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COMPANIES ACT
Act 25 of 1967

______________________
Reprinted from 1967 Laws
______________________

Published by Authority of Prime Minister
Price: M21.00

COMPANIES ACT
Act 25 of 1967

______________________
Reprinted from 1967 Laws
______________________

Published by Authority of Prime Minister
Price: M21.00

___________________________________________________________________________
3
COMPANIES ACT
Act
25 of
1967

Arrangement of Sections

Preliminary

1. Short Title and Date of Commencement.
2. Interpretation of Terms.
3. Administration.
4. Non application of Act to Certain Institutions.
5. Restricted Application of Act in case of Insurance Com-
panies.
6. Application of Act to Existing Companies and Savings.
7. Registrar of Companies.

PART 1
INCORPORATION OF COMPANIES AND
MATTERS INCIDENTAL THERETO

Prohibition of Partnership Exceeding Twenty Members

8. Prohibition of Association or Partnership Exceeding Twenty Person

Memorandum of Association

9. Mode of forming Company.
10. Memorandum of Company.
11. Signing of Memorandum.
12. Restriction on Alternation of Memorandum.
13. Alternation of Conditions in Memorandum which could have been Contained in
Articles and Alteration of Objects of Company.

Articles of Association

14. Articles Prescribing Regulations for Companies, Com-
panies limited by Guarantee and Unlimited Companies.
15. Application of Table A and Void Provisions.
16. Form and Signature of Articles.
17. Alteration of Articles.

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4
Registration

18. Registration of Memorandum and Articles.
19. Effect of Registration and Use of Seal.
20. Conclusiveness of Certificate of Incorporation.

Provisions with Respect to names of Companies

21. Name.
22. Change of Name.
23. Power to Dispense with Limited in Certain Cares.

General Provisions with Respect to
Memorandum and Articles

24. Effect of Memorandum and Articles.
25. Copies of Memorandum and Articles to be given to members.
26. Copies of Memorandum and Articles to Embody Alterations.

Membership of Company

27. Definition of Member.
28. Membership of Holding Company.
29. Liability of Members when fewer than Legal Minimum.

Private Companies

30. Definition of Private Company.
31. Consequences of Default in Complying with Conditions
for Private Company.
32. Procedure on Company ceasing to be a Private Company

Contracts, etc.

33. Ratification of Contracts.
34. Form of Contracts.
35. Promissory Notes and Bills of Exchange.
36. Execution of Deeds in External Countries.
37. Official Seal for use in External Countries.
38. Authentication of Documents.

PART II
SHARE CAPITAL AND DEBENTURES
Prospectus

39. Dating of Prospectus
40. Matters to be stated and Reports to be set out in Prospectus
41. Experts Consent to Issue of Prospectus containing Statement by him.
42. Registration of Prospectus.

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5
43. Restriction on Alternation of Terms Mentioned in Prospectus or in Statement in Lieu of
Prospectus.
44. Civil Liability for Mis-statements in Prospectus.
45. Criminal Liability for Mis-statements in Prospectus.
46. Responsibility of Underwriter to make Sworn Declaration of his Ability to carry out his
Obligations.
47. Document containing offer of Shares for Debentures for Sale to be Deemed Prospectus.
48. Construction of References to Offering Shares or Debentures to the Public.
49. C
50. Restrictions on Offering to Sell or Purchase Shares.

Allotment

51. Prohibition of Allotment unless Minimum Subscription Received.
52. Prohibition of Allotment in Certain Cases unless Statement in lieu of Prospectus
Delivered to Registrar.
53. Effect of irregular Allotment.
54. Allotment voidable if Application Form not Attached to Prospectus.
55. Application for and Allotment of Shares.
56. Register and Returns as to Allotments.

Commissions and Discounts

57. Power to pay Certain Commissions and Prohibitions of Payment of All Other
Commissions, Discounts, etc.
58. Prohibition of Financial Assistance by Company for Purchase of its own or its Holding
Companys Shares.

Issue of Shares at Premiums and Redeemable
Preference Shares

59. Application of Premiums Received on Issue of Shares.
60. Power to issue Redeemable Preference Shares.

Miscellaneous Provisions as to Share Capital

61. Power of Company to arrange for Different Amounts being paid on Shares.
62. Reserve Liability of Company.
63. Power of Company to Alter its Share Capital.

64. Notice to Registrar of Consolidation of Share Capital, Conversion of Shares into Stock,
etc.
65. Notice of Increase of Share Capital
66. Variation of the Rights Attaching to Shares.

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6
Reduction of Share Capital

67. Special Resolution for Reduction of Share Capital.
68. Application to Court to Confirm Order, Objections by Creditors, etc.
69. Order Confirming Reduction and Powers of Court there-in.
70. Registration of Order and Minute of Reduction.
71. Liability of Members in Respect of Reduced Shares.
72. Penalty for Concealing Name of Creditor, etc.

Transfer of Shares and Debentures,
Evidence of Title, etc.

73. Nature and Numbering of Shares.
74. Transfer not to be Registered Except on Production of Instrument of Transfer.
75. Registration of Transfer at Request of Transferor.
76. Notice of Refusal to Register Transfer.
77. Transfer by Executor.
78. Duties of Company with Respect to Issue of Certificates.
79. Certificate to be Evidence of Title.
80. Unlawful Personation.

Special Provisions as to Mortgages and Debentures

81. Creation and Registration of Debentures.
82. Register of Hypothecations and Debentures and Register of Debenture Holders.
83. Power to Re-issue Redeemed Debentures in Certain Cases. Specific Performance of
Contract to Subscribe for Debentures.

PART III
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
Registered Office and Name

85. Registered Office of Company.
86. Publication of Name by Company.

Restrictions on Commencement of Business

87. Restrictions on Commencement of Business.
88. Register and Index of Members.
89. Inspection of Register and Index.
90. Power to Close Register
91. Power of the Court to Rectify Register.
92. Trusts in Respect of Shares.

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7
93. Register to be Evidence.

Branch Register

94. Power to keep Branch Register in External Countries.
95. Regulations as to Branch Register.

Annual Return

96. Annual Return to be Made by Company.

Meeting and Proceedings

97. Statutory Meeting and Statutory Report.
98. Annual general Meeting.
99. Convening of Extraordinary General Meeting on Requisition.
100. Length of Notice for Calling Meetings.
101. General Provision as to Meetings and Votes and Power of Court to Order Meeting.
102 Proxies and Voting on a Poll.
103. Procedure for Compulsory Adjournment.
104. Representation of Corporations at a Meeting of Company and of Creditors
105. Circulation of Members Resolutions, etc.
106. Definition of Special Resolution.
107. Resolutions Requiring Special Notice
108. Registration and Copies of Special Resolutions.
109. Resolutions Passed at Adjourned Meetings.
110. Minutes of Proceedings of Meetings of Company of Directors or Managers.
111. Inspection of Minute Books.

Accounts and Audit

112. Keeping of Books of Account.
113. Profit and Loss Account and Balance Sheet and Financial Year of Holding Company
and Subsidiary.
114. General Provisions as to Contents and Form of Accounts,
115. Meaning of Holding Company, Subsidiary and Wholly Owned Subsidiary.
116. Obligation to Lay Group Accounts before Holding Company.
117. Form and Contents of Group Accounts.
118. Accounts and Auditors Report to be Annexed to Signed Balance Sheet
119. Directors Report to be Attached to Balance Sheet.
120. Defence to Certain Charges.
121. Right to Receive Copy of Balance Sheet and Auditors Report.
122. Appointment and Remuneration of Auditors
123. Special Notice Required of Resolution to Appoint or Remove Auditors.
124. Disqualifications for Appointment as Auditor.
125. Contents of Auditors Report
126. Auditors Right of Access to Books and to Attend General meetings.
127. Construction of References to Documents Annexed to accounts.

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8
Inspection

128. Investigation of Companys Affairs on Application of Members.
129. Investigation of Companys Affairs in Other Cases.
130. Power of Inspectors to Investigate Related Companies.
131. Production of Documents and Evidence on Investigation.
132. Inspectors Reports.
133. Proceedings on Inspectors Report.
134. Expenses of Investigation of Companys Affairs.
135. Appointment and Powers of Inspectors to Investigate Ownership of Company.
136. Power to Require Information as to Persons Interested in Shares and Debentures.
137. Power to Impose Restrictions on Shares or Debentures.
138. Saving for Attorneys and Bankers.
139. Inspectors Report to be Evidence.

Directors and Other Officers

140. Directors and Secretary.
141. Validity of Acts of Directors.
142. Restrictions on Appointment or Advertisement of Director.
143. Share Qualifications of Directors.
144. Disqualification for Appointment as Director.
145. Appointment of Directors to be Voted on Individually.

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9
146. Removal of Directors.
147. Prohibition of Tax-Free Payments to Directors.
148. Prohibition of Loans to Directors.
149. Approval of Company Requisite for Payment by it to Director for Loss of Office, etc.
150. Approval of Company Requisite for Payment in Connection with Transfer of its
Property, to Director for Loss of Office.
151. Duty of Director to Disclose Payments for Loss of Office, etc., made in connection with
Transfer of Shares in Company.
152. Provisions Supplementary to Last Three Foregoing Sections.
153. Register of Directors Share Holding, etc.
154. Prohibition of Allotment of Shares to Directors save on same Terms as to all Members,
and Restriction on Sale of Undertakings by Directors.
155. Particulars in Accounts of Directors Salaries, Pensions, etc.
156. Particulars in Accounts of Loans to Officers, etc.
157. Disclosure by Directors of Interests in Contracts.
158. Register of Directors and Secretaries.
159. Particulars of Directors in Trade Catalogues, Circulars, etc.

Avoidance of Provisions in Articles or Contracts
Relieving Officers from Liability

160. Provisions as to liability of Officers and Auditors.

Arrangements and Reconstruction

161. Power to Compromise with Creditors and Members.
162. Information as to Compromise with Creditors and Members.
163. Provisions for Facilitating Reconstruction and Amalgamation of Companies.
164. Power to Acquire Shares of Members dissenting from Scheme or Contract by Majority.

Minorities

165. Alternative Remedy to Winding up in Cases of Oppression.

PART IV
WINDING UP AND JUDICIAL MANAGEMENT

Preliminary

166. Modes of Winding Up.
167. Jurisdiction of Master.

Contributories

168. Liability as Contributories of Present and Past members.
169. Definition of Contributory.
170. Nature of Liability of Contributory.
171. Contributories in Case of Death or Insolvency.

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10
Definition of Inability to Pay Debts

172. When a Company Deemed Unable to Pay its Debts.

Winding up by the Court

173. Circumstances in which Company May be Would Up by Court.
174. Petition for Winding Up a Company.
175. Powers of Court on Hearing Petitions.
176. Court may Stay or Restrain Proceedings Against Company.
177. Commencement of Winding Up by Court.
178. Court may Adopt Proceedings of Voluntary Winding Up.

Consequences of Winding-up Order

179. Effect of Winding-up Order.
180. Action Stayed and Avoidance of Certain Attachments, Executions and Dispositions and
Alteration of Status.
181. Transmission of Winding-up Order to Certain Officers.
182. Statement of Companys Affairs to Master.
183. Report by Master.

Provisions Specially Applicable in a Winding up
by the Court

184. Application of Sections.
185. Custody of Property and Appointment of Liquidator.
186. Meetings of Creditors and Contributories.
187. Proof of Claims.
188. Powers of Liquidator.
189. Exercise of Liquidators Powers.
190. Control by Master over Liquidator.
191. Banking Account.
192. Release of Liquidator.
193. Remuneration of Liquidator.

General Powers of Court in Case of Winding up
by the Court

194. Court may Stay or Set Aside Winding Up.
195. Settlement of List of Contributories.
196. Requiring Delivery of Property.
197. Ordering Payment of Debt by Contributory.
198. Making Calls and Ordering Payment.
199. Ordering Payment into Bank.
200. Order on Contributory Conclusive Evidence.
201. Court to Adjust Rights of Contributories.
202. Inspection of Books by Creditors and Contributories.
203. Dissolution of Company.

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11
204. Summoning Persons Suspected of Having Property of Company.
205. Ordering Public Examination of Promoters, Directors, etc.
206. Arrest of Absconding Contributory.
207. Powers to be Cumulative.

Appeal from Orders

208. Appeal from Any Order.

Voluntary Winding up of Company

209. Circumstances in which Company may be Wound up Voluntarily.
210. Notice of Resolution for Voluntary Winding Up.
211. Commencement of Voluntary Winding Up.
212. Effect of Voluntary Winding Up on Business and Status of Company.

Provision and Effect of Security for Payment of Debts

213. Provision and Effect of Security.

Provisions Specially Applicable to a Members
Voluntary Winding up

214. Application of Sections.
215. Appointment, Powers and Remuneration of Liquidator.
216. Power to Fill Vacancy in Office of Liquidator.
217. Liquidator may Accept Shares, etc., as Consideration for
Sale of Property of Company.

Provisions Specially Applicable to a Creditors
Voluntary Winding Up

218. Application of Sections.
219. Meeting of Creditors and Appointment of Liquidator.
220. Powers of Liquidators.
221. Application of Section 217.

Provisions Applicable to Both Modes of Voluntary
Winding Up

222. Application of Sections.
223. Consequences of Voluntary Winding Up.
224. Avoidance of Transfers after Commencement of Winding
Up.
225. Notice by Liquidator of his Appointment.
226. Proof of Claims.
227. Arrangement when Binding on Company and Creditors.
228. Meetings of Creditors and Contributories.

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12
229. Power to Apply to Court.
230. Duty of Liquidator to Call Meetings of Company and Creditors.
231. Notice to Registrar of Confirmation of Final Account.
232. Saving of Rights of Creditors and Contributories.

Provisions Applicable to Every Mode of Winding
up a Company Unable to Pay its Debts

233. Application of Sections.
234. Summoning Directors and Others to Attend Meetings of Creditors.
235. Examination of Directors and Others at Meeting of Creditors.
236. Voidable and Undue Preferences.
237. Application of Certain Provisions of the Insolvency Proclamation.

Provisions Applicable to Every Mode of Winding up

238. Application of Sections.
239. Persons Disqualified for Appointment as Liquidator.
240. Power of Court to Declare Persons Disqualified from being Liquidators or to Remove a
Liquidator.
241. Liquidator to Give Security and to choose address for service.
242. Co-liquidator.
243. Title and Acts of Liquidators.
244. General meetings to Hear Liquidators Report.
245. Books to be Kept by Liquidator and Inspection thereof.

Liquidator’s Accounts

246. Liquidator to Lodge with Master Accounts in Winding Up.
247. Application to Court to Compel Liquidator to Lodge Account.
248. Inspection of Accounts.
249. Objections to Account by Interested Parties.

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13
250. Confirmation of Account.
251. Distribution of Estate.
252. Liquidator to Lodge Receipts for Dividends or pay
Dividends to Guardians Fund.

Leave of Absence or Resignation of Liquidator

253. Leave of Absence or Resignation of Liquidator.

Miscellaneous Provisions in Winding up

254. Voting at Meetings of Creditors and Contributories.
255. Books of Company to be Evidence.
256. Application of Assets and Costs of Winding Up.
257. Payment of Money Deposited with Master.
258. Disposal of Books and Papers of Company.

Miscellaneous Powers of the Court

259. Meetings to Ascertain Wishes of Creditors and Contributories.
260. Power of Court to Declare Dissolution of Company Void.
261. Review by Court.
262. Special Commissions for taking Evidence.
263. Orders to be Sent to Master and Registrar.

Judicial Management instead of Winding up

264. Application of Certain Provisions in Winding Up to Judicial Management.
265. Placing Company under Judicial Management.
266. Judicial Management Order.
267. Position of Companys Auditor in Judicial Management.
268. Duties of Judicial Manager.
269. Voidable and Undue Preferences in Case of Judicial Management.
270. Application of Assets during Judicial Management.
271. Cancellation of Judicial Management Order.

Offences Antecedent to or in Course of Winding up
or Judicial Management

272. Power of Court to Assess Damages against Delinquent
Promoters, Directors, etc.
273. Penalty for Failure by Directors and Others to Attend Meetings.
274. Offences Consequent Upon a Winding Up or Judicial Management.
275. Responsibility of Directors and Other Persons for Frau-
dulent Conduct of Business.
276. Prosecution of Delinquent Directors and Others.

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14
Removal of Defunct Companies from Register

277. Registrar May Strike Defunct Company Off Register.

PART V.
WINDING UP OF UNREGISTERED ASSOCIATIONS

278. Unregistered Association Defined.
279. Winding Up of Unregistered Association.
280. Contributories.
281. Power of Court to Stay of Restrain Proceedings.
282. Actions Stayed on Winding-up Order.
283. Directions as to Property in Certain Cases.
284. Provisions of this Part Cumulative.

PART VI.
EXTERNAL COMPANIES

285. Interpretation
286. Requirements as to External Companies.
287. Services of Process on External Companies.
288. Exemption in Respect of Transfer Duty.

Prospectuses

289. Provisions with Respect to Prospectus of External Company.
290. Contents of Prospectus.
291. Provisions as to Experts Consent and Allotment.

