We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Finance

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Memorandum of Association?

Malcolm Tatum
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 24,059
Share

A memorandum of association is a type of business document that is used as part of the incorporation process to form a new company, and helps to define the relationship between that new company and the rest of the world. In times past this document, sometimes known simply as a memorandum, required a number of details that are not typically included in the articles of incorporation that are filed at the time a business is formally incorporated. A memorandum of association is required as part of the documentation necessary for incorporation in a number of nations, including the United Kingdom, India, and Ireland, as well as other nations around the world.

In times past, one of the functions of a memorandum of association was to define the scope of external activities that the business would engage in once it was properly incorporated. To some extent, this is still true in many nations, in that the text must provide a general concept of what the business will provide in terms of goods or services. In recent years, the depth of detail required within the document has shifted to more general data, while more specific information is required in other documents that must also be submitted as part of the incorporation process.

Today, essential information within a memorandum of association focuses on stating that a certain group of individuals wish to form a business that is legally incorporated and are willing to share capital in order to fund the activities of the company. Depending on governmental regulations that apply to the content of the memorandum, there may be a need to define what the partners will receive in return for their investment, such as shares of stock. While at one time there was a need to identify the name of the business, a permanent business address and the type of company they wished to form, details of this type are now accounted for in other documents and are not considered necessary in the memorandum presented as part of the incorporation documents. There are sometimes provisions that allow for the inclusion of additional information at a later date if deemed necessary to comply with a change in governmental standards and regulations.

In years past, the memorandum of association also required that the text indicate exactly what the company would do as part of the business operation. This means that the provisions would state whether the business would manufacture goods and services or simply sell products manufactured by a vendor or supplier. Today, the detail required within the memorandum no longer includes this type of information since that data is found in other documents related to the incorporation process.

For non-profit entities that are incorporating, it is not unusual for a memorandum of association to include a clause that specifically states that the owners or members will not receive distribution of profits from the venture. Depending on government regulations that apply, the text may not require identifying exactly how owners and investors will be compensated, leaving the business free to provide salaries or similar types of compensation in return for investments made into the operation. Since a number of changes in the laws of many nations regarding the content of the memorandum of association have taken place since 2009, taking the time to determine what is and is not necessary for inclusion in the document is essential for any group of individuals who wish to start and incorporate a new business.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGeek, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon149628 — On Feb 05, 2011

you did not answer on the kind of information contained in the memorandum of association.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-memorandum-of-association.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.