Study Unit: 1 General Overview Of Companies Flashcards
What happens if the 2008 Act is in concflict with other Acts?
The possibilities are:
1) If there is an inconsistency between any provision of the 2008 Act and any other national legislation, the provisions of both acts apply concurrently.
2) If there is an inconsistency between the 2008 Act and one of the following acts, the latter act will apply:
the Auditing Profession Act 26 of 2005
the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995
the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000
the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act 3 of 2000
the Public Finance Management Act 1 of 1999
the Security Services Act 36 of 2004 (except in respect of section 49(4) of the 2008 Act)
the Bank Act (Mutual Banks Act 124 of 1993)
Non-profit companies
The non profit company (NPC) should be formed by three or more persons
It is formed only for lawful purposes.
The purpose must visit the benefit of the people or it must have an objective which relates to multiple cultural or social activities.
When a company winds up or dissolves or deregisters, all the remaining assets should be transferred to another NPC which has similar objectives.
The decision to transfer the remaining lies solely with the members.
If members fail to come to a mutual decision there may be intervention by the court.
An NPC is considered to be different from a nonprofit organization which is abbreviated as NPO. The organizations which are not companies may also register as NPOs
Profit companies
The category of the company which includes multiple subcategories is called a profit company.
The only purpose of incorporation of Profit Company is to gain financially and provide profits to its shareholders.
Profit companies may be incorporated by a state or one or more people.
State-owned companies
The company is owned by State in terms of public finance management act or can also be owned by the municipality as is mentioned in the municipal systems act.
The state-owned companies are similar to state-owned enterprises in financial terms.
Private companies
Must at least have 1 member
Such company’s MOI should not offer any securities to the public and should restrict the securities transferability.
The Companies Act of 2008 initiated the suggested to retain the Pty Ltd designation from the act of 1973
Personal liability companies
The company which meets criteria for a private company and whose MOI states that it is a company of personal liability is termed as personal liability company.
In personal liability companies, all the directors of past and present are liable for the liabilities incurred by this company.
However, the liability of a director is limited to the contractual debts of the company.
Director is not liable for delictual or statutory liability.
The personal liability companies’ names end with Incorporated or Inc
Public companies
When one or more people are associated with a lawful purpose to incorporate a company it is termed as a public company.
The capital is usually raised by the general public and the shareholders enjoy transferability of shares and interest freely in the company.
The names of the public company end with Ltd.
External companies
Companies which are of origin other than South Africa, and carry out business or non profit activities within South Africa are termed as External Companies.
Majority of foreign companies which make transactions or investments in South Africa are now legally required to be registered as external companies.
Close Corporations
A close Corporation is a person which is considered different from its members.
Perpetual succession is enjoyed by their members
They have limited liability.
It has the power and capacity of a natural person
It is entrusted with a minimal number of formalities.
CC may also be formed by a single person.
CC do not give share capital and shares and instead, there are member interests which are based upon the ownership percentage.
There are no strict rules about capital maintenance
They also enjoy flexibility in the internal relationships and their arrangements.
All the members are at risk of personal liability
There are no directors present in a CC
Which type of names can be used and/or are regarded as desirable?
(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), a company name-
(a) may comprise one or more words in any language, irrespective of whether the word or words are commonly used or contrived for the purpose, together with-
(i) any letters, numbers or punctuation marks;
(ii) any of the following symbols: +, &, #, @, %, =; „„;
(iii) any other symbol permitted by the regulations made in terms of subsection (4); or
(iv) round brackets used in pairs to isolate any other part of the name, alone or in any combination; or
(b) in the case of a profit company, may be the registration number of the company together with the relevant expressions required by subsection (3)
What is not regarded as a valid name?
