Directors
who are not acting as employees are entitled only to remuneration
approved by the shareholders. They might also be entitled to
reimbursement for incurred expenses on behalf of the company.
Responsibilities
of Directors. The following are joint responsibilities shared
by the directors: the existence and regular keeping of books
and documents in accordance with the law; actual payment of
shares by the shareholders; the proper distribution of dividends
of interest in accordance with the law; and the proper enforcement
of the resolutions of the general meetings.
General
powers to manage the company lies with the board of directors,
although one or more directors in any sort of combination to
manage the company and bind the company by their signatures
may be appointed. Detailed in a certificate issued by the
Ministry of Commerce are the powers of the directors to bind
the company.
Great
care must be taken by the directors in regards to conduct and
management of the company. Commercial transactions of the same
nature as, and competing with, that of the company, either on
his own account or that of a third person must not be undertaken
by a director. Thai law also prohibits a director acting
as a partner with unlimited liability in other commercial concerns
carrying on similar or competing business with that if the main
company. However, resolutions may be passed allowing a director
to be a partner with unlimited liability in other such business
entities, but a general meeting of directors must deem it appropriate.
Civil
Liability. The law of agency is the principal body of law
that governs the relationship between directors, the company
and third persons. A claim against the directors for any harm
the directors have caused to the company may be entered on behalf
of the company. In most cases the directors are the only people
who have authority to enter a claim. The Civil and Commercial
code provides that a claim against a director may be initiated
by any shareholder or creditor of the company. Such action may
be brought by any one or more shareholders with an aggregate
of at least 5% of the shares in the case of public limited companies.
If
a third person is injured, liability will not fall personally
on a director, so long as he has acted within the scope of his
proper authority, but will bind the company. If the director
has acted without authority or beyond the scope of his authority,
and such action has not been approved by the company, then he
will be personally liable to the injured third party. If a director's
actions falls below the standard of a "careful businessman"
then the company will be liable to the third person, but the
company may claim indemnity against the director.
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