PART VII
GENERAL
Form of Registers: Books: Inspection and Production

PRODUCTION
293. Form of Registers and other Documents.
294. Production and Inspection of Books where Offence Suspected.
295. Meaning of Officer in Default and Criminal Liability of
Officers of a Company.
296. Penalties for False Statements and Oaths.
297. Penalty for Improver Use of word Limited
298. False Statements by Directors and Others.
299. Power to Restrain Fraudulent Persons from Managing
Companies.
300. Penalty for Falsification of Books.

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15
Legal Proceedings, Service of Documents, etc.

301. Enforcement of Duty of Company to Make Returns to Registrar.
302. Extension of Time for Lodging Returns, etc.
303. Power of Court to Grant Relief in Certain Cases.
304. Security for Costs.
305. Review of Registrars Decision.
306. Service of Documents.

Rules of Procedures, etc.

307. Forms, Tables and Fees.
308. Additional Fees in Respect of Late Submission of Documents or Notices.
309. Inspection and Copies of Documents in Registrar’s Office and Produciton of
Documents in Evidence.
310. Additional Copies of Returns or Documents.
311. Rules of Procedure.
312. Regulations.
Alteration to Tables and Forms.

Acts or Omissions of Government officers

314. Exemption from Liability for Act or Omissions of Government Officers.
315. Repeal of Laws.

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16
SCHEDULES

First Schedule:
Tables A,B,C,D and E.

Second Schedule:
Form of Statement in Lieu of Prospectus to be Delivered to Registrar by a Private
Company on Ceasing to be a Private Company and Reports to be Set Out Therein.

Third Schedule:
Matters to be Specified in Prospectus and Reports to be Set Out Therein.

Fourth Schedule:
Form of Statement in Lieu of Prospectus to be delivered to Registrar by a Company
which does not issue a Prospectus or which does not go to Allotment on a Prospectus
issued, and Reports to be set out therein.

Fifth Schedule:
Form of Annual Return of a Company having a Share Capital.

Sixth Schedule:
Accounts.

Seven Schedule:
Tables of Fees Payable.

Eighth Schedule:
Laws Repealed.

Ninth Schedule:
Manner and Forms for Submission of Information to the Registrar.

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17
[Date of Assent …………………………………………………………… 14th June, 1967
Date of Commencement ………………………………………………. 3rd July, 1967
G.N. 70
Of 1967

COMPANIES ACT

ACT 25 of 1967
ACT
_________

To provide for the constitution, incorporation, registration,
management, administration and winding up of companies
and other associations, and for other purposes incidental thereto.
_________

ENACTED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF LESOTHO

Preliminary

1. This Act may be cited as the Companies Act 1967 and shall
2. come into operation on a date to be fixed by the Minister by
Notice in the Gazette.

2. (1) In this Act, unless inconsistent with the context –
Accounts includes a companys group accounts, whether
prepared in the form of accounts or not;
Act refers to the companies Act 1967:
Articles means the articles of association of a company as
originally framed, or as altered by special resolution; and
includes, so far as they apply to a company, the
regulations set out in the Table A int he First Schedule;
and also includes in relation to an existing company such
provisions of the Proclamation incorporating it or the
deed of settlement thereof as are not deemed under
subsection (2) of section six to be the memorandum of
association of that company;
Attorney means an attorney admitted to practice in
Lesotho; books or papers and books and papers includes
accounts, deeds, writing and other documents;
Certified in relation to a copy or translation of any
document means certified in the prescribed manner to be a
true copy or a correct translation;
Company means a company limited by shares or a
company
Short title
and date of
commence-
ment.

Interpretatio
n of terms

limited by guarantee as in section nine described, or an
unlimited company or an existing company;
contributory has the meaning given to it my section one
hundred and sixty-nine;

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18
court in relation to any company means the High Court of
Lesotho, and in relation to any offence against this Act,
includes a Subordinate Court having jurisdiction in
respect of that offence;
creditors voluntary winding up has the meaning given to it
by sub-section (2) of section two hundred
and thirteen;
debenture includes debenture stock or bonds:
director includes any person occupying the position of
director or alternate director of a company, by whatever name
he may be called;
equity share capital has the meaning given to it by sub-
section (6) of section one hundred and fifteen;
existing company has the meaning given to it by sub-
section
(1) of section six;
expert means any person whose professional or
technicaltraining gives authority to a statement made by him;
external company means a body corporate which is
registered or incorporated in an external country under
the laws of that country;
external country means any state, dominion, country
colony or territory, other than Lesotho;
financial year means, in relation to any body corporate, the
period in respect of which any profit and loss account of
the body corporate laid before it in general meeting is
made up, whether that period is a year or not;
foreign language means any language other than Engling
and Sesotho;
group accounts has the meaning given to it by sub-section
(1) of section one hundred and sixteen;
holding company means a holding company as defined by
section one hundred and fifteen;
issued generally means, in relation to a prospecturs, issued
to persons who are not existing members of debenture
holders of the Company;
Master means the Master of the High Court of Lesotho or
any person acting in that capacity;
members voluntary winding up has the meaning given to
it by sub-section (2) of section two hundred and thirteen;
memorandum means the memorandum of association of
accompany, as originally framed or as latered in
pursuance of the provisions of any law hitherto in orce or
this Act;
minimum subscription has the meaning given to it by sub-
section (2) of section fifty-one;

officer in relation to a company, includes a director,
manager or secretary;
officer who is default has the meaning given to it by sub-
section (2) of section two hundred and ninety-five;
ordinary resolution has the meaning given to it by sub-

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19
section (5) of section one hundred and six;
prescribed means prescribed by rules or regulations made
under section three hundred and eleven or section three
hundred and twelve, as the case may be;
prescribed form means a form set out in the First, Second,
Fourth, Fifth or Ninth Schedules or any form added to or
altered in the said schedules under the provisions of this
Act or any form prescribed by rules or regulations made
under section three hundred and eleven or section three
hundred and twelve, as the case may be;
printed includes typed, handwritten in ink, lithographed,
cyclostyled or any other mod of representing words, figures
or symbols in a permanent visible form, but unless prescribed
does not include any carbon copy of a document;
private company has the meaning given to it by section
thirty;
promoter means, in relation to a prospectus, any person
who is a party to the preparation of the prospectus but does
not include any person by reason of his acting in a
professional capacity for persons engaged in procuring the
formation of a company;
prospectus means any prospectus, notice, circular,
advertisement or other printed or duplicated invitation
offering to the public for subscription or purchase any shares
or debentures of a company;
quoted means in relation to any share, debenture or other
investment an investment for which a quotation or
permission to deal has been granted in respect of any
stock exchange of good repute, and the term unquoted
shall be construed accordingly;
recognized stock exchange means a stock exchange
prescribed as a recognized stock exchange for the
purposes of this Act;
Registrar means the Registrar of Companies or any person
acting in that capacity;
secretary includes any official of a company by whatever
name called who is performing the duties normally
performed by a secretary of a company;
share means a share in the share capital of a company and
includes stock, except where a distinction between stock and
shares is expressed or implied;
special notice has the meaning given to it by section one
hundred and seven;

special resolution means a resolution passed at a general
meeting of a company in manner provided by sub-section (1), (2),
(3) and (4) of section one hundred and six;
Subsidiary and wholly owned subsidiary have the
meanings given to them by section one hundred and fifteen;
Unable to pay its debts in relation to a company has the
meaning given to it by section one hundred and seventy-two
and, in relation to an unregistered association, has the
meaning given to it by paragraph (d) of section two hundred

___________________________________________________________________________
20
and seventy-nine;
Unregistered association has the meaning given to it by
section two hundred and seventy-eight;
Winding-up order means any order whereby a company is
placed under liquidation or under provisional liquidation
when such order for provisional liquidation has not been set
aside;
(2) Every reference in this Act to a section, Part or Schedule is a
reference to a section, Part or Schedule of this Act unless
expressly stated otherwise.

3. The Minister for the time being responsible for Commerce
and Industry (hereinafter called the Minister) shall exercise
general direction and supervision over the administration of
this Act.

4. (1) Nothing in this Act contained shall apply to any co-
operative societies, the formation, registration and management
whereof are governed by any other law save as may be otherwise
provided in any such law.
(2) The provisions of this Act shall not be construed as
applying to any building society, trade union, or friendly
society established under the Friendly Societies Act, 1882, of
the Cape of Good Hope as in force in Lesotho.
(3) In this section –
Building society, until a law is in force in Lesotho
regulating
building societies, means a society to persons formed for the
sole purpose of raising by the subscription of its members
and by contributions of or deposits by its members and others
a stock or a fund out of which advances may be made to
members and others upon the security by way of mortgage to
the society of immovable property or upon the security of a
cession of a lease or upon the security of the shares of
members, and, when any such law is in force, means a
building society as therein defined;
trade union has the meaning given to it by any law for the
time being relating to trade unions and trade disputes.

5. Where a company or an eternal company is subject to the
provisions of any law which is specially applicable to insurance
companies or societies, the provisions of this Act which would
otherwise apply in respect of such company shall not apply
whereby those provisions would be inconsistent with any such
law.

6. (1) This Act shall apply to every company which has been
specially incorporated or which, having been formed and
registered under any of the repealed laws, is registered in Lesotho
as a company at the commencement of this Act, in the same
manner as if the company has been formed and registered as a
company under this Act; and every company to which this Act is
to so applicable shall be deemed to be duly incorporated in the

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21
registered under this Act and is in this Act referred to as an
existing company:

Provided that –
(i) nothing in this act shall affect the validity of the
incorporation of any existing company;

(ii) reference in this Act, expressed or implied, to the date of
registration shall be construed as a reference to the date at
which an existing company was registered under any of
the repealed laws;

(iii) nothing in this Act contained shall affect any right
or
privilege acquired, or liability incurred, whether by
agreement or otherwise, before the commencement of
this Act, by an existing company, or affect the validity of
any provisions in the deed of settlement of an existing
company which, being in force at such commencement,
are not in conflict with the provisions of this Act, save in
so far as those provisions may be affected by sub-section
(2) of t his section;

(iv) the provisions of this Act relating to the winding up of
companies shall not apply to any company if it had
commenced to be wound up before the commencement of
this Act, and the winding up of any such company shall be
continued as if this Act had not been passed.

(2) Those provisions of the Proclamation incorporating an
existing company, or deed of settlement of any existing company
which should have been contained in a memorandum of
association if the company had been formed under this Act, shall
for the purpose of this Act, be deemed to be the memorandum of
association or part of the memorandum of association of the
company, and shall be subject in all respects to the provisions of
this Act relating to a memorandum of association.

(3) Any new or supplementary deed of settlement registered
prior to the commencement of this Act under any of the repealed
laws and embodying any alteration, consolidation, sub-division,
conversion, increase or reduction of its registered capital, shall be
of the same legal force and effect as if such alteration,
consolidation, sub-division, conversion, increase or reduction had
been fully effected under the provisions of this Act.

Registrar
of
companies
7. (1) The officer for the time being performed the functions of
the Register General shall be Registrar of Companies and shall
have all powers and perform all duties conferred on the Registrar
of companies by or under this Act.

(2) As from the commencement of this Act –

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(a) all registers of companies and other documents pertaining
of companies field of record under the provisions of the repealed
laws or any other law, shall be incorporated in and form part of
the register of companies and files kept by the Registrar appointed
under this section.
(b) all powers and functions vested by the repealed laws or
any other law in the Registrar of Deeds for Lesotho in relation to
the registration of companies and to the examination, registration,
filing, inspection or certification of documents and returns
required to be lodged by any company and to the collection of
stamp duty or fees payable by a company or its offices shall vest
in the Registrar appointed under this section who shall carry out in
his office all such matters in relation to companies as,
immediately prior to the commencement of this Act, were in that
office uncompleted and which would have been carried out if this
Act had not been promulgated so far as is necessary to complete
those matters and give effect to then existing rights, privileges and
obligations, and shall collect any fees due under the repealed laws
in respect of such uncompleted matters; and every such
incomplete matter shall be completed as if this Act had not been
promulgated.

PART I

INCORPORATION OF COMPANIES AND MATTERS
INCIDENTAL THERETO

Prohibition of Partnership Exceeding Twenty Members

8. (1) No company, association, syndicate or partnership
consisting of more than twenty persons shall be formed in Lesotho
for the purpose of carrying on any business that has for its object
the acquisition of gain by the company, association, syndicate or
partnership, or by the individual members thereof, unless it is
registered as a company under this Act or is formed in pursuance
of some other law, or instrument of a public character having the
force of law.
(2) No association of persons formed in Lesotho are after the
commencement of this Act for the purpose of carrying on any
business that has for its object acquisition of carrying on any
business that has for its object the acquisition of gain by the
association or by the individual members thereof shall be a body
corporate, unless it is registered as a company under this act or is
formed in pursuance of some other law, or instrument of a public
character having the force of law.

Memorandum of Association

9. Any seven or more persons (or, where the company to be
formed will be a private company, any two or more persons)
association for any lawful purpose may, by subscribing their
names to a memorandum of association and otherwise complying

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23
with the requirements of this Act in respect of registration, form
an incorporated company (that is to say) either –

(a) a company having the liability of its members limited by
the memorandum to the amount, if any, unpaid on the
shares respectively held by them (in this Act termed a
company limited by shares); or
(b) if a licence is granted in terms of section twenty-three the
company having no share capital but having liability of
its members limited by the assets of the company in the
event of its being wound up (in this Act termed a
company limited by guarantee); or
(c) a company having the liability of its members unlimited
(in this Act termed an unlimited company).

10. (1) In the case of a company limited by shares, the
memorandum shall be in the English or the Sesotho language and
must state –

(i) the name of the company which, unless a licence has
been granted under section twenty-three, must contain
Limited as the last word in the name and which, if the
company be private company, must contain the term
(Proprietary) preceding Limited;
(ii) the objects of the company;
(iii) that the liability of the members is limited;
(iv) the amount of share capital with which the company
proposes to be registered ad the division
thereof into shares of a fixed amount.
In the case of a company limited by guarantee, the
memorandum shall be in the English or the Sesotho language and
must state –

(i) the name of the company;
(ii) the objects of the company;
(iii) that liability of the members is limited;
(iv) that each member undertakes to contribute to the assets
of the company int he event of its being
wound up while he is a member or within
one year after he ceases to be a member
for payment of the debts and liabilities of
the company contracted before he cases
to be a member and of the costs, charges
and expenses of the winding-up and for
the adjustment of the rights of the
contributories among themselves such
amount as may be required not exceeding
a specified amount.

(2) No subscriber to the memorandum of a company limited by
shares may take less than one share.

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24
(3) Each subscriber to the memorandum of a company limited
by shares must write in words opposite to his name the number of
shares he takes.
(4) Every public company which converts itself into a private
company in terms of sub-section (3) of section thirty shall, within
thirty days after that conversion, and every existing company
which is deemed to be a private company in terms of sub-section
(4) of section thirty shall, within thirty months of the
commencement of this Act, insert the term (Proprietary) before
the word limited in its name.
(5) The insertion of the term (Proprietary) in compliance
with the provisions of this section shall be regarded as a change of
name for the purposes of sub-section (2), (3) and (4) of section
twenty-two but not for the purposes of subsection (1) of that
section.
(6) In the case of an unlimited company –
(a) The memorandum must state –
(i) the name of the company;
(ii) the objects of the company.
(b) It the company has a share capital –
(i) no subscriber of the company may take less than one
share;
(ii) each subscriber must write opposite to his name in
words the number of shares he takes.

11. The memorandum shall be printed in ink by some mode other
than by handwriting and shall be signed and dated, in the presence
of at least one attesting witness, by each subscriber. Opposite
every such signature of a subscriber or a witness there shall be
written in legible characters his full name, occupation, and full
residential or business address.

12. A company may not alter the conditions contained in its
memorandum except in the cases and in the mode and tot he
extent for which express provision is made in this Act.

13. (1) A company may by special resolution –

(a) subject tot he provisions of section one hundred and sixty-
five alter any condition contained in its memorandum which
could lawfully have been contained in articles of association:

Provided that this paragraph shall not apply where the
memorandum itself provides for or prohibits the alteration of all or
any of the said conditions, and shall not authorise any variation or
abrogation of the special rights of any class of members;

(b) subject to the provisions of the next succeeding sub-section
alter the provisions of its memorandum with respect tot he
objects of the company so far as may be required to enable it

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25
–
(i) to carry on its business more economically or more
efficiently; or
(ii) to attain its main purpose by new or improved means;
or
(iii) to enlarge or change the local area of its operation; or
(iv) to carry on some business which under existing
circumstances may conveniently or
advantageously be combined with the
business of the company, or
(v) to restrict or abandon any of the objects specified in the
memorandum; or
(vi) to sell or dispose of the whole or any part of the
undertakings of the company; or
(vii) to amalgamate with any other company or body of
persons.

(2) If any application is made tot he court by the holders of not
less in the aggregate than fifteen per centum in nominal value of
the companys issued share capital or of any class thereof, or, if
the company has no share capital, not less than fifteen percent of
the companys members, for any alteration in terms of the
preceding sub-section to be canceled, the alteration shall not have
effect except in so far as it is confirmed by the court:
Provided that an application shall not be made by any person
who has consented to or voted in favour of the alteration.

(3) An application under the provisions of the preceding sub-
section shall be made within twenty-one days after the date on
which the resolution altering the condition contained in the
memorandum of the companys objects (as the case may be) to
make the application by such one or more of their number as they
may appoint in writing for the purpose.