The name of a company must-
(a) not be the same as -
(i) the name of another company, domesticated company, registered external company, close corporation or co-operative;
(ii) a name registered for the use of a person, other than the company itself or a person controlling the company, as a defensive name in terms of section 12(9), or as a business name in terms of the Business Names Act, unless the registered user of that defensive name or business name has executed the necessary documents to transfer the registration in favour of the company;
(iii) a registered trade mark belonging to a person other than the company, or a mark in respect of which an application has been filed in the Republic for registration as a trade mark or a well-known trademark as contemplated in section 35 of the Trade Marks Act, 1993 unless the registered owner of the trade mark has consented in writing to the use of the mark as the name of the company; or
(iv) a mark, word or expression the use of which is restricted or protected in terms of the Merchandise Marks Act except to the extent permitted by or in terms of that Act;
(b) not be confusingly similar to a name, trade mark, mark, word or expression contemplated in paragraph (a) unless -
(i) in the case of paragraph (a)(i), each company bearing any such similar name is a member of the same group of companies;
(ii) in the case of paragraph (a)(ii), the company, or a person who controls the company, is the registered owner of that defensive name or business name;
(iii) in the case of paragraph (a)(iii), the company is the registered owner of the business name, trade mark or mark, or is authorised by the registered owner to use it; or
(iv) in the case of paragraph (a)(iv), the use of that mark, word or expression by the company is permitted by or in terms of the Merchandise Marks Act 1941;
(c) not falsely imply or suggest, that the company-
(i) is part of, or associated with, any other person or entity;
(ii) is an organ of state or a court, or is operated, sponsored, supported or endorsed by the State or by any organ of state or a court;
(iii) is owned, managed or conducted by a person or persons having any particular educational designation or who is a regulated person or entity;
(iv) is owned, operated, sponsored, supported or endorsed by, or enjoys the patronage of, any-
(aa) foreign state, head of state, head of government, government or administration or any department of such a government or administration; or
(bb) international organisation; and
(d) not include any word, expression or symbol that, in isolation or in context within the rest of the name, may reasonably be considered to constitute-
(i) propaganda for war;
(ii) incitement of imminent violence; or
(iii) advocacy of hatred based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion, or incitement to cause harm
Who can apply for the incorporation of a company?
One or more persons, or an organ of state, may incorporate a profit company, and an organ of state, a juristic person, or three or more persons acting in consent,
may incorporate a non-profit company
How must you apply? / Which documents need to be handed in to incorporate a company?
(a) Completing, and each signing in person or by proxy, a MOI
(i) in the prescribed form; or
(ii) in a form unique to the company; and
(b) filing a Notice of Incorporation, in accordance with subsection (2).
(2) The Notice of Incorporation of a company must be-
(a) filed in the prescribed manner and form, together with the prescribed fee;
and
(b) accompanied by a copy of the MOI subject to any declaration contemplated in section 6(14)(b).
(3) If a company’s MOI includes any provision contemplated in section 15(2)(b) or (c), the Notice of Incorporation filed by the company must include a prominent statement drawing attention to each such provision, and its location in the MOI
REGISTRATION OF A COMPANY
Registration takes effect where the MOI is signed by the prescribed number of persons.
A Notice of Incorporation must also be filed.
On the day of registration (date and time) a company is regarded as a legal entity.
The MOI can deal with that which hadn’t been prescribed by the 2008 Act and the format can be unique to the type of company.
PRE-INCORPORATION CONTRACTS
Because the legal entity doesn’t exist before registration, the entity cannot yet grant power of attorney to somebody to obtain rights on behalf of the entity.
In order to get assurance you can obtain rights for an entity in the following ways:
1. Rent now for example a premises in your own name and later cede the lease to the company;
2. Get an option to rent a premises and cede the option;
3. Bargain on behalf of a third entity – make terms with the owner (agreement 1) that he or she will give certain rights to a third entity. The third party doesn’t yet have to exist. After registration the owner then concludes a (second) contract with the company if the company accepts the benefits that have been bargained for on behalf of the company.
Describe section 21 of the Act
(3) If, after its incorporation, a company enters into an agreement on the same terms as, or in substitution for, an agreement contemplated in subsection (1), the liability of a person under subsection(2) in respect of the substituted agreement is
discharged.
(4) Within three months after the date on which a company was incorporated the board of that company may completely, partially or conditionally ratify or reject any pre-incorporation contract or other action purported to have been made or done in its name or on its behalf, as contemplated in subsection (1).
(5) If, within three months after the date on which a company was incorporated, the board has neither ratified nor rejected a particular pre-incorporation contract, or other action purported to have been made or done in the name of the company, or on its behalf, as contemplated in subsection (1), the company will be regarded to have ratified that agreement or action.
