Practical board work
The board and work on the board constitute more than just a mandatory task, and an efficient board can be a resource for the organisation. It is therefore important to be aware of how the board should be composed and what competences the board members possess.
This text has been written for the work of boards of private limited companies, but can also be used as a starting point for corresponding work in other organisational forms.
Composition of the board
The board is elected by the general meeting and must consist of at least one member. A good board often consists of people with different competences who can complement each other in order to help the organisation achieve its goals.
Limited Liability Companies Act – Employees' right to elect board members (In Norwegian only)
The board's tasks and responsibilities
It is the board that sets goals for the organisation, organises the work and carries out checks. The board must:
- Supervise the activity of the organisation and the general management. This means that the board must ensure that the enterprise is appropriately organised, have clear lines of responsibility and qualified personnel.
- Keep itself informed of the enterprise's financial position.
- Make sure that the enterprise has sufficient equity and liquid assets in relation to risk and the scope of the enterprise's activities. If the board finds that the equity is insufficient, the board is obliged to immediately propose measures and convene a general meeting.
- Make sure that the enterprise has adequate plans, budgets, financial reports, insurance, guidelines and where applicable audits.
- Appoint/assign a general manager.
- Check that the general manager is following plans and reporting routines. The board can establish instructions for the general manager. If the company does not have a general manager, the rest of the board must supervise the chair of the board who will perform the function of general manager in such cases.
The Limited Liability Companies Act on management tasks and procedures (in Norwegian only)
Summonses and preparation for board meetings
The chair of the board is responsible for summonses to board meetings and ensuring that relevant matters are considered by the board. The chair of the board can delegate responsibility for summonses to the general manager. Both board members and the general manager can require specific matters to be considered by the board by contacting the chair of the board.The notice, with an agenda and board documents, should be sent to the board members at least one week before the board meeting, allowing the members enough time to consider the matters ahead of the meeting.
Consideration of matters by the board
Board matters must be considered in a meeting or in some other appropriate way. This could for example be a conference call, video meeting or e-mail.
Board meetings are held as and when necessary. The Limited Liability Companies Act does not stipulate any requirement as regards the number of board meetings which must be held during the year.
It is the board which, through its strategic work, establishes goals for the general management and which adopts annual plans for the business. The chair of the board is responsible for ensuring that the annual plan is followed.
Board meetings are chaired by the chairperson of the board, who is responsible for ensuring that the board can take decisions/adopt resolutions concerning a matter.
The order and structure of board meetings is important. It is therefore an advantage to consider board matters in three stages: presentation, discussion and decision.
When is the board quorate?
Unless the articles of association stipulate otherwise, the board is deemed to be quorate when more than half of the board participates in the board's consideration of a matter. A precondition for the board being quorate is that all the board members have been summoned to the meeting. In the event of a tied vote, the chair of the board will have the casting vote. It is recommended that the board is able to reach unanimity through discussion. The general manager is not a member of the board. He or she has a right to speak but not to vote.
The Limited Liability Companies Act on when the board can hand down a decision (in Norwegian only)
During the consideration of a matter, both the board members and the general manager can request an addition to the minutes, i.e. so that they can make their opinion concerning a matter known in the decision. This is particularly relevant in the event of disagreement, and will be of importance in the event of the subsequent assessment of the board members' liability to pay compensation. A board member may only cast their vote concerning matters which they have been involved in considering.
Board minutes
Board minutes must at least state the time and place, the names of the people who took part in the meeting, the method of consideration and the board's decisions. The chair of the board is responsible for keeping minutes. If the company has a general manager, the chair may delegate this task to the general manager. If a member of a board was not involved in the consideration of a matter because of absence or disqualification, this must be stated in the minutes. If there is disagreement regarding the decision, this must be stated in the minutes.
The board minutes must be dated and signed by all the board members who took part in the consideration.
