optical express is a retail optical services brand and laser eye surgery specialist in the united kingdom .

the company also provides refractive treatments such as lens surgery and cataract surgery .

optical express is a trading name of the scottish company dcm ( optical holdings ) limited which operates as the optical express group .

in 2013 the company was described by the competition commission as the market leader in refractive surgery .

as a chain of retail opticians , offering a number of healthcare services , the company once operated a private hospital in manchester .

this closed on 4 june 2015 .

laser eye surgery in the uk is dominated by three main companies optical express , ultralase and optimax , which account for approximately 56 % of clinics in the uk .

ultralase was acquired by russell ambrose , ceo of optimax , in 2013 .

optical express

optical express ruined my life - forum for discussion on unregulated refractive & laser eye surgery and support for patients of optical express laser eye surgery .
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the restructuring will leave optical express with around 130 stores , including 55 in scotland .
they also said the optical express ( southern ) subsidiary was providing cause for concern .
who : optical express ( westfield ) limited ( “optical express” ) ; thomas cook and other list suppliers ; the information commissioner’s office ( “ico” ) and the first tier tribunal .
optical express v associated newspapers ltd , heard 16 november 2016 ( nicola davies j ) .
hard times : optical express chief david moulsdale announced the closure of 40 stores in october .
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is a registered trademark . all rights reserved .
optical express - is the uk & europe ' s number one provider of laser eye surgery .
with over 100 clinics across the uk , access to professional eyecare at optical express is easy .
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i can confirm that our company solicitors nor i ( optical express ) have your postal address .
various top professional investigated and she made two trips to the optical express head office in harley street .
optical express employees travel to syria to help those whose lives have been blighted by poor eye sight .
optical express says strict guidelines keep the complications rate in laser eye surgery very low . photograph : alamy
earlier this year mr moulsdale acquired the remaining bank debt of optical express from royal bank of scotland .
this article is the subject of a legal complaint made by oculentis b / v and optical express .
optical express has more 5 star reviews than all other laser eye surgery providers in the uk combined .
fiona garrow was invited to write this review by optical express | laser eye surgery . learn more .
this article is the subject of a legal complaints made by oculentis b / v and optical express .
this online article originally wrongly referred in the title to vision express rather than optical express . we apologise for this error , which has now been corrected .
manager of the maidstone optical express branch , marie chapman , said : “i am thrilled that optical express can support the chernobyl children’s lifeline charity . the work that they do is fantastic and the children are amazing .
the multi - millionaire boss of optical express has been banned from driving after being clocked speeding at 133mph .
optical express limited . free business summary taken from official companies house information . free alerts . registered as sc161469
settas , who worked at optical express for four years , further claimed that he raised concerns with optical express management in september about the number of operations he was undertaking to remove the mplus x due to patient dissatisfaction .
a judge found optical express staff had failed to properly warn stephanie holloway of the risks involved and possible complications .
optical express had used private detectives to covertly film her over three days in august 2012 , the court heard .
stephen o ' hara was invited to write this review by optical express | laser eye surgery . learn more .
robert feal - martinez was invited to write this review by optical express | laser eye surgery . learn more .
in order to complete this request please contact contact mr darren boyle on 01236 795 096 . alternatively you can send a cheque to the following address made payable to optical express : optical express 200 st vincent street glasgow g2 5sg
optical express had even put private investigators on miss holloway ' s tail in a bid to prove she was exaggerating .
optical express is saying “thanks a million” by giving away £1million of laser eye surgery to nhs and emergency service workers .
in october this year mr moulsdale announced the closure of 40 stores and that the optical express ( southern ) part of the group , renamed 123 leeds , was being placed into administration then bought by another subsidiary called optical express limited .
we ' d like to hear from you . there are many different ways to get in touch with optical express .
mr moulsdale has put the division formerly known as optical express ( southern ) into administration . now called leeds123 , optical express ( southern ) had a turnover of £97m in the year to january 1 , 2011 , when the group holding company , dcm ( optical holdings ) had £205m turnover .
the company announced that it had placed dcm optical clinic plc into administration but intended to buy back 16 of the 19 stores in that business and consolidate them into optical express group .
two children whose health has suffered from the chernobyl disaster received free eye care during a visit to optical express’ maidstone branch .
04 / 06 / 15 - optical express joins with tv’s lorraine kelly to raise funds for stv’s children’s appeal . . .
every week , optical express surgeons perform thousands of laser eye surgery procedures , making us the number one choice for patients .
optical express is estimated to have implanted in excess of 6 , 500 people with the mplus x lens . photograph : alamy
21 december 2013 : only government intervention will stop clinics like optical express damaging any more people ' s eyes and lives .
meanwhile , optical express are legally required to provide me with copies of all my images photographed by them at both demos .
opticians and laser eye surgery group optical express has been saved from collapse by its founder , safeguarding about 1 , 600 jobs .
the court heard optical express used private detectives to covertly film her over three days in august to try and dispel her claims .
the project , which started in 2007 , involves optical express supporting glasgow the caring city and our partners at arm in burundi to provide a small but nonetheless vital optical clinic in the bujumbura region .
optical express has again placed one of its business units into administration in what was described last week as a final piece of restructuring .
a spokesman for optical express said that the manual was no longer in use by the company . she said :
every patient who seeks laser eye surgery with optical express must first attend a highly detailed refractive consultation to determine if they are suitable candidates for treatment .
in total , the asa ruled that 23 out of 25 claims made by optical express in promotional material could not be backed up .
carriemcadam : am glad watchdog investigated optical express . apparently they do not have a good reputation amongst those working in the optics industry .
on the down side , a spurious complaint from optical express in october resulted in oerml ' s facebook page being hidden from uk viewers .
in an effort to prevent my beautiful eyes clients receiving her representation and support @ 4 . 50pm optical express ' lawyer emailed sasha rodoy :
25 . ultralase challenged whether ad ( b ) also misleadingly implied that padraig harrington had his laser eye surgery carried out by optical express .
tu _ smooth : optical express are getting exposed on # watchdog . i won’t be going their to get laser eye surgery anytime soon .
laser eye surgery vastly improves the day - to - day lives of hundreds of thousands of patients in the uk each year . in a recent survey of over 97 , 000 optical express patients , more than 99 % said they would recommend optical express to family and friends .
the optical express group was founded in 1991 and is now a world leader of selected healthcare services . the group covers optical stores , refractive laser eye surgery and state - of - the - art refractive clinics .
david moulsdale is closing around one - quarter of his optical express stores in a dramatic restructuring that involves putting part of the group into administration .
asked if optical express is in takeover talks with ultralase , the spokesman for optical express said :
while we don ' t comment on speculation i can confirm our sole focus at present is on executing this restructuring to deliver a very strong footing for our future growth and development .
the promise was improved vision . but some patients who had a controversial lens implant carried out by optical express say that it has actually got worse
04 / 06 / 15 - optical express joins with nottingham doctor to give the gift of sight to patients in remote zambian communities . . .
stu _ mayhew : item about optical express laser eye surgery on watchdog . not sure i want to see anne robinson that clearly to be honest
thecatizzle : @ bbcwatchdog – optical express quoted me one price and charged another , they ignore emails and complaints in sore , i feel cheated .
optical express confirmed that settas did express concerns about quality of vision problems with the mplus x lens but said that the surgeon’s experience was anecdotal while its scientific study of outcomes suggested there was no cause for concern . settas also claimed that optical express only finally removed stocks of the mplus x lenses from its clinics in late november , despite him raising concerns in september .
a senior manager at optical express opticians branded a disabled employee a ‘fat , ugly size - 22 cripple’ before she was sacked , a tribunal heard .
how much do optical express employees make ? glassdoor has salaries , wages , tips , bonuses , and hourly pay based upon employee reports and estimates .
catgrum1 : @ bbcwatchdog shocking misleading bit on optical express tonight . i searched for the royal college guy out – he is a surgeon elsewhere . fishy
as a final note , optical express did not acknowledge the report or engage in the commentary on their twitter profile , facebook page , or website .
we were delighted when love island’s dom and jess stopped by to get their new glasses from optical express . we think they look great , don’t you ?
