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Glossary entry

Dutch term or phrase:

bureau

English translation:

"Bureau" (Belgian Dutch term for the chair, secretary and tellers of a general meeting)

Added to glossary by Michael Beijer
    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2015-07-21 20:54:09 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Jul 18, 2015 01:20
8 yrs ago
20 viewers *
Dutch term

bureau

Dutch to English Law/Patents Law (general) company law
In a Belgian notarial deed to enact decisions of the general meeting of all (two) shareholders . . 'Gezien het beperkt aantal aanwezigen wordt er niet overgegaan tot de vorming van een bureau.'
Proposed translations (English)
2 "Bureau"
4 +1 chair, secretary and tellers
4 office, board
3 Chair
References
refs
Change log

Jul 21, 2015 22:08: Michael Beijer Created KOG entry

Jul 21, 2015 22:48: Michael Beijer changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/652138">Michael Beijer's</a> old entry - "bureau"" to """Bureau" (Belgian Dutch term for the chair, secretary and tellers of a general meeting)""

Discussion

John Holloway (asker) Jul 21, 2015:
@Michael The perfect reference. Liking the Belgian Dutch 'semi-figurative 'bureau'
: )
Michael Beijer Jul 21, 2015:
@John: Speaking of "desks", have a look at this one (where the word is being used to refer to both the group of people and an actual desk, albeit semi figuratively):

"Deze personen nemen plaats aan het bureau.

Op het bureau zijn neergelegd:
- de hieronder vermelde publicaties waarin de bijeenroeping van de huidige gewone algemene
vergadering werd bekendgemaakt aan de aandeelhouders en de obligatiehouders:
Het Belgisch Staatsblad, De Tijd, L’Echo evenals een kopie van de oproeping verspreid via …
- het afschrift van de oproepingsbrieven die, overeenkomstig de wettelijke voorschriften, op …
- het jaarlijks financieel verslag alsook het verslag van de commissaris,
- de per 31 december 2013 afgesloten jaarrekening en de geconsolideerde rekeningen,
- een uittreksel van de notulen van de vergadering van de Ondernemingsraad van 28 april 2014.
[…]

Het bureau heeft bevestigd dat het is nagegaan dat artikelen 22 en 23 van de statuten van de
vennootschap m.b.t. de deelneming aan de gewone algemene vergadering gerespecteerd werden."

(http://www.fluxys.com/belgium/nl-BE/financial info/generalme... )
Edith Kelly Jul 18, 2015:
Great after illucidating, plenty of followers. Always good to let others do the groundwork and then come up with great suggestions.
Edith Kelly Jul 18, 2015:
John could be a formality that has to be in the text but I'm not a Belgian legal expert.
Peter Simon Jul 18, 2015:
@John, thanks, for your reaction, but how do we know there's an existing board? If that's the case, the only remaining solution is a management/presidium they don't want to set up ... case solved ...
John Holloway (asker) Jul 18, 2015:
@ EdithK Your references are strong. Perhaps the statement is indeed a formality, seeing that a chair was already present.
Edith Kelly Jul 18, 2015:
John you posted a snippet of the text so difficult to know. OK two shareholders have met, taken decisions that have to be enacted. Question is who will enact them. The two shareholders? Some other body? And: is the MD one of the two shareholders? Bureau in connection with meetings is practically always the chair or the chair and vice-chairs or, in international organisations, the presidium.
John Holloway (asker) Jul 18, 2015:
@ EdithK Thanks. However, the MD was already present at the meeting and therefore acted as chair, would this still apply?

Proposed translations

16 hrs
Selected

"Bureau"

See my Reference comment.

I think it might be better to use the Dutch term (preferably in quotes, and supplemented by some form of explanation in a footnote or brackets – your text permitting) than misuse an English one and potentially confuse people.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 hrs (2015-07-18 17:58:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

e.g.: "Bureau" (Belgian Dutch term for the chair, secretary and tellers of a general meeting)
Note from asker:
Indeed. All qualifications and cautions are worth putting on the table if we're considering a new loan word. But it does seem an obvious solution, as the thing it is describing does not appear in the target language world (and the meanings 'desk' and 'office' will be understandable to many English readers and are not far from the meaning of the source word in this special context).
Peer comment(s):
neutral Edith Kelly : bureau is also used in English e.g. by international organisations, and it's not a Belgian Dutch term but a French one.
12 hrs
(1) Yes, I know, but so is "Secretariat". Hence my suggesting quotes & explaining it. (2) It's not always that clear cut whether sth's BE Dutch or FR. If a Belgian uses it, when speaking/writing Dutch, is it Dutch? Is it French? Who knows. Not I.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks all. I think this is the most useful solution."
5 hrs