(4) On such an application the court may make an order
confirming the alternation either wholly or in part and on such
terms and conditions as it thinks fit, and may, if it thinks fit,
adjourn the proceedings in order that an arrangement may be
made to the satisfaction of the occur for the purchase of the
interests of dissentient members, and may give such directions and
make such orders as it may think expedient for facilitating or
carrying into effect any such arrangement:
Provided that no part of the capital of the company shall be
expended in any such purchase.

(5) In the case of a company which is by virtue of a licence
from the Minister exempt from the obligation to use the word
limited as part of its name, a resolution altering the companys
objects shall require the same notice to the Minister as to the
members of the company, and

where such a company alters its objects the Minister (unless he

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26
sees fit to revoke the licence) may vary the licence by making it
subject to such conditions and regulations as he thinks fit, in place
of or in addition to the conditions and regulations, if any, to which
the licence was formerly subject.
(6) Where a company passes resolution altering its objects –
(a) if no application is made with respect thereto under this
section, it shall within fifteen days from the end of the
period for making such an application deliver to the
Registrar a copy of its memorandum as altered; and
(b) if such an application is made it shall –
(i) forthwith give notice of the fact tot he Registrar;
and
( ii) within fifteen days from the date of any order
cancelling or confirming the alternation, deliver to
the Registrar a certified copy of its memorandum
as altered.

The court may by order at any time extend the time for
delivery of documents to the Registrar under paragraph (b) of this
sub-section for such period as the court may think proper.
(7) If a company makes default in giving notice or delivering
any document tot he Registrar as required by sub-section (6) of
this section the company shall be guilty of an offence and liable
on conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty rand.
(8) The validity of an alteration of the provisions of a
companys memorandum with respect to the objects of the
company shall not be questioned on the ground that it was not
authorised by sub-section (1) of this section or otherwise) before
the expiration of twenty-one days after the date of the resolution
in that behalf; and where any such proceedings are taken
otherwise than under this section the provisions of sub-section (6)
and (7) taken under this section and as if an order declaring the
alternation invalid were an order cancelling it and as if an order
dismissing the proceedings were an order confirming the
alternation.

Articles of Association

14. (1) There may, in the case of a company limited by shares,
and there shall in the case of a company limited by guarantee, or
an unlimited company be registered with the memorandum
articles of associations signed by the subscribers to the
memorandum and prescribing regulations for the company.

In the case of an unlimited company the articles shall state the
number of members with which the company proposes to be
registered, and if the company has a share capital the amount of
share capital with which the company proposes to be registered.

(2) In the case of a company which has no share capital (other

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27
than a company licensed under section twenty-three) the articles
must state the number of member with which the company
proposes to be registered. Where such a company has increased
the number of its members beyond the registered number, it shall
within thirty days after the increase was resolved on or took place
deliver to the Registrar notice of the increase, and the Registrar
shall record the increase.

(3) If default is made in complying with the requirements of
this section the company and every officer of the company who is
party to the default, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on
conviction to a fine not exceeding ten rand for every day during
which the offence continues.

15. (1) Articles of Association of a company limited by shares,
may adopt all or any of the regulations contained in Table A in the
First Schedule.

(2) In the case of a company limited –
(a ) by shares, if articles of association are not registered, or if
articles of association are registered in so far as the
articles do not exclude or modify the regulations
contained in Table A, those regulations shall, so far as
applicable, be the regulations of the company in the same
manner and to the same extent as if they were contained
in duly registered articles;
(b) by guarantee, articles of association as near as
circumstances permit in the form set out in Table C shall
be registered.

(3) Any provision contained in a companys articles shall be
void in so far as it would have the effect either –
(a) of excluding the right to demand a poll at a general
meeting on any question other than the election of the
chairman of the meeting or the adjournment of the
meeting or
(b) of making ineffective a demand for a poll on any such
question which is made –
(i) by not less than five members having the right to
vote at the meeting; or
(ii) by a member or members representing not less than
non-tenth of the total voting rights of all the members
being the right to vote at the meeting;
Or
(iii) by a member or members holding shares in the
company conferring a right
to vote at the meeting, being
shares on which an aggregate sum
has been paid up equal to not less
than one-tenth of the total sum
paid up on all the shares
conferring that right.

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28
16. Articles shall be in the English or the Sesotho language, shall
be printed and shall –

(a) be divided into paragraphs numbered consecutively; and

(b) be signed and dated by each subscriber to the
memorandum in the presence of at least one attesting
witness. Opposite every such signature of a subscriber or
a witness there shall be written in legible characters his
full name, occupation and full residential or business
address.

17. Subject to the conditions contained in its memorandum, a
company may by special resolution alter or add to its articles and
any alteration or addition so made in the articles shall be as valid
as if originally contained therein, and be subject in like manner to
alternation by special resolution.

Registration

18. (1) The memorandum and the articles, if any, together with
either a duplicate original or a printed copy certified as a true copy
by a notary public shall be delivered to the Registrar and shall be
accompanied by a power of attorney by the subscribers to the
memorandum in favour of the person lodging the documents and
by a share capital duty receipt.
(2) Subject to due compliance with the provisions of sections
one hundred and forty-two, if applicable, and eighty-five and upon
payment of the prescribed fees, the Registrar shall, if the
documents required in sub-section (1) are in order, register the
memorandum and the articles, if any, and shall return to the
company a duplicate original or one notarial copy of the
memorandum and of the articles, if any, with the date of the
registration endorsed thereon.

19. (1) On registering the memorandum of a company the
Registrar shall certify under his hand that the company is
incorporated, and the date of such incorporation.
(2) From the date of incorporation, the subscribers to the
memorandum, together with such other persons as may from time
to time also become members of the company, shall be a body
corporate by the name contained in the memorandum, capable of
exercising all the functions of an incorporated company, and
having perpetual succession, but with such liability on the part of
the members to contribute to the assets of the company in the
event of its being wound up as is mentioned in this Act.
(3) A company may have a seal and, if it has, such seal shall
be affixed to instruments in the manner prescribed in its articles.

20. (1) A certificate of incorporation given by the Registrar in
respect of any association shall be conclusive evidence that ll the

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29
requirements of this Act, in respect of registration and of matters
precedent and incidental thereto, have been complied with, and
that the association is a company authorised to be registered and
duly registered under this Act.

(2) A solemn declaration by an attorney engaged in the
formation of a company, or by a person named in the articles as a
director or secretary
the company, of comlof company

of the company, of compliance with all or any of the said
requirements shall be produced tot he Registrar, and the Registrar
may accept such a declaration as sufficient evidence of
compliance.

Provisions with respect to Names of Companies

21. (1) The Registrar may, on written application, reserve a
name pending registration of a company or a change of name by
an existing company. Such reservation shall be for a period of
thirty days or such longer period, not exceeding in all sixty days,
as the Registrar may, for special reasons, allow.
(2) No name shall be reserved and no company shall be
registered by a name which is identical with that for which a
reservation is current or with that of a registered company or a
registered external company or which so nearly resembles any
such name as to be calculated to deceived unless the registered
company or registered external company is in liquidation and
signifies its consent to the registration in such manner as the
Registrar may require.
(3) Unless otherwise ordered by the Minister, the Registrar
shall not register a company a name which in his opinion is
calculated to mislead the public or to cause office to any person or
class of persons or is suggestive or blasphemy or indecency.
(4) Without the consent of the Minister, no company shall be
registered by a name which includes the words Imperial,
Royal, crown, Empire, Government, State,: Common-
wealth, Dominion or the combined words United Nations or
any other word or words which import or suggest that it enjoys the
patronage of the Sovereign or Government of Lesotho, of the
United Kingdom, or of any other part of the Common-wealth, or
of any department of any such Government or Administration or
of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
(5) If a company through inadvertence or otherwise is
registered, whether originally or by reason of a change of name,
by a name which would not, under the provisions of this section,
be permitted to be used for the registration of a company, the
writing order the company to change its name and the company
shall thereupon do so within a period of six weeks from the date
of the written order or such longer period as the Minister may see
fit to allow.

22. (1) A company may, by special resolution and with the

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30
written approval of the Registrar, change its name.
The Registrar shall not give such approval unless there has
been published in the Gazette and in a newspaper circulating in
Lesotho and advertisement stating that application will be made to
the Registrar for his approval not less than fourteen days after the
last publication of the advertisement.
(2) Where the name of the company is changed, in terms of the
provisions of this section, the Registrar shall enter the new name
on the register in place of the former name, and shall issue a
certificate of

incorporation altered to meet the circumstances of the case, or a
certificate that the new name is entered on the register in place of
the former name.

(3) Upon the production by a company tot he Registrar of
Deeds or other officer proper for the registration of deed of a
certificate by the Registrar in terms of sub-section (2) of this
section together with the relevant documents and application, in
writing, and on payment of the prescribed fees, such Registrar of
Deeds or other officer shall make in his registers all such
alternations as are necessary by reason of the change name and
shall endorse the change of name on the said documents.
(4) The change of name shall not affect any rights or
obligations of the company, or render defective any legal
proceedings by or against the company, and any legal proceedings
that might have been continued or commenced by or against it by
its former name may be continued or commenced under its new
name.

23. (1) Where the Minister is satisfied that an association
exists for any lawful purpose, the pursuit of which is calculated to
be in int he interests of the public, or any section of the public, and
intends to apply its profits, if any, or other income in promoting its
objects, and to prohibit the payment of any dividend to its
members, and that it is desirable that such association should be
incorporated the Minister may by licence under his hand direct
that the association be registered as a company without the
addition of the word Limited to its name, and the association
may thereupon be registered accordingly.
(2) The association, upon such registration, shall enjoy all the
privileges of a company and be subject to all the obligations
thereof, except those of using the word Limited as any part of
its name and of complying with the provisions of sections fifty-
one, fifty-two, fifty-six, eighty-seven, ninety-six, ninety-seven,
one hundred and twenty-one and one hundred and forty-two.
(3) A licence under this section may at any time be revoked by
the Minister and upon revocation the Registrar shall enter the
Limited, at the end of the name of the association upon the
register, and the association shall thereupon cease to enjoy the
exemptions and privileges granted by this section.

Before a license is so revoked the Minister shall give to the

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31
association notice in writing of his intention, and shall afford it an
opportunity of submitting in writing arguments in opposition tor
evocation.
An association whose licence has been revoked may appeal to
the court within such period and in accordance with such rules as
may be prescribed under section three hundred and eleven. On any
such appeal the court may make such order as it deems fit.

(4) Whenever its is proved tot he satisfaction of the Minister
that the objects of a company are those defined in sub-section (1)
of this section and objects incidental or conducive thereto, and
that by its constituion the company is required to ap p

constitution the company is required to apply its profits, if any, or
other income in promoting its objects and is prohibited from
paying any dividend to its members, the Minister may by a licence
authorise the company to change its name by special resolution by
the omission therefrom the word Limited, and as from the date
of registration of the special resolution passed pursuant to such
licence the company shall be deemed to be a company licences
under this section.
(5) The provisions of section twenty-two shall apply to a
change of name under this section.
(6) A licence by the Minister under this section may be granted
on such conditions and subject to such regulations as he may think
fit, and those conditions and regulations shall be binding upon the
association or company and shall, if the Minster so directs, be
inserted in the memorandum and articles, or one of those
documents.

General Provisions with Respect to Memorandum
and Articles

24. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the memorandum
and articles shall, when registered, bind the company and the
members thereof to the same extent as if they respectively had
been signed by each member and contained undertakings on the
part of each member to observe all the provisions of the
memorandum and of the articles.
(2) All money payable by any member to the company under
the memorandum or articles shall b e a debt due from him to the
company.
25. (1) Every Company shall send to every member at his
request, on payment of one rand or such less sum as the company
may prescribe, a copy of the memorandum and of the articles, if
any, or shall afford to every member or to his duly authorised
agent reasonable facilities for making a copy of the memorandum
and of the articles, if any.
(2) If a company makes default in complying with this section
the company and every officer of the company who is in default
shall be guilty of an offence, and liable on conviction to a fine not
exceeding four rand for each default.
26. (1) Where an alteration is made in the memorandum of

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32
articles of a company, every copy of the memorandum or articles
issued after the date of the alteration shall be in accordance
therewith.
(2) If, where any such alteration has been made, the company
at any time after the date of the alteration issues any copy of the
memorandum or articles which is not in accordance with he
alteration, the company and every officer of the company who is
in default shall b e guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to
a fine not exceeding four rand for each copy so issued.

Membership of Company

27. (1) The subscribers to the memorandum of a company shall
be deemed to have agreed to become members of the company,
and on its
registration shall be entered as members in its
register of members.

(2) Every other person who agrees to become a member of a
company, and whose name is entered in its register of members
shall be a member of the company.

28. (1) Except in the cases hereafter in this section mentioned, a
body corporate cannot be a member of a company which is its
holding company, and any allotment or transfer of shares in a
company to its subsidiary shall be void.
(2) Nothing in this section shall apply where the subsidiary is
concerned as a personal representative, or where it is concerned as
trustee, unless the holding company or a subsidiary thereof is
beneficially interested under the trust and is not so interested only
by way of security for the purposes of a transaction entered into
by it in the ordinary course of a business which includes the
lending of money.
(3) This section shall not prevent a subsidiary which is, at the
commencement of this Act, a member of its holding company
from continuing to be a member but, subject to the provisions of
sub-section (2) of this section, the subsidiary shall have no right to
vote at meetings of the holding company or any class of members
thereof.
(4) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (0 of this section
sub-sections (1) and (3) of this section shall apply in relation to a
nominee fora body corporate which is a subsidiary, as if
references in sub-sections (1) and (3) of this section to such a
body corporate included references to a nominee for it.

29. If at any time the number of members of the company is
reduced, in the case of private company, below two, or, in the case
of any other company, below seven, and it carries on business for
more than six months while the number is so reduced, every
person who is a member of the company during the time that it so
carries on business after those six months and is cognisant of the
fact that it is carrying on business with fewer than two members,

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33
or seven members, as the case may be, shall be severally liable for
the payment of the whole debts of the company contracted during
that time, and may be severally sued therefor.

Private Companies

30. (1) The expression private company means a company
which is by its articles –
(a) restricts the right to transfer of its shares; and

(b) limits the number of its members to fifty, not including
persons who are int he employment of the company, and
persons who having been formerly in the employment of
the company, where while in that employment and have
continued, after the termination of that employment, to be
members of the company; and

(c) prohibits any invitation to the public to subscribe for any
shares or debentures oft he company.
(2) Where two or more persons hold one or more shares in a
company jointly, they shall, for the purposes of this section, be
treated as a single member.
(3) With the sanction of a special resolution and subject to
confirmation by the court, a public company may convert itself
into a private company.
(4) Any existing company upon satisfying the Registrar
within fifteen months after the commencement of this Act that its
articles do comply, or that it has altered its articles so as to comply
with the provisions of sub-section (1) of this section shall be
deemed in all respects to be a private company.

31. Where the articles of a company include the provisions
which, under section thirty, are required to be included in the
articles of a company in order to constitute it a private company
but default is made in complying with any of those provisions, the
company shall cease to be entitled to the privileges and
exemptions conferred on private companies by this Act and the
provisions thereof shall in all respects apply to the company as if
it were not a private company:

Provided that the court, on being satisfied that the failure to
comply with the conditions was accidental or due to
inadvertence or to some other sufficient cause, or that on
other grounds it is just and equitable to grant relief, may, on
the application of the company or any other persons
interested and on such terms and conditions as seem to the
court just and expedient, order that the company be relieved
from such consequences as aforesaid.

32. (1) If a company, being private company, alters its articles
in such manner that they no longer include the provisions which,
under section thirty, are required to be included in the articles of a
company in order to constitute it a private company, or if an

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34
existing company which contains either of the terms
Proprietary) or (Pty.) in its name has not been deemed to be a
private company under sub-section (4) of section thirty within
fifteen months of the commencement of this Act, the company
shall, as on the date of the alteration or on the first day of the
sixteenth month after the commencement of this Act, as the case
may be, cease to be a private company and shall, within a period
of twenty-one days after the said date, remove the term
(Proprietary) or (Pty.) from its name and, unless within the
same period a prospectus relating to the company which complies
with the Third Schedule is issued and lodged with the Registrar as
required by section forty-two, shall within that period deliver to
the Registrar for registration a statement in lieu of prospectus in
the form and containing the particulars set out in Part I of the
Second Schedule and, in the cases mentioned in Part II of that
Schedule, setting out the reports specified therein; and the said
Parts I and II shall have effect subject to the provisions contained
in Part III of that Schedule.

(2) Every statement in lieu of prospectus delivered under sub-
section (1) of this section where the persons making any such
report as aforesaid have made therein or have without giving the
reasons, indicated therein any such adjustments as are mentioned
in paragraph 5 of Part III of the said Schedule, shall have
endorsed thereon or attached thereto a written statement signed by
those persons setting out the adjustments and giving reasons
therefor.
(3) If default is made in complying with sub-section (1) or (2)
of this section, the company and very officer of the company who
is in default shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction
to a fine not exceeding one hundred rand for every day during
which the offence continues.
(4) The provisions of sub-sections (5) and (6) of section fifty-
two shall mutatis mutandis apply to every statement in lieu of
prospectus lodged under this section as they apply to a statement
in lieu of prospectus lodged under that section.
(5) The removal of the term (Proprietary) or (Pty.) from
the name of a company in compliance with sub-section (1) of this
section shall be regarded as a change of name for the purposes of
sub-sections of sub-section (1) of that section.