moulsdale set up optical express in 1991 with a shop in edinburgh and expanded throughout the uk and overseas . it has more than 130 uk optician shops .
the optical express group was founded in 1991 and has grown to become a world leader of selected healthcare services ranging from optical stores , laser clinics to a state - of - the - art refractive laser eye surgery and refractive clinics .
landlords have warned they will reconsider whether to back insolvency proceedings that allow retailers to shed loss - making stores after jjb sports and optical express called in administrators .
the cost of your eye test can vary , depending on your personal circumstances and location . find out more about the eye tests available at optical express here .
optical express also now refuse their damaged patients paid referrals to independent surgeons and charge patients £50 for copies of their medical records - previously provided at no cost .
optical express were so informative and supportive throughout the whole experience of laser eye surgery that i wouldn ' t hesitate to recommend them to anybody considering the procedure .
just like most other brands , optical express clearly recognises tv as an essential tool for talking to the world at large . we plan to collect every optical express ad transmitted in the united kingdom since sept 06 , when tellyads was launched . we certainly dont wish to make any sort of evaluation about whats good advertising and what isnt . thats your call . instead we want to make it easy for you to view optical express advertising whenever you wish . in our view , its not rare for the commercials to make the best tv viewing . and no collection of advertisements could be called complete without some examples of optical express advertisements . so you can have peace of mind that the next time theres another optical express ad , youre pretty likely to be able to track it down here at tellyads .
these are honest accounts from unhappy patients who underwent refractive eye surgery at an optical express clinic : lasik , lasek , iol , rle , etc . . .
with great interest in fact , as your client was not a recipient of this email , nor was anyone else associated with optical express / dcm et al .
a spokesman for optical express said it was
extremely disappointed
by nominet ' s rejection of its case and was unable to comment on cocking ' s claims .
the optical express group is managed by an executive team of directors and personnel that are responsible for ensuring the successful progression of the company through organic growth and acquisition .
a few days later , on august 9 , mr cowell says he called fiona morton , who works in optical express’ hr department to report mr kerr’s offensive comments .
aligned to our recent financial restructuring i believe optical express has never been in a stronger position to deliver for our patients , our staff and our supplier base .
optical express have once again teamed up with sightsavers for a special christmas appeal , which aims to help over 1 million blind or poorly sighted people restore their visual quality .
optical express’ nottingham staff have raised over £1200 for sightsavers after taking part in a charity campaign that included wading through waist - high mud during a grueling 10km obstacle race .
hi adam , thank you very much for your great review of optical express we are delighted to read how happy you have been with service throughout your journey with us .
the claim was made at the employment tribunal of luke cowell , a former manager at optical express – who claims he was sacked after lodging a complaint about the comments .
last night ( may 5 , 2011 ) , watchdog , the bbc ‘s flagship consumer affairs programme , aired a 15 - minute verdict on optical express’s healthcare marketing practices .
bbwtbb : cb just watched # watchdog and their report on laser eye surgery at optical express . i went there for mine a year ago and v . happy with them…
nominet ' s decision is the latest blow to optical express , which until last summer was feared to be the next big name on the high street to face financial collapse .
we will never share your data with 3rd parties for marketing purposes . for more information about how optical express uses , shares and protects your personal data , see our privacy policy
* in a study of 190 , 231 optical express patients with the most common prescriptions we treat , 99 . 2 % achieved 20 | 20 vision or better following treatment .
miss holloway had been ' enticed ' into a branch an optical express branch in southampton in 2008 after seeing an advert on television for eye surgery which claimed it cost £395 .
to my knowledge , only one paper ( the scotsman ) picked up the optical express asa adjudication story . of course , this was followed by the watchdog report mentioned above .
glasgow the caring city alongside optical express , one of the uk leading opticians , have come together to form a unique partners which values visual health as a route out of poverty .
difficult high street trading conditions saw optical express fall to a loss of £1 . 5 million prior to a major restructuring of the group , new accounts filed at companies house reveal .
property companies are furious that jjb and optical express have launched insolvency proceedings just two days after quarterly rent payments were due , meaning landlords will miss out on three months of rent .
* * in a study of 190 , 231 optical express patients with the most common prescriptions we treat , 99 . 2 % achieved 20 | 20 vision or better following treatment .
if you are considering surgery , before making a life changing decision ( not necessarily for the better ) , please read the oerml forum and true stories from damaged optical express patients .
with thousands of visitors every week , this site has cost optical express an astronomical amount of money and a lot of bad publicity . as a result , in 2013 , optical express made a
corporate decision
to ban sasha from accompanying her numerous mbe clients to their consultations with dr jan venter @ oe ' s harley street complex cases management team clinic .
so much has happened since august , not least the court award of £569 . 000 to stephanie holloway after she won her case against optical express and dr joanna mcgraw in september :
in a further blow to optical express , judge edward bailey said miss holloway had paid £2 , 790 for an operation which ' on any objective basis she should never have had ' .
as optical express continues to grow , so does our passion about making a difference in local communities and further afield . we are committed to supporting a variety of charitable and community programmes .
gwen wood , head of the maidstone link for chernobyl children’s lifeline , said : “we’re so pleased to have optical express on board to help provide much - needed healthcare for these children .
david moulsdale , chief executive of optical express , said : “the glasgow taxi outing day is a great cause and i’m very proud that optical express has supported it for a number of years . my dad was a glasgow hackney taxi driver for 38 years and always looked forward to his day out to troon , so it’s a cause that i feel very strongly about . ”
every patient who has a full eye test at optical express receives their own personalised iscan report by email . this detailed report includes the results of your sight test and eye health check .
optical express failed to properly inform a young woman of the risks of laser eye surgery then spied on her in a bid to prove she was lying about how damaged her eyesight was .
optical express is the uk’s largest provider the laser eye surgery . last year they “provided over one million clinical care appointments in the uk , including more than 124 , 000 laser consultations” .
there is particular frustration over optical express , which is shedding up to 40 unwanted shops by putting a subsidiary with 83 sites into administration and then buying back the sites it wants to retain .
© 2018 optical express ruined my life . we guarantee your anonymity unless you state otherwise . please read our privacy policy and the terms and conditions of use of our website for full details .
high street optician optical express has lost a battle to have a website that strongly criticised its record in laser eye surgery closed down over what it claimed were defamatory attacks funded by a commercial rival .
stewart mein , optical express ' s finance director , said the consumer downturn in the past few years had been challenging but the business was now in a good position and planning to expand again .
under the drs procedure nominet have today appointed an independent expert to decide whether optical express ' second complaint against oerml is justified . this is primarily based on their claim that oerml appears to be :
following your client denying my clients their rights to my accompanying them to their consults at optical express harley st clinic the gmc have assured me they are entitled to my presence should they want it .
of course optical express and harper macleod have my address having been involved in legal proceedings with me on two occasions : when they challenged my oerml domain name in 2012 and again five months ago .
the main complaint , brought forward by a competitor ( ultralase ) , claimed that optical express claimed that golfer padraig harrington had laser eye surgery with the company . the company implies in a tv advert and brochure that the two - times open winner had benefited from surgery with optical express . the asa agreed that this was untrue , and ordered the withdrawal of the ad stating it was “misleading” .
optical express is the uk ' s only complete eye care provider with locations nationwide , offering a full range of optical solutions , including glasses , contact lenses and laser eye surgery . it ' s our advanced technology , expert surgeons and world - class patient care that make us no . 1 .
optical express is europe ' s largest provider of laser eye surgery with locations nationwide , offering a full range of optical solutions , including glasses , contact lenses and laser eye surgery . it ' s our advanced technology , expert surgeons and world - class patient care that make us no . 1 .
a surgeon who worked for the market leader in corrective eye surgery , optical express , claims he voiced concerns about the performance of the mplus x lens in the uk earlier last year . photograph : alamy
jackson , a recruitment consultant keen to improve his eyes for the sake of his squash game , and encouraged by adverts offering swift solutions , attended an optical express clinic for an eye consultation last summer .
the leaked training manual seen by the observer tells optical express staff to take the
best care of your patient that you possibly can – it will help you book them and even if they do not book , they will recommend you , and optical express , to their friends and family – it is all about the experience !