Chair

of a meeting.

appoint a chair




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6 hrs

office, board

Under the circumstances, this is what I can think of. With lots of shareholders, they would set up an office to handle administration (main meaning acc. to Kramer's and Van Dale, esp. in S-Dutch like in Belgium), or they could set up a board of directors to manage the affairs of the company.
Note from asker:
Thanks. (However, there are only two shareholders and an existing board, in this case.)
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+1
14 hrs

chair, secretary and tellers

Resolved not to appoint a chair, secretary and tellers. There's no English equivalent of this as far as I'm aware, so you just have to spell it out.
See Sindy's very helpful reference.
Note from asker:
Thanks Phil. Indeed - no English equivalent. I coined 'secretariat' - which is not exactly right, but I think conveys the right idea.
Peer comment(s):
agree Tina Vonhof (X) : You could call it the 'executive of the meeting'.
1 hr
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Reference comments

12 hrs
Reference:

refs

Van Dale Groot woordenboek van de Nederlandse taal (14e editie, 2005):

bureau:

#7 (verzamelnaam) voorzitter en secretaris van een vergadering

-------------------------- •••

JurLex:

bureau:
– office, bureau
– (inf.), (politiebureau) nick
– (overheid) section, department, unit
– (politiebureau) station
– ***(secretariaat) secretariat***

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 hrs (2015-07-18 14:32:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Apparently, some people also just use the word "bureau" or "Bureau" in English (not that I am specifically recommending this; just sayin').

See e.g.:

[1] "Minutes of the Annual General Shareholders’ Meeting Held in Mechelen on 30 April 2013

***Bureau***

The Meeting, which was held at the registered office of the Company, was opened at 10:05 a.m. CET under the chairmanship of Dr Werner Cautreels, Director of the Company. Dr Cautreels chaired the meeting in the absence of Mr Raj Parekh, who was excused.

The Chairman appointed Mr Johan Van den Eynde, residing at 9300 Aalst, Park Terlinden 12, as Secretary.

The Meeting elected the following persons as Vote Counters:
- Mr W. Swarte, residing at 3971 BL Driebergen, De Beaufortlaan 5B (The Netherlands); and
- Mr J. Adriaenssens, residing at 9420 Erpe-Mere, Ottergemstraat 31.

The ***Bureau*** consists of the Chairman, the Secretary, the Vote Counters and Mr Onno van de Stolpe, managing director (CEO)."

(http://www.glpg.com/files/8713/6817/7951/130430_AGM_130430_M... )

-------------------------- •••

[2] "Composition of the ***bureau***

The Chairman states that he has appointed Mr Dirk Lybaert as the Secretary of the Meeting. He proposes to appoint Mr Johan Robeyns and Mr Jean-Pierre Dekocker as tellers. No comments are made. The Chairman, Secretary and the tellers together constitute the ***bureau*** of the meeting." (http://www.proximus.com/sites/default/files/Documents/Invest... )

-------------------------- •••

[3] "LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (“NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP”)
Registered office: Zinkstraat 1, 2490 Balen, Belgium
Company number VAT BE 0888.728.945 RPR/RPM Turnhout

MINUTES OF THE
ANNUAL GENERAL SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING
HELD ON APRIL 27, 2011

COMPOSITION OF THE ***BUREAU***

In accordance with the Company’s articles of association, the Chairman of the meeting designated Mrs. Virginie Lietaer, Company Secretary, as secretary of the meeting.

Upon proposal of the Chairman, the meeting selects the following persons amongst the shareholders or their representatives as tellers: Mr. Michel Guldentops and Mr. Benny Meir.

Together with the Chairman of the meeting, the secretary and the tellers constitute the ***bureau*** of the annual general shareholders’ meeting.

In addition, the following directors of the Company are present: Mr. Roland Junck, CEO, as well as Mssrs. Peter Mansell, Karel Vinck, Ray Stewart and Oyvind Hushovd."