33. Any contract made in writing by a person professing to act
as agent or trustee for a company not yet formed, incorporated or
registered, shall be capable of being ratified or adopted by or
otherwise made binding upon and enforceable by such company
after it has been duly registered as if it had been duly formed,
incorporated and registered at the same time when the contract
was made, if –
(a) the memorandum contains as one of the objects of such
company the adoption or ratification of or the acquisition
of rights and obligations in respect of such contracts; and
(b) the contract or a certified copy thereof is delivered to the
Registrar simultaneously with the delivery of

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35
memorandum in terms of section eighteen.

Contracts etc.

34. (1) Contracts on behalf of a company may be made in the
following manner:
(a) Any contract which, if made between private persons,
would be by law required to be in writing, signed by the
parties, may be made on behalf of the company in
writing, signed by any person acting under its authority,
expressed or implied, and may in the same manner be
varied or discharged.

(b) any contract which, if made between private persons,
would by law be valid though made verbally only and not
reduced to writing, may be made verbally on behalf of
the company by any person acting under its authority,
expressed or implied, and may in the same manner be
varied or discharged.

(2) All contracts made in accordance with this section shall be
effectual in law, and shall bind the company and its successors
and all other parties thereto.

35. (1) a bill of exchange or promissory note shall be deemed
to have been made, accepted or endorsed on behalf of a company,
if made, accepted or endorsed int he name of, or by or on behalf or
on account of, the company or any person acting under its
authority.

(2) All documents, other than the documents mentioned in this
section and section thirty-four shall, if executed on behalf of a
company be signed as prescribed in section thirty-four by any
person acting under its authority, express or implied, unless the
articles otherwise provide.

36. A company may, by writing, which if it has a seal shall be
under its seal and the hand of one of its directors or, if it has not a
seal, shall be under the hands of two of its directors or of one
director and of the secretary, empower any person either generally
or in respect of any specified matters, as its agent, to execute
deeds on its behalf in any external country; and every deed signed
by such agent, on behalf of the company, shall bind the company,
if valid in other respects.

37. (1) any company whose objects require or comprise the
transaction of business in external countries may, if authorised by
its articles, have for use in any eternal country an official seal,
which shall be a facsimile of the seal oft he company, if any, with
the addition on its face of the name of the eternal country where it
is to be used.

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36
(2) a company having such an official seal may, by writing,
which if it has a seal for use in Lesotho shall be under that seal
and the hand of one of its directors or, if it has not such a seal,
shall be under the hands of two of its directors or of one director
and of the secretary, empower any person appointed for the
purpose in any external country, to affix the said official seal to
any deed or other document to which the company is party.
(3) The authority of any such agent shall, as between the
company and any person dealing with the agent, continue during
the period, if any mentioned in the instrument conferring the
authority, or if no period is there mentioned, they until notice of
the revocation or determination f the agents authority has been
given tot he person dealing with him.
(4) The person affixing any such official seal shall, by writing
under his hand, on the deed or other document to which the seal is
affixed, certify the date and the place of affixing the same.
(5) a deed or other document to which such an official seal is
duly affixed shall bind the company, if valid in other respects.

38. A document or proceeding requiring authentication by a
company may be signed by a director, secretary or other
authorised officer of the company, and need not be under its seal.

PART II
SHARE CAPITAL AND DEBENTURES
Prospectus
39. A prospectus issued by or on behalf of a company or in
relation to an intended company shall be dated, and that date shall,
unless the contrary is proved, be taken as the date of publication
of the prospectus.
40. (1) Every prospectus issued by or on behalf of a company
or on behalf of any person who is or has been engaged or
interested in the formation of the company shall be in the English
or Sesotho language and must state the matters specified in Parts I
and II of the Third Schedule and set out –
(a) the reports specified in Part II of that Schedule, and the
said Parts I and II shall have effect subject to the
provisions contained in Part III of that Schedule;
(b) the report of any expert who is mentioned in the
prospectus or an abstract from such report certified by the
expert as truly conveying the substance of his report and
of his opinion and conclusions.
(2) A condition requiring or binding an applicant for shares in
or debentures of a company to waive compliance with any
requirement of this section, or purporting to affect him with notice
of any contract, document or matter not specifically referred to in
the prospectus, shall be void.
(3) It shall not be lawful to issue, distribute or deliver or cause
to be issued, distributed or delivered any form of application for

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37
shares in or debentures of a company unless the form is issued,
distributed or delivered, as the case may be, with a prospectus
which complies with the requirements f this section:

Provided that this sub-section shall not apply if it is shown
that the form of application was issued either –
(a) in connection with an bona fide invitation to a person to
enter into an underwriting agreement with respect to the
shares or debentures; or
(b) in relation to shares or debentures which were not offered
to the public.
If any contravenes any of the provisions of this subsection,
he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a
fine not exceeding one thousand rand or to imprisonment for
a period no exceeding two year or to both such fine and such
imprisonment.
(4) In the event of non-compliance with or contravention
of any of the requirements of this section, a director or other
person responsible for the prospectus shall not incur any
liability by reason of the non-compliance or contravention if –
(a) as regards any matter not disclosed, he proves that he was
not cognisant thereof; or

(b) he proves that the non-compliance or contravention
arose from an honest mistake of fact on his part; or
(c) the non-compliance or contravention was in respect
of matters which in the opinion of the court dealing
with the case were immaterial or was otherwise such
as ought, in the opinion of that court, having regard
to all the circumstances of the case, reasonably to be
excused:
Provided that, in the event of failure to include in a
prospectus a statement with respect to the matters
specified in paragraph 15 of the Third Schedule, no
director or other person shall incur any liability in respect
of the failure unless it be proved that he had knowledge
of the matters not disclosed.
(5) This section shall not apply to –
(a) the issue to existing members or debenture holders of
a company of a prospectus or form of application
relating to shares in or debentures of the company,
whether an applicant for shares or debentures will or
will not have the right to renounce in favour of other
persons;
or
(b) the issue of a prospectus or form of application
relating to shares or debentures which are or are to be
in all respects uniform with shares or debentures
previously issued and for the time being dealt in or
quoted on a recognised stock exchange;

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38
but subject as aforesaid, this section shall apply to a
prospectus or a form of application whether issued on or
with reference to the formation of a company or
subsequently.
(6) Nothing in this section shall limit to diminish any
liability which any person may incur under the common law
or his Act part from this section.
(7) Every newspaper or other advertisement whatsoever
offering or calling attention to an offer or intended offer of
shares in or purchase of a company to the public for
subscription or purchase shall be deemed to be a prospectus
issued by the person responsible for publishing or
disseminating the advertisement (and all enactments and rules
of law as to the contents of prospectuses and as to liability in
respect of statements in an omissions from prospectuses or
otherwise relating to prospectuses shall apply and have effect
accordingly), unless it contains a statement as to the places at
and times during which copies of the prospectuses may be
obtained and no more than the following:-
(a) the number and description of the shares or debentures
concerned;
(b) the name and date of registration of the company;
(c) the general nature of the main business or proposed main
business of the company;
(d) the names of the directors or proposed directors.
No statement that or to the effect that the advertisement is not
a prospectus shall avail to prevent the operation of this subsection.

41. (1) A prospectus inviting persons to subscribe for shares in
or debentures of a company and including a statement purporting
to be made by an expert shall not be issued unless –
(a) he has given and has not, before delivery of a copy of the
prospectus for registration, withdrawn his written consent
to the issue thereof with the statement included in the
form and context in which it is included; and
(b) a statement that he has given and has not withdrawn his
consent as aforesaid appears in the prospectus.
(2) If any prospectus is issued in contravention of this
section, the company and every person who is knowingly a party
to the issue thereof shall be guilty of an offence and liable on
conviction, in the case of the company, to a fine not exceeding one
thousand rand and in the case of any such person, to a fine not
exceeding one thousand rand or to imprisonment for a period not
exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

42. (I) No prospectus shall be issued by or un behalf of a
company or in relation to an intended company unless, on or
before the date of its publication, a copy thereof has been filed
with and registered by the Registrar. Such copy shall be signed by
every person who is named therein as a director or proposed
director of the company, or by his agent authorised in writing, and
shall have endorsed thereon or attached thereto-

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39
(a) any consent to the issue of the prospectus required by
section forty-one from any person as an expert; and
(b) in the case of a prospectus issued generally, also –
(i) a copy of any contract required by paragraph 14 of the
Third Schedule to be stated in the prospectus or, in the
case of a contract not reduced to writing, a memorandum
giving full particulars thereof; and
(ii) where the persons making any report required by Part II
of that Schedule have made therein, or have, without
giving the reasons, indicated therein any such
adjustments are as mentioned in paragraph 26 of that
Schedule, a written statement signed by those persons
setting out the adjustments and giving the reasons
therefor.

The references in sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (b) of this sub-
section tot he copy of a contract required thereby to be endorsed
on or attached to a copy of the prospectus shall, in the case of a
contract wholly or partly in a foreign language, be taken as
references to a copy of a certified translation of the contract or a
copy embodying a certified translation of the parts in a foreign
language, as the case may be.

(2) Every prospectus shall on the face of it –
(a) specify the date of its registration under sub-section (10
of this section; and
(b) specify, or refer to statements included in the prospectus
which specify any documents required by this section to
be endorsed on or attached tot he copy so delivered.

(3) The registrar shall not register a prospectus unless it is
dated and the copy thereof signed in manner required by this
section and unless it has endorsed thereon or attached thereto the
documents, if any, specified as aforesaid.
(4) If a prospectus states that the whole or portion of the share
capital or debentures offered for subscription has been
underwritten, the prospectus shall not be registered until there is
lodged with the Registrar the documents required by section forty-
six.
(5) The Registrar shall not register any prospectus which
names any person as the auditor, attorney, banker or broker of the
company or proposed company unless it is accompanied by the
consent in writing of the person so named to act in the capacity
stated, but such person shall not be deemed thereby to have
authorised the issue of the prospectus.
(6) No prospectus shall be issued more than three months after
the date of its registration by the Registrar, and if a prospectus is
so issued it shall be deemed to be a prospectus a copy of which
has not bee registered.
(7) If a prospectus is issued-
(a) without a copy thereof being filed with and registered by

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40
the Registrar; or
(b) without the copy so filed and registered having endorsed
thereon or attached thereto the required documents;
the company, and every person who is knowingly a party to
the issue of prospectus shall be guilty of an offence and liable
on conviction, in the case of the company, to a fine not
exceeding one thousand rand and, in the case of any such
person, to a fine not exceeding one thousand rand or to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both
such fine and such imprisonment.
43. A company not being a private company shall not
previously to the statutory meeting vary in any material respect
the terms of a contract referred to in the prospectus, or statement
in lieu of prospectus, except when the variation is made subject to
the approval of the statutory meeting.

44. (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, where a
prospectus invites persons to subscribe for shares in or debentures
of a company, the following persons shall be liable to pay
compensation to all persons who subscribe for any shares or
debentures on the faith of the prospectus for the loss or damage
they may have sustained by reason of any untrue statement
included therein, that is to say –
(a) every person who is a director of the company at the time
of the issue of the prospectus;
(b) every person who has in writing authorised himself to be
named and is named in the prospectus as a director or as
having agreed to become a director either immediately or
after an interval of time;

(c) every person being a promoter of the company; and
(d) every person has authorised the issue of the prospectus:
Provided that –
(i) where, under section fort-one, the consent of a person
is required to the issue of a prospectus and he has
given that consent, he shall not by reason of his
having given it be liable under this sub-section as a
person who has authorised the issue of the prospectus
except in respect of an untrue statement purposing to
be made by him as an expert; and
(ii) no person whose ordinary business or part of whose
ordinary business is to do secretarial or
administrative work, shall be liable under this sub-
section as a person who has authorised the issue of
the prospectus by reason only that he is employed in
the company to perform on its behalf the secretarial
and administrative work of the issue of shares or
debentures to which the prospectus relates and is
named in the prospectus as secretary or manager for
the issue.
(2) No person shall be liable under sub-section (1) of this
section if he proves –
(a) that, having consented to become a director of the

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41
company, he withdrew his consent in writing before the
issue of the prospectus, and that it was issued without his
authority or consent; or
(b) that the prospectus was issued without his knowledge or
consent gave reasonable public notice that it was issued
without his knowledge or consent; or
(c) that, after the issue of the prospectus and before allotment
thereunder, he, on becoming aware of the untrue
statement, made an immediate written withdrawal of his
consent thereto and give reasonable public notice of such
withdrawal ad of the reason therefor; or
(d) that –
(i) as regards every untrue statement not purporting to
be made on the authority of an expert or of a public
official document or statement, he had reasonable
grounds to believe and did up to the time of the
allotment of the shares or debentures, as the case may
be, believe that the statement was true; and
(ii) as regards every untrue statement purporting to be a
statement by an expert or contained in what purports
to be a copy of or extract from a report or valuation
of an expert, it fairly represented the statement, or
was correct and fair copy of or extract from the report
or valuation and he had reasonable grounds to
believe and did up to the time of the issue of the
prospectus believe that the person making the
statement was competent to make it and had given
the consent required by section forty-one

to the issue of the prospectus and had not withdrawn
that consent before delivery of a copy of the
prospectus for registration or, to the defendants
knowledge, before allotment thereunder; and
(iii) as regards every untrue statement purporting to be a
statement made by an official person or contained in
what purports to be a copy of or extract from a public
official document, it was a correct and fair representation
of the statement or copy of or extract from the document:

Provided that this sub-section shall not apply int he case
of a person liable, by reason of his having given a consent
required of him by section forty-one as a person who has
authorised the issue of the prospectus in respect of an untrue
statement purporting to be made by him as an expert shall not
be so liable if he proves –
(3) A person who, apart from this sub-section would under
sub-section (1) of this action be liable, by reason of his having
given the consent required of him by section forty-one, as a person
who has authorised the issue of a prospectus in respect of an
untrue statement purporting to be made by him as an expert shall
not be so liable if he proves –
(a) that, having given his consent under section forty-one to
the issue of the prospectors, he withdrew it in writing

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42
before delivery of a copy of the prospectus of
registration; or
(b) that, after delivery of a copy of the prospectus for
registration and before allotment thereunder, he, on
becoming aware of the untrue statement, made an
immediate written withdrawal of his consent and gave
reasonable public notice of such withdrawal, and of the
reason therefor; or
(c) that he was competent to make the statement and that he
had reasonable ground to believe and did up to the time
of the allotment of the shares or debentures, as the case
may be, believe that the statement was true.
(4) Where –
(a) the prospectus contains the name of the person as a
director of the company, or as having agreed to become a
director thereof, and he has not consented in writing to
become a director or has in writing withdrawn his
consent before the issue of the prospectus and has not
authorised or consented to the issue thereof; or
(b) the consent of a person is required under section forty-
one to the issue of the prospectus and he either has not
given that consent or has withdrawn it before the issue of
the prospectus;
the directors of the company, except any without whose
knowledge or consent the prospectus was issued, and any other
person who authorised the issue thereof shall be liable, jointly or
severally, to indemnify the person named as aforesaid or
whose consent was

required as aforesaid, as the case may be, against all damage, costs
and expenses to which he may be made liable by reason of his
name having been inserted in the prospectus or of the inclusion
therein of a statement purporting to be made by him as an expert,
as they case may be, or in defending himself against any action or
legal proceeding brought against him in respect thereof;
Provided that a person shall not be deemed for the
purposes of this sub-section to have authorised the issue of a
prospectus by reason only of his having given the consent
required by section forty-one to the inclusion therein of a
statement purporting to be made by him as an expert.

45. (1) Where a prospectus issued after the commencement
of this Act includes any untrue statement, any person who
authorised the issue of the prospectus shall be guilty of an offence
and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand
rand, or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years,
either that the statement was immaterial or that he had reasonable
grounds to believe and did, up to the time of the issue of the
prospectus, believe that the statement was true.
(2) A person shall not be deemed for the purposes of this
section to have authorised the issue of a prospectus by reason only
of his having given the consent required by section forty-one to

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43
the inclusion therein of a statement purporting to be made by him
as an expert.
45. (1) If the whole or any portion of the share capital or
debentures of a company being offered for subscription has been
or is being underwritten there shall be lodged by the company
with the Registrar not later than the day before the date of the
proposed offer of shares or debentures, a copy of the underwriting
contract and a sworn declaration by the person named as directors
of such company, that to the best of the deponents knowledge
and belief the underwriter is and will be a position to carry out his
obligations even if no shares or debentures, as the case may be,
are applied for.
(2) It shall be the duty of the underwriter to furnish the
company within fourteen days of a written request by the
company with the sworn declaration required by sub-section (1) of
this section, in default whereof the underwriter shall be guilty of
an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one
thousand rand, or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two
years, or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(3) Should any underwriter, in respect of whom the declaration
referred to in sub-section (1) of this section has been made, fail,
when duly called upon, to carry out his obligations under the
underwriting contract, the declaration shall be deemed to have
been made without reasonable grounds for belief that the person
named as underwriter was or would be able to carry out the
obligations of the contract, and any person making such
declaration shall be guilty of an offence unless he proves that he
did so believe and have reasonable grounds for that belief, and
shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand
rand or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to
both such fine and such imprisonment.

