors or, if applicable, the management
board to issue new shares below the accountable par of former shares of the same
category is included on the agenda of a general meeting, the conditions stated in
subparagraphs 1 to 3 of paragraph (6) must be met.
In this case, the report from the board of directors or, if applicable, the management
board, produced as per subparagraph 2 of paragraph (6) shall state the minimum
subscription price of the shares to be issued within the limits of the authorised capital.
(Law of 24 April 1983)
Art. 32-1
(1) The formalities and conditions provided for the incorporation of companies shall apply
to increases of capital by means of new contributions, subject to the following
provisions.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
(2) The members of the board of directors or of the management board, as the case may
be, shall be jointly and severally liable with of the founders for the obligations of the
latter under Article 31.
(Law of 24 April 1983)
(3) (Law of 23 March 2007) (…) If the proposed increase of capital is not entirely
subscribed, the capital shall be increased by the amount of subscriptions received
provided the conditions of the issue expressly provided for that possibility.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
(4) The increase of capital shall be recorded in a notarial deed, prepared at the request of
the board of directors or of the management board, as the case may be, against
presentation of the documents proving the subscriptions and payments in the case of an
increase carried out by way of subscriptions or where it is effected pursuant to the
authorisation provided for in Article 32. The notarial deed must be drawn-up within one
month from the end of the subscription period or within three months from the day on
which that period commenced.
(Law of 18 December 2009; Law of 27 May 2016; Law of 10 August 2016)
(5) At least one quarter of each share must be paid, either in cash, including by offsetting
certain liquid and payable debts against the company, or by a contribution in kind, or
through the incorporation of reserves, profits or issue premiums.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
(6) In the case of contributions in kind, the shares must be paid in full within five years
from the time the increase of capital has been resolved. A report shall be drawn up by
an independent auditor in accordance with Article 26-1; this independent auditor is
appointed by the board of directors or by the management board, as the case may
be. The report by this company auditor must be filed, in accordance with the rules laid
down in Chapter Vbis of Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the
register of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of
undertakings.
- 34 -
In the latter case, the bare owner may ask for the proceeds from the disposal to be
reinvested; any property thus purchased shall be subject to usufruct. The bare owner
of the shares shall be considered, vis-à-vis the usufructuary, to have failed to
exercise his pre-emptive subscription right over the new shares issued by the
company when he has neither subscribed to new shares nor sold the subscription
rights by eight days before the end of the subscription period granted to shareholders.
The bare owner shall have bare ownership of the new shares, and the usufructuary
shall have usufruct. However, if funds are invested by the bare owner or by the
usufructuary in partial or full payment of a subscription, the new shares shall only
belong to the bare owner and the usufructuary up to the value of the subscription
rights; any surplus new shares shall belong entirely to the party that contributed the
funds.
This paragraph also applies to allocations of free shares. When the bare owner is
required to submit a request for an allocation of shares, the bare owner is considered,
vis-à-vis the usufructuary, to have failed to exercise his right to obtain an allocation of
free shares if he has not submitted such a request and has not sold the subscription
rights by three months after the start of the allocation period.
The terms of this paragraph apply in the absence of an agreement between the
parties.
(Law of 24 April 1983; Law of 10 August 2016)
Art. 32-4.
Articles 32, 32-1 except paragraph (6) and 32-3 apply to issues of convertible bonds, all
other convertible debt instruments and subscription rights, whether isolated or attached to
another security. Paragraph (65) of Article 32-1 does however apply to issues of convertible
bonds or any other convertible debt instruments when the subscription price of such
instruments is paid in kind.
Article 32-2 applies to conversions of convertible bonds and all other convertible debt
instruments into capital as well as to the exercise of subscription rights whether isolated or
attached to another security. Articles 32, 32-1 and 32-3 do not apply to the situations
described in this subparagraph.
The conversion of convertible bonds shall be viewed as a contribution in cash that may be
released by set-off with a claim over the company and will be governed by the same
conditions as that type of contribution.
The decision by the board of directors to proceed with an issue of convertible bonds or any
other type of convertible debt instrument or subscription rights must be taken during the
authorisation period. This decision shall reduce accordingly the available amount of
authorised capital. The conversion of convertible bonds or the exercise of subscription
rights may take place after the end of the authorisation period.
(Law of 10 July 2005)
Art. 33. (…)
Art. 34. (…)
Art. 35. (…)
Art. 36. (…)
foregoing Article.
(Law of 06 April 2013)
The company must satisfy the request of a person inscribed in the register to issue a
certificate relating to the shares registered under that person’s name.
Transfers shall be carried out by means of a declaration of transfer entered in the said register,
dated and signed by the transferor and the transferee or by their duly authorised
representatives, and in accordance with the rules on the assignment of claims laid down in
article 1690 of the Civil Code. The company may accept and enter in the register a transfer on
the basis of correspondence or other documents recording the agreement between the
transferor and the transferee.
Subject to any contrary provisions of the articles of association, transmission, in the case of
death, shall be validly established with regard to the company, provided it is not disputed, on
presentation of the death certificate, the certificate of registration and an affidavit (acte de
notoriété) attested by a district judge (juge de paix) or by a notary.
Art. 41.
(Law of 23 November 1972; Law of 25 August 2006; Law of 06 April 2013; Law of 27 May
2016; Law of 10 August 2016)
Bearer shares shall be signed by two directors or two members of the management board,
as the case may be, or where the company comprises a single director or where the
management board is composed of a single person, by such person. Subject to contrary
provisions of the articles of association, the signature may be handwritten, printed or affixed
by means of a stamp.
However, one of the signatures may be affixed by a person delegated for that purpose by
the board of directors or by the management board, as the case may be. In such cases, it
must be handwritten.
A certified true copy of the deed delegating authority to a person who is not a member of the
board of directors or the management board, as applicable, shall be previously filed in
accordance with chapter Vbis, Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the
register of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of
undertakings.
The share shall state:
1) the date of the deed of incorporation of the company and the date of the publication
thereof;
2) the share capital, the number and type of each class of shares and the nominal
value of the securities or the interest in the company which they represent;
3) a brief description of the contributions made to the company and the applicable
conditions thereto;
4) any special advantages conferred upon the founders;
5) the duration of the company.
The preceding paragraph is not applicable to global share certificates taking the form of
global bearer certificates deposited with a securities settlement system. The number of
securities represented by these certificates must be determined or be capable of being
determined.
Art. 42.
(1) Bearer shares are to be deposited with a custodian appointed by the board of directors
or the management board, as applicable, and shall meet the requirements of
paragraph 2.
- 39 -
(2) The custodian cannot be a shareholder of the issuing company. Only the following
professional institutions operating in Luxembourg may be appointed custodian:
a) credit institutions;
b) wealth managers;
c) distributors of UCI units;
d) specialised professionals in the financial sector (PSF), certified as family offices,
domiciliation agencies for companies, professionals performing incorporation or
management services for companies, registrar agents or as professional custodians of
financial instruments;
e) lawyers at the Court registered on list I and European lawyers practicing under their
original professional title registered on list IV of the Bar referred to in Article 8,
paragraph 3 of the amended Law of 10 August 1991 on the legal profession;
f) notaries;
g) statutory auditors and licensed independent auditors;
h) certified accountants;
(3) The custodian maintains a register of bearer shares in Luxembourg. This register
contains:
a) the exact name of each shareholder and the number of shares or fractional shares
held by them;
b) the date of deposit;
c) a list of any assignments and the date or of any conversions of shares into
registered form;
Each holder of bearer shares shall be entitled to only obtain information that concerns
him/her.
(4) The custodian holds shares deposited pursuant to paragraph 1, on behalf of the
shareholder who is the owner. The ownership of the bearer share is subject to entry in
the register. At the written request of the shareholder, a certificate for all entries
concerning him/her shall be issued by the custodian.
Any assignment shall be rendered binding by a statement of transfer entered on the
same register by the custodian. The custodian may accept for this purpose any
document or notice evidencing the transfer of ownership between the transferor and
transferee.
Subject to any contrary provisions of the articles of association, notification of the
transfer shall be deemed validly established with regard to the custodian provided that
is not disputed, on presentation of the death certificate, the certificate of registration
and an affidavit attested by a district judge or by a notary.
(5) The rights attaching to bearer shares can only be exercised where the bearer shares
have been deposited with the custodian and all of the information provided for in
paragraph 3 has been duly entered on the register.
(6) The custodian cannot transfer the bearer shares, except in the following
circumstances whereby he/she must return the shares to the bearer:
a) to his/her successor in his capacity as custodian, in the event of the termination of
his/her functions;
b) to the company, in the event of conversion of bearer shares into registered shares,
the redemption by the company of its own shares in accordance with articles 49-2 and
49-3, or the depreciation of the capital in accordance with Article 69-1.
(7) The liability of the custodian, subject to his/her obligations as provided for in
paragraphs 3, 4 and 6, shall be determined in accordance with the same rules as the
- 40 -
liability of the directors or members of the management board, where applicable (Law
of 6 April 2013)
Art. 42bis.
Book-entry shares are granted physical form by way of entry in a securities account in the
name of the accountholder held at a settlement institution, a central account keeper, an
account keeper or a foreign account keeper. Assignments shall be carried out by way of
book entry.
Art. 43.
(Law of 07 September 1987; Law of 10 August 2016)
(…)
Shares shall be in registered form until they are fully paid-up.
(Law of 06 April 2013)
The owners of shares or securities in bearer form may, at any time, request that they be
converted, at their expense, into shares or securities in registered form or, if the articles of
association so provide, into shares or book-entry securities. In the latter case, costs are to
be borne by the person provided for in the law on book-entry securities.
Unless the articles of association expressly provide otherwise, the owners of shares or
securities in registered form may, at any time, request conversion thereof into shares or
securities in bearer form.
If the articles of association so provide, the owners of shares or securities in registered form
may request conversion thereof into book-entry shares or securities. Costs are to be borne
by the person provided for in the law on book-entry securities.
The holders of book-entry shares or securities may, at any time, request that they be
converted, at their expense, into shares or securities in registered form unless the articles
of association provide for that shares or securities must be in book-entry form.
Art. 44.
(Law of 08 August 1985; Law of 10 August 2016)
(…)
Art. 45.
(Law of 8 August 1985; Law of 25 August 2006; Law of 27 May 2016; Law of 10 August
2016)
(1) Non-voting shares may be issued:
• upon the incorporation of the company if provided for by the articles of
association;
• by an increase in capital;
• by the conversion of ordinary shares into non-voting shares.
In the latter two cases, the general meeting shall deliberate in accordance with the
rules laid down in Article 67-1 (1) and (2) .
(2) Non-voting shares may be issued only where the articles of association stipulate a
right to a dividend upon the distribution of profits, the right to reimbursement of the
contribution and the right to a share of the profit upon liquidation.
(3) The general meeting determines the maximum of amount of such shares to be
issued.
(4) If non-voting shares are created by the conversion of ordinary shares already issued
or, where this power has been provided in the articles of association, if non-voting
shares are converted into ordinary shares, the general meeting shall determine the
- 41 -
Section 4 (…)
(Law of 24 April 1983)
Art. 49-1
(1) The shares of a company may not be subscribed by the company itself.
(2) If the shares of a company have been subscribed by a person acting in his own name
but on behalf of the company, the subscriber shall be deemed to have subscribed
them on his behalf.
(Law of 25 August 2006; Law of 10 August 2016)
(3) The natural or legal persons referred to in Article 27.1) as well as the parties to the
instrument referred to in Article 29 paragraph (2) or, in the case of an increase of the
subscribed capital, the members of the board of directors or of the management
board, as the case may be, shall be jointly and severally obliged to pay up any shares
subscribed in contravention of this Article.
However, the above-mentioned persons may be released from such obligation on proving
that no misconduct is attributable to them personally.
(Law of 24 April 1983)
Art. 49-2
(Law of 10 June 2009)
(1) Without prejudice to the principle of equal treatment of all shareholders who are in the
same position, or to the law on market abuse, the company may only acquire its own
shares, either itself or through a person acting in its own name but on the company’s
behalf, under the following conditions:
1) the authorisation to acquire shares shall be given by the general meeting, which
shall determine the terms and conditions of the proposed acquisition and in
particular the maximum number of shares to be acquired, the duration of the
period for which the authorisation is granted and which may not exceed 5 years
and, in the case of acquisition against payment, the maximum and minimum
consideration. The board of directors or the management board shall ensure that,
at the time of each authorised acquisition, the conditions referred to in points 2)
and 3) are respected;
2) the acquisitions, including shares previously acquired by the company and held in
the company’s portfolio, and shares acquired by a person acting in his own name
but on the company’s behalf, may not have the effect of reducing the net assets
below the amount mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article 72-1;
3) only fully paid-up shares may be included in the transaction;
(Law of 10 August 2016)
4) the acquisition offer must be made in the same conditions to all shareholders in
the same situation, except for acquisitions which are decided unanimously by a
general meeting at which all shareholders are present or represented; likewise,
listed companies may purchase their own shares on the market without the need
to make an acquisition offer to shareholders.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
(2) Where the acquisition of the company's own shares is necessary in order to prevent
serious and imminent harm to the company, the condition under (1) 1° above shall
not apply.
In such case, the next general meeting must be informed by the board of directors or
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by the management board, as the case may be, of the reasons for and the purpose of
the acquisitions made, of the number and nominal value, or in the absence thereof, of
the accounting par value of the shares acquired, of the proportion of the subscribed
capital which they represent and the countervalue thereof.
(Law of 10 August 2016)(3) Neither does the condition at (1), 1st paragraph apply if the
shares are acquired by either the company itself or a person acting in its name but on
behalf of that company so that they may distributed to the staff of that company or of
a company related to it by a relationship of control. For the purposes of this article, a
relationship of control means the relationship between a parent company and a
subsidiary as described in Article 309 of this law.
The distribution of any such shares must take place within twelve months from the
date of their acquisition.
(Law of 24 April 1983; Law of 10 August 2016)
Art. 49-3.
(1) Article 49-2 does not apply to:
a) shares acquired pursuant to a resolution to reduce the capital or in the
circumstances referred to in Article 49-8;
b) shares acquired as a result of a universal transfer of assets;
c) fully paid-up shares acquired free of charge or acquired by banks and other
financial institutions pursuant to a purchase commission contract;
d) shares acquired pursuant to a legal obligation or a court order for the protection of
minority shareholders, in the event, particularly of a merger, the division of the
company, a change in the company’s purpose or form, the transfer abroad of the
registered office or the introduction of restrictions on the transfer of shares;
e) shares acquired from a shareholder in the event of failure to pay them up;
f) fully paid-up shares acquired pursuant to an allotment by court order for the
payment of a debt owed to the company by the owner of the shares;
g) fully paid-up shares issued by an investment company with fixed capital as defined
in Article 72-3 and acquired at the investor’s request by that company or by a person
acting in his own name but on behalf of that company.
These acquisitions may not have the effect of reducing the net assets below the aggregate
of the subscribed capital and the reserves which may not be distributed under law.
(2) Shares acquired in the cases indicated under b) to f) of paragraph (1) must however
be disposed of within a maximum period of three years after their acquisition, unless
the nominal value, or, in the absence of nominal value, the accounting par value of
the shares acquired, including shares which the company may have acquired through
a person acting in its own name, but on behalf of the company, does not exceed 10%
of the subscribed capital.
(3) If the shares are not disposed of within the period prescribed in paragraph (2), they
must be cancelled. The subscribed capital may be reduced by a corresponding
amount. Such a reduction shall be compulsory where the acquisitions of shares to be
cancelled results in the net assets having fallen below the amount referred to in
Article 72-1.
Art. 49-4
Any shares acquired in contravention of Articles 49-2 and 49-3 paragraph (1) sub a) must
be disposed of within a period of one year after acquisition. Should they not be disposed of
within that period, Article 49-3 paragraph (3) shall apply.
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Art. 49-5
(1) In those cases where the acquisition by the company of its own shares is permitted in
accordance with Articles 49-2 and 49-3, the holding of such shares shall be subject to
the following conditions:
(Law of 10 August 2016)
a) The voting rights attached to shares held by the company are suspended. The
redeemed shares are not used to calculate the quorum and majority conditions at
meetings.
If the board of directors decides to suspend the right to dividends on shares held by
the company, the dividend coupons shall remain attached. In these circumstances,
the distributable profit is reduced in line with the number of shares held and the
amounts that would have been distributed are retained until the shares are sold, with
the coupons attached. The company may also keep the distributable profit at the
same amount and distribute it between the shares whose voting rights have not been
suspended. In this latter case, the expired coupons are destroyed.
If the company owns redeemed founder shares, it may not exercise the
corresponding voting rights.
If the company owns founder shares which carry a right to dividends, the rules of the
second subparagraph apply.
b) if the said shares are included among the assets shown in the balance
sheet, a non-distributable reserve of the same amount shall be created among the
liabilities.
(2) Where a company has acquired its own shares in accordance with Articles 49-2 and
49-3, the management report must indicate:
a) the reasons for acquisitions made during the financial year;
b) the number and the nominal value, or in the absence of nominal value, the
accounting par value, of the shares acquired and disposed of during the financial year
and the proportion of the subscribed capital which they represent;
c) in the case of acquisition or disposal against payment, the countervalue of
the shares;
d) the number and nominal value, or, in the absence of nominal value, the
accounting par value, of all the shares acquired and held in the company's portfolio
as well as the proportion of the subscribed capital which they represent.
Art. 49-6
(Law of 10 June 2009; Law of 27 May 2016; Law of 10 August 2016)
(1) A company may not directly or indirectly, advance funds or grant loans or guarantees
with a view to the acquisition of its shares by a third party except under the following
conditions:
a) These transactions take place under the responsibility of the board of directors or of
the management board at fair market conditions, especially with regard to interest
received by the company and with regard to guarantees provided to the company for
the loans and advances referred to above. The financial situation of the third party or,
if the transaction involves several parties, of each party involved must have been duly
investigated.
b) The transactions shall be submitted by the board of directors or the management
board for prior approval to the general meeting deliberating under the same conditions
as for amendments to the articles of association. The board of directors or the
management board shall present a written report to the general meeting, indicating the
reasons for the transaction, the company’s interest in entering into the transaction, the
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conditions under which the transaction is entered into, the risks involved in the
transaction with regard to the liquidity and solvency of the company and the price at
which the third party is to acquire the shares. This report is filed with the register of
commerce and companies as per the requirements of Chapter Vbis, Title I of the
amended law of 19 December 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and
the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings, and are published in the Recueil
Électronique des Sociétés et Associations as per Article 11bis §3.
c) The aggregate financial assistance granted to third parties shall at no time result in
the reduction of the net assets below the amount specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of
Article 72-1, taking into account also any reduction of the net assets that may have
occurred through the acquisition, by the company or on behalf of the company, of its
own shares in accordance with Article 49-2 paragraph (1). The company shall include,
among the liabilities in the balance sheet, a reserve, unavailable for distribution, equal
to the aggregate amount of the financial assistance.
d) Where a third party, by means of financial assistance from a company, acquires
that company’s own shares within the meaning of Article 49-2 paragraph (1) or
subscribes for shares issued as part of an increase in the subscribed capital, such
acquisition or subscription shall be made at a fair price.
(2) (2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to transactions concluded by banks and other
financial institutions in the normal course of business or to transactions carried out
with a view to the acquisition of shares by or on behalf of the staff of the company or
of a company related to it by a relationship of control. However, such transactions
may not have the effect of reducing the net assets of the company below the
aggregate of the capital subscribed and the reserves which may not be distributed
under law or the articles of association.
(3) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to transactions carried out with a view to acquiring
shares as described in Article 49-3, paragraph (1) sub g).
(Law of 10 June 2009)
Art. 49-6bis.
(Law of 23 July 2016)
Where members of the board of directors or of the management board of a company, which
is party to a transaction referred to in Article 49-6, paragraph (1), or members of a parent
company or the parent company itself, or third parties acting in their own name but on behalf
of the members of the board of directors or of the management board or on behalf of such
company, are counterparties to a transaction referred to in Article 49-6, the supervisory
auditors or the independent auditor shall provide a special report on the transaction to the
general meeting who shall decide on that report.
(Law of 24 April 1983; Law of 10 August 2016)
Art. 49-7.
(1) The acceptance of the company’s own shares as collateral either by the company
itself or by a person acting in his own name, but on behalf of the company, shall be
treated as an acquisition for the purposes of Articles 49-2, 49-3 paragraph (1) and
Articles 49-5 and 49-6.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to transactions concluded by banks and other financial
institutions in the normal course of business.