. yet critics claim that the manual instead prioritises sales of treatments .
24 . ultralase challenged whether the testimonial attributed to padraig harrington in ad ( a ) misleadingly implied that he had undergone laser eye surgery at optical express , because they understood that was not the case .
optical express group has reported a £15 . 1 million pre - tax loss for its most recent financial year and says a plan to put a subsidiary into administration is the final piece in its restructuring jigsaw .
2018 . does not apply to lens surgery . this offer is not available with any other discount from optical express and is not available to those who have already booked their treatment prior to receiving this offer .
wimbledon has arrived again ! each year the iconic tournament attracts some of the world ' s greatest tennis players . did you know that some of the world ' s leading refractive surgeons work at optical express ?
for me optical express were 1st class all through the process , so would recommend without hesitation , even after surgery they continue to be 1st class , anybody thinking about it , dont , just do it .
the optical express store is located near the top of the stairs and i was surprised to see a number of police officers standing a few feet away , until i realised there was a police recruitment on .
optical express are actively working with sightsavers to help combat curable eye diseases in some of the poorest parts of the world and in 2014 the company helped sightsavers raise over £10 , 000 through their christmas appeal .
optical express said fewer than 20 people may be affected in scotland . those who can not be redeployed will be offered the chance to retrain for its call centre operations . the group has 992 employees in scotland .
a spokesman for optical express said : “we are extremely disappointed by the verdict and for dr mcgraw , a highly skilled and compassionate surgeon who has successfully improved the eyesight and the lives of thousands of patients .
optical express , which has more than 50 stores in scotland , has faced growing competition from online retailers and supermarkets in recent years while also battling with the tough trading conditions affecting the rest of the high street .
roberto cavalli comes to optical express ! if you are searching for glamour and luxury , then look no further . this stylish collection of frames is now available in select stores across the uk # robertocavalli # style urltoken
mr cowell , who worked for optical express between may and october 2012 , says that mr kerr made the comments about the rochdale worker in early august of that year while she was on an induction training course .
this will be challenged and should he not overrule optical express '
corporate decision
and agree to ms rodoy ' s attendance at the request of his patients , professor jan venter will be facing the gmc .
the 1st part of watchdog’s report and its companion article alleges that optical express engages in “pressure selling” , providing “conflicting advice at the clinics . and a pricing structure that confuses customers , and even staff . ” .
the company ' s lawyers tried to have the domain space of the site , optical express ruined my life , removed , but the bid was thrown out by the company that registered the campaign site ' s name . nominet , the internet registry company , said optical express ' s main charge – that the website had been set up and funded by its main competitor , optimax – was
extremely serious
and not proven .
optical express has partnered with the charity to provide eye health check - ups . the chernobyl children’s lifeline has brought over 46 , 000 children from the ukraine and belarus to the uk since 1992 to improve their health .
the cost of laser eye surgery depends on the type of treatment you ' re having and your prescription requirements , but the range of pricing and finance options at optical express make it an affordable solution for all patients .
at optical express , you ' ll find that we provide exceptional clinical expertise , outstanding surgical outcomes and a complete aftercare programme . we , quite simply , want to bring a new sense of joy into your life .
he claims that mr kerr - optical express’ group operations director – called him from glasgow , where the course was taking place , to suggest that the woman be removed from her role because she was not attractive enough .
the company ' s lawyers tried to have the domain space of the site , optical express ruined my life , removed , but the bid was thrown out by nominet , the internet registry company adjudicating on the complaint .
thank you for your email which was addressed to our chief executive officer . in my capacity as clinical services director for the optical express group and based on our previous communications i am offering this response to your email .
material used by some companies to promote sales has been proven on several occasions by the advertising standards authority to be unfounded , lacking in evidence and misleading . in 2011 , the asa upheld 17 complaints against optical express brochures .
a surgeon who worked until december for the market leader in corrective eye surgery , optical express , claimed that he voiced concerns about the performance of the mplus x lens in the uk to his then employer earlier last year .
ruling both optical express and dr mcgraw liable to pay full compensation , the judge said miss holloway had at no point been given sufficient information about the risks of the surgery and possible complications in order to give ‘informed consent’ .
perhaps there is someone at bupa who would like to speak with me before i contact the press with in depth stories from some of mbe ' s clients currently in litigation against optical express , some of whom underwent rle .
dismissing optical express ' s claim , an expert panel formed by nominet said allegations made by the company had been designed to
impugn the honesty and integrity
of rodoy , who was named as the respondent in the case .
success vision express has locations in both arkansas and kansas . find the location that ' s most convenient for you !
ruling both optical express and dr mcgraw liable to pay full compensation , the judge said miss holloway had at no point been given sufficient information about the risks of the surgery and possible complications in order to give
informed consent
.
although no value has ever been revealed for the deal a spokesman for mr moulsdale indicated at the time it was a multi - million - pound investment which would protect jobs and position optical express for growth and without any significant debt .
[ … ] starts getting involved in policing marketing practices . you might remember the furore around the watchdog’s smack down of optical express for alleged dishonest marketing practices in earlier 2011 . not only do a few pinocchios spoil the [ … ]
as 85 % of people who come to optical express for a consultation are suitable for a procedure , it ' s very likely that you will be too . why not try using one of our suitability tools to get a quick initial indication ?
optical express’s clinical services director , stephen hannan , said that some banks of the lens remained in clinics and that concerns about the lens had not been the reason for the withdrawal of others . he denied that any concerns were raised by settas until october .
see today ' s front and back pages , download the newspaper , order back issues and use the historic daily express newspaper archive .
* prices dependent on prescription . optical express head office : 5 deerdykes road , cumbernauld , g68 9hf . the figures below apply to patients taking out a finance agreement . patients who are not taking a finance agreement will be required to pay a minimum deposit at time of booking . * * subject to status . the credit advertised is provided by a number of credit providers with whom we have a commercial relationship . available in uk only . optical express limited is authorised and regulated by the financial conduct authority registration number 689891 .
however , all surgical procedures carry a risk of complication . due to optical express ' s strict guidelines our complication rate is very low – 0 . 7 % in a recent analysis of almost 27 , 000 laser eye surgery procedures carried out by our surgeons .
a recent investigation by the consumer watchdog which ? found that optical express failed on every one of its researchers ' visits to explain possible complications with eye surgery , which include poor night vision , growths where the eye is cut , double vision and chronic eyelid inflammation .
i also wrote if i were restricted from accompanying my clients to their consults i would solicit every optical express patient entering and exiting the building and as my client was denied his right to my presence on monday this is what i did and will do in the future .
asked if the restructuring was required by royal bank of scotland , banker to dcm ( optical holdings ) , a spokesman for optical express said :
the decision to restructure was in the best interests of the business , our people and our customers and that decision was 100 % taken by the board , led by david . once that decision had been taken we informed our bankers as is normal practice .
because of the practical help offered to steadily growing numbers of damaged patients contacting oerml , optical express desperately tried to silence the author of this site , sasha rodoy , campaigner calling for the government to regulate the refractive eye surgery industry . ( see oerml domain name victory link )
the optical express 20 / 20 tour promo stand was situated in the premier location , centre of the mall ' s ground floor . the main entrance from the car park leads straight to the 1st floor balcony , which overlooked the stand where two staircases curved around the sides .
the accounts for dcm ( optical holdings ) show turnover fell from £204 . 7m to £188 . 2m amid difficult high street trading conditions .