(4) If default is made by the company in lodging a copy of
the underwriting contract and sworn declaration with the Registrar
within the time prescribed by sub-section (1) of this section the
company shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a
fine not exceeding two hundred rand.
47. (1) Where a company allots or agrees to allot any shares in
or debentures of the company with a view to all or any of those
shares or debentures being offered for sale to the public any
document by which the offer for sale to the public is made shall
for all purposes be deemed to be a prospectus issued by the
company, and the provisions of this Act shall apply and have
effect accordingly, as if the shares or debentures had been offered
to these public for subscription and as if persons accepting the
offer in respect of any shares or debentures were subscribers for
those shares or debentures, but without prejudice to the liability,
if any, of the persons by whom the offer is made, in respect of
mis-statements contained in the document or otherwise in respect
thereof.

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44
(2) For the purposes of this Act it shall, unless the contrary is
proved, be evidence that an allotment of, or an agreement to allot,
shares or debentures was made with a new tot he shares or
debentures being offered for sale to the public if it is shown –
(a) that an offer of the shares or debentures or of any of them
for sale to the public was made within six months after
the allotment or agreement to allot; or
(b) that at the date when the offer was made the whole
consideration to be received by the company in respect of the
shares or debentures had not been so received.

(3) Section forty as applied by this section shall have effect
as if it required a prospectus to state in addition to the matters
required by that section to be stated in a prospectus –
(a) the net amount of the consideration received or to be
received by the company in respect of the shares or
debentures to which the offer relates; and
(b) the place and time at which the contract under the said
shares or debentures have been or are to be allotted my
be inspected;
and section forty-two as applied by this section shall have effect
as though the person making the offer were persons named in a
prospectus as directors of a company.
(4) Where an offer to which this section relates is made by a
company or a partnership, it shall be sufficient if the document
aforesaid is signed on behalf of the company or partnership by
two directors of the company or not less than half of the partners,
as the case may be, and such director or partner may sign by his
agent authorised in writing.

48. For the purposes of this Act –
(a) a statement included in a prospectus shall be deemed to
the untrue if it is misleading in the form and context in
which it is included; and
(b) a statement shall be deemed to be included in a
prospectus if it is contained therein or in any report or
memorandum appearing on the face therefore of by
thereof or by reference incorporated therein or issued
therewith;
(c) if any matter which ought, under the provisions of section
forty and forty-one and the Third Schedule or under
subsection (3) of section forty-seven, to be inserted in a
prospectus is omitted therefrom and if such omission is
calculated to mislead then the prospectus shall be
deemed, in respect of such omission, to be a prospectus
in which an untrue statement is included.

49. (1) For the purposes of the provisions of this Part any
reference in this Act to an offer of shares or debentures to the
public or for sale tot he public shall unless the contrary is stated,
include an offer to any section of the public and references in a
companys articles to invitations to the public to subscribe for

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45
shares or debentures shall be construed accordingly:
Provided that an offer or invitation shall not be deemed to
have been made tot he public if, in all the circumstances, it is
not calculated to cause the said shares, or debentures to
become available for subscription or purchase by persons
other than those to whom the offer or invitation is specially
made or if it is wholly the domestic concern of the persons
making and receiving it.
(2) A provision in a companys articles prohibiting
invitations to the public to subscribe for shares or debentures shall
not be deemed to prohibit an offer or invitation to members or
debentures holders of such company which complies with the
proviso to sub-section (1) of this section, and the provisions of this
Act relating to private companies shall be construed accordingly.
50. (1) It shall not be lawful for any person to go from house
to house offering shares or debentures for subscription or purchase
or offering to purchase shares.
In this sub-section house shall include any office, shop or
business premises, save the office or business premises of a
person whose ordinary business pr part of whose ordinary
business it is to deal in shares or debentures, whether as principal
or agent.

(2) No person shall either verbally or in writing, including
any newspaper advertisement –
(a) make an offer of shares for sale to the public or any
member of the public; or any member of the public to
purchase any shares;
(b) invite offers from the public or any member of the public
to purchase any shares;
and no person shall issue, distribute or publish any material which
in its form and context is calculated to be understood as an
offer or invitation
as aofre

invitation as aforesaid unless the offer, invitation or material is
accompanied either by a prospectus complying with the provisions
of this Act or by written statement containing the particulars
required by this section to be included therein.
The said statement shall be dated and signed by the person or
persons making the offer or invitation or issuing, distributing or
publishing the said material, and if such person is a company, by
every director thereof:
Provided that the provisions of this sub-section shall not
apply-
(i) if the shares to which the offer or invitation or material
relates are shares which are quoted on, or in respect of
which permission to deal has been granted by a
recognised stock exchange, and the person making the
offer or invitation or publishing the material so states in
writing specifying the stock exchange; or
(ii) if the shares in question are shares which a company has
allotted or agreed to allot with a view to their being

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46
offered for sale to the public; or
(iii) if the offer or invitation is made or the material is
published only to persons
whose ordinary business or part
of whose ordinary business is to
deal in shares or debentures
whether as principals or agents; or
(iv) to an offer for sale tot he public of or an invitation to the
public to tender for unquoted shares made in the
course of winding up a company in liquidation or in a
deceased, insolvent or assigned estate or in an estate
held under curatorship or in execution of a judgement
of any competent court; or
(v) to an offer or invitation not made to the public generally
and made in respect of unquoted shares by a person who
is at the time of the offer or invitation the bona fide
registered beneficial owner of them.
(3) The said statement shall contain particulars with respect
tot he following matters –
(a) whether the person making the offer is acting as principal
or agent, and if as agent the name of his principal or
agent, and if as agent the name of his principal and an
address in Lesotho where that principal can be served
with process and the nature and extent of the
remuneration received or receivable by the agent for his
services;
(b) the date on which and the country in which the company
was incorporated, and the address of its registered or
principal office in Lesotho or if none, the address of its
principal office outside Lesotho;
(c) the authorised share capital of the company and the
amount thereof which has been issued, the classes into
which it is divided and the rights of each class of
members in respect of capital, dividends and voting and
the number and amount of shares issued for cash and the
number and amount thereof issued for a consideration
other than cash, giving the dates on

which and the prices at which or the consideration for
which were issued;
(d) the dividends, if any, paid by the company on each class
shares during each of the five financial years immediately
preceding the offer or such lesser period as the company
may have operated and, with respect to the rates of such
dividends, particulars of each such class of shares on
which such dividends have been paid, and if no dividend
has been paid in respect of shares of any particular class
during any of those years, a statement to that effect;
(e) the total amount of any debentures issued by the
company and outstanding at the date of the statement,
together with the rate of interest payable thereof;
(f) the names and addresses of the directors of the company;

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47
(g) whether or not shares offered are fully paid up, and if not,
to what extent they are paid up;
(h) whether or not the shares are quoted on, or permission to
deal therein has been granted by, any stock exchange in
Lesotho or elsewhere, and, if so, which and, if not, a
statement that they are not so quoted or that no such
permission has been granted;
(i) if the offer relates to units, particulars of the names and
addresses of the person in whom the shares represented
by the units are vested, the date of and the parties to any
document defining the terms on which those shares are
held, and an address in Lesotho where that document or a
copy thereof can be inspected;
(j) particulars of the date on which and the prices at which
the shares offered were –
(i) originally issued by the company; and
(ii) acquired by the person making the offer, or by his
principal,
Giving the reasons for any difference between such
prices and the prices at which the shares are being
offered.

In this sub-section the expression company means the
company by which shares to which a statement relates were or are
to be issued.
(4) If any person contravenes this section he shall be guilty of
an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one
thousand rand or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two
years, or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(5) If a person convicted of an offence under this section is a
company (whether a company within the meaning of this like
offence and subject to the like penalties unless he proves that the
act constituting the offence took place without his knowledge or
consent.

(6) In this section, unless the context otherwise requires, the
expression offer includes an invitation to make an offer, the
expression shares means the shares of a company whether a
company within the meaning of this Act or not, and includes
debentures and units and the expression unit means any right or
interest (by whatever name called) in a share and for the purposes
of this section a person shall not in relation to a company be
regarded as not being a member of the public by reason only that
he is a holder of shares in the company or a purchaser of goods
from the company.
(7) If any person is convicted of having made an offer in
contravention of the provisions of this section, the court before
which he is convicted may order that any contract made as a result
of the offer shall be void, and, where it makes any such order, may
give such consequential directions as it thinks proper for the
repayment of any money or the retransfer of any shares.

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48
Allotment

51. (1) No allotment shall be made of any share capital of a
company offered to the public for subscription unless the amount
stated in the prospectus as the minimum amount which, in the
opinion of the directors, must be raised by the issue of share
capital in order to provide for the matters specified in paragraph 4
of the Third Schedule has been subscribed, and the sum payable
on application for the amount so stated in any cheque received by
the company in payment shall be deemed not to have been paid to
and received by the company –
(a) until the amount of the cheque has been credited to the
account of the company with its bankers;
(b) if the company has at any time delivered to the payer and
has not been repaid the amount or value of any money,
bill, promissory note, cheque or other valuable
consideration otherwise than in discharge of a debt bona
fide due by the company to such payer, then to the extent
of the amount or value of such money, bill, promissory
not, cheque or other valuable consideration.
(2) The amount so stated in the prospectus shall be reckoned
exclusively of any amount payable otherwise than in cash and
is in this Act referred to as the minimum subscription.
(3) The amount payable on application on each share shall
be the same in respect of all shares of the same class in any
one issue and shall not be less than ten per cent of the
nominal amount of the share.
(4) The amount paid on application shall be set part by the
directors in a separate bank account and shall not be available
for the purposes of the company or for the satisfaction of its
debts until the minimum subscription has bee made up.
(5) If the conditions aforesaid have not been complied with or
the expiration of a sixty days after the first issue of the
prospectus, all money received from applicants for shares
shall forthwith be repaid to them without interest, and, if any
such money is not so repai

repaid within seventy days after the issue of the prospectus, the
directors of the company shall be guilty of an offence and liable to
a fine not exceeding one hundred rand, further, shall be jointly and
severally liable to repay that money with interest at the rate of five
percent per annum from the expiration of the seventieth day:
Provided that a director shall not be guilty of an offence
nor personally liable to repay the money if he proves that the
default in the repayment of the money was not due to any
misconduct or negligence on his part.
(6) any condition requiring or binding any applicant for shares
to waive compliance with any requirements of this section shall be
void.

52. (1) This section shall not apply to a private company.
(2) A company which does not issue a prospectus on or with
reference to its formation, or which has issued such a prospectus

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49
but has not proceeded to allot any of the shares offered to the
public for subscription, shall not allot any of its shares or
debentures unless at least three days before the first allotment of
either shares or debentures there has been delivered to the
Registrar for registration a statement in lieu of prospectus signed
by every director of the company or by its agent authorised in
writing, int he form and containing the particulars set out in Part I
of the Fourth Schedule and, in the cases mentioned in Part II of
that Schedule setting out the reports specified therein, and the said
Parts I and II shall have effect subject to the provisions contained
in Part III of that Schedule.
(3) Every statement in lieu of prospectus delivered under
sub-section (2) of this section shall, where the persons making any
such report as aforesaid have made therein or have, without giving
the reasons indicated therein any such adjustments as are
mentioned in paragraph 5 of the Fourth Schedule, have endorsed
thereon or attached thereto a written statement signed by those
persons setting out the adjustments and giving the reasons
therefor.
(4) If a company contravenes sub-section (2) or (3) of this
section the company and every director of the company who
knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits the contravention
shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not
exceeding two hundred rand.
(5) Where a statement in lieu of prospectus delivered to the
Registrar under sub-section (2 ) of this section includes any untrue
statement, any person who authorised the deliver of the statement
in lieu of prospectus for registration shall be guilty of an offence
and liable ton conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand
rand or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, or
to both such fine and imprisonment unless he proves either that
the untrue statement was immaterial or that he had reasonable
grounds to believe and did up to the time of the delivery of
registration of the statement in lieu of Prospectus believe that the
untrue statement was true.

(6) For the purposes of this section –
(a) a statement included in a statement in lieu of prospectus
shall be deemed to be untrue if it is misleading in the
form and context in which it is included; and
(b) a statement shall be deemed to be included in a statement
in lieu of prospectus if it is contained therein or in any
report or memorandum appearing on the face thereof or
by reference incorporated therein; and
(c) if any matter which ought, under the provisions of the
Fourth Schedule, to be inserted in a prospectus is omitted
therefrom and if such omission is calculated to mislead
then the statement in lieu of prospectus shall be deemed,
in respect of such omission, to be a statement in lieu of
prospectus in which an untrue statement is included.

53. (I) An allotment made by a company in contravention of
section fifty-one or fifty-two shall be voidable at the instance of

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50
the applicant within one month after the holding of the statutory
meeting and not later; or in any case, where the company is not
required to hold a statutory meeting, or where the allotment is
made after the holding of the statutory meeting, within one month
after the date of the allotment, and not later, and shall be so
voidable notwithstanding that the company is in course of being
wound up.
(2) If any director of a company knowingly contravenes, or
permit or authorises the contravention of, any of the provisions of
section fifty-one of fifty-two he shall be liable to compensate the
company and the allottee respectively for any loss, damages or
costs which the company or the allottee may have sustained or
incurred thereby:
Provided that proceedings to recover any such loss,
damages or costs shall not be commenced after the expiration
of two years from the dat of the allotment.
54. Where an application form is required by section forty to
be attached to a prospectus, every allotment of shares or
debentures made otherwise than in pursuance of an application
form which was issued, distributed or delivered with a prospectus
as required by sub-section (30 of section forty shall be voidable at
the instance of the allottee within one month after allotment unless
it is shown that the allottee at the time of his application was in
fact possessed of a copy of the prospectus or was aware of its
contents.
55. (1) No allotment, shall be made of any shares in or
debentures of a company in pursuance of a prospectus issued
generally, and no proceedings shall be taken on applications made
in pursuance of a prospectus so issued, until the beginning of the
third day after that on which the prospectus is first so issued or
such later time, if any as may be specified in the prospectus.
The beginning of the said third day of such later time as
aforesaid is in this Act referred to as the time of the opening of the
subscription lists.

(2) In sub-section (1) of this section the reference to the day
on which the prospectus is first issued generally shall be construed
as referring tot he day on which it is first issued as a newspaper
advertisement:
Provided that, it is not so issued as a newspaper
advertisement before the third day after that on which it is
first so issued in any other manner, the said reference shall be
construed as referring to the day on which it is first so issued
in any manner.
(3) The validity of an allotment shall not be affected by any
contravention of the foregoing provisions of this section but, in
the event of any such contravention, the company and every
officer of the company who is knowingly a party to the default
shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not
exceeding one thousand rand.
(4) In the application of this section to a prospectus offering
shares or debentures for sale, the foregoing sub-sections shall have
effect with the substitution of references to sale for references to

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51
allotment, and with the substitution for the reference to the
company and every officer of the company who is knowingly a
party to the default of a reference to any person by or through
whom the offer is made and who knowingly and wilfully
authorises or permits the contravention.
(5) An application for shares in or debentures of a company
which is made in pursuance of a prospectus issued generally shall
not be revocable until after the expiration of the third day after
time of the opening of the subscription lists, or the giving before
the expiration of the said third day, by some person responsible
under section forty-four for the prospectus, of a public notice
having the effect under the section of excluding or limiting the
responsibility of the person giving it.
(6) In reckoning for the purposes of this section the third day
after another day, any intervening day which is Saturday or
Sunday or which is public holiday in Lesotho shall be disregarded
and if the third day (as so reckoned) is itself a Saturday or Sunday
or a public holiday, there shall for the said purposes be substituted
the first day thereafter which is none of them.
56. (1) Every company shall keep a register of allotments at
its registered office.
(2) The company, whenever it makes any allotment of its
shares, shall within thirty days thereafter, lodge with the Registrar
–
(a) a return of the allotments, stating the number and
nominal amount of the shares comprised in the allotment,
the names and addresses of the allottees, and the amount
if any, paid or due and payable on each share; and
(b) in the case of shares allotted as fully or partly paid up
otherwise than in cash, a contract in writing and signed
by the parties thereto, constituting the title of the allottee
tot he allotment, together with any contract of sale or
contract for services or other consideration in respect of
which that allotment was made, and a return stating
the number and

nominal amount of shares so allotted, the extent to which
they are to be treated as paid up, and the consideration for
which they have been allotted.
(3) If default is made in complying with the requirements of
this section, the company and every officer of the company who is
knowingly a party to the default, shall be guilty of an offence and
liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding ten rand for every day
during which t he offence continues:
Provided that in the case of default in lodging with the
Registrar within thirty days after the allotment any document
required to be lodged by this section, the company or any
person liable for the default, may apply to the court fr relief,
and the court, if satisfied that the omission to lodge the
document was accidental or due to inadvertence or that it is
just and equitable to grant relief, may make an order
extending the time for the lodging of the document for such
period as the court may think proper.