Art. 49-8
By way of derogation from the foregoing, the issue of redeemable shares shall be
authorised provided that the redemption thereof is subject to the following conditions:
1) the redemption must be authorised by the articles of association before the
redeemable shares are subscribed;
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voting rights
• a société anonyme is deemed to be able to indirectly exercise a dominant
influence over another company where the société anonyme directly holds the
majority of the voting rights in a company having one of the legal forms referred
to in paragraph (1) which
o has the right to appoint or dismiss a majority of the members of the
administrative body, of the management body or of the supervisory body,
and is at the same time a shareholder or member of the other company
or
o is a shareholder or member of the other company and has sole control of
the majority of the voting rights of the other company's shareholders or
members under an agreement concluded with other shareholders or
members of that company.
c) a société anonyme is deemed to hold voting rights where, in application of the
articles of association, the law or an agreement, it is entitled to exercise the voting
rights attached to the shares of the company and can in fact exercise them.
(4) Paragraph (1) shall not apply where
a) the subscription, acquisition or holding of shares of the société anonyme is carried
out on behalf of a person other than the person subscribing, acquiring or holding the
shares and who is neither the société anonyme referred to in paragraph (1) nor
another company in which the société anonyme directly or indirectly holds a majority
of the voting rights or over which it can directly or indirectly exercise a dominant
influence;
b) the subscription, acquisition or holding of shares of the société anonyme is carried
out by the other company referred to in paragraph (1) in its capacity and in the
context of its activities as a professional securities dealer, provided that it is a
member of a stock exchange situated or operating within a Member State of the
European Union, or is authorised or supervised by an authority of a Member State of
the European Union competent to supervise professional securities dealers which,
within the meaning of this article, may include credit institutions.
(5) Paragraph (1) does not apply where the holding of shares in the société anonyme by the
other company referred to in paragraph (1) results from an acquisition made before the
relationship between the two companies corresponds to the criteria laid down in
paragraph (1).
However, the voting rights attached to those shares shall be suspended and those
shares shall be taken into account in order to determine whether the condition laid
down in Article 49-2, paragraph (1) 2° is fulfilled.
(6) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of Article 49-3 and Article 49-4 shall not apply where shares in a
société anonyme are acquired by the other company referred to in paragraph (1)
provided:
a) the voting rights attached to the shares in the société anonyme held by the other
company are suspended; and
(Law of 25 August 2006)
b) the members of the management body of the société anonyme are obliged to buy
back from the other company the shares referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3) of
Article 49-3 and in Article 49-4 at the price at which the other company acquired
them; exceptionally this sanction shall not apply where such members prove that the
société anonyme played no part whatsoever in the subscription or acquisition of the
shares in question.
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board of directors may, unless otherwise provided in the articles of association, decide to
defer the vote on that item to the shareholders.
The preceding subparagraphs shall not apply where the decision of the board of directors
or of the single director relates to recurring operations entered into under normal
conditions.
Art. 58.
The directors shall not contract any personal obligation in relation to the company's
commitments.
Art. 59.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
The directors, members of the management committee and the managing director shall be
liable to the company in accordance with general law for the execution of the mandate given
to them and for any misconduct in the management of the company’s affairs.
The directors and members of the management committee shall be jointly and severally
liable, both towards the company and any third parties, for damages resulting from the
violation of this law or the articles of association.
The directors and members of the management committee shall be released from that
liability in relation to an infringement to which they were not a party, provided no misconduct
is attributable to them and they have reported such infringement, if members of the board of
directors, to the first general meeting after learning of it or, if members of the management
committee, to the first board meeting after learning of it.
Art. 60.
(Law of 23 November 1972)
The day-to-day management of the company’s business and the power to represent the
company with respect thereto may be delegated to one or more directors, officers,
managers or other agents, who may but are not required to be members, acting either
alone or jointly.
Their appointment, their removal from office and their powers and duties shall be governed
by the articles of association or by a decision of the competent corporate bodies; however,
no restrictions placed upon their powers to represent the company in the day-to-day
management will be valid with regard to third parties, even if they are published.
(Law of 27 May 2016)
This clause, by virtue of which the day-to-day management is delegated to one or more
persons acting either alone or jointly, is enforceable against third parties in accordance with
the rules laid down in Chapter Vbis of Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on
the register of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of
undertakings.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
The delegation in favour of a member of the board of directors shall entail the obligation for
the board to report each year to the ordinary general meeting on the salary, fees and any
advantages granted to the delegate.
(Law of 23 November 1972; Law of 10 August 2016)
The liability of persons entrusted with day-to-day management shall be governed by the
general rules on mandates with respect to such management.
The persons to which day-to-day management is delegated are governed by Article 57,
which applies by analogy. Where there is only one delegate facing a conflict of interests,
the decision must be taken by the board of directors. Following an infringement of Article
57, the persons entrusted with day-to-day management may be held liable on the basis of
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Article 59, subparagraph 2, it being understood that, when applying this provision, they will
be released from that liability in relation to an infringement to which they were not a party,
provided no misconduct is attributable to them and they have reported such infringement to
the first board meeting after learning of it.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Art. 60-1
The articles of association may authorise the board of directors to delegate its powers of
management to a management committee or a managing director, provided that delegation
does not include the general policy of the company or any of the acts reserved for the
board of directors by other provisions of the law. If a management committee is created or
a managing director is appointed, the board of directors is responsible for its or his/her
supervision.
The management committee will comprise several persons who may but need not be
directors.
The conditions for appointing members of the management committee or the managing
director, their dismissal, remuneration and term of office, as well as the rules of procedure
for the management committee, shall be determined in the articles or, otherwise, by the
board of directors.
The articles of association may confer upon the managing director or upon one or more
members of the management committee the power to represent the company, either alone
or jointly.
The appointment of a managing director and the creation of a managing committee and the
clause in the articles of association described in subparagraph 3, the power of
representation of the managing director and of the members of the management
committee, are all enforceable against third parties, in accordance with the rules laid down
in Chapter Vbis, Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of
commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings.
The articles of association or a decision by the board of directors may restrict the powers of
management that may be delegated by virtue of subparagraph 1. Such restrictions, along
with any division of the tasks among the members of the management committee, are not
enforceable against third parties, even if published. (Law of 10 August 2016)
Art. 60-2.
Any member of the management committee having a direct or indirect financial interest in a
transaction that falls within the remit of the committee and which conflicts with the interests
of the company, shall be obliged to advise the committee thereof and to cause a record of
his statement to be included in the minutes of the meeting. He may not take part in these
deliberations.
At the next meeting of the board of directors, before any other motion is put to the vote, a
special report shall be made on any transactions in which any of the members of the
management committee may have had an interest conflicting with the interests of the
company.
A copy of the minutes is sent to the board of directors for its next meeting.
Where, due to a conflict of interests, the number of members of the management
committee required for it to validly deliberate and vote on the point in question is not met,
the management committee may decide to defer the decision on this point to the board of
directors.
Where the managing director has a direct or indirect financial interest in a decision or
transaction that falls within the remit of his powers that conflicts with the interests of the
company, he must defer the decision to the board of directors.
The preceding subparagraphs shall not apply where the decision of the management
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Art. 60bis-5.
The members of the management board may be dismissed by the supervisory board and,
where provided for in the articles of association, by the general meeting.
Art. 60bis-6.
(1) The members of the management board shall be appointed for a term provided in the
articles of association and which shall not exceed six years. They may be reappointed.
(2) In case of vacancy of the office of a member of the management board, the remaining
members may, unless the articles of association provide differently, fill the vacancy on a
provisional basis.
(3) In such a case, the supervisory board or the general meeting, as the case may be, shall
make the final appointment at the next meeting. The appointed member of the
management board shall complete the term of office of the member whom he replaces.
Art. 60bis-7.
(Law of 27 May 2016; Law of 10 August 2016)
(1) The management board shall have the power to take any action necessary or useful to
realise the corporate purpose, with the exception of those powers reserved by law or
the articles of association for the supervisory board and the general meeting.
(2) The articles of association of a société européenne (SE) shall list the categories of
transactions which require authorisation of the management board by the supervisory
board.
Where a transaction requires the authorisation of the supervisory board and such
authorisation is denied, the management board may submit the dispute to the general
meeting.
(3) The management board shall represent the company with regard to third parties and
in legal proceedings, either as plaintiff or as defendant. Writs served on behalf of or
against the company shall be validly served in the name of the company alone.
(4) Any limitations to the powers conferred upon the management board by the
preceding paragraphs resulting either from the articles of association of the company
or from a decision of the competent corporate bodies are not valid with regard to third
parties, even if they are published.
However, the articles may authorise one or more members of the management board
to represent the company in any deed or in legal proceedings, either alone or jointly.
This clause is enforceable against third parties in accordance with the rules laid down
in Chapter Vbis of Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of
commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings.
Where in a société européenne (SE) a delegation of powers has been validly granted
and where the holder of such delegation passes a deed which is within the limits of
such delegation but belongs to a category of transactions which require an
authorisation of the management board or the supervisory board under the articles of
association of the société européenne (SE), such deed shall be binding on the
company without prejudice to damages, where applicable.
(5) The management board may decide to create committees, whose composition and
powers it shall determine and which shall operate under its responsibility.
Art. 60bis-8.
The day-to-day management of the business of the company and the power to represent
the company with respect thereto may be delegated to one or more members of the
management board, officers, managers or other agents, who may but are not required to
be members, acting either alone or jointly, except such persons who are members of the
supervisory board.
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Their appointment, their removal from office and their powers and duties shall be governed
by the articles of association or by a decision of the competent corporate bodies; however,
no restrictions placed upon their powers to represent the company in the day-to-day
management will be valid with regard to third parties, even if they are published.
(Law of 27 May 2016)
This clause, by virtue of which the day-to-day management is delegated to one or more
persons acting either alone or jointly, is enforceable against third parties in accordance with
the rules laid down in Chapter Vbis of Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on
the register of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of
undertakings.
The delegation in favour of a member of the management board shall entail the obligation
for the management board to report each year to the ordinary general meeting on the
salary, fees and any advantages granted to the delegate.
The liability of persons entrusted with day-to-day management shall be governed by the
general rules on mandates with respect to such management.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
The persons to which day-to-day management is delegated are governed by Article 60bis-
18, which applies by analogy. Where there is only one delegate facing a conflict of
interests, the decision must be taken by the management board. Following an infringement
of Article 60bis-18, the persons entrusted with day-to-day management may be held liable
on the basis of Article 60bis-10, subparagraph 2, it being understood that, when applying
this provision, they will be released from that liability in relation to an infringement to which
they were not a party, provided no misconduct is attributable to them and they have
reported such infringement to the first meeting of the management board after learning of it.
Art. 60bis-9.
The company shall be bound by any acts of the management board, the members of the
management board with capacity to represent the company in accordance with Article 60bis-
7 paragraph (4) or of the person entrusted with day-to-day management, even if such acts
exceed the corporate purpose, unless it can prove that the third party knew that the act
exceeded the corporate purpose or could not in view of the circumstances have been
unaware of it, without the mere publication of the articles constituting such proof.
Art. 60bis-10.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
The members of the management board shall be liable to the company in accordance with
general law for the execution of the mandate given to them and for any misconduct in the
management of the company’s affairs.
They shall be jointly and severally liable, both towards the company and any third parties, for
damages resulting from the violation of this law or the articles of association. They shall be
discharged from such liability in the case of a violation to which they were not a party provided
no misconduct is attributable to them and they have reported such violation to the first general
meeting after they had acquired knowledge thereof.
The authorisation given by the supervisory board in accordance with paragraph (2) of Article
60bis-7 shall not relieve the members of the management board from their liability.
B. The supervisory board
Art. 60bis-11.
(1) The supervisory board shall at all times supervise the management of the company
by the management board, but is not authorised to interfere with such management.
(2) It shall grant or deny the authorisations required pursuant to Article 60bis-7,
paragraph (2).
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Art. 60bis-12.
(1) The supervisory board shall have an unlimited right to inspect all the transactions of
the company; it may inspect, but not remove, the books, correspondence, minutes
and, in general, all the records of the company.
(2) The management board shall, at least every three months, make a written report to
the supervisory board on the progress and foreseeable development of the
company’s business.
(3) In addition, the management board shall promptly provide the supervisory board with
any information on events likely to have a significant impact on the company’s
situation.
(4) The supervisory board may require the management board to provide information of
any kind which it may require to exercise supervision in accordance with Article 60bis-
11.
(5) The supervisory board may undertake or arrange for any investigations necessary for
the performance of its duties.
Art. 60bis-13.
Each year, the supervisory board shall receive from the management board all documents
listed in Article 72 at the time set in such article for their delivery to the supervisory auditors
and shall present to the general meeting its observations on the report of the management
board and on the annual accounts.
Art. 60bis-14.
(Law of 10 August 2016) The provisions of Articles 51, 51bis, 52 and 54 shall apply to the
supervisory board.
Art. 60bis-15.
(1) The supervisory board may entrust one or more of its members with special mandates
for one or more specific purposes.
(2) It may decide to create commissions whose composition and duties it shall determine
and which shall exercise their activities under its responsibility. The attribution of such
duties may however not consist in a delegation to a commission of the powers
reserved by law or by the articles of association for the supervisory board itself or
result in a reduction or limitation of the powers of the management board.
Art. 60bis-16.
The members of the supervisory board shall be liable to the company in accordance with
general law for the execution of the mandate given to them and for any misconduct in the
supervision of the company’s affairs.
They shall be jointly and severally liable, both towards the company and any third parties, for
damages resulting from the violation of this law or the articles of association of the company.
They shall be released from that liability in relation to an infringement to which they were not a
party, provided no misconduct is attributable to them and they have reported such
infringement to the first general meeting after learning of it.
C. Rules common to the management board and the supervisory board
Art. 60bis-17.
(1) No person may at the same time be a member of the management board and the
supervisory board.
(2) However, in the event of a vacancy in the management board, the supervisory board
may appoint one of its members to act as a member of the management board. During
such a period, the functions of the person concerned as a member of the supervisory
board shall be suspended.
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Art. 60bis-18.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
(1) Any member of the management board or the supervisory board having a direct or
indirect financial interest in a transaction that falls within the remit of the management
board or the supervisory board which conflicts with the interests of the company, shall be
obliged to advise the management board or the supervisory board thereof and to cause a
record of his statement to be included in the minutes of the meeting. He may not take part
in these deliberations.
At the next general meeting, before any other resolution is put to the vote, a special report
shall be made on any transactions in which any of the members of the management board
or the supervisory board may have had an interest conflicting with the interests of the
company.
By way of derogation from subparagraph 1, where the management board or the
supervisory board of the company comprises a single member, only transactions made
between the company and the member of the management board or the supervisory board
having an interest conflicting with the interests of the company, are mentioned in the
minutes.
Where, due to a conflict of interests, the number of members required by the articles of
association to validly deliberate and vote on a point in question is not met, the management
board or supervisory board may, unless otherwise provided by the articles of association,
decide to defer the vote on that item to the shareholders.
(2) Where the transaction referred to in subparagraph 1 gives rise to a conflict of
interest between the company and a member of the management board, it shall in addition
require the authorisation of the supervisory board.
(3) The provisions of the preceding subparagraphs shall not apply where the decisions
under consideration relate to current operations entered into under normal conditions.
Art. 60bis-19.
The members of the management board and of the supervisory board may be
remunerated. The type and amount of remuneration paid to the members of the
management board are determined by the supervisory board. The type and amount of
remuneration paid to the members of the supervisory board are determined by the articles
of association or, failing this, by the general meeting.
Sub-section 3. - Supervision by the supervisory auditors
Art. 61.
The supervision of the company must be entrusted to one or more supervisory auditors, who may
but are not required to be members.
They shall be appointed by the general meeting of shareholders.
Unless otherwise provided in the deed of incorporation, supervisory auditors may be re-
elected.
Their term of office may not exceed six years; they may be removed at any time by the general
meeting.
The general meeting shall determine the number of supervisory auditors and their fees.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
If the number of supervisory auditors falls, as a result of death or otherwise, to less than
one half of the supervisory auditors appointed, the board of directors or the management
board, as applicable, must immediately convene a general meeting in order to fill the
vacancies.
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Art. 62.
The supervisory auditors shall have unlimited power of supervision and control over all of the
operations of the company. They may inspect, but not remove, the books, correspondence,
minutes and, in general, all the records of the company.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
Semi-annually, the board of directors or the management board, as applicable, shall provide
them with a statement summarising the assets and liabilities. The supervisory auditors must
report to the general meeting on the results of the mandate entrusted to them, making such
recommendations as they consider fit, and must inform the meeting of the method adopted
by them for verification of the inventories.
Their liability, insofar as it derives from their duties of supervision and control, shall be
determined according to the same rules as those applicable to the liability of directors or of
the members of the management board.
The supervisory auditors may arrange to be assisted by an expert for the purpose of
verifying the books and accounts of the company.
The expert must be approved by the company. Failing such approval, the president of the
district court dealing with commercial matters, upon application by the supervisory auditors
served in the form of a writ on the company, shall select the expert. The president shall
hear the parties in chambers and shall issue his ruling as to the appointment of the expert
in open court. This ruling need not be served on the company and is not subject to appeal.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
Sub-section 4. - Rules common to the management bodies, the supervisory board
and the supervisory auditors
Art. 63.
The general meeting which has resolved to exercise the corporate action provided for by
Articles 59, 60bis-10, 60bis-16 and 62, subparagraph 3, against the directors, the members
of the management or supervisory board or the supervisory auditors in office may entrust
the implementation of this resolution to one or more agents.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Art. 63bis.
An action may be brought against the directors or members of the management board or of
the supervisory board, as applicable, on behalf of the company by the minority
shareholders of holders of founder shares.
This minority action may be brought by one or more shareholders or founder shareholders
owning, at the general meeting that ruled on the discharge, shares carrying a right to vote
at that meeting representing at least ten percent of the votes attached to all shares.
Art. 64.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
(1) The directors, the members of the management board or of the supervisory board and
the supervisory auditors form panels which shall deliberate in accordance with the
articles of association and, in the absence of provisions in that respect, in accordance
with the ordinary rules for deliberating assemblies.
Decisions by the board of directors, the management board and the supervisory board
may be adopted, if permitted by the articles of association, by unanimous written
consent of the directors or members of the management board or supervisory board.
Decisions adopted in this manner shall be deemed to have been adopted at the
registered office of the company.
(2) Except for a société européenne (SE) where such appointment is mandatory, the board
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of directors, the management board and the supervisory board may elect a chairperson
from among their number.
(3) The board of directors or the management board of a société européenne (SE) shall
meet at least once every three months at intervals laid down by the articles to discuss
the progress and foreseeable development of the business of the société européenne
(SE).
(4) Each member of the board of directors, of the management board and of the
supervisory board shall be entitled to examine all information submitted to the
relevant board.
(5) In a société européenne (SE), the supervisory board shall convene upon notice of its
chairman.
Art. 64bis.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
(1) Unless otherwise provided by the articles of association and without prejudice to
specific legal provisions, the internal rules relating to quorum and decision-making
in the board of directors, the supervisory board and the management board of the
company shall be as follows:
a) quorum: at least half of the members must be present or represented.
b) decision-making: a majority of the members must be present or represented.
(2) Unless otherwise provided by the articles of association, and where a chairperson has
been elected, the chairperson of each body shall have the casting vote in the event of a
split vote.
(3) Unless otherwise provided by the articles of association, the directors or members of
the management board participating in the board of directors or management board
meeting by video conference or by telecommunication means allowing for their
identification, shall be deemed to be present for the calculation of quorum and majority.
Such means must satisfy technical characteristics which ensure an effective
participation in the meeting of the board of directors or of the management board,
whose deliberations shall be transmitted without interruption.
The meeting held at a distance by way of such communication means shall be
deemed to have taken place at the registered office of the company.
Art. 65.
The articles of association may provide that the directors and the supervisory auditors
together constitute the general board; they shall determine the powers and duties thereof.
Art. 66.
(Law of 25 August 2006; Law of 10 August 2016)
The directors and the members of the management board and of the supervisory board, the
members of the management committee, the managing director as well as any person invited
to attend the meetings of such corporate bodies, shall be under a duty, even after they have
ceased to hold office, not to divulge any information they have concerning the société
anonyme, the disclosure of which might be prejudicial to the company's interests, except
where such disclosure is required or permitted by a legal or regulatory provision applicable to
sociétés anonymes or is in the public interest.
Section 5. – General meetings
Art. 67.
(Law of 7 September 1987; Law of 25 August 2006; Law of 23 March 2007; Law of 10
August 2016)
(1) The general meeting of shareholders shall have the widest powers to adopt or ratify
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not convened and are in all cases authorised to participate in such meetings. The approved
independent auditors appointed by the general meeting may be convened to take part in
meetings. Meetings shall be convened in the manner and within the time limits provided for
in this article.
Where, in accordance with Article 67, the meeting is held between shareholders who are
not physically present, the meeting is deemed to have been held at the registered office of
the company.
If, following a request made by the shareholders pursuant to subparagraph 2, the general
meeting is not held within the prescribed period, the general meeting may be convened by
an agent, appointed by the judge presiding the chamber of the district court dealing with
commercial matters and sitting as in urgent proceedings on the application of one or more
shareholders who together hold the aforementioned proportion of the share capital.