“we’re therefore very surprised to see optical express stating its intention to buy back a number of stores . administrators are put in place to get the best possible deal for creditors and not abide by the wishes of an otherwise successful retailer wanting to restructure at the expense of its landlords .
after receiving your most recent communication so late on a sunday evening i must express my admiration for your devotion to your client ' s concerns .
nick grant , a partner at devonshires solicitors , said : “i think there will be further individuals seeking to make a claim against optical express and expect that , based on the number of claims coming in , devonshires will be bringing a class action against optical express in the near future on this mplus x lens issue . devonshires are currently obtaining copies of clients’ medical records before reviewing and instructing an expert to prepare a report . my advice is that anyone who thinks they may have been given an mplus x lens and had a disappointing outcome should seek legal advice . ”
at optical express , we understand how important it is for our patients to build a relationship with and to trust their surgeon . as our expert surgeons have completed thousands of treatments over the course of their careers to become leaders in their field , you can feel confident about your procedure .
the case arose from a text campaign by optical express ( “oe” ) . this involved oe sending millions of messages promoting its laser eye surgery service . oe used contact details described by oe’s suppliers as “consented data . ” this was sourced from a number of suppliers , including thomas cook .
in february frank blin , former head of the scottish operations of big four accountant pwc , joined the board of dcm ( optical holdings ) .
find out how to make a complaint about an optometrist or dispensing optician , about illegal practice in the optical sector , or about the goc .
she added : “we’d like to say a big thank you to optical express’ nottingham team for their fantastic donation . as a direct result of their fundraising campaign , people who had lost their sight will now be able to see their families , find work and enjoy a vastly improved lifestyle . ”
when asked by 5 live presenter adrian goldberg whether or not optical express would welcome greater regulation of the industry , steve schallhorn replied :
listen . . . we would support practical regulations that would improve the industry and deliver meaningful benefits to our patients , we would certainly support that .
the police assured me that optical express had made no direct complaint against me , although hugh kerr & janice mcpherson whined in the shopping mall manager ' s ear for most of the day ! mid afternoon he finally sent two security guards to invite me to a meeting in the management suite .
we are the regulator for the optical professions in the uk . our purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education , performance and conduct amongst opticians . we currently register around 30 , 000 optometrists , dispensing opticians , student opticians and optical businesses . read our mission and values
hi carol , many thanks for sharing your review of optical express - southampton , we are delighted to read about the great service provided by all the team . if you ever need anything else from us , please feel free to give us a call or stop by . have an awesome day !
optical express chief executive , david moulsdale , said : “i am proud of the great response by our staff and the funds they’ve raised for sightsavers . the money will pay for dozens of people in some of the world’s poorest countries to receive vital cataract surgery that could quite literally change their lives . ”
it is truly a life changing event . i was looked after perfectly by everyone involved with my surgery at optical express glasgow . i have already recommended the procedure to a member of my family and told numerous friends about my great experience . i would not hesitate to do it all again : - )
optical express “totally refutes the allegations made in this programme” and for evidence , claimed that “99 % of our patients said they would recommend us to family or friends” and that their “price advertising complies with the asa codes of practice and our pricing structure is made clear on our website and at our consultations” .
hi andrew , thank you very much for your great review of your experience with optical express . we are delighted to read how happy you have been with service and the visual outcome you have achieved . it is fantastic to read how it has changed your life for the better . enjoy your new vision !
optical express ruined my life ( oerml ) was set up in april 2012 by sasha rodoy , a campaigner seeking tighter regulation of laser eye surgery with the support of labour mp john mcdonnell . rodoy had previously run a website called optimax ruined my life , until she came to a confidential settlement with the firm .
the money raised by the nottingham team will be used to treat people who are blind , or going blind from conditions such as cataracts . a cataract operation for an adult in a developing country costs on average £30 , meaning the £1281 raised by optical express could help fund over 40 operations for visually impaired people .
of course optical express did not want me arrested as it would have guaranteed press cover , which they ' ve gone to great lengths to stop , with another in depth story , in scotland ' s sunday herald , killed a few weeks ago thanks to pressure from moulsdale ' s legal team , harper macleod .
it’s likely that optical express became the subject of watchdog’s scrutiny after the most recent advertising standards authority ( asa ) adjudication involving the company was published on april 27 , 2011 . ( the asa aimes to ensure advertising is based on verifiable facts and enforces advertising codes on a wide range on marketing communication media . )
“since launching my campaign in 2012 i have been contacted by thousands of people with problems caused by laser eye surgery across the industry , but in 2014 the numbers with problems with replacement lenses rocketed , ” said sasha rodoy , who runs the website optical express ruined my life , and who is campaigning for tighter regulation .
george settas , who worked as a surgeon at optical express for four years , said : “i told them , on more than one occasion , that i had concerns regarding the performance of the mplus x lens , as i felt that there were a lot more patients experiencing quality of vision problems with this lens than other lenses . explanting – ie removing – such a lens is not an easy procedure at all . concerned by what i felt was an increase in the number of explants with the mplus x lens , i raised the issue within optical express . in the end i had to file a report with the appropriate regulatory authority . ”
one of the surgeons who felt obliged to report to the regulator was george settas , who until he left optical express by mutual agreement on 1 december , was at the heart of the optical express empire , which has courted controversy since being founded by glaswegian david moulsdale in 1991 . the company has been criticised for misleading adverts and last september it was told to pay damages of £500 , 000 to a 28 - year - old woman , stephanie holloway . they had failed to inform her of the risks of laser eye surgery and went on to spy on her in a bid to prove she was lying about how damaged her eyesight was .
stephanie holloway ( pictured left with her mother ) needs to wear sunglasses constantly after being left sensitive to light following the botched operation by optical express . dr joanna mcgraw ( right ( was ' extremely busy ' at the time of the operation , the court heard , and barely had time to properly inform her of the risks
our specialist optical advisors will help choose frames to suit your style and budget from our wide range including designer glasses from armani , chloe , prada and more .
the visiting children had exclusive use of the optical express branch . the optometrist who examined the children , clive burr , has worked at the clinic for over 20 years . he is pictured performing an eye examination on nine - year - old matvei maltsau , who visited the clinic along with 12 - year - old vladziflau padoba .
later that year information was provided detailing a poster in optical express staff rooms which displayed a nameless image of sasha lifted from a youtube video , claiming she was using stolen credit cards in oe stores with instructions advising staff not to approach her but to contact stephen hannan , oe ' s clinical services director . lawyers were involved .
optical express is the market leader in laser eye surgery , but has been at the centre of a series of controversies . earlier this year the high - street optician lost a battle to have a website that strongly criticised its record in laser eye surgery closed down over what it claimed were defamatory attacks funded by a commercial rival .
the board of dcm ( optical holdings ) includes former pwc accountant frank blin who was recently linked to a possible boardroom position at rangers before removing himself from consideration .
optical express said that settas only asked about the rate of explantations in early october , when they shared their study on the mplus x’s performance . they added that settas told them in late october he would not do any more explantations , and at that point he told them that the fee for the operation did not match the work involved .
cocking , who has asked solicitor geoffrey simpson - scott of law firm colemans to act for him , says optical express failed to notice that he was suffering from glaucoma ( which is now advanced ) in the weeks and months after it replaced lenses in his eyes . he told the observer that his life was
ruined , utterly ruined
.
however , the decline in consumer spending and confidence has intensified pressures in the sector in recent years , with the rise of supermarket and online optical providers providing further competition .
it follows similar steps last year when administrators pkf were appointed to a subsidiary including 80 practices – with 40 absorbed back into the group . the move resulted in criticism from the british property federation , which said it was at the expense of landlords ( news 12 . 10 . 12 ) but optical express said at the time there was little alternative .
in july moulsdale agreed to a ‘significant’ investment in the company he founded after talks were called to settle debts with the royal bank of scotland . in an interview with optician the following month ( news 30 . 08 . 13 ) he said the uk laser eye surgery sector could decline further in 2014 but expressed confidence that optical express would outperform the market .
meanwhile , the young man manning the pod told me he should have left braehead at 4 . 00pm returning the pod to london , when optical express management & staff would take over the floor space with their sales pitch . unfortunately for him , as the management were unwilling to face me they ' d told him he had to stay until closing time .
optical express work with worthy and life - changing charities to positively affect people’s lives . we are committed to improving the lives of others by dedicating time , capital and services to those most in need . our recent charity work reflects a company - wide policy to improve eyecare and eye health for millions of people worldwide and we remain dedicated to do this .
in march 2012 , optical express employee and ' troubleshooter ' , patrick james green , was recorded offering a bribe to sasha on behalf of his employer david moulsdale . having asked how much it was worth for her to give up her campaign for government legislation , sasha replied ,
not for a million pounds !