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52

Commissions and Discounts

57. (1) It shall be lawful for a company to pay a commission
to any person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to
subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally, for any shares in
the company, or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions,
whether absolute or conditional for any shares in the company if –
(a) the payment of the commission is authorised by the
articles; and
(b) the commission paid or agreed to be paid does not exceed
five percent of the price at which the shares are issued or
the amount or rate authorised by the articles, whichever is
the less; and
(c) the amount or rate per cent of the commission paid or
agreed to be paid –
(i) in the case of shares offered tot he public for
subscription, disclosed in the statement in lieu of
prospectus or int he statement in the prescribed form
signed in like manner and a statement in lieu of
prospectus and delivered, before the payment of the
commission, to the Registrar, for registration, and,
where a circular or notice, not being a prospectus,
inviting subscription for the shares is issued, also
disclosed in that circular or notice; and
(d) the number of shares which persons have agreed for a
commission to subscribe absolutely is disclosed in
manner aforesaid.

(2) Save as aforesaid, no company shall apply any of its shares
or capita; money either directly or indirectly in payment o any
commission, discount or allowance to any person in consideration
of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or
conditionally, for any shares in the company, or procuring or
agreeing to procure subscriptions whether absolute or conditional,
for any shares in the company whether the shares or money be so
applied by being added to the purchase money of any property
acquired by the company or to the contract price of any work to be
executed for the company, or the money be paid out of the
nominal purchase money or contract price, or otherwise.
(3) Nothing in this section shall affect the power of any
company to pay such brokerage as it has heretofore been lawful
for a company to pay.
(4) A vendor to, promoter of, or other person who receives
payment in money or shares from a company, shall have and shall
be deemed always to have had power to apply any part of the
money or shares so received in payment of any commission, the
payment or which, if made directly by the company, would have
been legal under this section.
(5) If default is made in complying with the provisions of this
section relating to the delivery to the Registrar of the statement in

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53
the prescribed form, the company and every officer of the
company who is in default shall be guilty of an offence and liable
on conviction to a fine not exceeding ten rand of or every day
during which the office continues.
58. (1) It shall not be lawful for a company to give, whether
directly or indirectly, and whether by means of a loan, guarantee,
the provision of security or otherwise, any financial assistance for
the purpose of or in connection with a purchase or subscription
made or to be made by any person of or for any share in the
company, or, where the company is a subsidiary company, in its
holding company:
Provided that nothing in this section shall be taken to
prohibit –
(i) where the lending of money is part of the ordinary
business of a company, the lending of money by the
company in the ordinary course of its business;
(ii) the provision by a company, in accordance with any
scheme for the time being in force, of money for the
purchase of, or subscription for, fully-paid shares in
the company or its holding company, to be held by or
in trust for the benefit of employees of the company,
including any director holding a salaried employment
or office in the company;
(iii) the making by a company of loans to persons other
than directors, bona fide in the employment of the
company with a view to enabling those persons to
purchase or subscribe for full

fully-paid shares in the company or its holding company to be
held by themselves by way of beneficial ownership.
(2) It a company contravenes any of the provisions of this
section, the company and every director of the company who is a
party to such contravention shall be guilty of an offence and liable
on conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand rand.

Issue of Shares at Premiums and Redeemable
Preference Shares

59. (1) Where a company issues shares at a premium, whether
for cash or otherwise, a sum equal tot he aggregate amount or
value of the premiums on those shares shall be transferred to an
account, to be called the share premium account, and the
provisions of this Act relating to the reduction of the share capital
of a company shall, except as provided in this section; apply as if
the share premium account were paid up share capital of the
company.

(2) The share premium account may, notwithstanding
anything in sub-section (1) of this section, be applied by the
company –
(a) in paying up unissued shares of the company to be issued
to members of the company as fully paid bonus shares;
(b) in writing off —

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54
(i) the preliminary expenses of the company;
(ii) the expenses of, or the commission paid on any issue
of shares or debentures of the company; or
(c) in providing for the premium payable, if any, or
redemption of any redeemable preference shares or of
any debentures of the company.
(3) Where a company has before the commencement of this
Act issued any shares at a premium, this section shall apply
as if the shares had been issued after the commencement of
this Act:
Provided that any part of the premiums which has been so
applied that it does not at the commencement of this Act form
an identifiable part of the companys reserves within the
meaning of the Sixth Schedule shall be disregarded in
determining the sum to be included in the share premium
account.

60. (1) a company may, if so authorised by its articles, issue
preference shares which are, or at the option of the company are to
liable, to be redeemed:
Provided that –
(i) no such shares shall be redeemed except out of
profits of the company which would otherwise be
available for dividend or out of the proceeds of a
fresh issue of shares made for the purposes of the
redemption;
(ii) no such shares shall be redeemed unless they are
fully paid;
(iii) the premium, if any payable on redemption must
have been provided for out of the profits of the company
or out of the companys share premium account
before the shares are f

shares are redeemed;
(iv)where any such shares are redeemed otherwise than
out of the proceeds of a fresh issue, there shall out of
profits which would otherwise have been available for
dividend be transferred to a reserve fund, a sum equal to
the nominal amount of the shares redeemed, and the
provisions of this Act relating to the redemption of the
share capital of a company shall, except as provided in
this section, apply as if the capital redemption reserve
fund were paid-up share capital of the company.
(2) Subject tot he provisions of this section, the redemption
of preference shares thereunder may be effected on such terms and
in such manner as may be provided by the articles of the
company.
(3) The redemption of preference shares under this section by
a company shall not be taken as reducing the amount of the
companys authorised share capital.
(4) Where in pursuance of this section a company has

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55
redeemed or is about to redeem any preference shares, it shall
have power to issue shares up to the nominal amount of the shares
redeemed or to be redeemed as if those shares had never been
issued, and accordingly the share capital of the company shall not
be increased by the issue of shares in pursuance of this sub-
section:
Provided that, where new shares are issued before the
redemption of the old shares, the new shares shall not, so far
as relates to stamp duty, be deemed to have been issued in
pursuance of this sub-section unless the old shares are
redeemed within one month after the issue of the new shares.
(5) The capital redemption reserve fund may,
notwithstanding anything in this section, – be applied by the
company in paying up unissued shares of the company to be
issued to members of the company as fully paid bonus shares.

Miscellaneous Provisions as to Share Capital

61. A company, if so authorised by its articles, may do any
one or more of the following things –
(a) make arrangements on the issue of shares for a difference
between members in the amounts and times of payment
of calls on their shares;
(b) accept from any member who assents thereto the whole
or part of the amount remaining unpaid on any shares
held by him, although no part of that amount has been
called up, and, if the whole amount unpaid on any shares
be paid, issue those shares as fully paid up;

(c) where a larger amount is paid up on some shares than on
others, pay dividend in proportion to the amount paid up
on each share.
62. A company may by special resolution determine that any
portion of its share capital which has not been already called up
shall not be capable of being called up, except in the event and for
the purpose of the company being wound up or, in respect of a
company placed under judicial management, with the sanction of
the court, and thereupon that portion of its share capital shall not
be capable of being called up except in the event and for the
purposes aforesaid.
63. (1) a company, if authorised by its articles, may by
ordinary resolution alter the conditions of its memorandum so as
to –
(a) increase its share capital by new shares of such amount as
it thinks expedient;
(b) consolidate and divide all or any part of its share capital
into shares of larger amount than its existing shares;
(c) convert all or any of its paid-up shares of any
denomination;
(d) sub-divide its shares, or any of them, into shares of
smaller amount than is fixed by the memorandum, so,
however, that in the subdivision the proportion between

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56
the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each
reduced share shall be the same as it was in the case of
the share from which the reduced share is derived;
(e) cancel share which at the time of the passing of the
resolution in that behalf have not been taken or agreed to
be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its
share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled.
(2) A cancellation of shares in pursuance of this section shall
not be deemed to be a reduction of share capital within the
meaning of this Act.
62. (1) If a company has-
(a) consolidated and divided its share capital into shares of
larger amount than its existing shares, or
(b) converted any shares into stock; or
(c) re-converted stock into shares; or
(d) subdivided its shares or any of them, or redeemed any
redeemable preference shares; or
(e) redeemed any redeemable preference shares;
(f) cancelled any shares, otherwise than in connection with a
reduction of share capital under section sixty-seven;
it shall, within one month after so doing, give notice thereof to the
Registrar specifying, as the case may be, the shares consolidated
divided, converted, subdivided, redeemed or cancelled or the
stock reconverted.
(2) If default is made in complying with this section, the
company and every officer of the company who is in default shall
be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not
exceeding ten rand for every day during which the offence
continues.

65. (1) Where a company, whether its shares have or have not
been converted into stock, has increased its share capital beyond
the registered capital, it shall give to the Registrar notice thereof
within twenty-one days after the passing of the resolution
authorising such increase, and the Registrar shall record the
increase, and the resolution shall not take effect until the increase
is so recorded.
(2) If default is made in complying with the requirements of
this section, the company and every officer of the company who is
in default shall be guilty of an offence, and liable on conviction to
an fine not exceeding ten rand for every day during which the
offence continues.
66. (1) If, in the case of a company the share capital of which
is divided into different classes of shares, provision is made by the
memorandum or articles for authorising the variation of the rights
attached to any class of shares in the company, subject tot he
consent of any specified proportion of the holders of the issued
shares of that class or the sanction of a resolution passed at a
separate meeting of the holders of not less in the aggregate than
fifteen percent of the issued shares of that class being persons who
did not consent to or vote in favour of the resolution for the
variation, may apply to the court to have the variation cancelled,
and where any such application is made, the variation shall not

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57
have effect unless and until it is confirmed by the court.
(2) An application under this section must be made within
thirty days after the date on which consent was given or the
resolution was passed, as the case may be, and may be made on
behalf of the members entitled to make the application by such
one more of their number as they may appoint in writing for the
purpose.

(3) On any such application the court, after hearing the
applicant and any other persons who apply to the court to be heard
and appear to the court to be interested in the application, may, if
it is satisfied, having regard to all the circumstances of the case,
that the variation would unfairly prejudice the members of the
class represented by the applicant, disallow the variation and shall,
if not so satisfied confirm the variation.
(4) The decision of the court on any such application shall be
final.
(5) The company shall within fifteen days after the making of
an order by the court on any such application forward a copy of
the order to the Registrar, and, if default is made in complying
with this provision, the company and every officer of the company
who is in default shall be guilty of an offence and liable to
conviction to a fine not exceeding ten rand for every day during
which the offence continues.

(6) The expression variation in this section includes
abrogation and the expression varied shall be construed
accordingly.

Reduction of Share Capital

67. (1) Subject to confirmation by the court, a company may,
if so authorised by its articles, by special resolution reduce its
share capital in any way, and in particular, without prejudice to
the generality of the foregoing power, may –
(a) extinguish or reduce the liability on any of its share in
respect of share capital not paid up; or
(b) either with or without extinguishing or reducing liability
on any of its shares, cancel any paid-up share capital
which is lost or unrepresented by available assets; or
(c) either with or without extinguishing or reducing liability
on any of its shares, pay off any paid-up share capital
which is in excess of the wants of the company;
and may, if and so far as is necessary, alter its memorandum by
reducing the amount of its share capital and of its shares
accordingly.
(2) A special resolution under this section is in this Act
referred to as a resolution for reducing share capital.

68. (1) Where a company has passed a resolution for reducing
share capital, it may apply to the court for an order confirming the
reduction.
(2) Where the proposed reduction of share capital involves

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either diminution of liability in respect of unpaid share capital or
the payment to any member of any paid-up share capital, and in
any other case if the court so directs, the following provisions
shall have effect, subject nevertheless to sub-section (3) of this
section –
(a) every creditor of the company who at the date fixed by
the court is entitled to any debt or claim which, if that
date were the commencement of the winding up of the
company, would be admissible in proof against the
company, shall be entitled to object to the reduction;
(b) the court shall settle a list of creditors so entitled to
object, and for that purpose shall ascertain, as far as
possible without requiring an application from any
creditor, the names of those creditors and the nature and
amount of their debts or claims, and may publish notices
fixing a day or days within which creditors not entered on
the list are to claim to be so entered or are to be excluded
from the right of objecting to the reduction;
(c) where a creditor entered on the list whose debt or claim is
not discharged or has not been determined does not
consent to the reduction, the court may, if it thinks fit,
dispense with the consent of that creditor, on the
company securing payment of his debt or claim by
appropriating as the court may direct, the following
amount –

(i) if the company admits the full amount of the debt or
claim, or, though not admitting it, is willing to
provide for it, then the full amount of debt or claim;
(ii) if the company does not admit and is not willing to
provide for the full amount of the debt or claim, or if
the amount is contingent or not ascertained, then an
amount fixed by the court after the like enquiry and
adjudication as if the company were being wound up
by the court.
(3) Where a proposed reduction of share involves either the
diminution of any liability in respect of unpaid share capital or the
payment to any member of any paid-up share capital, the court
may, if having regard to any special circumstances of the case it
thinks proper so to do, direct that sub-section (2) of this section
shall not apply as regards any class or any classes of creditors.
69. (1) The court, if satisfied, with respect of every creditor of
the company who, under section sixty-eight is entitled to object to
the reduction, that either his consent to the reduction has been
obtained or his debt or claim has been discharged, or has
terminated, or has been secured, may make an order confirming
the reduction on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit, and in
particular may –
(a) direct that the company shall, during such period,
commencing on or at any time after the date of the order,
as is specified in the order, add to its name as the last
words thereof the words and reduced; or

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(b) require the company to publish, as the court directs, the
reasons for reduction or such other information in regard
thereto as the court may think expedient, with a view to
giving proper information to the public, and if the court
thinks fit, the causes which led to the reduction.
(2) Where a company is ordered to add to its name the
wordsand reduced those words shall, until the expiration of the
period specified in the order, be deemed to be part of the name of
the company.
70. (1) The Registrar, on production to him of an order of the
court confirming the reduction of the share capital of a company
and the delivery to him of a copy of the order and of a minute
approved by the court, showing with respect to the share capital of
the company, as altered by the order, the amount of the share
capital, the number of shares into which it is to be divided, and the
amount of each share, and the amount, if any at the date of a
registration deemed to be paid up on each share, shall register the
order and minute.
(2) On the registration of the order and minute, and not before,
the resolution for reducing share capital is confirmed by the order
so registered, shall take effect.

(3) Notice of the registration shall be published in such manner
as the court my direct.
(4) The Registrar shall certify under his hand the registration of
the order and minute, and his certificate shall be conclusive
evidence that all the requirements of this Act with respect to
reduction of share capital have been complied with, and that the
share capital of the company is such as is stated in the minute.
(5) The minute when registered shall be deemed to be
substituted for the corresponding part of the memorandum, and
shall be valid and alterable as if it had been originally contained
therein.
(6) The substitution of any such minute as aforesaid for part of
the memorandum of the company shall be deemed to be an
alteration of the memorandum within the meaning of section
twenty-six.
71. (1) In the case of a reduction of share capital, a member of
the company past or present, shall not be liable in respect of any
share to any call or contribution exceeding in amount the
difference, if any, between the amount of the share as fixed by the
minute and the amount paid, or the reduced amount, if any, which
is to be deemed to have been paid, on the share, as the case may
be:
Provided that, if any creditor, entitled in respect of any
debt or claim to object to the reduction of share capital, is,
through no default on his part, ignorant of the proceedings,
for reduction, and is in consequence not entered on the list of
creditors and if at any time within twelve months after the
reduction the company is unable within the meaning of
section one hundred and seventy-two to pay the amount of
his debt or claim then-

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(a) every person who was a member of the company at the
date of registration of the order for reduction and minute
shall be liable to contribute for the payment of that debt
or claim an amount not exceeding the amount which he
would have been liable to contribute if the company had
commenced to be wound up on the day before the said
date; and
(b) if the company is wound up, the court, on the application
of any such creditor and proof of his ignorance as
aforesaid, may, if it thinks fit, settle accordingly a list of
persons so liable to contribute, and make and enforce
calls and orders on the contributories settled on the list,
as if they were ordinary contributories in a winding up.

(2) Nothing in this section shall affect the rights of the
contributories among themselves.
72. If any officer of the company –
(a) wilfully conceals the name of any creditor entitled to
object to the reduction; or
(b) wilfully misrepresents the nature or amount of the debt or
claim of any creditor; or

(c) aids, abets or is privy to any such concealment or
misrepresentation as aforesaid;
he shall be guilty of an offence, and liable on conviction to a fine
not exceeding twelve month, or to both such tine and such
imprisonment.

Transfer of Shares and Debentures, Evidence of Titles, etc.

[73.] (1) The shares or other interest of any member in a
company shall be movable property, transferable in manner
provided by the articles of the company.
(2) Each share in a company shall be distinguished by its
appropriate number:
Provided that it at any time all the issued shares in a
company, or all the issued shares therein, of a particular class,
are fully paid up and rank pari passu for all purposes, none of
those shares need thereafter have a distinguishing number so
long as it remains fully paid up and ranks pari passu for all
purposes with all shares of the same class for the time being
issued and fully paid up.
(3) Where in terms of the proviso to sub-section (2) of this
section shares are not distinguished by appropriate numbers, the
certificates of such shares shall be so distinguished, and upon the
registration of transfer of any such shares the certificate relating
thereto shall, in addition to the distinguishing number, bear on its
face such an endorsement, in the form of a reference number or
otherwise, as will enable the immediately preceding holder of the
shares to be identified.
74. Notwithstanding anything in the articles of a company, it
shall not be lawful for the company to register a transfer of shares
in or debentures of the company unless a proper instrument of

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transfer has been delivered to the company:
Provided that nothing in this section shall prejudice any
power of the company to register as member or debenture
holder any person to whom the right to any shares in or
debentures of the company has been transmitted by operation
of law.