(http://www.nyrstar.com/investors/en/shareholderinformation/D...–%2027%20April%202011/Minutes%20of%20Annual%20General%20Shareholders%20Meeting%20held%20on%2027%20April%202011.pdf the)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 hrs (2015-07-18 14:34:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

that last link was broken; try this: http://goo.gl/8ELOvh

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 hrs (2015-07-18 17:50:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

One more ref where the word "Bureau (of the Meeting) is used for this BE concept, and one ref using the word "Secretariat":

-------------------------- •••

**** BUREAU:

"Minutes of the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting
held at the registered office on 26 May 2015

A. COMPOSITION OF THE ***BUREAU***

The Meeting is opened at 2:08 p.m. under the chairmanship of Mr Luc Missorten (permanent representative of Revalue BVBA), chairman of the board of directors.

The chairman appoints Mr Jonas Deroo as secretary of the Meeting.

The chairman proposes to appoint Steven Vandenbogaerde and Johan Adriaenssens as vote counters. The Meeting [unanimously] marks its consent with these appointments. / Given the limited number of attendees, no vote counters are appointed, as allowed under the articles of association of the Company.

The chairman, the secretary and the vote counters ***together form the bureau of the Meeting (the “Bureau”).***

B. VERIFICATIONS BY THE BUREAU

The chairman reports to the Meeting on the findings and verifications made by the ***Bureau*** regarding the registration of the participants, with a view to the composition of the Meeting.

[…]"

(http://www.ontexglobal.com/sites/default/files/20150526_minu... )

-------------------------- •••

**** SECRETARIAT:

"SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SA

French Public Limited-Liability Company with Board of Directors and capital of EUR 2,316,847,784

Registered office: 35 Rue Joseph Monier 92500 Rueil Malmaison
Registered in Nanterre, R.C.S. 542 048 574

[…]

Article 12: Chairman of the Board of Directors – Office of the Board of Directors

[…]

3. The Board of Directors shall appoint a Secretary who may be chosen outside of the
Directors and shareholders, who, along with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, will
form ***the Secretariat***. If in the event the Secretary is absent, the Board of Directors will
design one of its members or a third party to replace him/her."

(http://www2.schneider-electric.com/documents/financial-state... )

########################

Whether you end up using "Secretariat" or "Bureau" (neither 100% correct as there is no English word for this BE concept, but I think I'd go with "Bureau"), I would definitely stick the Dutch word "Bureau" behind it in brackets, and/or explain it somewhere.

########################

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Note added at 3 days20 hrs (2015-07-21 22:06:59 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

one last ref showing what it means in (Belgian) Dutch:

~

"GECOORDINEERDE STATUTEN van LIMBURGSE RECONVERSIE MAATSCHAPPIJ
in 't kort "LRM"
Naamloze Vennootschap te 3500 Hasselt, Kempische Steenweg 555,
Ondernemingsnummer (RPR BE Hasselt) 0452.138.972 - BTW-nummer
452.138.972

[…]

Artikel 30: BUREAU.
De algemene vergaderingen worden voorgezeten door de VOORZITTER VAN DE RAAD VAN BESTUUR; indien de voorzitter belet is wordt hij vervangen door de ondervoorzitter met de meeste anciënniteit als bestuurder. In geval van belet van beiden wordt de vergadering voorgezeten door de tweede ondervoorzitter en bij gebreke hieraan, door een andere bestuurder.
De voorzitter stelt een SECRATARIS aan, die buiten de aandeelhouders mag worden gekozen; de vergadering kiest één of twee STEMOPNEMERS.
DE IN DIT ARTIKEL GENOEMDE PERSONEN VORMEN HET BUREAU."

(http://www.lrm.be/data/acms/docs/OverLRMdownloads/22_statute... )
Note from asker:
Thanks Michael. I used 'secretariat' (which is not quite correct but the closest existing English word I think). I also think coining the word 'bureau' for this 'foreign' concept makes sense.
This is a foreign concept in search on an English term. Why not submit 'bureau' as an answer? As you say it's already in use and the 'new' word might help other translators. I don't want to do anyone else an injustice but I think you're the only one to actually (albeit informally) suggest 'bureau' as an anwer (?)
Peer comments on this reference comment:
agree Kitty Brussaard
1 day 7 hrs
Thanks!
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