Microsoft Word - Week 9 Summary Solutions 2015.docx

Morris, John and Paul are directors and shareholders of Newry Property Developments Pty Ltd (NPD), a property development company, which owns and operates a tavern. Morris and John are brothers. John and Paul are friends and partners in an accounting firm. Morris is an unemployed artist and sole parent of three young children. The total number of issued shares in NDP is 6,000 ordinary shares. Each shareholder has 2,000 shares. All the shares are fully paid.

NDP has been very successful but has not paid any dividends to its members for the last two years. Profits have instead been invested in further development projects. Morris wife has recently died and he is very short of money to look after his family. He approaches John and Paul and asks them to consider whether NPD could begin to pay dividends again to its members. John and Paul refuse to consider Morris request as it would upset the long term goals of NPD. Morris is upset by this response and announces that he wants to sell his shares. John and Paul refuse to buy him out and demand that Morris resign as a director because he has lost his objectivity. Morris resigns reluctantly. He asks to see NPDs most recent set of financial statements. John and Paul refuse to provide the information. Morris discovers accidentally that NPD has been paying large management fees to John and Pauls accounting firm. Morris consults you as his legal adviser.

Advise Morris of his chances of success of bringing an action under either Part 2F.1 or Part 2F.1A Corporations Act 2001?

(Question based on Problem for discussion in Tony Ciro and Christopher Symes Corporations Law in Principle Thomson LawBook Co 2009)