75. On the application of the transferor of any share or interest
in a company, the company shall enter in its register of members
and the name of transferee in the same manner and subject tot he
same conditions as if the application for entry were made by the
transferee and subject also to the law relating to stamp duty.
76. (1) If a company refuses to register a transfer of any
shares or debentures the company shall, within two months after
the date o which the transfer was lodged with the company, send
to the transferor and the transferee notice of the refusal.

(2) If default is made in complying with this section the
company and every officer of the company who is in default shall
be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not
exceeding ten rand for every day during which the offence
continues.

77. A transfer of the share or other interest of a deceased
member of a company made by his executor shall, although the
executor is not himself a member, be as valid as if he had been e
member at the date of the execution of the instrument or transfer,
subject always tot he law relating to stamp duty.

78. (10 Every company shall, within two months after the
allotment of any of its shares, debentures, or debenture stock, and
within two months after the date on which a transfer of any such
shares, debentures or debentures stock is lodged with the
company, complete and have ready for delivery the certificates of
all shares, the debentures, and the certificates of all debentures
stock allotted or transferred, unless the conditions of issue of the
shares, the debentures, and the certificates of all debentures stock
allotted or transferred, unless the condition of issue of the shares,
debentures, or debenture stock otherwise provide.
For the purpose of this sub-section, the expression transfer
means a transfer duly stamped and otherwise valid, and does not
include such a transfer as the company is for any reason entitled to
refuse to register and does not register.

(2) If default is made in complying with the requirements of
this section the company, and every officer of the company who is
in default, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to
a fine not exceeding ten rand for every day during which the
offence continues.

(3) It any company, on whom a notice has been served
requiring the company to make good any default in complying

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with the provisions of sub-section (1) of this section fails to make
good and default within ten days after the service of notice, the
court may, on application of the person entitled to have the
certificates or the debentures delivered to him, make an order
directing the company and any officer of the company to make
good the default within such time as may be specified in the order,
and any such order may provide that all costs of and incidental to
the application shall be borne by the company or by any officer of
the company responsible for the default.

79. A certificate, under the seal of the company, and under the
hand of one of its directors, specifying any shares of stock held by
any member, if it has a seal, or it has not a seal, under the hands of
two of its directors or of one director and of the secretary, shall be
prima facie evidence of the titled of the member to the shares or
stock.

80. If any person falsely and deceitfully personates any
owner of any share or interest in any company, and thereby
obtains or endeavours to obtain any such share or interest or
receives or endeavours to receive any money due to any such
owner as if the impersonator were the true and lawful owner, he
shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine no
exceeding two thousand rand or to imprisonment for a period not
exceeding ten years.

Special Provision as to Hypothecations and Debentures

81. (1) A company, if so authorised by its memorandum or
articles, may, subject to the provisions of this section, create and
issue debentures and as security for the fulfilment of the
obligation undertaken by the company thereunder may in the
manner hereinafter described bind so much of the movable or
immovable property of the company as is described therein.

(2) If such debentures purport to bind only movable property,
they may, if executed in favour of one or more debenture holders,
before a notary, be registered as a notarial bond.
(3) If such debentures purport to bind immovable property other
than land, registration in respect thereof may be effected in the
deeds registry of Lesotho by means of a deed of hypothecation
executed on behalf of the company.
If such debentures purport to bind both movable and
immovable property other than land, registration in respect thereof
may be effected in the deeds registry of Lesotho by means of a
deed of hypothecation executed on behalf of the company and
hypothecating the immovable property other than land concerned
and of a collateral notarial bond or bonds executed on behalf of
the company and hypothecating the movable property concerned
or by a notarial bond or bonds or notarial debenture or debentures
executed on behalf of the company and hypothecating the
movable property and collateral deed of hypothecation executed
on behalf of the company and hypothecating the immovable

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property other than land concerned. Whenever it is desired to
hypothecate movable or immovable property other than land shall
be hypothecated by collateral notarial bond in the case of the
movable property and by collateral notarial bond in the case of the
movable property and by collateral deed of hypothecation in the
case of immovable property other than land. If the bond is in
favour of one or more debenture holders, the original debenture
shall be annexed to one copy of the bond, and duplicate or
certified copies of the debenture shall be annexed to the other
copies. If the bond is in favour of trustees for debenture holders, a
certified copy of the trust deed by which the trustees are appointed
and in which their rights and duties are defined, together with a
specimen form of the debenture, shall be annexed to each copy of
the bond.
(5) Registration of such notarial bonds or deeds of
hypothecation and cancellation or cession thereof in whole or in
part shall be effected in accordance with the regulations and
practice of the deeds registry relating to notarial bonds or deeds of
hypothecation respectively. When so registered, such notarial
bonds or deeds of hypothecation shall, as from the date of
registration, subject to any prior rights arising out of any bond or
debenture previously registered or out of any legal hypothec,
pledge or right of retention, operate as a first or preferential charge
in respect of so much of the movable or immovable property other
than land of the company as is mentioned and described therein as
bound by way of security or the fulfilment of the obligation
undertaken by the company thereunder.

(6) In any bond executed in favour of trustees for debenture
holders generally, provision may be made that the debentures
thereby secured, or to be secured, may be issued from time to time
and at different dates, as the company may determine, but all such
debentures, whenever issued, shall rank for preference
concurrently with one another as from the date of registration of
the bond.

(7) Every holder of a debenture secured by a bond executed
in favour of trustees for debenture holders generally shall, unless
it is otherwise provided by the terms of the bond or of the trust
deed and form of debenture annexed thereto, be entitled to enforce
his right under such debenture as soon as it has been issued to him
in the same manner as if he were himself the holder of such bond.
No notice of the cession of any such debenture shall be necessary
in order to confer upon any cessionary thereof the rights of the
cedent.

82. (1) Every company shall keep at its registered office –
(a) a register of hypothecations, notarial bonds and
debentures and enter therein within fourteen days of the
date of any hypothecation full particulars thereof, giving
in each case the date of the hypothecation, a short
description of the property hypothecated, the mount of

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the debt secured, the rate of interest payable thereon and
the names and addresses of the hypothecaries and
debenture holders;
(b) a register of debenture holders showing the number of
debentures issued and outstanding, specifying whether
issued to bearer or not, and in the case of those not issued
to bearer, specifying further the names and the addresses
of the holders thereof.
(2) If default is made in complying with sub-section (1) of this
section the company shall be guilty of an offence and liable on
conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred rand.
(3) The register of hypothecations, notarial bonds and
debentures shall be open at all reasonable times to the inspection
of the Registrar or any person authorised by him or any creditor or
member of the company without fee, and any other person on
payment of such fee not exceeding twenty centres per hour or part
of an hour for such inspection as the company may prescribe.
(4) The register of debenture holders shall, except when
closed during such period or periods (not exceeding in the whole
sixty days in any year) as may be specified in the articles, be open
to the inspection of any creditor or member of the company but
subject to such reasonable restrictions as the company may in
general meeting impose so that at least two hours in each business
day are appointed for inspection and the company shall furnish to
any creditor or member at his request extracts from the register on
payment of fifteen cents for every hundred words or fractional
part thereof required to be extracted.
(5) A copy of any trust deed for securing any issue of
debentures shall be transmitted to any holder of such debentures at
his request on payment of the sum of seventy-five cents or such
less sum as may be prescribed by the company.

(6) If any inspection, copy, extract or other facility prescribed
by sub-section (3), (4) or (5) of this section is refused or not
transmitted the company shall be guilty of an offence and liable
on conviction to a fine not exceeding ten rand and to a further fine
not exceeding four rand for every day during which the offence
continues, and the court, including the court convicting, may by
order direct that an immediate inspection be granted of the register
concerned or that copies required shall, subject to payment of the
prescribed sum, be delivered to the person requiring them.
(7) Nothing in sub-sections (1) to (6) inclusive of this sections
hall apply to an existing company till the expiry of three months
from the commencement of this Act.

83. (1) Where either before or after the commencement of this
Act a company has redeemed any debentures previously issued,
then –
(a) unless any provision to the contrary, whether expressed
or implied, is contained in the articles or in any contract

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entered into by the company; or
(b) unless the company has, by passing a resolution to that
effect or by some other act, manifested its intention that
the debentures shall be cancelled and not re-issued;
the company shall have, and shall be deemed always to have had,
power to re-issue the debentures, either by re-issuing the same
debentures or by issuing other debentures in their place.
(2) On a re-issue of redeemed debentures the person entitled to
the debentures shall have, and shall be deemed always to have
had, the same priorities as if the debentures had never been
redeemed.
(3) Where a company has, either before or after the
commencement of this Act, deposited any of its debentures to
secure advances from time to time on current account or
otherwise, the debentures shall lot be deemed to have been
redeemed by reason only of the account of the company having
ceased to be in debit whilst the debentures remained so deposited.
(4) The re-issue of a debenture or the issue of another
debenture in its place under the power by this section given to or
deemed to have been possessed by, a company, shall be treated as
the issue of a new debenture for the purposes of stamp duty, but it
shall not be so treated for the purposes of any provision limiting
the amount or number of debentures to be issued:
Provided that any person lending money on the security of
a debenture re-issued under this section, which appears to be
duly stamped, may give the debenture in evidence in any
proceeding for enforcing his security without payment of the
stamp duty or any penalty in respect thereof, unless he had
notice, or, but for his negligence, might have discovered, that
the debenture was not duly stamped, but in any such case the
company shall be liable to pay the proper stamp duty and
penalty.

84. A contract with company to take up and pay for any
debentures of the company may be enforced by an order for
specific performance.

PART III
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
Registration Office and Name
85. (1) Every company shall have a registered office in
Lesotho to which all communications and notices may be
addressed, and at which all process may be served.
(2) Notice of the situation of the registered office shall
accompany the memorandum and article delivered to the Registrar
pursuant to section eighteen. Notice of a change in the situation
of the registered office shall be given to the Registrar within
twenty-one days subsequent to the date the change:
Provided that the existing company shall give notice of

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such situation to the Registrar within two months after the
commencement of this Act.
(3) if default is made in complying with this section the
company and every officer of the company who is in default shall
be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not
exceeding tern rand for every day during which the default
continues.
86. (1) Every Company –
(a) shall continuously display its name on the outside of
every office or place in which its business is carried on in
conspicuous position, in letters easily legible;
(b) shall have its name engraved in legible characters on its
seal, if any;
(c) shall have its name mentioned in legible characters in all
business letters, notices and other official publications of
the company, and in all bills of exchange, promissory
notes, endorsements, cheques, and orders for money or
goods purporting to be signed by or on behalf of the
company, and in all delivery notes, invoices, receipts and
letters of credit of the company:
Provided that, for the purposes of this sub-section the
abbreviation Ltd. and (Pty). May be used for the words
Limited and (Proprietary) respectively in a companys
name.

(2) If default is made in complying with paragraph (a) of
subsection (1) of this section the company and every officer of the
company who is in default shall be guilty of an offence and liable
on conviction to a fine not exceeding ten rand and to a further fine
not exceeding tern rand for every day during which the offence
continues.

(3) If default is made in complying with paragraph (b) or
paragraph (c) of sub-section (1) of this section, the company shall
be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not
exceeding one hundred rand.
(4) If any officer of a company, or any person on its behalf-
(a) uses or permits the use of any seal purporting to be a seal
of the company whereon its name is not so engaged as
aforesaid; or
(b) issues or permits the issue of any business letter, notice
or other official publication of the company, or signs or
permits to be signed on behalf of the company any bill of
exchange, promissory note, endorsement, cheque or order
for money or goods wherein its name is not mentioned in
manner aforesaid; or
(c) issues or permits the issue of any delivery note, invoice,
receipt or letter of credit of the company wherein its

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name is not mentioned in manner aforesaid;
he shall be guilty of an offence, and liable on conviction to a fine
not exceeding one hundred rand and shall further be personally
liable to the holder of the bill of exchange, promissory note,
cheque, or order for money or goods for the amount thereof,
unless it is duly paid by the company.

Restrictions on Commencement of Business

87. (1) Nothing in this section shall apply to a private
company or to an existing company, or to an association licensed
under section twenty-three.
(2) If a company has issued a prospectus inviting the public to
subscribe for its shares, the company shall not commence any
business or exercise any borrowing powers unless –
(a) shares held subject to the payment of the whole amount
thereof in cash have been allotted to a total amount of
note less than the minimum subscription; and
(b) every director of the company has paid to the company
each of the shares taken or contracted to be taken by him
and for which he is liable to pay in cash, a proportion
equal to the proportion payable on application and
allotment on the shares offered for public subscription;
and
(c) there has been delivered to the Registrar for registration
and affidavit by the secretary, or one of the directors, in
the prescribed form, that the aforesaid conditions have
been complied with; and
(c) the Registrar has certified that the company is entitled to
commence business.
(3) If a company has not issued a prospectus inviting the
public to subscribe for its shares, the company shall not
commence any business or exercise any borrowing powers, unless
–
(a) there has been delivered to the Registrar for registration a
statement in lieu of prospectus; and

(b) every director of the company has paid to the company
on each of the shares taken or contracted to be taken by
him and for which he is liable to pay in cash, a proportion
equal to the proportion payable on application and
allotment on the shares payable in cash; and
(c) there has been delivered to the Registrar for registration
an affidavit by the secretary or one of the directors in the
prescribed form that paragraph (b) of this subsection has
been complied with; and

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(d) the Registrar has certified that the company is entitled to
commence business.
(4) The Registrar shall, on delivery to him of an affidavit
and, in the case of a company which is required by this section to
deliver a statement in lieu of prospectus, of such statement certify
that the company is entitled to commence business, and that
certificate shall be conclusive evidence that the company is so
entitled.
(5) Any contract made by a company before the date at which
it is entitled to commence business shall be provisional only, and
shall not be binding on the company until that date, and on that
date it shall become binding.
(6) Nothing in this section shall prevent the simultaneous offer
for subscription or allotment of any shares and debentures or the
receipt of any money payable on application for debentures.
(7) If any company commences business or exercises
borrowing powers in contravention of this section, every person
who is responsible for the contravention shall, without prejudice
to any other liability, be guilty of an offence and liable on
conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred rand for every day
during which the offence continues.

Register and Index of Members

88. (1) Every company shall keep a register of its members
and punctually enter therein the following particulars:
(a) The names and addresses of the members, and in the case
of a company having a share capital, a statement of the
shares held by each member, distinguishing each share
by its number so long as the share has number, and of the
amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid on the
shares of each member;
(b) the date at which each person was entered in the register
as a member;
(c) the date at which any person ceased to be a member:
Provided that, where the company has converted any of its
shares into stock and given notice of the conversion to the
Registrar, the register shall show the amount of stock held by
each member instead of the amount of shares and the
particulars relating to shares specified in paragraph (a) of this
sub-section.

(2) The registrar of members shall be kept at the registered
office of the company:
Provided that –
(i) if the work of making it up is done at another office
of the company, it may be kept at that other office;
And
(ii) if the company arranges with some other person for
the making up of the register to be undertaken on
behalf of the company by that other person, it may be
kept at the office of that other person;

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69
so, however, that it shall not be kept at a place outside Lesotho.

(3) Every company shall send notice in writing to the
Registrar of the place where its register of members is kept and of
any change in that place within thirty days of the date of its
incorporation or change of place:
Provided that a company shall not be bound to send notice
under this sub-section where the register has, at all times
since it came into existence or, in the case of a register in
existence at the commencement of this Act, at all times since
then, been kept at the registered office of the company.
(4) Every company having more than fifty members shall
unless the register of members is in such a form as to constitute in
itself an index, keep an index of the names of the members of the
company and shall, within fourteen days after the date on which
any alternation is made in the register of members, make any
necessary alteration in the index.
(5) The index shall in respect of each member contain a
sufficient indication to enable the account of that member in the
register to be readily found.
(6) The index shall be at all times kept at the same place as the
register of members.
(7) If default is made in complying with this section the
company and every officer of the company who is in default shall
be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not
exceeding ten rand for every day during which the offence
continues and for the purposes of this section any person with
whom the company makes an arrangement in terms of paragraph
(ii) of sub-section (2) of this section shall be deemed to be an
officer of the company and liable accordingly.

89. (1) Except where the register of members is closed under
the provisions of this Act, the register and index of the names of
the members of a company shall during the business hours
(subject to such reasonable restrictions as the company in general
meeting may impose, so that not less than two hours in each day
be allowed for inspection) be open to the inspection of any
member without charge and of any other person on payment of
twenty-five cents per hour or part of an hour, or such less sum as
the company may prescribe, for each inspection.

