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Likhet inför aktiebolagslagen - Något om tillämpningen av likhetsprincipen och generalklausulerna

Carlberg Johansson, William LU (2022) LAGF03 20221
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract (Swedish)
Uppsatsen behandlar likhetsprincipen och generalklausulerna i svensk aktiebolagsrätt. Reglerna utgör en del av det så kallade minoritetsskyddet. Även om bestämmelserna är gamla, är tillämpningen och förhållandet mellan likhetsprincipen och generalklausulerna något som fortfarande debatteras. Syftet med uppsatsen är att utröna hur tillämpningen av reglerna ska förstås och hur de förhåller sig till varandra.

Centralt för granskningen är tillämpningen av otillbörlighetsrekvisitet i generalklausulerna. I anslutning till detta har det i doktrinen debatterats huruvida en företagsekonomiskt försvarlig åtgärd kan vara otillbörlig. Slutsatsen som dras är att det är möjligt att ta hänsyn till företagsekonomiska skäl vid... (More)
Uppsatsen behandlar likhetsprincipen och generalklausulerna i svensk aktiebolagsrätt. Reglerna utgör en del av det så kallade minoritetsskyddet. Även om bestämmelserna är gamla, är tillämpningen och förhållandet mellan likhetsprincipen och generalklausulerna något som fortfarande debatteras. Syftet med uppsatsen är att utröna hur tillämpningen av reglerna ska förstås och hur de förhåller sig till varandra.

Centralt för granskningen är tillämpningen av otillbörlighetsrekvisitet i generalklausulerna. I anslutning till detta har det i doktrinen debatterats huruvida en företagsekonomiskt försvarlig åtgärd kan vara otillbörlig. Slutsatsen som dras är att det är möjligt att ta hänsyn till företagsekonomiska skäl vid otillbörlighetsbedömningen, dock med reservationen att det alltid måste ske en helhetsbedömning där även minoritetens intressen beaktas.

I arbetet konstateras därutöver att det är svårt att göra en tydlig distinktion mellan likhetsprincipen och generalklausulerna. Denna fråga är i princip uteslutande teoretisk och beror främst på vilken definition man har av termerna. Frågan om en självständig tillämpning av likhetsprincipen är dock av större relevans. Det finns skilda åsikter i doktrinen i frågan och rättspraxis samt förarbetena är tvetydiga. Jag menar att likhetsprincipen även ska anses omfatta likabehandling av aktieägare, och kunna tillämpas mot åtgärder där aktieägare materiellt olikabehandlas. Stöd för denna åsikt ges av Europaparlamentets och rådets direktiv (EU) 2017/1132 av den 14 juni 2017 om vissa aspekter av bolagsrätt. Det torde emellertid behöva ske en intresseavvägning ¬¬– lik den vid otillbörlighetsbedömningen i generalklausulerna – vid tillämpning av lagrummet. Hur denna tolkning förhåller sig till NJA 2013 s. 1250 är däremot oklart. Ett förtydligande från HD eller lagstiftaren skulle i denna del vara önskvärd.

Från likhetsprincipen går det att göra undantag. Generalklausulerna fungerar då som ett komplement. Reglerna innehåller därtill inte samma rekvisit, vilket gör att de omfattar något olika typer av situationer. Sammantaget kan man anse att de kompletterar varandra som minoritetsskyddsregler. (Less)
Abstract
The thesis deals with the principle of equality and the general clauses in the Swedish Companies Act. The rules form part of the so-called minority protection. Although the regulations are old, the application and relationship between the principle of equality and the general clauses is something that is still debated. The essay aims to find out how the application of the rules should be understood and how they relate to each other.

Central for the analysis is the application of the ”undue”-condition in the general clauses. In connection with this, it has been debated whether an economically justifiable measure can be unfair. The conclusion is that commercial effects are possible to consider in the assessment, with the reservation that... (More)
The thesis deals with the principle of equality and the general clauses in the Swedish Companies Act. The rules form part of the so-called minority protection. Although the regulations are old, the application and relationship between the principle of equality and the general clauses is something that is still debated. The essay aims to find out how the application of the rules should be understood and how they relate to each other.

Central for the analysis is the application of the ”undue”-condition in the general clauses. In connection with this, it has been debated whether an economically justifiable measure can be unfair. The conclusion is that commercial effects are possible to consider in the assessment, with the reservation that there must always be an overall assessment where the interests of the minority also are considered.

Moreover, it is difficult to draw a clear distinction between the principle of equality and the general clauses. This question is in principle purely theoretical and depends mainly on the definition of the terms. However, the question of an extended and independent application of the principle of equality is of greater relevance. Different opinions are shown in the legal doctrine. Case law, as well as the preparatory work, are also ambiguous concerning this matter. As far as I am concerned, the principle of equality should also be considered to include equal treatment of shareholders and can be applied to measures where shareholders are materially treated differently. The directive (EU) 2017/1132 of the European Parliament and the Council of 14 June 2017 relating to certain aspects of company law supports this opinion. Yet, when applying the law, one needs to consider different conflicting interests, similar to that in assessing the ”undue”-condition in the general clauses. How this interpretation relates to NJA 2013 s. 1250 can be discussed. A clarification from the Supreme Court or the legislator would be necessary for this part.

Exceptions can be made from the principle of equality. The general clauses then function as a supplement. In addition, the principle of equality and the general clauses do not contain the same prerequisites, which means that they cover slightly different types of situations. All things considered, the rules complement each other as minority protection rules. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Carlberg Johansson, William LU
supervisor
organization
course
LAGF03 20221
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
associationsrätt, civilrätt, likhetsprincipen, generalklausulen, generalklausulerna, aktiebolagslagen
language
Swedish
id
9080557
date added to LUP
2022-06-28 09:36:55
date last changed
2023-09-11 12:03:56
@misc{9080557,
  abstract     = {{The thesis deals with the principle of equality and the general clauses in the Swedish Companies Act. The rules form part of the so-called minority protection. Although the regulations are old, the application and relationship between the principle of equality and the general clauses is something that is still debated. The essay aims to find out how the application of the rules should be understood and how they relate to each other. 

Central for the analysis is the application of the ”undue”-condition in the general clauses. In connection with this, it has been debated whether an economically justifiable measure can be unfair. The conclusion is that commercial effects are possible to consider in the assessment, with the reservation that there must always be an overall assessment where the interests of the minority also are considered. 

Moreover, it is difficult to draw a clear distinction between the principle of equality and the general clauses. This question is in principle purely theoretical and depends mainly on the definition of the terms. However, the question of an extended and independent application of the principle of equality is of greater relevance. Different opinions are shown in the legal doctrine. Case law, as well as the preparatory work, are also ambiguous concerning this matter. As far as I am concerned, the principle of equality should also be considered to include equal treatment of shareholders and can be applied to measures where shareholders are materially treated differently. The directive (EU) 2017/1132 of the European Parliament and the Council of 14 June 2017 relating to certain aspects of company law supports this opinion. Yet, when applying the law, one needs to consider different conflicting interests, similar to that in assessing the ”undue”-condition in the general clauses. How this interpretation relates to NJA 2013 s. 1250 can be discussed. A clarification from the Supreme Court or the legislator would be necessary for this part. 

Exceptions can be made from the principle of equality. The general clauses then function as a supplement. In addition, the principle of equality and the general clauses do not contain the same prerequisites, which means that they cover slightly different types of situations. All things considered, the rules complement each other as minority protection rules.}},
  author       = {{Carlberg Johansson, William}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Likhet inför aktiebolagslagen - Något om tillämpningen av likhetsprincipen och generalklausulerna}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}