One or more shareholders who together hold at least ten per cent of the subscribed capital
may request that one or more additional items be put on the agenda of any general
meeting. Such request shall be sent to the registered office by registered mail, at least five
days prior to holding of the meeting.
The convening notice for any general meeting shall contain the agenda and shall be issued
by means of an announcement filed with the register of commerce and companies and
published at least fifteen days prior to the meeting in the Recueil Électronique des Sociétés
et Associations and in a newspaper published in Luxembourg.
Convening notices shall be sent to the shareholders in person at least eight days prior to
the date of the meeting. They shall be sent by post, unless the recipients have individually
agreed to receive the convening notice by another means of communication. There is no
requirement for formal proof of delivery.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Art. 70bis.
Where all shares are in registered form, the convening notices for any general meeting may
be made only by registered letters, without prejudice to any other means of communication
individually accepted by each recipient and which can guarantee delivery within at least
eight days before the date of the meeting. The legal provisions requiring publication of the
convening notices in the Recueil Électronique des Sociétés et Associations or in a
Luxembourg newspaper do not apply in this case.
(Law of 06 April 2013)
Art. 71.
The holders of book-entry shares or securities may take part in the general meeting and
exercise their rights only if they hold such book-entry shares or securities at the latest on
the fourteenth day prior to the general meeting at midnight, Luxembourg time.
liability side, the debts of the company towards itself, bonds, debt secured by mortgages or
pledges and unsecured debt.
Each year at least one-twentieth of the net profits shall be allocated to the creation of a reserve;
this allocation shall cease to be compulsory when the reserve has reached an amount equal to
one-tenth of the share capital, but shall again be compulsory if the reserve falls below this
amount.
One month before the ordinary general meeting, the board of directors or the management
board, as applicable, shall deliver documentary evidence, together with a report on the
business of the company, to the auditors who must prepare a report setting forth their
proposals.
(Law of 24 April 1983)
Art. 72-1
(1) Except for cases of reductions of subscribed capital, no distributions to shareholders
may be made when on the closing date of the last financial year the net assets as set
out in the annual accounts are, or following such a distribution would become, lower
than the amount of the subscribed capital, plus the reserves which may not be
distributed under law or by virtue of the articles of association.
(2) The amount of the subscribed capital referred to under (1) shall be reduced by the
amount of subscribed capital remaining uncalled if the latter is not recorded under the
assets in the balance sheet.
(3) The amount of a distribution to shareholders may not exceed the amount of the
profits at the end of the last financial year plus any profits carried forward and any
amounts drawn from reserves which are available for that purpose, less any losses
carried forward and sums to be paid into the reserves in accordance with the law or
the articles of association.
(4) The term “distribution” as used in the foregoing provisions includes in particular the
payment of dividends and of interest relating to shares.
(Law of 24 April 1983)
Art. 72-2
(Law of 25 August 2006)
(1) No interim dividends may be paid unless the articles of association authorise the
board of directors or the management board, as applicable, to do so. Any such
payment shall in addition be subject to the following conditions:
a) an accounting statement shall be drawn up showing that the funds available for
distribution are sufficient;
b) the amount to be distributed may not exceed total profits made since the end of the
last financial year for which the annual accounts have been approved, plus any profits
carried forward and sums drawn from reserves available for this purpose, less losses
carried forward and any sums to be paid into the reserves pursuant to the
requirements of the law or of the articles of association;
c) the decision of the board of directors or the management board, as applicable, to
distribute an interim dividend may not be taken more than two months after the date at
which the accounting statement referred to under a) above has been drawn up.
(Law of 23 March2007)
– (…)
(Law of 18 December 2009; Law of 23 July 2016)
d) in their report to the board of directors or the management board, as applicable,
the auditor or the independent auditor shall verify whether the above conditions have
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been satisfied.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
(2) Where the interim dividend payments exceed the amount of the dividend subsequently
decided upon by the general meeting, they shall, to the extent of the overpayment, be
deemed to have been paid as an advance on the next dividend.
(Law of 24 April 1983)
Art. 72-3
(1) Article 72-1, paragraph (1) shall not apply to investment companies with fixed capital.
(2) The following sociétés anonymes shall be regarded as investment companies with
fixed capital:
• sociétés anonymes with the sole purpose of investing their funds in various
securities, real estate or other assets with the sole aim of spreading the
investment risks and giving their shareholders the benefit of the results of the
management of their assets,
and
• which offer their own shares for subscription to the public, provided that:
a) they include the words société d'investissement in their instruments, notices,
publications, letters and other documents;
b) their total assets as set out in the annual accounts, at the closing date of the
last financial year are, or following such distribution would become, less than one
and a half times the company’s total liabilities to creditors as set out in the annual
accounts;
c) the annual accounts contain a note to that effect.
Art. 72-4
(Law of 30 July 2013)
Any distribution made in violation of Articles 72-1, 72-2 and 72-3 as well as Article 72ter of
the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and
the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings must be repaid by the shareholders
who have received it if the company proves that the shareholders knew of the irregularity of
the distributions made in their favour or could not, in the circumstances, have been
unaware of it.
Art. 73.
(Law of 25 August 2006; Law of 18 December 2009; Law of 10 August 2016)
Eight days before the general meeting, the shareholders may inspect at the registered office:
1. the annual accounts and the list of directors or of members of the
management board and of the supervisory board, as well as the list of the
auditors or the licensed independent auditor;
2. the list of sovereign debt, shares, bonds and other company securities making
up the portfolio;
3. the list of shareholders who have not paid-up their shares, with an indication of
the number of their shares and their domicile;
4. the report of the board of directors or of the management board, as applicable,
and the observations of the supervisory board;
5. the report of the auditors or of the licensed independent auditor;
6. in case of changes to the articles of association, the proposed amendments
and the draft of the resulting consolidated articles of association.
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Every shareholder has the right, upon request and upon providing proof of his
shareholder status, to obtain, eight days before the meeting, a free copy of the annual
accounts and of the report of the supervisory auditors or the licensed independent
auditor, the management report and the observations of the supervisory board.
This right is also granted to every owner of a jointly-owned share and to usufructuaries and
bare owners. They may attend general meetings, but with a voting right or in an advisory
capacity only, as applicable.
Art. 74.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
The general meeting shall hear the reports of the directors or of the management board, as
applicable, as well as the report of the auditors and shall discuss the annual accounts.
After approval of the annual accounts, the general meeting shall vote specifically as to
whether discharge is given to the directors or to the members of the management board and
of the supervisory board, as applicable, as well as to the auditors. Such discharge shall be
valid only if the annual accounts contain no omission or false information concealing the true
situation of the company and, with regard to any acts carried out which fall outside the scope
of the articles of association, if they have been specifically indicated in the convening notice.
Art. 75.
(Law of 25 August 2006; Law of 27 May 2016)
The annual accounts, preceded by the mention of the date of publication of the deed of
incorporation of the company, must be published, within one month of their approval, by the
directors or by the management board, as applicable, at the expense of the company in
accordance with the provisions of Article 11bis.
The first names, surnames, occupations and domiciles of the directors, members of the
management board, as applicable, and the auditors in office must be included at the end of
the annual accounts, as well as a table indicating the use and allocation of the net profits in
accordance with the resolutions of the general meeting.
Section 7. – Specific information to be included in documents
Art. 76.
(Law of 25 August 2006; Law of 27 May 2016; Law of 10 August 2016)
All deeds, invoices, notices, publications, letters, order forms and other documents issued by
sociétés anonymes and sociétés européennes (SE) must state:
1) the trade name of the company;
2) the words société anonyme or, as applicable, société par actions simplifiée, written in
full or the initials SA or, as the case may be, the initials SAS or SE, reproduced
legibly, immediately before or after the trade name;
3) a precise indication of the registered office;
4) the words "Registre de commerce et des sociétés, Luxembourg" or the initials "R.C.S.
Luxembourg” followed by the registration number.
If the above documents state the share capital, that statement shall take into account any
decrease which it may have suffered according to the results of the various successive
balance sheets and shall indicate both the portion not yet paid up and, in the case of an
increase of capital, the portion which has not yet been subscribed.
Any change of the registered office shall be published by the directors or the members of the
management board, as applicable, in the Recueil Électronique des Sociétés et Associations.
Art. 77.
Any agent acting on behalf of a société anonyme in respect of which the requirements of the
foregoing Article are not fulfilled may, depending on the circumstances, be declared
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personally liable for the commitments entered into therein by the company. In the event of
overstatement of the capital or the failure to mention the portion not yet paid-up or subscribed
to or the incorrect mention thereof, the third party, in case of failure by the company, shall be
entitled to claim from such agent, a sum sufficient to ensure that he is placed in the same
position as if the stated capital had been the true capital and had been paid-up or subscribed
to in full or to the extent indicated.
Art. 78.
(Law of 25 August 2006; Law of 10 August 2016)
In all deeds by which the company is bound, the signature of the directors, members of the
management board or of the management committee, the managing director or, as
applicable, directors, managers and other agents must be immediately preceded or followed
by an indication of the capacity in which they are acting.
A certified true copy of the deed delegating authority to a person who is not a member of
the board of directors or the management board, as applicable, shall be previously filed in
accordance with chapter Vbis, Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the
register of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of
undertakings.
(…)
Global bond certificates taking the form of global bearer certificates deposited with a
securities settlement system may be signed by one or more persons authorised to do so by
the issuing company. The number of securities represented by these certificates must be
determined or be capable of being determined.
- 68 -
The provisions of Articles 40, 42bis, and 43 subparagraphs 2, 3 and 4 apply to bonds.
Art. 85.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Bondholders shall be entitled to examine the documents filed in accordance with Article 73.
Unless otherwise provided in the articles of association, they may attend general meetings, but
shall be entitled to speak only if consulted.
Art. 86.
(Law of 09 April 1987)
Bondholders, holding securities forming part of the same issue, shall form a group
organised in accordance with the following provisions.
Art. 87.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
(1) One or more representatives of the group of bondholders may be appointed at the time
of the issue by the company or, during the term of the loan, by the general meeting of
bondholders.
(2) If no representative has been appointed in the manner provided for in the foregoing
paragraph, the judge presiding the chamber of the district court dealing with commercial
matters in the district in which the registered office of the company is located, and sitting
as in urgent proceedings, may, in the event of an emergency, at the application of the
company, of any bondholder or of any interested third party, designate one or more
representatives and determine their powers.
(3) The following may not be appointed as representatives of the group of bondholders:
1) the debtor company;
2) companies holding one-tenth or more of the share capital of the debtor company or
in which the debtor company holds at least one-tenth of the share capital;
3) companies guaranteeing all or part of the obligations of the debtor company;
(Law of 18 December 2009)
4) members of the board of directors, of the management board or of the supervisory
board, auditors, licensed independent auditors, and representatives of the
aforementioned companies.
(4) The general meeting of bondholders may dismiss the group representatives. They
may also be removed for just cause by the judge presiding the chamber of the district
court dealing with commercial matters in the district in which the registered office of
the company is located, and sitting as in urgent proceedings, at the application of the
company or of any bondholder.
Art. 88.
(Law of 09 April 1987; Law of 10 August 2016)
(1) Where the representative(s) of the group of bondholders is(are) appointed by the
company at the time of the issue, they shall exercise the powers listed below:
1) they implement the resolutions adopted by the general meeting of bondholders;
2) they accept on behalf of the group of bondholders, the collateral intended to
secure the company's debt.
They may grant full or partial release of mortgage inscriptions in the event of
reimbursement or payment to them of the sales price of the assets from which the
charge is to be removed, as well as in the event of total or partial repayment of the
bonds;
- 69 -
board, as applicable, as well as the auditor or the panel of auditors may convene the general
meeting of bondholders.
The representatives of the group, provided an advance of expenses has been made to them
in accordance with Article 91, and the other corporate bodies must convene a meeting in
such a manner as to ensure it is held within one month, if they are called upon to do so by
bondholders representing one twentieth of the outstanding bonds of the same issue.
Art. 93.
(Law of 09 April 1987)
The meeting shall comprise the bondholders forming part of the same group. However,
where a matter is common to bondholders belonging to several groups, they shall be
convened to a single meeting.
Art. 94.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Meetings shall be convened in the manner and within the time limits provided for in Articles
70 and 70bis.
(Law of 09 April 1987)
Art. 94-1
All bondholders, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, but subject to compliance
with the terms and conditions of the issue, shall be entitled to vote personally or by proxy.
The voting rights attaching to the bonds shall be commensurate with the portion of the loan
which they represent. Each bond shall carry the right to at least one vote.
Members of the corporate bodies of the company and any persons authorised to do so by
the meeting may attend the meeting in an advisory capacity.
The meeting shall be chaired by the representatives of the group of bondholders, if any
have been appointed.
Any person who has complied with the legal requirements and with the terms and
conditions of the issue with a view to taking part in the meeting may, if his right to do so is
contested, take part in the vote as to whether he is to be admitted. His agent, bearing a
written proxy, shall have the same right.
The company must make available to the bondholders at the commencement of the
meeting a statement of the outstanding bonds.
The manner in which meetings are to be conducted shall be determined by the articles of
association of the company, the terms and conditions of the issue and the provisions of
Article 67.
(Law of 09 April 1987)
Art. 94-2.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
The meeting may:
1) in accordance with Article 87, appoint or remove the representatives of the group;
2) remove the special agents referred to in Article 89;
3) resolve as to the conservatory measures to be taken in the common interest;
4) modify or waive the specific collateral granted to bondholders;
5) postpone one or more interest payment dates, agree to a reduction of the interest
rate or amend the conditions of payment thereof;
6) extend the amortisation period, suspend the same and agree to amendments in the
conditions thereof;
- 71 -
Art. 94-6.
(1) The company may create a mortgage in order to secure bonds in issue or to be
issued.
Any such mortgage shall be registered in the normal form in favour of the group of
bondholders or future bondholders, subject to the two restrictions below:
1) the designation of the creditor shall be replaced by that of the securities
representing the secured debt;
2) the provisions as to the election of an address for service shall not apply.
The mortgage shall rank as of the date of inscription irrespective of the date
of issue of the bonds.
(2) The registration shall not require any renewal during the term of the loan.
(3) The registration shall be reduced or cancelled upon the company's commitments
having terminated or upon the consent of the meeting of bondholders.
Any procedure for removal of the mortgage, the expropriation of the charged property
or the reduction or cancellation of the mortgage registration shall be brought against
the representatives of the group. If no representative has been appointed by the
general meeting of bondholders, the procedure provided for in Article 87,
subparagraph (2) shall be followed.
(4) The representatives of the group are obliged, within eight days of receiving any
amounts paid to them as a result of the proceedings referred to in the foregoing
paragraph, to deposit the same either at the caisse de consignation or, with the
authorisation of the court, with an authorised credit institution established in
Luxembourg. A Grand Ducal Regulation shall determine the rate of interest to be
paid, which may exceed the maximum fixed by the law of 12 February 1872 on
payments deposited in escrow.
The sums thus held in escrow on behalf of the bondholders may be withdrawn on the
basis of proxies bearing specific names or proxies appointing the bearer, issued by
the representatives of the group and countersigned by the judge presiding the
chamber of the district court dealing with commercial matters. Payment in respect of
the proxies bearing specific names shall be made against a receipt given by the
payees; bearer mandates shall be paid upon a receipt having been given by the
representatives of the group.
No proxies may be issued by the representatives of the group unless the bond is
presented. The representatives shall mark on the bond the sum in respect of which
they issue a proxy.
Art. 94-7
A company indebted on account of bonds which have been called for total or partial
redemption and where a holder of such bonds has failed to present himself within the year
following the date of payment, is authorised to deposit the sums due in escrow. Such
deposit shall be made with the Luxembourg caisse de consignation or, with the
authorisation of the court, with an authorised credit institution established in Luxembourg.
Art. 94-8.
The bankruptcy of the company shall not bring to an end the operation or role of the
general meeting of bondholders. Article 87 (2) and (3) shall continue to apply even after the
judgement declaring the bankruptcy.
Art. 95.
(Law of 09 April 1987)
The provisions of Articles 86 to 94-8 shall apply to foreign companies which submit a loan
to Luxembourg law unless the conditions of issue of the loan provide otherwise.
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Luxembourg companies may derogate from the provisions of Articles 86 to 94-8 if they
submit their loan to a foreign law.
Art. 96.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
– (…)
Art. 97.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
(…)Art. 98.
A termination condition is implicitly included in every loan agreement taking the form of a bond
issue in the event of either of the parties failing to satisfy its obligations.
In such case, the contract shall not be terminated ipso jure. The party against whom the
obligation is in default shall have the option either of enforcement in kind of the agreement
where this is possible or to apply for termination thereof with damages.
Such termination must be sought by application to the courts and the defendant may be
granted a grace period, depending on the circumstances.
(Law of 23 March 2007)
Section 9. – The duration and dissolution of sociétés anonymes and of sociétés
européennes (SE)
Art. 99.
(Law of 07 September 1987; Law of 10 August 2016)
Sociétés anonymes may be incorporated for a limited or unlimited period.
In the former case, the duration of the company may be successively extended in
accordance with the provisions of Article 67-1.
In the second case, Articles 1865, 5°, and 1869 of the Civil Code shall not apply.
Application for dissolution of the company may, however, be made to the court for just
cause. Except in the case of dissolution by court order, dissolution of the company may
take place only pursuant to a decision adopted by the general meeting in accordance with
the conditions laid down for amendments to the articles of association. Article 1865bis,
subparagraphs 2 et seq. of the Civil Code also applies.
Art. 100.
(Law of 25 August 2006; Law of 10 August 2016)
Without prejudice to stricter provisions in the articles of association, if in the event of a loss
the net assets are reduced to less than half the share capital, the board of directors or the
management board, as applicable, shall convene a general meeting to be held within a
period not exceeding two months from the time the loss was ascertained or should have
been ascertained by them, and such meetings shall resolve, as applicable in accordance with
the provisions of Article 67-1 on the possible dissolution of the company and any other
measures announced on the agenda.
The board of directors or the management board, as applicable, shall explain the reasons for
this situation and justify its proposals in a special report made available to the shareholders at
the registered office of the company eight days before the general meeting. If the report
proposes that the company should continue to exist, it must also state what measures it
intends to adopt in order to redress the company's financial situation. This report must be
included on the agenda. Every shareholder shall be entitled to obtain free of charge, upon
request and upon production of his title, eight days before the meeting, a copy of this report.
A copy shall be sent to all registered shareholders at the same time as the convening notice.
Absence of the report required by subparagraph 2 shall result in the voidance of the general
meeting's resolution unless all shareholders have waived the need for the report.
- 74 -
The same rules shall be observed where, as a result of a loss, the net assets are reduced to
less than one quarter of the share capital, but in such case, dissolution shall take place if
approved by one-quarter of the votes cast at the meeting.
In the event of any infringement of the foregoing provisions, the directors or members of the
management board, as applicable, may be declared personally and jointly and severally
liable vis-à-vis the company for all or part of the increase of the loss.
Art. 101.
(1) The district court dealing with commercial matters may, at the application of the public
prosecutor, order the dissolution and the liquidation of a société européenne (SE)
whose registered office is located in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, but whose head
office is not located there.
The application and the procedural deeds within the framework of this Article shall be
served through the greffe (registry). If the company cannot be contacted at its legal
domicile in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, the application is published by way of
extract in two newspapers printed in Luxembourg.
The company concerned shall, however, be granted a period of six months by the
competent court in order to regularise its situation, either:
a) by re-establishing its head office in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg; or
b) by transferring the registered office by means of the procedure laid down in Articles
101-1 to 101-17.
The action to cause the dissolution is directed against the company.
The decision ordering the dissolution shall take effect as of the date of said decision.
(Law of 27 May 2016)
However, this clause is only enforceable against third parties in accordance with the
rules laid down in Chapter Vbis of Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002
on the register of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts
of undertakings.
The court may either order the immediate closing of the liquidation, or determine the
method of liquidation and appoint one or more liquidators. It may render applicable to
such extent as it may determine, the rules governing the liquidation of a bankruptcy.
Upon the closing of the liquidation, the liquidator shall report to the court and submit a
statement on the corporate assets and their application.
(2) Where it is established either by the court at the application of the public prosecutor,
or by any interested party, that a société européenne (SE) has its head office within
the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg without its registered office being situated there, the
public prosecutor shall immediately inform the Member State in which the registered
office of the société européenne (SE) is situated.
Sub-section 1. - Procedure for the transfer of the registered office from the Grand-
Duchy of Luxembourg to another Member State.
Art. 101-2
(1) The board of directors or management board, as applicable, of the société
européenne (SE) transferring its registered office shall draw up a transfer proposal in
writing.