(2) Any member may require a copy of the register, or of any
part thereof, on payment of twenty cents or such less sum as the
company may prescribe, for every hundred words or fractional
part thereof required to be copied.
The company shall cause any copy so required by any member
to be sent to such member within a period of twenty-one days
commencing on the day next after the day on which the
requirement is received by the company.
(3) If any inspection required under this section is refused or
if any copy required under this section is not sent within the
proper period, the company and every officer of the company who
is in default shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction

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of each offence to a fine not exceeding four rand and to a further
continues, and the court, including the court so convicting, may by
order compel an immediate inspection of the register and index or
direct that the copies required shall, subject to payment of the
appropriate sum, be sent to the persons requiring them.
90. A company may, or giving prior notice by advertisement
in a newspaper circulating in the district in which the registered
office of the company is situate, close the register of members for
any time or times not exceeding in the whole thirty days in each
year.
91. (1) If –
(a) the name of any person is, without sufficient cause,
entered in or omitted from the register of members of a
company; or
(b) default is made or unnecessary delay takes place in
entering on the register the fact of any person having
ceased to be a member;

the person aggrieved, or any member of the company, or the
company may apply to the court for rectification of the register.
(2) Where an application is made under this section, the court
may either refuse the application or may order rectification of the
register and payment by the company of any damages sustained
by any party aggrieved.
(3) On an application under this section the court may decide
any question relating to the title of any person who is party to the
application to have his name entered in or omitted from the
register, whether the question arises between members or alleged
members or between members on the one hand and the company
on the other hand, and generally may decide any question
necessary or expedient to be decided for rectification of the
register.

(4) The court, when making an order for rectification of the
register, shall by its order direct notice of the rectification to
be given to the Registrar.

92. No notice of any trust, expressed, implied or constructive,
shall be entered on the register, or be receivable by the Registrar,
in the case of companies registered in Lesotho.

93. The register of members shall be prima facie evidence of any
matters by this Act directed or authorised to be inserted therein.

Branch Register

94. (1) A company may, if so authorised by its articles, cause to
be kept in any external country, a register of members
resident in that external country (in t his Act called a branch
register).
(2) The company shall give to the Registrar notice of the
situation of the office where any branch register is kept, and

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of any change in its situation, and if it is discontinued of the
discontinuance, and any such notice shall be given within
thirty days of the opening of the office or of the change or
discontinuance, as the case may be.
(3) If default is made in complying with sub-section 92) of this
section the company and every officer of the company who is
in default shall be guilty of an offence and liable on
conviction to a fine not exceeding ten rand, for every day
during which the offence continues.

95. (1) A branch register shall be deemed to be a part of the
companys of register of members (in this section called the
principal register).
(2) It shall be kept in the same manner in which the principal
register is by this Act required to be kept, except that the
prior newspaper advertisement required by section ninety
shall be inserted in a newspaper circulating in the district
where the branch register is kept.
(3) The company shall transmit to its registered office a copy of
every entry in its branch register as soon as may be after the
entry is made; and shall cause to be kept at its registered
office, duly entered up from time to time, a duplicate of its
branch register, and the duplicate shall cause to be kept at its
registered office, duly entered up from time to time, a
duplicate of its branch register, and the duplicate shall for all
purposes of this Act, be deemed to be part of the principal
register.
(4) The company may discontinue any branch register, and
thereupon all entries in that register shall be transferred to
some other branch register kept by the company or the
principal register.
(5) Subject to the provisions of this Act and of any law relating
to stamp duty, any company may, by its articles, make such
provisions as it may think fit respecting the keeping of branch
registers.
(6) If default is made inc omplying with sub-section (3) of
this section, the company and every officer of the company who is
in default shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to
a fine

(6) If default is made in complying with sub-section (3) of this
section, the company and every officer of the company who
is in default shall be guilty of an offence and liable on
conviction to a fine not exceeding ten rand for every day
during which the offence continues.

Annual Return

96. (1) Every company shall, once in every calendar year
(other than any year in which the company need not, under the
provisions of section ninety-eight, hold an annual general
meeting) and within forty-two days, after the date of its annual
general meeting, make and file with the Registrar an annual return

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consisting of –
(a) a list, in the form and embodying the particulars
contained in the Fifth Schedule or as near thereto as
circumstances admit, of all persons who, on the date of
the said annual general meeting, were members holding
shares not fully paid up, and of all persons who, holding
shares not fully paid up, ceased to be members of the
company since the date of the last preceding annual
general meeting or in the case of the first list, since the
date of the incorporation of the company; and
(b) a summary, in the form contained in the _________
Schedule or as near thereto a circumstances admit,
specifying the following particulars –
(i) all such particulars with respect to the persons who at
the date of the return are directors of the company
and any person who at that date is secretary of the
company as are by this Act required to be contained
with respect to directors and the secretary
respectively in the register of directors and secretary
of a company and the name an address of every
person appointed as an auditor of the company;
(ii) the situation of the registered office of the company;
(iii) the place where the register of members is kept if,
under the provisions of this Act it
is not kept at the registered office
of the company;
(iv) the amount of the share capital of the company, and
the number of the shares into
which it is divided;
(v) the number of shares taken from the date of
incorporation of the company up to the date of the
return;
(vi) the number of shares issued for cash;
(vii)the number of shares issued as fully or partly paid up
otherwise than in cash and the
nature of the consideration given for such shares;
(viii)the amount called up on each share;
(ix) the total amount of calls unpaid;
(x) the total amount of the sums, if any, paid by way of
commission in respect of any shares or debentures, or
allowed by way of discount in respect of any
debentures, since the date of the last return;

(xii) the total amount of debt due by the company secured
otherwise than by operation of law.

(xi) the total number of shares forfeited;
(xii) the total amount of debt due by the company secured
otherwise than by operation of law.
(2) If the names in the said list are not arranged in alphabetical

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order there shall be annexed to it an alphabetical index sufficient
to enable the name of any person to be readily found.
(3) There shall be annexed to the annual summary –
(a) a copy certified both by a director and by the secretary of
the company to be a true copy, of every balance sheet
laid before the company in general meeting during the
period to which the summary relates (including every
document required by law to be annexed to the balance
sheet); and
(b) a copy, certified as aforesaid, of the report of the auditors
on, and of the report of the directors accompanying, any
such balance sheet:
Provided that the provisions of this sub-section shall not
apply to a private company unless one or more
shareholders of such private company is a company
which is not a private company.
(4) Every private company shall send with the annual return a
certificate signed by a director and the secretary stating –
(a) that the company has not since the date of the last return
or, in the case of a first return, since the date of the
incorporation of the company, issued any invitation to the
public to subscribe for any shares, stock or debentures of
the company;
(b) the number of members of the company at the date of the
certificate; and
(c) if the number exceeds fifty, that such excess consists only
of persons who, under section thirty are to be excluded in
reckoning the number of fifty.
(5) Every annual return filed by a company with the Registrar
shall be certified under the hands of a director and the secretary to
the company in the manner prescribed in the Fifth Schedule and a
duplicate copy so signed shall be kept at the registered office of
the company and shall be open for inspection by any person
whenever the register of members is open for inspection by such
person.
(6) In the case of a company keeping a branch register, where
annual return is made between the date when any entries are made
in the branch register and the date when copies of those entries are
received at the registered office of the company the particulars
contained in those entries so far as relevant to an annual return
shall be included in the next or subsequent annual return as may
be appropriate, having regard to the particulars included in that
return with respect to the companys register of members.

(7) The Registrar may from time to time require a company
to transmit to him particulars of the transfer of any fully paid up
share or shares and a list of the persons for the time being
members of the company and of all persons who have ceased to be
members since the date of the last returns or, if no return has been
made, since the date of the incorporation of the company.

(8) If the company makes default in complying with any of
the requirements of this section, the company and every officer of

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the company who is in default shall be guilty of an offence and
liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding ten rand for every day
during which the offence continues.

Meetings and Proceedings

97. (1) Save in the case of a private company, every company
shall, within a period of not less than one month nor more than
three months from the date at which it is entitled to commence
business, hold a general meeting of its members which shall be
called the statutory meeting.
(2) the directors shall, at least fourteen days before the day on
which the meeting is held, forward a certified report (in this Act
referred to as the statutory report) to every member of the
company:
Provided that if the statutory report is forwarded later than
is required by this sub-section, it shall, notwithstanding that
fact, be deemed to have been duly forwarded if it is so agreed
by all the members entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.
(3) The statutory report shall be certified by not less than two
directors of company and shall state –
(a) the total number of shares allotted distinguishing shares
allotted as fully or partly paid up, or otherwise than inc
ash, and stating in the case of shares partly paid up the
extent to which they are so paid up, and in either case the
consideration for which they have been allotted;
(b) the total amount of cash received by the company in
respect of all the shares allotted, distinguished as
aforesaid;
(c) an abstract of the receipts of the company and of the
payments made thereout, up to a date within seven days
of the date of the report, exhibiting under distinctive
headings the receipts of the company from shares and
debentures and other sources, the payments made
thereout, and particulars concerning the balance
remaining in hand, and an account or estimate of the
preliminary expenses for the company;
(d) the names, addresses and occupations of the directors,
auditors (if any), managers (if any), and secretary of the
company; and
(e) if the modification or proposed modification of any
contract is to be submitted to the meeting for its
information or approval, full particulars thereof.

(4) The statutory report shall, so far as it relates to the shares
allotted by the company and to the cash received in respect of
such shares, and to the receipts and payments of the company, be
certified as correct by the auditors, if any, of the company.
(5) The directors shall cause a copy of the statutory report,
certified as required by this section, to be filed with the Registrar
within fourteen days of the date on which it is so certified.
(6) The directors shall cause a list showing the names
descriptions and addresses of the members of the company, and

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the number of shares held by them respectively to be produced at
the commencement of the meeting and to remain open and
accessible to any member of the company during the continuance
of the meeting.
(7) The members of the company present at the meeting shall
be at liberty to discuss any matter relating to be formation of the
company, or arising out of the statutory report, whether previous
notice has been given or not, but no resolution of which notice has
not been given in accordance with the articles may be passed.
(8) The meeting may adjourn from time to time, and at any
adjourned meeting any resolution of which notice has been given
in accordance with the articles, either before, at or subsequently to
the former meeting, may be passed and the adjourned meeting
shall have the same power as an original meeting.
(9) If default by any director is made in complying with any
provisions of this section which expressly impose a duty on the
directors, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction
to a fine not exceeding twenty rand.

98. (1) Every company shall in each year hold a general
meeting as its annual general meeting in addition to any other
meetings in that year, and shall specify the meeting as such in the
notices calling it; and not more than fifteen moths shall elapse
between the date of one annual general meeting of a company and
that of the next:
Provided that, so long as a company holds its first annual
general meeting within eighteen months of its incorporation,
it need not hold it in the year of its incorporation or in the
following year.
(2) If default is made in holding a meeting of the company in
accordance with sub-section (1) of this section the Minister may,
on the application of any member of the company, call, or direct
the calling of, a general meeting of the company and give such
ancillary or consequential directions as he thinks expedient,
including direction modifying o supplementing, in relation to the
calling, holding and conducting of the meeting, the operation of
the companys articles; and such directions may include a
direction that one member of the company present in person or by
proxy shall be deemed to constitute a meeting.

(3) A general meeting held in pursuance of sub-section (2) of
this section shall, subject to any directions of the Minister, be
deemed to be an annual general meeting of the company; but,
where a meeting so held is not held in the year in which the
default in holding the companys annual general meeting
occurred, the meeting so held shall not be treated as the annual
general meeting of the year in which it is held unless at that
meeting the company resolves that it shall be so treated.
(4) Where a company resolves that a meeting shall be treated, a
copy of the resolution shall, within fourteen days after the passing
thereof, be forwarded to the Registrar and recorded by him, and if
default is made in complying with this sub-section, the company
and every officer of the company who is in default shall be guilty

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of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding four
rand for every day during which the offence continues.
(5) If default is made in complying with the requirements of
sub-section (1) of this section or with any direction given by the
Minister under sub-section (2) of this section the company and
every officer of the company who is in default shall be guilty of
an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one
hundred rand.

99. (1) On the requisition of a company holding at the date of
the deposit of the requisition not less than one-twentieth of such of
the paid-up capital of the company as at the date of the deposit
carries the right of voting at general meetings of the company, or
in the case of a company not having a share-capital, members of
the company representing not less than one-twentieth of the total
voting rights of all the members having at the said date a right to
vote at general meetings of the company, the directors of the
company, notwithstanding anything in its articles, shall within
twenty-one days of the deposit of the requisition issue a notice to
members convening an extraordinary general meeting of the
company for a date not less than fourteen nor more than twenty-
eight days from the date of the notice;
Provided that if a special resolutionist to be submitted the
period of the notice shall not be less than twenty-one days.
(2) The requisition shall state the objects of the meeting and
shall be signed by the requisitionists and deposited at the
registered office of the company, and may consist of several
documents in like form, each signed by one or more
requisitionists.
(3) If the directors do not within twenty-one days from the
date of the deposit of the requisition issue a notice as required by
sub-section (1) of this section the requisitionists or any of them
numbering more than fifty or representing more than one-half of
the total voting rights of all of them, may themselves convene a
meeting, station the objects thereof, on twenty-one days notice
but no meeting so convened shall be held after the expiation of
three months from the said date.

(4) Any meeting convened under this section by the
requisitionists shall be convened in the same manner, as nearly as
possible, as that in which meetings are to be convened by the
directors.
(5) Any reasonable expense incurred by the requisitionists by
reason of the failure of the directors duly to convene a meeting
shall be repaid to the requisitionists by the company, and any sum
so repaid shall be retained by the company out of any sum due or
to become due from the company by way of fee or other
remuneration in respect of their services to such of the directors as
were knowingly party to the default.
(6) Any officer of the company who is knowingly a party to a
default in convening a meeting as required by sub-section (1) of
this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction
to a fine not exceeding one hundred rand.

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100. (1) A companys annual general meeting may be called
by twenty-one days notice in writing, and a meeting of a
company other than an annual general meeting or a meeting for
the passing of a special resolution may be called by fourteen
days notice in writing or in the case of a private company, by
seven days notice in wiring; and any provision of a companys
articles shall be void so far as it provides for the calling of a
meeting of the company (other than an adjourned meeting), by
shorter notice than that specified in this section.
(2) A meeting of a company shall, notwithstanding that it is
called by shorter notice than that specified in sub-section (1) of
this section or in the companys articles, as the case may be,
deemed to have been duly called if it is so agreed –
(a) in the case of a meeting called as the annual general
meeting, by all the members entitled to attend and vote
thereat; and
(b) in the case of any other meeting, by a majority in
numbers of the member having a right to attend and vote
at the meeting, being a majority holding not less than
ninety-five per cent in nominal value of the shares giving
a right to attend and vote at the meeting , or, in the case
of a company not having a share capital, together
representing not less than ninety-five percent of the total
voting rights at that meeting of all the members.
101. 91) The following provisions shall have effect in so far as
the articles of a company do not make other provision in that
behalf:
(a) Notice of the meeting of a company shall be served on
every member of the company in the manner in which
notices are required to the served by Table A:
(b) two or more members holding not less than one-tenth of
the issued share capital, or, if the company has not share
capital, not less than five percent in numbers of the
members of the company, may call a meeting;
(c) in the case of a private company, two members and in the
case of any other company three members, personally
present shall be a quorum;

(d) any member elected by the members present at a meeting
may be chairman thereof;
(e) every member shall have one vote in respect of each
share or each twenty rand of stock held by him, and in
any other case every member shall have one vote.
(2) If for any reason it is impracticable to call a meeting of a
company in any manner in which meetings of that company
may be called, or to conduct the meeting of the company in
manner prescribed by the articles or this Act, or if for any
reason the court sees fit, the court may, either of its own
motion or on the application of any director of the company
or of any member of the company who would be entitled to
vote at the meeting, order a meeting of the company to be
called, held and conducted in such manner as the court thinks

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fit, and where any such order is made may give such ancillary
or consequential direction as it thinks expedient, including a
direction that one member of the company present in person
or by proxy shall be deemed to constitute a meeting.
(3) Any meeting called, held and conducted in accordance with
an order under sub-section (2) of this section shall for all
purposes be deemed to be a meeting of the company duly
called, held and conducted.

102. (1) Any member of any company, other than private
company, who is entitled to attend and vote
at a meeting of the company shall be entitled to appoint
another person (whether a member or not) as his proxy to
attend any meeting of the company in his stead.
(2) Any member of a private company who is entitled to attend
and vote at a meeting of the company shall be entitled to
appoint another member of the company or such other person
as the articles of the company may allow to attend any
meeting of the company in his stead.
(3) A proxy appointed to attend a meeting of a company instead
of a member shall have the same right as the member to
speak at the meeting but shall not be entitled to vote except
on a poll.
(4) In every notice calling a meeting of a company and on the
face of every proxy form issued at the companys expense
shall appear with reasonable prominence a statement that a
member entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint a
proxy to attend and vote and speak in his stead and, where
that is so, that a proxy need not also be a member; and if
default is made in complying with this sub-section in relation
to a meeting, every officer of the company who authorizes,
knowingly permits or is part to the default shall be guilty of
an offence and liable to conviction to a fine not exceeding
one hundred rand.
(5) Any provision contained in a companys articles shall be
void in so far as it would have the effect of requiring the
instrument appointing a proxy, or any other document
necessary to show the validity of or otherwise relating to the
appointment of a proxy, to be received by the company or
any other person more than