. ( see patrick james green link )
when repeatedly pressed to answer the question that the asa have ruled against optical express using the untrue advertised claim that 99 % of people achieve 20 / 20 vision , desperately looking for a rabbit hole , steve sighed and said :
i ' m a . . i ' m a . . . ophthalmic surgeon and i can ' t address advertising issues .
you have already been provided by our solicitors , at your request , with copies of the agreements that you signed when accompanying patients at the optical express harley street . we and our solicitors , do not have a postal address to which to send you hard copies of these agreements but could do so if you provide us with an address to which to send them .
optical express chairman and chief executive david moulsdale said : ‘there will be no job losses , no patient disruption and no supplier loss . my board and i have taken this decision to protect our patients , our employees and our suppliers . this is the final piece in our restructuring jigsaw and puts us in a position of strength to deliver growth , stability and profitability . ’


a parent company is a company that owns enough voting stock in another firm to control management and operation by doing and influencing or electing its board of directors .

the second company is deemed a subsidiary of the parent company .

parent company

our parent company , liberty mutual insurance company , a boston - based fortune 100 company , opened its doors in 1912 .
chief representative must be a staff member from the parent company . can have limited staff only .
receivers and managers have been appointed to the singapore parent company of loss - making collie miner griffin coal .
the parent company is the first subscription diaper delivery service in singapore that takes care of all your diaper needs .
for the subsidiary , the parent company is only one of its shareholders , as other members ( up to 49 ) can hold the subsidiary’s shares . for the branch , the parent company holds 100 % of its shares .
a parent company is a company that has a controlling interest in another company , giving it control of its operations . parent companies can be either hands - on or hands - off owners of its subsidiaries , depending on the amount of managerial control given to subsidiary managers .
it’s important to parent - proof your financial strategies so that your assets don’t suddenly drain .
peabody australia holdco owes around $ 5 . 7 billion to companies owned by its us parent .
investors will generally need to choose between establishing a new company , registering as a foreign company or acquiring an existing company .
learn how spinoffs of subsidiaries from a parent company are typically done , and what determines whether a spinoff is taxable . . . read answer > >
we can provide pre - construction , construction management , and design - build services . the parent company is here to bring your vision to life .
encouraging parents to feel less guilty with a lunch time talk on the psychology of guilt and the working parent .
the two most common ways companies become parent companies , are either through the acquisitions of smaller companies or through spinoffs .
an alternative to establishing a new or subsidiary company may be to acquire an existing australian company .
the parent company was established in 1997 to support parents and families in the workplace . we run specialist parenting seminars , maternity and paternity coaching and other support workshops for parents .
the asx has given in - principle approval for aumake australia ' s parent company , itm corporation , to back - door list through augend limited , to form aumake international .
private parent loans can help families pay for college . but the repayment timeline associated with the loans can hurt parents’ retirement savings .
however , the accounts also note that peabody australia is unable to draw on credit facilities provided by pic and the gibraltar subsidiary of the parent company because of the us bankruptcy proceedings .
both the subsidiary and the branch have to file their audited accounts and tax returns every year , and the branch has to do so for itself and its parent company at that .
for information on how to establish a company in australia , see asic’s guide on starting a company .
peabody australia has been provided a letter of financial support from pic , a subsidiary of the us parent , until april 30 , 2017 .
google ' s parent company , alphabet , is in talks to invest $ 1 billion in lyft , according to reports from bloomberg and axios , which cite sources with knowledge of the matter .
google ' s parent company , alphabet , which was an early investor in uber , is now reportedly in talks to invest $ 1 billion in lyft . ( marcio jose sanchez / associated press )
the subsidiary has its own legal entity while the branch shares the same legal entity with its founding parent company . as the branch performs solely as an extension , it exposes the parent company to risks : it will be liable for all debts or legal issues of its branch . that is why , if your business is associated with risks , the form of the branch office isn’t for you .
if the company is a small proprietary company , it doesn’t have to prepare or lodge financial statements with asic .
the parent company , inc . is a construction management firm based out of brentwood , tn . we have laid the groundwork for a range of clients who are shaping the future of middle tennessee since 1984 .
has no legal status but just a temporary administrative arrangement . requirements : parent company must have sales turnover of more than us $ 250 , 000 / - with years of establishment of at least 3 years .
decide from our carefully selected bundles for the savvy , regular and power parents . alternatively , customise your very own flexi parent plan . decide the length of your subscription .
if a director places his own interests above those of the company , the director will be liable for any loss caused to the company . if the director has profited from his position without the informed consent of the company , the director may have to account for the profits to the company . where the director has contracted with the company , e . g . the director has sold an asset to the company , the company may be able to avoid the contract if the contract with the company was entered into in breach of the director´s fiduciary obligations to the company . where a third party has entered into a contract with the company knowing that the directors of the company have acted improperly , the company may also be able to avoid the contract vis - à - vis the third party .
once the constitution of the company is registered , the registrar will issue a notice of incorporation stating that the company is , from the date specified in the notice , incorporated and the type of company it is , i . e . whether it is company limited by shares or guarantee or an unlimited company and where applicable that it is a private company - see section 19 ( 4 ) of the act .
you can purchase a company extract at asic connect that will provide current and historical details about a company , including the officeholders , addresses and , in some cases , members ( or shareholders ) of the company . you can also purchase images of company documents that are on asic’s public register .
according to the local company regulations , a foreign parent firm must appoint a local secretary and a local executive ( director ) . this is usually a temporary solution as the real director can replace the singaporean upon arriving in sg on the employment pass or the entrepass .
similarly , if a company is used to perpetrate a fraudulent act , the courts will treat the company and those behind it as one and the same . thus , if a company has been incorporated to defraud innocent investors , the court may hold the promoter of the company liable even though the promoter and company are separate persons - see re darby [ 1911 ] 1 kb 95 .
this is not to say that members of a company cannot obtain any return on their investment . indeed , if a company makes profits in a particular year , the company may pay dividends to its shareholders out of the profits made . the rules relating to capital maintenance also do not mean that members of the company must contribute to the company when trading losses have occurred which have depleted the company´s capital . a member´s liability to the company is limited only to the amount he has agreed to contribute to the company when the shares are issued to him . the rules relating to capital maintenance simply mean that , absent profits , a company must not take any steps that in effect return capital to its shareholders .
a subsidiary is an independent company that is more than 50 % . . .
international investors interested in entering the australian market may wish to establish a new australian company or establish a new australian subsidiary which also operates as an australian company .
investors interested in acquiring an australian company should refer to asic’s takeovers and reconstructions .
you can search asic’s registers on asic connect to find out if a business name or company is registered . for more about the differences between a registered business name and a company , see ' understand the difference between a business and a company’ below .
remember that finding a company or business on our register doesn’t mean it’s a safe company or business to deal with . there are many other searches that will help you find out more about the company or business : see search asic’s registers and databases below .
the more advantageous realization of the company´s assets than would occur in a winding up .
the financial accounts noted that the $ us250 million loan was put in place so that peabody investment corporation ( pic ) and a gibraltar subsidiary of the us parent would not ask for voluntary repayment of the money or shares owed .
the maximum number of members is 50 ( including corporate ones ) ; the minimum is 1 ( the parent company ) . membership of particular shareholders doesn’t define the subsidiary’s existence : even if its members resign , sell their shares , die , or become bankrupt , the subsidiary continues functioning within the frame of its shares .
if a business is a registered company , you can use your search results to answer the following questions , which will help you to assess how risky dealing with that company is .
chapter 11 bankruptcy allows a company to restructure so it can pay its debts over time .
as a company has a personality separate from that of its members , a member of the company cannot sue to enforce rights that belong to the company . this is known as the ` proper plaintiff´ rule , namely , that the company is the proper plaintiff in respect of any rights that it has - see foss v harbottle ( 1843 ) 2 hare 461 ;
the monetary authority of singapore in relation to a company engaged in the business of banking .
the subsidiary is more flexible and independent : its ownership can be changed by selling its shares ; it can buy property , make contracts , sue and be sued in its own name . in the same time , the branch’s activity is totally controlled by the parent company that holds its shares and gets 100 % of its profit .
you can do a personal name search on the directors and company officers for a fee . this will show what other companies each person is involved in as a company officer or member .