(2) The proposal shall indicate:
a) the trade name, registered office and registration number of the société
européenne (SE);
b) the proposed registered office of the société européenne (SE);
c) the proposed articles of association of the société européenne (SE) including,
where appropriate, its new trade name;
d) any consequences the transfer may have on employees' involvement in the
société européenne (SE);
e) the proposed transfer timetable;
f) any rights provided for to protect shareholders and/or creditors or holders of
securities other than shares.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
Art. 101-3
(Law of 23 March 2007; Law of 27 May 2016)
The draft terms of transfer shall be made public as per chapter Vbis, Title I of the amended
Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and the accounting
and annual accounts of undertakings, at least two months prior to the date of the general
meeting called to rule on the proposed transfer.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
Art. 101-4
The board of directors or management board, as applicable, shall draw up a report
explaining and justifying the legal and economic aspects of the transfer and explaining the
consequences of the transfer for shareholders, creditors and employees.
Art. 101-5
The shareholders and creditors of the société européenne (SE) shall be entitled, at least one
month before the general meeting called upon to decide on the transfer, to examine, at the
registered office of the société européenne (SE), the transfer proposal and the report drawn
up pursuant to Article 101-4 and, on request, to obtain copies of those documents free of
charge.
Art. 101-6
The transfer requires the approval of the general meeting of the société européenne (SE).
That decision requires that the conditions as to quorum and majority, laid down for
amendments of the articles of association, are fulfilled. No decision may be taken for two
months after publication of the proposal pursuant to Article 101-3.
Art. 101-7
Creditors of a société européenne (SE) which is transferring its registered office, whose
claims predate the publication of the transfer proposal pursuant to Article 101-3, may,
notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, within two months of such publication,
apply to the judge presiding the chamber of the district court dealing with commercial
matters in the district in which the registered office of the debtor company is located and
sitting as in urgency matters, for the constitution of security for matured or unmatured
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claims, in case the transfer would jeopardise the general lien of such creditors or impede
the enforcement of their claims. The court shall reject the application where the creditor
already has adequate safeguards, or if such collateral is not necessary, taking into account
the location of the company after the transfer. The debtor company may cause the
application to be turned down by paying the creditor, even if it is a term debt.
If the safeguards are not provided within the time limit prescribed, the debt shall
immediately fall due.
Art. 101-8
Without prejudice to the rules governing the collective exercise of their rights, Article 101-7
shall apply to holders of bonds of the company transferring its registered office, unless the
transfer has been approved by a meeting of the bondholders or by the bondholders
individually.
Art. 101-9
(1) The holders of securities, other than shares, to which special rights are attached,
must be given rights in the company which has transferred its registered office at
least equivalent to those conferred to them in the company prior to such transfer.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply if the alteration to those rights has been approved by a
meeting of such holders passed in accordance with the quorum and majority rules
provided for in Article 101-6.
(Law of 18 December 2009; Law of 23 July 2016)
(3) In the event the meeting provided for in the preceding paragraph is not convened or,
in case such a meeting refuses the proposed alteration, the securities concerned
shall be redeemed at the price corresponding to their valuation in the transfer
proposal and verified by an independent expert appointed by the management body
and chosen from among the independent auditors.
Art. 101-10
(1) The minutes of the meeting which decides on the transfer shall be established by a
notarial deed.
(2) The notary shall verify and certify the existence and legality of the deeds and
formalities incumbent on the company for which he draws up his deed, and of the
transfer proposal.
(3) The notary shall issue a certificate attesting in a conclusive manner the completion of
the acts and formalities which need to be accomplished prior to the transfer.
A société européenne (SE) which has transferred its registered office to another Member
State shall be considered, in respect of any cause of action litigation arising prior to the
transfer as determined pursuant to Article 101-11, as having its registered office in the
Member State where the société européenne (SE) was registered prior to the transfer,
even if the société européenne (SE) is sued after the transfer.
Art. 101-14
The transfer of the registered office of the société européenne (SE) will be effective vis-à-
vis third parties, excluding shareholders, as from the date of the publication of the new
registration of the société européenne (SE). However, as long as the deletion of the
registration from the register for its previous registered office has not been publicised, third
parties may continue to rely on the previous registered office, unless the société
européenne (SE) proves that such third parties were aware of the new registered office.
Art. 101-15
When the new registration of the société européenne (SE) has been effected, the registry
for its new registration shall notify the registry for its old registration.
Deletion of the old registration shall be effected on receipt of that notification, but not
before.
Art. 101-16
(Law of 27 May 2016)
The new registration and the deletion of the old registration shall be published, and Articles
10 and 11bis of this law and the provisions of Chapter Vbis, Title I of the amended Law of
19 December 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and the accounting and
annual accounts of undertakings shall apply.
Art. 101-17
A société européenne (SE) which is subject to proceedings for dissolution, liquidation,
bankruptcy, composition with creditors or other similar proceedings such as suspension of
payments, controlled management or proceedings instituting a special management or
supervision may not transfer its registered office.
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to the same publicity rules as if he would act in his own name and on his own behalf.
Art. 101-23.
The chairperson or directors of the société par actions simplifiée shall not contract any
personal obligation in relation to the company's commitments.
The rules stipulating the liability of the members of the board of directors or of the
management board of a société anonyme apply to the chairperson and the directors of a
société par actions simplifiée.
Art. 101-24.
The articles of association stipulate which decisions may be taken jointly by the body of
shareholders subject to the forms and conditions stated therein.
However, powers delegated to the general meetings of a société anonyme concerning
increases, amortisations and reductions of share capital, mergers, demergers, dissolution,
change of company form, appointment of supervisory auditors, financial accounts and
profits shall, in the conditions stated by the articles of association, be exercised jointly by
the body of shareholders.
If the company comprises a single member, his decisions shall be recorded in the minutes
or in writing.
Art. 101-25.
Where the chairperson has a direct or indirect financial interest contrary to the interests of
the company in relation to a transaction that falls within his remit to authorise, a note must
be made in the minutes of the transaction.
Where a director or directors have a direct or indirect financial interest contrary to the
interests of the company, the decision is taken by the chairperson. A note is made in the
minutes of the decision.
At the next following general meeting, before any other resolution is put to vote, a special
report shall be made on any transactions in which the chairperson may have had an
interest conflicting with that of the company.
These provisions do not apply to current operations entered into under normal conditions.
Art. 101-26.
Any disposal of shares that is made in breach of the articles of association is void.
Section V. — Sociétés en commandite par actions (Corporate Partnerships
Limited By Shares)
Art. 102.
(Law of 12 July 2013)
A société en commandite par actions is a company established by contract, for a limited or
unlimited period, between one or more shareholders who are indefinitely and jointly and
severally liable for the obligations of the company, and one or more shareholders who only
contribute a specific share of capital.
Art. 103.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
The provisions regarding sociétés anonymes shall apply to sociétés en commandite par
actions, subject to the modifications indicated in this Section.
Furthermore, a société en commandite par actions shall not be subject to the provisions
specifically applicable to the société européenne (SE)
Art. 104.
(…) (Abrogated by the law of 12 July 2013)
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Art. 105.
(Law of 23 November 1972)
All instruments, invoices, notices, publications, letters, order forms and other documents
issued by sociétés en commandite par actions must contain:
1) the trade name of the company;
2) the words "société en commandite par actions" reproduced legibly and in full;
3) a precise indication of the registered office;
(Law of 19 December 2002)
4) the words "Registre de commerce et des sociétés, Luxembourg" or the initials
"R.C.S. Luxembourg" followed by the registration number.
(Law of 23 November 1972)
If the above documents state the share capital, that statement shall take into account any
decrease which it may have suffered according to the results of the various successive
balance sheets and shall indicate both the portion not yet paid-up and, in the case of an
increase of capital, the portion which has not yet been subscribed to.
(Law of 27 May 2016)
Any change of the registered office shall be published in the Recueil Électronique des
Sociétés et Associations; such publication shall be arranged by the management.
The penalties provided for in Article 77 shall apply to any agent acting on behalf of the
company in circumstances where these provisions are not complied with.
Art. 106.
(Law of 08 March 1989)
Bearer shares shall be signed by the managers. Unless otherwise provided for in the
articles of association, such signatures or one of them may be handwritten, printed or
affixed by means of a stamp.
Art. 107.
(Law of 12 July 2013; Law of 10 August 2016)
Management of the company is carried out by one or more managers, who may but need
not be unlimited partners, designated in accordance with the articles of association. Where
one or more managers are legal entities, they are not required to appoint a natural person
as their permanent representative.
Managers who are not unlimited partners shall be liable in accordance with Article 59.
The articles of association may allow the managers to delegate their powers to one or more
proxies, who are liable only for the performance of their mandate.
Unless otherwise provided for in the articles of association, each manager may, on behalf of
the company, take any action necessary or useful to the fulfilment of the corporate purpose.
Any restrictions provided for in the articles of association with respect to the powers of the
managers are not valid vis-à-vis third parties, even if they are published. However, the
articles of association may authorise one or more managers to represent the company,
either singly or jointly, and a clause to that effect is valid vis-à-vis third parties, subject to the
provisions of Article 9.
The company shall be bound by any acts of the manager(s), even if such acts exceed the
corporate purpose, unless it proves that the third party knew that the act exceeded the
corporate purpose or could not, in view of the circumstances, have been unaware of it.
Each manager represents the company vis-à-vis third parties and in legal proceedings,
either as plaintiff or as defendant.
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Writs served on behalf of or against the company shall be validly served in the name of the
company alone.
Art. 108.
(Law of 12 July 2013)
A limited partner may enter into any transaction with the société en commandite par actions
without his capacity as limited partner affecting his rank as unsecured or preferred creditor
under the terms of the relevant transaction.
He shall be prohibited from carrying out any act of management with regard to third parties.
A limited partner shall be jointly and severally liable, vis-à-vis third parties, for any
commitments of the company in which he participated in violation of the prohibition
contained in the foregoing paragraph.
He shall also be jointly and severally liable vis-à-vis third parties for commitments in which
he did not participate, if he has regularly carried out acts of management vis-à-vis such third
parties.
The following do not constitute acts of management for which the limited partner is jointly
and severally liable vis-à-vis third parties: the exercise of partner prerogatives; the providing
of opinions or advice to the company, its affiliates or their managers; the carrying out of any
control or supervisory measures; the granting of loans, guarantees or securities; or the
giving of any other type of assistance to the partnership or its affiliates, as well as the giving
of any authorisation to the managers in the cases provided for in the articles of association,
for acts outside their powers.
The limited partner may act as a member of a management body or as a proxy of a
manager of the company, even if that manager is an unlimited partner, or may execute
documents on the manager’s behalf under the latter’s corporate signature, even acting in
the capacity of a representative of the company, without incurring as a result unlimited and
joint and severable liability for the obligations of the partnership, provided that the capacity
in which he acts as representative is indicated.
Art. 109.
Supervision of the company must be entrusted to at least three auditors.
Art. 110.
The supervisory board may give its opinion on any matters which the managers refer to it,
and may authorise acts which fall outside their powers.
Art. 111.
(Law of 12 July 2013)
Subject to any contrary provision of the articles of association, the general meeting of
shareholders shall adopt and ratify measures affecting the interests of the company vis-à-
vis third parties or amending the articles of association with the agreement of the general
partners only.
Art. 112.
(Law of 12 July 2013)
In the event of the general partner’s death, dissolution, legal incapacity, dismissal,
resignation, inability to act or bankruptcy or in case the general partner is in another
situation affecting the rights of creditors generally, and there is no other general partner and
it has been provided that, in such an event, the company would continue to exist, the
general partner shall be replaced. Unless otherwise specifically provided for in the
partnership agreement, the judge presiding the chamber of the district court dealing with
commercial matters may appoint, at the request of any interested parties, a temporary
administrator, who may but need not be a partner, who shall take all urgent and purely
administrative measures alone, until the resolution of the partners, which this administrator
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shall have passed within two weeks following his appointment. The administrator shall be
liable only for the performance of his mandate. Any interested party may object to the
order; the objection shall be notified both to the company as well as to the person
appointed and to the person who applied for the appointment. The proceedings regarding
the objection shall be heard as in urgent applications.
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Art. 114.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
The société coopérative must be made up of at least two persons.
It shall be managed by one or more authorised representatives, who may or may not be
partners and who shall only be liable for the performance of the duties entrusted to them.
A société coopérative which has not adopted the form of a société coopérative européenne
(SEC) may opt for one of the regimes stipulated in Articles 137-23 to 137-41.
The supervision of the company shall be entrusted to one or more auditors, who may or
may not be partners. Art. 115.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
(1) The deed of incorporation of the company must determine the following items:
1. The name of the company and its registered office;
2. The corporate purpose of the company;
3. The form of the company as a limited or unlimited liability entity;
4. the manner in which the share capital of the company is or will subsequently be
made up, and the minimum amount to be subscribed for immediately. In sociétés
coopératives with limited liability, the articles of association must state the fixed
proportion of the share capital.
(2) In addition to the types of infringement stated in Article 4, the voidance of a société
coopérative may only be declared in the following circumstances:
1. if the deed of incorporation does not contain any information about the items listed
in paragraph (1) of this Article;
2. if the corporate purpose is unlawful or contrary to public policy;
3. if there is not at least one founder who is validly committed.
4. if the company has not, within one year from when the number of partners falls to
less than two, increased the number of partners to two or more.
If the clauses of the deed of incorporation defining the distribution of profits or the
apportionment of losses are contrary to article 1855 of the Civil Code, those clauses shall
be deemed excluded. Art. 116.
The instrument shall also indicate:
(Law of 07 September 1987; Law of 10 August 2016)
1° The duration of the company, which may be limited or unlimited.
In the former case, the duration of the company may be successively extended in
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1° any portion of the fixed part of the share capital which will not have been validly
subscribed for as well as for any difference between the minimum amount of the
capital which must be subscribed to immediately as per Article 115, paragraph
(1)(4) and the amount subscribed for; they shall ipso jure be deemed to be
subscribers thereof;
2 the indemnification of any damage which is the immediate and direct result of either
the voidance of the company or the omission or inaccuracy in the deed of
incorporation of the items required by Article 115, paragraph (1).
(3) Any person who enters into a commitment for a third party mentioned by name in the
deed and acting either as agent or as surety, shall be deemed to be personally
committed if they have no valid mandate or the commitment is not ratified within two
months of the commitment.
The founders shall be jointly and severally liable for such commitments.
Art. 118.
(Law of 18 December 2009; Law of 10 August 2016)
Every société coopérative must keep a register containing on the first page the company's
deed of incorporation, and indicating thereafter:
1° the names, professions and addresses of society members;
2° the date of their admission, resignation or exclusion;
3° a statement of account of the sums paid or withdrawn by each of them;
4° the date of audits carried out and the names of the auditors or licensed independent
auditors.
(…)
(…)
Statements as to withdrawals of contributions shall be signed by the society member who
made them.
Section 2. - Changes in membership and in the corporate fund
Art. 119.
The status of society member as well as the number of shares for the time being held by
any member shall be evidenced, without prejudice to any other means of evidence under
commercial law, by the affixing of their signature, against their name, preceded by the date,
in the register of the company.
Art. 120.
(Law of 25 August 1986)
Partners are always entitled to resign under the conditions and on the terms which may be
provided for in the articles of association. They may resign only during the first six months
of the company’s financial year.
Art. 121.
The resignation shall be evidenced by indication of that fact on the partner's certificate and
on the register of the company, against the name of the resigning partner.
Such indications shall be dated and signed by the partner and by a director.
Art. 122.
If the directors refuse to record the resignation, or if the resigning partner does not know
how or is unable to sign, the said resignation shall be recorded at the registry of the
magistrate court of the registered office.
The registrar shall prepare an affidavit and give notice thereof to the company by registered
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Art. 130.
On all instruments, invoices, notices, publications and other documents issued by sociétés
coopératives, the trade name of the company must appear immediately preceded or
followed by the following words, written legibly and in full: "société coopérative".
Art. 131.
Any agent acting on behalf of a société coopérative in an instrument in respect of which the
requirements of the foregoing article are not fulfilled may, depending on the circumstances,
and in case of default by the company itself, be declared personally liable for the
commitments entered into therein by the company.
Art. 132.
(Law of 19 December 2002)
The annual accounts, as defined by the law of 19 December 2002 concerning the register
of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings
shall be lodged within one month of their approval at the register of commerce and
companies.
Art. 133.
The persons managing the company must lodge at the register of commerce and
companies every six months a list, in alphabetical order, of the names, professions and
addresses of all partners, dated and certified as being true and correct by the signatories.
The signatories shall be liable for any incorrect information in the said lists.
Art. 134.
(Law of 19 December 2002)
Within one month days of their appointment, the managers must lodge at the register of
commerce and companies, an extract of the instrument recording their appointment and
their powers.
They must appear in person at the register of commerce and companies to record their
signature or forward to the register of commerce and companies a notarised form thereof.
Art. 135.
The public shall be allowed to inspect the lists of members, the instruments conferring
management powers and the annual accounts free of charge. Any person may request a
copy thereof, on unstamped paper, against payment of the administrative costs.
Art. 136.
Sociétés coopératives may form federations in order to jointly pursue, in full or in part, the
purposes provided for in their articles of association or in order to ensure the fulfilment of
their obligations under the laws and regulations applicable to them.
Federations shall constitute a legal entity distinct from that of the societies comprised
therein.
They shall be subject to the provisions applicable to sociétés coopératives, except that the
said provisions may be supplemented or amended by government regulations, to the extent
they apply to federations.
Art. 137.
(Law of 18 December 2009)
Article 69 (1), (2) and (4) of the amended law of 19 December 2002 on the register of
commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings is
applicable.
The institution of the auditors provided for in Articles 114, 116 item 3 and 117 item 3 shall
not apply to those coopératives whose annual accounts are audited by a licensed
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The corporate deed shall in addition indicate the conditions for admission to, and
resignation from, membership and for exclusion of the partners and withdrawal of
contributions.
(5) Articles 28 to 32-4 do not apply to the société coopérative organised as a société
anonyme.
(6) In Article 37, paragraph 1, subparagraph 1, the shares mentioned are only registered or
book-entry shares in case of a société coopérative organised as a société anonyme.
In Article 37, paragraph 1, subparagraph 2, the founder shares mentioned may be in
registered, bearer or book-entry form in case of a société coopérative organised as a
société anonyme.
Article 37, paragraph 1, subparagraph 3 does not apply to a société coopérative organised
as a société anonyme.
(7) Articles 39 and 40 are not applicable to the société coopérative organised as a
société anonyme.
(8) For a société coopérative organised as a société anonyme, Articles 41 and 42 will
apply only to founder shares and similar securities referred to in paragraph (6) above.
(9) Article 43 does not apply to the société coopérative organised as a société anonyme.
(10) Article 46, paragraph (1) will apply except to deliberations on share capital reductions.
(11) Article 48 does not apply to the société coopérative organised as a société anonyme.
(12) Articles 49-1 to 49bis do not apply to the société coopérative organised as a société
anonyme.
(13) Articles 69 to 69-2 do not apply to the société coopérative organised as a société
anonyme.
(14) Articles 72-1 to 72-4 do not apply to the société coopérative organised as a société
anonyme.
(15) In Article 76, paragraph 1, 2), the reference to "société anonyme" is replaced by
"société coopérative organisée comme une société anonyme".
Art. 137-5
(Law of 10 June 1999; Law of 10 August 2016)
(1) Articles 114 to 117 are not applicable to the société coopérative organised as a
société anonyme.
(2) Any partner may consult the register referred to in Article 118. Article 118, paragraphs
2 and 3 do not apply to the société coopérative organised as a société anonyme.
(3) The second sentence of Article 120 does not apply to the société coopérative
organised as a société anonyme.
(4) Articles 126 and 129 to 135 do not apply to the société coopérative organised as a
société anonyme.
(5) Article 136 will apply both to the sociétés coopératives and the sociétés coopératives
organised as a société anonyme.
Art. 137-6
Section IX. – Rights Of Action And Prescription Periods and Section XI. – Criminal Law
Provisions are applicable to the société coopérative organised as a société anonyme.
Art. 137-7
Section XIII. - Company Accounts does not apply to the société coopérative organised as a
société anonyme.
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Art. 137-8
(1) Section XIV. – Mergers applies to the société coopérative organised as a société
anonyme, subject to the following provisions.
(2) A société coopérative organised as a société anonyme may not acquire by way of
merger a société anonyme or a société coopérative organised as a société anonyme
unless the shareholders or partners of such other company fulfil the conditions
required to become a partner of the acquiring company.
(3) In sociétés coopératives organised as sociétés anonymes, each member has the
right, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary of the articles of association, to
withdraw at any time during the financial year and without having to satisfy any other
condition, upon the calling of the general meeting for the purpose of deciding on the
merger of the company with an acquiring company having the form of a société
anonyme.
The withdrawal must be notified to the company by registered letter deposited at the
post at least five days before the day of the meeting. It will be effective only if the
merger is approved.
The notice for the meeting must feature the text of the first and second sub-
paragraphs of this paragraph.
(4) The provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this Article apply to the merger by
incorporation of a new company.
Art. 137-9
(1) Section XV. - Demergers applies to the société coopérative organised as a société
anonyme, subject to the following provisions.