Remarks concerning the minutes must be reported to the chair of the board or general manager as soon as possible after the minutes have been received. Remarks shall be considered in the next board meeting. The minutes are normally also signed at the next board meeting.
Who do board members represent?
Board members only represent themselves on the board. However, board members are expected to report to those who elected him or her to the board through the appropriate channels.
Although board members represent themselves on the board, they have a responsibility to work in the best interests of the organisation they have been elected to serve.
Unless otherwise stipulated in the articles of association, the board members are elected for two years at a time. The board members may resign before two years have passed. The board member must notify the board that he/she is resigning from his/her board position. If the board does not change its board composition after having received such notice, you can, as a board member, give notice of your own resignation. This must be reported in the Coordinated register notification.
The Brønnøysund Register Centre – how to delete your role
The board's tasks in case of declining revenues
In a situation of declining revenues, the board must be particularly attentive to their supervisory and control duties, and they have a duty to implement necessary measures if the equity falls below a reasonable level. This means that the board must facilitate more frequent meetings to process matters significant to the company's finances and convene a general meeting to account for the situation.
Disqualification
The question of disqualification normally arises with regard to matters where it is open to question whether a board member has a special interest in the matter. 'Special interest' means that the matter must be of 'special importance' to the board member or the board member's associates. Special interests must be a material personal or financial interest which conflicts with the interests of the company. The degree of conflict of interest is decisive as regards whether or not the board member is considered to be disqualified.
The Limited Liability Companies Act contains no further provisions concerning the board's consideration of the matter of disqualification. Anyone who may be disqualified should not normally participate in discussions concerning their own qualification or be involved in the decision as to whether they should be disqualified. It must be determined before a matter is considered whether anyone should be disqualified. The person or people who is/are considered to be disqualified must leave the board room during the consideration of the matter. This must be stated under the applicable matter in the minutes.
The Limited Liability Companies Act on conflict of interest (in Norwegian only)
Representation of the company externally
The collective board represents the company externally and can sign on behalf of the company. The board can assign signatory powers or power of procuration to board members, the general manager or named employees. Signatory powers and power of procuration can be assigned to one or more people jointly.
Signature right
Signature right is an authority to act and sign on behalf of the entity in any situation.
Power of procuration
Power of procuration is an authority to act and sign on behalf of the company in connection with the day-to-day running of the business.
The Brønnøysund Register Centre on roles, signature and procuration
Notification of the registration or alteration of signature rights and power of procuration is given via the Coordinated register notification.
The general manager represents the company in issues related to the daily management and running of the business. This refers to matters that naturally fall within the scope of the company's operations. Issues that are of an "unusual" nature, or of "considerable significance" depending on the nature of the company, must be considered by the board.
Compensation liability
Board members may be held liable to pay compensation for damage/losses which they cause the company, shareholders and/or others to incur in their role as board member. The provisions of the Limitied Liability Companies Act concerning board liability apply to everyone who holds a position as a board member.
A board member is liable to compensate damage or loss which he or she has 'wilfully or negligently' caused another to suffer in their capacity as a board member. 'Wilfully' means that something was an intentional act, while 'negligently' means that the person concerned was careless. A key question in connection with the assessment of whether something is wilful or negligent will be whether the board member has acted in contravention of applicable statutory provisions. Or whether the board member has acted in accordance with what can reasonably be expected of a normally competent board member under identical circumstances. Board liability is an individual liability and each board member must be assessed individually.
The Limited Liability Companies Act on compensation liability (in Norwegian only)
The board's responsibility for assessing whether the company has adequate equity is a typical example of a situation where the board can be held liable to pay compensation. The requirement for adequate capital entails an obligation for the board to monitor and assess whether the company has adequate equity and liquid assets. The requirement also means that the board must not carry out actions which would result in the equity becoming inappropriately low or the liquidity becoming poor.
The Limited Liability Companies Act on the board's obligation to act (in Norwegian only)