to monitor the company , you can register for our free company alert service . this service will automatically notify you by overnight email if documents are lodged relating to the companies you nominate .
however , peabody australia ' s financial accounts warn of
certain additional liquidity risks
because of the us bankruptcy proceedings including possible demands for repayment or the return of leased equipment from the us parent ' s financiers , suppliers and other counterparties .
it is also important to understand the difference between a registered business name and a registered company .
the performance triggered another warning from the company’s auditor about the miner’s future as a going concern .
costs of running such company as the subsidiary are higher due to a bunch of administrative requirements .
the australian arm of us coal giant , peabody energy , made a nearly $ 3 billion loss last year and it could be drawn into the bankruptcy woes of its us parent , according to its latest financial accounts lodged with the corporate regulator , asic .
a company is a body corporate registered in australia by asic under the corporations act ( section 9 of the corporations act has a detailed legal definition ) . each company is allocated a unique acn .
notwithstanding the proper plaintiff rule , there may be occasions where a member of the company is entitled to bring an action on behalf of the company . where a member does this , the action is referred to as a derivative action as the right is derived from the company . the member is not suing to enforce any rights that belong to him personally . in such actions , the company is included as a nominal defendant so that any decision of the court will bind the company as well .
peabody australia holdco was not included in the filings for bankruptcy in the us , and it was lent $ us250 million by companies owned by its us parent on the day of the bankruptcy filing in april to provide
additional liquidity to support ongoing operations
.
details about the company or business’s licence ( if it has one ) , including the licence number .
pay off any paid - up share capital which is in excess of the needs of the company .
a company may also be compulsorily wound up by an order of court . under section 253 ( 1 ) of the act , an application to the court to wind up the company may be presented by
a representative office is not allowed to engage in any business except market research and liaisoning activities . two of the ways in which a foreign company may carry on business in singapore are by registering a branch office or by incorporating a limited liability company ( i . e . subsidiary company ) in singapore .
to set up the subsidiary in singapore , you need to suggest a unique name for it . it doesn’t have to sound similar to the parent company’s name , but you aren’t allowed to use the name of any existing singaporean company or the one that sounds vulgar . it is reasonable to handle the name check before starting the subsidiary’s registration procedure to avoid any hitches . after you select the suitable name , you can get it reserved for 2 months and extend the reservation afterwards if needed .
find out details about the company or business that will help you to obtain further information . ask for :
you can use our registers to find information about a company . you can print summaries of key information .
prescribe the name of the company and whether the liability of the members of the company is limited or unlimited . a company’s constitution shall also contain the regulations of the company ( section 35 ( 1 ) of the act ) . the minister may prescribe model constitutions for private companies and companies limited by guarantee which may be adopted by such companies either in whole or in part ( sections 36 and 37 of the act ) .
you can verify that the company or business name is registered by conducting an organisations & business names index search .
businesses which want to streamline their operations often spin off less productive or unrelated subsidiary businesses . for example , a company might spin off one of its mature business units that is not growing , so it can focus on a product or service with better growth prospects . on the other hand , if a part of the business is headed in a different direction and has different strategic priorities from the parent company , it may be spun off so it can unlock value as an independent operation – and perhaps be put up for sale .
where a company is in financial difficulty but there is a reasonable prospect of rehabilitating the company or of preserving all or part of the business as a going concern , or that otherwise the interests of creditors would be better served than by resorting to a winding up , the company or its creditors may apply to court for an order that the company be placed under the judicial management of a person known as a judicial manager - see section 227a of the act .
our media releases and advisories cover a wide range of asic activities , such as enforcement outcomes and consumer warnings . you can check if we have issued a media release about a company or individual by searching the company or individual name .
the parent company is all about serving parents with new - borns and toddlers in a convenient and value for money setting . as parents ourselves , one of the most hassling ordeals of parenting was going to the supermarket or baby fair to purchase diapers . in singapore , a large majority of us take public transport and we often find ourselves searching online for good diaper deals , just to save ourselves the trouble of lugging diapers home .
this will give you some more clues about the company’s stability . new management and new directors may mean fresh ideas , but frequent changes can point to problems . the company may not be stable , and it may have inconsistent management policies .
a liability is defined as a company ' s legal financial debts or obligations that arise during the course of business operations .
a corporation or other business enterprise that owns controlling interests in one or more subsidiary companies ( distinguished from holding company ) .
the names and details of the members will tell you more about who is behind the business . member information cannot be obtained if the company is a public company because these types of companies are not required to tell us who their members are .
the company ' s financial accounts noted that , during 2015 , peabody australia
continued to experience weak market conditions .
last month , the company said it would sell undeveloped exploration tenements in queensland ' s bowen basin for $ 65 million .
the just and equitable ground for winding up has been used in a number of different circumstances . for example , where the main object of the company cannot be achieved or has been departed from , aggrieved members of the company may petition for the company to be wound up . similarly , a company may be wound up if it engages in acts that are entirely outside of what can fairly be regarded as having been within the general contemplation and understanding of the members when they became members of the company . another situation where the just and equitable ground has been used is where the company´s business has been carried on in a fraudulent manner . in addition , where the company is a quasi - partnership , in that the way the business is run resembles how a partnership is managed despite the use of the corporate form , and further , trust and confidence among the members has been irretrievably damaged , the court may order the winding up of the company since the members can no longer work with one another .
if you believe directors of a company may be breaching the corporations act ( e . g . the company is still trading even though it can’t pay its debts or the directors are not honest or taking proper care when operating a company ) , contact us on 1300 300 630 ( for the cost of a local call from anywhere in australia ) or lodge a complaint online .
despite the best of efforts , an insolvent company may not be able to overcome its difficulties . in such circumstances , the company may be dissolved to enable its assets to be liquidated so that its creditors may be repaid part of what is owing to them . this process by which a company is dissolved is known as winding up or liquidation . a healthy company may also be wound up if its members no longer wish the business to continue . when a company is wound up , its assets or the proceeds thereto will be used to pay off creditors after which the balance , if any , is distributed pro rata amongst shareholders .
you can browse our professional registers for afs licensees and authorised representatives to determine whether the company or business has the appropriate authorisations .
we are a company founded by people who invented technologies , turned them into businesses and , through innovation , built entire industries .
thus , if an individual already has existing legal obligations , but attempts to use the corporate vehicle to evade such obligations , the courts will ignore the company´s separate personality . for example , it has been held that a person who has agreed to sell a house cannot avoid his contractual obligations by transferring the house to a company . both he and the company were ordered to specifically perform the contract even though the company was not a party to the contract - see jones v lipman [ 1962 ] 1 wlr 832 .
a $ 2 company is not necessarily a bad risk , but $ 2 may be all the members have put in to fund a company’s operations . the amount that members are willing to invest suggests how much risk they’re willing to accept in backing the business .
where such an application is made , and the court after hearing the evidence is satisfied that the complaint is a valid one , the court may , with a view to bringing an end or remedying the matters complained of , make such order as it thinks fit . such orders may include directing or prohibiting any act or canceling or varying any transaction or resolution ; regulating the conduct of the affairs of the company in future ; authorizing civil proceedings to be brought in the name of the company ; providing for the purchase of the shares and debentures of the company by other members or holders of debentures or the company itself ; or even winding up the company .
understand the primary differences between a subsidiary company and a wholly owned subsidiary , and their relationship to . . . read answer > >
. where a company has rights to be enforced , or is being sued , the usual body that is empowered to decide whether the company should either bring an action or defend the claim is the board of directors in whom the power of management is usually vested .
if you are dealing with a business trading under a business name or company , it must be registered with asic . the business name holder or company must provide us with information which is available to any member of the public : see search asic’s registers and databases below .
another important exception is found in section 340 ( 1 ) of the act . where it appears in the course of the winding up of a company that any business of the company has been carried on with intent to defraud creditors of the company or creditors of any other person or for any fraudulent purpose , the court may declare that any person who was knowingly a party to the carrying on of the business in such a manner shall be personally liable for all or any of the debts or liabilities of the company as the court may direct .
in addition , the australian company ' s auditor has warned of doubts about the firm ' s ability to continue as a going concern .