(2) A société coopérative organised as a société anonyme may not participate in a
demerger as a recipient company unless the shareholders or partners of the
company being divided fulfil the conditions required to become a partner in the
recipient company.
(3) In sociétés coopératives organised as a société anonyme, each partner has the right,
notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the articles of association, to
withdraw at any time during the financial year and without having to satisfy any other
condition, upon the calling of the general meeting for the purpose of deciding on the
demerger of the company for the benefit of the recipient companies, at least one of
which has another legal form.
The withdrawal must be notified to the company by registered letter deposited at the
post at least five days before the day of the meeting. It will be effective only if the
demerger is approved.
The notice for the meeting must feature the text of the first and second sub-
paragraphs of this paragraph.
(4) The provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this Article apply to the demerger by
incorporation of new companies.
Art. 137-10
Section XVI. – Consolidated accounts does not apply to the société coopérative organised
as a société anonyme.
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Section 2. - Formation
Sub-section 1.– Formation by merger
A. Procedure
Art. 137-15
The draft terms of merger shall be prepared by either the board of directors or management
board, as applicable.
Art. 137-16
The draft terms of merger and the information required by Article 24 of Regulation (EC) No.
1435/2003 shall be published in line with Article 262, paragraph (1).
B. Scrutiny of legality
Art. 137-17
The legality of the merger shall be scrutinised and the certificate issued, in accordance with
Article 29 of Regulation (EC) No. 1435/2003, by the notary who draws up the deed, as per
Article 271.
Art. 137-18
The scrutinisation of the legality of the merger required by Article 30 of Regulation (EC) No.
1435-2003 shall be performed by the notary who draws up the deed.
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where applicable.
Art. 137-27
The minimum number of directors is three.
C. Two-tier system
C 1. General provisions
Art. 137-28
The management body is the management board. It may comprise one or several members.
The supervisory body is the supervisory board. It shall comprise at least three members.
Art. 137-29
Subject to the limitations imposed by Regulation (EC) No. 1435/2003, by this law or by the
articles of association, the powers of the management board and of its members are the
same as those of the board of directors and its directors.
Art. 137-30
Any report that this law requires be written by the board of directors shall be written by the
management board. Unless otherwise permitted by law and without prejudice to any stricter
provision in the articles of association, that report shall be promptly submitted to the
supervisory board and shall be subject to the same information and publicity rules as govern
reports written by a board of directors.
Art. 137.31.
The management board shall have the power to take any action necessary or useful to
achieve the company objects, with the exception of those powers reserved by law or the
articles of association for the supervisory board or the general meeting. It may delegate day-
to-day management as per article 60bis-8. The articles of association shall list the
categories of transactions for which the management board is required to obtain
authorisation from the supervisory board.
Lack of authorisation from the supervisory board shall not be valid with regard to third
parties.
Where in a European Cooperative Society (SCE) a delegation of powers has been validly
granted and where the holder of such delegation passes a deed which is within the limits of
such delegation but belongs to a category of transactions which under the articles of
association of the European Cooperative Society (SCE) require authorisation of the
management board or the supervisory board, such deed shall be binding on the society
without prejudice to damages, where applicable.
C 2. Management board
I. Status of members of the management board
Art. 137-32
The members of the management board shall be appointed by the supervisory board.
The articles of association may nevertheless provide that the general meeting may appoint
the members of the management board.
In such case, the general meeting shall have sole authority.
The members of the management board may be dismissed by the supervisory board and,
where provided for in the articles of association, by the general meeting.
II. Powers and functions
Art. 137-33
If they are several in number, the members of the management board shall constitute a
single panel which deliberates in the manner established by the articles of association.
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Art. 137-34
The limits placed on the powers of the management board by either the articles of
association or a decision of the competent bodies, shall not be valid with regard to third
parties, even if they are made public.
Art. 137-35
The management board shall represent the company in dealings with third parties and in
legal proceedings, where it may act as claimant or defendant, subject to the terms of Article
39, paragraph (1) of Regulation (EC) No. 1435/2003. Writs served on behalf of or against
the company shall be validly served in the name of the company alone.
The articles of association may authorise one or more members of the management board
to represent the company in any deed or in legal proceedings, either alone or jointly. A
clause in the articles of association to that effect is valid with regard to third parties, subject
to the conditions laid down in Article 9. The articles of association may place restrictions on
these powers of representation. These restrictions shall not be valid with regard to third
parties, even if made public.
C 3. Supervisory Board
I. Status of the members of the supervisory board
Art. 137-36
The provisions of Articles 51, 51bis and 52 shall apply to the supervisory board.
II. Powers and functions
Art. 137-37
(1) The supervisory board shall constitute a single panel which shall deliberate in the
manner established in the articles of association.
(2) The supervisory board shall at all times supervise the management of the company by
the management board, but is not authorised to interfere with such management.
(3) The supervisory board may ask the management board to provide information of any
kind which it may require to exercise its duty of supervision in accordance with
paragraph (2).
Art. 137-38
The supervisory board shall meet at the request of its chairman.
The chairman must convene the board if so requested by at least two of its members or by
the management board. The board shall meet at the intervals laid down by the articles of
association.
The supervisory board may invite the members of the management board to attend its
meetings, in which case they shall have an advisory role only.
C 4. Rules common to members of the board of directors, management board and
supervisory board
I. Remuneration
Art. 137-39
The members of the management board and of the supervisory board may be remunerated.
The type and amount of remuneration paid to the members of the management board are
determined by the supervisory board. The type and amount of remuneration paid to the
members of the supervisory board are determined by the articles of association or, failing
this, by the general meeting.
II. Liability
Art. 137-40
The members of the board of directors, management board and supervisory board shall be
liable to the company, in accordance with common law, for the execution of the mandate
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given to them and for any misconduct in the performance of their functions.
Art. 137-41
The members of the board of directors, management board and supervisory board shall be
jointly and severally liable, towards both the company and any third parties, for damages
resulting from a breach of Regulation (EC) No. 1435/2003, this law or the articles of
association.
They shall be released from that liability in relation to an infringement to which they were not
a party, provided no misconduct is attributable to them and they have reported such
infringement to the first general meeting after learning of it.
Art. 137-44
In a two-tier system, the general meeting shall rule on whether to give discharge to the
members of the supervisory board and management board, as per Article 74.
C. Voting rights
Art. 137-45
(1) The articles of association may provide that the number of votes owned by a member
is determined by that member's participation in the society's activities, excluding any
participation in the form of a contribution to the share capital. In this case, the
maximum number of votes that may be owned by any single member shall be the
lesser of 5 votes or 30% of the total voting rights.
European Cooperative Societies (SCE) who operate in the financial or insurance
sectors may provide that the number of votes is determined by the member's
participation in the society's activities including any participation in the form of a
contribution to the share capital of the European Cooperative Society (SCE). In this
case, the maximum number of votes that may be owned by any single member shall
be the lesser of 5 votes or 20% of the total voting rights.
The articles of association of European Cooperative Societies (SCE) where the
majority of members are cooperatives may provide that the number of votes is
determined by the members' participation in the activities of the society, including
participation in the form of a contribution to the share capital of the European
Cooperative Society (SCE) and/or by the number of members of each constituent
entity.
(2) The investor members determined in Article 137-14 may not own more than 25% of
the total voting rights.
(3) The articles of association of a European Cooperative Society (SCE) may permit
worker representatives to participate in general, sectorial or section meetings, on the
condition that together, the worker representatives do not control more than 15% of
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the total voting rights. This right of participation ceases to apply when the registered
office of the European Cooperative Society (SCE) is transferred to a Member State
whose laws do not permit the participation of workers.
D. Sectorial or section meetings
Art. 137-46
As per Article 63, paragraph (1) of Regulation (EC) No. 1435/2003, the articles of
association may permit sectorial or section meetings.
Section 6. - Annual accounts and consolidated accounts, and their audit. Special
provisions applicable to the two-tier system
Art. 137-54
Each year, the supervisory board shall receive from the management board all documents
listed in Article 72, which by analogy apply to European Cooperative Societies (SCE), at the
time set in that article for their delivery to the auditors, and shall present to the general
meeting its comments on the report of the management board and on the annual accounts.
Articles 1865 3°, 4° and 5° of the Civil Code shall apply neither to the société en
commandite simple nor to the société en commandite spéciale.
Art. 143.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
If no liquidators are appointed, the managing members in sociétés en nom collectif or in
sociétés en commandite, the managers in sociétés à responsabilité limitée and the
directors or members of the management board, as applicable, in sociétés anonymes and
sociétés coopératives shall, vis-à-vis third parties, be deemed to be liquidators.
Art. 144.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Unless the articles of association or the instrument of appointment provide otherwise, the
liquidators may bring and defend any action on behalf of the company, receive any
payments, grant releases with or without receipt, realise all securities of the company,
endorse any negotiable instrument and transact or compromise on any disputes. They may
dispose of immovable property of the company by public auction if they consider the sale
thereof necessary to pay the debts of the company.
Art. 145.
They may, but only with the authorisation of the general meeting of partners, given in
accordance with Article 142, continue, until the sale thereof, with the industrial and
commercial activity of the company, borrow moneys to pay the debts of the company, issue
negotiable instruments, mortgage and pledge the assets of the company, dispose of the
immovable property thereof, even by private contract, and contribute the assets of the
company to other companies.
Art. 146.
The liquidators may require partners to pay-up amounts which they have undertaken to pay
to the company and which the liquidators consider necessary for the completion of the
liquidation.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Art. 146bis.
The liquidators must convene a general meeting of partners to be held within one month, if
they are called upon to do so in writing by partners representing one tenth of the share
capital stating the agenda, and they must convent a general meeting of bondholders to be
held within one month, if they are called upon to do so by bondholders representing one
twentieth of the circulating bonds of the same issue.
Art. 147.
Without prejudice to the rights of creditors benefiting from liens or mortgages, the
liquidators shall pay all the debts of the company, proportionally and without distinction
between debts which have matured and those that have not matured, subject to a discount
in the case of the latter.
They may, however, under their personal guarantee, first pay the debts which have
matured if the assets significantly exceed the liabilities or if the term debts have the benefit
of adequate safeguards and without prejudice to the right of creditors to take recourse to
the courts.
Art. 148.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
After the payment or the deposit in escrow of the sums necessary for payment of the debts,
the liquidators shall distribute to the partners those amounts or assets capable of forming
equal shares; they shall deliver to them any property which may have been retained for the
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purpose of apportionment.
They may, subject to the authorisation referred to in Article 145, redeem the shares or the
corporate units of the company either on the Stock Exchange or by subscription or tender,
in which all the partners shall be entitled to participate.
(Law of 20 June 1930)
Art.148bis.
(Law of 08 August 1985)
By way of derogation from the provisions of Article 147 and the first paragraph of Article
148, where a société anonyme has contributed all of its assets and liabilities to another
société anonyme, the liquidators of the contributing company may, complying as
appropriate with Articles 26-1 and 44 of this Law, distribute amongst the shareholders the
shares allotted in consideration of the contribution, without having to first reimburse the
bonds or deposit in escrow the amounts required for such reimbursement, the company
receiving the contribution being directly liable for the performance of the obligations of the
contributing company, in the same way as the latter was liable, all special collateral being
maintained for the benefit of the bondholders.
The company which has received and the company which has made the contribution shall
both have the Luxembourg nationality, unless the legislation of the jurisdiction of the
contributing company allows the contribution to be made in such conditions even to a
foreign company.
(Law 02 April 1948)
In case all of the assets and liabilities of a société anonyme is taken over by the
government, it may pay the shareholders without being required to previously reimburse the
bondholders or deposit the necessary amounts for such a reimbursement in escrow.
Art. 148ter.
(Law of 12 July 2013; Law of 10 August 2016)
By way of derogation from the provisions of Article 147 and the first paragraph of Article
148, where the shareholders or partners of a civil company or société commerciale vested
with legal personality have unanimously decided to continue their company within a société
en commandite spéciale, which shall take over all the assets and liabilities, the liquidators
may distribute amongst the shareholders the ownership interests in the société en
commandite spéciale without having to first reimburse the bonds or deposit in escrow the
amounts required for such reimbursement, the société en commandite spéciale being
directly liable for the performance of the obligations of the civil company or société
commerciale, in the same way as the latter was liable, all special collateral being maintained
for the benefit of the creditors.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Art. 148uater.
In sociétés anonymes and sociétés européennes (SE), a member of the panel of liquidators
or the sole liquidator who has a direct or indirect financial interest that conflicts with the
interests of the company in relation to a transaction submitted for the approval of the panel
or that falls within its remit, is required to comply with Article 57.
Art. 149.
The liquidators shall be liable, both to third parties and to the company, for the execution of
the mandate given to them and for any misconduct in the management of the liquidation.
Art. 150.
Each year, the results of the liquidation shall be submitted to the general meeting of the
company, together with a statement as to the reasons which have prevented completion of
the liquidation. In the case of sociétés anonymes, the balance sheet shall also be
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published.
Art. 151.
(Law of 18 December 2009; Law of 23 July 2016)
When the liquidation is completed, the liquidators shall make a report to the general meeting
regarding the employment of the corporate assets and shall present supporting accounts
and documents. The meeting shall appoint auditors to examine such documents and shall
determine a further meeting which, after the auditors shall have issued their report, shall
deliberate on the management of the liquidators.
(Law of 27 May 2016)
The completion of the liquidation must be published in accordance with the rules laid down
in Chapter Vbis of Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of
commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings.
Such publication must also include:
1° an indication of the place designated by the general meeting where the corporate
books and documents are to be lodged and retained for at least five years;
2° an indication of the measures taken for the deposit in escrow of the sums and assets
due to creditors or to members, which it has not been possible to deliver to them.
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Art. 157.
(Law of 23 November 1972; Law of 25 August 2006; Law of 12 July 2013; Law of 10
August 2016)
The following prescribe after five years:
• all actions by third parties against members or shareholders, from the publication
of their withdrawal from the company or of an instrument of dissolution or of the
expiry of its contractual term;
• all actions by third parties for the recovery of dividends improperly distributed, from
the distribution thereof;
• all actions against liquidators, in such capacity, from the publication prescribed by
Article 151;
• all actions against managers, directors, members of the management board,
members of the management committee, managing directors, members of the
supervisory board, auditors or liquidators, for action taken by them in that capacity,
as from the time of such action or, if they were fraudulently concealed, from the
discovery thereof;
• any action for the voidance of a société anonyme, société à responsabilité limitée
or a société en commandite par actions, a civil company, a société en nom
collectif, a société en commandite simple, a société en commandite spéciale or a
société coopérative founded on Articles 4, 12ter, paragraphs (1), items 1) or 2) and
paragraph (2), item 2), 22-1 paragraph (8), item a) and 115, paragraph (2), item 1,
brought after publication, where the contract has been executed during at least
five years, without prejudice to any entitlement to damages;
• all actions for the voidance of a société coopérative, from publication where the
contract has been performed for at least five years, without prejudice to any
damages which may be due.
However, the voidance of sociétés coopératives whose existence is contrary to law
may be applied for, even after expiry of the prescription period.
All actions for the voidance of acts and resolutions dated after the creation of the
company that are brought from the date on which the resolutions at issue are
enforceable against the person claiming nullity or are known to him or should have
been known to him given the circumstances, shall be prescribed after six months.
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e) the appointment, termination of office and identity of the persons who are authorised to
represent the company in dealings with third parties and in legal proceedings: - :
• as a corporate body constituted pursuant to law or as members of any such body,
in accordance with the disclosure by the company pursuant to Article 2(d) of
Directive 2009/101/EC; - as permanent representatives of the company for the
activities of the branch, with an indication of the extent of their powers;
• as permanent representatives of the company for the activities of the branch, with
an indication of the extent of their powers;
f)
• the dissolution of the company, the appointment of liquidators, the identity of
liquidators and their powers and the termination of the liquidation in accordance
with the disclosure by the company pursuant to Article 2, items h), j) and k) of
Directive 2009/101/EC;
• bankruptcy proceedings, compositions or any analogous proceedings to which the
company is subject;
g) the accounting documents in accordance with Article 160-3;
h) the closure of the branch.
Art. 160-3
(Law of 10 August 2016)
The compulsory disclosure provided for by Article 160-2, item g), shall be limited to the
accounting documents of the company as drawn up, audited and published pursuant to the
law of the Member State by which the company is governed, in accordance with Directives
2013/34/EU and 2006/43/EC.
The documents referred to in the preceding paragraph must be published in the following
languages: French, German, English.
(Law of 27 November 1992)
Art. 160-4
(Law of 19 December 2002)
Where a company has opened more than one branch in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg,
the disclosure stipulated in Article 160-3 may be made in the file of the branch of the
company’s choice.
In that case, the disclosure obligations of the other branches shall consist in indicating the
registration number of that branch in that register.
(Law of 27 November 1992)
Art. 160-5
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Letters and order forms used by a branch shall state, in addition to the information
prescribed by Article 5 of Directive 2009/101/EC, the register in which the branch's file is
kept, together with the registration number of the branch in that register.
Art. 160-6
(Law of 27 May 2016; Law of 10 August 2016)
Branches opened in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg by a company not governed by the
law of another Member State of the European Union but whose legal form is comparable to
those stipulated in Directive 2009/101/EC shall disclose, in accordance with Chapter Vbis,
Title 1 of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of commerce and
companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings, the following
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If these documents are not drawn up in accordance with, or in a manner equivalent to,
Directive 2013/34/EC, accounting documents relating to the activities of the branch shall be
drawn up and published in accordance with Luxembourg law. Where the branch exceeds
the criteria for a small company, as set out in Article 35 of the Law of 19 December 2002 on
the register of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of
undertakings, the audit of the accounting documents by one or more licensed independent
auditors is compulsory. Article 36 of the Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of
commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings also
applies.
(Law of 27 November 1992)
Art. 160-8
Article 160-5. shall apply to letters and order forms used by the branches referred to in
Article 160-6.
Art. 160-9
The persons entrusted with the management of the Luxembourg branches are responsible
for compliance with the obligations stipulated in Articles 160-2 to 160-8.
Art. 160-10
If the disclosure made at the branch is different from the disclosure made at the company,
the former shall prevail for dealings made with the branch.
Art. 160-11
Article 160-3, paragraph 1, and Article 160-7, paragraphs 1 and 2, do not apply to
Luxembourg branches set up by credit institutions and financial institutions subject to
Directive 89/117/EEC.
The same applies to branches established by foreign insurance companies.
Art. 161.
(Law of 10 July 2005)
– (…)
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Art. 172.
The provisions of the Book I of the Criminal Code and the provisions of Articles 130-1 to
132-1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on attenuating circumstances shall apply to the
offences provided for in this Law.
Art. 173.
(Law of 25 August 2006)
Evidence of the accusations made against managers, directors and auditors of sociétés en
commandite par actions, sociétés anonymes and sociétés coopératives, by reason of facts
relating to their management or supervision, shall be admitted, either against such persons
or against the company, by all ordinary methods of proof unless the opposite is proven by
the same methods, all in accordance with the Law of 8 June 2004 on the freedom of
expression in the media.
Art. 173bis.
The sanctions prescribed by Articles 162 to 173 are applicable, depending on their
respective duties, to the members of the management board and to the members of the
supervisory board of sociétés anonymes governed by Articles 60bis-1 to 60bis-19.
Additional Provisions
Art. 174.
Title III of Book I of the Commercial Code, insofar as it has not been abrogated by the Law
of 16 April 1879, is repealed as from the date of application of this Law.
Art. 175.
The provisions of Articles 11 (Law of 10 July 2005) (…), 39 to 42, 48, 62, 63, 67 to 69, 71,
72 to 75, 76, 78, (Law of 10 July 2005) (…), 84 with the exception of the last paragraph, 85
and 152 shall apply to companies incorporated under the previous legislation. — The
foregoing list is not exhaustive.
Articles 86 to 95 inclusive shall not apply to bonds issued before the date this Law comes
into force, except with regard to the granting of special collateral to the holders of such
bonds and the adoption of provisions consequential thereto.
Article 98 shall not apply to bonds issued prior to the date this Law came into force.
The prescription period of five years laid down in Article 157 shall apply even to acts done
under the previous law and which would take more than five years to prescribe under this
Law.
Art. 176.
Commercial companies and civil companies, incorporated in the form of any of the five
commercial companies provided for in Article 3, which existed before the date this Law
came into force may not be continued beyond the term fixed for their duration unless all the
provisions in their articles of association which are contrary to this Law are removed and
the company is made subject to all the provisions hereof.
They may not, before the expiry of that period, make any changes to their articles otherwise
than by bringing the clauses affected by the said changes into line with the provisions of the
present law.
In such cases, if the relevant company is a société anonyme, it shall be exempted from
governmental authorisation only if it proceeds in the manner laid down in paragraph 1.
Sociétés anonymes enjoying concessions in respect of railways or other works of public
utility shall remain subject, in all cases, to the control and supervisory measures laid down
in their current articles of association.