(6) To the extent that a pre-incorporation contract or action has been ratified or regarded to have been ratified in terms of subsection (5)-
(a) the agreement is as enforceable against the company as if the company had been a party to the agreement when it was made; and
(b) the liability of a person under subsection (2) in respect of the ratified agreement or action is discharged.
(7) If a company rejects an agreement or action contemplated in subsection (1), a person who bears any liability in terms of subsection (2) for that rejected
agreement or action may assert a claim against the company for any benefit it has received, or is entitled to receive, in terms of the agreement or action.
MEMORANDUM OF INCORPORATION (MOI)
The MOI sets out the rules governing the conduct of the company.
The Companies Act imposes certain specific requirements on the content of a MOI, to protect the interests of shareholders, and provides alterable provisions, which companies may accept or alter as they wish as long as it is in line with the Companies Act.
Alterable provisions:
A company has all the legal powers and capacity of an individual, except to the extent that a juristic person is incapable of exercising any such powers, or the company’s MOI provides otherwise
Private, non-profit and incorporated companies may elect to comply with the extended accountability requirements of Chapter 3 of the Act (Sect 34(2));
Shares within the same class has the same rights, limitations and terms, unless the MOI provides otherwise (Sect 37(1));
MOI may forbid the board to render financial assistance to parties wanting to acquire shares in the company (Sect 45(2);
MOI may provide for longer minimum notice periods for meetings;
Electronic notice and electronic participation in meetings are allowed unless MOI prohibits it (Sect 63(2);
Companies may determine a higher number of minimum directors than what the Act prescribes (Sect 66(2).
Unalterable provisions are provisions of the Act which the company may not change, such as directors’ duties and responsibilities and enhanced accountability requirements for public and state owned companies.
In instances where the MOI is in conflict with the Act, the Companies Act will prevail.
In addition, the Act allows for companies to add provisions to address matters applicable to that company, not addressed in the Act itself, but all provisions of the MOI must be consistent with the Act. The MOI contains the following information:
Detail of Incorporators
Number of directors and alternate directors
Share capital (maximum issued)
Content of MOI
REGISTERED OFFICE
Section 23 of the Act requires every company registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (“CIPC”) to maintain at least one office in the Republic.
If it has more than one such office, it must register the address of its principal office with CIPC.
CIPC initially records the details of the registered office and company records at the time of its Notice of Incorporation.
Thereafter the details are filed on the prescribed form whenever such address changes.
The office of a company is very important, as it is the address at which any legal documents will be served on the company.
Its registered office may not be a postal address.
It must be a street address.
Many companies use the office address of their auditor, with their permission.
Alternatively it can also be the home address of one of the directors. Companies are required to ensure that the information about its registered office and company records is up to date.
Failure may result in a fine or prosecution of the company and/or its executives.
LOCATION OF COMPANY RECORDS
Section 25 requires that the company records must at all times be accessible at the registered office of the company.
If it is not kept at or accessible from such office address, a notice must be filed with CIPC indicating the address where its is kept.
Different types of records could be maintained at different offices.
The details of such offices must be filed together with the description of which records are maintained at which office.
COMPANY RECORDS REQUIRED TO BE MAINTAINED
Section 24, each company registered in South Africa must keep the following:
a copy of its Memorandum of Incorporation (MoI);
all amendments to the MoI and any company rules since the date of Incorporation;
a detailed record of all current directors;
a detailed record of all past directors going back 7 years after he/she retired from the board;
copies of all:
a) reports presented at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the past 7 years;
b) Annual Financial Statements (AFS) for the past 7 years since it was issued;
c) accounting records maintained in whatever format as required in terms of the Act for the current plus the previous 7 completed financial years;
d) notices and minutes of all shareholders meetings, including:
i) all resolutions adopted by them, and;
ii) any document that was made available by the company to the shareholders in relation to each resolution for the past 7 years after such resolution was adopted;
iii) copies of any written communications sent generally by the company to all holders of any class of the company’s securities for the past 7 years;
iv) minutes of all meetings and resolutions of directors, directors committees and the audit committee for the past 7 years after such meeting or adoption of a resolution;
e) a securities register in the case of a for profit company, or a members’ register in the case of a non-profit company
f) if applicable in terms of Section 85, records in regard to the appointment of the company secretary, auditor or audit committee.
