Chapter V · Shareholders’ resolutions

Article 381 Request for representation

Artigo 381.º · Pedido de representação

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

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1. If anyone solicits representation of more than five shareholders in order to vote at a general meeting, the following points and paragraphs must be observed:

1 - Se alguém solicitar representação de mais de cinco accionistas para votar em assembleia geral, deve observar-se o disposto nas alíneas e números seguintes:

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a) Representation is granted for one specified meeting only, but is valid whether that meeting is held on first or on second call;

a) A representação é concedida apenas para uma assembleia especificada, mas valerá quer ela se efectue em primeira quer em segunda convocação;

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b) The grant of representation is revocable, and attendance at the meeting by the person represented constitutes revocation;

b) A concessão de representação é revogável, importando revogação a presença do representado na assembleia;

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c) The request for representation must contain at least: the specification of the meeting, by indicating the place, day and time of the meeting and the agenda; information on the inspection of documents by shareholders; a precise indication of the person or persons offered as representatives; the direction in which the representative will vote in the absence of instructions from the person represented; a statement that, should unforeseen circumstances arise, the representative will vote in the manner the representative considers best serves the interests of the person represented.

c) O pedido de representação deve conter, pelo menos: a especificação da assembleia, pela indicação do lugar, dia, hora da reunião e ordem do dia; as indicações sobre consultas de documentos por accionistas; a indicação precisa da pessoa ou pessoas que são oferecidas como representantes; o sentido em que o representante exercerá o voto na falta de instruções do representado; a menção de que, caso surjam circunstâncias imprevistas, o representante votará no sentido que julgue satisfazer melhor os interesses do representado.

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2. The company may not, either itself or through an intermediary, solicit representation in favour of anyone whomsoever, and the members of the audit committee, the supervisory board or the general and supervisory board, and their statutory auditors, may neither solicit representation nor be named as representatives.

2 - A sociedade não pode, nem por si, nem por pessoa interposta, solicitar representações a favor de quem quer que seja, não podendo os membros da comissão de auditoria, do conselho fiscal, do conselho geral e de supervisão ou os respectivos revisores oficiais de contas solicitá-las nem ser indicados como representantes.

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3. (Repealed.)

3 - (Revogado.)

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4. Where the solicited shareholder grants representation and gives voting instructions, the person soliciting may decline the representation, but must notify that shareholder of this fact without delay.

4 - No caso de o accionista solicitado conceder a representação e dar instruções quanto ao voto, pode o solicitante não aceitar a representação, mas deverá comunicar urgentemente esse facto àquele accionista.

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5. Likewise, the votes cast in the case provided for in the final part of point (c) of paragraph 1 must be communicated to the persons represented, with the appropriate explanations.

5 - Do mesmo modo devem ser comunicados aos representados, com as devidas explicações, os votos emitidos no caso previsto na parte final da alínea c) do n.º 1.

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6. The person soliciting representation must send the represented shareholder, at the soliciting person’s own expense, a copy of the minutes of the meeting.

6 - O solicitante da representação deve enviar, à sua custa, ao accionista representado cópia da acta da assembleia.

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7. If the provisions of the preceding paragraphs are not observed, a shareholder may not represent more than five other shareholders.

7 - Se não for observado o disposto nos números anteriores, um accionista não pode representar mais do que cinco outros.

What we checked in this article

The more-than-five-shareholders threshold, the single-meeting and revocable grant (revoked by the principal's attendance), the minimum content of the request, the bar on solicitation by the company and by supervisory officers and auditors, the duties to notify and send the minutes, and the five-shareholder cap where the rules are not observed are retained.

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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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