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Art. 177.
No company which, after the date this Law enters into force, has duly operated for a period
of one year without the validity thereof being contested, may no longer be declared void
under Articles 42 and 46 of the Commercial Code of 1807.
Art. 178.
Private powers of attorney, subscription forms and receipts, as provided for in this Law,
shall be exempt from stamp duty.
(Law of 18 September 1933)
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Art. 182.
(Law of 28 April 1988; Law of 10 August 2016)
(1) The share capital must be at least 12,000 euros. It shall be divided into corporate
units, with or without mention of value.
Securities which do not represent the stated capital may be issued to a given person,
and are referred to in this law as "founder shares". The articles of association shall
specify the rights attached thereto."
(2) Without prejudice to the option for the company to decide to redeem corporate units
with the consent of the members in question, the share capital may be comprised
entirely or partly by redeemable corporate units for which the terms and conditions of
redemption are stated in the articles of association. Redemption must be authorised
by the articles of association before the redeemable shares are subscribed.
(3) The redemption of corporate units may not result in the nominal value or, as
applicable, the aggregate accountable par of the units owned by persons other than
the company falls to below the minimum share capital value stated in paragraph (1).
(4) The company managers may decide to not pay all or some of the distributions upon
redemption of units, if it is foreseeable that by doing so the company would not be
able to honour its debts upon maturity. The decision by the managers to not pay the
distributions in this manner entails, until a decision to the contrary by the managers,
the suspension of the obligation of the company towards the members concerned.
(5) The company may only redeem corporate units if it honours the principle of equal
treatment of all members in the same situation.
(6) The voting rights and the financial rights attached to the redeemed shares shall be
suspended whilst they are owned by the company. The same applies if the company
orders the redemption of its units by a subsidiary undertaking in the sense of Article
309 paragraph (2).
(7) The articles of association may authorise the managers to cancel the units
redeemed by the company and to decide to reduce the share capital accordingly. In this
case, the managers shall record the capital reduction in a notarised deed. The notarised
deed must be produced within one month from the cancellation and capital reduction
decided by the managers.
Art. 183.
(Law of 18 September 1933; Law of 24 April 1983; Law of 28 December 1992; Law of 10
August 2016)
(1) The incorporation of a société à responsabilité limitée requires that:
1°the capital be subscribed for in full;
2°the corporate units be fully paid-up at the time of incorporation of the company.
Where a share premium is provided for, the amount thereof must be paid up in full.
The subscribers to the deed of incorporation shall be deemed to be founders of the
company. However, the deed of incorporation may designate as founder(s) one or
more subscribers who together hold at least one-third of the share capital. In such
case, the other parties to the deed who merely subscribe for corporate units for cash
without directly or indirectly receiving any specific advantage shall be regarded as
mere subscribers.
(2) The notary, drawing up the deed, shall verify that these conditions and those set out
in Article 184, paragraph 1, subparagraph 1 have been satisfied and shall expressly
ascertain compliance therewith.
(3) Where applicable, the articles of association shall state the conditions under which
corporate units may be subscribed using contributions of skills.
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Contributions of skills do not help constitute the share capital but result in an
allocation of units carrying a right to a share in the profits and net assets, and the duty
to contribute to losses.
Units issued in return for contributions of skills may not be sold and may not be transferred.
(Law of 18 September 1933)
Art. 184.
(Law of 18 September 1933; Law of 23 November 1972; Law of 18 December 2009; Law of
10 August 2016)
(1) The deed shall state:
1) the identity of the natural or legal person or persons by whom or on whose
behalf it has been signed;
2) the form of the company and its name;
3) the registered office;
4) the corporate purpose;
5) the amount of the subscribed capital;
6) the categories of units, if more than one, the rights pertaining to each of
those categories and the number of units subscribed;
7) details of each contribution in kind, the conditions under which it was made,
the name of the contributor;
8) the reason for, and the extent of, any special advantages conferred at the
time of incorporation of the company upon any person who participated in
the incorporation of the company;
9) if applicable, the number of securities or units which do not represent the
stated capital, as well as the rights attaching thereto, in particular the right to
vote at general meetings;
10) insofar as they are not provided for by law, the rules determining the number
and method of appointment of the members of the corporate bodies
responsible for representing the company with regard to third parties,
managers, the supervision or control of the company and the allocation of
powers among such corporate bodies;
11) the duration of the company;
12) at least the approximate amount of the costs, expenses and remuneration or
charges of whatever form, which are payable by the company or chargeable
to it by reason its incorporation.
(2) Contributions in kind may only be remunerated by shares representing the share
capital if they comprise assets for which an economic valuation can be produced,
excluding assets which comprise undertakings to perform work or supply services.
(3) The founders within the meaning of Article 28, paragraph 2, and, in the event of an
increase of the share capital, the managers, shall be jointly and severally liable
towards all interested parties, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary for:
1° any portion of the capital which will not have been validly subscribed for as
well as for any outstanding balance between the minimum capital required
by Article 182 and the amount subscribed for; they shall ipso jure be deemed
to be subscribers thereof;
2° the effective payment of the corporate units and of the portion of the capital
for which they are deemed to be subscribers pursuant to 1° above;
3° the indemnification of any damage which is the immediate and direct result
of either the voidance of the company by application of Article 12ter or the
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association may lower this majority to one half of the corporate units. The same rule
applies to the following operations involving such units or shares:
granting usufruct; or
selling bare ownership or usufruct.
The company must be informed of the proposed transfer.
If the company does not consent to the transfer, the members may, within three
months from the refusal, purchase or have purchased the units at a price established
as per paragraph (3), unless the disposing entity decides not to dispose of his units.
The expert fees will be paid by the company. At the petition of the manager, this
deadline may be extended by the judge presiding the chamber of the district court
dealing with commercial matters and sitting as in urgent proceedings, but by no more
than six months.
The company may also, with the consent of the disposing member, decide, within the
same deadline, to reduce its share capital by the nominal value of the units held by
that member and to redeem those units at a price determined in the manner stated in
paragraph (3). The court may grant the company a payment deadline of no more than
two years, if there is demonstrably good cause. The outstanding amounts shall
accrue interest at the legal rate for commercial transactions.
If at the end of the deadline none of the solutions stated in the third and fourth
subparagraphs above has occurred, the member may go ahead with the sale that
was initially proposed.
(2) Neither corporate units nor founder shares carrying a voting right may be sold mortis
causa, whether whole or in bare ownership, to persons other than members or
owners of founder shares with voting right without consent from members
representing at least three quarters of the corporate units held by surviving members.
However, the articles of association may lower this majority to one half of the
corporate units held by surviving members.
Unless otherwise provided in the articles of association, no consent shall be required
where the corporate units are transferred to heirs compulsorily entitled to a portion of
the estate or to the surviving spouse or partner, insofar as the articles of association
so provide, to other legal heirs.
Heirs or beneficiaries of last will provisions or contractual instruments affecting the
estate who have not been approved and who have not found a transferee fulfilling the
requisite conditions may cause the company to be prematurely dissolved, three
months after giving formal notice, served on the manager by process-server and
notified to the members by registered letter.
However, within that three-month deadline, the deceased's corporate units and
founder shares with voting right may be purchased, either by the members, subject to
the requirement stated in the final sentence of Article 199, or by a third party
approved by them, or by the company itself.
The redemption price of the corporate units or founder shares with voting right shall
be calculated on the basis of the average balance sheet for the last three years and,
if the company has not been operating for three financial years, on the basis of the
balance sheet of the last year or of the last two years.
If no profit has been distributed, or if no agreement is reached as to the application of
the basis for redemption referred to in the foregoing paragraph, the price shall, in the
event of disagreement, be determined by the courts.
The deceased's corporate units and founder shares with voting right may not be
exercised until the transfer of those rights becomes enforceable against the company.
3) The terms and conditions for the redemption must be laid down in the articles of
association. If the parties disagree over the sale price, the price shall be determined
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by the judge presiding the chamber of the district court dealing with commercial
matters, and sitting as in urgent proceedings. The value of the units shall be fixed on
the day of the notification of sale, in cases of inter vivos transfers, or on the date of
death in cases of transfers mortis causa.
(4) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), where founder shares with voting right
have been issued, such shares shall be counted as corporate units and their holders
shall have the same rights as members.
(5) Any clause that contradicts the requirements of this Article shall be deemed
excluded.
Art. 190.
Transfers of corporate units must be recorded by a notarial deed or private deed.
(Law of 21 December 1994)
Transfers shall not be valid vis-à-vis the company or third parties until they are notified to
the company or accepted by it in accordance with the provisions of Article 1690 of the Civil
Code.
(Law of 18 September 1933)
Art. 191.
(Law of 23 November 1972)
Sociétés à responsabilité limitée shall be managed by one or more agents, who may but
are not required to be members and who may or may not receive a salary.
They shall be appointed by the members, either in the deed of incorporation or in a
subsequent deed, for a limited or unlimited period. Unless otherwise provided for in the
articles of association, they may be removed, regardless of the method of their
appointment, for legitimate reasons only.
Art. 191 bis.
(Law of 23 November 1972; Law of 10 August 2016)
(1) Each manager may take any actions necessary or useful to realise the corporate
purpose, with the exception of those reserved by law or the articles of association to
be decided upon by the members. Subject to the requirements of subparagraph 4,
the articles of association may however state that, where there are several managers,
they may form a panel.
Each manager shall represent the company with regard to third parties and in legal
proceedings, either as plaintiff or as defendant.
Writs served on behalf of or against the company shall be validly served in the name
of the company alone.
Any limitations to the powers conferred upon the managers by the preceding
subparagraphs resulting either from the articles of association of the company or from
a decision of the competent corporate bodies are not valid with regard to third parties,
even if they are published.
However, the articles of association may authorise one or more managers to
represent the company in any deed or in legal proceedings, either alone or jointly.
This clause is enforceable against third parties in accordance with the rules laid down
in Chapter Vbis of Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of
commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings.
(2) Decisions taken by the panel of managers may, if permitted by the articles of
association, be unanimous decisions by the members of the panel, expressed in
writing.
Resolutions adopted in this manner shall be deemed to have been adopted at the
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second time, by registered letter, and the decisions shall be adopted by a majority of the
votes cast, regardless of the portion of capital represented.
Art. 195.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the articles of association, every member
shall be entitled to take part in the decisions. Each member shall have a number of votes
equal to the number of corporate units held by him.
The articles of association state that the managers may suspend the voting rights of any
partner who has not fulfilled the obligations incumbent on him by virtue of the articles of
association or his subscription or undertaking documentation.
Any partner may personally agree to not exercise all or some of his voting rights on a
temporary or permanent basis. Such a waiver is binding on the partner as well as on the
company from when it is notified of the fact.
Art. 195bis.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
(1) Partner agreements may be drawn up to govern the exercise of voting rights.
However:
1. agreements which are contrary to the requirement of this law or the interests of the
company;
2. agreements whereby a partner agrees to vote as instructed by the company, a
subsidiary or one of the bodies of those companies;
3. agreements whereby a partner agrees with those same companies or bodies to
approve all motions originating from the company's bodies,
are void.
(2) Votes cast during a general meeting or in application of the written procedure
described in Article 193, subparagraph 2, by virtue of one of the agreements listed in
paragraph (1), subparagraph 2, are void. These votes shall entail the voidance of the
resolutions to which they relate unless they had no influence on the outcome of the
vote.
Claims for voidance shall become prescribed six months after the vote.
Art. 196.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
(1) In companies with more than sixty members, at least one general meeting must be held
each year at the time determined in the articles of association.
Other general meetings may always be convened by the manager or managers or,
failing that, by the supervisory board if one exists or, failing that, by members
representing more than half the share capital.
(2) Subject to the articles of association providing therefore, partners participating in the
meeting by way of video conference or by way of telecommunication means allowing
their identification, shall be deemed to be present for the calculation of quorum and
majority. Such means must satisfy technical characteristics which ensure effective
participation in the meeting whose deliberations shall be transmitted without
interruption. When applying this subparagraph, the member or agent must however
be physically present at the registered office of the company.
Where, in accordance with the preceding subparagraph, the meeting is held between
partners who are not physically present, the meeting is deemed to have been held at
the registered office of the company.
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(3) The articles of association may authorise any partner to cast its vote by mail, by
means of a voting form, the details of which shall be laid down in the articles of
associations.
Voting forms which indicate neither the direction of a vote nor an abstention shall be
considered void.
For the calculation of the quorum, only those voting forms which have been received
by the company prior to the general meeting within the period provided for in the
articles of association shall be taken into account.
An attendance register is kept for every general meeting.
Art. 196bis.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Where there is more than one class of unit and the resolution of the general meeting is
such as to change the respective rights thereof, the resolution must, in order to be valid,
fulfil the conditions as to attendance and majority laid down in the Article 199 with respect
to each class.
Art. 197.
Each year, management must prepare an inventory indicating all the movable and
immovable assets of, and all debts owed to and by, the company, with an annex
summarising all its commitments, and the debts of the managers, auditors and members
towards the company.
Management prepares the balance sheet and the profit and loss account, in which the
necessary depreciation charges must be made.
The balance sheet shall separately mention fixed assets and the current assets and, on the
liability side, the debts of the company towards itself, bonds, indebtedness secured by
mortgages or pledges and indebtedness without the benefit of securities on assets. It shall
specify on the liability side the amount of the indebtedness towards members.
Each year, at least one-twentieth of the net profits shall be allocated to the creation of a
reserve; the allocation shall cease to be compulsory when the reserve has reached an
amount equal to one-tenth of the share capital, but shall again become compulsory if the
reserve falls below one-tenth of the share capital.
The balance sheet and profit and loss account shall be submitted to the members for
approval, and the partners shall vote specifically as to whether discharge is to be given to
the management and the members of the supervisory board, if any.
Art. 198.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Every member, either personally or through an appointed agent, may obtain
communication at the registered office of the inventory, the balance sheet and the report of
the supervisory board set-up in accordance with Article 200.
In companies with more than sixty members, such communication shall be permitted only
during the fifteen days preceding said general meeting.
This right is also granted to every owner of a jointly-owned unit, and to usufructuaries and
bare owners of corporate units and founder shares.
Art. 198bis.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
(1) No interim dividends may be paid unless the articles of association authorise the
managers to do so. Any such payment shall in addition be subject to the following
conditions:
a) an accounting statement shall be drawn up showing that the funds available for
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Art. 202-1.
The provisions relating to the société à responsabilité limitée also apply to the société à
responsabilité limitée simplifiée, except where indicated in this sub-section.
Art. 202-2.
(1) On pain of nullity, natural persons may only be partners of a société à responsabilité
limitée simplifiée.
(2) A natural person may not be a partner of more than one société à responsabilité limitée
simplifiée at any one time, except if the shares are transferred mortis causa.
A natural person who is a partner of a société à responsabilité limitée simplifiée is
considered the joint and several guarantor of the obligations of any other société à
responsabilité limitée simplifiée of which that person subsequently becomes partner,
insofar as those obligations are born after the person becomes a partner, except in cases
of transfers mortis causa.
The natural person shall no longer be considered the joint and several guarantor of the
companies referred to in the previous subparagraph once the provisions of this sub-section
no longer apply or upon publication of the dissolution of those companies.
Art. 202-3.
The purpose of the société à responsabilité limitée simplifiée falls within the scope of the
amended Law of 2 September 2011 governing access to the professions of artisan, trader,
manufacturer and certain independent professional service providers.
Art. 202-4.
The share capital must be between 1 and 12,000.
The contributions of the partners to the company shall be in the form of contributions in
cash or in kind.
Each year at least one-twentieth of the net profits shall be allocated to a reserve fund; this
allocation shall cease to be compulsory when the share capital plus the value of the
reserve fund has reached the amount stated in Article 182.
Art. 202-5.
The trade name of sociétés à responsabilité limitée simplifiées must be followed by the
words "société à responsabilité limitée simplifiée" or by the abbreviation "S.à r.l.-S". The
words "société à responsabilité limitée simplifiée" or the acronym "S.à r.l.-S" must be
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1
Implicitly amended by the Law of 1 August 2001 (Mem. A - 117 of 18/09/2001, p. 2440).
- 128 -
report shall be drawn up for each of the merging companies by one or more
independent experts to be appointed by the management body of each of the merging
companies. The experts must be chosen from among the independent auditors.
However, it is possible to cause the report to be drawn up by one or more independent
experts for all the merging companies. In such case, the appointment shall be made,
at the joint request of the merging companies, by the judge presiding the chamber of
the district court dealing with commercial matters, in the district where the registered
office of the acquiring company is located, sitting as in urgent proceedings.
(Law of 10 June 2009)
In the case of a cross-border merger, that report must be made available one month
before the date of the general meeting convened to decide on the common draft terms
of merger.
In the case of the formation of a société européenne (SE) by way of a merger or in
the case of a cross-border merger, the merging companies may jointly apply for the
appointment of one or more independent experts to the judge presiding the chamber
of the district court dealing with commercial matters in the district where the
registered office of one of the companies is located, sitting as in urgent proceedings
or to a judicial or administrative authority in another State of one of the merging
companies, or mandate one or more independent experts approved by such an
authority.
(2) In the report mentioned in paragraph (1), the experts must in any case declare whether, in their opinion,
the share exchange ratio is or is not fair and reasonable. This declaration shall:
a) indicate the method or methods used to arrive at the proposed share exchange
ratio;
b) indicate whether such method or methods are adequate in the circumstances and
indicate the values arrived at by each of such methods, and give an opinion as to the
relative importance attributed to such methods in determining the value actually
adopted.
In addition, the report shall describe any particular valuation difficulties which may
have arisen.
(Law of 03 August 2011)
(3) The rules laid down in Article 26-1, paragraphs (2) to (4), shall not apply if an expert
report is drawn up on the draft common terms of merger, or if the circumstances
envisaged by Article 26-1, paragraphs (2) to (4), are not fulfilled.
(4) Each expert shall be entitled to obtain from the merging companies all relevant
information and documents and to carry out all necessary verifications.
(Law of 10 June 2009)
(5) Neither an examination of the common draft terms of merger by independent experts
nor an expert report shall be required if all the members and holders of other securities
conferring voting rights of each of the companies involved in the merger have so
agreed.
(Law of 07 September 1987)
Art. 267.
(Law of 10 June 2009)
(1) Every member shall be entitled to inspect the following documents at the registered
office at least one month before the date of the general meeting convened to decide
on the common draft terms of merger:
a) the common draft terms of merger;
b) the annual accounts and management reports of the merging companies for the last
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to the contrary of the articles of association, to resign at any time and without having
to satisfy any other condition, as from the time the general meeting is called in order
to resolve on the merger of the company with an acquiring company having a
different legal form.
The resignation must be notified to the company by registered letter, deposited at the
post office at least five days before the date of the meeting. Such resignation will be
effective only if the merger is approved.
The notice for the meeting must feature the text of the first and second sub-
paragraphs of this paragraph.
(Law of 07 September 1987)
Art. 268.
(Law of 03 August 2011)
(1) Creditors of the merging companies, whose claims predate the date of publication of
the deeds recording the merger provided for in Article 273 may, notwithstanding any
agreement to the contrary, apply within two months of that publication to the judge
presiding the chamber of the district court dealing with commercial matters in the
district where the registered office of the debtor company is located and sitting as in
urgent proceedings, to obtain adequate safeguard of collateral for any matured or
unmatured debts, where they can credibly demonstrate that due to the merger the
satisfaction of their claims is at stake and that no adequate safeguards have been
obtained from the company. The president of the court shall reject the application if the
creditor is already in possession of adequate safeguards or if such safeguards are
unnecessary, having regard to the financial situation of the company after the merger.
The debtor company may cause the application to be turned down by paying the
creditor, even if it is a term debt.
If the safeguards are not provided within the time limit prescribed, the debt shall
immediately fall due.
(Law of 23 March 2007)
(2) If the company being acquired is a société en nom collectif, a société en commandite
simple, a société en commandite par actions, a société coopérative whose members
have unlimited and joint liability, a civil company or an economic interest grouping,
the members of the société en nom collectif, the unlimited members of the société en
commandite simple or of the société en commandite par actions or the members of
the société cooperative, of the civil company or of the economic interest grouping
remain severally or jointly liable, as applicable, vis-à-vis third parties for the
obligations of the dissolved company which predate the effectiveness against third
parties of the merger deed pursuant to Article 273.
(3) If the acquiring company is a société en nom collectif, a société en commandite
simple, a société en commandite par actions, a société coopérative whose members
have unlimited and joint liability, a civil company or an economic interest grouping,
the members of the société en nom collectif, the unlimited members of the société en
commandite simple or société en commandite par actions or the members of the
société cooperative, of the civil company or of the economic interest grouping will be
severally or jointly liable, as applicable, vis-à-vis third parties for the obligations of the
dissolved company which pre-date the merger. They may nevertheless be relieved of
such liability by an express provision included in the draft terms of the merger and in
the merger deed, which will be effective vis-à-vis third parties in accordance with
Article 273.
