John is setting up a company which is to be named Jasmine Ltd. During the pre-incorporation period, John signed various contracts on behalf of the company. After a few months, there were some issues concerning one of the contract where John took a loan from A Bank. The contract was later void.

Once set up, Jasmine Ltd has a constitution whose object clause provides for the company to sell pizza. Last week some shareholders decided to alter the company's articles of association (AA) to include trading in durians. Also included is suggestion to alter the status of the company to an exempt private company so that the public are unable to comment on the financial status of the company.

The original constitution provides that any alteration requires the voting of all the shareholders of the company. Two of them are overseas and their whereabouts cannot be found.

Advise John if he is liable for the pre-incorporation contract?

With regards to alteration of the constitution, the shareholders wish to apply to court to alter the constitution. Advise Jasmine Ltd.