Chapter III · Articles of association · Section II · Duties and rights of members · Subsection III · Maintenance of capital

Article 32 Limits on distributions of assets to members

Artigo 32.º · Limite da distribuição de bens aos sócios

Código das Sociedades Comerciais · Decree-Law No. 262/86 · consolidated text checked 26 October 2026

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1. Without prejudice to the provisions on the reduction of share capital, company assets may not be distributed to members if the company's equity, including the net result for the financial year, as shown in accounts prepared and approved in accordance with the law, is less than the sum of its share capital and the reserves which the law or the articles prohibit from being distributed to members, or would become less than that sum as a result of the distribution.

1 - Sem prejuízo do preceituado quanto à redução do capital social, não podem ser distribuídos aos sócios bens da sociedade quando o capital próprio desta, incluindo o resultado líquido do exercício, tal como resulta das contas elaboradas e aprovadas nos termos legais, seja inferior à soma do capital social e das reservas que a lei ou o contrato não permitem distribuir aos sócios ou se tornasse inferior a esta soma em consequência da distribuição.

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2. Increases arising from the application of fair value through components of equity, including through the net result for the financial year, may be taken into account for the purpose of distributing company assets to members under the preceding paragraph only when the items or rights giving rise to them are disposed of, exercised, extinguished or settled, or also when they are used, in the case of tangible and intangible fixed assets.

2 - Os incrementos decorrentes da aplicação do justo valor através de componentes do capital próprio, incluindo os da sua aplicação através do resultado líquido do exercício, apenas relevam para poderem ser distribuídos aos sócios bens da sociedade, a que se refere o número anterior, quando os elementos ou direitos que lhes deram origem sejam alienados, exercidos, extintos, liquidados ou, também quando se verifique o seu uso, no caso de activos fixos tangíveis e intangíveis.

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3. Income and other positive changes in net assets recognised as a result of the use of the equity method under the accounting and financial reporting standards may be taken into account for distributions to members under paragraph 1 only when realised.

3 - Os rendimentos e outras variações patrimoniais positivas reconhecidos em consequência da utilização do método da equivalência patrimonial, nos termos das normas contabilísticas e de relato financeiro, apenas relevam para poderem ser distribuídos aos sócios, nos termos a que se refere o n.º 1, quando sejam realizados.

What we checked in this article

Equity is not share capital; fair-value gains, realised gains and the equity method are kept distinct.

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Unofficial English translation prepared by BCA Portugal for reference. Only the Portuguese text published in the Diário da República has legal force. Editorial notes are ours and are not part of the statute.

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