(Law of 07 September 1987)
Art. 269.
Without prejudice to the rules governing the collective exercise of their rights, Article 268
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shall apply to the bondholders of the merging companies, unless the merger has been
approved by a meeting of the bondholders or by the bondholders individually.
(Law of 07 September 1987)
Art. 270.
(Law of 10 June 2009)
(1) The holders of securities, other than shares or units, to which special rights are
attached must be given rights in the acquiring company at least equivalent to those
they possessed in the acquired company.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply if the modification to those rights was approved by a
meeting of the holders of such securities proceeding in accordance with the
conditions as to quorum and majority provided for in Article 263.
(Law of 10 June 2009)
(3) In the event of failure to convene the meeting provided for in the foregoing paragraph
or, if such a meeting refuses to accept the proposed modification, the securities in
question shall be redeemed at the price corresponding to their valuation in the
common draft terms of merger, as verified by the independent experts provided for in
Article 266.
(Law of 07 September 1987)
Art. 271.
(Law of 10 June 2009)
(1) The minutes of the general meetings which decide upon the merger shall be drawn up
in the form of a notarial deed; the same shall apply to the common draft terms of
merger where the merger need not to be approved by the general meetings of all the
merging companies.
(2) The notary must verify and certify the existence and the validity of the legal deeds and
formalities required of the company in respect of which he is acting and of the
common draft terms of merger.
In the case of the formation of a société européenne (SE) by way of a merger or in the
case of a cross-border merger, the notary shall, without delay, issue a certificate
conclusively attesting the correct completion of the pre-merger acts and formalities for
the part of the procedure relating to the company governed by Luxembourg law.
If a société européenne (SE), formed by way of a merger, is intended to establish its
registered office in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, or if the cross-border merger is
carried out through the acquisition by a Luxembourg-law-governed company of a
foreign-law-governed company, the notary, in order to carry out the legality control
incumbent upon him, shall receive from each merging company, the certificate
referred to in the foregoing paragraph established by a notary or any competent
authority in accordance with the national legislation of each merging company within a
period of six months from its issuance, together with a copy of the common draft terms
of merger approved by each company. The notary verifies in particular that the
merging companies have approved the common draft terms of merger in the same
terms and, where appropriate, that arrangements relating to employee participation
have been adopted in accordance with the legal provisions implementing Council
Directive 2001/86/EC of 8 October 2001 supplementing the status of a société
européenne with regard to the involvement of employees in Article 16 of Directive
2005/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2005 on
cross-border mergers of business corporations.
(3) In the case of a cross-border merger, if the law of a State to which a merging
company is subject provides for a procedure to analyse and amend the ratio
applicable to the exchange of securities or corporate units, or a procedure to
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(3) The common draft terms of merger containing the draft deed of incorporation for the
new company must be approved by the general meeting of each of the companies
which will cease to exist. The new company shall exist as from the last approval.
(Law of 03 August 2011)
(4) The rules laid down in Article 26-1, paragraphs (2) to (4), shall not apply to the
incorporation of the new company if an expert report is drawn up on the draft
common terms of merger or if the conditions of Article 26-1, paragraphs (2) to (4), are
not fulfilled.
(Law of 10 June 2009)
(5) If the new company resulting from a cross-border merger is a company governed by
Luxembourg law, the legality control of the notary referred to in Article 271, paragraph
(2), also covers the part of the procedure regarding the formation of that company.
least one month prior to the date of the general meeting called to rule on the proposed
demerger.
(Law of 07 September 1987)
Art. 291.
(Law of 23 March 2007)
(1) A demerger shall require the approval of the general meeting of each of the
companies involved in the demerger and, where appropriate, of the holders of
securities other than shares or corporate units. The decision requires that the
conditions as to quorum, presence and majority laid down for amendments to the
articles of association are fulfilled.
(2) In sociétés en commandite simple and in sociétés coopératives, the voting rights of
members are in proportion to their share in the corporate assets, and the quorum will
be calculated in terms of the corporate assets.
(3) The consent of all members is required:
1° in the companies being demerged and in the receiving companies which are
sociétés en nom collectif, sociétés coopératives whose members have unlimited
and joint liability, civil companies or economic interest groupings;
2° in the companies being demerged, if at least one of the receiving companies is:
a) a société en nom collectif;
b) a société en commandite simple;
c) a société coopérative whose members have unlimited and joint liability;
d) a civil company;
e) an economic interest grouping.
In the cases referred to in paragraph 1, items 1° and 2°, a), b) and c), the unanimous
consent of the holders of corporate units not representing capital will be required.
(4) In sociétés en commandite simple and in sociétés en commandite par actions, the
consent of all the unlimited members will, in addition, be required.
(5) If there is more than one category of shares, securities or corporate units, whether
representing capital or not, and if the demerger results in a modification to their
respective rights, Article 68 shall be applicable.
(Law of 07 September 1987)
Art. 292.
(Law of 23 March 2007)
Except in the cases referred to in Article 291, paragraphs (2) to (4), approval of the
demerger by the general meeting of a receiving company is not necessary if the following
conditions are fulfilled:
a) the publication provided for in Article 290 is made, for the receiving company, at
least one month before the date of the general meeting of the company being
demerged convened to decide on the draft terms of demerger;
b) all the members of the receiving company are entitled, at least one month before
the date indicated in a), to inspect, at the registered office of that company, the
documents indicated in Article 295, paragraph (1);
c) one or more members of the receiving company holding at least 5% of the shares
or corporate units of the subscribed capital are entitled, until the day following the
holding of the general meeting of the company being demerged, to require the
convening of a general meeting of the receiving company to decide whether to
approve the demerger. The meeting must be convened so as to be held within one
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draft terms of demerger and ending no earlier than the conclusion of that meeting, it
makes them available on its website.
Paragraph (3) shall not apply if the website gives members the possibility, throughout
the period referred to in the first sub-paragraph of this paragraph, of downloading and
printing the documents referred to in paragraph (1). In that case, however, the
company shall make those documents available at its registered office where they
can be viewed by the members.
(Law of 07 September 1987)
Art. 296.
(Law of 10 June 2009)
(1) An examination of the draft terms of demerger and the expert report provided for in
Article 294, paragraph 1, shall not be required if all the members and holders of other
securities conferring the right to vote in each of the companies involved in the
demerger have so agreed.
(2) The requirements of Articles 293 and 295, paragraph (1), (c) and (d), do not apply if all
the members and the holders of other securities conferring the right to vote in each of
the companies involved in the demerger have so agreed.
(Law of 23 March 2007)
Art. 296bis.
(1) A société à responsabilité limitée, a société coopérative or an economic interest
grouping can participate in a demerger operation as a receiving company or
economic interest grouping only if the shareholders or members of the company or
economic interest grouping to be demerged fulfil the conditions required to become
shareholder or member of such receiving company or economic interest grouping.
(2) In sociétés coopératives, each member has the right, notwithstanding any provision
to the contrary in the articles of association, to resign at any time and without having
to satisfy any other condition, from the time the general meeting is called in order to
decide on the demerger of the company for the benefit of receiving companies, at
least one of which has a different legal form.
The resignation must be notified to the company by registered letter, deposited at the
post office at least five days before the date of the meeting. Such resignation will be
effective only if the demerger is approved.
The notice for the meeting must feature the text of the first and second sub-
paragraphs of this paragraph.
(Law of 07 September 1987)
Art. 297.
(Law of 03 August 2011)
(1) Creditors of the companies involved in the demerger whose claims pre-date the date
of publication of the deeds recording the demerger provided for in Article 302 may,
notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, apply within two months of such
publication to the judge presiding the chamber of the district court dealing with
commercial matters in the district where the registered office of the debtor company is
located and sitting as in urgent proceedings, to obtain adequate safeguards for any
matured or unmatured debts where they can credibly demonstrate that, due to the
demerger, the satisfaction of their claims is at stake and that no adequate safeguards
have been obtained from the company. The application shall be rejected if the creditor
already has adequate safeguards or if such safeguards are not necessary, taking into
account the financial situation of the companies involved in the demerger. The debtor
company may cause the application to be turned down by paying the creditor, even if it
is a term debt.
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If the safeguards are not provided within the time limit prescribed, the debt shall
immediately fall due.
(Law of 23 March 2007)
(2)Insofar as a creditor or bondholder of the company being demerged has not obtained
satisfaction from the company to which the obligation has been transferred in
accordance with the draft terms of demerger, the receiving companies shall be jointly
and severally liable for that obligation.
The joint and several liability of the receiving companies shall, however, be limited to
the net assets allocated to each of them.
(3) If the company being demerged is a société en nom collectif, a société en
commandite simple, a société en commandite par actions, a société coopérative
whose members have unlimited and joint liability, a civil company or an economic
interest grouping, the members of the société en nom collectif, the unlimited
members of the société en commandite simple or société en commandite par actions
or the members of the société cooperative, civil company or economic interest
grouping remain severally or jointly liable, as applicable, vis-à-vis third parties for the
obligations of the dissolved company which pre-date the effectiveness vis-à-vis third
parties of the deed of demerger pursuant to Article 302.
(4) If the receiving company is a société en nom collectif, a société en commandite
simple, a société en commandite par actions, a société coopérative whose members
have unlimited and joint liability, a civil company or an economic interest grouping,
the members of the société en nom collectif, the unlimited members of the société en
commandite simple or société en commandite par actions or the members of the
société cooperative, civil company or economic interest grouping remain severally or
jointly liable, as applicable, vis-à-vis third parties for the obligations of the dissolved
company which pre-date the effectiveness vis-à-vis third parties of the demerger and
which, in this latter case, have been transferred to the receiving company in
accordance with the draft terms of demerger and Article 289, (3), b).
They may, however, be exempted from this liability by an express provision to this
effect in the draft terms of demerger and the deed of demerger, which will be valid
vis-à-vis third parties in accordance with Article 302.
(Law of 07 September 1987)
Art. 298.
Without prejudice to the rules governing the collective exercise of their rights, Article 297
shall apply to bondholders of the companies involved in the demerger, unless the demerger
has been approved by a meeting of the bondholders or by the bondholders individually.
(Law of 07 September 1987)
Art. 299.
(Law of 23 March 2007)
(1) The holders of securities, other than shares or corporate units, to which special rights
are attached must be given rights in the receiving companies against which such
securities may be invoked in accordance with the draft terms of demerger, at least
equivalent to those they possessed in the company being demerged.
(2)Paragraph (1) shall not apply if the modification to those rights was approved by a
meeting of the holders of such securities, proceeding in accordance with the
conditions as to quorum and majority provided for in Article 291.
(3)In the event of failure to convene the meeting provided for in the foregoing paragraph or
if such a meeting refuses to accept the proposed alteration, the securities concerned
shall be redeemed at the price corresponding to their valuation in the draft terms of
demerger, and verified by the experts provided for in Article 294.
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all the shares or corporate units in the company being demerged and of all other securities
conferring the right to vote at general meetings, the approval of the demerger by the general
meeting of the company being demerged in accordance with Article 291, paragraph (1),
shall not be necessary if the following conditions are fulfilled:
a) the publication prescribed in Article 290 is made as regards each of the companies
involved in the operation, at least one month before the operation takes effect between
the parties;
b) all the members of the companies involved in the operation are entitled, at least one
month before the operation takes effect between the parties, to inspect at the
registered office of their company the documents indicated in Article 295, paragraph
(1);
c) if a general meeting of the company being demerged is not convened to decide
whether to approve the demerger, the information provided for in Article 293,
paragraph (3), shall cover any material change in the assets and liabilities occurring
after the date of preparation of the draft terms of demerger.
For the purpose of paragraph 1, b), Article 295, paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) as well as Article
296 are applicable.
the company being demerged, and the expression "receiving company" shall refer to
(2) The draft terms of demerger shall indicate, in addition to the information referred to in
Article 289, paragraph (2), the form, name, and registered office of each of the new
companies.
(3) The draft terms of demerger containing the draft deed of incorporation for each of the
new companies must be approved by the general meeting of the company being
demerged.
(Law of 03 August 2011)
(4) The rules laid down in Article 26-1, paragraphs (2) to (4), shall not apply if an expert
report is drawn up on the draft terms of demerger or if the circumstances envisaged by
Article 26-1, paragraphs (2) to (4), are not fulfilled.
(5) The rules laid down in Articles 293, 294 and 295, paragraph (1), c), d) and e), shall not
apply to the incorporation of new companies where the shares or corporate units in
each of the new companies are allocated to the members of the company being
demerged in proportion to their rights in the capital of that company.
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Art. 308bis-10.
The management bodies of each of the persons involved in the transfer shall draw up, in
order to allow for the decision to be taken, a detailed written report explaining the drafts
terms of transfer and setting up the legal and economic grounds for them, namely:
a) the purpose and consequences of the transfer of the assets;
b) the transfer agreement;
c) the consideration for the transfer.
Art. 308bis-11.
(1) The transferring person shall be jointly and severally liable during three years with
the receiving person for the satisfaction of the debts which pre-date the transfer of the
assets.
(2)Any action against the transferring person prescribes at the latest three years after the
publication of the transfer of the assets. If the claim matures after that publication, the
prescription runs as from that maturity.
(3)The persons involved in the transfer of the assets must, upon the request of their
creditors referred to in (1), provide security:
a) if the joint and severable liability terminates before the end of the three-year period;
or
b) if the creditors establish that it is likely that the joint and severable liability is an
insufficient safeguard.
The creditors shall formulate their claim to that end in accordance with the procedure
provided for in Article 297, which shall be applicable by analogy.
(4) The creditors of the transferring person and of the receiving person whose claims are
not comprised in the transferred assets and pre-date the publication of the transfer
provided for in Article 308bis-12, may also apply for the provision of security in
accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 297.
(5) The persons involved in the transfer of the assets who are ordered to provide security
may instead pay the claim to the extent that this does not cause any damage to the
other creditors.
Art. 308bis-12.
(Law of 27 May 2016)
The transfer of assets shall take effect when the concurring decisions of the persons
concerned have been adopted.
The transfer of assets shall have no effect vis-à-vis third parties until after the publication in
accordance with Chapter Vbis, Title 1 of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the
register of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of
undertakings, for each of the companies participating in the transfer.
Art. 308bis-13.
(1) The transfer of assets shall give rise, ipso jure, to the transfer to the receiving
person(s) of all the assets and liabilities specified in the inventory.
(2) By way of exception to paragraph (1), the transfer of industrial and intellectual
property rights and the ownership or other rights on assets other than collateral,
established on moveable and immoveable property, will be valid vis-à-vis third parties
under the conditions provided for in the specific laws governing such transactions.
The receiving person(s) may complete such formalities themselves.
Art. 308bis-14.
The avoidance of a transfer of business assets may occur only in the following
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circumstances:
a) the avoidance must be ordered by a court decision;
b) if the transfer of the assets has taken effect pursuant to Article 308bis-12,
paragraph 1, it may be avoided only on the grounds that there was no written deed
or, if applicable, in case of breach of the provisions of Article 300, or if it is established
that the resolution of the general meeting of either of the companies involved in the
transfer of the assets is void;
c) an action for avoidance may not be brought after the expiry of a period of six
months from the date on which the transfer of assets took effect vis-à-vis the person
alleging nullity, or if this situation has been rectified;
d) if it is possible to remedy a defect liable to render the transfer of assets void, the
competent court shall grant the companies in question a period of time within which to
rectify the situation;
(Law of 27 May 2016)
e) the decision announcing the void of the asset transfer must be published in
accordance with the rules laid down in Chapter Vbis of Title I of the amended Law of
19 December 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and the accounting
and annual accounts of undertakings;
f)a third-party application to set aside the decision announcing the void of the asset
transfer will become inadmissible after six months from when the decision is
published as per Chapter Vbis, Title 1 of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on
the register of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of
undertakings;
g) the court order declaring a transfer of assets void shall not of itself affect the
validity of the obligations owed by or to the receiving person which arose before the
publication of the court order and after the date referred to in Article 308bis-12,
paragraph 1;
g) the receiving person shall be liable for its obligations which arose after the date on
which the transfer of assets took effect and before the date on which the court order
declaring the transfer of assets void was published. The transferring person shall also
be liable for such obligations. The liability of the receiving person shall, however, be
limited to the net assets allocated to it.
(Law of 10 August 2016)
Section XVquater. - Conversion
Art. 308bis-15.
This section governs the different types of conversion listed in Article (3), excluding:
• the conversion of a société européenne (SE) into a société anonyme, and the
conversion of a société anonyme into a société européenne (SE), covered
respectively in Articles 31-1 and 31-2; and
• the conversion of a société coopérative into a société coopérative européenne
(SEC), and the conversion of a société coopérative européenne (SEC) into a
société coopérative, covered respectively by Articles 137-20 to 137-22 and 137-59
to 137-61.
When applying the following provisions, a société coopérative organised as a société
anonyme is governed by the rules for a société coopérative.
Articles 308bis-17 to 308bis-19 only apply to conversions:
• of a civil company, an economic interest grouping, a société en nom collectif, a
société en commandite simple or a société coopérative into a société anonyme, or
into a société en commandite par actions; and
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Art. 308bis-21.
(1) Without prejudice to the special provisions stated in this Article and unless the articles
of association contain stricter provisions, the general meeting may only decide to
convert the company if it meets the following quorums for presence and majority:
1. a conversion proposal is only approved if it meets the presence and majority
requirements for amending the articles of association;
2. In sociétés en commandite simple and in sociétés coopératives, the voting rights of
members are in proportion to their share in the corporate assets, and the quorum will
be calculated in terms of the corporate assets.
(2) If there is more than one category of shares or corporate units, whether representing
capital or not, and if the conversion results in a modification to their respective rights,
Article 68 shall be applicable.
(3) The conversion of a société en commandite simple or of a société en commandite par
actions also requires the approval of all general partners.
For the conversion into a société en commandite par actions or into a société en
commandite simple, the approval of all partners named as general partners is
required.
(4) The consent of all members is also required:
1. for decisions to convert into a société en nom collectif, société en commandite
simple, economic interest grouping or civil company;
2. for decisions to convert into a société coopérative à responsabilité illimitée from a
société en commandite simple, société en commandite par actions, société à
responsabilité limitée or a société anonyme;
3. for decisions to convert from a société en nom collectif, société coopérative à
responsabilité illimitée, economic interest grouping or civil company;
4. if the articles of association state that it cannot adopt another form. Such clause in
the articles of association may only be amended in the same conditions;
(5) In sociétés coopératives each member has the right, notwithstanding any provision to
the contrary of the articles of association, to withdraw at any time during the financial
year and without having to satisfy any other condition, upon the calling of the general
meeting for the purpose of deciding on the conversion of the company.
The resignation must be notified to the company by registered letter, deposited at the
post office at least five days before the date of the meeting. Such resignation will be
effective only if the conversion is approved.
The convening notice to the meeting must transcribe the contents of this paragraph,
subparagraphs 1 and 2.
Art. 308bis-22.
Immediately after the conversion decision, the articles of association of the company in
their new form shall be ratified subject to the same presence and majority requirements as
those required for the conversion.
Otherwise the conversion decision shall be null.
Art. 308bis-23.
On pain of nullity, the conversion shall be formalised in a notarised deed, except for
conversion between two forms of a company or grouping which may be constituted by
private deed. The deed of conversion shall, if applicable, transcribe the conclusion of the
report produced by the company auditor.
The deed of conversion shall be published in full, and the articles of association shall be
published simultaneously, in full or as an extract, as per Articles 5 to 8.
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The conversion is enforceable against third parties in accordance with the rules laid down
in Chapter Vbis of Title I of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of
commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings.
For conversions into an economic interest grouping, Article 7 of the amended Law of 25
March 1991 on economic interest groupings shall apply. "
Art. 308bis-24.
Provisions concerning the requirements and audit of contributions in kind, the liability of the
founders or managers in cases of capital increases or of constituting a company by means
of subscriptions, do not apply to conversions into a société à responsabilité limitée, a
société coopérative à responsabilité limitée, a société anonyme or a société en
commandite par actions."
Art. 308bis-25.
The partners or members of a société en nom collectif, a société coopérative à
responsabilité illimitée, an economic interest grouping or a civil company and the members
of the management body of the company to be converted are required, individually or jointly
and severally as applicable, towards all interested parties, notwithstanding any provision to
the contrary, for an overestimation of the net assets in the report described in Article 308-
bis-16.
Art. 308bis-26.
For conversions of a société en nom collectif, a société en commandite simple, a société
en commandite par actions, a société coopérative à responsabilité illimitée, an economic
interest grouping or a civil company, the members of the société en nom collectif, of the
société en commandite simple, of the société coopérative, of the economic interest
grouping and of the civil company remain liable, individually or jointly and severally, as
applicable, towards third parties, for undertakings made by the company prior to when the
deed of conversion became enforceable against third parties as per the requirements of
Chapter Vbis, Title 1 of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of
commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings.