in the accounts , auditor ernst & young warned of doubts about the australian company ' s ability to keep operating as a going concern .
you should only deal with a registered company . if it’s deregistered , then the company can’t legally operate . if it’s under external administration ( shown as exad in your search ) , you know that it has run into financial trouble and you should be cautious about dealing with it .
any person ( or a foreign company ) is allowed to register a subsidiary provided that he / she submits the document called the memorandum and articles of association which clarifies such facts as the subsidiary’s name , its share capital and how the company is going to limit its members’ liabilities .
as a general rule , though this is now subject to many exceptions , a company under singapore law is required to maintain its capital in the sense that it cannot return capital to its members . this general rule is intended to protect creditors . creditors of a company are said to give credit to the company on the faith that the capital of the company will be applied only for the purposes of the business and therefore have a right to insist that such capital be kept and not returned to the shareholders - see re exchange banking co ( 1882 ) 21 ch d 519 .
in the exercise of their duties , directors ( and the company’s senior managers ) must act bona fide in what they consider is in the best interests of the company . when the acts of directors are challenged , the courts do not substitute their own judgment for that of the directors - see
while an incorporated company has a personality separate from that of its members , there are circumstances when the courts will ignore such separate personality and treat the company and its members ( or officers ) as one for limited purposes . thus , for example , there may be circumstances when the courts will hold the members of a company liable for debts incurred by the company . when the courts do so , it is said that the veil of incorporation is
lifted
or
pierced
. generally , the cases of veil lifting fall into two categories : by statute and at common law .
if you are concerned about a company’s products or services , you may need to contact the fair trading / consumer affairs office in your state or territory .
under section 254 ( 1 ) ( i ) of the act , the court may wind up a company where it is just and equitable to do so . this is also an important remedy for shareholders as it provides a means for disgruntled shareholders to use the winding up process to disengage from a company .
as mentioned earlier , the liability of a member / shareholder is to contribute to the company only that amount unpaid on the shares taken up by the member / shareholder . this is what is meant by limited liability . a shareholder is entitled to participate in the life of the company on the terms set out in the company´s constitution and to the extent allowed by the act . these will often determine the exact rights of the shareholder . some of the usual rights of shareholders include being entitled to a pro - rata share of any dividends that are declared and paid ; having a pro - rata share of any assets remaining upon a winding up after the creditors of the company have been paid ; and having the power to appoint and remove the directors of the company .
a transaction entered into by a company with a third party at an undervalue may also be set aside by the court . such a transaction arises where :
( ii ) the company enters into a transaction with that person for a consideration the value of which , in money or money´s worth , is significantly less than the value , in money or money´s worth , of the consideration provided by the company – see section 98 ( 3 ) of the bankruptcy act .
it should be noted though that , while the directors´ overriding duty is to the company , section 159 of the act provides that in exercising their powers , directors are entitled to have regard to the interests of the company´s employees generally , as well as the interests of its members . that directors may have regard to the interests of its members is also the position at common law since the members collectively do in a sense comprise the company notwithstanding the company´s separate personality - see peters american delicacy co ltd v heath ( 1939 ) 61 clr 457 ; greenhalgh v arderne cinemas ltd [ 1951 ] ch 286 . the entitlement to have regard to the interests of employees is also a sensible one since advancing the interests of employees will often be in the best interests of the company .
there may be occasions where it is desirable to rearrange the rights of the company , its creditors , and shareholders , particularly where the company is in a financially perilous position . on such occasions , it may be difficult to obtain the unanimous consent of all creditors and shareholders . accordingly , section 210 of the act provides for schemes of arrangement to be binding on the company , its creditors , and shareholders ( as the case may be ) where the requisite majority is obtained , subject to approval by the court . schemes of arrangement are most often used where it is desirable to compromise creditors´ claims against an insolvent company .
if it’s a large proprietary company , a public company , a disclosing entity , or a registered scheme , it should have lodged financial statements within four months after the end of its financial year ( three months for a disclosing entity or registered scheme ) . you can obtain copies of financial statements lodged with asic .
grant thornton noted the company recorded an operating cash outflow of $ 35 . 1 million for the year and a working capital deficiency of nearly $ 343 million .
a company cannot reduce its capital or otherwise return assets to its members , except to the extent the act permits this – see section 78a of the act .
the company is being used for an unlawful purpose or for purposes prejudicial to public peace , welfare or good order in singapore or against national security or interest .
to obtain and maintain an asx listing , companies need to meet the prescribed requirements set out in the stock exchange listing rules . this includes company disclosure and reporting requirements .
softbank , a japanese telecommunications company , is reportedly in talks to invest in uber , but axios reports that it has threatened to invest in lyft unless uber meets its terms .
because each company and business has its own unique registration , searching by an acn , abn or former state or territory business name registration number can assist in narrowing a search .
the 2015 accounts for the australian subsidiary , peabody australia holdco , show the company made a $ 2 . 7 billion net loss for the year to the end of december .
a2 milk , on the other hand , has embraced the role of the
in - between
shopper , and the company ' s value has soared beyond $ 2 billion .
that no other proceedings and no execution or other legal process shall be commenced against the company or its property , except with the consent of the judicial manager or with leave of the court and no steps shall be taken to enforce security over the company´s property or to repossess any goods except with the consent of the judicial manager or with leave of the court .
section 216a ( 2 ) of the act provides that a complainant may apply to the court for leave to bring an action or arbitration in the name and on behalf of the company or intervene in an action or arbitration to which the company is a party for the purpose of prosecuting , defending or discontinuing the action or arbitration on behalf of the company . the court will only grant leave if the court is satisfied under section 216a ( 3 ) of the act that the complainant has given 14 days´ notice to the directors of the company of the complainant´s intention to apply for leave ; the complainant is acting in good faith ; and it appears to be prima facie in the interests of the company that the action or arbitration be brought , prosecuted , defended or discontinued . one advantage of the statutory derivative action is that if the court authorizes the bringing of the action or arbitration , it can order the company to pay reasonable legal fees and disbursements incurred by the complainant in connection with the action . under the common law derivative action , the risk of legal costs falls on the person bringing the action .
since 1 january 1991 , every company in australia has been issued with a nine - digit acn . the acn is a unique identifier and no two companies can have the same acn .
a registered business name is a trading name under which a person or entity carries on business or trades . examples might be roxy cafe , tj smith & co or hollingdale & page . the word ‘company’ or ‘co’ in a name does not necessarily mean that the business is registered as a company under the corporations act 2001 ( corporations act ) . see more about business names .
the court must be vigilant to ensure that the judicial management procedure is not directly or indirectly used by the directors and shareholders of the company to the detriment of creditors . the motives of the application should therefore be clearly honourable . the court must also show great heed to the wishes and views of creditors since the assets of an insolvent company in effect belong to creditors - see
in addition to the ability to bring a common law or statutory derivative action to protect the legitimate interests of the company , there are two other important remedies open to shareholders who feel that their interests are being prejudiced . the first arises under section 216 of the act . section 216 ( 1 ) provides that any member or holder of a debenture of the company , or the minister of finance in certain cases , may apply to the court for an order that the affairs of the company are being conducted in a manner oppressive to one or more of the members or holders of debentures , or in disregard of their interests as members , shareholders or holders of debentures of the company . a similar application may be made if an act of the company has been done or is threatened which unfairly discriminates against or is otherwise prejudicial to one or more of the members or holders of debentures . section 216 is commonly referred to as the ` oppression remedy´ .
section 216b ( 1 ) states that an application under section 216a shall not be stayed or dismissed by reason only that it is shown that an alleged breach of a right or duty owed to the company has been or may be approved by the members of the company however , evidence of approval by the members may be taken into account by the court in making an order under section 216a .
subsidiary is a company , and , therefore , it is subject to much stricter rules and regulations . one of them is a requirement to get the firm’s audited accounts and tax returns filed yearly .
in the case of winding up by the court , at any time after making of the winding up application and before a winding up order has been made , the company or any creditor or contributory may apply to the court to stay any proceedings pending against the company - see section 258 of the act . when a winding up order has been made or a provisional liquidator has been appointed , no action may be started against the company or proceeded with except with the leave of the court - see section 262 ( 3 ) of the act . similarly , in the case of voluntary winding up , section 299 ( 2 ) of the act states that , after the commencement of winding up , no action shall be commenced or proceeded with against the company except by leave of the court .