ALL documents and records that a company is required to keep, must be kept in written form. Alternatively it must be kept in a manner that allows that information to be converted into written form within a reasonable time. These records must be maintained for seven years, or any longer period specified in any other legislation. If a company has existed for a shorter time only, it shall retain records for such shorter time.
DETAILS OF ALL DIRECTORS
Section 24 provides that the following information must be maintained in respect of all current directors of the company:
full name, and any former names;
identity number or,the person’s date of birth;
nationality and passport number,
occupation;
date of his/her most recent election or appointment as director of the company;
name and registration number of every other company or foreign company of which the person is a director, and in the case of a foreign company, the nationality of that company; and
Although not legally required, it is advisable that the:
residential, postal and home addresses of each director,
email home telephone and mobile numbers
also be recorded
THE COMPANY SECRETARY Duties - The Board
If the board decides to remove the company secretary, the company secretary is entitled to include a replying statement in the company’s annual report.
The company secretary should also monitor international developments on corporate governance and bring these to the board’s attention where they would add value.
The company secretary is closely involved in preparing the schedule of board and committee meetings for the year.
The company secretary prepares the agendas for these meetings in conjunction with the chairperson and key executives.
The company secretary should ensure that information is dispatched timeously to all directors to enable them to prepare adequately for these meetings.
The company secretary takes the minutes of these meetings and should ensure that they are distributed as soon as possible thereafter to aid directors in implementing the decisions.
The company secretary should ensure that the board’s policies and instructions are communicated to the relevant persons in the company and that pertinent issues from management are referred back to the board where appropriate.
It is important for the company secretary to develop a confident relationship with the chairperson, and to assist the chairperson in formulating priorities in the board agenda for consideration by the board.
The company secretary must ensure that the directors and management operate within an authority framework approved by the board and reviewed and updated from time to time.
The company secretary takes responsibility for preparing all or parts of the annual report and ensuring that statutory deadlines are met and that the statutory and regulatory disclosures are validated, particularly in relation to statements given on corporate governance standards and practices in the company.
The company secretary is privy to confidential information about the company and needs to act with tact and discretion at all times.
The company secretary may not misuse confidential information or disclose it to any third party in line with their fiduciary duties as an officer of the company.
Equally, the company secretary must act in good faith and avoid any conflicts of interest and to ensure that appropriate guidance is given to the board in these matters
THE COMPANY SECRETARY Duties Shareowners and Relevant Stakeholders
The company secretary prepares the agenda for shareowners’ meetings in conjunction with the chairperson and chief executive. This would also require the company secretary to take the minutes of such meetings and to ensure that any special resolutions passed at these meetings are properly registered with the Registrar of Companies. In fact, the company secretary would essentially take charge of the processes and procedures associated with the holding of shareowner meetings, including arrangements for the presence of scrutineers, if required, and validating proxies and letters of representation received for these meetings.
The company secretary would take responsibility or provide input for any circulars and other documentation sent to shareowners by the company. This would include obtaining approval from the stock exchange and any other applicable regulatory authorities. It would also require the company secretary to verify the statutory and regulatory information contained in such material and to ensure that the directors clearly understand the implications of any statements of responsibility given on behalf of the board.
If the meeting is an annual general meeting, the company secretary must arrange for all directors to attend and in particular the chairpersons of the remuneration and audit committees.
The company secretary is responsible for all forms of communication with shareowners and may often be responsible for the relationship with analysts and the media. This may include responsibility for the company’s corporate reputation and investor relations activities.
The company secretary is required to ensure that a copy of the company’s annual financial statements is sent to shareowners within the stipulated period and to all persons entitled to receive it.
THE COMPANY SECRETARY Other Duties
The company secretary may be required to take responsibility for the administration and management of the company’s pension and/or provident fund in the capacity as principal officer, trustee or chairperson.
The company secretary may be required to administer and manage a group life assurance scheme on behalf of the company’s employees.
The company secretary may be required to take responsibility for the administration of the medical aid scheme offered to employees and other similar arrangements.
The company secretary may be required to administer and manage the insurance portfolio and take some role in the company’s risk related activities in this context.
The company secretary may take responsibility for the corporate social responsibility portfolio. This would entail ensuring that the company adheres to its corporate social investment programme and monitoring various aspects directly and indirectly related to this activity, including the supervision of the company’s adherence to any industry or sector charter and its black economic empowerment credentials.