For conversions into a société en nom collectif, a société commandite simple, a société en
commandite par actions, a société coopérative à responsabilité illimitée, an economic
interest grouping or a civil company, the members of the société en nom collectif, of the
société en commandite simple, of the société coopérative, of the economic interest
grouping and of the civil company shall be liable individually or jointly and severally, as
applicable, towards third parties, for undertakings made by the company prior to the deed
of conversion.
For conversions into a société coopérative à responsabilité limitée from a société anonyme,
a société en commandite par actions or a société à responsabilité limitée, the fixed part of
the share capital is equal to the amount of the share capital of the company prior to its
conversion.
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(3) For the purposes of Article 309, paragraph (1), items a) and c) the total of the
shareholders' or members' voting rights in the subsidiary undertaking must be
reduced by the voting rights attached to the shares or corporate units held by that
undertaking itself, by a subsidiary undertaking of that undertaking, or by a person
acting in their own name but on behalf of those undertakings.
Art. 311.
(1) Without prejudice (Law of 10 December 2010) to Article 317, a parent company and
all of its subsidiary undertakings shall be consolidated, regardless of where the
registered offices of such subsidiary undertakings are situated.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), any subsidiary undertaking of a subsidiary
undertaking shall be considered a subsidiary undertaking of the parent company
which is the parent of the undertakings to be consolidated.
(Law of 10 December 2010)
(3) Each parent company referred to in Article 309 which principally holds one or more
subsidiary undertakings to be consolidated which are credit institutions or insurance
undertakings may apply the provisions of Part III of the amended Law of 17 June 1992
relating to the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of credit institutions
governed by Luxembourg law and the obligations regarding publication of the
accounting documents of branches of credit institutions and financial institutions
governed by foreign law for the purpose of consolidation or the provisions of Part III of
the amended Law of 8 December 1994 on the annual accounts and consolidated
accounts of insurance and reinsurance undertakings governed by Luxembourg law –
the obligations regarding the drawing up and publication of the accounting documents
of branches of insurance undertakings governed by foreign law, respectively. The
parent company which elects this option is exempted from drawing up consolidated
accounts in accordance with Article 309.
Art. 312. (Law of 18 December 2015)
(…)
Art. 313.
(Law of 10 December 2010; Law of 18 December 2015)
(1) By way of derogation from Article 309, paragraph (1), a parent company shall be
exempted from the obligation to draw up consolidated accounts and a consolidated
management report if, at the balance sheet date of the parent company, the
undertakings who would have to be consolidated do not together, on the basis of their
latest annual accounts, exceed at least two of the three criteria below:
• balance sheet total: 20 million euros
• net turnover: 40 million euros
• average number of full-time staff employed during the financial year: 250.
(2) The figures of the criteria relating to the balance sheet total and net turnover may be
increased by 20%, if the set-off referred to in Article 322, paragraph (1), and the
elimination referred to in Article 329, paragraph (1), items (a) and (b), are not
effected.
(3) This exemption shall not apply to those companies if one of the companies to be
consolidated is a company whose securities are admitted to official trading on a
regulated market of a Member State of the European Community within the meaning
of Article 1, item 11 of the amended law of 13 July 2007 on markets in financial
instruments.
(4) Article 36 of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of commerce
and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings shall apply.
- 164 -
conditions set out in Article 314, paragraph (2), are fulfilled and that the shareholders in or
members of the exempted undertaking who own at least 10% of the subscribed capital of
that undertaking, if the exempted undertaking is a société anonyme or a société en
commandite par actions, and at least 20%, if the exempted undertaking is a société à
responsabilité limitée, have not requested the preparation of consolidated accounts at least
six months before the end of the financial year.
Art. 316.
By way of derogation from Article 309, paragraph (1), any parent company which is also a
subsidiary undertaking of a parent undertaking not governed by the law of a Member State
of the European Community, is exempted from the obligation to draw up consolidated
accounts and a consolidated management report if all of the following conditions are
fulfilled:
a) the exempted company and, without prejudice to (Law of 10 December 2010) Article
317, all of its subsidiary undertakings are consolidated in the accounts of a larger body of
undertakings;
b) the consolidated accounts referred to in item a) and, where appropriate, the consolidated
management report must be drawn up in accordance with the provisions of this section or
in a manner equivalent thereto,
c) the consolidated accounts referred to in item a) must have been audited by one or more
person authorised to audit accounts under the national law governing the undertaking
which drew them up.
(Law of 30 July 2013)
Article 314, paragraph (2), item b) bb and item c), and paragraph (3), as well as Article 315
shall apply.
Art. 317.
(Law of 18 December 2015)
(1) An undertaking need not be included in consolidated accounts where it is not material
for the purposes of Article 319, paragraph (3).
(2) If two or more undertakings satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1), they must
nevertheless be included in consolidated accounts if they are material for the
purposes of Article 319, paragraph (3).
(Law of 30 July 2013; Law of 18 December 2015)
(2bis) (…)
(3) In addition, an undertaking need not be included in consolidated accounts if:
a) severe long-term restrictions substantially hinder the parent company in the
exercise of its rights over the assets or management of that undertaking.
b) the information necessary for the preparation of consolidated accounts in
accordance with this Law cannot be obtained without disproportionate expense or
undue delay.
c) the shares or corporate units of that undertaking are held exclusively with a view to
their subsequent resale.
Art. 318. (Law of 10 December 2010; Law of 18 December 2015)
Without prejudice to Article 51, paragraph (1), point (b) of the amended law of 19
December 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and the accounting and
annual accounts of undertakings, or to Article 313 of this section, any parent company,
including a public interest entity in the sense of sub-section 4bis, is exempted from the
obligation imposed by Article 309 if:
a) it only has subsidiary undertakings, who present a non material interest, whether
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individually or collectively; or
b) all its subsidiary undertakings may be excluded from the scope of consolidation by
virtue of Article 317.
Art. 325.
The income and expenditure of undertakings included in the scope of consolidation shall be
incorporated in full in the consolidated profit and loss account.
Art. 326.
The amount of any profit or loss attributable to shares or corporate units in subsidiary
undertakings included in the scope of consolidation held by persons other than the
undertakings included in the scope of consolidation shall be indicated in the consolidated
profit and loss account as a separate item with the heading "Minority interests".
Art. 327.
The consolidated accounts shall be drawn up in accordance with the principles provided for
in Articles 328 to 331.
Art. 328.
(Law of 18 December 2015)
(1) The methods of consolidation must be applied consistently from one financial year to
another.
(2) Derogations from the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be permitted in exceptional
cases. Any such derogations must be disclosed in the notes to the accounts and the
reasons for them must be given together with an assessment of their effect on the
assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of all of the undertakings
included in the scope of consolidation.
Art. 329.
(Law of 18 December 2015)
(1) The consolidated accounts shall show the assets, liabilities, financial positions and
profits or losses of the undertakings included in the scope of consolidation as if the
latter were a single undertaking. In particular:
a) debts and claims between the undertakings included in the scope of consolidation
shall be eliminated from the consolidated accounts;
b) income and expenditure relating to transactions between the undertakings included
in the scope of consolidation shall be eliminated from the consolidated accounts;
c) if profits and losses resulting from transactions between the undertakings included
in the scope of consolidation are included in the book values of assets, they shall be
eliminated from the consolidated accounts. These eliminations may be effected in
proportion to the percentage of the capital held by the parent company in each of the
subsidiary undertakings included in the scope of consolidation.
(2) Derogations may be made from the provisions of paragraph 1, item c), if a transaction
has been concluded according to normal market conditions and where the elimination
of the profit or loss would entail disproportionate expenses. Any such derogations
must be disclosed and, where the effect on the assets, liabilities, financial position
and profit or loss of all the undertakings included in the scope of consolidation is
material, that fact must be disclosed in the notes to the consolidated accounts.
(3) Derogations from the provisions of paragraph (1), items a), b) and c), shall be
permitted if the amounts concerned are not material for the purposes of Article 319,
paragraph (3).
Art. 330.
(1) Consolidated accounts must be drawn up as at the same date as the annual
accounts of the parent company.
(2) However, consolidated accounts may be drawn up as at another date in order to take
account of the balance sheet dates of the largest number or the most important of the
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Art. 333.
(Law of 18 December 2015)
When the elements The item referred to in Article 322, paragraph (1), item c), if it
corresponds to a positive consolidation difference, shall be dealt with in accordance with
the rules laid down in Article 59, paragraphs (1) and (2), of the amended Law of 19
December 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and the accounting and
annual accounts of undertakings.
Art. 334.
An amount shown as a separate item, referred to in Article 322, paragraph (1), item c), if it
corresponds to a negative consolidation difference may be transferred to the consolidated
profit and loss account only:
a) if that difference corresponds to the expectation, at the date of acquisition, of
unfavourable future results in the relevant undertaking, or to the expectation of costs
which that undertaking would incur, insofar as such an expectation materialises;
or
b) insofar as such a difference corresponds to a realised gain.
Art. 335.
(1) If an undertaking included in the scope of consolidation manages another undertaking
jointly with one or more undertakings not included in that consolidation, that other
undertaking may be included in the consolidated accounts in proportion to the rights
in its capital held by the undertaking included in the consolidation.
(2) Articles 317 to 344 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the proportional consolidation
referred to in paragraph (1).
(3) If this Article is applied, Article 336 shall not apply if the undertaking proportionally
consolidated is an associated undertaking as defined in Article 336.
Art. 336.
(1) If an undertaking included in the scope of consolidation exercises a significant
influence over the management and financial policy of an undertaking not included in
the scope of consolidation (an associated undertaking) in which it holds a
participating interest, as defined in (Law of 10 December 2010) Article 41 of the
amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and
the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings, that participating interest shall
be shown in the consolidated balance sheet as a separate item with an appropriate
heading.
An undertaking shall be presumed to exercise a significant influence over another
undertaking where it has 20% or more of the shareholders' or members' voting rights
in that undertaking. Article 310 shall apply.
(2) If this Article is applied for the first time to a participating interest covered by
paragraph (1), that participating interest shall be shown in the consolidated balance
sheet either:
(Law of 30 July 2013)
a) at its book value calculated in accordance with the valuation rules laid down in
Chapter II of Title II of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of
commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings.
The difference between that value and the amount corresponding to the proportion of
capital and reserves represented by that participating interest shall be disclosed
separately in the consolidated balance sheet or in the notes to the accounts. That
difference shall be calculated as at the date at which that method is used for the first
time; or
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disclosure of such risks or benefits is necessary for assessing the financial position
of the companies included in the scope of consolidation;
7ter.) transactions with related parties, including the amount of the transaction, the
nature of the relationship with the related party and any other information about
the transaction which may be needed to understand the financial position of the
undertakings included in the scope of consolidation. Information about individual
transactions may be aggregated according to their nature except where separate
information is necessary for an understanding of the effects of the related party
transactions on the financial position of the undertakings included in the scope of
consolidation.
By way of derogation from the foregoing, it is possible to include in the notes only
those transactions with related parties which did not reflect normal market
conditions.
The transactions between related parties included in the scope of consolidation
which are cancelled upon consolidation are not mentioned.
The term "related party" shall have the same meaning as in international
accounting standards adopted in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 1606/2002
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 July 2002 on the application
of international accounting standards.
8. The consolidated net turnover as defined in Article 48 of the amended Law of 19
December 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and the accounting
and annual accounts of undertakings, broken down by categories of activity and
into geographical markets insofar as, taking account of the manner in which the
sale of products and the provision of services falling within the ordinary activities of
the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole are organised,
these categories and markets differ substantially from one another.
9. a) The average number of staff employed during the financial year by undertakings
included in the scope of consolidation broken down by categories and, if they are
not disclosed separately in the consolidated profit and loss account, the staff costs
relating to the financial year.
b) The average number of staff employed during the financial year by undertakings
to which Article 335 has been applied shall be disclosed separately.
10. [...]
11. a)The difference between the tax charged to the consolidated profit and loss
account for the financial year and to those for earlier financial years and the
amount of tax already paid or payable in respect of those years, provided that this
difference is material for the purposes of future taxation. This amount may also be
disclosed in the balance sheet as a cumulative amount under a separate item with
an appropriate heading;
b) Where valuation at fair value has been applied in accordance with Section 7bis
of Chapter II of Title II of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register
of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of
undertakings, the balance sheet shall show, as the case may be, deferred tax
liabilities as a cumulative amount;
c) Deferred tax balances at the end of the financial year, and changes to those
balances during the year.
12. The amount of the fees granted in respect of the financial year to the members of
the administrative, managerial and supervisory bodies of the parent company by
reason of their responsibilities in the parent company and its subsidiary
undertakings, and the amount of any commitments arising or entered into under
the same conditions in respect of retirement pensions for former members of those
bodies. This information must be given as a total for each category.
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13. The amount of advances and loans granted to the members of the administrative,
managerial and supervisory bodies of the parent company by the parent company
or by its subsidiary undertakings, with indications of the interest rates, main
conditions and amounts repaid, if any, as well as commitments entered into on
their behalf by way of guarantee of any kind. This information must be given as a
total for each category.
14. separately, the total fees for the financial year received by the licensed
independent auditor, the approved audit firm or the audit firm for the statutory audit
of the consolidated accounts, the total fees received for other insurance services,
the total fees received for tax advisory services and the total fees received for
other non-audit services.
15. Where valuation at fair value of financial instruments has been applied in
accordance with Section 7bis of Chapter II of Title II of the amended Law of 19
December 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and the accounting
and annual accounts of undertakings:
a) the significant assumptions underlying the valuation models and techniques
used where fair values have been determined in accordance with Article 64ter,
paragraph (1), item b) of that law;
b) per category of financial instruments, the fair value, the changes in value
included directly in the profit and loss account as well as, in accordance with
Article 64quater of that law, changes included in the fair value reserve;
c) for each class of derivative financial instruments, information about the extent
and the nature of the instruments, including significant terms and conditions that
may affect the amount, timing and certainty of future cash flows; and
d) a table showing movements in the fair value reserve during the financial year.
16. Where valuation at fair value of financial instruments has not been applied in
accordance with Section 7bis of Chapter II of Title II of the amended Law of 19
December 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and the accounting
and annual accounts of undertakings:
a) for each class of derivative instruments;
(i) the fair value of the instruments, if such a value can be determined
by any of the methods prescribed in Article 64ter, paragraph (1), of that law;
(ii) information about the extent and the nature of the instruments; and
b) for financial fixed assets covered by Article 64bis of that law, carried at an
amount in excess of their fair value and without use being made of the option to
make a value adjustment in accordance with Article 55, paragraph (1), item c) aa)
of that law;
(i) the book value and the fair value of either the individual assets or
appropriate groupings of those individual assets;
(ii) the reasons for not reducing the book value, including the nature of
the evidence that provides the basis for the belief that the book value will be
recovered.
17. Where valuation at fair value of certain categories of assets other than financial
instruments has been applied in accordance with Section 7bis of Chapter II of Title
II of the amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of commerce and
companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings:
a) the main assumptions underlying the valuation models and techniques used,
where fair value has not been determined by reference to a market value;
b) for each class of assets other than financial instruments, the fair value as at the
date of the end of the financial year and the changes in value during the financial
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year;
c) for each class of assets other than financial instruments, information on the
significant terms and conditions that may affect the amount and certainty of future
cash flows;
18. The nature and financial impact of material events after the consolidated balance
sheet date that are not included in the consolidated profit and loss account or the
consolidated balance sheet.
Art. 338.
(Law of 18 December 2015; Law of 27 May 2016)
The disclosures prescribed in Article 337, items 2, 3, 4 and 5 may:
a) take the form of a statement filed in accordance with Article 11bis; this must be
disclosed in the notes to the accounts;
b) be omitted when their nature is such that they would be seriously prejudicial to any
of the undertakings affected by these provisions. Any such omission must be
disclosed in the notes to the accounts.
For the purposes of the non-financial statement, all companies included in the scope of
consolidation as per Article 319 are referred to collectively as a group.
(2) The parent companies referred to in paragraph (1) shall include in their consolidated
management report a consolidated non-financial statement that contains information, to the
extent that it is needed to understand the progression of the business, the group’s
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performance, situation and the impact of its activities, relating at least to environmental
issues, social affairs, human resources, human rights and anti-corruption, including:
a. a brief description of the group’s commercial model;
b. a description of the policies applied by the group in relation to these matters,
including any reasonable due diligence procedures that have been undertaken;
c. the results of these policies;
d. the main risks represented by these matters as regards the activities of the group,
including, if relevant and proportionate, the group’s business relationships, products
and services, which are likely to have a negative influence in these areas, and the
way in which the group manages these risks;
Sub-section 3ter.1 – Duty and liability for drawing up and publishing the
consolidated accounts and the consolidated management report
Art. 339ter.
(Law of 23 July 2016)
The members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies of the company,
acting within their statutory powers, have collectively the duty to ensure that the
consolidated accounts, the consolidated management report and, when published
separately, the corporate governance statement, as well as the report to be provided
pursuant to Article 339bis, paragraph (5), are drawn up and published in accordance with
the requirements of this Law and, where applicable, in accordance with the international
accounting standards adopted in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 1606/2002.
c) Paragraph (2) of this article will not apply to the non-financial statement described in
Article 339bis, paragraph (2), nor to the separate report described in Article 339bis,
paragraph (5).
(3) …
(4) …
(5) …
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Art. 340bis.
(Law of 18 December 2015)
(1) The licensed independent auditors or approved audit firms present the results of their
statutory scrutinisation of the accounts in the form of an audit report. This report is
produced in line with international audit standards as adopted for Luxembourg by the
Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier.
(2) The audit report is produced in writing and:
a) shall name the entity whose consolidated accounts are being audited; identify the
consolidated accounts in question, the end date and the period covered; and state
which financial reporting framework was chosen;
b) contains a description of the scope of the statutory audit of the accounts which shall
as a minimum identify the auditing standards by which the statutory audit was
conducted;
c) contains an opinion, which may either be unqualified, qualified or adverse, and
clearly state the conclusions of the licensed independent auditor(s) or the approved
audit firm(s):
i) as to whether the consolidated accounts give a true and fair view in accordance
with the relevant financial reporting framework; and
ii) where appropriate, whether the consolidated accounts comply with statutory
requirements.
If the licensed independent auditors or approved audit firms are unable to deliver an
opinion, the report shall contain a statement to this effect;
d) indicates any matters to which the licensed independent auditor(s) or approved
audit firms wish to draw attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their opinion;
e) contains the opinion and a statement, both based on the work conducted during the
audit, required by Article 340, paragraph (2) of this section;
f) contains a declaration as to any material uncertainties concerning events or
circumstances that could cast significant doubt over the entity's ability to continue
operating;
g) states the place in which the licensed independent auditors or approved audit firms
are established.
(3) Where the statutory audit of the accounts has been performed by several licensed
independent auditors or approved audit firms, they must together agree on the
outcome of the statutory audit of the accounts and present a joint report and opinion.
In case of disagreement, each licensed independent auditor or approved audit firm
shall present its opinion in a separate paragraph of the audit report and state the
reasons for their disagreement.
(4) The audit report shall be signed and dated by the licensed independent auditor. Where
an approved audit firm performs the statutory audit of the accounts, the audit report
shall bear at least the signature of the licensed independent auditor or auditors who
perform the statutory audit of the accounts for that firm. Where several licensed
independent auditors or approved audit firms have worked at the same time, the audit
report is signed by all licensed independent auditors or at least by the licensed
independent auditors who perform the statutory audit of the accounts for each
approved audit firm.
(5) The report from the licensed independent auditor or the approved audit firm on the
consolidated accounts must meet the requirements of paragraphs (1) to (4). When
producing a report on the consistency between the consolidated management report
and the consolidated accounts, as required by paragraph (2), point (e), the licensed
independent auditor or the approved audit firm shall examine the consolidated
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accounts and the consolidated management report. If the annual accounts of the
parent company are attached to the consolidated accounts, the reports from the
licensed independent auditors or the approved audit firms required by this Article may
be combined.
shall apply”.
(4) Paragraph (2) shall not apply to companies whose securities are admitted to trading
on a regulated market of a Member State of the European Union within the meaning of
Article 4, paragraph (1), item 14, of Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on markets in financial instruments.
companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings and for the
purposes of this section.
(Law of 10 December 2010)
1bis) The term "related party" shall have the same meaning as in international accounting
standards adopted in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 1606/2002 of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 19 July 2002 on the application of
international accounting standards.
(2) Article 310 and Article 311, paragraph (2), shall apply.
(Law of 30 July 2013)
(3) Parent companies which do not have the legal form of a société anonyme, a société
européenne (SE), a société en commandite par actions, a société à responsabilité
limitée or a company referred to in Article 77, paragraph 2, items 2° and 3° of the
amended Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and
the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings and which are therefore not
required to draw up consolidated accounts and a consolidated management report
shall be excluded from the application of paragraph (1).
Art. 344-1
(Law of 10 December 2010)
(…)
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