Chapter III · Group relationships · Section I · Groups formed by total control

Article 489 Subsequent total control

Artigo 489.º · Domínio total superveniente

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

#

1. A company which, directly or through other companies or persons that meet the requirements set out in Article 483(2), has total control of another company, there being no other members, forms a group with the latter by operation of law, unless the general meeting of the former adopts one of the resolutions provided for in points (a) and (b) of the following paragraph.

1 - A sociedade que, directamente ou por outras sociedades ou pessoas que preencham os requisitos indicados no artigo 483.º, n.º 2, domine totalmente uma outra sociedade, por não haver outros sócios, forma um grupo com esta última, por força da lei, salvo se a assembleia geral da primeira tomar alguma das deliberações previstas nas alíneas a) e b) do número seguinte.

#

2. Within the six months following the occurrence of the circumstances referred to above, the management body of the controlling company must convene the general meeting of that company to resolve, as alternatives, on:

2 - Nos seis meses seguintes à ocorrências dos pressupostos acima referidos, a administração da sociedade dominante deve convocar a assembleia geral desta para deliberar, em alternativa, sobre:

#

a) Dissolution of the dependent company;

a) Dissolução da sociedade dependente;

#

b) Disposal of quota interests or shares in the dependent company;

b) Alienação de quotas ou acções da sociedade dependente;

#

c) Maintenance of the existing situation.

c) Manutenção da situação existente.

#

3. Once the resolution provided for in point (c) of the preceding paragraph has been adopted, or for as long as no resolution has been adopted, the dependent company is deemed to be in a group relationship with the controlling company and is not dissolved, even if it has only one member.

3 - Tomada a deliberação prevista na alínea c) do número anterior ou enquanto não for tomada alguma deliberação, a sociedade dependente considera-se em relação de grupo com a sociedade dominante e não se dissolve, ainda que tenha apenas um sócio.

#

4. The group relationship ends:

4 - A relação de grupo termina:

#

a) If the controlling company or the dependent company ceases to have its registered office in Portugal;

a) Se a sociedade dominante ou a sociedade dependente deixar de ter a sua sede em Portugal;

#

b) If the controlling company is dissolved;

b) Se a sociedade dominante for dissolvida;

#

c) If more than 10% of the capital of the dependent company ceases to belong to the controlling company or to the companies and persons referred to in Article 483(2).

c) Se mais de 10% do capital da sociedade dependente deixar de pertencer à sociedade dominante ou às sociedades e pessoas referidas no artigo 483.º, n.º 2.

#

5. In the case provided for in point (c) of the preceding paragraph, the controlling company must notify the dependent company of that fact immediately and in writing.

5 - Na hipótese prevista na alínea c) do número anterior, a sociedade dominante deve comunicar esse facto, imediatamente e por escrito, à sociedade dependente.

#

6. The management body of the dependent company must apply for registration of the resolution referred to in point (c) of paragraph 2 and of the termination of the group relationship.

6 - A administração da sociedade dependente deve pedir o registo da deliberação referida na alínea c) do n.º 2, bem como do termo da relação de grupo.

What we checked in this article

The group formed by operation of law, the six-month period to convene the general meeting and its three alternatives, the continuation without dissolution of a single-member dependent company, the three events ending the group (including loss of more than 10% of capital), the immediate written notification and the duty to register are retained.

Is Article 489 relevant to a company you run or plan to set up?

We advise on Portuguese company law in English every day: formation, capital, members’ resolutions, managers’ liability and restructuring. A written answer and a fixed quote within one working day.

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.

Applying the law

Portuguese company law, explained in English by the people who apply it

Reading the statute is the first step. Applying it to your articles of association, your capital and your board is where mistakes cost money. Tell us what you are deciding and we will set out the rules that apply and what it costs to get it done.

Get a quote