a third important exception arises where dividends are paid even though there are no available profits out of which to pay such dividends - see section 403 ( 2 ) ( b ) of the act . since dividends may only be paid where there are profits so as not to unduly prejudice creditors of the company , a director or chief executive officer of a company who wilfully pays or permits the payment of a dividend in the absence of profits will be liable to the creditors of the company for the amount of the debts due to them to the extent by which the dividends exceed the available profits .
the benefit of judicial management is that it allows a company that is not hopelessly insolvent some breathing space to reorganize its affairs . if this can be done successfully , this will benefit all creditors and members of the company . the alternative may be a forced and premature liquidation that is not in the interests of most creditors and members . accordingly , when a judicial management order is made , section 227d ( 1 ) provides that any receiver or receiver and manager shall vacate office and any petition for the winding up of the company shall be dismissed . section 227d ( 4 ) goes on to state
upon such an application by the company , its directors or creditors , section 227b ( 1 ) of the act provides that the court may make a judicial management order if the court is satisfied that the company is or will be unable to pay its debts . additionally , the court must be satisfied that the order if made would be likely to achieve one or more of the following purposes , namely :
aida cruises is one of the fastest growing and commercially most successful tourism businesses in germany . the company employs about 9 , 000 people from 40 countries on shore and on board aida ships . visit : urltoken
foreign entities may wish to carry on business in australia as a foreign company . the australian securities and investments commission ( asic ) outlines the criteria which define foreign companies and the rights foreign companies hold in australia .
persons incorporate companies for various reasons but , undoubtedly , one of the reasons is to insulate themselves from personal liability should the business fail . accordingly , the mere fact that members or officers of a company utilize the corporate vehicle to shield themselves from personal liability is no - reason to disregard the company´s separate personality - see adams v cape industries plc [ 1990 ] 1 ch 433 . however , the position is different where the members or officers of a company abuse the corporate form for improper means – see prest v petrodel resources ltd [ 2013 ] 2 ac 415 ; simgood pte ltd v mlc shipbuilding sdn bhd [ 2015 ] sghc 303 .
princess is the world ' s third largest cruise line based on guest capacity and the company ' s ships are renowned for their innovative design and wide array of choices in dining , entertainment and amenities . visit : urltoken
a members´ voluntary winding up may be converted into a creditors´ voluntary winding up if the liquidator appointed by the members forms the opinion that the company will not be able to pay its debts in full within the period stated in the declaration made under section 293 ( 1 ) of the act . the liquidator will then have to summon a meeting of creditors and lay before them a statement of the assets and liabilities of the company - see section 295 ( 1 ) of the act . the creditors may then , pursuant to section 295 ( 2 ) of the act , appoint some other person to be the liquidator for the purpose of the winding up of the company .
you can also use an asic information broker to do company and name searches of our registers . your accountant , solicitor , business consultant , credit reference agent or mercantile agent may also be able to do the searches for you .
in a winding up , one of the principal roles of the liquidator is to get in the company´s property so that it can be realized and the proceeds distributed to creditors with any balance going to the members . in most cases , this is a straightforward process . however , there may be circumstances where the company´s property has been improperly transferred to third parties and the liquidator must attempt to recover such property . two common instances involve undue preferences and transactions that have taken place at an undervalue .
section 19 ( 5 ) of the act sets out the general effect of incorporation which is that the company is a body corporate with all such powers as flow from such an entity . the company may sue and be sued in its own name , it has perpetual succession in that it can survive indefinitely until it is wound up , it may hold land , and its members shall have such liability to contribute to its assets in the event of its winding up as is provided under the act .
legal entities that imply limited liability ( such as the subsidiary or the private limited company ) are preferable , and the government boosts small and medium business with tax incentives and various programmes that help them to save on taxes if they invest in innovations .
if the company expects to have the annual turnover of over 1 , 000 , 000 sgd , it must get registered for paying the value - added tax which is , by the way , one of the lowest on the planet – 7 % .
under common law , directors are regarded as fiduciaries and therefore owe fiduciary duties to their companies . at the same time , the act also prescribes certain duties on directors which mirror their general duties under the common law . one important provision is section 157 ( 1 ) of the act which prescribes that a director shall at all times act honestly and use reasonable diligence in the discharge of the duties of his office . section 157 ( 2 ) of the act goes on to state that an officer or agent of a company shall not make improper use of any information acquired by virtue of his position as an officer or agent of the company to gain , directly or indirectly , an advantage for himself or for any other person , or to cause detriment to the company .
under section 255 ( 1 ) of the act , where a resolution for voluntary winding up has been passed , but the company is subsequently wound up by the court , the winding up is still regarded as having commenced from the time of the passing of the resolution . section 255 ( 2 ) of the act provides that in all other cases where the company is wound up by the court , the winding up is deemed to have commenced at the time of the making of the application for the winding up .
rfg is a global food and beverage company headquartered in queensland , australia . it is australia’s largest multi - brand retail food franchise owner , a roaster and supplier of high quality coffee products and an emerging leader in the foodservice , dairy processing and wholesale bakery sectors .
your personal name search on the directors and company officers will show what other companies each person is involved in . this may help you form an opinion about their business background . if the directors have been involved in other failed companies , it is a strong warning sign .
under section 131 of the act , certain charges created by companies have to be registered with the public authority responsible for corporations . failure to do so will render the charge void against the liquidator or other secured creditors of the company . as a chargee will often wish to enforce a charge when the company is insolvent , this provides an incentive to chargees to ensure that any charge created in their favour is registered within the 30 day period after the creation of the charge as required by section 131 ( 1 ) of the act . where a charge has not been registered within the 30 day period , it may be possible to obtain an extension of time under section 137 of the act , e . g . if the omission to register was accidental or does not prejudice the position of creditors or members of the company .
peabody australia holdco made a $ 1 . 2 billion loss in 2014 , and its latest accounts show its total debt has increased to $ 10 . 7 billion while its total assets are worth $ 4 . 1 billion , leaving the company owing far more than it is worth .
singapore welcomes foreign capital and doesn’t set restrictions for the totally foreign ownership of the company . the repatriation of profit is also welcomed . after the subsidiary pays the corporate tax , which is 17 % in singapore , its foreign members can enjoy their dividends without paying the capital gain tax .
the australian business number ( abn ) is a number for business dealings with the australian taxation office ( e . g . an abn is needed to register for gst ) . when a company with an acn has also been issued with an abn , the abn may be the acn with two additional digits before it , resulting in an eleven - digit number . for example , a company that has both an acn and abn could have an acn of 123 456 789 and an abn of 77 123 456 789 ( i . e . the last nine digits will be the same ) .
many small businesses need a licence to carry out their business ( e . g . builders , plumbers , motor car traders ) . the fair trading / consumer affairs department in your state or territory can tell you which licences a business needs and whether that business or company holds a particular licence .
if the person you are dealing with seems to be in charge of the company but isn’t a listed director , this could be a warning sign . you should make further inquiries to find out if they are bankrupt ( see below ) , or have been disqualified as a director ( see below ) .
there is significant uncertainty whether the company and / or the consolidated entity will continue as a going concern , and therefore whether they will realise their assets and extinguish their liabilities in the normal course of business and at the amounts stated in the financial report ,
the auditor ' s report cautioned .
a floating charge on the other hand is a security interest that does not , at its inception , specifically attach to any assets of the chargor company . the charge is said to ` float´ over the assets in question until some act occurs which causes the charge to attach to the assets . from that time , the charge effectively becomes a fixed charge . the acts which cause the floating charge to crystallize , i . e . to attach to the assets , may be contractually provided for in the debenture . thus , the parties may provide that in certain circumstances the floating charge will automatically crystallize without the parties having to do anything else , or that in certain circumstances the chargee may give notice of crystallization to the company thereby causing the charge to crystallize . floating charges may also crystallize in other ways , e . g . if the company goes into liquidation or if it ceases to be a going concern .